Reunion of a Troublesome Ally

[Koneko]

Being denied any help in his attempt to make a case of consideration for himself, the kitsune hunched over in defeat as he was even told to be humble and consider a bath if Koneko thought he smelled bad. "Shot down as usual, she has as harsh a tongue as I remember... And hits just as hard..." Before considering following behind the other two, he did at least kneel down by the water's edge to freshen up since he had just gotten covered in dirt and his own blood from being beaten into the ground as usual used to for his advances. 'She's really been searching with such dedication herself for so long, but I haven't found Yuzuki either since back then... I can only assume the worst, but I might be able to soften the blow of what I'm certain is true if I can gain her affections enough to keep her soothed,' Kaito thought to himself as he lightly refreshed most of his appearance, 'the next concern is how do I explain everything when it finally comes down to it?' There was a lot for him to consider silently with an explanation he owed to the feline on her request, yet he soon stood up and made his way back towards the other two.

Meanwhile, as Mitsuyoshi caught up with Koneko to inquire about tolerating Kaito and his usefulness, she kept her gaze ahead as he made suggestions on what they could put the fox up to as she paused walking and snorted slightly in amusement at the comment about lacking humility. Her glance finally shifted as he pat her shoulder, watching as he walked past her to go sit down before sighing in reluctance to admit anything about her past with with the miscreant. "That bastard has things he's useful for, but he's most tolerable when he's busy being up to something or humiliated into the ground... Or the rare occasion he's actually being considerate... But," she hesitated to admit the next part of it, moving to take a seat and took a dried fish out of the box as it was handed to her, "it was always easier to tolerate him when Yuzuki was around... It's hard to admit, but, I wouldn't have met her if it wasn't for him, actually... I probably wouldn't even be sitting here right now too..." The feline hadn't realized her ears had fallen back and pressed against her head as she mentioned it, telling of deeper meanings behind her vague words, though they came forward again as he mentioned there could be some recompense for his constantly crude behavior, even lightly chuckling at the thought before munching into the dried fish she held. "I suppose it could be possible he might get the same treatment for once, but I'll put up with that dumb creature for now, just don't expect me to like it!"

"Don't make it sound like such a chore to be around me, Konene," Kaito's voice piped in shortly after, leaping in quietly and sitting down just by them, "we work well together in battle too, I'm sure it won't take much to get used to working with Mitsuyoshi-dono here either. You won't be complaining by the next time we end up in a fight." His appearance was now tended to, looking like he was in much more tip-top condition and it was clear with his use of honorifics he was already starting to respect the additional company before he reached out in an asking motion for the box containing the dried fish. Handing the box over with a 'humpf,' she allowed for him to share in their provisions at least while remarking, "it IS a chore to be around you! Just make sure to make yourself useful more often than not and I won't leave you on your own again while you're gone gathering information." While it was a snippy response, there seemed to be a genuine threat behind leaving him abandoned again and causing him to pout as he retrieve a fish out of the box for himself before handing it back to Mitsuyoshi, "still so cold..." It was just as fast after he was munching on the fish and seemed to perk up, happy to finally have some form of food to eat. The daiyoukai soon was picking out one of the jars of pickled vegetables for them to share as well while a relaxing breeze blew through the area again as well.

[Taishou89]

'So Kaito is connected to Yuzuki... Though it seems like Koneko's been searching for her for quite a long time if these two haven't been together for 30 years...' Mitsuyoshi thought to himself, as he listened to Koneko as she went on to explain that she had met Yuzuki through Kaito. 'Ahhh, ok... So I guess they must have saved her from something.' Thinking further to himself as he debated if he should ask, but noticing her ears had fallen and pressed against her head, he knew that it was something painful and probably not something she felt too comfortable talking about, so he decided to hold his tongue. 'Sometimes painful memories are best not dredged up to satisfy one's curiosity...' As he just silent leaned over and placed a hand on her shoulder, to comfort and let her know of his support, there was a certain warmth to his touch as he gave a reassuring smile as if he was letting her know that it's ok. "We will find her... I'm sure of it." he offered, though in his mind, he himself pondered the possibility '... after so many years of searching, the effort might only yield the knowledge of her fate, but who knows... Maybe she may still be there somewhere... either way Koneko... I will assist you.'

As she shifted the topic back to Kaito and away from what ailed her heart, Mitsuyoshi retracted his hand as he chuckled at her statement. "Worry not, Koneko... I too must learn to get used to his..." pausing for a second while he searched for a word to use, he continued "... ways." Mitsuyoshi reached into the pack again and withdrew some rice balls that Shiori had made using what rice they had left back at the Inn. There were 6 simple rice balls, but they would be good enough with the dried fish. Passing one to Koneko as he grabbed one for himself and took a bite from his fish and followed up with a bite from the rice ball. "Don't make it sound like such a chore to be around me, Konene," Mitsuyoshi heard Kaito pipe up as he joined them. "I do certainly hope you will not be a chore to be around for the long journey..." as he recalled his scuffle with the Fox just moments earlier. "... Though I think your skills will prove useful, especially with the way things are these days, I also hope that you won't get us into trouble." Mitsuyoshi finished his comment as he drew another rice ball and offered it to Kaito after Koneko handed him the box of dried fishes.

Taking the box, he placed it back into his pack and withdrew his chopsticks as Koneko passed the jar of pickled vegetables around. "At least the meal is pleasant and there are no interruptions, If it weren't for those two snake youkais this would actually be quite a peaceful place to camp." Mitsuyoshi mentioned as he dug into the jar of picked vegetables. "Mmm!" before taking another bite of the rice ball and his fish. Savoring his food before swallowing the mix of rice, fish, and pickled vegetables with an audible gulp. "Oishii! Such simple delights... I wonder if we have any more Red bean cakes. I'd suggest the Sake, but it's a little too early in the day for that with a long road ahead of us still." Mitsuyoshi chirped before passing the jar of pickled vegetables to Kaito, and polishing off what remained of his fish and Rice.

[Koneko]

The comfort given by her companion hadn't gone unnoticed before Kaito returned to the spot they relaxed, small motions of appreciation flickering through her appearance down to even her ears peeling up from her head in some relief before they'd come back forward from joking. There was even a slight chuckle that came from her as he mentioned needing to get used to the fox shortly before his reappearance by the two of them. Having graciously taken the rice ball as it was offered, Koneko had begun to munch on it shortly after passing off the box containing the dried fish, soon snickering at the comment her recent friend made. The fox on the other hand seemed mildly irate at the disbelief in his ability to be subtle as well, leading him to comment, "I try to save the trouble for enemies, not my allies."

"Could have fooled me," Koneko snarked in response, sticking her tongue out at him for a moment while he took the rice ball offered to him with thanks. Starting off with taking a few bites of the fish and rice, Kaito hid his own pout behind the food before noticing the jar of vegetables and started to reach into his clothing. The feline was soon snatching out a couple vegetables with the chopsticks she had pulled out with the jar, her expression turned visibly more content as the tip of her tail wiggled in a pleased fashion. With a decent portion she swallowed down, she soon piped back up, "Ahh! Having provisions like this on hand recently has been much better than the way I've been handling getting food for some time now. While I enjoy having my food really fresh, it's convenient to not have to work so hard for it for the past week! Though even with the snakes havign shown up, this is a really refreshing place to have stopped!" Digging out a couple more vegetables as she heard the suggestion of more bean cakes and mention of sake, the daiyoukai shoved them into her mouth and partly spoke with her chopsticks hanging out, voice muffled while starting to search the basket, "we dib jusff geb a few more, so we mighff haff some yeb, bup sake we coulb haff afder we geb to an inn wiff a warm meaw." As she searched the basket and mumbled a bit impolitely with her eating utensils in her mouth, the fox began to seemingly become frantic in searching for something, soon exclaiming as an upset grew that he wasn't finding what he was looking for, "n-no way!! Don't tell me I lost them!!" Undoubtedly having the attention of the other two on him at that point, he made a few more frantic efforts before sighing in defeat.

Pausing her search for additional treats to go with their snacking meal, Koneko finally pulled the chopsticks from her mouth to talk properly, "what did you lose?" Pride in the way of coming right out to admit it, Kaito paused before grumbling out, "I must have dropped my chopsticks while searching or maybe while I got caught up in starting a fight..." He really couldn't be sure when he'd dropped them as she scratched his face sheepishly. Kaito remembered having them earlier a few days before, but he'd bee searching so frantically since he'd last kept track of them he could have lost them easily in that time frame. "You... You lost your chopsticks?! You really got that careless since I last had to put up with you?!"

"I was going to take a few of the vegetables, but I was searching for you really desperately," the fox made a case for himself back, trying to make it seem less embarrassing and almost like they were lost as casualties for noble efforts he made. Getting inquiry now for wanting to reach into the shared jar of vegetables with his hands instead of a proper utensil for more cleanly eating, Kaito quickly insisted, "I washed off before I came back over here, they're clean! I promise! See!" He held out his hands, the only thing truly visible on them was maybe a few particles of rice and dried fish from what they'd all just indulged from. "Not good enough for me, the way you are I think you're as filthy as they come! You can have the rest once we're done taking what we want from it so i don't have to risk touching anything contaminated by your hands!" While her words were sharp, a tiny piece of her did feel bad for him that he had lost them, even if it was likely from his own carelessness once he'd whimpered in more defeat. Continuing her search, through the goods in the basket she'd been carrying, she managed to find a couple more of the bean cakes, handing one to Miatuyoshi and then held the other out to Kaito while snubbing him, "Here, I don't need you complaining more that you're starving once we're ready to go..." It was like she was hiding any of her concerns for him behind a shield of grumpiness. "You do care Konene!" The kitsune elated, seeming to beam as he took the cake, "I'll savor such a gift from you!" The cat soon shot him a dirty look back, "It's just so you don't complain, don't think to deeply of it you mouthy fleabag!" Plopping back down on her butt in a huff, she snuck a couple more vegetables before letting Mitsuyoshi take his fill of it and intended to leave the rest for the last one in the group who was quite contently munching on the bean cake, savoring it even.

[Taishou89]

As Mitsuyoshi finished off his food, he leaned back against the log, stretching out his arms and legs and heaving a satisfied moan as he his muscles stretched. "Well that certainly was delicious!" Until he noticed Koneko holding out a bean cake for him. Graciously taking it with enthusiasm and a smile. "Oh boy! Thanks! An even better way to finish a good meal." As he bit into the soft and chewy ball of goodness, savoring the sweet red bean paste within. He chuckled to himself lightly as he watched the exchange between his two companions. He certainly had to admit that they could be amusing and despite Koneko's harsh jabs at the Fox's pride, he could see that she did genuinely care even if she did find Kaito to be quite annoying.

"You know... you could probably find some twigs and wash them a little and use them as chopsticks if anything." He suggested to his goofy companion as he waved his hand out around him to express that there was no shortage of sources around them. As the Kaito would eventually get a chance to have some pickled vegetables, Mitsuyoshi kicked back and relaxed for a little longer, his clothes were mostly dry by now, though some parts were still a little damp, but by the time they continued their journey, he would most likely be decently dried off. Taking the hair tie he had left on his armor, he casually gathered up his hair and tied it up sufficiently and brushed his bangs to the side and out of his face. "You know with how nice the weather is right now, it's hard to imagine that less than a week ago we were besieged by a snow storm... I've heard of some Youkai possessing the ability, but I almost suspect that Mistress Chi might have had some hand in the manipulation of the local weather..." Mitsuyoshi pondered allowed. The weather was indeed beautiful and a dramatic change, the air was cool enough to be comfortable, yet sunny enough to be warmed by it's rays.

Casually, Mitsuyoshi rose from his comfortable seat and began to redress himself with his armor starting with his forearm guards as he stepped away briefly as he affixed and fastened it to his forearms. He had to admit that he did feel a little vulnerable without it's weight, even though his movement and speed improved greatly without it. "Kaito-dono, would you be so kind as to pass me my cuirass?" Mitsuyoshi asked as he turned to face the two, having intentionally stepped away so he could ask Kaito, intending to show off to the prideful Fox and poke him in jest. His height and average looking physique often threw others off when they did lift or feel his armor, and it was a kind of pride for him. He knew that his armor weighed much heavier than the typical armor worn by a fully suited Samurai on horseback and that was just cuirass alone. Had he worn the full set, it would have been too cumbersome and restricting for even the fittest Samurai warrior, but Mitsuyoshi had no problem donning it fully suited up, even still moving faster than the average Samurai. The added weight also added some heft when dealing physical strikes with the momentum of his motion. Though he long since stopped wearing the shoulder guards, helmet, and his trademark menpo(mask) made in the form of a wolf's snarling snout, He still kept the Menpo for old times sake, but was confident in his abilities enough that he felt he didn't need the shoulder guards or the helmet, particularly since the helmet muffled his hearing as it covered his ears, and he was fast enough to dodge most incoming arrows or blows.

[Koneko]

After being thanked, Koneko gave Mitsuyoshi a much more pleasant look than she'd been giving to her previous companion, "you're welcome, hopefully we can keep enjoying decent food on a fairly regular basis like we've been lucky to so far." Lifting the jar of vegetables, she peered inside of it for a moment before handing it over to Kaito, once again slightly snubbing him in some attempt of hiding the kind gesture, "I'm done eating, so rest are yours. Just make sure you get a replacement pair of chopsticks in Kiso and no more of going without food! I don't want to be reminding a grown ass man to eat because he was too stupid to take care of himself!" With his tails all now flitting behind him happily as he took the jar, the fox tried to steal another opportunity to win her affections over, taking her now empty hand in his and interjecting a flirt, "if you were to accept my proposals and become my wife I would never let myself forget to eat again and make certain to care for- Gahhhh!" No sooner had he been speaking than her other fist had pushed against his head and started rubbing against it hard to make it just painful enough to teach him a lesson on making another attempt like that, "I already told you stop it with that! Never gonna happen, so shut it and stuff it!" Shortly after she sat back and crossed her arms, just relaxing in place.

Rubbing the spot on his head that had been roughly ruffled, Kaito sat back down with merely a small sigh, 'oh well, worth another try...' He then looked to Mitsuyoshi as the suggestion was made, "You know... you could probably find some twigs and wash them a little and use them as chopsticks if anything." Glancing over at the sticks, he seemed to consider the option for a moment, but soon sighed, deeming, "it's not a bad idea, but a little too much effort for just the remainder unless Konene thought of eating any more." Shaking her head, the feline responded, "All yours," while closing her eyes lightly to just take in the calm moment. "Then I'll deal with having lost them for now, if it's necessary to have some more before reaching Kiso, then I'll deal with it at that point," he followed up, soon reaching his hand in and going ahead with nibbling on the vegetables. The next sentiment brought up to conversation had Koneko opening her eyes slightly to glance over at Mitsuyoshi before looking up and out at the weather and closing her eyes again. "It's possible, the rain was one thing, but the way the snow came in and seemed inclined to force us to stay trapped at that inn..." she stated as she seemed to think about it, "I wonder if the spider did cause the weather considering it drew in a few humans as well. I just hope our 'friends' enjoy having to clean up the leftover mess while we get to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight." There was a slight chortle that came out with her words before she arched back a little to soak up some of the light on her face.

"If this demon was controlling the weather, that could have been very dangerous. Are you sure you took care of the incident you told me about just fine?" For once it seemed the kitsune was actually scrutinizing the daiyoukai really closely, seemingly picking up on being told a not-so-truthful version of their time at the inn as he polished off the last of the jar of pickled veggies and set it nearby to be packed away again once they were ready. "Of course it got taken care of just fine! I had a handle on it and we're both sitting here in decent shape so no reason to butt in with worry!" Koneko kept her cool as she reinforced what she'd told Kaito only a little while earlier, attempting to keep his concerns to a minimum so he couldn't push that his company was a necessity rather than being tolerated. She only glowered back at him finally when she could feel his eyes on her, trying to pierce through her facade over it.

"Kaito-dono, would you be so kind as to pass me my cuirass?"

The staring contest broke as Mitsuyoshi asked for his largest piece of armor, the fox sighing as he was certain he was being lied to, but let it go for now. Standing up, Kaito stepped over to the curiass and underestimated it at first, having to fast readjust his grip after his initial motion to pick it up so it wouldn't slide out of his hands. "I heard it hit the ground pretty good earlier, but this is heavier human-made armor than I expected... You've been walking around in this?" He seemed taken back and impressed that something this weighty was worn so regularly as even many youkai who wore armor didn't opt for anything quite so weighted. Looking it over, he'd finally noticed that during his staring contest with the feline the hanyou had moved a bit further away while redressing in parts of his armor. "Is it really that heavy?" Koneko inquired curiously, not having really tried messing with his armor on it's own, though she did recall lifting her friend shortly after meeting while he wore it and over all he didn't seem that much heavier for it. "Konene, be fair, you're not exactly the best judge of what is or isn't weighty given what you are," he seemed to sincerely pout as he walked the armor piece over to the wolf, reluctant to let go of it to anyone's hands but it's owner's. Yet the feline was already getting to her feet to come see for herself, soon lifting it from the fox's hands before it could be transferred to the appropriate party. "Are you sure this is heavy? It seems light enough to me... Maybe cumbersome to move around in and I don't think I'd want to have to wear it since I like having my full range of motion, but it seems light enough." After getting her own feel for it, she handed it to Mitsuyoshi while coyly sticking her tongue out at the fox, as if she'd done it on purpose anyways just to get the mildly disgruntled look out of him. With a sigh he finally admitted with a slight grumble, "alright, alright, I'm far from the strongest one here, but it's still not a fair match with you being half tiger!" On closer inspection, the admittance actually left Koneko beaming in a very cheery delight, even her tail swayed quite wide and proudly.

[Taishou89]

Mitsuyoshi wasn't surprised when Koneko stepped in to feel the weight of his armor and remarked at how light it was. The knowledge of her strength was still fresh in his mind as he likely would never forget how she picked him up as if he were a small animal with ease and even now the thought did still cause him to blush in embarrassment of being handled as such. "Oh Koneko... I did forget how strong you were..." nervously chuckling at the memory in his mind as he told a white lie as he slipped the cuirass on and began to secure before donning the rest of his armor and Uwa obi, placing both of his Wakizashi and his Father's tanto in their place. He couldn't hold his chuckle as Kaito sighed and grumbled at the jab to him hit it's mark. "alright, alright, I'm far from the strongest one here, but it's still not a fair match with you being half tiger!" 


"It took a little getting used to when it was first gifted to me by my father, but he had wanted me to wear armor that could at least withstand strikes from my own sword, in case I ever had to fight a youkai with an equally powerful blade, or so I was told by my brother Mitsutada." As he tapped his armor with the knuckles of his right hand. "I honestly didn't even know about my sword..." He held up the Kazega for reference before continuing "... until he bequeathed it to me just before he passed." As he recalled that solemn moment by his father's bedside. "My brother told me that he had the armorer test the blade on a number of samples, until one final prototype deflected it's strikes and thrusts. Though it was eventually destroyed, and not long after the first several strikes at that, but it was the only one that offered enough protection to be deemed worthy enough as the Armorer was at the limit of his skill and resources." Mitsuyoshi told his two companions. All this time in his life it had never dawned on him to question how exactly they were able to use the Kazega to test it, as even for it's extremely sharp cutting ability, required someone of his daiyoukai bloodline. At the time when he had accepted the blade, he'd yet to discover that little limitation, but in the hands of a mere mortal, the sword was sufficient as any other blade would be, but would not have the fierce slicing abilities and powers that could be tapped without having his bloodline.

"Anyway, When my father gave me this, he told me to wear it at all times for almost an entire year to get used to it and I just kinda got into the habit of wearing all the time after he told me I no longer needed to wear it all the time." Though he didn't know that there was a real reason that he was made to wear the armor during that period, if he were to analyze the facts that surrounded that particular time of his life, he would have likely become suspicious, but Lord Mitsutomo was successful in concealing the true reason and even his brother Mitsutada would take that secret with him to the afterlife. "Kaito maybe you should don some armor yourself, it might help you build up some strength." He chirped with sincerity, but partially to poke at the Fox again out of playful fun.

[Koneko]

The attention of both youkai in front of Mitsuyoshi were pulled to him as he began to tell a bit of history about the armor, the two of them studying over it and the Kazega here and there while he talked about. "They kept it a secret from you for all that time?" Koneko questioned slowly, considering more of his words as he explained further the durability testing they'd done. It was Kaito to speak up next, his hand on his chin as if thinking over the information carefully before returning it to his hip, "the fact most human-made items couldn't stand up to it makes sense, even the armorer being pushed to limits to make it. Weapons and armor made from a youkai tend to be stronger than items produced under ordinary means and often come with properties of the youkai it came from. Many you could even consider 'alive' in a way because of the residual traits it keeps because of that. Though it sounds like the ones testing it were at least able to do so without having issues come up from handling it, I'd take it from that alone the blade must be lacking in ill intent."

The daiyoukai stood listening to the kitsune intently, occasionally glancing between Mitsuyoshi and the Kazega on his side. "Now that I think about it, it's surprising the sword was left with you to come into your possession when you were old enough. From what I've seen you do with it, it's not one I'd take lightly if I were ever in a scenario against it, though few weapons of that nature would I ever underestimate..." Koneko's ears flicked in a fairly large motion as her gaze moved to to look at her friend, yet Kaito glanced over at her while making her statement, a soft pity seeming to grace his expression before she spoke again and his own focus shifted to the hanyou. "Either way it seems like not too bad of a habit to have wearing it most of the time the luck we've had coming into scuffles recently and probably a good thing since fighting other youkai can be very unpredictable, so every extra bit of protection will help even if it's just giving you a couple of hits before it really gets damaged." She seemed to gently beam as if she pulled mostly good things from his explanation, and it wasn't untrue: in a way it was relief again to know that protection had been given to him in his unique circumstances for a half breed. She even chuckled slightly at his remark to Kaito, a cat like grin appearing on her lips as she watched the his tails fluff slightly at the comment.

"I may not be the most outright strongest, but I am fast and fairly cunning and that I wouldn't compromise!" he retorted, puffing up slightly before giving his own sly grin, "the only thing it's important to be strong enough to do is lift a lovely lady in my arms: they find it really attractive to be picked up like that. Perhaps strong enough to lift one in each arm if I really want to show off and get their attention!" Kaito seemed to have just moved into thinking of past endeavors of flirting with women where his charms had worked on gaining the attention he had wanted and lightly puffing his ego on it. "Maybe it's better he doesn't get stronger so it doesn't go to his head more... He's already lost in detestable thoughts and he doesn't need any more contributing ideas to encourage him..." Koneko commented with a glower before gathering up their items from the area and lifting the basket to her back and turning to walk off. "why don't we get going before he has too much time to think and acts on those ideas..."

[Taishou89]

Though he had always knew there was still quite a lot more to know about Koneko's story and her own motivations behind her quest to find Yuzuki, it was her statement of never underestimating Youkai weaponry and Kaito's expression in response that hinted of sympathy, which told Mitsuyoshi that she might have had first hand experience being on the receiving end of a weapon of similar power. For Mitsuyoshi though, even he did not know the extent of power that his own sword was capable of, but just that it was superior to human blades in both durability and sharpness, and send forth blades of light and wind like an archer shoots arrows, though in time he would come to learn the true extent of his sword's power and abilities and the toll that it would cost.


Mitsuyoshi chuckled softly chuckled to himself as he gave the Fox a toothy grin as Kaito retorted. For as much as Kaito tended to get under his skin earlier, it was nice to get push poke him back and get under his skin. However, Mitsuyoshi couldn't contain himself as he burst out laughing at the Fox's follow up statement and Koneko's comment. As he begun to step after Koneko while still laughing, he patted Kaito on the shoulder with a loud and fairly dramatic pat while his laugh slowly died down. "Ha ha! Ok Lover boy!" As he leaned a little on the fox's shoulder catching himself. "You know, I must confess that you are a bit amusing even if you do lack some humility..." He chuckled again as he gave the Fox another pat on the shoulder before removing his hand and starting back towards his pack "... But  Koneko's right we should probably hit the road if we're to make Kiso before sun down." as he positioned his sword in his obi and slipped hi pack on. 'He's not too bad after all, I think I may be able to tolerate him a lot better than I thought... If not, at least I'll always be entertained.' Mitsuyoshi thought to himsef as he then stood next to Koneko, both of them waiting for the Fox who appeared to be in deep thought. Mitsuyoshi could already tell by Koneko's facial expression that she'd begun to feel impatient. "Um... Kaito-dono...?" he started to try and get his attention.

[Koneko]

Once more Mitsuyoshi had captured the attention of both of the present youkai, surprised looks on their faces at his outburst of laughter and Koneko pausing with a blink added in. Kaito seemed lost as to what was so funny out of what he had said, even flinching slightly to the slightly rough and audible pat delivered to his shoulder, more from not expecting it than anything. A curious look soon crossed the fox's face as the man next to him was capable of a far more jovial nature than he'd anticipated for his initial appearance. 'Was what I said really so funny? I'm not sure what about it was so humorous,' he began to start pondering the reasons while the hanyou supported himself on his shoulder, though rubbed the back of his head with the next statement with an abashed look. "I suppose I prefer to entertain in this case, seeing as I'll be joining you from here on out," he then commented, though it did earn a slight scoff from the feline in detest he had to stay and yet she seemed to tap her foot in an eagerness to move again. It soon turned to the kitsune watching as the wolf moved to grab his things and follow after their companion in the lead, his thoughts returning to trying to understand what was so funny about the comment he made on his endless yearning to impress and captivate women for his ceaseless desire of them. The return to pondering left him standing there,entranced in cracking the motive behind the entire conundrum.

As she was finally joined by Mitsuyoshi, Koneko turned and began to walk forward again, assuming the last addition to the group would follow suit quickly after. "About time! Let's get going and make it in time to at least get ourselves some kind of shelter tonight in Kiso!" As she took the few steps, she didn't stop moving until she heard her friend mention the fox's name, "Um... Kaito-dono...?" Turning to look with a bigger scowl this time, the fur on her tail stood slightly on end as she growled out, "Hey lard-brain! Get your head out of the clouds and move those feet! Or did those rocks hit you too hard you can't walk and think at the same time anymore?" That seemed to snap Kaito back to the present moment with another sheepish grin that he'd been so fixated on figuring out what had caused the over-joyed laughter a few moments earlier. "Errr, they still work, I suppose I should stop standing here making a fool of myself..." he remarked before leaping forward and following behind so they could all start moving. "You better, I not going to put up with nearly as much of your antics this time and I expect you to get out of your own messes if you're horsing around! Yuzuki's... not here to convince me otherwise, so don't push your luck!" She struggled to say the last part of her threat once she uttered the name and the threat fell slightly flat, but she tried to hold an air like she meant it. She would never admit it outright that, as much as she detested his presence, his reappearance had brought a small feeling of normalcy to her: a tie back to the person she yearned to see so desperately. There was a comfort to his presence that she hid vehemently behind a veil of disgust, but she continued to refuse to allow herself to seem weak in front of either of them - she had to continue to look tough to keep up appearances.

While he now moved at pace with the two, Kaito had realized from the fact she brought up Yuzuki's name alone that she must have at least said something to Mitsuyoshi at some point and in some capacity. It stuck out to him, she seldom would tell strangers about things that bothered her and even for them it had taken quite a bit of building trust to see her talk about anything that burdened her, yet he was relieved to see this slight difference, however faint it was. "Konene, we'll find Yuzuki," he reassured, though he wasn't sure how, nor exactly felt great saying it as he was certain his words of comfort were nothing more than a lie said to pacify the woe, 'I don't know how or if we can, but we'll try... And since you've seemed to put your trust in Mitsuyoshi, I'll give him my own as well.' Ever so quietly the feline could be heard responding, much like a whisper as she kept walking forward without even glancing back to save some face in hiding the pain she kept buried, "thank you... both of you..."

Kimi wo Mite iru