Kiso Village and the Mysterious priestess from another time

[Taishou89]

Hearing Kaito speak and in such a serious tone of how fortunate Mitsuyoshi was to have someone to teach him such valuable lessons that otherwise would have been hard learned, set the mood. Thus far, except for their initial encounter, Kaito had never seemed much like he was at this exact moment. Kaito had Mitsuyoshi's full attention, as he sat silent and listened to what came from the Fox next. His eyes took note of his roommate's hands he unwrapped the towel that had been around his neck and it was then that he noticed that this was the first time he'd ever seen the Fox without a covering for his neck. The reason revealed itself almost instantly as the hanyou noted the scars that wrapped around his neck, by how blended with his skin they were, Mitsuyoshi could tell they were old.

By the way the scars were marked and as Kaito's own hand had shown, clearly one could see the outlines of each digit of a hand, and a fairly large hand at that. 'Why haven't they healed? I've had some pretty bad wounds but they've never left even a small scar...' the hanyou questioned in his thoughts but the answer would be told soon after.  "In my youth I thought my skills unmatched by anyone and that I was fast enough to be impervious to being spotted or capture and, as you can see, I paid for woefully underestimating my opponent along with misjudging just what I was getting myself into. Normally cuts like these would have healed completely and easily been forgotten on our kind, but suffice to say I was lucky to get away with just the reminder." As Kaito paused momentarily, his thoughts likely drawn to the old memory of his experience. Mitsuyoshi recognized the pause and look in his companion's eyes, something anyone who'd ever been through such trauma or life altering event would know, and he began to feel even more sorry that he'd misjudged the Fox. It was in this moment that he found himself gaining a newfound respect and consideration for him. 'For all of his gloating and jovial and joking nature...  Even if he wasn't a warrior or ashigaru, It never dawned on me that he would have had such an experience...' But also in his mind, for all the times he'd wanted to strangle Kaito since they first met, he could also see also why someone might have actually done it, but it wasn't appropriate to dwell on such a thought with how serious Kaito was being and the fact that he was sharing a part of himself that likely few, if any, got to know.


"As for mistaking my intentions, don't worry about it much. I changed up my approach since that first-hand experience, it's easier to have an upper hand when you keep a slight air of unpredictability. And perhaps keep your life much longer as well." Kaito said, his words laced with a tone much like one might hear in an elder's words of wisdom. Mitsuyoshi found himself nodding in agreement, recognizing the reasoning of why Kaito is the way he is. A grin formed from Kaito's lips, lightening the mood of the atmosphere as he piped up. "Likewise to what that priestess taught you, I seek to give others a chance at having a fair chance at living, and I've gotten the feeling there's a few of us who need that." As Kaito spoke, a small grin of approval crossed the Hanyou's lips as he nodded again. As Kaito stretched and began to wrap the towel around his neck again to cover up his scars, Mitsuyoshi spoke "Kaito... " but almost at the same time the Fox started up with another comment. "I know I irritate her, but I am relieved to see Konene is alright and keeping good company." 

With that being said, Mitsuyoshi paused from what he was about to say, recognizing that perhaps it needn't be said. It was likely that Kaito knew that the hanyou was about to apologize and thank him for sharing such a very personal piece of his history. Smiling to himself as he caught the compliment. "Kaito... I think, despite your unrequited love, perverse flirts and thoughts, Your intentions to help Koneko are well and sincere and even if she may be a bit rough with you, Even though you both may have a history together longer than I, You are truly honorable and worthy to follow her." Mitsuyoshi said as he reached beneath the covers. "Perhaps you should take up music, maybe Koneko's heart may change if you can perfect it and play her a song..." he held out his shinobue to the Fox. "You can borrow it to practice." the Hanyou smiled warmly at him. His action sincere and well intended, knowing that it was his ability to play the flute that brought him and Ayame together in the beginning, but the action had another meaning in itself as well. He was revealing that it was he who had played the beautiful melody they had all heard earlier.




 

[Koneko]

Despite the nature Mitsuyoshi had come to know, Kaito took the compliment in return quite gracefully by giving a very slight bow of his head to accept it. Though, as his roommate reached under the covers of his own bedding, his tails swayed curiously in tandem and then his eyes showed sign of connecting together the missing piece of the evening, finishing his glance with an acknowledging grin as he now understood just who their mystery musician was earlier in the night and why he'd seemed to feel bad about Kiyomi's little accident just moments ago. The fox's tails all even began to wiggle slightly in joy as he gave thought and consideration to winning Koneko's heart over by playing his own beautiful music before he gently reached out and bowed his head a bit deeper in gratitude. "The music earlier this evening already aided me in my earlier position, but I've never had real consideration of playing music of my own. I do now see a bit of the sway it can hold in more intimate moments, perhaps it's worth making an attempt for myself seeing as my other charms she seems quite immune to after trying time and again," he agreed openly as he pondered it, studying the look and make of the shinobue. His softer grin then changed to a wide smile more fitting of his normal nature to match the warm smile given to him, his words still coming out with an air of sincerity, "Mitsuyoshi, if this turns her heart to finally accepting my love for her, then I owe you quite a big favor indeed and you have my gratitude no matter what for allowing the opportunity at the very least."

With a moment of silence as he pondered for himself a few scenarios of playing the shinobue and winning over Koneko's love and affection, the pleasing ending pretty clear from the expression on his face, it was soon the kitsune realized just how quiet it was outside and considered how late it was clearly getting. Carefully laying the instrument amongst his items before fixing his gaze back to Mitsuyoshi, he gave his word of assurance, "Rest assured it'll be safe in my hands! Perhaps even tomorrow after we've investigated the shrine they talked about I'll find a moment to begin learning." He seemed a bit eager, but clearly knew far better than to get too far ahead of himself on this one, though, after a short few more moments, he considered quietly that it had been getting late and perhaps some sleep for the both of them was in order. There was little telling of what lay ahead for them in the next day, whether it would all be mundane with little to find or if perhaps the shrine might act up again as Kiyomi had mentioned. "It is getting late, perhaps it's time to turn in just to be ready for tomorrow, even if little happens," Kaito suggested, sliding down under the provided blanket for his futon before laying back and getting comfortable. After a moment he piped up quietly once more, a warm smile still on his face, "Oh, by the way, Mitsuyoshi, I'll keep what you revealed between us." With a final grin, he rolled over and focused more on getting some rest.

-----------

The fresh morning brought some rejuvenation, especially given for once in the past week the trio woke up with no true issues to worry about: no youkai attacks sapping them of strength, no villagers and merchants approaching with weapons and obnoxious attitudes, no searching for others, not even any real weather to concern over. There was only the calm of a village getting a start on their day and going about their business. Koneko stood out on the veranda stretching and soaking in the coveted tranquility, all their efforts to smooth themselves at least at little merit that they were far from malevolently devious beings had paid off well for such a pleasant and serene morning. She was completely set and ready for the day ahead, though accompanying the two miko to a small shrine a bit further out wasn't much of anything to have a need to be overly prepared for, even more so with three of them to be an escort. Ears swiveling to the sounds of birds singing and tail sedately swaying, her attention was then gently pulled back to the room behind her as she heard the girl behind her speaking. "I really hope we at least find something out today," Kiyomi started as she finished tidying the spot she'd slept in and made sure nothing had fallen off her person as she'd slept, "well... Really I hope that something we find is how to get me back home..." There was an eagerness in her, and it was a little clear some of her homesickness was returning with the shrine now being at the forefront of all her thoughts again. The feline put on a soft smile, soon trying to help the priestess regain the collected and peppy manner she'd had the previous day since meeting them. "Even if we find very little, that's still more than nothing. Besides, you seem to have stumbled into favorable circumstances as it is, I've no doubt if even your hopes don't come true, you'll still have a chance of finding your way here."

The young priestess joined the youkai out on the veranda, at least feeling mildly less anxious from the words said to help try to ease her worries. She was right, but it didn't entirely stop the worry she might not make it back, might not see her family again and show them she was okay and had managed to find herself sometime else from the modern world they all knew. "And don't forget you have my word we'll make time to come back and visit like you asked if you find yourself having to stay here." That managed to draw at least a small, genuine smile from Kiyomi, finding that notion truly reassuring seeing as the tiger was telling her no matter what she wasn't alone here, even if it wasn't the company she longed for. "Koneko... Thank you for saying all that to help me feel better," she replied, managing a much more energetic smile. Koneko raised a hand to pat her head as she smiled back before her ear turned and she looked over to see the door to the room the two men had been sleeping in open. The two women then turned their focus to greeting the rest of the group, chipper enough with their greeting. "Good morning Mitsuyoshi! Good morning Kaito!" the miko said spiritedly while the feline casually slid her hands into her sleeves and calmly said, "I hope you both slept well, I was surprised I didn't hear any shouting or attempts on Kaito's life." The wolf managed to slide in a returned greeting, "Good morning Lady Kiyomi and Good morning to you as well Koneko." Giving a light smile to the both of them as he emerged on the veranda with Kaito. However before Mitsuyoshi could reply to Koneko's question, Kaito was the first to respond first.  The fox's regular attitude had certainly returned to him by now, putting on an over-the-top pout as he replied, "Oh come on Koneneeeee! I'm not that bad and I can behave sometimes!" There was a slight pause as his expression changed to a more suggestive one with a sultry tone, "of course unless you want me to misbehave, then I'd be glad to oblige." The provocative air could practically been felt wafting off of him that even Kiyomi understood the implication this time, but, shockingly, the daiyoukai held her cool; perhaps because of just how still the morning had been so far. "Someone's certainly got a renewed stock of energy..." The hanyou heaved a sigh as he then lightly shook his head at Kaito's last remark, finding him to be back up to his usual shenanigans.

"Don't try your luck or my patience, at least not this early," Koneko snipped back at least turning her head quickly to signify her displeasure at the insinuation, just solving it by dismissing him, though it seemed just as surprisingly effective this morning. Kiyomi herself just giggled slightly, not sure what to say, though she remembered the warning her friend had given last night and even was starting to see it herself now, though she still did find parts of the exchange sincerely funny considering how the two seemed to bounce off of each other. "After we retired to our room, he was so much more well behaved, so it wasn't too hard." After the conversation he and Kaito had last night that left him with a new sense of respect for the Fox, it still seemed a bit improper to be so flirty in the early morning even though he knew this was just Kaito being Kaito. "Kaito you must be a morning person eh?" The kitsune then looked over to Mitsuyoshi as he was asked, admitting, "I guess you could say that, I'm more of a light sleeper, it's the best way to keep an eye and an ear out." Finding the answer at least acceptably tame given the preceding moments of conversation, the wolf then asked, "Has Lady Fusae made her way here? I hope we haven't kept anyone waiting." The feline shook her head, "No, not yet that I've seen, so we're all waiting together at this point." The young priestess then piped up again, having gotten a taste of Fusae's routine, "Maybe she had a few villagers show up in need this morning, that happened for quite a bit of yesterday, though I'm sure she's on her way here like she said she'd be."

It was then she looked back to the feline and spoke up once more, returning a vocal favor of the earlier bolstering she received, "By the way, Koneko, I wanted to say I hope you find something out too since it sounds like it would mean a lot. You been so nice so far trying to even keep me cheered up this morning that I hope this brings something to you too. Really all of you have been so nice since I met you yesterday and even the villagers too..." There was a faint look of surprise as the daiyoukai stared at Kiyomi, but it turned up in a warm smile, "I really hope so too..." It was all she could muster before looking back out at the morning sky.

[Taishou89]

"Pardon my delay, I had some tasks I needed to fulfill before I could depart." The voice of the elder priestess came as she approached on the veranda behind the group. "There is never a day's rest in the life of a priestess, but aye it is rewarding all in it's own way. I'm glad to see that you are all well rested, shall we be off?" With a nod of everyone, the group set off leaving the Headman's manor. By now some in the group might have begun to wonder where their host was as they would have expected to be seen off by him, but to this Lady Fusae responded before the question was even raised "Kimura-dono had to depart early this morning to oversee the planting of fresh crops in the Western fields, He likely will not return until the evening."

As the group made their way through the village, most of which was empty save for the few who remained and tended to the other recently harvested crops. Most went about their business and paid no mind to the youkai that accompanied the Elder Miko, bowing every so often as she passed. Passing a small shack that was apparently a merchant's store, selling wears, tools, and other trinkets. It was smaller than the ones that Mitsuyoshi could recall from long ago of the main town that used to sit outside Nishino castle, but by the prices listed he could plainly tell that Shiori was indeed right as he remembered the exchange between her and Murata. At a casual pace the group made their way through the Torii of the main shrine in the village, climbing the steps that lead lined the hill up to the main shrine before circling around behind it to another smaller, older torii that bore no paint and was far simpler than the one they had passed through prior. Once through it, they continued down the path away from the shrine and the village, heading into the forest.

"If I may ask, Why does the village have two shrines?" Mitsuyoshi inquired, as the group headed into the tree line. "As you already know, The old shrine that we are heading to was built to house the rock that fell from the heavens. According to the story I was told long ago when I first came here, It was the Priestess Yuzuki who had determined that the spirit of the stone was angered and upset to have been cast out of the heavens and that it was because of it's anger that caused the people to get sick, the crops to die, and corrupted the earth around it. Some how she had managed to learn this and communicate with the stone and eventually managed to purify it of it's darkness. In doing so the sickness that plagued the village was miraculously cured, the earth began to flower and life began to sprout, the crops recovered as well." As Fusae told of the legend that had been long seemed to have been forgotten by most of the villagers today, The scenes of the story played out in the imaginations of the group as she told it, to those that knew Yuzuki would have known her character to be just as so.

"... After purifying the strange stone from the heavens, Yuzuki had instructed the Headman of the village that they must build a shrine outside of the village where she would enshrine the purified stone and that the sickness would not return to plague the village and the crops, that by doing so the spirit of the heavenly stone would be placated and it's anger would abate over time now that the darkness that fermented in it's soul was no more. That is the story of the old shrine. Although it is forgotten by many now and simply regarded as a folk tale by the younger generation, I still make my way out to it to perform offerings and purification rituals throughout the year to ensure the old kami is honored and placated." Fusae spoke before her tone quickly shifted to explain the newer shrine in the village. "As for the shrine in the village, when I came to this village some time ago it was Kimura-dono who asked me to oversee and bless the construction of a shrine in the Village to help bring prosperity and safety to Kiso, I agreed and when he asked me to stay as caretaker of the shrine, I agreed again. I am not as spry as I once was and it was becoming more exhausting to stay on the road as a traveling priestess, plus I could see that the villagers were in need." Fusae came to halt as they approached an old Torii standing before the small shrine, It's age showing without question, with moss growing on parts of the wood on both the shrine and torii. Bowing twice from the waist she then proceeded to Clap her hands twice before bowing at the waist two more times but deeper, before placing her hands in position to pray and clapping twice more only using her right hand, before finally letting them rest together as she softly muttered a prayer to the deity, offering her deepest respect and reverence while conveying the groups intention with all respect to the stone. "I must ask ye to be respectful, lest we awaken the wrath of the old kami that inhabits the stone." She spoke to the group as she broker her prayer form to face them. "For 40 years this kami has rested peacefully and I fear it would be beyond my abilities if it were to be roused to anger." 

[Koneko]

Having their questions answered without needing to ask as they followed, the group followed, Kiyomi still took in more sights of the village as they passed through, watching as the villagers went about their day. It felt like a bit of affirmation to her that either she would be returning here shortly to consider it her life from here on out or it would be possibly the last time she'd see this place as far as she was aware. As she was glancing around, it could be noticed even Kaito was as well, though his eyes were clearly wandering around to peruse any beautiful women that happened across their range of sight while Koneko was quite the opposite of the rest. Her eyes stayed fixed on the path ahead, at times kept on the priestess leading them or minor glances away to their surroundings: she was focused only on getting to the older shrine with her head only just finally turning to look glance over the two torii they'd passed under. A short ways after passing under the more worn torii and after they'd begun to enter the forest, the feline noticed a faint sensation starting to resonate from the pearl hidden within her. Since it was so faint, she decided as of that moment it wasn't worth giving much concern over despite it being fairly unusual for it to be reacting like it was.

Ears perking forward as Fusae began to recount the history she knew of the shrine Yuzuki had asked to be erected, she listened fairly intently, the others following suit. For Kiyomi, learning any of this information gave her more understanding of the shrine and the eerie feelings her and her family had always gotten around it, especially seeing as even by her grandfather's generation any knowledge of the history of the shrine had been lost and many had considered it bad luck or even hazardous to be too close to it. 'So forty years ago to the current time I'm in is when it was made and to house a malevolent-sounding stone from space... Or rather, the spirit residing in it... That spirit must be the cause of all those chilling feelings from being near the shrine we've all felt. Maybe it became angry again when it's story was forgotten about and offering stopped...' She was soon pulled from thinking about it when Kaito spoke quietly to Koneko, a watchful expression on his face as he was looking to her, "Konene, are you alright?" On further inspection, her face spoke of some kind of discomfort she was feeling and, despite her arms mostly being crossed, one of her hands rested over the center of her chest, as if trying to calm herself down. "Is something wrong?" the young miko asked lightly, seeing her look like that, though the daiyoukai was quick to brush the questions of concern off. "It's nothing... I think I'm just sensing this stone Yuzuki sealed in the shrine," she lied coolly, or at least she was lying about what exactly was going on with her. As they'd been getting closer, the resonating from her pearl had been steadily increasing, causing her discomfort and confusion as to why it was reacting to where they were heading, making it clear something about it was causing the reaction. 'It's never really acted up like this... Why now?!' she thought to herself, trying to wipe any visibility of distress from her face, 'I already determined I wasn't going to say more than necessary, I'll just tough it out until it passes. I need to find anything more I can, so I'm not turning around no matter what!' The kitsune himself let it go for now, but he held a concerned look as they kept moving forward.

By the time they'd reached the shrine and the priestess had finished all of her tale about each shrine, Koneko was feeling the resonance incredibly strongly, though she'd taken to trying her best to hide anything she'd been feeling yet, soon piping up again to help her keep a strong mind over it. "There's no need to worry, Lady Fusae, if the deity were to wake in revolt, it would fall to us to contain it. Yu...zuki would want me to do all I could to contain it." She stumbled over the name, the distraction of her pearl nearly keeping her attention hard enough to utter the woman's name in the more endearing manner she oft spoke in private in the past. "Everything you had to say sounds very like her, I've little doubt she was responsible for placating the kami here," she added, taking a moment to glance around while thinking to herself, 'My pearl refuses to settle, there's no question the stone in that shrine is what it's reacting to, but why? Why won't it settle? What is it my pearl is trying to tell me?!' It was Kaito that then pitched in his own agreeance to what had been set out by his companion, "I have to agree, this all has the hallmarks of the woman I met forty years ago, down to going out of her way to help bring prosperity back to an entire village. Though now I'm curious how this shrine ties to you, Kiyomi. You mentioned the shrine somehow transporting you and I believe mention of your family having a shrine nearby?"

The younger miko had begun to slowly approach the torii of the shrine, apprehensive to go near between her normal uneasiness about it and some fear building again that nothing will come of being there towards getting her home. As she was called upon, she flinched from being pulled from her thoughts and then scrambled to quick find the words to support what he said. "O-Oh! Y-yes, it's on my family's property... Etou... I know there's only the shrine here right now, but where I'm from there's long since no forest here anymore and even the area around the shrine is different with a small structure my family had made to help keep visitors to our shrine from getting too close..."  She paused to sigh a moment before continuing, "I'm sure it's really hard to think of an area like this being so different, but, now that I'm back here... I really don't even understand myself how it brought me here... I still remember how intensely the doors had been rattling that I even heard it from a decent distance away and when I moved close to touch it, it was quiet and the doors stuck closed..." Then thinking about what her elder said, she got an idea, "Lady Fusae, do you think maybe what I did angered it and an offering would soothe it and let me go back through?" Kaito interjected before the older priestess could answer, but meant to encourage the younger to at least make an attempt rather than back away before finding the basis of an answer first, "Maybe it would be best to retrace your steps first, try to see if that does it first and we can then start trying a few other things from there." He then noticed Koneko taking a few steps closer to the shrine, seeming fixated on the small structure itself. For her, the need to know not only if anything else relating Yuzuki or a possible hint of where she'd gone lay within, but now the need for an answer as to why this rock from the sky was driving her pearl absolutely wild despite Kiyomi needing to make her attempt around it first. "You sure you'll be okay getting closer?" he pressed her again, seeming to have made at least a few connections of whatever she wasn't willing to say was going on. "It's sealed in the shrine and by Yuzuki no less, I'm certain there's nothing to worry about..." she snarked back, though the fox seemed to have slipped back into a slightly more serious mood as he kept eyes mainly on the feline moving closer to the shrine while also watching Kiyomi slowly attempt walking under the old torii as a first step to retracing her steps.

[Taishou89]

As Fusae told the tale Mituyoshi had noticed Koneko's unease as they got into the tree line and proceeded deeper into the woods. 'Koneko doesn't seem to be well, I hope this isn't like what happened at the old Inn but in reverse... yet no one else appears to be experiencing any discomfort.' Although Kaito had tried to keep his concern on the downlow and out of earshot, it was impossible for Mitsuyoshi to not catch it, and in the past he had a rather bad habit of eavesdropping in the castle and hearing many things that were not meant for him to hear. Fortunately he had learned to be discreet about what things he did come to know and so he refrained from saying anything, especially since feline very obviously did not want anyone else to know that something was bothering her or that she might be sensing the mysterious stone. 'Still, knowing her strength and pride, if the stone really was affecting her someway, why wasn't it affecting everyone else? I could see it slipping past both Lady Fusae and Kiyomi, And maybe myself for not being a full youkai... but even Kaito seems unaffected.' His mind wondered as he turned his attention back to Fusae's tale.

"It is possible, but I cannot see why the heavenly stone would have transported you away because of it's anger. What is known is that when it was angry, it caused disease and corruption, the scroll did not mention of villagers being whisked away..." Fusae said as she retrieved an old scroll from her Kimono. "This scroll was written, I presume, by the Priestess Yuzuki long ago to chronicle the accounts that had occurred." before Kaito mentioned that Kiyomi should retrace her steps before seeming to take an interest in the scroll that Fusae had produced. Offering the scroll to Kaito to peruse, "Be ye delicate, tis very old." she warned before turning her attention back to Kiyomi to follow up Kaito's queries. "Aye, child... What was thou doing before thy arrival here?" 


Throughout the conversation Mitsuyoshi kept his questions to himself as he listened and analyzed the information that was all given thus far, but his mind seem to be more on Koneko as, it was noticeable to him, especially after learning of it a ways back, that she seemed to be in deeper distress. Deciding to break his silence to ask Koneko if she was alright, it was right then as Kiyomi mentioned that the shrine was on her family's property, a thought occurred to him and nagged him to inquire. "Please forgive me, I don't mean to be rude... but if this shrine was part of your family's shrine? How is that possible if you come from a distant land unbeknownst to anyone?" His mind began to suspect that Kiyomi was not of this world. It was indeed so that she was fairly strange even for most of the humans of this time, and not just about her eyes and abilities, but some of her manners and terms did seem somewhat different. Given this info, her abilities, and, he had to admit, her beauty, along with the connection of a heavenly rock 'Could it be... Lady Kiyomi is a divine being from the heavens?!' His mind wandered as he awaited her response.

(BGM for following)

Before Kiyomi could respond, as Koneko had stepped closer to the shrine Mitsuyoshi felt a strange almost pulse like sensation that made his hair stand on edge. Even the Kazega seemed to respond to the strange energy that had been emitted from the shrine as it too pulsed on his waist. "What the...." Mitsuyoshi softly exclaimed in bewilderment as he placed his hand on his sword, more so to steady it's own unease. It was then that a rattling sound had begun to resonate from within the shrine's small doors. It was as if the stone inside had begun to dance ferociously within. "The Stone is waking!" Fusae exclaimed as she reached into her sleeve to draw a talisman just in case a great wrath would occur. A faint glow began to seep through the cracks from within the shrine with a pulsating like effect timing with the pulsing Mitsuyoshi felt on his sword and the energy that all of them would have begun feel by now. "Is this exactly what Happened before Kiyomi?" Mitsuyoshi asked, his tone anxious as he felt great unease over what was occurring and not quite sure what to expect. If it was a threat, he was prepared to meet it and with the same ferocious courage he'd displayed many times before, but this was definitely something different and off from the encounters with Youkai he's since experienced. Noticing that the light seemed to expand and get brighter with each pulse, Mitsuyoshi stepped forward with his hand on his sword, ready to draw. "Koneko! Kiyomi! I think it would be wise to step back!" He called to them from his position just under the Torii, standing ahead of the others.

[Koneko]

Kiyomi seemed to accept Fusae's answer, yet she felt unsatisfied with it as well considering it left the desire for an explanation lingering. "I just wish i could understand why me...?" As she lightly returned to mulling over the issue, Kaito's attention pulled to the older priestess when she spoke up and handed the old scroll to him, finding he had to try a bit harder to keep a delicate hand with it as a few parts of the edges threatened to flake off. Unfurling it open, he could definitively identify the style of writing belonging to Yuzuki from long ago, beginning to read it over for another account of the events while the younger woman gave her recounting of what had happened to land her here. "Well, I was sweeping the walkway just by the shrine when I heard the doors rattling. I thought maybe a small animal had somehow gotten trapped inside so I decided to go investigate. Ah, etou, my family made sure to rope off the passage way under the torii to prevent anyone from getting close and we have it housed in with a fence around it too... The only way to it was to climb over the rope, which I did and then I dropped my hairpin and... Then I was here and the doors were quiet and stuck in place when I tried to open them." It was hard to tell what about it would give them any real hints aside from it having been active during the time she'd been transported

Mitsuyoshi had laid the question out there, leaving the young miko to consider how she would try to explain just exactly what her predicament really was: that it was not so much as distance gone so much as she was sent back a few hundred years from before all she knew existed. Kiyomi turned to face him and opened her mouth to answer when the rattling of the shrine caught her off guard and spooked her, causing her to squeak in surprise and quickly scoot back a couple paces. Even Kaito's attention was pulled away from the scroll he'd been looking over as he now scanned his sight over the scene before him to take in the details, watching the rattling continue even after the young miko backed away and the feline stopped in place. It appeared she was either struggling with herself or just as hesitant about the activity within the shrine itself, seeing as her eyes were completely fixed on the small structure. Koneko grit her teeth, in that short distance she'd stepped forward the resonating from her own pearl had grown exponentially stronger, so much so she couldn't help gripping to the front of her kimono a bit tightly. 'What is going on?! Is it because of me it's reacting so strongly?! It's for certain what my pearl is reacting to, but I don't understand why...' The timid priestess began to calm after the initial shock of the sudden noise and found herself able to answer the hanyou's next question at least, "I-it was kind of like this, b-but I don't remember it glowing before... I wonder why it's a little different than last time..."

The tense moments seemed to go on for longer than it did for them with so much focus and concern on the stone's waking, all in the area watching it carefully. "Koneko! Kiyomi! I think it would be wise to step back!" With the demand and the posturing Mitsuyoshi gave to be at the ready for any need to retaliate, it didn't take too much convincing for Kiyomi to move seeing as everyone else had gone on the defensive so fast, it was hard for her to think it safe to try to get much closer in that moment. She cautiously stepped a few feet back behind him while it seemed Koneko was more reluctant to back away - at least right away, giving the impression she too was at the ready. Kaito had even visibly shifted, the scroll slightly rolled back up in one hand while the other was reaching deep into his garb, ready to pull from it anything he needed for a rebuttal. Standing in a palpable silence for a moment more, the feline slowly relented and began to step away from the shrine, joining the space behind the wolf. As she moved, she felt the pressure from her pearl alleviating very slightly and was able to resume more easily brushing off anything she'd been feeling on her own. The further she got, the more the stone slowed in rattling, yet it's apparent awakened state and gentle pulsing around those present hadn't faded with it. "Is... it going to be okay...?" Kiyomi asked, the fact all were on edge pretty plainly in the open. "I'm not certain..." the daiyoukai responded.

"It might be better for you both to stay back from it for now until we can at least surmise it's not harmful or at very least too dangerous," Katio said assertively, staying just as alert as Mitsuyoshi now that they'd all been feeling the energy it gave off. "It sounds like this is at least somewhat similar to what brought Kiyomi here, but... Lady Fusae, I take it this is the first time the stone has acted like this since Yuzuki sealed it like this?" The fur on his tails practically stood on end and his tails moved gently, watching intently for any possible actions he needed to be alert for that might indicate the start of a real issue for all of them. After a few moments longer in the tension, Koneko herself finally spoke up as well saying, "I think it's calming down at least... I don't think it's going to do anything as of right now..."

[Taishou89]

As the rattling and light began to subside, the energetic pulse emitting from the shrine continued albeit slower and calmer. "Be ye not hasty!" Fusae warned as she moved forward alongside the wolf. "It might be better for you both to stay back from it for now until we can at least surmise it's not harmful or at very least too dangerous, It sounds like this is at least somewhat similar to what brought Kiyomi here, but... Lady Fusae, I take it this is the first time the stone has acted like this since Yuzuki sealed it like this?" Kaito asked turning to Fusae. "In all the years that I have made offerings and performed rituals here, never once has such an instance occurred." The elder priestess stated, her tone laced with alarm. "I've seen many Youkai in my time, as well as some strange events that some youkai have performed, but I have never seen such from a stone from the Heavens." the old woman continued.

 As Mitsuyoshi withdrew his right hand from the hilt of the Kazega, his left hand remained holding it in his obi as it continued to react to the Shrine it's pulsation slowing to a low and steady vibration. "I don't know why but the Kazega seems to be reacting to the that heavenly stone as well... I've never had this happened before either..." he paused as looked down at his sword and slowly loosened the grip of his left hand.  It's vibration could be heard lightly rattling within it's scabbard, before he closed his grip on it again to steady it. "... I'd have to agree with lady Fusae and Kaito, perhaps we should take this a little slower and more cautiously. Who knows what it might do? I'm also not liking this uneasy feeling... I've got goosebumps and I feel like every hair on my body is standing up..." the hanyou confessed, and it was so that even his ears were perked high in alarm. "...Kaito did you see anything relevant in the scroll?" Mitsuyoshi as he turned to Kaito with a serious but inquisitive look.

Almost instinctively Mitsuyoshi stepped forward and out from under the Torii, stepping to be just in front of Kiyomi and Koneko as if to act as a shield for them, it was then that the low vibration of his sword began to pulsate as another pulse came from the shrine and it's doors began to lightly rattle as if something were trying to come out. The glow began to grow brighter, albeit the over all experience was less than it was when Koneko and Kiyomi were closer to it than where they all stood now, almost seeming to confirm that the stone was reacting to the presence of not just Kiyomi and Koneko, but even of Mitsuyoshi. Curiously Mitsuyoshi removed his sword from his Obi, still holding it in his left hand. Carefully he extended his arm out, holding the Kazega out almost as if he was offering it to another. Almost immediately as his sword was closer towards the shrine, the rattling and light began to grow. 'So it is reacting to our proximity to it! But why?' The question burned in his mind and he needn't have voiced his thoughts as everyone likely would have come to the same conclusion. "Strange..." Mitsuyoshi uttered as he retracted his arm and almost immediately the light and rattling began to slow "The stone is reacting to Mitsuyoshi's sword... and likely reacting to both Koneko and Kiyomi... How can this be? What is causing this?" Unlike Mitsuyoshi, Fusae voiced her thoughts aloud. "Are you both Ok?" the wolf hanyou asked both women standing behind him, refusing to take his gaze off the shrine should something lurch out and attack.

[Koneko]

With the slight calming of the stone came a very minor relief for the kitsune as he'd been watching the situation as if a hawk, noting the intricacies of the girls walking away, and even took note of what the wolf had to say about how they undoubtedly all were feeling: unsettled and on edge. Kaito soothed down just enough to remove his hand from just inside the front of his kimono and turned his gaze towards the others while lifting the scroll back up delicately. Letting out a minorly relieved sigh before he spoke, he answered the question directed to him, "it mostly recounts the tale about as exact to the recounting of Lady Fusae and Kimura-dono, though there were a few additional details. She mentioned the stone itself asked for the shrine to house it in addition to one of the possessions she had at the time be left with it inside to placate the spirit and keep it content." As he spoke of an item of Yuzuki's being inside, Koneko's head lifted and her ears perked despite the all she was still feeling from the pulses - it had certainly captured her interest and focus. The fox continued, "It unfortunately doesn't mention anything about what's happening now or really give any indication why it's acting the way it is currently, but... Well, in true fashion to the way she was, she's mentioned in here the heavenly stone to be 'quite charming with the flattery it spoke.'"

"That's near exactly things she said about you to try to keep me from getting too heated with you, are you sure you read it and aren't just making that up?" the feline lightly sassed, though some of it covered for her want to get close to the shrine now. With something belonging to the woman she loved inside, she'd begun to determine there was no way she could walk away before at least trying to open it up and see for herself, stone be damned. "Cut me some slack Konene, I wouldn't make up anything for what Yuzuki wrote all that time ago about the stone in that shrine!" Kaito pouted back, a little bit of the serious nature having been tucked back away. Koneko huffed lightly and turned her head to snub him, retorting, "I suppose you're right. You'd save that for exaggerating the nice things she had to say about you." Her little jab garnered a deeper pout out of him, looking a bit crushed from taking the force of the undertone meant to deject him. The back and forth lightened the moody tension slightly, allowing Kiyomi to calm at least enough to find her tongue again. "It does seem a little strange though, why would it ask for something from her too and sound like it was trying to flirt with her?" At the suggestion, the feline seemed to scowl slightly, glancing over to the shrine to then note Mitsuyoshi both had stepped to stand in front of them and was testing what his Kazega would do the closer he pushed it in the vicinity of the shrine. The observation was soon made by all as another pulse pulled their attention back towards the shrine while the blade reacted more aggressively in tandem with the stone. "So the sword is making it react as well," the daiyoukai piped in after Fusae spoke, her hand now back over her chest in the same manner as before, her next question trailing out more like pondering than asking anyone directly, "but what made the stone wake suddenly?"

"Are you both Ok?" The girls both looked to Mitsuyoshi as he asked the question to them directly, Kiyomi the first to respond. "I'm alright... It just really scared me when it started making that noise so suddenly," she answered timidly with a slight look of relief it wasn't more than the sound at the moment it happened and nothing worse. Koneko herself took a moment longer to respond, seeming to be thinking about everything so far while noticing it seemed like he was trying to act as a barrier between the two of them and the shrine itself. "I'll be fine, aside from that energy it's emitting, it didn't do much to concern over." She paused again, continuing to think, and then chimed in once more, her eyes fixed on the shrine again. "It only really reacts to us being closer to it, right? Since it's not doing more than that, I want to actually go up and see the stone myself."

"Koneko I don't think that's a wise idea, haven't you ever heard the old saying 'curiosity killed the cat'?" Mitsuyoshi suggested as he glanced over his shoulder back at her, his face serious with concern for their well being. She may have been trying to keep her discomfort a secret from him, but he knew that the stone was having some kind of effect on her, eerily similar to how his Sword was being affected as well. Noting her comment sounded quite absolute, Kaito quickly chimed back in as there were a couple of surprised reactions from the others. "Konene, we shouldn't be hasty about this. We have no idea what it'll do and it could unleash some kind of attack or curse if we don't approach this with some caution," he said fairly absolute for his own attitude, the concern in his voice quite clear, "I think it would better suit us to see if it will do anything else for now passively and then head back and think of what to do to take care of this so we don't possibly cause any issues for us or the village of Kiso." Koneko grit her teeth and seemed heated at the notion they should do nothing, tenaciously arguing back with him, "I am great beast and you can't argue with me about that, right? If I make it attack, then it's on me to stop it before it can hurt anyone else and that's if it can even get past me to begin with! I need to see what's in that shrine." Kiyomi was taken by surprise at the pushy attitude the feline suddenly had, feeling concern welling in her over this new friend acting rashly, so much so she managed to pipe up in a quiet voice, "m-maybe Kaito is right and we should wait... I do really want to go home, but... I can wait just to make sure no one else has to get hurt to have that happen..." Mitsuyoshi couldn't help but feel that the priestess was such an innocent of their world, soft and needing to be protected as well. "Lady Kiyomi, I apologize, I know you want to return home desperately and I don't mean to prevent that, and I hope that you do not feel that I am trying to keep you here." As he then turned his gaze back at the shrine. 'If she is truly a celestial being, then it would be a dire sin to allow something ill to befall her...' the hanyou thought to himself, being careful not to voice that part. "No... It's okay I don't think that... If it's dangerous for all of us, then I can wait..." No sooner had the younger miko chimed in and held an exchange with the wolf when Fusae herself even refuted the entire notion of the feline pressing forward, "Be ye not hasty as i spoke before, I plead ye reconsider! The havoc this stone caused forty years ago was nothing to be trifled with, it must be approached with absolute caution lest we unleash misfortune upon all!"

Even after all the input trying to reason with her, the hybrid brushed it off while glancing at everyone, then to the shrine. "If the lot of you want to get out of here and act with caution, then go ahead! I won't stop you or think any differently of you for doing what you feel is right, but I need to know what's in that shrine... And I'll handle any consequences myself. I need to see what Yuzuki left behind." Her words were resolute and unyielding yet with a tinge of desperation, Koneko was making it clear she refused to leave this place without satisfying the burning need to see the items within with her own eyes. Before any anyone could chime up again to try again to convince her, she pressed forward towards the shrine, brushing Mitsuyoshi out of the way and moving quickly at first, but then she paused and gripped tightly to the front of her kimono. As she got closer, the rattling and the cast light increased rapidly in response, though unseen that gave her pause was feeling just how much stronger the resonating of her pearl had gotten even that much further past the torii. She regained herself and took the handful of paces forward until she was standing just in front of it, staring at the doors. "I'll give you all a moment to get away from here if that's still what you wish to do."

"It's not worth pressing on like this when there could be so much at risk!" Kaito tried reasoning with her again, speaking sharply, yet hesitant to dash forward himself just in case moving could set the situation off worse by testing the stone itself. The stone was rattling violently that even the doors were vibrating harshly from the motion and what light could be seen through the cracks was extremely bright. The fox himself, while hesitant to go forward, wasn't about to leave Koneko there on her own regardless of the bad decision, "Please just think about this for a moment! The shrine nor it's contents are going to go anywhere anytime soon!" Worry overcame Kiyomi, seeing that the tiger wasn't listening to anybody, and it caused her to muster any courage she could find in herself to chance moving a little bit forward. That hard rebuttals that had been put out there weren't working to get through to her, and the moment the night before the daiyoukai had mentioned Yuzuki meant everything to her flashed in her mind now that she had been mentioned again a few times, wondering if that's what was making her act so rashly. Maybe if she tried to gently talk to her, just maybe there would be a chance she'd listen. "Ne... Koneko... Everyone's right... Even I am trying to find it in myself to be okay with waiting a little longer if it means nothing bad comes of it. I... I don't know if I have a right to say it, but..." The miko paused her attempt, taking a few timid steps forward to reach out her hand, however, at that moment, Koneko let go of her kimono and reached both hands forward to grasp the small handles of the structure before her. "But I don't think she would have wanted you to-" The priestess was cut off just after her own hand gripped to Koneko's kimono as the daiyoukai pulled the doors open and the light from inside became blindingly bright as it washed over the area.

'What's going on?!' Koneko thought as she felt a slight sensation course through her, her eyes snapping shut to defend against the light. With the fading of the light, she felt the sensation ebb away, bringing her to the point of slowly opening her eyes now that the area appeared darker, yet, upon opening them, confusion suddenly took hold of her. 'I thought it only seemed darker because of how bright that light was, but... but there's a covering here?!' Just as she'd observed, there was now a small structure covering the very shrine that had been openly out in a forested area along with the expanded area being fenced in - just as Kiyomi had described earlier to her. "What is-" Koneko started, suddenly cut off by voices behind her. "Kiyomi!!" A completely unrecognized male voice called out, another soon followed, "It really is her! And... And someone... else?" She turned and nearly jumped back, then twitching and releasing a short hiss of minor pain as she bumped her back right into the shrine behind her out of complete surprise and her ears fell flat while her tail fluffed out from the overwhelming change of environment. What she saw were two men, One a shinshoku and the other dressed in completely foreign clothing than what she was used to seeing. 'Who are these humans?! Where is everyone?! I don't see Mitsuyoshi, Kaito or Lady Fusae anywhere!! Where did these two come from and... Where or... What is this place?!' She was so beside herself with overwhelm that she'd not even realized her pearl had finally stopped resonating in reaction to the stone.

Kiyomi herself gasped in surprise at the sudden light that had encased them, raising her free hand to block some of it out as it came out of nowhere, but soon managed to peek through as it faded to see the familiar setting she knew her whole life. Her elation and attempt to realize she really was in a familiar place had left her not entirely realizing she'd come back with an additional person who didn't quite fit in the scenario as it was. Upon hearing the voices of her grandfather and father, she turned to see her grandfather had been attempting a ritual to appease the shrine as her father had been assisting after he'd gotten home recently. "Dad... Grandpa..." she looked on the verge of tears, but it was clear to them the is was tears of sheer relief to finally be somewhere she knew. Dashing forward as the two men became hesitant of the additional stranger, she reached out and hugged her father tightly, "Dad! I missed everyone so much!! I'm... I'm finally home and I'm just-!" Her father pat her head but held to her defensively before he spoke, "Kiyomi... Who is this and... Why are they here with you and dressed like that...?" He seemed to be deeply concerned about the unexpected extra, yet it was finally what got Kioymi to fully realize she'd not come back home alone, soon also noting her grandfather held a talisman at the ready for defense.

Meanwhile, back at the point in the past where Koneko had thrown the shrine doors open, the ultrabright light had encompassed the entire immediate area, forcing all the rest to cast their arms or hands over their eyes to shield them from it. As the light began to fade, it was soon revealed both women were entirely absent from the immediate area, vanished without a trace. "Koneko!!" Kaito shouted out in complete concern, eagerly dashing forward toward the spot and looking around for any clues where they may have disappeared to. "Koneko! Kiyomi?!" he called out again before creating a duplicate of himself and instantly sent it off to begin searching the immediate area while he stayed there beginning to look for any clues left. As his haste very mildly subsided, he noticed the doors of the structure were now left open, the stone visible along with a smaller, white colored nenju next to it. He then looked to Mitsuyoashi and Fusae, unable to hide the pure panic in his expression as he also seemed to wordlessly breath the same sentiment they undoubtedly all had: 'They're gone?!'

[Taishou89]

"Koneko wait!" Mitsuyoshi cried out to the feline just as she opened the shrine's doors releasing the bright light and energy upon them all. "Agh!" the hanyou exclaimed, recoiling slightly in distress as the brightness stung his eyes, it happened so fast that he hadn't been quick enough to shut his eyes in the exact moment that it was opened. His reaction was delayed but he did end up quickly raising his left arm to shield him from the light as he dropped to a knee to steady himself from the brief moment of disorientation caused by the bright light. His sword rattled loudly during the duration and he felt it being pulled from his obi. Quickly he grasped the hilt of the Kazega and forced it back into his Obi and held it there as he continued to shield his eyes. Tucking his head down as he knelt, stunned by the light. It happened so quickly and by the time that the everything had gone silent, he could no longer detect the fresh scent of either women. "Koneko! Kiyomi?!" he heard Kaito call out quickly. The Alarm in his voice and the fact that he couldn't smell either of them, told him that something had happened to both. "They... They're gone!" Fusae exclaimed in shock, her tone laced with alarm as well.

Before he could react as well and call out for Koneko and Kiyomi, he felt a hand on his shoulder and he realized that he was still kneeling and covering his eyes. "Mitsuyoshi-dono art thou alright?" but he opened his eyes and removed his arm all he could see was white. "I'm fine... Has the light not faded yet?" He inquired as he rubbed his eyes with his arm. He could hear Kaito's alarm and frantic pattering as he searched for the two. "Where are they? I don't smell them... Why hasn't the light gone away??" The Hanyou began to grow on edge, sensing the tension in the air that both Koneko and Kiyomi were missing. When he turned to look at the older priestess to await an answer, It was then that she could see his eyes had become clouded much like Kiyomi's. "Mitsuyoshi-dono, Thy eyes!" Fusae's alarm caused him much anxiety. 'No... You can't be serious... Don't tell me...I can't see!' Panic began to fill his own mind. He had never before experienced losing his eye sight before and being unable to see caused him great alarm as he relied heavily on his sight to fight and being defenseless did not bode well for him. As he struggled to keep his composure, being a liability was the last thing he wanted to be. 'Not now... I can't worry about this right now...' In attempt to shifting his thoughts to the real matter at hand, he promptly stood up. "Koneko?! Kiyomi!?" He called out as he stepped forward despite Fusae's attempt to stop him. With his vision useless, he failed to see the crack in the stone path in front and tripped, stumbled forward and collapsing onto the ground. "Mitsuyoshi-dono, Be ye still! It may be temporary!" Fusae quickly rushed forward to help the hanyou. "Ugh! Kaito? Where are they?!" Alarm in his tone as he pushed himself up and off the ground. As the Fox would turn to answer, it would have been impossible to notice Mitsuyoshi's condition. "Where are they? I can't smell them!"

-------------------------

Whilst Kiyomi's father and grandfather were conducting their ritual at the old shrine, Kiyomi's mother and her younger sisters were back at the house tending to the Police. Officer Hirotaro Ikeda, was a mountain of a man, an imposing figure for a police officer in Japan. Standing at 5'9" and weighing in at over 280 pounds, there was no joke why his comrades in the department nicknamed him 'Officer Sumo'. Despite his imposing figure and size, he had strong devotion to the community he was charged with serving and a loveable personality to all he came in contact, essentially a gentle giant by most accounts. With him was his junior partner, Officer Hideki Kanagawa, a younger and skinnier man, quite the stark opposite of his Senior. Despite his appearance, he tended to be the rougher and zealous of the pair.

Hirotaro turned down the volume on his radio as he sat in the living room with Nozomi Hoshino, Mother of the missing person, who was now serving him tea and rice cakes. "Oh You are too kind Mrs. Hoshino!" He exclaimed, a huge and friendly smile beaming across his face as he helped himself to some of the mochi. "Oh! Oishiii!" the large man exclaimed as he devoured the whole piece he'd taken. When offered, Kanagawa declined politely and quickly got to business, pulling out his notepad and pen. "Mrs. Hoshino, when was the last time you or any of the family saw your daughter?" the younger man asked just as his senior helped himself to another rice cake and some tea.

Airi and Hiriko both sat at the table next to their mother, the older of the two huddled close to the younger who looked especially glum out of the already worried and somber lot. "It's okay Airi, I'm sure they'll find her," Hiriko whispered to her little sister, trying to keep it down so the adults could talk, though the women in the room knew she'd been taking it hardest from the fact alone she'd had the dream about Kiyomi vanishing on them. Nozomi had cast a worried look at her daughters before returning her attention to the officers before them and responded, "You're most welcome, it's the least I could do for you coming to make a report for our daughter Kiyomi, officers... Please, enjoy as much as you like." She put on a half-hearted smile to at least seem cheery enough through the concern the family had let alone the heartache they felt of the unknown fate of their eldest daughter. "I was the last one to see her as part of the usual daily routine: Kiyomi walks he sisters to school, stops as part of her errands to the store on the way back to pick up any fresh items I need for dinner and then brings it right to me. She did exactly that and left some snacks for Hiriko and Airi before going outside to sweep the grounds. That was the last time I saw her since around two days ago." She managed to find it in her to stave off some breaking down herself over talking about it, wanting to make sure she did all she could so these officers could find her and do their best to bring her home.

After Nozomi answered the first question Kanagawa jotted the information down on his note pad before moving on to the next Question. "Has she don-" Kanagawa was cut off as Ikeda answered the next question that was about to be asked. "Kanagawa-kun, I've known the Hoshino family for years since I was first assigned to this district, there's never been any reports of young Kiyomi doing this before..." to which Kanagawa notated it, slightly annoyed by his senior's interjection, preferring to strictly follow the guidelines that were droned into him in the academy. "Has there been any signs of depression or anything that might hint of any unhappiness that would have led her to run away?" the junior asked. "Kiyomi-chan, I've never known to seem depressed, she always seemed cheery and friendly when she'd pass by the Koban." Kanagawa muttered, before turning his attention to the Airi and Hiriko. "Airi-chan, Hiriko-chan. Don't you worry, I'm sure your older sister is just find and she will come home soon, if not we will find her and bring her home." The elder officer smiled as he tried to reassure the two girls. Kanagawa annoyingly jotted the information down before as he muttered softly under his breath. "Why are we here if you know the answers..." to which his senior responded "Eh? Nani?" feigning to not catch what was muttered as Kanagawa shook his head and waved it off and moved on to the next Question. "Has your daughter had any relationships? Any friends? Perhaps a boyfriend? Maybe one that you or your husband might not approve of?" At this question even Ikeda had to pause to think as he couldn't recall ever seeing her with anyone other than family.

[Koneko]

So deeply focused on the disappearance of the two women was Kaito that the talking behind him seemed a bit of a blur, hearing it but barely taking it in as he glanced around the area and his clone searched further out. Then he heard the heavy thud of one of the two behind him hitting the ground with their entire body weight and the older priestess calling out to the other in concern, "Mitsuyoshi-dono, Be ye still! It may be temporary!" The fox for that moment let a small piece of his growing worries about the absences go to allow some for what was happening behind him, turning to look and see the wolf hanyou on the ground with Fusae attempting to help him. "Ugh! Kaito? Where are they?!" He stood in silence, processing for a moment the new issue on top of the most obvious and pressing one to all of them, gritting his teeth at the ill omen it could bode to also see his remaining companion's eyesight compromised. "Where are they? I can't smell them!" In a fluid motion he was kneeling next to his blinded cohort and gripped under his arm to help pull him up while keeping him steady, "They're... Gone... My duplicate can't find them anywhere in the surrounding area either... I don't know what exactly that shrine did, but..." The way he spoke was filled with reluctance to admit such a thing, his next statement a frustration swirled in with it, "Damn it! I'd just found her again to make sure I could keep an eye on her and now I'm back to having no idea except for maybe where ever this 'Tokyo' is Kiyomi is from!"

Next thing to growling, Kaito took a breath and heaved a great sigh, looking over to see just how clouded the warrior's eyes had become. "You alright? It's a good thing you're at least a half demon, your eyesight should recover after a little time. I'm not sure how long it'll take, but at least it won't be blind permanently," he reassured as he pulled the arm in his grip behind his neck to better support Mitsuyoshi and be able to help him walk. Once both were standing again, he looked to the priestess and then over to the open shrine, a slightly clearer head letting him at least observe the stone and nenju inside with more care. "I've seen many strange things over my life, but seeing what that heavenly stone caused here I can't say I expected... I'll look over the scroll Yuzuki wrote a little more to see if there's anything that can help us find out if we're able to bring at least one of them back, unless... Lady Fusae, you don't think it's gone dormant again, do you?" The kitsune concerned if the stone had indeed gone quiet again, it could be difficult to determine if at least Koneko could be retrieved or, in the worst of cases, if it was impossible to wake it again. 'With the way Kiyomi is and the way she spoke of her family caring for her, maybe Konene is at least safe with her for now,' he thought to himself, trying to bolster himself into a better frame of mind to keep his wits about him in spite of how bleak this whole situation was starting to look. "We'll stay just a little longer to see if anything else happens or if we can at least find any trace of, well anything to help us figure this out, but we should get you back soon. Them gone and your eyesight temporarily out of commission like this gives me an unsettled feeling..."

----------------

Back against the shrine and on the verge of growling, Koneko watched Kiyomi dash forward and call joyously for her family, her defensive expression softening slightly as her ears slowly came back forward. Yet she couldn't rest completely easy seeing the talisman in the hand of the priest, and the expression of the man the girl had referred to as her father also begged for her to stay alert to their potential actions. "Wait Dad, Grandpa! She's... She's my friend, and she won't hurt anyone," the miko said, looking up at her father and then over to her grandfather. "Kiyomi, isn't this a demon? By your sudden appearance, I imagine you were spirited away," her grandfather, Akimitsu, spoke up, "Was she not the one who whisked you away?" Given his position of authority and experience, he'd been exposed to a small handful of youkai for very specific things like slight cleansing and exorcisms, but never had he encountered one quite like the cat-esque woman before them, they'd always been smaller, somewhat weak even let alone how few and far between those encounters were. "I haven't done anything of the sort!" the feline piped in as she found her tongue again, "as it stands now I.... brought her back to you..." Her words calmed and trailed off as she started to realize her own predicament mirrored that of the girl when they were in the world she knew better, 'And it looks like... I got myself stuck here instead...' The young woman pleaded to her two family members again, her expression begging them to listen, "she's telling the truth! It was the shrine that took me and brought us both back, and she's been really nice to me! She really is my friend..."

Seeing that expression on his daughter's face along with her insistence this was apparently a friend, Minoru couldn't resist but become pliable to the request to lower their guard. "If you insist she's your friend, then we can give her a chance," he said after a moment, his own expression changing from a bit hardened to nearly beaming. Of their daughters, Kiyomi had next to never been able to call someone her own friend before, and, with her abilities since childhood, it almost felt strangely fitting she found such an unusual friend. The young woman herself soon was nearly sparkling with boundless glee, pulling out of her father's embrace to beckon her friend forward, "It's okay, Koneko, since dad said it's fine, let me show you around my home!" The daiyoukai took a couple hesitant steps forward, the fur on her tail smoothing back out as it swayed now in slight curiosity while she dared to take her eyes off the men to really take in her surroundings, "what is this place...?" The miko giggled softly and reached for Koneko's wrist to gently but excitedly pull her along toward the house. "This is my home in Chiyoda City, Tokyo! Come on! I'll introduce you to my mom and sisters!" Before she could pull the feline too far, her father piped back up, stopping them in their tracks for a moment to make a suggestion, "Kiyomi, hold on, your mother is talking with Officer Ikeda right now to file a missing person's report on you. I don't think it's a very good idea to take this new friend in there right now with how she looks. Maybe you should go in alone to at least let them know you're back safe and then bring her in."

The miko had to stop and consider the issue for a bit, realizing the officers might think her friend strange or, in a very worst case, a danger with her over-all appearance. Remembering how she looked human in the first moments they'd met the day before, Kiyomi turned to the daiyoukai and made a compromising request, "Ne, Koneko, when you made it to Kiso yesterday you were disguised as a human, right? Can you do something exactly like that again right now to avoid any trouble with the officers?" The feline blinked at the request, finding no issue with it, but feeling like the only understanding she was getting was some kind of authority might not take kindly to her non-human appearance. "Eh? Oh sure I um... I don't know what officers are, but if it prevents problems..." In a small bursting puff she'd altered her appearance right in front of all present to her male human appearance, leaving no doubt now she was at very least a rare youkai in their midst as it left Minoru in some shock to see it. "Is this good enough?" her now masculine voice asked, garnering first a surprised look from Kiyomi, and then a bright smile, "That's perfect! Okay let's go!" Pulling the disguised demon along again, Akimitsu finally lowered the talisman he held while Minoru scratched his head in bewilderment at the sight. "I guess leave it to my daughter to make a very odd friend indeed for herself, isn't that right, dad? I suppose if it makes her happy though...can't be too much harm in it." The priest watched the two go, eventually softly sighing and slowly shaking his head, "whatever manner of creature that woman is, I'm just relieved it appears she's gentle with my granddaughter." His lips slowly broke out into a light smile, "But I'm sure we'll find out more about that mysterious youkai later, now is a better time to seal this shrine so all will be safe again." With that, he returned his focus to the shrine, having his son help him with the process.

The conversation with the officers continued with Hiriko chiming in her thanks to the assurance she'd be brought home, better able to speak in spite of her grief, "Thank you mister Ikeda, we really hope Onee-san comes home soon... It's not right with her gone..." Airi still seemed beside herself, her eyes watering and on the verge of wanting to cry again as she managed to ask in a very small, quiet voice, "you'll really bring Onee-san home?" Nozomi shifted, giving a couple reassuring pats to Hiriko before shifting the two girls around and pulled her youngest into her, gently petting her head and hugging her to soothe and comfort her. "She'll be back, Airi, they'll do their best if she doesn't make it back on her own." Doing her best to reinforce the kind words given by the pleasant officer to help calm the girls, she took a moment before she could respond to the last question asked by Officer Kanagawa, "No, Kiyomi always had a hard time with being able to make or keep friends for a few reasons here and there, and I could only imagine if she'd met a boy or started dating, we'd have been first to know. I don't think she'd be able to keep that kind of excitement to herself, but I also can't imagine she'd find someone we disappro-"

The outside door opened and Kiyomi's voice clearly called out into the hallway excitedly, "Mom! Hiriko! Airi! I'm home and I brought a friend with me!" Nozomi and her two daughters in the room with her all perked up at hearing their beloved family member's voice after she'd been completely MIA for over a day, nearing two. "Kiyomi!" their mother said in elated surprise while Airi wormed her way out of her mother's embrace and and quickly made her way around the table with Hiriko in tow, both nearly jumping into their sister as the door to the family room slid open, chiming in near unison, "Onee-san!!" The older sibling was forced to let go of her disguised friend to hug her sisters and squeezed them close. "Kiyomi! What happened?! Where on Earth were you for so long without saying anything?!" While it could have been mistaken for scolding, her mother's questions were brimming with relief that her eldest was back and looked no worse for wear. She pardoned herself politely to the two officers as she stood and made her way around the table to pull the young woman into her own tight hug. "I'm sorry I worried all of you, I ended up getting pulled away after I just finished cleaning and was a little lost trying to find my way back..." the miko said to at least try to cover for the questions the officers might have about where she'd been. It was typically a cover story her parents taught her to use for her having encounters of a supernatural type, and to some degree this incident was not out of that realm, but a bit different than the usual kind of situations she'd been through in the past. Koneko herself stood in some surprise and then hid her arms in her sleeves in effort to not feel like she was awkwardly intruding on the reunion, though she smiled gently to see such a welcome for the miko's safe return. "I thought we wouldn't see you again!!" Airi suddenly started bawling, her face buried into her sister, but it was clear she'd been so overwhelmed with the sudden flip from deep upset to overjoyed that all the tears she'd held back were spilling over from happiness. "Hey, it's okay, it's just like Hiriko said, I'll always come back no matter what," she said softly, gently brushing her hand against her sister's head to calm her down.

It was around then as the initial suddenness of the moment started to wind down that Nozomi looked over and finally began to curiously acknowledge the additional presence her daughter had mentioned on entering. "Kiyomi, who is this young man?" she asked, unsure what to make of the additional presence. To her he seemed polite enough, but it was unusual she'd brought a boy home after being missing, let alone one who seemed to prefer to dress in a more old-fashioned style. "Oh! Right, etouuuu, Mom, this is Kon-"

"Keiji," Koneko interjected nervously, not ready to have another strange and heated moment about her name being brought up as unusual for a boy to sour this happy reunion, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am." She gave a deep, polite bow before resuming standing where she'd come to rest after being pulled in. "Oh, yeah, this is Keiji! Sh- Etou... He helped bring me back home, he's really nice!" Kiyomi added, trying to make sure there wasn't any worry about what kind of person her friend was. Nozomi took a couple steps forward to look Keiji over, studying him inquisitively before making her next comment, "It's a little unprecedented for you to bring home a boy, but he's really quite good-looking. Keiji, are you interested in staying to at least have dinner?" Doing her best to hide her flustering, the feline couldn't hide the slight blush that came over her face for the words said, though her priestess friend managed to save her from needing to find the right response, "Ano, he'll for sure be staying for dinner, mom. We can explain all the little things of what happened later." The daiyoukai let out a small sigh of relief as that seemed a sufficient answer now finding herself considering perhaps choosing to look more masculine this time may have made things more complicated over all. 'First Kaito was being weird about it last night, now I've just met Kiyomi's mother and she's doing it too!!' The two younger daughters had been slightly glancing between Koneko and Kiyomi the entire time after they'd calmed a little and their mother soon turned to offer her own apologies and thanks to the two officers. "My apologies for taking up your time Officer Ikeda, Officer Kanagawa. It looks like we won't need to file the report after all now that she's found her way back home, but please, if you'd like to enjoy some tea and snacks a little longer, you're welcome to for the trouble of coming by on account of Kiyomi's short disappearance."

[Taishou89]

"Arghhh..." The hanyou groaned in frustration at his circumstance and the initial reply to his question that both Koneko and Kiyomi were gone. "Aye, I can surmise that Kiyomi and Koneko may have ended up in back in Kiyomi's homeland, Tokyo." Fusae spoke up after the fox mentioned the possibility that the only guess would be Tokyo. Rubbing his eyes with his fists and hoping that the white blankness would fade before holding his hands out in front of him hoping that any moment now he'd be able to see them. "You alright?" Kaito asked as he approached, noting the clouded nature of his irises. "Am I really blind??" Mitsuyoshi thought aloud, a slight twinge of fear lacing his tone as he couldn't bear the thought of being useless at a time when his newfound friend and the young Miko, whom he suspected of being a celestial being, were both missing and quite possibly in danger. "...It's a good thing you're at least a half demon, your eyesight should recover after a little time. I'm not sure how long it'll take, but at least it won't be blind permanently," Kaito spoke up, giving the hanyou some measure of reassurance that it was temporary and would abate in time as his natural advanced healing abilities would regenerate his retinas and thus his vision.

Feeling his arm being taken and rested around the back of Kaito's neck, he felt himself be raised to stand. "Why isn't the stone reacting anymore as it did to my sword?" He asked, noting that an eerie silence lingered over the atmosphere of the forest and the old shrine. Noting the strange silence as well, Fusae glanced around and noticed that they were well past the Torii and closer to the Shrine, yet there was no reaction anymore. "It does seem to have gone dormant again." Fusae spoke as she stepped up closer to the shrine, gazing into it's structure and noting the old stone and the Nenju inside. Deciding that it was safe as the stone seemed dormant, she ushered Kaito to help Mitsuyoshi over to the step just in front of the shrine "We'll stay just a little longer to see if anything else happens or if we can at least find any trace of, well anything to help us figure this out, but we should get you back soon. Them gone and your eyesight temporarily out of commission like this gives me an unsettled feeling..." The fox said as he helped Mitsuyoshi over to the steps. "Rest ye here, and let me see what I can do to Assist yet Mitsuyoshi-dono..." Fusae instructed as she set her pack down and began to dig into it. Mitsuyoshi heaved a heavy sigh as he sat on the step, he could sense Kaito move away behind him, and by the sound of his steps surmised it was to get a closer look at the inside of the shrine. "What do you see in there Kaito?" as Kaito began to reply, Fusae had produced a piece of cloth and poured some water from a gourd canteen, drenching the cloth. "Here Mitsuyoshi, perhaps this will help. hold this over your eyes and rest ye back to let the water seep into your eyes. Perhaps it may help you regain your vision." the old miko said as she helped apply the cloth onto his eyes and held it until he managed to take hold of it himself. "Thank you..."

----------------

A frown crossed Officer Ikeda's face as he sensed the distress that the young girls were experiencing, though he didn't know the Hoshino family as personally as some others in the district, he was fairly good at detecting the emotions and moods of most people he came across. It has both benefited him in his career as a Police officer but also served to stall it, hence why he remained as a regular Patrol officer manning a Koban. "No, Kiyomi always had a hard time with being able to make or keep friends for a few reasons here and there, and I could only imagine if she'd met a boy or started dating, we'd have been first to know. I don't think she'd be able to keep that kind of excitement to herself, but I also can't imagine she'd find someone we disappro-" Nozomi was suddenly cut short as the door opened and an all too familiar voice rang through the hallway. "Mom! Hiriko! Airi! I'm home and I brought a friend with me!"

Kanagawa stopped jotting down her answer as both Officers looked up to see the young Miko. A joyous toothy smile came over Ikeda's face as he recognized the voice and the figure that appeared before them. It didn't take much for Kanagawa, after seeing everyone's reactions to realize that this was the Missing person that they were there for. Kanagawa attempted to hide his slight irritation, feeling that their time was wasted, as he closed his note book and tucked it away in his pocket. Both Officers rose to a stand, preparing to make their eventual departure. "Well... It appears that the matter is resolved." Kanagawa whispered to his senior. "As I knew it would be."  Ikeda said confidently as he managed to snag one more rice cake. They listened to the Kiyomi give her explanation but when the strangely dressed man entered behind her, it captured both of their attention. It appeared that Ikeda was right all long, as per their conversation on their way over to take the report as the flashback to the moment played in Kanagawa's mind.

"Kanagawa-kun, it is quite likely that young Ms. Kiyomi might have just met a man and took off to do the things that all young people do and in their haste she neglected to tell anyone. Weren't you that way when you were younger?"

None the less of the two, Ikeda was genuinely pleased to see that Kiyomi was well and fine and returned. The entire exchange between Kiyomi and her family, and especially her younger sisters seemed to water his eyes at the sight of such a relieved and happy reunion. "Eh? Are- Are you?" A surprised look crossed over Kanagawa's face as he whispered to his senior, noticing the man's eyes begin to water as he smiled. The question quickly changed Ikeda's expression to one of irritation. "Kanagawa-kun, like it or not, this is one of the most rewarding moments of Police work..." As he turned his attention back to the family and smiled again. It was about then that Nozomi turned her attention back to the two officers. "My apologies for taking up your time Officer Ikeda, Officer Kanagawa. It looks like we won't need to file the report after all now that she's found her way back home, but please, if you'd like to enjoy some tea and snacks a little longer, you're welcome to for the trouble of coming by on account of Kiyomi's short disappearance."

"Ah, Than-" Ikeda started but his Junior spoke up. "Thank you very much Mrs. Hoshino, but we must be getting back to the Koban, this is about the time when Mrs. Kunimura probably has lost her cat again." Kanagawa forced a smile and gave a slight bow, not noticing that the senior officer was giving him the stink eye, but Ikeda's expression quickly changed when the attention was turned on him again. "Unfortunately... Officer Kanagawa is right, we must be taking our leave. Thank you again for the wonderful hospitality and rice cakes, they were absolutely delicious, We're really glad to see that Kiyomi-chan has returned fine and well, although..." Ikeda turned his attention to Kiyomi with a more serious tone and expression. "Kiyomi-chan your disappearance had your family very worried, poor Airi-chan and Hiriko-chan were very distraught..." Ikeda scolded the young Miko. Sensing that his message was chastising enough, he eased up. "But I understand how it can be at your age, I was quite the adventurous type as well when I was a younger man, but Please take great care next time to let your family know before you go out with your 'friend' and if you're lost you can always have someone contact us or bring you to the Koban and we can help you get back home, ne?" he gave her a warm smile before bowing to the rest of the family.

Kanagawa tried not to roll his eyes at his partner's attempt to scold her, before turning his own attention to Keiji and eyeing him up suspiciously. "You look a little old to be dating a girl her age..." Until Ikeda ushered Kanagawa forward and towards the door, before stopping just by Keiji and leaning in slightly and asking him in a low tone. "How old are you really?". Koneko, already slightly irritated by Kanagawa eye balling her up and his snide attitude, began counting on her fingers before answering "Etouuuu.... 208 now I think?" Her response garnered a look of disapproval from Ikeda but it was Kanagawa who couldn't hold back his bark. "Oi! Disrespectful! We ought-" before he was promptly cut off by the larger man. "Ta-ta-ta Nevermind! Go outside!" as he ushered the junior officer out the door. Heaving a sigh, he turned and faced Keiji. "Kiyomi-chan is old enough, but you shouldn't do such irresponsible things and take her from her family without their knowledge or approval. Please be more respectful and considerate next time." He scolded before turn to Kiyomi's family and bowing again. "Please excuse my colleague for his outburst and please enjoy the rest of your day." before Ikeda stepped through the door, closing it behind him.

[Koneko]

A bit disappointed with the confirmation from the priestess that indeed the stone seemed at best temporarily like it would no longer react to them, the kitsune helped Mitsuyoshi sit on the stoop just a short distance in front of the shrine before he himself decided to peer inside, looking for clues to help find a way to retrieve what they'd lost. "What do you see in there Kaito?" Standing back up straight with a hand cupping his chin in thought, he responded to Mitsuyoshi, "Just the heavenly stone itself and smaller, white nenju... That must be what Yuzuki was mentioning she'd left behind to appease the stone." Kaito's hand soon moved from his chin to brush through his bangs in frustration, at least trying to come up with an explanation for how this could have happened to help them fix the problem. "I don't get it," he groaned in some frustration, "it makes sense why it would have some reaction to Kiyomi since, according to the story she told us, this was how she found herself here. It's why it seemed to be affecting Konene so much since we hit the path here and then took her too that I just can't make sense out of! If the stone could seemingly talk to Yuzuki, and caused trouble on it's own whims, it must have had some kind of purpose for this..." Taking a breath, he was coming to terms with the fact they at least were taken somewhere that even his clone wouldn't be able to reach, so he had it abandon it's search and decided instead to keep it surveying the area around them in the consideration he was on edge with one pair of eyes in their group currently down. 'Whatever it was doing to her, I hope it didn't hurt her... It must have been affecting her pearl the way she was holding to herself.'

Looking at the nenju inside of the shrine again in hope of any ideas, one finally came to him. "Yuzuki had mentioned in the scroll giving this nenju pacified it. What if after awakening it was looking for something else to be given to appease it? Perhaps finding something it might want will do something towards getting them back?" It was the only thing he could think of despite the fact the girls had been taken without offerings, though the thought also brought him some worry that it could have tried to take Koneko's pearl and, if it had, perhaps it had even left the hybrid stranded wherever she'd been taken. He shook the hopeless thought off, from what he could tell nothing had been taken from Kiyomi and perhaps the pearl would be inside the shrine now if it had taken it from her, he had to avoid jumping to worst scenarios without supporting evidence. "Your sword had been reacting to it too, maybe, if we can find something else it would want, we can at least test if it'll do something." Brushing his hand further through his hair before dropping it to his side, he then turned slightly to the side to check on the two with him yet to help him to keep from getting ahead of himself. "How are you holding up, did the water help at all?" As he asked, he'd started testing the doors on the shrine, trying to keep his thoughts from doom and gloom as he occupied himself with how easily they opened and closed now despite earlier seeming completely stuck shut and refusing to fully budge for even the stone itself.

----------------

"Of course, I understand you both must be very busy," Nozomi replied to the two officers, giving a slight bow in thanks to Ikeda and Kanagawa, "Thank you again for your time, hopefully we shouldn't have to call on you for anything this serious again." As Ikeda then began to reluctantly excuse themselves as well and turn to gently scold Kiyomi, the young woman wore both a sorry expression for her family quite clearly having worried about her so much, but also a little bit of a demure one knowing deep down it wasn't exactly her fault and that she was just as scared she wouldn't be able to see them again. Though even she was picking up on the on the misunderstanding of who Koneko was to her between her mom being extra interested in the prospect of her bringing a boy home and the portly officer now also alluding to her being more than a friend. Though she took the gentle chiding with grace, completely realizing the entire situation was misjudged and it would already be unbelievable to explain what had actually happened to her nor would it be worthwhile to do so. Much like her mother, the young miko bowed to the officers as both an apology and a thank you, "I understand Officer Ikeda, I'll be more mindful not to worry my family so much next time. Thank you for taking the time to help my family with looking for me." As she stood back up, despite the genuine smile she wore she thought to herself, 'although I would have tried any of those if I'd had the ability to, but the time period I was in phones and helpful officers were a little lacking in supply...'

Meanwhile, Koneko held a nervous look concealed by a stand-offish attitude as she was seemingly sized up by one of the officers, starting to concern there was a potential he'd seen through her disguise and realized she was a youkai as she tried to keep cool by side-eyeing him back. She then twitched and held a stunned look as the accusation flew out that, not only did he call her 'too old' for the girl, but the insinuation once again of romantic interest that had been flying around. Gearing up to start arguing back with Kanagawa's abrasive attitude, she was cut off by Ikeda nudging his partner forward to the door and away from her, now caught off guard by being asked her age amidts her irritation. Raising her hand to count as she thought about it, she answered truthfully to her best knowledge despite her tone, "Etouuuu.... 208 now I think?" The disguised daiyoukai was caught off guard again by not only the disapproving look from Ikeda, but Kanagawa suddenly out-bursting at her. "Oi! Disrespectful! We ought-" The younger officer was cut off to stop the argument from starting. "Ta-ta-ta Nevermind! Go outside!" was the next thing heard as Ikeda sighed, giving her a moment to voice her shock at all the negative reactions to her quite serious answer. "HAAAAaaaaa?? N-nan-" She found herself then cut off by a sudden lecture from the larger officer, "Kiyomi-chan is old enough, but you shouldn't do such irresponsible things and take her from her family without their knowledge or approval. Please be more respectful and considerate next time. Please excuse my colleague for his outburst and please enjoy the rest of your day." With his bow and excusing himself before stepping out the door and closing it behind him, Koneko now had little interruption to loudly mutter her frustrations.

"D-did he really just call me disrespectful for telling my age?! They're the ones that asked! And I'm plenty young for my age!! I can't believe they just tried to scold me!!" Koneko was fuming while still disguised now gaining confused looks from most present and an almost apologetic look from the priestess herself. "Kiyomi, what kind of authority are these officers anyways and what makes them think they have the right to speak like that to me?! And those accusations again! Why is it everyone keeps acting like I ran off with you and that I'm trying to-" As she had been snarling out her annoyance, she turned to face the rest present with her yet, then stopped dead mid-sentence as she realized the glances she'd been getting, her face flushing a bright shade of red. "A...aaaa...aaahhh, pardon me, th-that was m-maybe a little rude of me..." The moment of awkward silence that followed was soon broken by Kiyomi's joyous laughter once again, finding the outburst actually funny after the whole exchange had gone down. Nozomi was surprised to see her daughter in such a uplifted mood in spite of everything, watching as she moved over to Keiji and nudged him towards them to his seeming slight discomfort. "Mom, Hiriko, Airi, maybe I should actually introduce you properly now that there shouldn't be anything to worry about with the officers," she started, seeming to present the now nervous disguised feline to the three other women while peeking just past her shoulder, "Keiji is actually a girl named Koneko and she actually kind of helped me get back home! And... Well, I'm not sure what exactly happened still, but I think she might be stuck here without anywhere to go now like I was. It's okay now, Koneko, you don't have to stay like anymore!"

Having gone quiet from now being scrutinized further about how she could be anything but a man in this look, the daiyoukai looked over her shoulder as she was assured it was fine and then looked back to the three before her and sighed. In another little puff with an accompanying pop, she let go of her disguise and let her real features be seen, her tail now curled and looped up far enough that the scales at the tip were in her fingers and being fiddled with as she felt the surprised eyes on her. "O-oh my! Those ears! And a tail? Why even your face is a little different! Are they actually real?" Nozomi began to reach out to try to touch Koneko's ears when they folded down and back to move away from her hand, sheepishly responding, "P-please don't touch them..." It was enough proof this was what she really looked like and the way her voice had changed even added to the fact she hadn't even been a man. Hiriko and Airi stared in awe of the cat lady, even wondering how it was she looked like that. Shuffling forward, Hiriko decided to look at the feline's curled tail, seeing it wiggle while she gawked in amazement. Airi was nervously peeking from behind her middle sister, but even her currently red and puffy eyes were transfixed on the inhuman features, thinking her tail looked really soft. "Kiyomi," their mother spoke up again, the surprise still clear in her voice, "I had no idea you felt that way about other women!" Quickly both the daiyoukai and priestess held slight variations of exasperated glances with blushes, the latter speaking up first, "M-mom!!" The hybrid let out a small sigh herself and then flatly clarified, "we aren't together, we only just met yesterday."

It was also at this point Kiyomi was really able to start thinking about everything a little bit, now realizing she really had to start thinking of how to actually explain just what HAD happened to her between when she vanished and her turning up with Koneko. As she pondered it, she really felt a little bad for her friend ending up stuck here with her and yet relieved because Koneko was complete proof just where exactly she'd been was real: both to herself and to her family that would be told the whole story. "Oh? So how did you two meet? And I suppose what are you exactly? A cat spirit? Maybe a bakeneko? You couldn't be a nekomata since you only have one tail..." The feline's expression became a little more disheveled as Nozomi seemed to start trying to guess what kind of youkai she was, yet also that she seemed completely accepting of the whole thing without much concern or complete shock of how inhuman she was. Blinking slowly a few times, she hesitantly answered, "...I'm half tiger youkai and... Hold on! So far most of Kiyomi's family that have seen me have seemed in some kind of shock over seeing a youkai like me, even these two... Why are you so calm and even guessing what I am?!" Nozomi gave a very gentle laugh before responding with a cheerful smile, "I've always had a slight interest in legends of youkai, it's part of what brought me together with my girls' father, but I never thought I'd get to see a real one! I suppose as far as shock, having become so familiar with the unusual struggles Kiyomi's face in her life, I've just grown used to expecting a few strange things to happen around her here and there. Please, come sit down and get comfortable! I can make a little more tea in a moment for you both." Scratching the side of her and then casting a questioning glance to the young priestess, the feline supposed it was an acceptable enough answer and was then shuffled by her friend to sit by the table with the remaining rice cakes laid out. She could still feel the timid and curious glances of the two younger girls on her as she leaned over the table to sniff the snacks in her own inquisitive need. Before the young woman fully joined her youkai counterpart, she turned to her mother and made one last thing know for that moment, "Mom, I know there's a lot to explain still, but I'll wait until everyone's together for dinner and then I can try to explain it all at once." Her mother gave an accepting smile to that before calling at least Hiriko to come help in the kitchen, understanding her eldest might both need a little time to settle back into home and might need to help orient the strange new friend to the current surroundings.

[Taishou89]

"I will go back to the village to fetch some herbs that might help hasten thy sight's return. I shall return momentarily." Fusae spoke as she briskly set off back to the village. Pressing the wet cloth over his eyes for a moment, Mitsuyoshi listened to Kaito think aloud. By the frustration in his voice he could tell that even the clever and witty fox was stumped by what had occurred and the manner in which things happened. While he sat there his own mind wandered on the topic 'My sword, Koneko, and Kiyomi... Why did they garner a reaction from the stone? Kiyomi made sense as it seems this was how she transported from her land to Kiso. The stories about my sword, I remember being told it was forged for my Grandfather using his fang and a feather from heaven... Could it really be the heavenly feather might be a connection? If so then what is the connection for Koneko?' As his mind imagined the images of the tales he'd been told of his sword and then the connections between Kiyomi, a potential celestial being, a stone from the heavens, and Koneko, he was suddenly pulled from his thoughts.  

"How are you holding up, did the water help at all?" Mitsuyoshi's ear turned to Kaito, almost signaling that he was in his own thoughts and had at some point stopped listening to Kaito. "Oh.." the hanyou then removed the cloth and opened his eyes, noting immediately that his vision was no longer blank but extremely blurry, seeing blotches of light and color but no finer detail beyond that. "It appears that my vision is returning. I can at least see blotches of light and colors from the sky and the trees." the wolf explained, enthusiasm in his voice knowing now that his vision was starting to recover. Even from Kaito's position, he could see that the milky cloud over his irises had faded and his gold irises could be partially seen through what remained of the milky cloud. His expression soon changed as a sudden thought came to him like an epiphany that Koneko's connection might be that she is part Dragon. "Kaito, I was thinking..." Mitsuyoshi started holding his hands out infront of him as he began to articulate his thoughts, the cloth draped over his hand being held in place by his thumb as he continued.

"... The stone came from the heavens. My sword, the Kazega, is said to be forged from the Fang of my Grandfather and a Feather that was granted to him by the Gods, descending from the heavens. Koneko is part dragon, which I've heard in some stories they are of a divine and heavenly nature as well. Now... I've been suspecting that Kiyomi, with how she described her homeland and how she came here, that she might be a celestial maiden from the Heavens..." Mitsuyoshi listed, the excitement in his voice growing as he drew to his conclusion. "... What if that is the connection that caused the stone's reaction with all of them? If so that would mean that maybe they are in Kiyomi's land, the Heavens!" A proud smile on the hanyou's face as he looked in the direction where he last heard Kaito's voice, not realizing that the Fox has moved slightly.

----------------------------

As Fusae made her way down the steps that sat between the new shrine and the path to the old shrine in the forest, she stopped briefly and gazed out at the village and the fields surrounding, a look of dread came over her as she sensed the demonic aura that she could faintly detect from her position. Looking across the empty and unattended fields, only added to the alarm that grew within her. "There is evil afoot..." As she removed an arrow from her quiver and held her bow at the ready to draw as she proceeded down the steps and into the village center. The silence and absence of human life within the village added to the sense of alarm as she made her way through the village, but it was in the village center that she discovered the bodies of 5 of the village militiamen laying in large puddles of blood that pooled beneath them. A sound of movement caught her attention and she quickly spun in it's direction and readied her bow, only to find it was one of the village children that had been hiding behind a large basket. "Oh Chiyo-chan!" She lowered her bow as the young girl ran up to her and wrapped her arms tightly around the old priestess, shivering in fear, her face strewn with tears.

Fusae took the child in her arms as she knelt to be at her height.  "What has happened here?" she gently asked as she wiped the tears from her face, "A d-d-demon came... and he k-killed them and-and. he took. ev-everyone! I-I- hid-" as the young girl began to sob intensely again hindering her from explaining further detail. "Tis Alright child, tis alright You need not say more... You did well to hide" Fusae held the child close to her and consoled the young girl. When her sobs had finally subsided she  again wiped the girl's tears away before looking into her terrified face. "Go quickly to the Shrine, there is a chamber beneath it where you will be safe. I had it specially built and provisioned for the sake of sheltering the children of the village. I will dispatch this demon and bring everyone back, don't you worry." she gave the girl another warm hug again before "Now go, go now." with that, the young girl took off toward the shrine as instructed. Following the traces of the aura, she was led out of the village and towards the Headman's manor.


At the Headman's manor the entire village were huddled together in the courtyard of the estate, cowering in fear as the Headman, Kimura-dono, was front and center on his hands and knees with his head bowed low pleading on behalf of the villagers. Before him stood the Fox youkai that had set upon them in the past, Fuzenmaru. Appearing in human form, his face, Pointed ears, digitigrade legs, and two tails behind him said it all. Dressed much like he was before in Emerald Kimono with black Hakama pants, but with the inclusion of the enchanted cuirass from the shadow. Standing on the veranda in front of the main meeting hall, In his hands he gripped his yari tightly as his gaze pierced the humbled figure below him. "Now Kimura... The last time I was here, I was treated so ungraciously... Had I not rid you all of demons before? Wasn't it only rightful that I should be the Lord of this village for saving you before? Yet your rag tag militia and your Priestess..." He growled as he recalled the incident in his mind. "If you bring me the head of that Priestess on a plate, I will forget your transgressions and these 4 may live." Fuzenmaru drew his arm outwards and using the spear, he pointed to Hachiji and the 3 other militiamen who were bound together by a snake he had conjured using his fox magic. "And I won't have to kill their families either."


Just then an arrow with a pink glow piereced through the air through the main gates of the estate at the Fox youkai. For a brief moment Fuzenmaru wore an expression of fear and flinched as the arrow came at him until it was stopped short by a barrier that extended out from the enchanted breastplate that he wore. Quickly regaining his composure as a smirk crossed his face. 'So it does work huh? This may be a fruitful alliance after all...' Fuzenmaru then pointed his Yari at the priestess who emerged from under the gate as she notched another arrow. "Lady Fusae, how nice of you to intervene again." Sarcasm lacing his voice. "... Your arrows are useless against my Enchanted armor so you might as well lay them down and meet your fate..." Fusae didn't waver nor did she feel the need to grace the Fox's remarks with a response, but in her mind she frantically tried to determine how she might break the spell that protected him. "...Don't worry, you can take great satisfaction that you have lived a long life for a mere mortal, but unfortunately for all mortals life comes to an end at some point, why not allow me to expedite it?!" Fuzenmaru suddenly surged forth at Fusae just as she loosened another sacred arrow at him. As the arrow dissolved right into the barrier, she braced herself for melee as she tried to parry Fuzenmaru's spear, but it was he who countered and managed to send her bow flying off and over the wall of the estate, and a moment later she felt the cold steel of the spear's tip pierce her body and splatter blood on the wall behind her. The elder priestess yelped in pain and then again as he drew the blade from her, allowing blood to drip on the dirt in front of her as she collapsed to her knees holding her wound. "Don't worry, I won't dispatch you soon. I'd like to see you suffer and writhe as I did before I let you go."

[Koneko]

A small sigh of relief escaped the fox's lips as it sounded like Mitsuyoshi's sight was already returning to him, feeling it was one less thing they would soon have to concern over strongly. "Good, that'll be one less problem for all of us, you especially I'm sure," he said in a bit more cheerful tone to uphold the excitement the hanyou exuded over the matter. He had continued to test the small doors of the shrine, then noticed one of the handles seemed a bit loose. Nudging it a few times, it suddenly popped loose and quickly started falling towards the ground, leaving the fox to quickly scramble and catch it before it could make a sound. Silently breathing a small sigh of relief he hadn't ended up making a sound, he quickly tucked it away on his person for the time being and shut the doors, thinking to himself, 'well it looks like I'll be fixing that later before I anger the stone or anyone else notices... Maybe it's a good thing he can't quite see right now...' Turning his full attention to the remaining companion while clearing his throat, Kaito could see the improvement himself in the condition of his eyes before his head perked in interest to the thoughts the wolf wanted to float out to him. As he then began to soundlessly step himself away from the shrine, surprise first reached him gaining some information about the Kazega Mitsuyoshi kept on his side, taking into consideration divine power in some manner had also been mixed into the blade during it's creation, then next the fact Koneko had at some point mentioned her own half-breed nature to the wolf sometime after meeting him.

"Now... I've been suspecting that Kiyomi, with how she described her homeland and how she came here, that she might be a celestial maiden from the Heavens..." Stopping himself to stand in the space in front of Mitsuyoshi, Kaito turned to look right at him as he brought up this theory, a little taken back by the thought. He could see how he the wolf made that conclusion considering each other person or item involved had some form of divine or heavenly power attached to them, but much of him felt that wasn't quite right despite seeming like a solid guess. "... What if that is the connection that caused the stone's reaction with all of them? If so that would mean that maybe they are in Kiyomi's land, the Heavens!" The kitsune could see the incredibly proud smile Mitsuyoshi wore as he laid it out there, believing he'd figured it all out and putting a slight pit in Kaito's throat as he knew he was about to contest the idea. Seeing that he'd turned to look where he'd been standing moments prior, he decided to ease into prodding the idea. "So Konene told you more about herself than I suspected," he started to pull his attention in the correct direction, "Your guess about the dragon half of her is fairly spot on, so I'll give you that... But... But are you certain about Kiyomi?" He let the question linger for a moment before tossing in a little bit of a push back, "Her scent was fairly normal for a human as far as i could tell, though I'm sure my sense of smell is a little lacking compared to yours... And while she certainly has sacred powers given our first-hand experience with her gift of sight at least, so, despite her odd way of speaking and acting, she seemed pretty remarkably human. Besides, the way she talked about her home it didn't sound like it was in the heavens... But I'm sure if it was it wouldn't have been necessary to use the shrine to return her home between myself and Konene."

He pondered the thoughts a little longer still, at least finding some merits to parts of it. "I guess i can't say it's impossible, you did seem to make a few connections I hadn't thought or known about, but I just can't say that's the case flat out without something to prove she actually is a celestial being." It was around that moment perked his head and looked down the path behind him, "Hmm?" Something had seemed to catch his interest, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "That seems odd..." With his vision blurry, Kaito's sudden interest in something had Mitsuyoshi trying to strain to see if anything was around, and sniff the air to see if there was a scent he'd somehow missed. "What's odd? What do you see, Kaito-dono? I don't smell anything different around here," he asked curiously, shifting anxiously to be at the ready at what sounded like trouble, especially with the disadvantage he was at. "My clone I sent out searching the area for the girls earlier, it spotted a single little girl from the village running scared and looking for a place to hide over by Lady Fusae's shrine... I don't like the look of that... Makes me think something might be wrong..."

The clone itself continued on, keeping even more out of sight as it made it's way down to the village, finding it strangely quiet and abandoned in the short time they'd been up by the older shrine. 'Where's Lady Fusae?' he thought, glancing around in concern with the eerie silence of the earlier decently busy village becoming unsettling. 'Could it be another youkai snuk up while we were gone...?' Then it crossed his mind how extra testy they'd all been about him being a fox. 'Don't tell me... Another kitsune? But what could another of my kind want with this village?' The clone continued on it's way, quickly finding the bodies of the few militia men that had been slaughtered in the village. Hastily it carried on, dashing on to find the remaining villagers, 'I better not be too late!!'

"This is definitely bad..." Kaito said out loud to Mitsuyoshi after staying silent for a short while from concentrating, the tension in his voice clear as he then turned to look over at the hanyou. "Sorry to leave you here, but I need to get moving... My duplicate hasn't seen Lady Fusae yet and there's already a few casualties in the middle of the village... I don't know what's going on, but it's not good and I can't imagine there's time to waste before anyone else gets hurt...." No sooner had he said the last word of his statement he had taken off, bounding his way down the path quickly before transforming into a bird, taking to the sky quickly to get a better survey over the village itself to help guide his clone. 'Come on, come on!! Where are the villagers?! There's no time to lose!!' he thought, before seeing a few stray people standing around by the headmaster's estate, two tails standing out to him as well as the weapon piercing into someone he could only surmise was the older miko from the colors he could see. 'THERE! quickly!' He sent his clone in the direction, he himself circling overhead to keep a close eye and look for his best opening once he had a better idea just what kind of fight this other kitsune was about to be for him.

--------------

Picking up on an extra sweet note in the rice cakes left out on the table, Koneko stared at them with an uncertain glance before turning her attention to Kiyomi who came to join her after quickly talking to her mom a moment longer. "Kiyomi, why do these smell sweeter than normal?" she asked, not sure of what to make of them. "Go ahead and try one, they're really good and I'm sure you'll like it," she encouraged with a smile, grabbing one for herself after she took a seat. The feline gave it a slightly longer hard stare, unsure about it before slowly reaching to grab one and sniffed the individual rice cake before taking a small bite. As her teeth cut in and the soft exterior touched her tongue, she noticed the sweeter flavor near instantly, ripping the bite out of it and chewing it incrementally faster before swallowing it down and seeming to sparkle after. "Umai!!" she said aloud, staring at the bitten into mochi before tossing the rest in her mouth and savoring the rest, her tail widely flipping behind her helping to express how much she enjoyed the sweeter flavor. As the daiyoukai seemed to melt from the extra tasty food, she soon picked up on an additional pair of eyes timidly on her, soon looking over as she chewed and swallowed the large mass of the rest of the treat. Airi had been staring nervously but with an obviously inquisitive touch to her glance, slowly sitting down across to be slightly close, but not too close.

"Well it's not like I'm going to bite you..." Koneko soon spoke up with a pout, seeing that made the girl seem to shrink back a little. With a sigh, she quickly got the idea she was scaring the young girl, causing her to sit improperly in her own spot to seem less intimidating while mulling slightly. "Airi, it's okay, I promise she's nice, she really won't hurt you," Kiyomi added her own support to help her youngest sibling feel alright with the strange stranger. Then the feline noticed it, the younger girl was staring at her flipping tail behind her. Letting out a small sigh, she brought her tail to rest just on the edge of the table, trying not to let her scales clack on it as she brought it to rest. "Let me guess... you want to touch my tail?" she asked a bit blatantly, having surmised the conclusion given how it seemed a pattern in this family that they were interested in trying to get a chance to feel the parts of her that were foreign for a human. The young girl just slightly looked away, then back to her before nodding once. Giving in a little bit, Koneko herself looked away and curled her tail towards the priestess she sat next to, trying to hide some slight hesitance and blush at the quandary, tapping at the woman's leg to try to subtly gain her attention at the implication. It took the priestess a moment, but she soon called her little sister over to her in understanding what Koneko meant by her actions, "It's okay Airi, come sit by me." With the encouragement, she slowly got up and came over to sit by her older sister, and, with some slow guidance of Kiyomi showing her the feline allowed her to touch her tail, the younger girl soon also slowly ran her hand over the tail too. That's when she finally spoke up after that whole time, "it really is as soft as it looks!" Her voice came out in shaky enthusiasm, her sister smiling as she too could tell how silky the youkai's tail was, a sparkle seemed to ignite in her eyes while the demon herself kept looking away, continuing to hide her abashed expression as she allowed this to happen just to prove she wasn't a terrifying creature. "You convinced I'm not gonna hurt you now?" she huffed out slightly, though there was very little bite to her words. "Yeah, I really like how fluffy your tail is," the youngest in the room admitted, gently smiling at the youkai as she finally turned her face as she cooled her embarrassed blush. A slightly gentle smile soon crossed the tiger's face as the child was convinced, finding contentedness in the moment before she scarfed down another rice cake to enjoy while she relaxed a little bit in the now calming atmosphere.

[Taishou89]

"I've never met a celestial being so I wouldn't know what they smell like, but there is something different about her, even her scent is different than that of most other humans... almost sweet like fruits and flowers." Mitsuyoshi touched a finger to his chin as he recalled their first meeting. His ears perked up as he heard Kaito mention something was odd. "What's odd? What do you see, Kaito-dono? I don't smell anything different around here," the hanyou asked curiously as he shifted around anxiously as he attempted to focus his ears and squint with the hopes his vision may get better by doing so. "My clone I sent out searching the area for the girls earlier, it spotted a single little girl from the village running scared and looking for a place to hide over by Lady Fusae's shrine... I don't like the look of that... Makes me think something might be wrong..." Kaito replied, a serious tone in his voice. The hanyou's hair raised in alert as he promptly stood to his feet and took a defensive posture. 'Damn! With my vision like this I don't know how I'm going to be able to fight, but the thought of being useless at a time of dire need is unbearable and unacceptable, I'll do what I can.' 

"This is definitely bad..." Kaito voiced aloud breaking the moment of silence that lingered briefly. The tension in his voice caused great alarm for Mitsuyoshi, even as he stood there now, his vision was slowly improving, but his own hands before him looked like a fuzzy blur, but at least he could see their general outline. "What does your clone see?" He voiced as he tuned his ears and squinted in an attempt to be better prepared. His question went unanswered as Kaito blurted out abruptly "Sorry to leave you here, but I need to get moving... My duplicate hasn't seen Lady Fusae yet and there's already a few casualties in the middle of the village... I don't know what's going on, but it's not good and I can't imagine there's time to waste before anyone else gets hurt...." No sooner had he spoke the last word, Mitsuyoshi could hear Kaito's steps pattering off "Wait, wha-" was all Mitsuyoshi could get out before he noticed Kaito's departure turn into the woosh and patter of him leaping at great speed away. "Kaito! Damn it! Don't just leave me here!" He shouted in the direction that the fox's sounds came. "Ugh! The Nerve of that guy! Why I oughtta... Ugh!" The hanyou cursed in frustration

------------------

"Fuzenmaru... Does your pride and lust for power and adoration know no bounds? Are ye so hungry for power that ye would make a pact for magical enchantments?" Fusae spat defiantly at the Fox. Fuzenmaru chuckled sinisterly as he approached the wounded, Suddenly she reached into her Kimono and drew 5 talismans stained in her blood and sent them flying at the fox. Fuzenmaru gasped as he stopped in his tracks and flinched defensively at the sight of the talismans coming at him, until they struck the barrier that still surrounded him and dissolved instantly. 'So they don't work as well..' Fuzenmaru quickly regained his posture. "Ha! Foolish woman! I'm invincible to your spells!" He then swiftly sent the heel of his foot right into her left shoulder where his spear had penetrated, sending her falling backwards onto the ground before bellowing out yet another sinister laugh as he delighted in hearing her cryout in pain. 'If these enchantments can stop a priestess' sacred arrows and talismans, I wonder just exactly what else they will stop. I will be invincible! It may yet not be impossible to perhaps conquer more villages! I will be the most Powerful Fox Youkai in all the land!'

"You three!" Fuzenmaru barked as he pointed his spear at Mizuko, Asami, and Yasuko. "Take her and tend to her wound, I'm not ready to let her die so easily." The Fox lord commanded of the girls, but as they readied to pass by him, something caught his attention and he thrust the spear out infront of them to stop them. "You three... The scent on you... Two different scents... It's very faint but it's definitely there. Where are these Youkai that have defiled you?" Fuzenmaru interrogated as the women bowed and hesitated to tell him of Mitsuyoshi and Kaito. "Answer me!" he barked as he pulled his spear back and set it point forward at one Mizuko, ready to thrust it and dispatch her. "Two youkai, a Fox and a wolf traveling together..." Fusae's voice broke the awkward silence as she panted while trying to force herself up and off the ground. "... I caught them having their way with these women and I drove them out of the village last night." Fusae groaned before falling over. Finding the answer satisfactory for now, the Fox lord lowered his point before waving it off, signaling the 3 servant girls to attend the wounded priestess. 

As the women helped Fusae to her feet, they took her into the manor to tend her wounds, while Fuzenmaru turned his attention back to the villagers. "You all must pledge your loyalty to me and to serve me, if you fail... I will kill you. Now Go back and tend to your fields." The Fox lord then turned his attention the Hachiji and the other militiamen who were kneeling. "You 4! Clean up that filth in the village and burn their bodies. Maybe I'll let you live after that." Before turning to one of the young village girls that was departing with the rest and taking her by the arm. "Not you, You will be my first bride." The Fox Lord chuckled evilly as the girl tried to pull away with no success against his strong grip. "Good! I like them spirited, it makes breaking them in so much more fun!" As he then turned to the Village Elder "... And you, 'Headman', will marry us."

---------------------

Mitsuyoshi cautiously continued back towards the village, holding his arms out in front of him to act like antennae so that he could feel for any obstacles he might not be clearly able to decipher through his blurry vision. He knew was on the path by how worn the ground was. Suddenly his foot hit a rock causing him to trip and stumble but he managed to catch his footing and avoid collapsing onto the ground. "Damn that Kaito!" he cursed loudly in frustration until suddenly the wind shifted in his direction coming from the village and he caught the scent of another youkai,  'Fox?' His mind wondered. He could smell Kaito, and the other scent smelled almost likely him but it was discernably different. Then the whiff of human blood came, more alarmingly Fusae's blood. "Oh no!" He exclaimed as he started to take off at a faster speed, but by the time he felt the difference in terrain with his first step his face was rudely greeted by the trunk of a tree as he collided with it, sending him stumbling backwards until he fell on his rear in the middle of the path. "Argh! Kaito!!! When I catch up to you... I. Am. going. to destroy you!!!" His frustrated exclaim sent the birds in the trees scattering to the wind and even Kaito could have probably heard him faintly.