Ghostly Apparitions in the Abandoned Castle(Intro)

[Koneko]

Feeling her suspicions of him living solely as a human were confirmed, Koneko thought again for a moment so she could explain it more simply, though it gave her concern that he might in fact need guidance to some degree. "Daiyoukai are considered the greatest among youkai, stronger and much more capable than most. We are able to retain a human form which many weaker youkai are incapable of doing. Many have clans that incorporate lesser youkai of their kind into their service and as villages even. I am not exactly well versed in knowing how strong blood like mine is with hanyou like yourself, but you undoubtedly have strong blood in you." She paused and seemed to mull over the information he mentioned he knew about his family before speaking again, her eyes glancing over the blade he held out. What he even mentioned about his mother being married off she knew was not uncommon even among daiyoukai, she herself was in process of being arranged to be married before she was forced to flee and now chose to stay away from any semblance of her former livelihood. "Hmm, the wolf clans... I believe they are from the northern mountains," the feline mentioned, placing a hand on her hip and her other to her chin in thought, "I don't know much about them, my father was a-" Cutting herself off quickly with a slight twitch of her body, she near instantly revised her statement, "I'm not sure if my father knew them either, I was to young to ever know something like that before his death, but I can offer help in seeking them out. Since there was one of relation around that teapot, there's a chance they might still consider you part of their pack."

It was easy for her to see he was disheveled from having to take in so much at once, reassuring her choice to at least stick around to aid him as it was clear between his mother's actions, the sword and the scent of that blood someone cared enough about him to try to give him the best chance of survival. Unsure what might ease him slightly, she decided on a slight gesture and stepped forward to stand next to him before placing a hand on his shoulder. "I will help you take care of what you need to here, then we can determine what to do next," Koneko told him, intent on either helping him bury the dead, find things he might need in the castle grounds or any small needs in between. She then pat his shoulder a couple more times before removing her hand. 'He'll need some time to adjust, but I'm sure once I get him out of this place he might take to his yokai blood a bit more naturally.'

[Taishou89]

Mitsuyoshi pondered the information, the new term he learned, and much less the hierarchy of the Youkai world itself. It made sense to him as he had heard it mentioned that his mother came from a great line, still he knew nothing more but none the less he was still grateful for the information Koneko presented. He listened intently to her as she explained what information she did know, and cocked his head when she cut herself off from explaining her own line. This told him that there was something about her past that she rather not speak of, maybe she had been banished and exiled? Maybe she had fled an arranged marriage? It definitely seemed to him that she had come from an important line as well, but He didn't know for sure, decided that it would be rude to ask just yet as they only just met. When she mentioned the death of her father, he understood what likely occurred, but remained silent as it was not his place to press it.

"The thought did cross my mind to seek out my mother's family but..." He shifted for a moment as he grappled with the painful thought "... She had left me to this world, and I can only ascertain that it was likely because I was a half breed and Impure as many in this world view as well." Although the relation of the blood in the teapot did cause him some very little amount of doubt about that thought. If so, why then had his mother never appeared to him? Never the less he quickly pushed this thought out of his mind as he had decided to do as he had been brought up. To follow his Brother and Master into the afterlife. 

Feeling her hand on his shoulder in reassurance, and her offer, he responded. "Thank you, Koneko-sama..." He paused as he then shifted around to face her at first looking deep into her eyes with serious intent. "After I lay my brother's remains to rest, I would be honored if you would act as my Kaishakunin." He then bowed low in respect, recognizing the seriousness of his request and his assumption that she had come from a great line as a full Daiyoukai. To him even within the human world, he'd always never fully occupied the status of the position in which he was placed because of his half blood, Mitsuyoshi presumed that it was the same for the Youkai world.

[Koneko]

Hearing his thoughts about about his clan she understood why he would assume such a thing, it certainly was true most youkai of any sort weren't exactly accepting of hanyou. Koneko herself was by technicalities not a hanyou, but she'd faced such discrimination herself from her own clan on a fairly extreme level. Yet she still had a feeling there must be at least one among his clan that wanted the best for him, perhaps it was his mother given what he said.

As her hand returned to her side, she glanced at him with slight bewilderment for a moment thinking, 'S-sama?!' She hadn't been referred to with so much respect in a long time, though she herself had kept it that way with her previous companions. For the moment she'd let it be, he was fairly polite after all and it's not like he knew her, so perhaps it was just a moment he was being extra polite. He had a hard enough time right now as it was, she could ask him to refrain from it later. Seeing a deep intent in his eyes, she stared back wit her full attention to listen to his request, though, once he asked, it took her a moment to process his request as she watched him bow low before her. "Ee...? EEEEEEEEE?! H-hold on!!" she started loudly from sudden shock, "Have you lost your mind?! Or maybe that spell messed up your head like it did your legs! Laying your brother to rest is one thing, maybe help gathering what may help you while leaving here, but you just want to give up?!" The fur on the feline's tail ruffled a little and her composure tensed from sudden frustration with a faint glow to her irises. "It would have been better for me to leave you asleep instead of answering the plea from help if I knew you were going to ask such a thing!"

Koneko grit her teeth and she became more commanding, quickly laying out she wouldn't hear a different answer. "Look, I'm not helping to kill you, someone wanted you to have chance to live so I expect you to have some pride as a youkai! Recover your brother and we'll find a place to bury him out of respect. I hear any more about such a nonsense human custom then I'll make sure you come with me and that's that! You aren't bound by human customs and you're going to learn that starting now!" The daiyoukai's eyes narrowed at him, watching him closely and giving an air different than she had the whole time, like she was heavily implying she was most confidently the stronger of the two in the room to talk in such a manner to him.

[Taishou89]

Mitsuyoshi's ears perked up at her initial reaction, almost immediately he sensed she was offended by his request and quickly rose from his bow staring at her in surprise. His eyes wide and his lips quivering as he tried to form words "B-b-but." but he soon realized it was better to not attempt it as it may only aggravate her further. 'Are youkai customs that different? That to honor one's lord by following him into the afterlife was such an offense?' he could only wonder to himself as she continued to berate him. If it was so, then the youkai customs were truly strange. Though Mitsuyoshi had been raised, trained, and drilled in the strict etiquettes and protocols of the ruling Warrior class, that was not to say that he himself did not struggle with it sometimes. Through out his life, a silent part of himself had secretly yearned to be free of the restrictions that bound him, particularly because even greater restrictions were placed on him than his human counterparts specifically because he was not seen as human. Not only was it strange for him to see such a display of raw offense, but it was equally unusual for him to witness such blunt honesty where he did not have to read between the lines and attempt to interpret one's words and conduct like, especially, those among the upper echelons of the Warrior class. This honesty in it's raw form was actually a little refreshing and touching even if he'd never before been scolded for conforming to what would have been considered normal in the world he grew up.

She made a valid point, as from what it sounded someone or something had guided her to wake him. But who? or Why? There was no doubt that given the year, everyone was long taken by time itself. "... I'll make sure you come with me... You aren't bound by human customs and you're going to learn that starting now!" His surprise faded as these words fell upon him. Was she taking him on as a vassal? Was she taking him on as an apprentice to learn the ways of the youkai? By her tone and posturing, it felt apparently so. She did put quite an effort into wake him and perhaps he did owe her this much. The thought of taking his life under these circumstances did seem rather cowardly, especially after nearly 90 years had passed since the battle, even if it felt only like yesterday that he had sat in the reception room sharing sake with his brother, plus deep down inside him a part of him seemed to not want to die as it seemed to plant the seeds of doubt in conviction and made it extremely hard to willingly hold the blade when he almost had committed Seppuku before. Finally and at the very least, what Koneko had said would definitely be better than roaming the country alone as a ronin and without direction or meaning.


With that new resolve he recomposed himself. "Koneko-sama, I apologize for having offended you. It is hard for me to accept that I cannot not follow my lord and brother into the afterlife..." He started, although as typical of the customs he had been raised in, this part was more a matter of saving face as he had had secretly found a part of himself inspired and agreeing with her. "... But, I was very moved by your honesty, however brash and foreign it may be to me, and I've reconsidered my decision. I would be honored to be taken on as your vassal and student. Please teach me the ways of the Youkai." he spoke before bowing low again as far as his armor would allow. Had he not been wearing it, he would have gone the full way almost bringing his forehead to the floor.

[Koneko]

Hearing his attempt to argue back, Koneko narrowed her eyes further, watching as he sat seeming to think it over though was prepared he may argue back with her and insist further. Seeming to hold her breath though keep up her confident imposition, she waited quietly as he seemed to at least consider what she said. Once he spoke again, she seemed to ease greatly as the glow from her irises faded, feeling relieved he backed down, though seemed a little exasperated to still be referred to as 'Sama' and noting the remark about following his brother into the afterlife. At least she was calm until he mentioned becoming her vassal, then her face turned to a pure shock before scratching the side of her face. 'He's going to be a tough one to crack out of these habits...' Sighing lightly, she squatted down and gently grabbed the back of his collar, pulling him up slightly with ease from his bow to be able to look him in the face while her own chin rested in her other hand.

"I'm relieved you're reconsidering, but let's get a couple things about these mannerisms of yours set. First, I'd appreciate if you'd stop regarding me so highly. I'm nothing more than a vagabond, so if you must show respect, then -dono is more than enough, but I'd prefer if you consider me an equal rather than above you. Second, enough being so formal: you're my traveling companion, not my vassal or student. There might be still some purpose to the human formalities you know, but around me I want you to drop them as much as possible until you can completely. I'll be understanding it'll take time, but don't be surprised if I remind you pretty often." Koneko held a stern look despite talking fairly nicely to him again, but it soon changed to a mellow smile. "Besides, there's not one strict way of being a youkai, certainly there are some customs, but think of it more like a discovery of how to live with less restrictions for the time being. Now let's get you off the floor and on your feet again and I'll help you bury your brother." With that all said, she kept her hold on the collar of his kimono and pulled him up with her, lifting him seeming fairly effortless for her as she got him back on his feet, then waited until he was ready to move out of that underground place.

"Oh, after giving final respects, I was also considering getting you situated as quickly as we can for any of your needs since waking. I don't know how that spell affected you since it seems like it kept you indisposed considerably longer than intended by how you've been reacting, but if you have need of anything, I'll see what I can do." The daiyoukai wanted to be sure he wasn't going to forego any needs, such as hunger, thirst, cleanliness and so on account of just following her and very obviously holding her in some form of high regard. It was more than apparent he was stuck to human tradition and formalities, so it was at least a good starting place to help him unravel such a rigorous way of acting.

[Taishou89]

He was a little taken aback when she took hold of his collar and raised him from his bow, but not necessarily unusual. She was indeed a strange fellow, but never the less her insistence at dropping the formalities was doable. He'd never met someone so informal and beyond such a structured life, furthermore it intrigued him how she insisted on being referred to so casually and... like a friend. For friends he had really only known his brother, Akari, and Ayame to be the closest to him so to an extent he was touched when he interpreted it as such. Formalities were a part of life for him, but the notion that she would prefer a less formal duty bound relationship, almost a friendship, made it easier to perceive.

He was even more taken aback when she suddenly and singlehandedly raised him from the ground into a standing position with absolutely no help from himself, still gripping the back of his collar. He blushed slightly at his underestimation of her strength, but also because he was slightly embarrassed that he felt like he was being handled like when one would grab a cat to move them. His pride as a Samurai felt this to be indignant, but given their recent communication, nay more like laying down the law, he didn't want to incur her wrath and another scolding. "Um... If I may..." He started carefully trying to deformalize himself. "Could I not be treated like a cat? I am still a warrior and this is... unbe- embarrassing." as he nervously smiled. "Thanks..." He replied with a nervous chuckle.

Turning around he recovered his brother's sword from the other skeleton, something he could identify easily by it's ornate Tachi style tsuka, turning to Koneko to hand her it "If you could please hold this?" he asked before turning to his brother's remains. Momentarily pausing and bowing his head he softly spoke "Please forgive me brother for causing you so much problems in life. Allow me to atone by properly seeing to your remains and by living a model life of service to others in need." With those words, he carefully gathered up his brother's remains, removing his helmet so that it did not create undue pressure on the bones and neck to cause them to separate. "I know a spot..." with that he led Koneko out of the castle. Proceeding out into the fields under the moonlit night, the mist that lurked and likewise the spirits had vanished and the sky shone clear with it's starry display and the moon in full. They found themselves by the campfire of the merchants earlier, it's fire long starting to burn out, Mitsuyoshi would remark. "I wonder what happened to the people that were here? who would leave all this stuff?" He pondered aloud before turning to Koneko. "Koneko-dono, Do you have a flint to relight the fire by any chance?" as he gently laid his brother's remains down.

Finding a shovel among the items in the small cart left by the merchants, Mitsuyoshi walked up to the old oak tree and quickly found the spot where he and his brother both had carved their promise to each other so long ago. Placing his and over the characters etched into it's bark, he bowed his head as the memory of that day so long ago came to him. Mitsuyoshi was 10 and Mitsutada was 7 at the time, they had a huge fight over Mitsutada's mother, Lady Emiko. Mitsuyoshi confiding that he didn't like her. Mitsutada took offense and the two descended into argument and name calling, Mitsuyoshi ended up calling Lady Emiko a witch because she was so cruel, and the fight escalated into blows. After it was broken up, Mitsuyoshi would take all the blame as it was always Lady Emiko who called the shots as their father was busy ruling the fief. She was charged with being Mitsuyoshi's adoptive mother and from day 1 she had set out to make sure that Mitsuyoshi would be the lesser of the two boys, know it, and accept it. It was Mitsuyoshi who would be made to bow low when Mitsutada entered the room, Mitsutada would be given the sweet treats while Mitsuyoshi was blatantly denied any(Though Of course Mitsutada would always sneak some for him). Lady Emiko's hatred for the young hanyou would not cease there, going so far as to forcefully push his head into the floor if she felt he didn't bow low enough, grabbing him by his wolf ears and pulling on them almost lifting the boy from the ground until he cried and then ridicule him for crying. Mitsuyoshi's basis for his dislike of Lady Emiko were indeed well founded, but what is a boy to do when his mother is attacked but to defend her?

The fight resulted in Mitsuyoshi being blamed and denied permission to leave the castle, which at that present moment meant he couldn't attend the Obon festival in town and this caused him deeper resentment with his brother and the two ended up swearing that neither would have anything to do with each other. That changed later that afternoon when Mitsutada had been enjoying the festival and had climbed up on to the railing of a bridge to sit and eat his dango, little rice cake balls on a skewer, but he ended up losing his balance and falling backwards into the river below. Mitsutada wasn't a strong swimmer at all and the river was fairly rough due to the recent rainfall in the mountains,  he managed to cry for help, but amidst the music of the festival, his cries could not be heard by those attending, but it could be heard by Mitsuyoshi who had climbed up atop the roof of the castle's wall to watch the distant lights of the festival and listen to it's music. It was just faint amidst the ambient sounds, but he could make out the distinct cries for help. Hesitating momentarily as he considered the possible punishment but he figured a life was more important than being punished for disobeying. 

As he followed the cries, leaping across the roof tops, it's owner's voice became more apparent and it was without a doubt Mitsutada. Quickly following his voice and his scent, he tracked his younger brother just outside of town. It was apparent that the current had carried him that far and as he approached he saw the situation. Mitsutada clung to a log that had become lodged against two boulders in the middle of the river. "Mitsutada! Hang on! I'm coming" He called out. "Mitsuyoshi! Help!" Quickly looking around for something, anything that he could use to get his brother, his eyes finally caught a possible solution. A tree whose branches hung out over the river, he might just be able to hang down from it and maybe pull Mitsutada up and out of the water, he didn't know for sure but he had to try.


Quickly ascending the tree using his claws to help, and crawling down the length of it's branches he made it just over the water. Straddling the branch, and squeezing it with his legs as he turned upside down to try and reach for his Brother but He just wasn't low enough. Suddenly the branch began to snap from his weight so far out, before he could even attempt to react, a loud crack resounded as it snapped and sent him and the branch into to waters below just as the log that Mitsutada clung to also gave way to the weight and pressure. Just as Mitsuyoshi fell into the water he found himself landing next to his brother as they were swept down stream. Mitsuyoshi grabbed the back of Mitsutada's collar and pulled him to the surface as he paddled to keep them both above the surface. "Get on my back and hold tight!" Mitsuyoshi shouted as he fought the water hitting his face but he was relieved to feel his younger brother wrap his arms around him and cling to his back, even if he couldn't hear a verbal response. As the water carried them further from town and out near the fields, Mitsuyoshi paddled hard and steady trying to keep both of them from treading water, trying to swim towards the riverbank. Exhausted and feeling weaker after what seemed like hours of fighting to keep from going under, he finally felt the soft sediment beneath his feet as they reached the shallows of the riverbank. A second wind came over him as he powered onto the shore, carrying his brother some distance from the water before collapsing into the grass next to an old Oath tree, it was this very oak tree that Mitsutada would take Mitsuyoshi's tanto to carve those characters into it's bark.


A wave of feelings came over him as he stared at the characters etched into the bark, bowing his head again he heaved a heavy sigh as he fought back the emotions. A part of him still felt that he should have followed Mitsutada to the grave, and secretly he hoped he would be forgiven for it. Breaking away from the tree he poured his energy and emotions into digging the grave. "Koneko-dono... Perhaps... There is something... We.. Can.. Use... There.." He spoke referring to the many goods left behind by the Merchants. Indeed she would find many useful goods, some valuable as well for among the many other things left by the merchants in their haste, were a number of food items such as rice, dried fish, jars of pickled vegetables, sake, expensive Kimonos, tools, and other various items.

[Koneko]

Seeing him so flustered, but trying to hold to her requests, Koneko grinned widely in a very cat-esque fashion, almost like she was internally chuckling that she'd taken him by such surprise. "Stick to less formalities just like that and we'll call it even, Mitsuyoshi-dono," she replied with a slight giggle before reigning back in to a slightly more serious attitude. Soon respectfully taking the sword as handed to her, she replied, "of course," before falling into silence and allowing him space and time to have a moment with the remains of his brother and gather him up. Once he was ready and mentioned he had a place in mind for the burial, she nodded her head and followed behind him, noting how clear and beautiful the sky had become again in spite of the mist since the moment she'd stepped into the visions she'd witnessed here.

Continuing behind him as they reached the tree, she also laid eyes upon the items left behind and the smoldering remains of a campfire. "This must have belonged to the merchants I heard rushing through the nearby village earlier, it was their shouts of panic and mentions of apparitions and a priestess that drove me to come here. I wonder how far they've run by now, but seems they were truly panicked to leave all of this here." Shaking her head lightly at the thought of it, she looked over at the hanyou as he made a request about lighting the fire and nodded. "Of course, fire isn't a problem," the daiyoukai remarked, kneeling down on one knee and once again raising her fingers towards her lips, blowing over them just as she'd done before and tiny flames danced just above her claws. As she moved her hand away, the flames seemed to dim out for a moment before flicking her wrist towards the fire pit, tiny sparks glinting for a moment before mildly erupting into a small but hearty fire over the wood. Making sure the fire would be set to last for a little while, she glanced back at Mitsuyoshi and watched him move towards the tree and placed his hand over a specific spot, then she noticed the carving as his hand moved away.

"Mitsutada and Mitsuyoshi,

Brothers forever;

never will we fight again or side against each other"

Koneko was starting to understand to some degree, despite formalities of his brother being the Daimyo, there definitely was a closeness between her new companion and his deceased brother. She could merely hope at this point perhaps he had treated Mitsuyoshi well in life, though that may have already been able to be confirmed given how much care he was putting into this burial so far and sentimentality in his movements, there was a deep connection he felt to Mitsutada quite assuredly. She could sense the heavy cloud of emotions over his head as he seemed to struggle to contain them, let alone strained to talk to her about the items nearby. He would most certainly need a little time to grieve the life he once knew, and viewing over all the items that had been left, she considered perhaps even from what was here could help provide him a moment to unwind. There was also a part of her that felt perhaps he may even need a show of comfort, so when the moment was right, she could offer a supportive hand, perhaps if nothing else to assure he didn't have to stay alone as he would adjust to everything she had in essence demanded. "There's quite a bit here we could use actually... They did leave it all here and I have doubts they'll be back the way they were running..." Thinking for a moment, as she glanced over all of it, she then looked back over to him thinking of a gesture that might at least bring him some comfort, "Mitsuyoshi... would you like for me to find stones or do what I can to craft a marker of wood to mark his grave?"

[Taishou89]

Focused intently on his task at hand and the flood of memories, he had missed Koneko's unique ability to start a fire, but so focused he was on digging and trying to divert his emotions away from the surface, he had failed to realize that in the time that elapsed since he began to dig, his task had been completed stopping only because his vision had blurred from the tears that built up, betrayed by his own eyes as they began to roll down his face. He casually wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his kimono, trying be discreet about it but he felt Koneko's eyes upon him as she had been silent since. "Warm night isn't it?" he spoke, feigning that he was wiping sweat and not tears, thinking that she had actually been watching him, before turning around and realizing that she was rummaging through the stuff. "There's quite a bit here we could use actually... They did leave it all here and I have doubts they'll be back the way they were running... Mitsuyoshi... would you like for me to find stones or do what I can to craft a marker of wood to mark his grave?" He heard her say.


"Oh! Um... Sure, I would greatly appreciate that."  He felt a little embarrassed but relieved that she hadn't seen him wipe the tears away, quickly turning to avoid eye contact as he climbed out of the grave, his eyes were indeed still glazed and affected but the moment had passed even though his heart still ached from the memories long ago. Eventually Mitsuyoshi would learn to be comfortable about not having to stuff one's emotions away for the sake of image or to please anyone, and he'd eventually even come to encourage others to not suppress their own, but 45 years of living as such, finding alternative means of expression to avoid snapping, meant that it was a long road ahead to undo. "There might be some rocks down by the river over that way." He pointed in the direction beyond the tree as he remembered there being a collection of boulders and smaller rocks on it's banks from long ago. Carefully he gathered his brother's remains and hopped back into the grave and laid him gently on it's floor before climbing out again. Pausing to view his remains one last time, imagining his brother's serious and stern face that he wore so well at many a court meetings when meeting the townsfolk for their trivial issues. Turning his face away briefly to try and suppress the tears again, he quickly turned his attention back to filling the grave. 

[Koneko]

Giving a gentle nod at his agreement to her suggestion and just barely noticing him avert his eyes, Koneko went ahead and laid the katana she'd been handed earlier next to Mitsutada's remains before getting up and heading off towards the river. She decided it was an opportunity to give him a moment of needed privacy with his feelings and, in that time, she could find the most presentable stones for a grave marker and at least use it as a respectful offering to both Mitsuyoshi and his brother. Stopping as she reached the flowing water, she looked out over it and saw the moonlight reflecting over the surface, some thoughts of her own past coming over her.

She remembered waking in a small, sheltered clearing, warmth of a fire lapping against her face bringing her the awareness that she was still alive before realizing the extreme pain she felt all over her body and how heavy it felt, rendering her immobile. Her eyes opened and noticed a human woman nearby expressing relief to her waking, "thank goodness our efforts weren't in vain, how are you feeling?" She herself coldly retorted wishing she'd been left to perish where she'd been found before hearing a five-tailed kitsune speak up from a nearby tree where he'd been keeping watch, "Sorry, but I couldn't ignore my duties and leave you to die, Hime-sama." Thinking over her incredibly aggressive and snide behavior to refute the kindness and charity they pushed to show her, at that time she'd been taking out on them her want for nothing more than to no longer feel the sting of betrayal nor accept others under the perception she'd just be used and betrayed once again. Not to mention the shame she felt for being saved by a human.  How she'd plotted in the next day that, once the ability to move had returned to her, she'd wait for the human and fox to sleep before slinking off quietly into the night and vanish into a river much like the one currently in front of her to hide away from them so they would leave, only to be stopped by that ever-insistent kitsune, a mostly verbal dispute occurring between them until she had his word he wouldn't take her back to her old life. "Keep the fact I'm alive secret too. Promise me that and I'll stay..."

The fox followed up quickly with gestures of comfort despite her claws digging into him in that moment as a threat, "I promise, only us here will know you are alive, then you'll see you can trust me. Trust us." From there she slowly removed her claws from in his chest, skeptically taking a gamble that he really meant he was keeping his word as he showed only a gentleness in response to her combative display. Koneko had allowed herself to be guided back to the spot she'd been resting and laid back under the human's coat before noticing the human had woken up too, hearing her say, "I'm glad you decided to stay with us..." The daiyoukai sighed in and almost melancholy as she let her reminiscing on the memories of the first meeting end there, then speaking to herself, "It's been nearly forty years since they found me... About thirty since you've disappeared on me, Yuzuki..." Moving towards the area that had been mentioned the stones were, she began picking through them for the ones she felt would be most suitable. "I won't give up my search until I find you or find out what happened to you, but... I know if you were here you'd insist we help Mitsuyoshi too, so like you aided me to change, I'll guide him as best I can. Maybe it'll be nice not being on my own after all this time and at least he's got much better manners than I had." Her thoughts continued and she picked out the few stones, then she twitched as she thought mortified about the youkai also in her memory, then muttering out in slight detest, "I bet that idiot fox is looking for me just like I'm looking for her... I better make sure Kaito stays off our trail, I've avoided him this long, but I don't think I could let anyone else be subjected to his... indiscreet behavior..."

Shaking off her horrified look, she grabbed the few stones she'd decided on and head back over to the wolf hanyou she'd left alone for that little bit. Approaching delicately so as not to catch him off guard and calling to him to announce the return of her presence, the feline tried to see if he'd finished with the grave site. "Mitsuyoshi, I brought back these," she mentioned with a slight gesture of her head towards the stones she held, "I hope these will be suitable." Her tail swayed widely in an idle fashion, giving off the sense she was simply calm at that moment. She was prepared to help him stack them in a presentable fashion before giving another sign of respect over the grave and speaking again. "Once you're ready, why don't we share a drink? There was sake and food among the merchant's items, might do some good to relax and get to know each other," Koneko suggested with a placid grin, then moved to sit down near the fire with her legs crossed, sword on the ground next to her and glancing out over the area, not in a manner of being alert, but just taking in their surroundings.

[Taishou89]

"That sounds like a wonderful Idea." As he gave the fresh mound several firm pats to compact the dirt before walking back over towards the fire and retrieving His brother's sword, admiring the quality and how despite it's age and a few tarnished spots that had seen blood, the blade itself was still intact and sharp. "I don't think I've ever seen him personally fight in battle, but I've seen how he performed in the dojo..." He said as a brief memory of them sparring once upon a time came to mind. "...He couldn't beat me, but that little secret we kept from our father and his mother." He then thrust the sword into the mound as a marker that a warrior was buried here. "He was good enough against most though, but like our father he was better in politics and ruling." Mitsuyoshi turned and walked over to the cart and found the gourd of Sake and two simple ceramic sake cups, likely the personal stash of the merchants judging by their worn look. 

Handing Koneko a cup, he removed the Kazega from his Obi and took a seat beside her on her left, setting his sword to rest on the ground to his left. Their shadows cast into the open field behind them in the direction of the castle, facing the fresh grave and Mitsutada's sword. Removing the cork from the gourd, he carefully poured it's cloudy milky contents into her cup. "At least those men had good tastes..." He commented noting it's appearance. "It's not the highest quality that the castle used to stock, but I found it more humble and much more to my liking than the higher end Sake." Pouring his own cup, he smirked as he remembered a time from what seemed like a not too distant past as he gazed into the flickering flames of the fire. "It's funny... My brother had once banned me from consuming Sake because they feared I would turn into a full demon and cause chaos in the castle..." He chugged the contents in his own cup. "... He changed after the Shogun commuted my sentence and it seemed we were as close as we were when we were children. He rescinded the commands forbidding me from many of the privileges that the other Samurai enjoyed, I was even allowed to marry..." He paused as he remembered his wife and that gut wrenching moment she was killed. Though it had been 90 years since, to him it had only been 2 years. Averting his gaze he reached for the bottle to refill his cup.

Why was he telling her this? Why was he opening up so early when he'd just met this daiyoukai? Although he had agreed to her demands, the thought of taking his life still lingered. Partially because of duty, but deep down in side there was another fear that lingered. Lonliness, being alone in a world that undoubtedly would be against him, though he didn't want to admit these cowardly feelings and the thought of being afraid caused him some contempt, but he had to admit that the fear of the unknown wasn't the only fear that stayed his hand but he knew it would be a matter of time before he would overcome that particular fear. For now, he had to honor his word to Koneko and In his own eyes by opening up to her, he was accepting his own fate and that there was really nothing left to lose if he were to die. Though, little would he know it then, him opening up would better allow for him to find a sense of peace and release from the turmoil within him, instead of stuffing it away and releasing it all during the harvest moon season when he'd turn. It would also help him gain even better control of his actions during that time. 

He would go on to tell more of his relationship with his brother, including the story behind the passage etched into the tree as he would point to during that story, He'd also tell of his cruel step-mother who'd pull on his ears until he'd cry, and then how things changed after the Priestess Akari had come into his life and how He and his brother lived a separate life within the castle from then on only seeing each other during training or in passing until the moment that changed everything between him and Mitsutada, when his own brother ordered him to commit seppuku for assaulting Lord Yasunobu and the Intervention of the Shogun's deputy that halted the ritual. Strangely talking about these things, however embarrassing he may have begun to feel upon realizing that he was revealing truths that normally should be kept private, he had to admit that the knot in his chest seemed to ease. Taking another drink, he realized that she had been listening to him ramble and hadn't spoken since. "Please forgive me, I've bored you with too much useless stories..." as he reached for the sake gourd to offer her more.

[Koneko]

Eyes returning to looking at Mitsuyoshi as he picked up his brother's blade and looked it over, she heard what he had to say as he thrust the blade into the ground over the freshly dug grave. "From the visions the apparitions played out, he seemed quite skilled yet. Though if what you say true, then seeing the skill you have is something I look forward to," Koneko added in compliment to them both, "though I admit I have really only have my ability to fight to work with myself." Politely taking the cup as it was handed, then her eyes followed him as he sat before holding out the cup for him to pour the sake once he offered. While he described his sake preference, she nodded in agreement, "seems they did have good taste. I find this kind has better flavor, more enjoyable in the moments I've indulged with or without company." She faintly thought over the more expensive kinds she preferred to taste were the different fine wines she used to snatch from humans on the continent as she gently tipped the cup and took a drink.

As he spoke again, she looked over at him, surprise covering the feline's face as he recounted he hadn't been allowed to drink at one point: though for a faint moment she almost seemed to struggle to hold back a laugh at the reasoning being he might turn into a full demon from a simple drink, a few stifled noises slipping out. The notion was ridiculous to her knowing full well youkai enjoyed to drink as much as humans, and hanyou were likely just as perfectly fine to handle drinking as any other, but the naiveté of humans still amused her none-the-less despite it being likely the humans were just unaware of such things. Though the look on her face soon passed as his story turned almost wistful, then gloomy, then his turning away with pouring another drink gave up to much more tormented thoughts on his mind. 'Married...? So he had a wife?' She thought to herself, not knowing if time or something else took her from him by now as she was undoubtedly human, seeing as that was all he knew his whole life, but clearly the thought of it weighed on him from his actions and made her wonder more just how much this poor soul sat next to her had suffered in his life under being forced to be solely human. Not just as a human - it seemed as less than one to keep him submissive to them.

Continuing to sip from her cup and refill it as she let him carry on recounting stories of his life, she sat in silence allowing him her full attention, her posture changing to leaning back on one hand somewhat facing him as she sipped from her cup. It was subtle, but it was a sign of openness to hearing him and making herself seem inviting in a friendly manner as one that wouldn't shun his story. The daiyoukai could pick out the range of emotions from him, finding her own upset at some of the cruelties set upon him, yet relief that there had been some individuals in his life that he could confide, find comfort and that not all was pure torment. In fact, she became a little more intrigued at the almost mother-like relationship the priestess had with him, thinking back on how it was some aspect of her truly being the one to leave some plea to help him trapped down there, to wake him. It struck her as odd in a way, but she couldn't place it and ultimately felt it harmless and helpful to him. There was even a sense she felt better about having let him bury his brother after the tales about him, despite the distance they had to maintain socially, it seemed Mitsutada truly looked out for Mitsuyoshi in any way he could with his own hands in political binds and vice versa in a more able-bodied sense for the other. Though it disgusted her to hear a human had attempted to have Mitsuyoshi take his own life to save face on a forced hand over selfishness and greed, consoled of her negative feelings that he'd at least been saved in time. It was becoming clear why he had asked her the request to help commit seppuku earlier, but she wouldn't back down on her stance - not until he knew a life without a rope on his neck, a life without such forced obligations and servitude. She had a feeling once he truly felt the tether binding him to the whims of human social statuses gone, he wouldn't think of doing such a thing anymore.

Koneko soon warmly smiled as he insisted he'd been boring her, quickly slamming back the rest of her cup and accepting his offer to fill it once again. The moment it was replenished, her tail shifted from being curled up next to herself and moved to rest against his closest leg in a manner of reassurance and comfort. The fanned scales at the tip making a soft noise as they came to rest on the ground again from the slight movement. "You couldn't be more wrong, I've been listening quite intently this whole time. You've been through quite a lot in such a short time, but I'll try to make sure in my company you don't have to suffer for the will of another," she replied in a relaxed tone, her mind having played over thoughts of minor similarities in treatments they'd received. Of course when she was little, she knew her father's clan had no respect for her, able to pick up on the looks and attitudes of distaste while they showed embittered respect to her only on account of her father, and wishing to become strong so she could be looked upon without disdain. The fateful day of his death she could barely remember the visage of the teenage-looking daiyoukai she was introduced to from being so young, but she did remember promising she'd become a strong wife in hopes with one her livelihood was meant to be handed to would at least hold respect for her. Of course nothing ever came from it, almost certain he - like many others she'd purposefully left in the dark - probably presumed her dead and thought little of it by now, and she became strong for different reasons than back then. Taking a heartier swig, she soon spoke back up with a whimsical look, "actually, I have a half-brother that used to watch out for me long ago, taught me how to get into all kinds of trouble really. He used to comfort me when I was upset if my mother couldn't and even took to making his ears look like mine do so I didn't have to feel like I stood out too much until he figured out how to teach me to hide mine if I needed to. Despite being an older age than me, we'd both end up scolded by our mother's - him for teaching me tricks and dragging me into trouble and me for going along with it when I should know better after the previous scoldings and that I should act a little dignified." Chuckling for a moment, her expression soon became more forlorn, "he probably thinks I'm long dead... but, it's better it stays that way..."

Quickly taking down the rest of her drink, she held out the cup in a silent request to be poured another. "The reasons aren't worth telling, but the way you talked about all that's happened to you... I can't help but think of some of my own hardships and those I've had to leave behind. Though I'm also searching for someone important to me, the one that pushed me to realize maybe there was a reason I needed to keep going, even if it's just wandering from place to place to help anyone calling for it." Her expression changed once again to a smile as her ears flicked, her checks lightly red at least feeling a touch of the alcohol they'd been drinking, "so I guess you could say if telling me all those stories helped you in some way, then it wasn't useless. Besides, then I get to know what you're like better so I'll know if we'll get along or things I need to watch out for, like not tugging your ears."

[Taishou89]

It was now his turn to listen as she had respectfully done for him and as he sat there listening to her story, he couldn't help but feel some kindred like sense from her own experiences. "Some would say that it is fate or karma that we endure the trials that we both had endured. For what purpose? I cannot say what the Gods envision..." He started, before briefly pondering what she had said about her relationship with her brother and her remark at how he may think she is dead and that it was better he didn't know she was indeed alive. For Mitsuyoshi, his brother was dead and he lived, but he couldn't help wondering if how his brother might view these circumstances. Even though their physical differences showed their roles to be quite opposite. Mitsuyoshi despite being older, looked far younger than Mitsutada who aged as a normal man, but still the regret that he couldn't have been there in his Brother's time of need still weighed heavily on his thoughts and that feeling kept returning to him, despite the positive conversations that had proceeded with Koneko. A part of him even felt a begrudging urge to seek revenge on the Hosokawa and the Daimyo for their politics and power hungry ambitions that initially forced them to pursue the path of being put under the spell to feigning his death to deceive them, but though to him it was only yesterday, it had been nearly 90 years since and most of who he'd take vengeance on were long gone to the annals of time. "... At least he lives and there is always a chance for you to meet him again, I have no doubt he would welcome you with open arms." A small smile crossed his lips as he looked at her before continuing. "The bond between siblings, however tumultuous or chaotic, it can be most wisely summed up in a something that Akari once told me." He paused as he recalled. "...I think it went something like 'Blood is thicker than water' or something. She had said it much nicer than that but that was essentially the meaning." As he gazed off trying to remember. "Akari was always good with Poems and wise lines..." as he poured more sake into her cup.

When she mentioned how his stories themselves weren't useless and that she now knew not to tug on his ears, he blushed a little, "Heh... Well, I don't think there'll ever be a need to touch my ears..." he gave a little nervous chuckle as he gently rose to a stand. For although tugging and pulling on his ears had a negative effect,  ear rubs, scratches and petting had an entirely different and more positive albeit embarrassing effect to him, and only Akari really would do it as he was a child to comfort him but as he got older he'd sometimes ask her not to because it made him feel childish, but never the less it was still a comforting feeling. The last person to do it was Ayame on their last night together. Gently rose to a stand and moved over to his brother's grave. It would be interesting to note that as he started to warm up to Koneko, his manner of speech had changed, but perhaps it could just be caused by the Sake and the fact he hadn't consumed any food beforehand, even though as a hanyou that little amount of sake was not enough to really loosen him up. It was more likely that Koneko's insistence, and her friendly intentions, combined with his inner emotional turmoil, releasing it through digging Mitsutada's grave, and talking about things that helped.

He moved over to Mitsutada's grave, taking one more drink of sake from his cup, he refilled it and placed the cup atop his the fresh mount in front of his sword, before returning back to his seat next to Koneko and offering to pour more for her. He hadn't really noticed it until not but she was really the first Daiyoukai he'd ever seen and while she did share the similarities of having non human ears with him, her other features like her tail and markings were intriguing to him, as well as her strength. He imagined that she'd not only just handle a fight really well, but come to dominate the battlefield and her opponents with little regard, granted he was thinking of human opponents. He had never yet encountered any major youkai beyond the lesser ones that lurked in the mountains and forests mostly, but they were easy enough to be dealt with even by the Samurai and in his time, there didn't seem to be as much Youkai or Daiyoukai wandering the world as there seemed to be in the present time, though he'd yet to learn that or the state of the present era and the many wars going on among the clans.

"Please allow me to pay one last tribute for my brother." as he drew his cased Shinobue from his obi near where his swords would rest. Removing it from it's case it appeared, like everything else that had been on him, unaffected by the time that had passed. Gently, he raised it up and positioned it against his lower lip, adjusting his fingers accordingly to prepare. Closing his eyes and Gently inhaling softly, he began to allow the air to flow into the mouth piece and played the very same tune he had played the night he met Ayame, as it was probably one of his favorites for the memories attached to it. To our ears today it would undoubtedly sound like Kojo No Tsuki. As the clouds passed over the moon and the moonlight again basked the sight of the old castle and the fields surrounding in it's gentle light, the tune reached across the silent and open field with ease.

Behind the two, a ghostly image of The War court of Mitsutada, positioned in battlefield command style appeared. Mitsutada sitting at the center upon a folding stool, flanked by his trusted Generals, Vassals, and Guards bearing the banners of the Nagano clan appeared in the rays of the moonlight as a ghostly image, but soon had their color and almost living physical appearance return. Silently the spirits watched and listened to Mitsuyoshi's offering, with stern and serious faces as they enjoyed the music. Resigned to the fact that they were dead, many among the spirits in attendance of this tribute would be moved to tears at the haunting tune and, after observing the entire scene since his awakening, the dedication with which Mitsuyoshi had displayed and his intent to follow them though much had not been relayed verbally, they as spirits could sense what lay within his heart. Silently the tears rolled down the stern, stoic faces of these long dead warriors until the Mitsutada would break the silence at the end of Mitsuyoshi's performance by snapping his war fan closed.


Hearing the sudden sound behind them, Mitsuyoshi leaped up and spun around in alarm. His posture quickly changed as he realized whose presence he was in, quickly dropping to his knees and hands whilst looking at the figure before him. "Brother!" He bowed his head as the emotions within him began to surge, he could feel the tears at the corner of his eyes begin to grow. "Ahhh such a Wonderful performance... You always did have a natural talent for the flute." Mitsutada praised. A former man of 42 years of age, he appeared to be twice the age of Mitsuyoshi, despite actually being 3 years younger than him. Dressed for war, his armor shown immaculately, and his long hair was let down and covered by the softer and more pliable hikitate eboshi hat. The stress of his position and the politics also had aged him slightly more than usual. His mustache had begun to show as bits of white hairs peppered his mustache and the lines beneath his eyes showed that in his final years, had been much stress and restless nights. Beyond their facial structure, there was little resemblance between the two brothers but they never the less were family.

"Brother Please forgive me... I could n-" Mitsuyoshi was cut short as Mitsutada held his hand up to halt him. "Mitsuyoshi my dear brother... It could not be helped, the fault is my own. By the time that we had returned from our campaign in service to the Hosokawa, we were soon besieged by a rebellion led by the Warrior monks of that fanatic Renyoo. We lost most of our numbers serving the Hosokawa and in our moment of need we were betrayed by them when they rejected our requests for reinforcements. It would have been wiser if I had sought to wake you sooner, but by the time I decided to do so the enemy had breached the castle and we lost any advantage we had. Please... Older Brother, do not fret over our demise." Mitsutada's tone changed at that last bit, displaying some humility and respect for his older brother. Though these words were hard to hear from Mitsuyoshi, having been raised to serve and do the Clan and his Brother's bidding, Mitsutada knew that it would at least help ease his mind over the grief he was undoubtedly going through.


 Mitsutada arose from his stool and approached his brother slowly as he continued to speak. "I cannot deny that I have been filled with much regret for my conduct towards you in life, and in hindsight the treatment you bore from my Mother's hatred towards you. I should have been a better brother, and I admit my failures there. Though we come from two different wombs, the same blood runs through us and I am proud to have still have you as a brother." His words moved the other spirits as some began to weep, as in hindsight since being dead, they realized their own regrets of their past life and the raw and sincere moment that Mitsutada was sharing was a reflection of their own feelings they too wish they could have had with their own loved ones before their untimely death. Mitsutada suddenly dropped to his knees  bowing his head as low as his armor would allow "Ani-ue, I Ask for your forgiveness! Please Forgive me for not being a better brother to you." The humbled lord could not hide his own emotions as the tears streamed down his face.


Mitsuyoshi, stunned by this sudden turn, moved himself forward and grasped his brother and pulled him into embrace. "Please! You only did what you thought was right, I cannot fault you for that!" the tears stream down his own face. "Please Forgive me... I had not been a stronger man to overcome the restraints that bound you. To think of all the suffering you have endured because of my lack of strength and my own personal selfish ambitions, Please forgive me!" Mitsutada cried into Mitsuyoshi's shoulder. Years of guilt and regret, long set aside because of position and status, and after 90 years of walking the earthly plane, relieving the final moments of their lives, was a long time to reflect upon the regrets of what was not done in life and the inability to make peace with those long gone. By some willpower of strength, Mitsutada's spirit and the spirits of his men remained, long past the breaking of the spell that had sealed them to remain on this earthly plane. It was likely this strong will and desire to reconcile, that Mitsutada had yet to move on, his loyal vassals and generals waiting to escort and follow him to the next world.


"Mitsutada, I forgive you. Please do not let this torment you anymore! I don't want you to turn into an evil spirit to haunt this world!" the brothers continued to sob as they shared this final, raw, unrestrained by social status and position, rare moment together. Their peace had been made and both of their souls felt the beginnings of ease and peace. As the two eventually settled down and regained some composure, Mitsutada gently broke the embrace and moved back. "Ani-ue, Thank you. I can move on to the next world with peace and love in my heart. I will truly miss you." Mitsuyoshi had choked at those words but he tried to regain his composure to properly see his brother off. Mitsutada turned to Koneko and bowed. "Thank you Koneko-dono. It was truly fate that it would be you to wake my brother and I am eternally grateful and honored that it was you." Mitsutada spoke, almost as if he could see into her heart and read her.

 "One parting gift for you Mitsuyoshi, and my way of saying Thank you to you Koneko-dono..." As he waved to one of his vassals, the warrior approached with a small chest and placed it in front of them and opened it before stepping back into the formation. Within the box contained a decorated Tanto, similar to Mitsutada's sword, several scrolls, and 5 stacks of neatly wrapped gold oval coins. "This chest belonged to our father and had been hidden very well and was never discovered by our enemies. Koneko-dono, I feel these scrolls will prove worth your while in your own search for the priestess that you seek. Mitsuyoshi, This is father's tanto. He'd have wanted you to have it. Please take these coins to aid you on your travels." Mitsutada bowed before rising to a stand and moving towards his position in the court before suddenly pausing and turning around. "Oh and one more thing, strangely Lady Akari, the Priestess... The night you were put under her spell and entombed, she disappeared without a trace and the shrine that she had come from swore on the Gods they had never heard of or seen anyone that looked like, Father had confessed that he felt she was a strange yet familiar person." He turned around and returned to his seat and sat before quickly rising again to address them. "Oh, One final command Mitsuyoshi. I forbid you from taking your life to follow me. We are already dead, but you are alive and I want you to live on and find happiness in this world while here. I will give your love to Ayame in the next world. Please live long and don't be too stubborn with Koneko-dono. We'll meet again Mitsuyoshi." He resumed his seat, a small smile crossing his lips as the spirits faded to their ghostly color until their image, like a mirage, slowly vanished.

Mitsuyoshi, who had been trying to hold back his emotions, broke down again, burying his face in his hands. Although he was well aware that he was given a rare opportunity that many don't ever get in life, it the loss still pained him even though he was relieved that Mitsutada could rest in peace. It was in this moment that he didn't care if his emotions were on full display in front of Koneko, as he grieved. Neither of them would also notice that the cup of sake that Mitsuyoshi had poured and left on Mitsutada's grave, would be empty.
 

[Koneko]

Koneko listened to what Mitsuyoshi had to say about her the thoughts on her brother, "... At least he lives and there is always a chance for you to meet him again, I have no doubt he would welcome you with open arms." She then gave a soft chuckle as he finished speaking on the bond between siblings and watched the sake fill her cup. "I've no doubt he would, he probably aches to know what happened to me..." she said lightly before thinking to herself, 'yet a can't bring myself to go back to that village of foxes, if word got out I was alive... Kenichi is my only blood family left, I wouldn't be able to bear seeing anything happen to him either...' Internally she sighed, a part of herself wanting to see her brother she adored so much in her younger days once more while she took another sip from her cup and chuckled as he seemed nervous about his ears. With the thoughts of her brother, she remembered the little fact that her own hers being pet by him was one of the ways he relaxed her often if she was very upset, using it to lull her to sleep. As he got up to go pour Sake at the grave, the feline had noticed her new companion had seemed slightly more relaxed than he had earlier, friendly even from the way he'd been talking, allowing a relieved smile to adorn her lips. Seeing him make an offering to Mitsutada, the smile remained as he sat back down, feeling his eyes seem to study her and then think about something until he spoke once again.

"Please, by all means," the daiyoukai replied to his question as he raised his flute, raising her cup slightly as if giving a toast in additional honors before taking another swig. Koneko's focus soon resided solely on Mitsuyoshi and his playing of the flute, a pleasant surprise on her face as he played it really quite well, the beautiful sound making her ears wiggle lightly before coming to focus on it. Even her tail flipped behind her a couple of times before coming to rest as her attention was entirely held on the beautiful music he played, rarely having enjoyed such a wonderful thing so close. 'I bet his brother would be so pleased and honored to hear such a beautiful tribute if he were able to hear still,' the feline thought to herself, even she seemed to melt into the calm surroundings of the moment as he played, completely captivated.

Then the sudden sound reached her ears, near jumping to her feet and turning to face the sound, near posing to defend with her claws until she eased with some shock, once more recognizing the face of the apparition she'd seen earlier that night - the Daimyo Mitsutada. In a quick sign of respect, she struck the same pose as she had in the underground hall, one balled fist with a hand cupped over with a deeper bow than before - save she hadn't the time to drop the cup from her hand, so she did her best to hide it to seem more appropriate for the moment. Raising once again, she slid her hands into her sleeves and merely observed the moment between them in stunned silence, entirely caught off-guard by the appearance of the entire army that had been at the castle and Mitsuyoshi's brother, let acknowledging them as if a conversation of the living. She watched the scene between the two brothers play out before her, even a creature such as herself was moved by the display of apologies and raw emotions, of love and of sorrows. It truly was clear now that the hanyou's human brother did care so deeply to say such words in death, a comfort coming to her heart as she knew it meant there had been some to truly care for him and not just treat him as little more than a weapon of war, rather as a living creature with his own thoughts and needs, and then to see them make peace in a final meeting.

Yet she nearly flinched as she was soon addressed, flabbergasted that the Daimyo spoke her name as her eyes fixed solely on him in response. 'S-so he did see me back in the castle... was it the spell...? I... can't believe he was actually looking at me at that moment... And he's... grateful... for my involvement...' With a more dignified composure than she's had the entire night, she gave a slight bow, hiding a faint blush at his compliment, "It's been an honor to offer my aide, Mitsutada-Sama." As she stood back straight, she attempted to hold a courtly face, not having expecting an offering of thanks nor done her actions for such a thing. Watching in curiosity as a chest was brought forward, her composure held without much issue until he mentioned what he offered would help her in her search for the priestess she sought, then she struggled to prevent her eyes tearing up and lip trembling. 'He's giving me something to help find Yuzuki...!' While she didn't lower herself to the ground, from how she stood, she bowed very deeply, taking everything in herself to not let her voice crack, "I am privileged to receive such a gift, you have my thanks and gratitude." Barely able to keep herself together, she listened quietly yet with interest at what he had to say yet, as well as some relief at his final command, watching as he returned to sit and eventually they all faded out.

That's when she too could no longer hold back; her fangs seemed bared as her teeth clenched, holding back from heaving breaths as tears began to slide down her cheeks. With a couple steps, she moved towards Mitsuyoshi and placed a soothing hand on his head between his ears, letting it rest there. "He... gave something to help find her..." Koneko said with her voice wavering, clearly deeply moved by the return gesture of thanks from a human ghost - one under circumstance should they have been different she might's cut down without thought or possibly devoured even. "This feeling... Is this gratitude what she...?" Her crying picked up as a few heavier tears now dripped from her chin. "I think I've finally, truly for once honored my mother's legacy as a dragon, the way I... helped you here..." She managed to get out before her other hand moved to stifle heavy breaths. She barely managed to get her next words out, "I-I... n-need a... m-m-moment to... I-I'll be b-back..."

With that she removed her hand from his head as gently as she'd placed it before quickly dashing back off towards the river she'd been near before. 'Maybe it's stupid of me since we've just met and he's been trying to hide his own tears this whole time till now... But... But I just don't want him to see me crying like this... I don't want him to see me almost defenseless...' Hastily making her way to the river's edge, she dashed a few paces into the water before taking a hefty scoop in her hands and splashing it across her face. It dripped back down and she looked at the surface of the water, seeing the reflection of her face in it, puffy-eyed and slightly red. Her thoughts lingered again on her mother for a moment, taking her finger and hovering it over the water, she made that little patch swirl around like a mini whirlpool as she thought, staring pensively, before dipping her hands back in and more smoothly lifted some in her hands to lightly scrub across her face. She wanted to be sure to at least take away the tear stains and try to relieve some of the redness before she'd go back.

One hand slowly drifted over the middle of her chest, as if hugging with just that hand, yet she was so lost in her own thoughts over her yearning for her mother she'd not paid attention to the movement in the water nearby. It seemed like a flash - a shadow swam silently, inching closer, and in her inattentive disposition, it took it's moment of opportunity to leap forth, barely giving her a second to react or move. Hesitating as she was caught completely by surprise, Koneko gasped and narrowed her eyes in horror as a large mouth lunged to snap her up in it's jaws. Trying to dodge last minute, she swiped with her claws at it, catching only a part of it on the side of it's head as it barely slid by, steadying itself in the water just next to her as it then followed through with it's tail, slamming her with a loud splash down into the water before she could make her next move against it. She grunted, cursing in her head as the tail winded her slightly from it's force and it attempted to snap at her again, her irises began to glow once again. 'Of all the rotten timing for a fight!!'

[Taishou89]

Although he could feel her hand upon his head, attempting to comfort him, he was beside himself with grief. He had known that his relationship with his brother had been on the mend since that moment he almost died, but with the customs and complexities of the social structure and politics, it would have taken time for them to fully return to that time when they were closest, so it had weighed heavy when he learned that his brother had long died and they had never gotten rekindle that lost brotherly relationship."I think I've finally, truly for once honored my mother's legacy as a dragon, the way I... helped you here..."

"W-w-what?..." Mitsuyoshi stuttered, grasping what Koneko had said as his sobbing started to slow as he felt the intense emotion begin to ease. The weight he felt in his chest had significantly lightened, eased by the realization that his brother would rest in peace. He was assured that this final moment he shared with Mitsutada had guaranteed that, and at the very least even if he was no longer in this world, granted Mitsuyoshi closure and peace furthermore he was grateful to have been allowed this final moment to see his brother one last time. His sobbing finally eased and he'd begun to recompose himself, wiping the tears from his face which still seemed to roll. "Dragon?" He asked, only to notice that Koneko had already stepped away. Sniffling to prevent his nose from running, he wiped more tears from his face and he rose to follow her. She was there for him in his weakest moment, he felt it only right to be there for her in her own.

Was she a dragon all long? He'd only heard of dragons being told of in stories as a child, he'd never thought that he could possibly meet one. Then again, tonight between the spirits of the dead, and the fact that he himself was Hanyou, or Half youkai, could not be discounted. Her words had begun to sink in as he collected himself and he realized that Koneko herself seemed to have much weight lifted from her chest as he did. It seemed as if this was all fated to happen. Reflecting upon her mention traveling, One question developed in his mind: 'Who was she still searching for?' Whomever she was searching for, because of her actions tonight, even if in the beginning it was a rather rocky start, Mitsuyoshi felt even more endeared to Koneko. She had shared in his pain and sorrow, and at the same time felt that a great burden had been eased from her chest. As she had stepped away, he rose up grabbing the Kazega and positioning it in his obi, followed after her. He understood she likely wanted some privacy to deal with her own emotions, as Mitsuyoshi was the same way, though this moment was an extraordinary one that shame or dignity didn't seem to matter anymore. "Koneko!" He called out to her, still sniffling, as he followed her path down towards the river.

His ears perked up and his body stiffened upon Hearing the sudden gasp and thrash of water, as a strange scent also emerged as the creature exited the water, one he'd never before smelled. Grasping the Kazega's handle he broke it's seal with his thumb and the moment he grasped it's handle. Recognizing it's owner, it's faint bluish aura gave light flash at his touch before he drew it from it's Saya. "Koneko!" he shouted as he ran down the path towards the river at full sprint. He had just caught that last sight of Koneko being thrashed by the creature's tail into the water as a surge of adrenaline and urge to protect her soared within, although he'd come to learn that she was indeed very capable of handling herself far more than the scene presented. 

The creature, a Hounengyo, was large. Standing on it's hind legs, it easily towered over either of them at an astonishing 15 feet as it's armored scales glistened in the moonlight Mitsuyoshi charged forward as the creature turned to go after Koneko. Quickly he leapt towards the the Creature, and drove his sword, slashing into it's left hind leg before landing in the shallows of the river in a loud splash, it's cold touch soaked into his clothes against his warm skin beneath. The creature reeled in pain, as it's blood dripped from it's wound, but in that split moment of reflection, Mitsuyoshi realized that his attack didn't do nearly as much damage as he thought. The Kazega normally would have cut a lot deeper, and possibly could have even severed it's limb, he could only conclude that the creature's scales were armored. 

Now in a position where he could use his wind blades attack. where he wouldn't have to risk Koneko being in it's path, his sword acknowledged his will as it's aura began to glow. The creature suddenly swung it's tail at him just as he attempted to dodge the move by leaping, he slashed his sword through the air at the exact moment the creature's tail struck him in his thigh, throwing his move off. The water had slowed and hindered his movements and he was at serious disadvantage. As The Hounengyo's tail caught Mitsuyoshi in his right thigh it sent him flying in a tumble before crashing into the deeper part of the river in a large splash. His Wind Blade's aim had been thrown off by this sudden collision and only grazed the creature's right side just below it's arm, causing yet another slash but significantly deeper than his first attack, proving it likely would have been significant enough to take the creature down if it had been a direct it. The Blast of wind caused by the Wind blade did, however, cause the creature to stumble backwards and this moment would have been an ideal time for a follow up strike for him but it was not to be. The creature would eventually regain itself and quickly attempt to get back into the water where it could either target Koneko or Mitsuyoshi and still hold some advantage in the water. Mitsuyoshi, finding himself now sinking to the bottom of the river from the force of his fall and the weight of his armor. Despite the challenge and struggle to do so against the resistance of the water, he successfully managed to sheath his sword and fought desperately against his weight to paddle towards the surface.

(Battle music: Hounengyo’s Attack, Mitsuyoshi's charge, Koneko's follow up(suggested))

[Koneko]

Floating a couple feet under the surface of the water, Koneko was dazed from the blow for a moment before she slowly shook it off and regained her bearings. Her body had reacted to being under the surface on instinct, a thin, golden aura enveloped around her and, despite being suspended in the water, she seemed almost if on land breathing and moving in air. From below the surface, she heard other splashes in the water - someone else other than the Hounengyo had entered the water then the smell of the youkai's blood gently blending into the water. 'Mitsuyoshi!' It took a moment, but she realized it wasn't unlikely he'd followed out of some kind of concern with how she'd dashed off. Not to mention, with the assault that had suddenly come at her, it wasn't far off to think he'd at least heard the commotion and ran in to help. It had only been moments, but she forced herself out of any stunned state left and pulled herself up to have her head poked out of the water, just in time to see him launch a wind attack with the blade he'd shown her earlier only to also be swatted by the Hounengyo's tail.

"Mitsuyoshi!!" she shouted, seeing him splash into a deeper part of the river, then the youkai, seeming enraged and fixed on the new target, sliding into the water in the direction he'd been tossed. Gasping, she quickly dove back under, her movements fast under the water as it was like her tail propelled her forward, and she locked onto where the hanyou was struggling to swim himself back up. With little effort, Koneko had put herself between him and the Hounengyo barrelling towards him and then moved a single arm up and then toward the youkai, the current of the water changing rapidly to first force the creature to stop dead, then push back as if a violent torrent started from just in front of her. Not missing a beat, she then turned and moved to him, her brightly glowing irises checked to see if he was okay while her her hands softly grasped the sides of his face before meeting his eyes, where her hands made contact gave a tranquil and warm feeling. "I've got you, you'll be alright," she said to him, her words coming out clear and unhindered by the water. Letting go and sliding around behind him, she wrapped her arms around his torso and hurriedly brought them to the surface, holding firm until he seemed to have caught his breath and was able to tread water on his own.

Relieved yet unable to relax, she spoke her thoughts before the short time she made for them ended, "If you can get to shore, I'll draw it to the surface and keep it's attention until you can do that wind thing I saw again." Pausing to glance around and make sure it hadn't already begun to sneak up on them, she once more looked at the hanyou in front of her, "just make sure to tell me when to get out of the way, I'm certain I can get you a clean shot once you're ready." With that, she dunked herself back under to find the Hounengyo and got in front of it again, grabbing it's attention. The daiyoukai then launched a couple of swift attacks on it with her claws and spiraled some water around it to toss it around a bit, making it furious at her and focus her down. She might not be able to make a dent in how tough those scales were, but all she needed to do was make it angry enough to stay on her tail. As the youkai took to pursuing her, it snapped with it's dangerously toothy jaws and tried to make more moves with it's tail, but found the feline much more agile than it's initial attack. 'Good, it's mad and after me, now I'm sure he's got time to swim... Time to get this thing up to the surface so i can see once he's ready to attack!' Assured she had a well-thought plan, she began to lead it to the surface, moving fast enough to breach the water fully with her body and span around in the air to face the amphibious youkai, leaping off it's face as it followed her through and twisted around to face it again as she landed on the surface of the water behind it, the glowing aura the had veiled her under the water now seemed to focus solely under her feet, making the surface seem like just more ground to her. "Hey ugly! Behind you!" she shouted at it to get it to turn and launch after her, setting herself up to keep bouncing and dodging, staying just out of it's reach. Yet she took a moment to glance out of the corner of her eyes towards Mitsuyoshi, making sure he was alright in her insistence he make it to the river bank.