[cass coltheart]

*Kukuri, removing her footwear, looked about the room and smiled. It would do. She turned to hana and bowed again.* I would gladly eat with you tonight. Your kindness is great.  *something had been tugging at kukuris periphery, however. It was again that sense of a familiar presence…..

 

[MaraTwasHere]

“The pleasure is mine, honestly, if you can bring my village back together.” She bowed lowly, moving back to the Genkan and sliding her sandals back on as she noticed the girl seemed aloof. Of course, as most of the time Hana noted, this woman did not show much true emotion at all. “I’ll allow you to settle in,” She said, wishing she knew what the girl was thinking. “We eat at sunset, when the sky is pretty with lovely romantic shades of red and gold, orange with yellow…I will happily come to get you myself.” She smiled brightly, stepping down and off the Genkan. “Until then.” She waved a dainty pail hand before making her way through to the path of the village once more.

 

Eiko took the trail with ease, feeling her earlier subjects getting close to one another. Soon, if possible, it would be the appropriate time to spy upon them.

 

 

[Chris the wise]

Shin watched the other woman leave before quickly peering into the house and ducking back. The woman inside looked familiar, though who exactly she was floated just beyond his understanding. She at least didn’t seem to be causing the Miasma so he crept back into his hiding spot.

[cass coltheart]

*nodding and bowing, kukuri sat after hana left. Closing her eyes and kneeling, she began sending out little waves of energy. Not much, but enough to warn any nearby yokai of her presence. She was sure there was one somewhere in the village*

 

[Chris the wise]

Shin allowed the energy to wash over him, feeling that this girl was definitely more than she seemed.
Checking that the coast was clear, crept from his hiding spot and slowly wanders into the house, sitting at the entrance and raising a paw.

[cass coltheart]

*opening her eyes, kukuri regarded the fox blankly* “a kitsune…..can you speak?”

 

[Chris the wise]

Shin tilts his head as he regards Kukuri.

“Depends. What would like to know.”

[cass coltheart]

“Many things. Who are you? How did you get here? Why are you here? How much do you know about the curse on this town?”

[Chris the wise]

“Miles, no, Akikawa Shin, I think it was a straw doll that sent me here, I don’t know and only that the curse seems to effect human men.” Shin Answered each question in sequence before tilting his head the other way. “Yourself, same questions?”

[cass coltheart]

Kukuri yaotagami, the straw dolls are called omamori, I am here because I belong in this world, I know that the curse severely cripples men. I leave tomorrow to seek help for the village ”

 

[Chris the wise]

“hmm” ponders Shin for a moment “I thought they were wara ningyoo” he slowly pads around the small room, his nose telling him subtle details not obvious to the eye “I’ll remain in the village in this form, my other form makes people scared for my health. This one has a suspicion that whatever is causing this Miasma remains close by.” He stops and looks back at Kukuri “This place hasn’t been vacant long.”

[cass coltheart]

*kukuri nods* “the elder claims they have sent many to seek help, yet none have returned, and that they also have a local bandit problem. Perhaps there is a connection?”

 

[Chris the wise]

“perhaps” Shin pauses to think for a moment “The bandits might be in league with whatever’s causing this Miasma, preventing any word from getting out” he lays down and puts his head on his front paws.

[cass coltheart]

“It seems likely, yet without knowing the bandits numbers, any attempt to stop them would be folly. This situation requires precision. A delicate approach, for now”

 

[Chris the wise]

“You are right ” Shin observed, slowly rolling onto his back, “while you scout the bandits I’ll remain in the village and try to sniff the trouble out.”