[center][h3]Kishi Grasslands[/h3][/center] [center][b]Kikyo, Ever Faithful[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Hammerman] ~[/center] [quote=Lunatea Vern Farnsworth]“But if the Varjans lost, why does the city look like this?”[/quote] "Probably destroyed from the fighting, or it was already burned down by the Varjans while waiting for Kikyo and her forces." Takeshi replied. "The only thing we can hope here is the villagers' safety, that they managed to evacuate before the Varjans and the fighting came." [quote=Lunatea Vern Farnsworth]"Hey, we can probably find your dear Kikyo by these footprints. But you have to take the lead. Tell that lover of yours that we monsters mean no harm. I don't want to get arrows raining down on me just because they think I'm hostile."[/quote] "We're not lovers." Takeshi futilely denied. "...at least, I haven't confessed properly yet." "But you're right, they just ran into Varjans so they'll be on edge. They might react violently if they see you." Takeshi agreed with [u]Lunatea[/u]. Closing his eyes to think of a simple way to convey that the rabbit yokai with him was an ally, he let out a deep sigh when he resigned to the only option he could take. "Alright, I'll take point... and you all stay close to me. Much closer than how we traveled previously. That way, Kikyo and her forces will not be hostile. At least, not immediately." Being in close proximity with yokai was also something forbidden. Takeshi remembered his lessons about how a yokai passively emits her energy that can be absorbed by a human in her vicinity, leading to corruption. It was a slow process, incredibly slow as a matter of fact, but it was not nothing and so, should be prevented as much as possible. But it was a litte too late for Takeshi, who had done things worse than stay in a yokai's presence. - Takeshi led [u]Lunatea[/u] and the other yokai out of the destroyed port and back into the Kishi Grasslands. They followed a trail of blood and destruction left by Kikyo in the form of dead Varjan patrols who had the misfortune of running into them. The trail took Takeshi and the taskforce into a thin forest obscured by dense fog. "I have a feeling we're getting close to them, stay alert." Entering the foggy forest, the group ventured a bit into the woods before Takeshi suddenly spread out his arms to block [u]Lunatea[/u]. Or maybe block something from getting to [u]Lunatea[/u]. "Everyone, it's me! Takeshi Oja! You know, son of Lord Hideo, doesn't sit properly, eats too much." Looking closely, Takeshi was talking to the silhouettes who blended with the obscured trees. They had their bows nocked but lowered them once they knew they were in the presence of their lord. "[color=lavender]...Takeshi?[/color]" The voice caught all of Takeshi's attention. Emerging from the mist was a beautiful, fair-skinned woman with dark-purple hair and eyes which were wide in disbelief. She wore a shrine maiden's outfit with armor over it. "[color=lavender]...You're alive.[/color]" "Kikyo..." Takeshi and Kikyo ran towards each other, ending in a long, tight embrace. "You're okay, too. I knew you'd be fine but still, thank the gods." "[color=lavender]I heard... the Ojas fell in Sanjo Beach.[/color]" Kikyo could barely contain her tears. "[color=lavender]F-Forgive me, Takeshi-sama. I actually gave up hope...[/color]" "Hey, it's fine, it's fine!" Takeshi reassured Kikyo as they broke the hug. "I would've been lost, actually. If it weren't for them." The young Oja motioned to [u]Lunatea[/u] and the other yokai. "[color=lavender]Yokai?![/color]" Kikyo drew her blade and was about to engage [u]Lunatea[/u] when Takeshi stopped her from behind. "Wait, wait! Kikyo, they rescued me! They're here to help!" The young Oja sheepishly chuckled. He kind of knew this was going to happen but at least Kikyo actually stopped to listen to him. It could have been worse. "Hehehe, uhh. Again, the yokai are allies, Kikyo." "Err, say 'Hi', Lunatea-san!" [hr] [center][h3]Unknown Inn[/h3][/center] [center][b]Sorae, Gentle Heart[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN), [@Restalaan] (SKA) ~[/center] [quote=Skarsneek][color=ed145b]"But sure! It's a deal. Once this done, don't forget, you meet up with us and help Takeshi. We're gonna need every hand on this."[/color][/quote] "[color=mediumslateblue]Don't you worry, yokai. I'll help Takeshi repel [i]not just[/i] the Varjans.[/color]" Sorae amusedly replied before chuckling. However, what amusement she had disappeared when [u]Hinami[/u] began to protest the harsh treatment. Fortunately, [u]Atsuha[/u] calmed the Jiangshi down before Sorae could respond. The samurai was content to leave it at that. The Dragon Tomi was still fast asleep in what was left of Sorae's home. She'll probably catch up later but one should hope she and Sorae don't get into a spat. - It did not take long nor was it difficult for the taskforce to find a trail of footprints, or rather hoofprints, that lead to the Tokinomiya estate. The horses themselves were long gone, their masters long dead, but their trail remained and all the taskforce had to do was follow them to where they came from. Chi from strong warriors could also be detected by [u]Atsuha[/u] but these probably belonged to the corpses in Sorae's home. The trail lead them out of the estate and into the dirt roads of the Onrai region. It took the taskforce half an hour going down a road with naught but the forests of Shizuyama around them, until the hoofprint trail lead them to an inconspicuous, walled, two-story inn at the side of a mountain. There was nothing remarkable about this place though, but there were several Shizuyama locals in robes conversing at the front yard. Their sword scabbards could be seen on their hips, these were no mere villagers. The taskforce hid behind the walls surrounding the inn so they could listen. "[color=8dc73f]...What do you think happened to Sorae?[/color]" "[color=c4df9b]After that roar? She's probably dead fighting the Dragon that showed up there.[/color]" "[color=8dc73f]First the Varjan invasion and now a Dragon yokai? This whole situation is getting complicated by the minute.[/color]" "[color=598527]Doesn't matter, we have our orders.[/color]" A female voice piped in. "[color=598527]Once we confirm that the Dragon isn't at the estate anymore, we'll go there and make sure all the Tokinomiyas are dead.[/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Fung Temple[/h3][/center] [center][b]Nobutada, Unwavering Will[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center] [quote=Gringor][color=f7941d]"So, you coming with your bois? Or do I got to crack all of your heads before we go?"[/color][/quote] "[color=orange]I do not appreciate the terms you use, yokai. But I suppose there are more pressing matters at hand, like how Takeshi has sent you, a yokai, to seek me out.[/color]" Nobutada replied before letting out a sigh. "[color=orange]...I shall leave even that aside for now. If Takeshi-sama requests my and my fellow monks' service, then he shall have it.[/color]" "[color=orange]Let me just free my fellow monks. The Varjans hid them under this temple, where we keep our supplies. The 'cellar', if you will although it is larger than a normal one.[/color]" Nobutada then put away his fire lance weapon and began methodically removing the floorboards to open a long hatch that revealed stairs that lead down into darkness. Nobutada did not take any sort of light with him when he descended, feeling he did not need them. "[color=orange]Everyone! It's safe now! The Varjans have been vanquished.[/color]" The large monk announced. "[color=orange]I had... special help. But we can talk about that later, what matters is that we're all safe.[/color]" There was no response. "[color=orange]My brothers?[/color]" [u]Gringor[/u] watched Nobutada search the darkness, only to return empty-handed and a shocked look on his face. "[color=orange]They're not here...[/color]" Nobutada muttered. "[color=orange]The Varjans lied to me...[/color]" One could feel seething anger rising from the monk, but it was immediately suppressed with an exhale of breath. "[color=orange]...I must search for them. They must be out there somewhere, probably still captured by the Varjans.[/color]" Nobutada said, more to himself than to [u]Gringor[/u]. "[color=orange]Lead me to the young Lord Oja, yokai. I'm sure I can search for my brothers along the way.[/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center][b]Rude Awakening[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@Rezod92], [@Crowvette] ~[/center] [u]Io[/u] had met Lady Kyouko at Otomo Port and had arrived too late to join the main group of her taskforce. Not to worry, though! Lady Kyouko still had plenty of boats to take [u]Io[/u] to the island of Shizuyama. However, the Inari had other plans. She thought it would be faster to just teleport the Lich to Terauchi Temple, the base of operations of Lady Kyouko's human spies in Shizuyama. Normally, teleporting someone would consume a lot of Lady Kyouko's energy but since [u]Io[/u] was also sort of a spellcaster, the Lich could help teleport herself and divide the energy consumption of the spell. With that course of action, the spell was prepared and the Lich was teleported. In a burst of light, [u]Io[/u] found herself in a peculiar chamber. She found herself facing what seemed to be a shrine, filled with statues and idols and lit candles. Looking around her, she realized that she was probably inside a Zipanguese temple with wooden floorboards and sliding tatami doors at all three sides. Also with her in the chamber were a whole group of humans all ragged in appearance, looking like refugees from a war. They were all taking peeks outside through the slightly open sliding doors until [u]Io[/u] appeared. Without saying anything, they all pointed outside. Silently gesturing to [u]Io[/u] take a look. - [quote=Kerry Maros][color=fff79a]"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!? Are you seriously going to kill yourself just to take out a group that's not even your enemy!? This is absolutely ridiculous! How many times do we have to tell you for it to get through your thick skulls!? [b]We are here to help you![/b] I just got back from helping Takamori and he's on board to help Takeshi Oja! Your island's secret routes have been exposed! We don't have time for this stupid shit! You're gonna waste your life over nothing if you don't stop![/color][/quote] "[color=fff79a]I shall NEVER suffer the LIES of the yokai![/color]" The miko bellowed her conviction, her spririt energy continuing to tear itself and making her quite delirious. [u]Shizuka[/u] charged at her with nary a plan, his only goal was to take the miko's ofuda from her with his inhuman speed. He managed to get close and actually grab hold of the gold-colored talisman, but the priestess was not idle. She managed to ram her blade into the azure swordsman as he came close but fortunately, the sword only hit [u]Shizuka's[/u] side and did not hit any organs. It was still quite painful, though. Tearing the talisman from the miko caused her spirit energy to suddenly stabilize, causing a small blowback that sent [u]Shizuka[/u] and the priestess flying away from each other. Ayu immediately went to [u]Shizuka[/u] while the miko's battered allies took her away. With the Shizuyama warriors beaten handily by the yokai, they began to quickly escape from Terauchi Temple. Two other shrine maidens surrounded the unconscious miko and teleported themselves away. This unwanted battle was won, with the only casualty being the injured [u]Shizuka[/u]. The monks and refugees began to emerge from their buildings. "[color=red]Oh my gods, are you alright?![/color]" Ayu panicked at [u]Shizuka[/u]. "[color=red]We got somebody in trouble here! Please help![/color]"