[hider=Little Something For Some Parts I Missed In The Last Update]
[quote=Lunatea Vern Farnsworth]"He never mentioned her, huh? Then perhaps her betrayal stemmed from her sense of inferiority? That she was never accepted fully as his child?"[/quote]

"Maybe, but somehow I doubt it." Takeshi replied. "We can ask Lord Takamori once we've met him."

[quote=Atsuha Hangai][color=9e0b0f]"Evening, Takeshi-dono, you and Luna-chan seem to have gotten a bit banged up on your quest today. Thankfully, it doesn't seem as bad as it was on the beach! I also hope that everything's fine with Shizuka=san, I thought he'd be hear to meet with everyone. I imagine he's out on another mission?"[/color][/quote]

[quote=Lunatea Vern Farnsworth]“It wasn’t that bad. Takeshi did take quite a bit of damage but it wasn’t anything that I couldn’t heal. As for Shizuka, I’m not sure. You’d have to ask the others. I have been sleeping for the whole afternoon, you see.”[/quote]

Takeshi blushed, startled, when he was caught staring. Fortunately for him, [u]Lunatea[/u] spoke up first and allowed him to regain his composure. "Yeah, we've done what we've set out to do and gotten Kikyo aboard. As for Sir Shizuka, I suppose you'd be right. Out on a mission, as you said."
[/hider]
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[center][h3]House By The River[/h3][/center]
[center][b]NO PLACE LIKE HOME[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Nakushita], [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Rezod92] ~[/center]

The trio of monsters went forth from the temple, following the directions given to them. Their destination was a lone house by a shallow river, inhabited by a fishing family.

The taskforce trio traversed the dirt roads of the Onrai region, fortunately encountering nothing but the natural beauty of Shizuyama's flora and landscapes. As they approached the river, however, the peaceful atmosphere was broken by a panicking villager boy running up to the taskforce. He realized they were yokai, but was so desperate that he no longer cared. "[color=fff79a]You there, yokai! The Varjans have them![/color]"

"[color=fff79a]The invaders took our house...! Just by the river! They captured my parents, but they're still there![/color]" He told the trio as fast as he could. He was left panting, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. "[color=fff79a]Please save them...[/color]"

This was probably the son of the villager who refused to leave his home. His house by the river was pretty big for a villager's, sporting two stories even. Beside the house were crates and boxes, hanging racks and fishing poles, all the items and equipment one needed to be a fisherman.

But more worrying however, was the group of Varjans that have currently occupied this abode. They also had a strangely large bonfire lit up in the middle of all the fishing equipment and crates. On a closer look, these were not your typical Varjan Warriors or Brigands. The warriors all wore armor tinged blue, save for some Footmen that had bows. Most of them surrounded the large bonfire while some were probably inside the house.

The taskforce trio were hidden behind an outcrop overlooking the house, but the blue-armored Varjans were somehow alerted to their presence. They quickly picked up their armaments and began to search the general vicinity. The window for a surprise attack was quickly running out.

[hr]
[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]
[center][b]KAGEHO, INNOCENT SHADOW[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center]

[quote=Gringor][color=f7941d]"So you in, sneaky boi? Or do I have to crack your head in too?"[/color][/quote]

Kageho did not reply. Instead, she turned her back and began walking away. [u]Gringor[/u] noticed that when they spoke, he and the shinobi girl were illuminated by the trees still burning from the fight. But as soon as Kageho left the dim firelight, she vanished with nary a sound of her disappearance. A strange sight to see, considering [u]Gringor[/u] could still very definitely see the grassland and forest under the faint moonlight.

"[color=firebrick]Tell Lord Takeshi that I am in his service.[/color]" [u]Gringor[/u] heard from seemingly nowhere. "[color=firebrick]And did you really... crack Nobutada's head when you spoke to him?[/color]"

After answering the question, [u]Gringor[/u] would hear no more from Kageho. It appeared he was successful in recruiting the shinobi girl and he can now either head back to Terauchi Temple or go somewhere else.

[hr]
[center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Hammerman], [@Dark Cloud], [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN), [@Enkryption], [@Crowvette] ~[/center]

With [u]Alice[/u] simply passing out in front of them and nary an answer to their questions, Ayu could only catch the fallen Mad Hatter and noticed that she was bleeding. "[color=red]Oh gods, she's wounded! M-Milord, I must ask for your help here. Can you take her into one of our medical tents and wrap her up in more quality bandages? We'll, uhh, greatly appreciate it.[/color]"

"I guess I can do that." Takeshi replied as Ayu passed the unconscious [u]Alice[/u] onto him. The young lord then carried the Mad Hatter into one of the empty tents designated for medical triage.

Laying her down on a mat, Takeshi also picked up some fresh bandages from the monks and prepared to dress up [u]Alice[/u]. He sighed, knowing he was tending to a wounded yokai. He had already crossed the line a long time ago so he supposed there was nothing to worry anymore. "Wait..." But just as he was about to lay his hands on the Mad Hatter, he realized that he probably needed to take [u]Alice's[/u] clothes off so he could properly administer the bandages. 

The young Oja froze, a dilemma upon him. She may be a yokai, but undressing a girl as a man was just too much. Takeshi wondered if he should just return to Ayu and do this for him, but this was a favor asked of him by someone who worked hard to save his island. His honor would not accept that disgrace. And besides, who knew what might happen to [u]Alice[/u] if Takeshi left her alone. And so, Takeshi continued to be frozen by his dilemma.

Meanwhile, [u]Io[/u] had arrived with her Zombie retinue as well as a prisoner. She was immediately greeted by Ayu while the villager refugees paid little mind to her arrival. "[color=red]Ahh, Io! You've returned! I hope your venture went well.[/color]" She then noticed the Zombies and a Varjan prisoner that the Lich acquired. "[color=red]We can certainly use the prisoners for information but err, I hope those Zombies you have there aren't formerly Shizuyama locals...[/color]"

Takeshi Oja was at the temple grounds, ready and willing to assist a taskforce member in their ventures. As soon as he was done tending to [u]Alice[/u].

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]

[center]~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~[/center]

[hider=Kazenosuke, Dancing Blade]
"Kazenosuke could deflect any attack with his spinning blade, and deliver slashes faster than the eye could see. I have no idea why he couldn't make it to Sanjo Beach. I know he's a ronin, but he still should have heeded my father.

Well, his house is near Terauchi Temple. Not very near, but just follow the river near the temple and we'll find his home and then we can ask for his help."

-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[hider=Yurine, Death Keeper]
"Yurine has taken care of Clan Oja for as long as I can remember. Despite being a servant, I know she can swing her masakari axe pretty hard. I've little idea of her past but I know it involves tending cemeteries.

She should be in Castle Oja but my father sent her to Onrai to begin enacting some way to protect the graves from being desecrated by the invaders. I know of a famous cemetery south of Terauchi Temple. We can begin looking for her there and she'll surely help us."

-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=Teacher And Student]
"Lord Takamori said that his traitorous daughter, Setsuna, is training Varjan archers in Ōmiya. I know this frightens him, even if he tries to hide it. If we don't find her and end this, there may be no stopping the archers, and no hope for Ōmiya Springs. We need to see Lord Takamori immediately."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ SORAE TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Headman]
"Lady Sorae has tracked one of the conspirators behind her family's slaughter. She said his name is Headman Jiro, a once loyal servant of Clan Tokinomiya. Jiro is hiding somewhere here in Onrai, but Sorae has located his brother and believes trailing him will lead us to the deceitful snake."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~[/center]

[hider=Honey Trap]
There was a villager woman, crying alone near a large tree within Terauchi Temple.

"Yokai, could I speak with you? A group of bandits is terrorizing Sanjo. They slaughtered my whole family, like animals!

They were killed at our home, near a river. I am Saki, please avenge my family and stop those bandits."
[/hider]

[hider=Empty Baskets]
A villager woman sitting near a bonfire was muttering to herself when the taskforce member approached.

"Poor Honoka, she'll likely starve soon. Oh, I didn't see you there. Err, Honoka's a widow, living alone in the outskirts of Yabo.

Please, if it's not too much of a bother, do you mind checking in on her?"
[/hider]

[center]~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=Heavenly Strike]
"The Mad Hatter [u]Alice[/u] retreated from seeking this legendary technique. She will probably need help if she wants to continue the search. We'll need to seek her out for the details."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]