"Onee-sama...how much longer do we need to walk?"
Under the scorching sun, there is Wakumi walking tiredly on the road as Kongiku is sitting on a white fox beast. They have been travelling for half a day in the forest since leaving Shinkatsu, but where are they going?
-^-^-^-
Last night, Kongiku was discussing with Wakumi during bath time in the onsen about the training task that Sumire has given.
"In order to make yourself ready, I will accompany you on a journey to the north where I will teach you personally," Kongiku said.
"So for this training, how long will it take?" Wakumi asked.
"About a month," Kongiku replied.
While soaking in the water, Wakumi wondered what kind of training she will take?
-^-^-^-
Back on the road, Wakumi has been whining for the entire time.
"Onee-sama, can I at least take a break or ride on your fluffy fox please?" Wakumi begged.
"No, you can't, this is also a part of your training to be my apprentice, stamina," Kongiku replied.
"Ow please…" Wakumi moaned.
Referring to Sumire's instruction, the trip will need to travel several hills and forests to reach the mountain for two days. The Manyuu Yama is one of the gateways to the demon realm, the realm lives without humans.
"If I recall, you survived in a dark forest for three days without food, you should now be able to get used to it," Kongiku said.
Those dark memories are haunting Wakumi. "Onee-sama, could you please not talk about it?" She asked.
Kongiku smiles as she holds her umbrella, "Fufu, the more stressful you are, the more motivated you are."
Although Wakumi gets teased, she tries to keep her best until they arrive at their checkpoint, a small river next to a mountain edge. However, they don't notice there is a shadow following them.
They cross hills and rivers under the scorching sun, the moment they cross a swinging bridge, Wakumi is stuck between it.
"Onee-sama, help me!" Wakumi cried as she held tight one of the ropes.
"Come on, just look ahead so you won't be scared as you look down the deep valley," Kongiku replied.
"But I am scared, I am going to wet myself…" Wakumi whinnied.
While sighing, Kongiku picks up Wakumi on her pet and crosses the bridge with no problems.
-^-^-^-
It is almost sundown. They finally arrive at the small river. Wakumi drops her heavy luggage and rushes to the river bank to wash her face, Kongiku leaps out from her riding beast and prepares to set up a camp.
"Wakumi, why don't you set up a fire as I need to prepare something for tonight's supper?" Kongiku asked.
"Sure, I am on it," Wakumi replied.
Just looking for wood branches, Wakumi sees movements beyond the bushes. She slowly walks past them and there is no one but a pile of branches sitting in front of her.
Wakumi looks around, but nothing. She picks up the branches and leaves the place. Just as she leaves, the black figure slowly appears from the shadow and lowers her mask, revealing her face.
Returning to the site, Wakumi's quick return surprised Kongiku. "My my, you are quick. I thought you would be back later soon." She said.
"No, I just found a pile of branches before I entered the woods," Wakumi replied.
And then Kongiku notices something is behind the bushes.
"Is there something Onee-sama?" Wakumi asked.
Without hesitation, Kongiku ignores the bushes. "No, nothing." She said.
The dark night has fallen, Kongiku takes Wakumi to a special area to take a bath.
"Here we are," Kongiku said.
In front of them is an onsen full of hot steams, Wakumi gazes at the beauty of it. They take off their clothes and dip into the water. The moment they are in, full of relaxation.
"I did not know you knew there was an onsen in this area," Wakumi said.
"Fufu, what do you expect? I have known this place for thousands of years, even the whole of Japan," Kongiku replied.
Then, Kongiku moves slowly next to Wakumi. "There is something I found interesting," she said.
At that moment, Kongiku reaches her arms and grabs Wakumi's chest from the back.
"Waah?! Onee-sama?" Wakumi screamed.
"My my, you still have some development on your chest. I think you will be a proper woman at one time." Kongiku said.
While they are teasing each other, the black figure appears from the back. She slowly creeps to the clothes and tries to steal Wakumi's fundoshi, then she gets smacked by a blue flame and rolls back into the bushes, down the hill and drops into a river.
"I think I heard screams from the bushes," Wakumi replied.
Kongiku looks around and pretends to notice nothing. "Nothing happens." She said.
-^-^-^-
The next morning, Wakumi and Kongiku leave early and continue on the road. This time Wakumi is riding with Kongiku on her pet. While on the way, they stopped.
Wakumi notices a trail of colour red on the road. "What's that?" She asked.
Kongiku leaps off and walks to the trail. She touches the stain and licks it with her tongue.
"Its blood, warm blood. Someone just got injured not so far." Kongiku replied.
"Maybe a passing by traveller got attacked by wolves?" Wakumi asked.
Not so far they hear a scream, Kongiku jumps back on her pet and they ride as fast as they can. The moment they arrived, Wakumi almost cried.
A red Oni is rapping a young injured girl next to a bush. The girl can't resist as she cries for help. Kongiku creates a blue fireball and strikes the demon. He cries in pain and lets go of the girl.
"Who dares to disturb my fun?" The red Oni shouted.
Kongiku says nothing and strikes the demon again and again. "You call this fun? By rapping an innocent human girl?" She said in her frightened voice.
The red Oni looks up and in shock, he kneels to the ground immediately and lowers his head.
"So you still have some manners in the end," Kongiku said as she leapt off her pet, walking slowly to the oni himself, revealing her tails and ears.
The red Oni feels the dark aura and says, "I am terribly sorry, I didn't recognize your presence with a unique aura…"
"Who gave you permission to speak?" Kongiku asked.
The red Oni falls in silence as Wakumi rushes to the young girl. "Oh no, she won't last long. Shiro, I need your help." She said.
The white fox comes over and heals the girl slowly with magic. On the other side, the red Oni mumbles something but Kongiku reads it. "This wasn't supposed to happen on the deal… What deal? Someone told you to do so?" Kongiku asked.
The red Oni is shocked that his mind is being read, he has no choice but to tell the truth. "Someone in a black cloak made a deal by trading coins." He said.
"By whom a member of the Tokugawa Demons?" Kongiku asked.
"I can't tell the name, if I am told I would be cursed." The red Oni begged.
Kongiku smiled, "There is no need to tell me, I already know by looking into your mind."
Without a word, Kongiku stabs the red Oni's heart and kills him in cold blood. The moment he collapses, she hears Wakumi screaming.
"Onee-sama!" Wakumi cried as she saw a black figure in the air.
Kongiku catches the figure in a second and smashes it into the ground. The figure stood up but exposed her face, Wakumi hides behind Kongiku as she watches.
"So it was you all the time, Mizuri." Kongiku said.
Looking into her face, Wakumi leaps out a surprise. "You are the girl I met in the street before," she said.
With a moment of silence, Kongiku said, "Tell your mistress, don't plan any stupidity actions to capture my little Kamuro."
Mizuri disappears and Kongiku rushes to the girl, she is fully recovered. The girl slowly opens her eyes and sits up. The moment she looks at Kongiku, she already turns back into her human form.
"Thank you for saving me. I am Tsurumi Akazawa." Tsurumi said.
While chatting, Wakumi picks up an iron staff on the grass and looks at it. Tsurumi turned to the staff and said, "That's a spirit staff containing the spirit of the crane with healing magic."
After returning the staff, Kongiku asked. "So what will you do next?" She asked.
"It would be good if I can accompany you on your journey as a reply to your kindness," Tsurumi said. Without hesitation, Wakumi toddled Kongiku to accept Tsurumi and she did. With a new travel companion, Wakumi gains a new friend and learns a lot about spirit powers. The closer to Manyuu Yama, the more unfriendly demons appear, they fight dozens of them until they reach the cave of the mountain, a gateway to the demon realm.