Rei stepped out of the house, her gaze immediately drawn to Hoshiyo seated on the porch. A knot of unease tightened in her stomach as she noticed the guards stationed nearby, indicating something was amiss. Hoshiyo's posture, leaning forward at an odd angle, only deepened Rei's concern. Approaching cautiously, Rei leaned in to inspect Hoshiyo's sleeping face, noting the telltale signs of a night spent outdoors.
Gently placing her hand on Hoshiyo's shoulder, Rei softly greeted her. "Good morning, Hoshiyo. Did you spend the night here?" she inquired, her concern evident.
Hoshiyo stirred, flickering her eyes open to meet Rei's gaze with a tired yet warm smile. "Yes, I suppose I did," she admitted. "Are you ready to depart? Where are the others?"
Taking a seat beside her, Rei explained the situation. "We've decided that this journey is one for us to undertake. The others were moved by your vision for the future and have gone to the village to begin realizing your plans," she informed Hoshiyo.
"Ceres found inspiration from my ideas?" Hoshiyo asked, surprised.
Rei let out a soft chuckle before explaining, "Well, she was particularly intrigued by the notion of crafting weapons, but in her way, she was inspired to delve deeper into understanding the intricacies of both the human and spirit realms. She believed broadening our knowledge and connection with both worlds could hasten our quest to find our mother."
"I understand," Hoshiyo murmured, her gaze shifting to the morning sun.
Takeko joined them, settling beside Hoshiyo on the opposite side. "I'm ready to depart whenever you two are," she announced.
The girls embarked on their journey, following the well-trodden dirt path that guided their way through the countryside. Along the way, they encountered a handful of villagers out for a stroll and a traveling peddler displaying his wares in hopes of attracting passing customers.
Takeko's eyes lit up with a friendly smile as she approached the Peddler. "Perhaps we should inquire if he has a map," she suggested to her companions. "It would be wise to ensure we don't lose our way."
Hoshiyo shrugged nonchalantly. "Sounds like a plan to me. What do you think, Rei?"
Rei nodded in agreement. "I'm all for avoiding getting lost," she said.
Approaching the wandering Peddler with a warm smile, Takeko politely addressed him before he could move out of earshot. "Excuse me, sir. Do you have a map of this village?" she asked.
The Peddler shook his head regretfully. "I craft the maps myself, but my last copy was stolen by a samurai sporting a straw hat," he explained, his tone tinged with frustration.
Disappointment flickered across Takeko's face. "Ah, that's unfortunate," she lamented.
The Peddler raised his index finger and replied, "However, if you manage to retrieve the map from that samurai, you can have it for free."
Takeko's eyes lit up with newfound determination. "Really? Thank you so much!"
With a smile, the Peddler bid them farewell and continued, confident that, despite the odds, the trio would overcome the challenge.
As Takeko bid farewell to the man, a radiant smile graced her features. However, her joy faltered as she noticed her sister's disapproving gaze, arms folded tightly across her chest. Perplexed, Takeko turned to her with a furrowed brow. "What's the matter?" she inquired, her tone tinged with concern.
Hoshiyo broke the uneasy silence with a pragmatic observation. "Have you forgotten that none of us have any training in swordsmanship or martial arts?" she pointed out.
Rei echoed her concerns. "How do you expect us to confront a samurai?" she questioned, her voice laced with apprehension.
Realizing her oversight, Takeko offered a tentative solution. "We could approach the samurai politely and ask for the map. Maybe he's a benevolent samurai," she suggested quietly.
Hoshiyo and Rei exchanged skeptical glances, their concern evident. While they contemplated Takeko's proposal, they couldn't help but question the wisdom of her approach.
"What if the plan fails?" Rei posed the question, her worry palpable.
Hoshiyo chuckled nervously. "Then we're as good as dead," she admitted with a wry smile.
In contrast, Takeko remained resolute. "No, we would politely withdraw," she insisted, her determination unwavering.
Reluctantly, Hoshiyo acquiesced. "Fine, let's give it a try," she relented.
Rei, however, interjected with a note of caution. "Wait, this seems like a reckless idea," she protested.
Hoshiyo attempted to reason with her companions. "Listen, if it's just one samurai, we can try to reason with him. But if there's a group, we'll retreat. Agreed?" she proposed.
Though hesitant, Rei nodded begrudgingly, hoping against hope that their risky venture wouldn't end in disaster.
The trio followed the winding path until it led them to a serene pond adorned with an ancient shrine, enveloped in the embrace of age-old wood and moss. Before the shrine stood a solitary figure, shrouded in mystery and decorated with the distinctive straw hat described by the Peddler. They scanned their surroundings, but the scene remained eerily devoid of any other presence. The figure remained motionless, save for a subtle swaying to one side, casting a peculiar aura over the encounter.
Rei's brow furrowed in perplexity as she gestured toward the figure. "What's he doing? Is he intoxicated?" she whispered.
Hoshiyo tilted her head, attempting to discern the man's features. "I can't quite make it out," she admitted, frustration evident in her voice.
Undeterred by the enigmatic atmosphere, Takeko smiled reassuringly as she stepped forward. "Well, he's alone, so there's no need for us to hide," she reasoned, her optimism undimmed. With determined steps, she approached the silent figure, her heart pounding in anticipation.
"Excuse me, sir," Takeko began, her voice polite but firm. "May I borrow that map of yours? We're searching for a nearby swamp."
Yet, the samurai remained silent, offering no indication of acknowledgment of her request. Takeko glanced back at her sisters, a hint of uncertainty clouding her expression. With a subtle shrug from her companions, she turned back to the enigmatic figure.
Bowing respectfully, Takeko continued, "I apologize if I've disturbed your meditation. Could you at least point us in the right direction? It would be greatly appreciated."
Once again met with silence from the samurai, Takeko's senses tingled with apprehension. She glanced downward, her heart lurching at the sight of blood seeping from the samurai's body, seemingly without a visible wound. Instinctively recoiled, she uttered a startled cry, her voice piercing the air.
With lightning reflexes, Rei sprang into action, seizing Takeko and propelling them both into the safety of the grass. Together, they watched in horror as a child-sized beast resembling a frog erupted from the samurai's chest cavity, its menacing teeth and dark eyes fixated on them.
Hoshiyo's voice cut through the chaos. "Are you two alright?" she called out, her concern palpable.
Breathless but unharmed, Rei assured her, "We're fine."
"What in the world is that thing?" Takeko exclaimed, her voice trembling with fear.
The monstrous creature emitted a chilling laughter, sending shivers down their spines. Hoshiyo, undeterred, cautiously approached to get a closer look. The creature's scaly green skin seemed sharp as blades, its anatomy resembling that of a swimming reptile—webbed hands and feet, a turtle-like beak and shell, and an elastic, fish-like skin.
In an attempt to distract the creature, Rei posed a question. "What are you?" she demanded.
"I am a Kappa," the beast replied, reverberating with an eerie resonance.
"It can talk!" Takeko exclaimed in horror, her voice trembling with disbelief.
Rei's response was swift, her tone laced with curiosity and caution. "You're a Yokai," she stated matter-of-factly. "What brings you out here alone?"
The Kappa's response was cryptic yet unsettling. "We Kappa lead solitary lives, scavenging for sustenance where we can find it," it explained, its voice echoing with an otherworldly quality.
Hoshiyo's hand darted toward the katana resting on the samurai's body, but the Kappa reacted quicker. With a swift motion, it turned its head and opened its mouth wide. Despite the creature's efforts, Hoshiyo managed to grasp the katana, wrenching it free. In a swift motion, the blade sliced through the Kappa's gaping maw, causing it to emit a guttural cry of pain.
Seizing the opportunity, Hoshiyo snatched the map and the katanas, and with her sisters in tow, they fled as fast as their legs could carry them, blending into the crowd of villagers heading towards the village.
Breathless and adrenaline-fueled, the trio found themselves amidst the curious gazes of the villagers. Sensing the weight of their actions, Hoshiyo hurriedly secured the katana around her waist with a length of rope, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let's hope no one discovers that samurai and blames us for his fate," she murmured anxiously.
Rei's eyes flicked towards the blood-stained blades, her voice hushed with concern. "Those weapons are stained with blood," she whispered urgently.
Hoshiyo's gaze fell upon the tainted katanas, a bead of sweat trickling down her forehead. With a sense of urgency, she motioned towards the nearby forest, her voice determined. "We need to find water to cleanse them before we go any further," she declared, leading the way towards the safety of the trees, away from prying eyes.
"Why did you take them?" Rei inquired, her tone tinged with concern.
"We need them for protection, and we certainly don't have the funds to purchase even one, let alone nine weapons," Hoshiyo explained, her voice firm with conviction.
Takeko let out a resigned sigh. "Please, don't blame her, Rei. It was my idea in the first place," she interjected, shouldering the responsibility.
Rei shook her head, her expression one of reassurance. "No one's to blame. What's done is done. The important thing now is that we have the map," she declared firmly.
With a nod of agreement, Hoshiyo retrieved the map from the sleeve of her yukata, spreading it out before them to examine. Rei's finger traced a path along the map, indicating a body of water north of the village, extending into smaller ponds to the south and north.
"I wager that small pond to the south is our destination," Rei surmised. "It appears we'll need to pass through the village to reach it."
The sisters nodded in agreement, but before embarking on their journey, Hoshiyo took a moment to clean the blood from the katana blades using large leaves in the nearby bushes. She wiped away most of the visible stains, ensuring they wouldn't attract undue attention as they traversed the village.
"Do you think this will suffice?" Rei inquired, casting a doubtful glance at the partially cleaned blades.
"Well, there's only one way to find out," Hoshiyo chuckled.
She led them through the village streets, the sun casting long shadows across the empty dirt roads with open-fronted shops. Each building seemed crafted from the same wood and materials, resulting in a uniformity that made everything blend—identical sliding doors and airy, open rooms lending a sense of familiarity to the surroundings. Despite the apparent tranquility, the village exuded an unexpected sense of vastness.
Takeko's eyes lit up with excitement as she basked in the sunlight. Her gaze was drawn to a compelling display of meat skewers at one of the stands. With an eager grin, she pointed towards it, exclaiming, "Oh, those look absolutely divine. I simply must have one!"
Rei couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's enthusiasm. "I'm afraid we don't have any money, Takeko," she replied apologetically.
However, their predicament caught the attention of the Chef behind the stand. With a friendly gesture, he beckoned them over. "Hey there! How about trying some perfectly grilled beef? It's on the house, my treat," he offered warmly.
Intrigued by the generous offer, the trio approached the stand, their mouths watering at seeing three stone and wood grills adorned with skewers bearing succulent slices of meat expertly cooked to perfection.
Hoshiyo rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, offering her gratitude. "Thank you, sir, that's very generous of you, but unfortunately, we're a bit short on funds at the moment," she admitted with a rueful smile.
The Chef's smile only widened at their response. "Ah, you must be Ronin," he remarked knowingly. "If you lend a hand to the villagers with a few tasks, they'd be more than willing to compensate you with some Ryo. In the meantime, consider this skewer a token of goodwill, compliments of the house."
The sisters exchanged puzzled glances, perplexed by the repeated assumption that they were Ronin. Suppressing her curiosity, Rei decided to address the Chef's offer instead. "Are you certain?" she inquired, her brow furrowed with uncertainty. "Each skewer usually goes for ten Ryo apiece."
The Chef nodded affirmatively, undeterred by Rei's skepticism. "Indeed, but how about this? If you're willing to lend a hand to my brother, who's been tirelessly searching for his missing wife all day, I'll gladly provide you with three skewers in return for your assistance. What do you say?" he proposed, his tone sincere and earnest.
The sisters nodded in unison, their resolve firm. Hoshiyo wasted no time inquiring, "Where can we find him?"
"Last I heard, he was down by the swamp," the Chef replied, gesturing towards the village's southern edge.
Takeko's smile widened with anticipation. "What a stroke of luck! We were just about to head in that direction ourselves to search for someone," she exclaimed.
"Then it's settled. Best of luck to you," the Chef bid them farewell, his warm smile accompanying their departure. With determined strides, they made their way towards the southern exit of the village, where a bridge spanned over a small swamp. A towering Torii gate loomed at its entrance, and standing before it was a man whose expression spoke volumes of heartache and despair as he glanced back at the approaching sisters.