Herbs Frenzy

[Alessa]

Alessa whom currently looking at Saiya's eye can directly felt her feeling how she felt threaten by the lady fox's statement about eating her firelizard. It is seems that the cute thing are very precious to her.

Feeling awkward and tense seeing how the ninja and the lady fox are not in well-term, she tries to figure out what to say until the ninja suddenly introduced herself as Saiya. She surely does concern with the lady fox's statement after all.

Alessa then felt relief when Saiya offers to lead her to the nearby town. With sparkling eyes, she look at Saiya. "Really? Thank you so much~" she smiles gratefully as she bows her head. As she wants to say something more, she felt a chilling feeling out of the sudden as her body froze with her eyes widen due to the shock of that sudden feeling. She then tries to fix her posture as she did not want to make herself look weird. She now really felt that she has to return home soon. What she felt was an instinct, a bad feeling about her little sister, Lilith.

[Ritsu]

The kitsune rubbed the back of her neck, grumbling to herself that she couldn't understand people like these two girls. One was so obliviously lost, kind of a fault, and would follow a complete and utter stranger to get out of these woods. Didn't it even occur to her that maybe, just maybe, this prowler might lead her to death? Then again, humans would always go with humans, and it's none of her business. The ninja girl had already promised they would leave her territory alone, so she shouldn't complain and just let them go.

But...

How she hated her kind heart.

"I wouldn't go back towards the direction you came if I were you." She warned the two, "There are creatures in these forests you wouldn't want to disturb, no matter how skillful you are in that shadow art of yours, Saiya. Doesn't help that you stink of a demon." The kitsune snorted and stalked towards the south, opposite the direction the ninja came in.

"Follow me. I'll lead you around the lair of the faceless demon. It'll eat you two alive the moment you look at it." She snapped her fingers and lit up another pair of fireballs, which she made to float around her. She, and maybe the ninja as well, might be able to see in the murky darkness of the thicket, but she was sure that the little bird wouldn't be able to.

It would be pointless to help them out if the one she actually cared to help didn't survive the journey back.

"Oh," the kitsune paused and looked over her shoulder towards them. She grinned devilishly, "My name is Ritsu."

[Saiya]

Just as she was about to continue striding back towards where she come from, and Alessa following her behind, the blonde short-haired woman warned the two of them. Stating that it would be far too dangerous to come back, due to the creatures inside this forest; it might also be dangerous for all them.

She sighed and nodded thankfully at the fox lady, for stating that out; and she was surprised that the woman have aid to lead the way outside of this place. She smiled thankfully, "Thanks for the help..." she trailed off, not knowing her real name as she followed the lady; the lady snapping her fingers fire lighting up. She look at Alessa and nodded, indicating her to go first; making the Alessa at the middle.

The woman looked over her shoulder towards them, indicating her name. "Thanks for helping us out, Ritsu," she let out, as she look at the woman. Despite helping them out, she didn't feel good that the lady is grinning like that. She shook her head and sighed.

[Alessa]

Just when Alessa took a couple of steps in trailing Saiya, the lady fox holds them. It surprised Alessa to hear from the lady fox about imminent danger that lurks in the forest where she and Saiya might encounter if they would follow Saiya's way. She even felt more cautious to know that the thing that hides in this forest are dangerous which frightens her more. Alessa tighten her grips on her basket that holds the herb as she actually scares now as she is always afraid of anything that hidden in the darkness.

As that she felt very reluctant to follow them from behind as it is getting darker by time. She is lucky as the lady fox lighten the place up with her fire magic and Saiya also kindly let her to be in the middle of the group which makes Alessa very glad. She bows and thanked them both cheerfully, but seeing Saiya still doubting at Ritsu makes her feel bad.

She fully believe that they both isn't a bad person, but she can't simply make both of them believe that. Her eyes are always bringing her complex feelings about is, as she is the only one that would understand someone's feeling more by just looking at their eyes. She however doubt that this will make people comfortable with it and thus always tries to reduce in making eye contact so she won't be using her eyes ability too much.

Then the lady fox finally introduced herself and with that Alessa bows down and with a smile. "Nice to meet you Ritsu-san, and thank you again for helping us,"

[Ritsu]

"Heh, are you sure you're not from around here, little bird? You can definitely pass for a Kumoan with that demeanor and politeness of yours." Ritsu snickered as they walked along a narrow path in the bamboo thicket. "You even have the bowing down to perfection, like one of those himes in the big castles of the shoguns. Hmm... do we still have shoguns around here, kunoichi? It's been such a long time." She was pretty sure that the feudal era had already come and gone, but being such a long-lived entity, it was difficult to stay attuned with the times.

"Too bad the evil spirits never go," said the kitsune, thoughtful of her own ponderings, "They just never disappear because of a grudge, a dream, or some promise they don't even remember. Once upon a time, there was this princess who loved a demon that lived in these woods. The demon loved her too, and they made a promise that they will meet each other in the koi pond in the middle of the thickets even new moon, when no one from the closest village dared to venture into the woods. A samurai slayed the demon one night, for it was bloodthirsty during the fullmoon. The hime came to the pond every dark night, waiting, waiting, waiting... even though no one ever comes, because she never knew that her lover was already dead. Even now, the spirit of that woman still lingers and it still visits the pond whenever there's no moon in the sky. She kisses the life out of any man who stumbles in her presence, thinking that it was the demon who pledged his heart to her."

Three fireballs danced around Ritsu as she told the two girls story after story. Sometimes, it was about a personal experience with her supernatural neighbors, while others were those of tragedy or wickedness brought forth by the fragility of the human heart and spirit. The kitsune soon realized that she didn't even know she was sharing these stories, even though she started telling them to keep the sound of her voice present at all times. The spirits then to avoid a being like her, for she was more than them, and more powerful, in control. They were simply wandering specters, bound and chained by the deficiencies of the lives or by the lusts of their souls. Indeed, Ritsu lived in a vastly different plane than most people. Phantoms were her friends, while apparitions was as common to her as a person walking down a street.

But these bodiless incarnations were not the things she worried about. It was the ones with claws, fangs and magics that she should look out for. Ritsu could face them without a problem, but her companions might not know how to deal with demons as efficiently. Somewhere in these woods were the vengeful demons whose hatred for humankind went beyond merely scaring them. No, these monsters were killers.

"Careful now," she warned Saiya and Alessa, "They come."

The sun had long left the horizon, and as pitch black darkness descended upon them, the forest seemed to come alive. The first monster they encountered was the Jinmenju. It was a demon-possessed peach tree that looked quite normal during the day, but at night, it shows what it fruits actually looked like. Instead of sweet and juicy peaches that a human might expect off such a strong and healthy tree like this, it fruits took on the shape of humans heads. Their faces held expressions that varied greatly, from ecstasy to agony, and each one reflects the figure of a person who had died by eating the Jinmenju's fruit. They scream their torment now, their souls eternally trapped in the tree.

"Ugly sight, isn't it?" Ritsu said as she stared at the faces, "Not something you see everyday, yeah? I heard some sage actually managed to make an exilir from the Jinmenju's fruits, but I can only imagine how the stuff tastes like."

'Human brains maybe...'

[Alessa]

"H-hime?" Alessa blushes with surprise. "I-I don't think I'm suited to be one, but thank you," she bows as she still feel flustered with all that compliments given to her. She is not used to compliments like that specially from someone like Ritsu, a mythical being.

As they walk more inside the forest, Ritsu starts to tell them stories regarding the past in this forest. Alessa are afraid as she is not good with horror nor spooky story. With Ritsu keeping her fireball circling around her, it makes Alessa more frightened each time she adds more of the her story as the places starting to get darker and darker. Shivering with slight tears she follow rather close to Ritsu becasue she is the only source of light inside the forest.

She hoped that nothing would come during this time, but her heart freeze when Ritsu warned them that something is coming. Alessa, instinctively hides behind Ritsu when she heard something somewhere in inside the forest. She saw something very terrifying, she never thought of something like this would exist. She shivers badly as she hides behind Ritsu as she feel that being near her is the safest thing to do.

She was so scared that she can't say a word as she hears Ritsu's explain something about the monster she is seeing right now. She hope that they wont be needing to fight it, nor would she wanted to see any other things inside this creepy forest. She can't do anything but to rely solely on Ritsu and Saiya.

[Saiya]

Saiya walks quietly, as Gwen perched on her shoulder with the same attitude. Calm on the outside, but weary on the inside. No... she was just trying to sense the area, looking from sides to sides. She knows how dangerous a place can be when the sun sets. Especially such place with somewhat mythical creatures living, or even some haunted beings.

She paused from her thoughts when Ritsu suddenly asked about shoguns from this time of age. She quietly shook her head, "None," she replied quietly as she looks forward, from Alessa then to Ritsu who started telling tales of this place.

Yes, this is Ritsu's territory... and upon hearing her tale, she lives almost hundreds years here; fully knowing the place just like the palm of her hands. But with each passing minutes, Saiya could feel an evil being coming towards their way. It wasn't running... no, she closes her eyes, trying to catch some thoughts. She opened her eyes as she look where Ritsu is looking. A jimenju, the tree as she thought, is what Ritsu refers.

Saiya looks at Alessa who cowers in fear behind Ritsu, "So... are they aggressive? What is that things weapon? Or curse?" she suddenly asked, looking at Ritsu. Still not letting out her element to come out... well for pete's sake, it might let make the being attack them. She sighed and look at Gwen, "You better stay near me and don't leave my side, ne Gwen?"

[Ritsu]

"Heh, as much as I like girls clinging to me, this one isn't bad," Ritsu placed a hand on her hip and tipped her weight on one leg, confident and unfazed, "Just don't eat the fruits. The poison will eat you inside out. It won't attack you, but it can lure you into eating its fruit if we stay here any longer."

Without another glance, the kitsune walked past the terrifying sight of the demon tree and continued on under the ledge that it was perched on. The faces' eyes followed them as they went, screaming and wailing, until the darkness of the moonless night hid them from human sight. Their smell still lingered in the air though, as thick as mist, and it didn't disappear until they were several yards away. Ritsu stepped or hopped over gnarled roots, well-hidden demon traps, and grasping branches with ease as she guided her companions through the youkai infested area of the bamboo.

"This is probably the most haunted forest in this continent," she said absentmindedly as she helped Alessa over a thin, rickety rope bridge. "Many people committed suicide here, you see, and most of them turned into spirits who are envious of the living." Grinning roguishly, she looked down in-between the bridge's steps and gazed at the imps that robbed the passers-by with predatory amber eyes. She had killed a few of them once, simply because they had the gall to get in her way. Even after generations, they still remembered and kept well out of her way.

What concerned her the most was the presence approaching them fast. Even in the darkness, she could see the purplish-white flame from the distance and hear the fiendish groan from the youkai coming after them. There was no doubt that it was the old man, the demon Ritsu frequently fought with whenever she prowled the thicket. Wanyudo, the chariot wheel with a face of fury, loved to run over any trespasser he finds in the forest. Louder and louder, his turning became, and with it, his angry bellows. Ritsu was sure he could see her because of her foxfire, and by extension, her companions as well.

"You're about to meet the crankiest old man you'll even have the pleasure of meeting," She told Saiya and Alessa, "Get ready to run to west, and run fast and hard. If this guy catches you, he will eat you limb from limb. I hoped that we wouldn't run into him but... I guess it's just not to be~ C'mon, little bird." Without warning, Ritsu gathered Alessa, sweeping her off her feet and carried her in her arms as she jumped up on an ancient tree. "Run, Wildcat," She barked at Saiya as she watched the ninja's firelizard shriek in fear.

"This is really a bad time to wander around here," the kitsune murmured to herself but did so loud enough that the mage would have been able to hear. "Let's just get out of here and grab some roasted unagi in the village. I'm starving."

Maybe her companions would hate her for her careless thoughts and words, because as she talked about food and sake, Wanyudo closed in, burning the trees with his gaping mouth wide open. The youkai was known to bite a horse in half, perhaps the kitsune should be more careful.

'But it's just a little too fun to watch humans freak out once in a while.'

She jumped to another tree and shouted at Saiya, "Think you have something explosive under those short shorts of yours? We might need it, yeah?

[Saiya]

Once Ritsu answered that the tree can lure someone eating its fruits, she sighed grimly as Gwen went down in her arms; she look at the fire-lizard as she carries it and follow Ritsu and Alessa, leaving the demon tree and continuing to walk. The howling, wailing of the human heads that are attached from the tree is making Gwen trembles as they left it. She patted her softly, trying to calm her; which she successfully do so.

The three continued walking, passing down from the thin bridge as Ritsu entertained them from telling stories; regarding to the place they were in. It wasn't that hard to sense those beings down the bridge, helding such eyes that looks like a predator looking for their prey.

Though as they passed down the bridge, she could sense something... approaching them fast. Saiya look at Ritsu, she also sensed it... and it seems she is familiar to the being. And yes, she even introduces the being as the 'crankiest old man'. She could see from the distance the purplish-white flame and what seems like an old man's face in the chariot wheel.

Ritsu ordered them to run to the west, and run as fast and hard as they can, and with that Ritsu carried Alessa; Saiya, still carrying Gwen who cowered in fear, jumped as well.

She leap from tree to tree, side glancing as she could hear the loud and wild groan of the being. Suddenly, she heard Ritsu asked her if she have explosives. "I have..." she answered, still jumping and running from tree to tree, following Ritsu. Though, still carrying Gwen, she look down at her. "You better hide again, ne?" she softly let out to her black fire-lizard, hiding her inside her muffler. Once knowing Gwen is secured inside her clothing, she take three small explosive balls she designed for her element. Despite of her past job way back, she still have some weapons used.

She throws it off towards the way the being is going, and upon seeing it strides towards the small bomb, she summons a fire ball throwing it towards the small bomb as it suddenly explodes. A short sigh escapes her lips, it wasn't at all; after the bomb explodes, it seems that the Wanyudo growls more. She looks at Ritsu, "Ritsu-san," she called out as she run towards her, until she was just behind the blonde haired woman. "What exactly was that thing's weakness? We couldn't just throw and attack that thing continuously, right?"

[Alessa]

Alessa release a soft shriek when Ritsu pulls her hips closer to her. It surprised her a bit, but she actually felt a bit calmer since Ritsu is calm during this situations. Wiping her teary eyes, she nods when she listen to Ritsu's advice regarding the creepy tree.

The three of them then continues to walk inside this dangerous forest. Alessa can only feel very grateful for Ritsu as she helps her in walking in this dangerous and rough terrain while Ritsu continues with her stories. She never thought this place would be this scary during night and as she thought things can't get any worse, Ritsu spotted something approaching them.

Alessa widens her eyes as the things that approaching them are something very very scary to her eyes. When Ritsu suddenly told them to get ready to run, she with panic tries to fix her posture to prepare herself to run. "E-eh?!" she cries out when Ritsu suddenly carries her as they both took off, with Saiya trails them from behind.

She shivers terribly at the sight of the creepy things that is chasing them down. Listening to Ritsu's murmur and Saiya's effort in stopping the monster. Alessa felt helpless as she can't even help both of them. Little do she knows, her bag of herbs slowly starts to slip from her grip and when she realized it, the bag already falls from her arm. Instinctively tries to save it, she loosen her grabs from Ritsu, which resulting her to fall alongside with the bag of herbs. Screaming helplessly as she falls down, she can only shuts her eyes and hold her bag tightly. The herbs are that important for her and she will not leave here without it.