Sight for sore eyes [C]

[Ram]

A drive from Kyoto to Nara is roughly two hours without factoring in traffic. To Sugawara shrine in the mountains south east of the main city was another 2 hours. As the road became less paved, the shaking of the vehicle woke up Mika from her brief nap. On the roadside a sign indicating to Sugawara was at the base of a mountain trail. Following this path would lead up a short road before that gradually transformed into stone steps with narrow paved section for vehicles like this service truck to ascend. From here would the grandfather be able to see the current state of the shrine. A lone house at the end of a hedge wall next to the actual shrine itself where the offering box was places and a cord for a bell. To the left was an open side path between the hedges. There was so sign indicating where this path went but a hazy steam would be noted further down. Beyond that was a walking path bordering a small lake. A walking bridge path was constructed at a point leading out to an observation pavilion. Further down the path and the other side of the of the bridge did the path continue further on toward a pagoda rising up from the trees. 

From this point Mika leaned forward and began surveying for the one stray oddity of the shrine. He must be lurking around somewhere on the grounds. For now though, Mika pointed to the house in question. "We can drop off the purchases there," she said and almost expected it to be just that. A quick and brief delivery. For politeness sake, Mika then motioned to the shrine proper. "Welcome to Sugawara Shrine."

[mermalaide]

Tatsu's grandfather slowly and carefully went up the paved area that was visible to them. The shrine was what he somewhat remembered. Though it was a little worse for wear. Tatsu marveled at the shrine. It was a lot older than the shrine she and her grandfather had lived it. It had a distinguished beauty to it. She wondered what the place was like in it's heyday. It was probably teaming with priests and priestesses. "Wow! This place is really beautiful! You live up here alone?" She looked pretty concerned about that. The area looked like a bit of wilderness to live in by one's self.

"I don't remember if there is phone and power. I know that there is a payphone down by the base of the stairs a bit. As for the power, I thought there was, but I don't remember."

Tatsu took in the smell of the trees and closed her eyes for a second. Those trees smelt amazing. Were they stone pines? When Mika pointed out where they could drop things off, Tatsu's grandfather nodded. " Very good. I will do my best to help you guys carry what you have in the back." He gave a smile. "It's a lovely shrine. I could see the peace in the nature here. I will admit, as much as I dislike snow, winter would be very beautiful up here."

"Maybe if we all write to the temple network and get some traffic at this shrine they will fix the little cable car we passed. It would be easier than those stairs, especially in winter."

[Umbraflamma]

Ryo sat in the vehicle as they approached the shrine. 'She wasn't kidding when she said she lived far away.' he marveled as they approached the shrine. There were clear signs of disrepair, she really had her work cut out for her, and yet it wasn't too bad. Serviceable would be the word to use.

Ryo remained rather silent as they approached their drop off point. His mind was pretty focused on the trip back and the direction of the train station, keeping an internal map as they approached their destination. Many people would find the isolated location unnerving, but for ryo it was in many ways nice and serene. as they got to their approach he stepped out of the back, his knees a bit unsteady from the long drive. "Thank you." he said to mika as she welcomed them. "It's definitely... quiet." he said as he looked around, wondering what else lurked in the forest around here.

"Well, yeah, we can also have a look at it ourselves. If its something as simple as replacing parts to get it running, it might save her some time too." he said as he adjusted his jacket. He grabbed the two bicycles out of the back, lifting them with ease. he set them down before grabbing Mika's basket. "since im here i can carry it in the meantime. It's pretty light for me." he said as he tested it's weight with one arm. "Are we good to get going?"

[Ram]

Peace. Right…. Miko Mika scanned the trees and the very air. The trio were polite and being serviceable. Commenting the shrine thus far. Mika had kept things clean for the most part for the season. If that cable vehicle can be fixed then it would save some embarrassing walks. Not all visitors could be that pestering. She pointed to the main shrine house and turned on a light. Some electricity did run here for a bit of service. “You can drop off the materials here at my quarters.” The girl walked along the deck of the small home to open up her room for ease of delivery of the clothes in the giant basket. Inside the group can view her minimalistic room. A clean work desk with pens and boxed calligraphy, a corner alcove, closet and storage drawers.

“The tool shed is this way,” the girl turned robotically and directed where the bikes would go to the shed nearby. A short walk from the back of the kitchen area also showed one other side path that directed away from both shrine and house. She turned her head to stare at the direction and strain her ears for any sounds. Feeling there might be peace in that area, she moved an arm towards it. “A natural hot spring flows that way. There is a changing area as well. Don’t mind the supplies and towels for maintaining that space.” Mika explained as she half turned her head toward them. Knowing the copious amount of medical gauze among the towels may raise some questions.


“That said, there isn’t much to provide both snack and meal here unless a basic meal is enough to tide you over and tea,” Mika offered as some form of exchange to the praise of her shrine. At least none of them have encountered that other reclusive. The miko did wonder where that fool was hiding if not to get ready for damage control the second he rears his head.

[gman]

That recluse was indeed nearby. The roar of the car engine was enough to get his ears to perk up. Going from lazing around to up on his feet he wondered if it was going to be more mystery men in suits. He ran his hand over the handle of his dirty sword handle. Making his way towards the noise of the vehicle he got an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something smelled off in the air. It was not Yokai, something else, maybe it was just in his head but he kept to the dense foliage, circling around when he needed to so he may get a good look of those coming into the shrine. There was the current shrine girl, that was expected but along with them he could see a man get out of the car and pick up some bikes from the back. One of em looked like the bike granny had in the shed. Guess Mika was out doing errands like she said she would. Well Eiji hoped she pilfered more food. His rat traps were coming up empty today. Any normal person would just waltz right up and see what was going on, but Eiji was far, far from normal. No he would be at home just sitting in the forest watching the new guests go about their day. Mika familiar with Eiji's aura could probably pick up on his presence.

[mermalaide]

Tatsu picked up some of the supplies and started towards the room Mika was showing them. She let Ryo handle the bikes. Gramps carried a few things as well. "It's alright. We did eat a bit in the shop. We should be okay for now." Come to think of it, she might have an onigiri or three still left in her lunch container. Tatsu wouldn't mind sharing that if they did get hungry. "I think I might have a snack and a few tea bags in my bag if we want to boil some water later. I hate to admit this, but my bag is a bottomless well when it comes to tea packets." She felt sheepish about that but it couldn't help be blurted out in a friendly way. She always felt awkward whenever she reached out her hands to someone in friendship. "You know," she said to Mika, "The steps out here look like they would be nice to sit and make bracelets. Especially right now." She went to put things down in the first room, while her grandfather was putting the big assortment in the other room. "That's pretty nice to have a hot spring. I would be in there every night if we had one." The old man joked.

Gramps looked up from what he was carrying. Something felt off. He felt like they were being watched but he didn't see anyone. It was just weird. He had stopped for enough of a pause that Tatsu finished putting the items down and went over to him, putting a hand on his arm. "Are you okay Gramps?" She frowned and looked up at him with big eyes. He bent down and gave her a hug, rubbing her back. "I'm okay little dragon. Probably just an animal." He took a deep breath and straightened back up. "Are you taking the train back?" She nodded. "Okay, well text me what you are getting up to, and if you need me. I'm going to go back to see our friends at the junk shop and head home." He gave her a tired smile. He was glad she seemed to be making friends.

Tatsu watched Ryo put thing down towards the shed. "This place must be a lot to run by yourself."

[Umbraflamma]

Ryo stared into the forest for a second, his eyes glancing over things before suddenly stopping. There was a sense of danger that hit ryo in the gut and his eyes fixed on something he couldn't see. It just felt like something was abnormal. The feeling is his gut was just wrong. Something was there that wasn't supposed to exist. however he couldn't see anything setting his guard up a bit he turned to face the others, keeping the direction he felt the wrongness from in his peripheral vision.

The large man then turned to the others, Ryo took the heaviest things and followed after mika. She mentioned hot springs and he grinned, "Sounds, like a good idea to stop by again at some point for that." he said as he continued along. IF someone paid attention and watched him carefully one would see that his shadow looked more like a skeleton's than a persons. "Well we did eat right before setting off, I should be good for a bit." he answered, as he looked to tatsu, "Are you feeling alright, or did you need to eat?" he asked as he set things down and tried to organize them, taking note of just how old this place was. He still couldn't shake a nervous feeling but then again he was fused to a spirit of grudges that was probably it.

"Did you want me to bring the gauze and linnens inside somewhere a bit cleaner?" he asked Mika as he finished unloading things, there was only her collection of fabrics and gauze left.

[Ram]

She quietly tugged on the cuff of her school uniform to consider her words before retreating to the kitchen. The two hour long truck ride probably getting to her despite having taken a nap. “I’ll get a fire going and kettle. I’m unsure what you wish to make these bracelets out of but you’re free to do so. No need to cause a unwanted disturbance,” she voiced as a pretense to excuse herself as the rest seemed to get a bit more acquainted with her shrine and what lurks in the tree line. An oddly cryptic choice of the multiple things that made her brow furrow. The girl left the stove as it and took the wrapped skewers from her school bag to set by the heat of the stove as well. Thinking it was indirectly warm them before exiting the kitchen to drop off her school bag in her room. The lecture work can wait as the least important item.

Upon hearing Ryo’s remark about the gauze and fabrics, she motioned to the storage closet of her room. “You can stow that here with the other fabrics or hand them to me. I rather not have the fabrics mixed up with what I have in storage.” Mika motioned and opened the sliding closet door of her room. A wooden box was on the shelf and cardboard on the lower sections. A folded white futon was tucked inside so Mika resorted to moving the cardboard storage aside to make space for the newest crafts fabrics for the charms project for the shrine. The busy shuffling around the small shrine abode and tempering thoughts kept her busy to notice other dilemmas than what lingered in the forest or what the auras were try to invade her line of sight.

[gman]

They were all getting out of that car and doing something. Eiji wondered if they were invited or not, even if they were they could always be trouble. Moving out of the thicker brush he moved out into the open for just a moment. Sneaking up to a large tree and deftly crawling up into it. Grabbing the branch like a monkey he hefted himself up into it. Monkey branching up towards the top so he could get a better view of the shrine and its occupants. The tree shook as Eiji climbed. Getting up to a good view point only to see pretty much what he saw from ground level. Just the three newcomers. Well now that he knew that it was only three of em he decided to get closer. Dropping down onto the branches without a hint of stealth he dropped onto the branches then back onto the ground. Ducking back into the thick foliage he opted to take the long way around. Steadily getting closer to the group. The feeling of his aura, the unease would only get more noticeable as he circled around and finally placing himself behind the hot spring. Crawling in through one of the side windows in the changing room he would crack the entry door open just a bit so he could have a easier time eavesdropping on the group. 

[mermalaide]

Tatsu felt a shiver go down her spine, and she couldn't place where it came from. It didn't seem like a foreboding building, just an old one, so why did she feel ill at ease? She watched her grandfather wave to them and head out and back towards the truck when all was said and done. "Don't stay out too late Tatsu. Remember, it's a long ride back." He bowed to Mika, It was good meeting you. You can always call or come to our temple if you need anything." When he bowed, he held out a card with the phone and address of the temple that he and Tastu had lived and worked at. "Have you made charms like that before or bracelets?" She asked Mika, carefully setting things down. "I know that sometimes the Temple Network gives out classes. I went to one for ofuda last month. I think the next one is summer charms for Obon."

There was a rustling noise in the trees. It caused her to cock her head to the side to hear the sound. Were there monkeys here? Often she remembered her grandfather saying that there was always the chance of them in the mountains. Tatsu pushed a stray hair from her forehead and saw Ryo shuffling about. The movement on the ground caught her attention and she saw the shape of it change into a monstrous shape. she had remembered the night when she had seen the Gashadokuro bond to Ryo. It was almost like it sensed something. The last thing she wanted was anyone to panic, especially if it was only a little animal or something.

"Say, do you get other kinds of animals here? I'm sure there are lots of birds and deer." She followed to assist where needed and thought up different ideas. It was doubtful that the big skeleton thing was over reacting. She swallowed hard, suddenly very parched. The hair on her neck was prickly. It was so quiet. Was there really no bird song just then?

[Umbraflamma]

Ryo looked around, noting that unsettling feeling. His finely tuned danger sense was on full blast as he felt there was something wrong. His body was like a spring ready to respond to danger at a moment's notice. he couldn't quite place what it was, but the tension in his neck and muscles showed he was ready to meet it. Thats when Mika's answer to his question pulled him out of his reverie. 

"Got it." he said as he looked to Tatsu as well, she seemed similarly on edge. "yeah it sounds like there's a few out here, did you have any pets? You couldn't go wrong with a dog in a place like this good way to keep the place safe. If it could be taught proper shrine manners." he said as he picked up the cloth and bandages and started moving them as directed, towards her room. he offered to hand them to her but was willing to carry the delicate and sterile fabrics. 

"Were you able to properly clear this area out? Have you had any issues with yokai trying to muscle in?"

[Ram]

“Simple items. Charms are fairly essential and my own work hinges on their use.” Mika explained to Tatsu then motioned for Ryo to go ahead to her room. “You can place the items there. I ask that you do not disturb what few belongings I have or else I will revoke that grant,” she warned after the last time someone ransacked through her items. Luckily nothing was stolen and the would be curious thief didn’t find anything of value so hopefully these civilized students of the university did the same. Mika sighed and moved to assist Ryo to further direct him and put a few of the cloth bundles away herself. Between Tatsu and Ryo making note of her shrine, Mika felt some ease to explain the nature of the grounds.

“The mountain is still a large territory to cover. For the moment, I have key stones in place for a barrier to keep the immediate grounds under my watch so nothing outside comes in. Though it’s more of a safety measure till I devise a stronger security layer when items are brought in. I’ll have to lay out more keystones to make an intricate layer system but will have to venture into the mountains on an off day.” The miko explained as she took a bundle from the basket and put it in the closet. Of the animals those two talked about, the topic of a dog came up strangely enough. She gave pause in the work to think it over but only knew of a snake than a dog. Her face turned to disappointment of any dogs when her thoughts blended to some form of dog with a snake for a tail.

“I have not considered one. What with my busy schedule, I don’t think I can spare a moment to take care of a dog. There are wild animals but the shrine is normally quiet. Venturing the mountain at night is too dangerous as the demons do roam the country side. The previous caretaker did… have some helper.” Whether Mika would have thought the previous caretaker to have considered Orochi to be that very ‘dog’ or just a lost boy looking for a home, the old lady may have been more polite than Mika is right now. Her head turned to where she sensed Orochi in hiding while reply to her guests. “Yes… I suppose there is an additional groundskeeper nearby right now. Between my barriers and … whatever he has going on, we have yet to see another large share of demons here.” The cause of that first evening of the massive snakes and oni that one night is still under speculation of what could have drawn that many in the first place.

[gman]

Keeping a keen eye on the situation at hand. He kept eyeing their hands for weapons, but no one produced any, yet that is. He wondered if he should just pop out of his hiding hole he was in right now and just whip out a sword or two. Really show em whos boss. He crept backwards thinking of acting on his plan. Unfortunately for him his plan was dashed as he bumped into one of the piles of crap granny had stored in here. Urns and the like began to topple over. Twisting around Eiji threw up his hands to catch the large standing pot he had knocked off balance. Though in his panic he put too much force throwing his hands up to prevent it from falling he just knocked it over in the other direction. The extremely loud crash there would be no doubt the people who were in the shine would be alerted to his location, but right now Eiji didn't care about that. Coming up with a plan to fix this pot was issue number one. That Miko would surely blame this on him like he did it. Not to worry though, what is broken could always be fixed. In a flurry Eiji began to pick up pieces to the pot and tried to slot them back together like they would just attach to one another like a puzzle. Sure he wasn't thinking straight but you cant blame a guy for trying right? 

[mermalaide]

Tatsu nodded at Mika. "Sure thing." She had not planned on touching anything. She could tell that it was best to be on her best behavior anyway. She was careful to put things down in a way that they wouldn't disturb anything. She listened to Mika explained the boundaries. It reminded her of how the bigger temples did spiritual boundaries, she was too little to help when she moved in, so a priestess must have set up theirs. "That's good that you aren't exactly alone, it's rough to be out in the country by yourself." She seemed like she had more of a plan, so it wasn't as bad as she previously thought.

The sounds of shattering pots interrupted her thoughts.

Tatsu ran towards the noise. Cleary an animal was rustling about. It sounded like something broke! She almost tripped getting out of one of the sliding doors. Tatsu moved towards the sound and things felt off. She couldn't been more than an arm's length away from what looked like a crouched man that was stooped and picking the shattered pottery. "You didn't cut yourself did you?" She moved slowly and crouched as to not be threatening. He looked like he was a bit feral, best not to scare him. "Is it okay to come and help?" She looked really concerned.

[Umbraflamma]

Ryo, nodded and moved towards the room, recognizing the need for respecting another person's space. "Got it." he said simply moving as instructed, he tried not to take too much note of what was inside, it was after all none of his business. As he placed the items in a space where they would be clean but not in the way if she were to faceplant immediately after they left. 

That was when he heard the shattering sound and his danger sense went off, immediately dashing back to the other two, "Tatsu, Mika, are you two ok?" he asked as he ran in the room thinking that one of them may have dropped something and gotten hurt. There was actual fear in his eyes, as if the thought of them being hurt would be devastating to him.

There was something strange to how intensely he reacted and yet he was ready to act, against the wall a shadow of a skeleton appeared in place of his shadow. Thats when he noticed the crouching man, and moved to interpose himself between him and tatsu, at least until they could confirm it was ok. There was something off about this guy and Ryo's instincts had rarely led him wrong. He was clearly dangerous, if he was a danger to them was yet to be seen.

"Who are you?" he demanded, "do you live here too?" he wasn't privy to the conversation that Tatsu and Mika just had.