OOC: Bleh, feeling kinda crappy, but I figured I really shouldn't be putting this off yet again. >_>
I went with one of the retcon concepts, and as such, Kikyo never died, but rather ended up sealed within a holy barrier as she healed. I wanted to do a post outlining these events (as sort of a fanfic prologue, I guess), but for now I'll just skip straight to Miroku, and edit this post later on when I do write the relevant material.
***
IC:
It's a beautiful morning a certain youth should soon discover, as he slowly comes to under mother nature's care.
Currently, his head is leaning against the trunk of a tree, the leaves above rustling under the light wind yet still providing ample shade for him. A bit further on ahead of him is a dusty road, and to his side a cart filled with various random articles and a fidgety tanuki, watching the monk sleep.
OOC: Sorry, missed the post.
IC:
Miroku stands and stretches. "A beautiful day, isn't it Hachi? Now if only there was a woman around as beautiful as the day."
OOC: I presume it's his cart.
OOC: no problem. I apparently missed yours too, so fair's fair. And yes, it's his cart. Though stolen along with the loot in it. You're such a bad monk. >_>
IC:
Hachi smiles at Miroku's voice and jumps off the cart, moving to greet the monk. "Miroku-sama, good morning!"
Quote from: "MercForHire"OOC: no problem. I apparently missed yours too, so fair's fair. And yes, it's his cart. Though stolen along with the loot in it.
OOC: Nonsense, if they understood my need was greater they would have willing parted with it. Have I checked what's in the cart?
Quote from: "MercForHire"You're such a bad monk. >_>
OOC: That's not what the girls who aren't frightened off by my directness say. ;)
Quote from: "MercForHire"Hachi smiles at Miroku's voice and jumps off the cart, moving to greet the monk. "Miroku-sama, good morning!"
"Good morning," the monk replies. "What do we have for breakfast?"
"Uhm..." the tanuki replies before turning back towards the cart, where he begins digging around.
"I'm sure I saw some rice somewhere in here, Miroku-sama," he says after a while, before scratching his head. "But you took everything that wasn't nailed down in that lord's house, so I'm not exactly sure where it is."
OOC: Nope, you haven't checked.
"Well then, let's check what we have," Miroku replies. He begins searching through the stuff.
Hmm...seems you were in a bit too much of a hurry. After a close inspection of many of the things, a good deal of it is essentially junk, as you can't really sell it for something worthwhile. Could donate it to a needy temple or something though.
There -is- a nice set of jewelry and a sculpture of a samurai that might fetch a very nice sum of coins though, among a couple of other trinkets capable of fetching a decent price each.
All in all, while not the best, it wasn't too bad an endevour either. And at that point, Hachi gives an exclamation of triumph, as he comes upon a bag of rice, some vegetables, and a few other edible things for the two.
"Good, we have breakfast," Miroko smiles. "And some other useful things to sustain us on our way. The rest, including the cart can no doubt be donated to a worthy temple."
On consideration, the monk plans to examine the jewelry and the statue in case they are more than they seem, but for now breakfast is most important.
Breakfast is matter quickly resolved, and Miroku quickly focuses on checking his trinkets a bit more thoroughly. Hachi watches over the monk's shoulder on occassion, but mostly focuses on readying the cart for travel again.
It doesn't seem like there's anything particularly special about the objects past their normal monetary worth though after a few minutes of inspection.
"Find anything?" the tanuki demon asks once the monk is done.
"Nothing special," Miroku replies. "I suppose we should be going, um, away from the place we borrowed the cart."
"Of course," Hachi replies, in complete agreement. "There's a village a few miles north of here where we can dump most, if not all of this."
Transforming into a horse, he motions for you to attach the cart so he can start pulling.
OOC: Sorry about the delay in post. Ed, is there any time that'd be good for you to do an IRC session so we can speed up on the game for a bit? Poke me on IRC, or if I'm not online, send me a PM over the forum.
Mikoku attaches the cart to the 'horse', then climbs on board. "Let's get going, then."
OOC: I'll try to poke you next time I'm on IRC.
A few hours later, the two find themselves nearing a small village, some local girls waving along the road, and blushing as well when graced with a smile from the houshi.
"Girls?" Miroku says. "This is definitely an auspicious place."
"Hachi, please stop by the young ladies."
"Good morning," Miroku says with a smile. "Do not touch any of them where the other girls can see you. That never works," he thinks.
"I see fate has brought me to this village" the monk continues aloud. "I was hoping you girls could bear my...greetings to the village headman. Please tell me, is there a temple about? And have there been any unusual incidents recently?"
The girls all giggle at the strange, yet formal monk. At Miroku's request, one of them, a girl of maybe thirteen years of age, walks closer to the cart, though the others still maintain some distance.
"If you want the head of the village, you'd be looking for Shuichi-san, monk-sama. I can direct you to his home if you'd like," the young girl offers, trying not to focus too much on his handsome face. "There isn't any temple any place nearby though."
Miroku smiles at all the girls, then takes a closer look at the one who has spoken to him. "Thank you, I would be grateful if you could take me to see Shuichi-san. Ah, but where are my manners, for I have not introduced myself. I am Miroku, a simple traveller, and I believe fate has brough me here. Tell me then, what is your name?"
As he talks, Miroku will try to determine the size and prosperity of the village, based on the condition of the peasant's homes, and the quality and newness of the girls' clothing. He's also trying to note which girls are of age and which might be so if he were to return in a few years time.
"I'm Misha, Miroku-sama!" the girl chirps happily before she latches onto the monk's arm and starts pulling on his sleeve, much to the amusement of the other giggling village girls, a few older, a few younger. Really, they're all within child bearing age, if that's what you're looking for.
"Come! Come! Shuichi-san is a -very- busy man!" she exclaims as she pulls, stressing the word 'very', with a firm serious nod.
OOC: When is Miroku not looking for girls within child-beaaring age. ;)
Miroku blinks at Misha's forwardness at grabbing his arm, and then smiles. He makes no move to detach her from his arm. "Are you always in such a hurry Misha-san. Or would it be too forward to call you Misha-chan?"
"And why is Shuichi-san such a busy man? Has he had other visitors?"
Misha blushes and responds with a, "Whichever you prefer to call me is fine, Miroku-sama!" and prompting another fit of giggles from the other amused girls.
"Uhm, he's the village head, so he must be very busy, right? I mean, he's village head!" she explains.
"Of course, Misha-chan," Miroku replies with a smile. "But before we see the headman, I must ask all you girls something. Have any of you seen or heard anything odd around the village, or seen any mysterious strangers recently?"
Everybody shakes their head after some thought and reply in the negative. It's been a pretty normal time for them, and youkai haven't really been bothering them either.
"That is good to hear," Miroku replies, "For I have been on the trail of a fierce and very dangerous yokai." He looks at the girl holding his arm and smiles. "Well, Misha-chan, if you could lead me to Shuichi-san, then." Once they are far enough from the other girls that it's not blatantly obvious, he will attempt to 'accidently' slide his hand down to Misha's butt. (If the way she's gripping his arm makes this possible.)
OOC: *gasp* and she's only 13! you bad man you! >_>
IC: The girls gasp at your statement. "A youkai? Around these parts?" they mutter, starting to chatter amongst themselves in worry (ironically unaware to the fact that there's a tanuki demon nearby).
Misha grips your arm tighter, and begins to pull you more seriously towards the village. Sadly, you're unable to touch her at the moment, your one hand too occupied in her grip and the other slightly too visible to the public to call an accident if caught.
You don't get much time to sigh in regret to yourself, as you soon find yourself in front of a hut, smoke streaming out the chimney in the back. "The village elder lives here," Misha says as the two come to a stop.
OOC: She's of age for the culture. Let me know if I'm overdoing it.
IC: Miroku pauses and looks at the village elder's hut. "My, you're quite energetic Misha-chan. Obviously, the elder is home and I'm sure he doesn't want me just barging in, so could you introduce me."
Misha nods as she lets go of the monk's arm, walking in as she calls out, "Shuichi-san, a monk has come visiting."
Miroku hears a little stirring of papers and other things from within as a deep voice rings out, "Oh? Well, bring him in, bring him in..."
Misha's head sticks out of the hutt, and she motions for Miroku to follow in.
Miroku steps into the hut and looks around. "Greetings, Shuichi-san."
An old man with messy white hair is sitting by a desk, grumbling as his hands shift between pages. He looks up at your greeting, and you note a scar running along his right eye, and the eye looks somewhat strange. Perhaps he's blind from that eye?
"Ah, you must be the monk Misha-chan mentioned," he mentions, as he looks you up and down. He seems surprised, likely at your age. "What can I do for you, young man?"
Yep, definitely surprised at your age.
"As you can see, I am a travelling monk," Miroku replies. "Much of my life is spent dealing with yokai, a task I inherited from my father and my father's father. So I ask if you or your people have noticed anything odd recently, things that they might not have even considered at the time, but that could be the work of one or more of these creatures."
The old man snorts at that. "Sorry, but as this is in Lord Oshimaru's territory, even here in the outskirts of it, most of the troublemaking youkai don't dare cause mayhem. I'm afraid you won't find much to do around these parts."
"Actually, that is quite reassuring, since I am one monk, and no doubt Lord Oshimaru has many skilled men to protect his land against such menaces."
OOC: Has Miroku heard anything about Oshimaru?
OOC: You may have heard of him, but not had any reason to particularly pay attention to his name or news of him. So the name sounds familiar but not much else.
IC: "Oddly enough, no," Shuichi notes, tapping a quill against his chin. "He's not badly off per say, but I doubt his army could take some of the worst youkai that used to come around these parts."
Looking at you in an analyzing manner once more, he seems to debate saying more. Finally he seems to make up his mind as he adds, "Between you and me, young man, it's my opinion that the youkai have grown afraid of something and don't want to gain it's attention. No one takes me seriously though, I mean, a youkai? Afraid?"
Misha is meanwhile fidgeting by Miroku's side, wondering if she should remain to watch over the monk, or going back to work outside the village.
"That is an interesting theory, Shuichi-san, and I do take you seriously. It seems to me that the yokai would be most likely to fear another, more powerful yokai."
"That, or a powerful priest. There were rumors that Lord Oshimaru's son was striken by some unexplainable malady, which no one could dispell...none until the baboon clothed man, that is," Shuichi explains.
Misha tugs at Miroku's robes here. "I need to get back to work, Miroku-sama, or my sister will likely get angry. If you need more help though..." she offers before taking off.
"My apologies for keeping you, Misha-chan," the monk smiles. "If your sister is angry, please explain the fault was mine. And I appreciate your generous offer of future help. Where should I look for you, then?"
He watches her leave, then turns back to Shuichi.
"That is a very unusual garment for a priest," Miroku says. "Perhaps the baboon clothed man is some sort of sorceror?'
OOC: Does Miroku know enough to suspect who the baboon clothed man probably is?
"I'm curious, are there any places the yokai used to live that they appear to have abandoned?"
He shrugs. "I can't say much about the baboon fellow, all I know is from rumors of him, and even though he apparently comes and goes from Lord Oshimaru's place at times, not a lot of people have really talked with him," he notes with a frown. "To be honest, the only reason rumors have spread about him is that nobody's even heard of a youkai attacked since that fellow showed up at Lord Oshimaru's door. It's why I say they're afraid of something. I think they're afraid of -him-."
"And I might have been reckless in my youth, fought a few youkai along with the other villagers, but can't say I was ever reckless enough to go looking for a youkai's home, no sir. Sorry son, but if you want answers to such questions, this village isn't the place to get them," he apologizes.
OOC: No, at this point he shouldn't have any clue that it's Naraku.
"Well, it is good to hear that the priest is so powerful, " Miroku replies. "And he seems quite modest to not be taking credit for driving off the yokai."
"But you say you have fought yokai in your younger days. If you've got the time, I'd like to hear all about it."
"Well, I certainly can't take the credit by just myself, it was a team effort you see," he replies modestly. "There were some very nasty ogres back in my day, and one had to be careful."
For his modesty, he does spend an hour or two telling tales of ogres and other relatively small fry youkai and Miroku could guess he was probably telling the truth. It shouldn't be impossible to defeat some of the monsters Shinichi mentioned for even untrained men if they fought together.
Certainly no knowledge of Naraku though in his tales it seems. Pity.
"I must say you and the men of your village did well, Shuicihi-san. In far too many places the people would have just run, but they would not have escaped."
"With this mysterious priest the center of Lord Oshimaru's territory, the greater yokai will fear to approach. And so long as the young men of the village show the same courage and skill that you did in your younger days."
"I myself, seek a very powerful yokai." he smiles wryly. "It is a heritage handed to me by my ancestors."
OOC: Did Miroku's father or grandfather ever describe Naraku, or does he only know the name?
"And in my travels, I have fought lesser of the creatures." the monk continues. "I know that you said you never sought out the yokai's lairs, and that was wise Shuichi-san, but were they known to come from a particular forest or mountain or swamp or something?"
He just shrugs again, taking the praise in kind and answering your question. "I'm sorry, young man, but I really don't know enough about these things to help you. Why don't you try visiting Lord Oshimaru's home? Perhaps you will find this babboon priest and find some answers with him," he suggests.
"Perhaps," Miroku replies,"though as you said, the baboon priest comes and goes. Can you tell me how far and in which direction Lord Oshimaru's home is?"
"True. Well, if you still wish to head there, just head out through the north exit and follow the dirt road. It'll take about a two days and a half of travel with a good horse, but the road goes all the way there," Shinichi relays of the directions. "You'll be going through one more village before arriving there, so you won't need to stock too heavily on food either if you're low."
"Unfortunately, I'm a bit short of water. Is there a suitable stream or well around?"
The village head nods at that. "There is a well right by the north side of the village. Feel free to take water as you need it."
"Thank you, Shuichi-san." Miroku replies. "I am a bit short of food as well. Normally, I would deal with whatever yokai are present and accept whatever reward the people were willing to spare."
But this place seems a bit too safe for the standard trick with hachi to work,he thinks. And if the man in the baboon robes is about, far too dangerous for Hachi.
"I have aquired a variety of things given by well-wishers previously."
At least they seemed to be waving when I escaped, er, that is left. he thinks.
"So I was hoping to trade some of them for food, or money I can use to purchase food on the way, if it's not too much trouble for you."
"Hrm, well, feel free to 'set up shop' as you will somewhere in town and try trading, if you have items you think might catch the eye of the villagers," he muses.
"Thank you, Shuichi-san. If you will excuse me then." Miroku goes back to Hachi and the cart.
Miroku finds an uncomfortable looking horse 'guarding' the cart while the village girls work nearby. Hachi must be wondering when he can transform into himself again, and looks hopeful when he spots the monk.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Hachi," Miroku says quietly, so that no one else can hear. This doesn't mean his eyes aren't on the village girls, enjoying the view, though his thoughts drift more to hot springs than village fields.
Miroku quietly continues. "There's some sort of powerful priest dressed in babboon robes about in these lands, so a yokai might find life rather dangerous. Fortunately, it's quite safe to be a horse."
OOC: Is the well visible from where he and Hachi are?
The horse snorts in understanding and stamps its hooves on the ground, as if demanding when they'll be leaving so he can go back to being himself.
The two of you are by the eastern end of the village, so the well is not particularly visible at the moment, various huts keeping it out of sight.
If Misha is visible, Miroku will call out and ask for directions to the well. Otherwise, he will attempt to find it himself, which shouldn't be too hard.
Hearing a call from the monk, Misha soon comes skipping back towards his side. Given the request to the well, she leads Miroku towards the well, dragging him once again by the cuff of his robes.
Miroku smiles goodnaturedly. "As enthusiastic as ever, Misha-chan. Thank you."
Once they get there, Miroku says. "Normally, I would drive off a local yokai in return for food, but Shuichi-san say there have been no yokai about recently. Fortunately, I have been given a rather mixed bunch of things by various wellwishers and I was hoping I could trade them to the village people for food or some money."
Miroku will start to draw water from the well. "Are you thirsty, Misha-chan? That certainly looks like hard work you were doing."
"By the way, this is my horse, Hachi, he's very clever." Miroku will make sure there's some water for Hachi, too.
"Ooooh, he's a very pretty horse," Misha says. She merely shakes her head at the offer for water, and watches the monk pull up a bucket of pristine clear water.
"Pretty? Yes, I suppose he is." Miroku chuckles.
Miroku takes a drink, then fills any water container he has.
OOC: Is there a water trough for horses nearby.
"You might want to look through the things in the cart and see if there's anything you'd like, Misha-chan."
Miroku looks around, hoping to find and out of the way place he can tether his 'horse', so Hachi can relax in his normal form for a bit.
ooc: no
ic:
"Oooh, can I?" Misha asks as she moves away from the pretty horse and heads towards the cart to hunt for anything of interest.
There doesn't seem to be a stable if that's what the monk is looking for, about the only way to keep a horse from running is probably tying it by a tree. Not much chance for Hachi to transform like that.
"Yes, you can look," Miroku replies. "Just be careful, Misha-chan."
He'll hold up the bucket so Hachi can drink if he wants to.
OOC: Are there enough trees that Miroku could hide Hachi in them so that he's out of siight? Or somewhere else out of sight that Miroku can 'tether" his 'horse'?
Hachi seems to look at the bucket slightly disdainfully, but being thirsty enough quells those mutinous thoughts. He soon lowers his head and starts drinking water.
As Miroku looks around, there's a group of trees a little off in the distance from the village. Not particularly far, but might be just a bit suspicious. Still, a little suspicion might be okay considering how long Hachi has had to remain transformed. And Misha would probably buy any excuse you gave her.
"Misha-chan. if you could watch the cart for a moment." Miroku leads Hachi to the clump of trees and pretends to tether him out of sight. "I think it's safe for you to transform now."
"Okay!" Misha chirps cheerily as Miroku leads away the transformed tanuki. Once hidden out of sight, and given the go ahead, Hachi poofs out of his horse form.
"Aaaah, that feels good!" the tanuki exclaims as he stretches, letting the leaf on his head flutter off. He seems extremely pleased to be back to his old handsome self.
"I'm sorry I you had to stay a horse so long, Hachi," Miroku replies. "I'd best go back and see if I can barter for more food. Keep your eyes open. we wouldn't want anyone else to discover you."
Miroku goes back to the cart. "Well, Misha-chan, have you found anything interesting?'