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Description

Name: Amanojaku

Aliases: 'Heavenly Evil Spirit', Amanosagume, Amanjaku, Jaki, 'mini Oni'

Faction: None, tend to be solitary

Status: Active

Alignment: Chaotic Hostile

Rank: 1 Kaijin

Measurements: H - That of a small boy or young adult man 2-5 ft. W - Normal

Race: Yokai

Powers:

Everything is Backwards! - Amanojaku are contrary by nature. Every action taken, every word spoken, every expression made is often the opposite of whatever situation the Yokai is in or person they are facing. Amanojaku praise the weak, envy the poor, hate the compassionate and snub the strong. Up is down, right is left and orange is blue. They fly across the land and run through the sky...upside down. Amanojaku can exert an element of this experience onto others and their immediate surroundings, flipping and reversing things into their opposites. People 'fall' into the sky. People that were deeply in love become savagely obsessive mortal enemies. An old man wakes up to find himself a little girl. An honest hardworking man becomes a pathologically lying drunk, and on it goes. While the effects of this are temporary, the Amanojaku reaps the chaos and havoc it's reversals cause in human society. Their primary method of activating this is to say something specific so that the opposite of what they said happens. Something like reverse Cassandra Truth.

Reveal Heart - Amanojaku can see the true feelings and motivations of a mortal they come across. This gives a good idea for how to tempt or torment the mortal in question. Trying to hide one's feelings before an Amanojaku is useless.

Release Id - Once an Amanojaku has seen a mortal's heart, they can provoke that mortal's darkest desires and drive them into acting on them.

Grand Theft Me - The Amanojaku's final trick is to completely skin a mortal alive, able to shuck a human's skin off like a skilled magician can remove a table cloth without removing the plates. This allows the Amanojaku to wear the skin and effectively become that person. The methodology changes from Amanojaku to Amanojaku and the more experienced ones prefer methods that let them take the entire skin off like a giant suit or allow them to enter the skin without even leaving a flayed body behind. A few of those methods are to enter from through the mouth or the anus and devour the victim alive from the inside out. Younger Amanjojaku tend to be messier and often flay the victim to pieces before patching the skin back together by plastering it to themselves or even rolling all over their victim until the skin arranges itself. While they have the victim's form, the Amanojaku sounds, smells and can successfully act like the victim as after reading the heart, the Amanojaku knows the personality of the mortal in question. This is considered the ultimate reversal as Amanojaku have for all intents and purposes become human.

Tough Little Demon - While their trickery and ability to reverse things is already dangerous, the Amanojaku is a member of the Oni family and shares in some of that savage strength. Despite often being smaller than a full grown man, they can handedly tear one to pieces in single combat. However their major attribute is endurance. Amanojaku can be considered the most physically and spiritually resilient of the Oni family. This type of Yokai can endure being repeatedly stomped on by what amounts to gods. They can survive this sort of treatment for centuries and have done so through the ages. Blunt force trauma means little to them and most basic form of sacred rites are scoffed at. They've suffered far worse and greater levels of divine retribution.

Weakness:

Forever Pariah - Amanojaku live very lonely lives. They are contrary to everything placed in front of them and always say the opposite of what they mean. This type of Yokai is in the unique position of always being apart from conventional society. While Amanojaku can read people easily, it is very difficult to read an Amanojaku and they live in a world that quite literally can't understand them. Naturally they hate it and want to change the status quo to the opposite of what it is so they can finally belong. However changing the status quo brings them into direct confrontation with Kami and other powerful spiritual beings who are quick to make an example out of them and literally dance them into the ground. Bitter, continually defeated, and hateful of their existence, Amanojaku take their hatred out on the prize possessions of the Kami: mortals. Considering most Yokai need mortals in some form, Amanojaku are rebels with literally no cause that anyone but them and the most equally hateful and deranged of Yokai would follow. As such, Amanojaku know no allies and call no one friend.

Divine Retribution - While common Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist rites have minimal effects on Amanojaku, calling on the name of major Kami, particularly Bishamonten, will 'reverse' the victim's fortunes considerably against an Amanojaku. Kami are all too happy to lend their support in subduing an Amanojaku or even slaying them outright should the need be great enough and the mortal is equipped with something sharp that channels Faith type Enigma.

I Wanna Be Like You - All things considered, being an Amanojaku is pretty horrible. It's small wonder that they would indulge in trying to stop being Yokai and pretend to be human by literally replacing one. However this carries a risk to the Amanojaku themselves. The longer they stay in a human skin, the more they assimilate into it. They become attached to being that person and even start to believe they are that person. All the while secretly being the murderous contrary demon they've always been. Another aspect of the 'skin walking' is that Amanojaku's do not have access to their Yokai powers or attributes while wearing the human skin. Someone of the faith or an Enigma sensitive can sense the Amanojaku's presence within the skin and in a panic the Amanojaku's eyes betray the Yokai soul within. Thus the Amanojaku, a demon that could stand being trampled by powerful outright divine figures for hundreds of years, can be beaten to death like a dog while impersonating a human. Thus 'smart' Amanojaku will only impersonate a human for a set period of time and frequently remove the skin when they need to do 'Yokai things'. Often using the human form to get closer to their next mark and hop personas again. For some Amanojaku though, the lure of a normal human existence is too strong to ignore.

Description: The Amanojaku in it's typical form looks like a small Oni, or the child of one. Ranging from 1-4 horns, different skin tones but often red, sharp fangs and claws, and often dressed in road worn clothing and ragged bandages. Older ones tend to look like either stumpy old men with heads that look like a pounded cinder block, their horns smashed into faint outlines, or ferociously demonic teenagers with everything to prove. Their eyes are usually quite large and gold, like a wild predatory animal's. When impersonating a human, their eyes and sometimes their teeth are the only things that can be told apart from the human the skin used to belong to.

---

Amanojaku Bio: The preparations complete, Ruki and Amaro set out toward the Graveyard. While the region had a more prestigious name at one point, over time it had grown more remote and more informal until it was simply known as a location where many old families dating back to the beginnings of Yamatai's history were buried and enshrined. Kaitheros saw the two off across the first of the claw rivers. Over the next couple days they got to the second and found an old rope bridge spanning it. They traveled in silence for quite some time, only speaking when they needed to or when Amaro needed to climb one of the trees to get their bearings. The underbrush became thicker and thicker as they began to cross out of the Miyazaki Region and into the Southern Haryu Mountains. Mount Hoshoku could be seen from time to time when they weren't utterly enveloped by the canopy high overhead. Amaro noticed that Ruki was a bit short of breath as they began to make their way to the third of the claw rivers, well within the boundaries of the forest.

"Shall we make camp for the day Miko-san?" Amaro asked.

"You know, I don't remember this taking so long before." Ruki sighed.

"Why's that?"

"Well...I was on Thero-kun's back the last time I came here. He said it would take too long to navigate on foot and there was a breeding season going on. The local predators were a bit jumpier than usual."

"To be carried by the Lord of Predation himself, being the Hoshoku Miko is truly a wondrous thing." Amaro observed absently.

"Hey! I didn't have any training then! It just looks different down here that's all." Ruki retorted.

"I would wager a lot of things look different 'down here'." Amaro replied with indifference as he scanned the brush ahead. As Ruki came up behind him he moved his arm in front of her to bar her from passing ahead. His eyes were trained in front of him.

"What's wrong?" She asked quietly.

There was a rustling in the undergrowth as something large came lumbering through the bushes. As it came into view, it's flat head and heavily armored body identified it as a Edmontonia. The spines along it's sides clipped the brush as it passed them, giving the two a lazy glance before continuing about its business. As long as they didn't trouble it, the herbivore wouldn't act aggressively and the two watched as it disappeared, trampling more undergrowth in its way.

"You can relax Amaro, the most dangerous thing you'll find out here is either a Tiger or a pack of Balaur. Single and pack hunters respectively." Ruki said in trying to get Amaro to relax. Instead she found him already picking over the trail the Edmontonia left them.

"The brush it cleared will lead us north. It's wanderings likely pass by the third river, as a major source of fresh water." Amaro explained as he began to travel up the flattened undergrowth the armored dinosaur had left in its wake. Ruki simply sighed and continued after him.

--

The third river actually had remnants of a series of old bridges spanning it. It was a wonder as to who built them as despite the weathering they were still crossable. Entering the heart of the Southern Haryu Mountains, they found out that the most notable obstacle was neither the animals or the Claw Rivers...but the mist. Blanketed in a sea of cloudbanks, the Souther Haryu were reminiscent of the most lush valleys of China and the presence of bamboo broken in half here and there indicated the presence of the Giant Panda. Amaro did find Tiger tracks here and there but navigated around what he suspected was its current hunting grounds and continued. A night of camping enhanced the mystical feel of the place as the fog refused to abate. However, it was now proving very difficult to navigate the forest. Several times both Ruki and Amaro lead each other in circles. Ruki even tried a few prayers but it was an entirely natural phenomena of the Den and After a few days of this the two were at their wits end.

"What's up with this place? It's like the farther west we try to go the denser the fog gets! We can't even figure out where we are from above the trees anymore." Ruki groaned in exasperation.

"The mist is obscuring everything. It's a wonder we haven't been ambushed by something yet." Amaro mused. "However if we keep heading west from here we should find the Graveyard."

"Oh just what we need, not only a probably haunted burial ground but one that is covered in a mist so thick you could sleep on it. Spook town here we come."

"Is there not a Kami you could ask for assistance from in our travels Miko-san? Perhaps they could provide a path."

"I tried those already. Nothing so far."

Ruki and Amaro continued west and came across a maze of bamboo. Now everything really did look the same and soon the two were hopelessly lost. Just when Ruki was about to ask Kaitheros to send them a Pteranodon, a dog, ANYTHING to get them there; They heard the sound of a small hatchet chopping wood. They went to investigate and found a young woman gathering up bamboo and charring it up over a low burning fire - creating charcoal to put in a large bag nearby. The woman heard them approach and after a minor moment of shock, smiled and dusted herself off to greet them.

"Oh! I wasn't expecting visitors. What brings you to the bamboo wilds of Haryu?"

"Do you live out here?" Amaro asked.

"Of course, I'm making charcoal for cooking. It helps purify the water, among other things." The woman said with a smile as she continued.

"Alone? I can't imagine you just eek out and existence so far from Yamatai." Ruki elaborated, somewhat suspicious.

"Oh no, no. I live with my elderly parents. They have a hard time doing everything like they used to so I help where they can't anymore. I make the charcoal out here because the smoke irritates their throats."

"That's very considerate of you...urm..." Amaro struggled to place a pronoun on the woman and she giggled before offering her name instead.

"Please, call me Moko." She said with a demure bow. Amaro, like any young man worth his blood, found the gesture tantalizing and blushed heavily before returning the gesture.

"I know it's impudent of me to impose M-Moko-san, but I humbly request a favor! We are on a quest to the Graveyard and we have been lost in this mist for days! Please if you could, guide us there!" Moko was taken aback by the Amaro's intensely earnest nature but soon began to laugh. A tinkling light laughter that seemed to make Amaro's ears turn a bright scarlet. Ruki raised an eye brow, intrigued but at the same time annoyed.

"It would be no trouble at all. I could bring you to my parents and give you a warm meal before I show you to the Graveyard. Though may I ask why?"

"I am the Hoshoku Miko, Motoko Ruki, this is my guardian Amaro." Ruki interrupted. Still unable to get the nagging sense of something off about this whole scenario.

"Ah, I imagine you'd like to cleanse the graves then? There are quite many, it would be quite an undertaking to do so without having a place to stay. It would be an honor to host the Hoshoku Miko. We don't get many guests out here." For a split second Ruki though she saw Moko's smile turn into a vice of razors but next she opened her eyes the girl was grinning with perfect human teeth...which in itself was strange. Were here parents dentists?

--

Moko lead the two to a two level cottage built into a hillside. The place looked well lived and well kept with various rural trappings such as a clothes line, wash bucket and a small garden nearby. As they entered, they were greeted with a warm and cozy atmosphere. Moko announced their presence and introduced Ruki and Amaro to her parents. As expected they were an fairly old, well into their 80's by the looks of it. The two were invited to share a meal with the small family and they likewise shared their reason for coming this far west of the Den. The father, simply dubbed 'Oji-san' knew the area they were looking for quite well. He explained that the mists were not merely a weather phenomena. The Graveyard was a very peculiar place in that it was where many things came to die in peace. All are said to be equal in death and so both predator and prey, man and animal, all alike in preparing themselves for the hereafter. While most families and people buried or entombed there were deliberately laid out for that purpose, many areas of the Graveyard were simply piles of bones crisscrossing and overlapping one another. The native creatures simple died where they pleased and when a certain revolution of spirituality swept through Asia, the fascination with sharing the end of one's journey with nature took a turn for the macabre and eventually people stopped using the place at all. Seeing it as depraved or foolish. Ruki asked why this change happened and the elderly couple explained that while many faiths of the Orient comingle and cohabitate interchangeably, there have been many attempts, especially by the mainland (China), to separate and weed out sects of spirituality that don't align with the views of those who have to manage their people. Shinto survived by simply assimilating itself into the cultural idioms of its country of origin so deeply that total removal was impossible. For other faiths, the transition was not quite as 'gentle'. The spirits of the Graveyard are a neglected lot. The couple spent much of their youth appeasing and tending most of them. But they can't safely leave their property very often and rely on their daughter extensively. Just her by herself isn't enough to properly manage all of them. So the ancestral spirits of the Graveyard are restless and they toy with anyone entering the mists. The reason they are able to safely travel about without getting hopelessly lost is because of certain measures they take to make them unoffensive to the spirits in question. The mist has a way of trapping certain humors and lingering regrets of a person, making all manner of spirit more tangible in their influence.

Moko agreed to guide them to the Graveyard proper but warned them that it is a vast expanse that has seen centuries of use by countless dying beings. Doing a proper inspection of it could take days and they would need to come back before dark. So Amaro and Ruki agreed to stay at the old couple's cottage while they investigated the place. Amaro being a fairly skilled wayfinder himself, often chatted with Moko during their trips to and from the place. Ruki didn't want to admit to something so petty but she was beginning to get a bit jealous of how well Amaro and Moko got along. Especially in light of their recent issues. Ruki however could not shake the feeling that there was something 'wrong' with the entire scenario. Moko was fairly young and her parents still in good health but clearly elderly. Sometimes if Ruki made deliberate eye contact with Moko, her eyes seemed to flicker into a clearly inhuman color. Moko would bashfully turn away in difference to the Miko but it seemed that Moko was avoiding having to directly interact with Ruki as much as possible. Focusing on Amaro instead.

Moko was good to her word however. The Graveyard was truly a sight behold. Line after line of grave markers and tombs...as well as massive piles of bones and skulls twisted and intertwined. The ever prevalent mist maintained a sacred, mysterious atmosphere. Ruki got to work in purifying and doing basic mandatory rights for those buried there. As she did so the air got lighter, if only for a short while. However, purifying the Graveyard wasn't Ruki's only purpose here. There was obviously some sort of supernatural activity happening here though try as Ruki might, deducing the actual sources of it was difficult. The area was too supernaturally charged and made pinpointing a particular source difficult. Amaro meanwhile continued to talk to Moko and even help around the cottage. The elderly couple having their fun as only the elderly can, causing a good share of laughs. Though Ruki was reminded that as a Miko, there were a lot of simple common pleasures and joys that normal people get to have that she simply couldn't. This didn't normally come up but it was during times like that Ruki remembered that her 'family' consisted of herself and a large deity like dinosaur. It was mostly these insecurities that caused Ruki to try not to blame Moko too much but the nagging sensation that something wasn't quite right continued.

Ruki wondered if Moko might actually be a shape shifter that was simply taking advantage of the old couple's hospitality, but then why would she be so eager to help her and Amaro? It was also suspicious that some calamity or suffering hadn't befallen the old couple before her and Amaro arrived. Ruki began consciously looking for signs that Moko was a Yokai. Moko wasn't a habitual drinker and acted like any young...pretty...woman would act. Ruki was about to believe she was over thinking it when they were crossing the stream nearby on another trip to the Graveyard. Moko was chatting with Amaro as per usual and suddenly slipped. Amaro reached to catch her and got pulled in instead, the two landing on top of each other. Ruki could only stand dumbfounded as this harem comedy routine played out in front of her and Amaro bashfully tried to sort Moko out and their hands touched for a moment. Before this could get any more emotionally complicated Ruki cleared her throat and told Amaro that he should probably make camp and start a fire so as not to catch their deaths out here. Amaro, eager to escape the situation eagerly went looking for firewood. Ruki and Moko stared at one another a good while...and the woman gave the Miko a wry grin.

"He's quite something isn't he Hoshoku-sama."

"Yeah...he is."

"He doesn't strike me as someone who has lots of friends back in Yamatai. Are you two...close?"

"We...I've known him since I was little."

"Ah, a childhood friend. Turned bodyguard hrm. You're worried about him aren't you."

"We've had some close calls lately...he tends to get into more trouble than you'd think."

"Those that live mostly on their own tend to do that yes. Maybe that's why you gaze at him so."

"E-excuse me?" Ruki stammered, taken aback.

"He might be oblivious but you and I are women are we not? I can see your interest as keenly as you can see mine. You live in shrine away from everyone, I live with my elderly parents as far from the closest village as one can get. We both see him as a kindred spirit of sorts...and perhaps more."

"Is there a point to this? Other than watch you gradually catch hypothermia?" Ruki retorted, ironically feeling more exposed than the soppy wet woman in front of her.

"Forgive my impudence Miko-sama, but I think you might be a bit selfish." Moko explained coyly with a slight head tilt.

"You are making doe eyes at 'my' bodyguard and I'm the selfish one? Tell me more about how you're the paragon of charity Moko." Ruki spat sarcastically, her face starting to flush up.

"Amaro-kun isn't...well liked around the villages is he. A little affection and honest familiarity and he falls all over himself. Even when he does recognize these things he is unsure and hesitant. Like he expects to be harmed or reprimanded. He is...alone. Just as you and I are alone."

"You have parents."

"And you are watched over by Kaitheros-sama himself. We are isolated from other people. My isolation is from sheer distance. Your's is from the nature of your birthright. We maintain this isolation because of duty, responsibility to those that depend on us. However, Amaro is not like that."

"What do you mean?"

"I can understand our mutual desire, but I believe yours to be harmful to him. You would chain him to you but never be able to give him what he needs, what he's lacked his whole life."

"Wha-what the hell are you imp-"

"Have you truly been wandering around all this time as the Hoshoku Miko and not recognized what that means?! As his bodyguard he will be the closest to you...but never close enough. That isn't right for him...or you. I can give him what you can't."

"I-I don't even have time to think about stuff like that right now!" Ruki insisted. "There's nothing wrong with it anyway! Compared to past Hoshoku Miko it's...it's normal! Other than Thero-kun he's the only one I trust to stand by me! H-how dare you!" Ruki seethed in a mix of anger and other conflicting emotions.

"I again apologize for my impudence Miko-sama, but be mindful of who and what you are. Can you truly say you can give Amaro-kun what he needs and perform your duties as the Hoshoku Miko? How many people do you think depend on you? Our liaison with the spirits and with the Lord of Predation himself who ensures this sanctuary for us is kept intact. You would be so willing to pass on your responsibilities to another of your line to satisfy your own heart?"

"And what of it?!" Ruki snapped. "What could you possibly know of what he's been through, his struggles or mine for that matter?! You live all the way out here and you expect to empathize with his troubles?! I saw it more than once growing up! They almost never treat him fairly! When I made him my bodyguard he actually started getting respect! How can they say he doesn't belong now?! What are you compared to that?!"

"Because we are Koshin." Moko replied unflinching. Ruki stood agape, remembering the history of that particular faith.

"Koshin...then, that's why. So you and your parents..."

"We are very well aware of what we are...and welcome you regardless Miko-sama. We perhaps more than any other in all the East know what persecution for one's beliefs is. What being a pariah is. How 'primitive' we look to outsiders. Even the Ainu think we are fairly base. Your faith makes small allowances in our memory but little more than that. While our name does not carry the prestige yours does, it does not carry the weight of its shackles either. He would be among those like himself, those that survive independently but proudly."

"Still...that doesn't mean-"

"Think carefully about your decisions Miko-sama. They effect far more than just you. Think about what's truly best for him. That is all I will say...for even now I have said too much. However, that is how important I feel this is." Moko concluded. Ruki and Moko held that pensive tension between them until Amaro padded back to them.

"Moko-san, I have lit a fire for us! We can dry our clothes...now...is something the wrong?" Amaro asked as he looked between the two girls. Moko was the first to break eye contact and turn to Amaro.

"No Amaro-Kun. We were merely discussing details of our next foray into the Graveyard. It's at fairly treacherous part. Now where is this fire? Did you remember gather enough dry kindling?"

"Ah-of course Moko-san. Please dry yourself first."

As the two headed toward the campfire, continuing their banter Ruki stood in place like a stone. she stared at the waters of the stream as small rivers of her own spilled silently down her cheeks.

"I feel something is amiss Ruki...are you alright?"

"..."

"Ruki are you there?"

"I-I'm fine Thero-kun. We've made progress on the Graveyward purification. We're staying at an old couple's and their daughters cottage as a base camp between trips."

"All the way out there? Wait...no it couldn't be them. That was almost a century ago... Bah, it's always the little things. I suppose it's good fortune that there is a tiny sliver of civilization out there." Kaitheros mused.

"Yeah...real fortunate."

"Are you sure you're alright...did you two have a fight again or something?"

"No, nothing like that. I'm just...tired, that's all. I'll be fine Thero-kun." Ruki projected passively.

"...Well alright. Let me know if you find a Yokai. Burial grounds of any sort are prime locations for Yokai activity. You never know what you'll find lurking among the markers." Kaitheros stated somewhat teasingly.

"..."

"You want to talk about it?"

"Not...not right now. I'll be fine Thero-kun...really." Her tone getting a little lighter.

"If you say so. I'll be here if you change your mind kid." The Lord of Predation concluded.

Ruki looked out over the stream and saw the glow of the fire. Amaro and Moko were chatting around it, trading stories and laughing together. Ruki's stomach felt like a ton of bricks...but she trudged toward the fire as she heard Amaro called out for her. She put on a smile as she came to sit next to it.

---

After coming back from the purification trip, Ruki glumly sat on the porch of the cottage, staring off into space. Amaro finishing carrying more firewood for the old couple and spotted the Miko. Somewhat concerned, he walked up to her. He realized how out of it she was when she didn't even notice him approach.

"May I sit next to you Miko-san?" Amaro asked. Ruki was momentarily surprised before her face fell again and she nodded silently. The two sat quietly for a time.

"Amaro-kun." Ruki suddenly spoke.

"Yes Miko-san?"

"What do you think of Moko?" She asked. Amaro was surprised by the question out of the blue but mulled it over a bit.

"I...I think Moko-san is a kind person. A hard worker, clearly loves her parents and is dutiful and caring for them. She is good natured, sensible but takes small joy in day to day things. I'm impressed that she knows this strange area so well. I wonder what sorts of rites the family practices to keep the mist from effecting them..." He trailed on.

"Could you live the rest of your life with someone like her?" Ruki asked somberly.

"Wha-what? What do you mean Miko-san?" Amaro spluttered, unsure of even how to answer, his eyes growing wild for a moment as he stared at Ruki who looked at him with an expression of pure melancholy.

"Could she make you 'happy' Amaro-kun. That's what I mean."

"I...I don't know. I never thought about it. I generally don't think of such things." Amaro admitted, face flushing red. Ruki's mouth turned up a little at his honest straightforwardness.

"Of course you wouldn't. You never had a family of your own really so you tried not to think about things like that because it just reminds you of that right?"

"I have...never known what that is like Miko-san. This is true. But...I don't know the 'burden' of it either."

"You don't think you're missing something?" Ruki inquired plainly.

"I can't miss something I never had Miko-san. Having family, having a name. I imagine it to be a great thing, great and heavy like a ox's yolk. I can't even fathom how heavy the burden of your name, your legacy is Miko-san. But...there is a certain pride...a purpose in carrying that yolk right?" Amaro mused aloud. Ruki nodded. "I...I don't know if Moko-san's name is something I could carry Miko-san. Would it fill that void?" Amaro asked more himself than her as he struggled with the idea.

"Amaro-kun...this family, is Koshin. They would understand you probably better than I ever could. I've always seen how they treated you differently Amaro-kun. I only saw those things, I never experienced them. Wouldn't it be selfish of me to drag you all over the place? Wouldn't that be just using you?" Ruki asked. Her eyes fluttered wider when she found Amaro's hand resting over her own. She looked to find his eyes about with a strange sort of intensity that was startling.

"Ruki-san." Her heart skipped a beat. "Moko-san is a good person, perhaps even a good woman as far as my limited understanding of such things go. But Ruki-san to me is Ruki-san. Before being a Miko, before being the Hoshoku Miko. Only you saw me. Out of two people in my life, other than Hunter-san, you saw me. You did not pity, nor did you judge me. You cared, honestly, even from where you stood. You acknowledged me as a person and to me that is a debt I am only now beginning to repay. It is a debt I owe myself as much as you. I have stumbled, and I have made mistakes that have endangered myself and you. I know have caused troubles for us even with my misplaced intentions. But still, I would serve you Ruki-san. I would protect you. To me, that is more important than any fleeting pride or happiness I could obtain doing anything else."

"But Amaro-kun I'm a Miko. I'm not suppose...I can't...I wouldn't do that to-"

"Ruki-san. By anything else I also mean anyone else. Without you I would wonder if I would even still be a person. Whatever you require, I will be. When and where you need it of me. I would do this because it is important to me. My burden is not yours to carry Ruki-san. But yours is one I will gladly carry alongside you. Until my last breath. You are my bow. I am your arrow. My flight, my destination, my target, these are all your choosing. I ask only that you retrieve me when I have missed my mark." He slowly removed his hand and faced forward, putting on a serious face. "And that is all I have to say on the matter Miko-san." He concluded.

Ruki sat in stunned silence before the look on Amaro's face finally made her own crinkle up and begin to laugh. Her own laughter was contagious and soon Amaro was chuckling alongside her. Finally the distance between then had been mended. In the garden Moko looked over to see the two laughing side by side. She sighed and allowed herself a small smile as she shook her head.

"Humans...certainly are interesting." She said, sharp fangs poking over her lips for a brief moment as she turned back to the herbs she was tending to.

---

There were only a few areas of the Graveyard left to inspect, though they were twisted and ancient parts of it that even Moko didn't know. The old couple had taken Moko aside and with hurried whispers they went inside. Later Moko told them that the Koshin day was upon them and that they had to prepare. Ruki asked if they could observe the ritual, as she had never seen it actually performed. Moko said it was for good reason that it was not observed...but she would ask. At first the old couple were anxious at being found out but when Ruki insisted that she merely wished to observe and would not try to stop them or condemn them they agreed. Amaro agreed to watch outside the room, used to long hours watching for things. As night fell, the old couple, Ruki and Moko entered the room and shut it tight.

The old couple drew forth three talismans, craved monkeys that had either their eyes, ears or mouth covered. The third was given to Moko as she joined them. In a triangle the three sat and began to make prayers to Shomen-Kongo, a demonic deity that prevents the mysterious Sanshi (three corpse worms that deliver sins to heaven to be judged, possibly causing illness or shortened life spans as punishment) from leaving the body. Ruki could actually see the Sanshi inside the old couple, strange ethereal tube like creatures struggling to break free but were instead held tight. The sight was mystifying if a bit disturbing. The old couple and Moko each prayed in a position similar to their talisman. The old man had his ears covered and his wife her mouth, leaving Moko to cover her eyes. The Sanshi meanwhile seemed to suffer from all three debilitations at once and were unable to navigate at all. Ruki could feel the presence of a large entity hovering around the three. While not on the same plane, it could be felt and it's many arms seemed to dwarf the entire room. Ruki's eyes widened as the arms seemed to hesitate over Moko for a few moments before dismissing it and continuing with its manipulation of the Sanshi. Now Ruki knew that Moko was not what she seemed. If whatever entity could sense something off with her for even a moment then there was something there.

"Thero-kun." She projected.

"Hrmm? Ah, feeling better? Finding anything interesting?" He asked.

"Thero-kun I need your vision for a moment. You might be able to solve this for me."

"Now that you mention it...what are you even doing out there? Is that-"

"Koshin ritual yes, I'm observing one but there's something else here."

"Wait, is it chirping over there? Do you hear chirping? This is important."

"Your eye Thero-kun, we'll see about chirping later okay?"

"Alright, give her spin Ruki. Show me."

Ruki took off her glasses for a moment and allowed Kaithero's vision to take the place of her own. Her eyes flared with Enigma and her pupils stretched into reptilian slits as Kaithero's vision became her own. The room was suddenly alive with energy. Every line of Enigma could be traced. The entity's form could be clearly seem pushing against the fabric of the Material Plane. A great six armed demon like being hunched over the room protectively. The Sanshi could not be fully seen, struggling to escape in and out of their hosts. But what startled Ruki most was that Moko was not Moko anymore. Rather in her place and in her clothes was a what looked like a red skinned teenager with sharp ears, horns and claws. Sensing Ruki starring at 'it', the red skinned being turned around in shock and uncovered it's eyes. A unnatural purple stared in a mix of shock and horror as Ruki stared back.

"Ah...a Yokai?!"

"You big fucking genius. How the falling fuck did you know?" It snarled out.

"Ruki, that's an Amanojaku!" Kaitheros growled.

"Ruki!" Amaro shouted from behind the door. "There's something out here!"

"What is it Amaro?" Ruki said with keeping her eyes on the Amanojaku.

"It's moving too fast for me to track it, but it's making this chirping sound all over the place!" He said as something HEAVY hit the roof. A droning sound could be heard that sounding like a very, very large mole cricket.

"Ruki, if that's what I think it is you need to get the old couple out of that house NOW!"

"What? Why? What about the Amanojaku?"

"Forget the 'brat oni' for now! It's harmless as long as it's inside a human skin anyway. The real threat is right outside!"

Suddenly Amaro rushed inside the room and slammed the door.

"It's on the room Miko-san! It's trying to claw its way in! I tried shooting at it but my arrows bounced off of it!" Amaro explained as a scraping and hacking sound made debris fall from the ceiling as the ominous droning sound increased in volume.

"Ruki you need to run NOW!" Kaitheros roared in her head as Ruki shot up and grabbed the 'Moko' by the wrist.

"I don't know what you're doing here, or why but it will wait till later. We need to get out of here, is there a place we can take them safely?!"

"I'll need to tell you everything, but here is certainly the right place! I'll drop one of them, get the boy to drop the other! I don't know the way!"

"That's completely insane!" Ruki shot back at Moko as a large scythe like claw punctured through the roof.

"It's an Amanojaku Ruki! It does everything contrary to what it means! But as long as it's in a human skin it can speak normally! Disengage my eyes Ruki!" Kaitheros insisted. Ruki sighed and put her glasses back on. Suddenly the Amanojaku was Moko once more, looking nervous and disheveled.

"Please help them!" It asked desperately.

"Amaro, grab the old man, we're following Moko out of here!" Ruki ordered. Amaro didn't waste a second, putting the panicking old man across his shoulders. Moko meanwhile did the same with the old woman. Moko then popped a panel in the cottage floor and ushered them down. The group dropped down and began to follow Moko's brisk pace down the tunnel. Above them they could hear something big and noisy trashing the cottage looking for something. Suddenly the tunnel began to shake as the droning got louder again.

"Shit, I think it's following us!" Ruki exclaimed.

"It is a Shokera! It will not stop for anything! Keep moving!" Moko shouted back as they continued to run. A small hatch leading out into the forest again allowed them outside. As the droning sound got closer. Moko pulled a cord out of the side of the exit and suddenly multiple supports fell, collapsing the tunnel. Despite the droning having stopped, Moko continued to run with the old woman on her shoulders.

"Did we stop it?" Ruki asked quietly. Suddenly there the droning started up again and the sound of ripping and tearing of rock and dirt began to shake the tunnel. Ruki and Amaro looked at each other in mutual horror before taking off after Moko.

"It can burrow as well?!" Amaro yelled. As the tunnel began to blow outward in a fountain of debris and rock. A jet black carapace casting particles of dust and dirt everywhere as it emerged.

"We must keep running! It will not stop!" Moko insisted as the group continued to race through the forest. The Shokera, gave a droning screech and began chasing down it's meal.

----

Description

Name: Amanojaku

Aliases: 'Heavenly Evil Spirit', Amanosagume, Amanjaku, Jaki, 'mini Oni'

Faction: None, tend to be solitary

Status: Active

Alignment: Chaotic Hostile

Rank: 1 Kaijin

Measurements: H - That of a small boy or young adult man 2-5 ft. W - Normal

Race: Yokai

Powers:

Everything is Backwards! - Amanojaku are contrary by nature. Every action taken, every word spoken, every expression made is often the opposite of whatever situation the Yokai is in or person they are facing. Amanojaku praise the weak, envy the poor, hate the compassionate and snub the strong. Up is down, right is left and orange is blue. They fly across the land and run through the sky...upside down. Amanojaku can exert an element of this experience onto others and their immediate surroundings, flipping and reversing things into their opposites. People 'fall' into the sky. People that were deeply in love become savagely obsessive mortal enemies. An old man wakes up to find himself a little girl. An honest hardworking man becomes a pathologically lying drunk, and on it goes. While the effects of this are temporary, the Amanojaku reaps the chaos and havoc it's reversals cause in human society. Their primary method of activating this is to say something specific so that the opposite of what they said happens. Something like reverse Cassandra Truth.

Reveal Heart - Amanojaku can see the true feelings and motivations of a mortal they come across. This gives a good idea for how to tempt or torment the mortal in question. Trying to hide one's feelings before an Amanojaku is useless.

Release Id - Once an Amanojaku has seen a mortal's heart, they can provoke that mortal's darkest desires and drive them into acting on them.

Grand Theft Me - The Amanojaku's final trick is to completely skin a mortal alive, able to shuck a human's skin off like a skilled magician can remove a table cloth without removing the plates. This allows the Amanojaku to wear the skin and effectively become that person. The methodology changes from Amanojaku to Amanojaku and the more experienced ones prefer methods that let them take the entire skin off like a giant suit or allow them to enter the skin without even leaving a flayed body behind. A few of those methods are to enter from through the mouth or the anus and devour the victim alive from the inside out. Younger Amanjojaku tend to be messier and often flay the victim to pieces before patching the skin back together by plastering it to themselves or even rolling all over their victim until the skin arranges itself. While they have the victim's form, the Amanojaku sounds, smells and can successfully act like the victim as after reading the heart, the Amanojaku knows the personality of the mortal in question. This is considered the ultimate reversal as Amanojaku have for all intents and purposes become human.

Tough Little Demon - While their trickery and ability to reverse things is already dangerous, the Amanojaku is a member of the Oni family and shares in some of that savage strength. Despite often being smaller than a full grown man, they can handedly tear one to pieces in single combat. However their major attribute is endurance. Amanojaku can be considered the most physically and spiritually resilient of the Oni family. This type of Yokai can endure being repeatedly stomped on by what amounts to gods. They can survive this sort of treatment for centuries and have done so through the ages. Blunt force trauma means little to them and most basic form of sacred rites are scoffed at. They've suffered far worse and greater levels of divine retribution.

Weakness:

Forever Pariah - Amanojaku live very lonely lives. They are contrary to everything placed in front of them and always say the opposite of what they mean. This type of Yokai is in the unique position of always being apart from conventional society. While Amanojaku can read people easily, it is very difficult to read an Amanojaku and they live in a world that quite literally can't understand them. Naturally they hate it and want to change the status quo to the opposite of what it is so they can finally belong. However changing the status quo brings them into direct confrontation with Kami and other powerful spiritual beings who are quick to make an example out of them and literally dance them into the ground. Bitter, continually defeated, and hateful of their existence, Amanojaku take their hatred out on the prize possessions of the Kami: mortals. Considering most Yokai need mortals in some form, Amanojaku are rebels with literally no cause that anyone but them and the most equally hateful and deranged of Yokai would follow. As such, Amanojaku know no allies and call no one friend.

Divine Retribution - While common Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist rites have minimal effects on Amanojaku, calling on the name of major Kami, particularly Bishamonten, will 'reverse' the victim's fortunes considerably against an Amanojaku. Kami are all too happy to lend their support in subduing an Amanojaku or even slaying them outright should the need be great enough and the mortal is equipped with something sharp that channels Faith type Enigma.

I Wanna Be Like You - All things considered, being an Amanojaku is pretty horrible. It's small wonder that they would indulge in trying to stop being Yokai and pretend to be human by literally replacing one. However this carries a risk to the Amanojaku themselves. The longer they stay in a human skin, the more they assimilate into it. They become attached to being that person and even start to believe they are that person. All the while secretly being the murderous contrary demon they've always been. Another aspect of the 'skin walking' is that Amanojaku's do not have access to their Yokai powers or attributes while wearing the human skin. Someone of the faith or an Enigma sensitive can sense the Amanojaku's presence within the skin and in a panic the Amanojaku's eyes betray the Yokai soul within. Thus the Amanojaku, a demon that could stand being trampled by powerful outright divine figures for hundreds of years, can be beaten to death like a dog while impersonating a human. Thus 'smart' Amanojaku will only impersonate a human for a set period of time and frequently remove the skin when they need to do 'Yokai things'. Often using the human form to get closer to their next mark and hop personas again. For some Amanojaku though, the lure of a normal human existence is too strong to ignore.

Description: The Amanojaku in it's typical form looks like a small Oni, or the child of one. Ranging from 1-4 horns, different skin tones but often red, sharp fangs and claws, and often dressed in road worn clothing and ragged bandages. Older ones tend to look like either stumpy old men with heads that look like a pounded cinder block, their horns smashed into faint outlines, or ferociously demonic teenagers with everything to prove. Their eyes are usually quite large and gold, like a wild predatory animal's. When impersonating a human, their eyes and sometimes their teeth are the only things that can be told apart from the human the skin used to belong to.

---

Amanojaku Bio: The preparations complete, Ruki and Amaro set out toward the Graveyard. While the region had a more prestigious name at one point, over time it had grown more remote and more informal until it was simply known as a location where many old families dating back to the beginnings of Yamatai's history were buried and enshrined. Kaitheros saw the two off across the first of the claw rivers. Over the next couple days they got to the second and found an old rope bridge spanning it. They traveled in silence for quite some time, only speaking when they needed to or when Amaro needed to climb one of the trees to get their bearings. The underbrush became thicker and thicker as they began to cross out of the Miyazaki Region and into the Southern Haryu Mountains. Mount Hoshoku could be seen from time to time when they weren't utterly enveloped by the canopy high overhead. Amaro noticed that Ruki was a bit short of breath as they began to make their way to the third of the claw rivers, well within the boundaries of the forest.

"Shall we make camp for the day Miko-san?" Amaro asked.

"You know, I don't remember this taking so long before." Ruki sighed.

"Why's that?"

"Well...I was on Thero-kun's back the last time I came here. He said it would take too long to navigate on foot and there was a breeding season going on. The local predators were a bit jumpier than usual."

"To be carried by the Lord of Predation himself, being the Hoshoku Miko is truly a wondrous thing." Amaro observed absently.

"Hey! I didn't have any training then! It just looks different down here that's all." Ruki retorted.

"I would wager a lot of things look different 'down here'." Amaro replied with indifference as he scanned the brush ahead. As Ruki came up behind him he moved his arm in front of her to bar her from passing ahead. His eyes were trained in front of him.

"What's wrong?" She asked quietly.

There was a rustling in the undergrowth as something large came lumbering through the bushes. As it came into view, it's flat head and heavily armored body identified it as a Edmontonia. The spines along it's sides clipped the brush as it passed them, giving the two a lazy glance before continuing about its business. As long as they didn't trouble it, the herbivore wouldn't act aggressively and the two watched as it disappeared, trampling more undergrowth in its way.

"You can relax Amaro, the most dangerous thing you'll find out here is either a Tiger or a pack of Balaur. Single and pack hunters respectively." Ruki said in trying to get Amaro to relax. Instead she found him already picking over the trail the Edmontonia left them.

"The brush it cleared will lead us north. It's wanderings likely pass by the third river, as a major source of fresh water." Amaro explained as he began to travel up the flattened undergrowth the armored dinosaur had left in its wake. Ruki simply sighed and continued after him.

--

The third river actually had remnants of a series of old bridges spanning it. It was a wonder as to who built them as despite the weathering they were still crossable. Entering the heart of the Southern Haryu Mountains, they found out that the most notable obstacle was neither the animals or the Claw Rivers...but the mist. Blanketed in a sea of cloudbanks, the Souther Haryu were reminiscent of the most lush valleys of China and the presence of bamboo broken in half here and there indicated the presence of the Giant Panda. Amaro did find Tiger tracks here and there but navigated around what he suspected was its current hunting grounds and continued. A night of camping enhanced the mystical feel of the place as the fog refused to abate. However, it was now proving very difficult to navigate the forest. Several times both Ruki and Amaro lead each other in circles. Ruki even tried a few prayers but it was an entirely natural phenomena of the Den and After a few days of this the two were at their wits end.

"What's up with this place? It's like the farther west we try to go the denser the fog gets! We can't even figure out where we are from above the trees anymore." Ruki groaned in exasperation.

"The mist is obscuring everything. It's a wonder we haven't been ambushed by something yet." Amaro mused. "However if we keep heading west from here we should find the Graveyard."

"Oh just what we need, not only a probably haunted burial ground but one that is covered in a mist so thick you could sleep on it. Spook town here we come."

"Is there not a Kami you could ask for assistance from in our travels Miko-san? Perhaps they could provide a path."

"I tried those already. Nothing so far."

Ruki and Amaro continued west and came across a maze of bamboo. Now everything really did look the same and soon the two were hopelessly lost. Just when Ruki was about to ask Kaitheros to send them a Pteranodon, a dog, ANYTHING to get them there; They heard the sound of a small hatchet chopping wood. They went to investigate and found a young woman gathering up bamboo and charring it up over a low burning fire - creating charcoal to put in a large bag nearby. The woman heard them approach and after a minor moment of shock, smiled and dusted herself off to greet them.

"Oh! I wasn't expecting visitors. What brings you to the bamboo wilds of Haryu?"

"Do you live out here?" Amaro asked.

"Of course, I'm making charcoal for cooking. It helps purify the water, among other things." The woman said with a smile as she continued.

"Alone? I can't imagine you just eek out and existence so far from Yamatai." Ruki elaborated, somewhat suspicious.

"Oh no, no. I live with my elderly parents. They have a hard time doing everything like they used to so I help where they can't anymore. I make the charcoal out here because the smoke irritates their throats."

"That's very considerate of you...urm..." Amaro struggled to place a pronoun on the woman and she giggled before offering her name instead.

"Please, call me Moko." She said with a demure bow. Amaro, like any young man worth his blood, found the gesture tantalizing and blushed heavily before returning the gesture.

"I know it's impudent of me to impose M-Moko-san, but I humbly request a favor! We are on a quest to the Graveyard and we have been lost in this mist for days! Please if you could, guide us there!" Moko was taken aback by the Amaro's intensely earnest nature but soon began to laugh. A tinkling light laughter that seemed to make Amaro's ears turn a bright scarlet. Ruki raised an eye brow, intrigued but at the same time annoyed.

"It would be no trouble at all. I could bring you to my parents and give you a warm meal before I show you to the Graveyard. Though may I ask why?"

"I am the Hoshoku Miko, Motoko Ruki, this is my guardian Amaro." Ruki interrupted. Still unable to get the nagging sense of something off about this whole scenario.

"Ah, I imagine you'd like to cleanse the graves then? There are quite many, it would be quite an undertaking to do so without having a place to stay. It would be an honor to host the Hoshoku Miko. We don't get many guests out here." For a split second Ruki though she saw Moko's smile turn into a vice of razors but next she opened her eyes the girl was grinning with perfect human teeth...which in itself was strange. Were here parents dentists?

--

Moko lead the two to a two level cottage built into a hillside. The place looked well lived and well kept with various rural trappings such as a clothes line, wash bucket and a small garden nearby. As they entered, they were greeted with a warm and cozy atmosphere. Moko announced their presence and introduced Ruki and Amaro to her parents. As expected they were an fairly old, well into their 80's by the looks of it. The two were invited to share a meal with the small family and they likewise shared their reason for coming this far west of the Den. The father, simply dubbed 'Oji-san' knew the area they were looking for quite well. He explained that the mists were not merely a weather phenomena. The Graveyard was a very peculiar place in that it was where many things came to die in peace. All are said to be equal in death and so both predator and prey, man and animal, all alike in preparing themselves for the hereafter. While most families and people buried or entombed there were deliberately laid out for that purpose, many areas of the Graveyard were simply piles of bones crisscrossing and overlapping one another. The native creatures simple died where they pleased and when a certain revolution of spirituality swept through Asia, the fascination with sharing the end of one's journey with nature took a turn for the macabre and eventually people stopped using the place at all. Seeing it as depraved or foolish. Ruki asked why this change happened and the elderly couple explained that while many faiths of the Orient comingle and cohabitate interchangeably, there have been many attempts, especially by the mainland (China), to separate and weed out sects of spirituality that don't align with the views of those who have to manage their people. Shinto survived by simply assimilating itself into the cultural idioms of its country of origin so deeply that total removal was impossible. For other faiths, the transition was not quite as 'gentle'. The spirits of the Graveyard are a neglected lot. The couple spent much of their youth appeasing and tending most of them. But they can't safely leave their property very often and rely on their daughter extensively. Just her by herself isn't enough to properly manage all of them. So the ancestral spirits of the Graveyard are restless and they toy with anyone entering the mists. The reason they are able to safely travel about without getting hopelessly lost is because of certain measures they take to make them unoffensive to the spirits in question. The mist has a way of trapping certain humors and lingering regrets of a person, making all manner of spirit more tangible in their influence.

Moko agreed to guide them to the Graveyard proper but warned them that it is a vast expanse that has seen centuries of use by countless dying beings. Doing a proper inspection of it could take days and they would need to come back before dark. So Amaro and Ruki agreed to stay at the old couple's cottage while they investigated the place. Amaro being a fairly skilled wayfinder himself, often chatted with Moko during their trips to and from the place. Ruki didn't want to admit to something so petty but she was beginning to get a bit jealous of how well Amaro and Moko got along. Especially in light of their recent issues. Ruki however could not shake the feeling that there was something 'wrong' with the entire scenario. Moko was fairly young and her parents still in good health but clearly elderly. Sometimes if Ruki made deliberate eye contact with Moko, her eyes seemed to flicker into a clearly inhuman color. Moko would bashfully turn away in difference to the Miko but it seemed that Moko was avoiding having to directly interact with Ruki as much as possible. Focusing on Amaro instead.

Moko was good to her word however. The Graveyard was truly a sight behold. Line after line of grave markers and tombs...as well as massive piles of bones and skulls twisted and intertwined. The ever prevalent mist maintained a sacred, mysterious atmosphere. Ruki got to work in purifying and doing basic mandatory rights for those buried there. As she did so the air got lighter, if only for a short while. However, purifying the Graveyard wasn't Ruki's only purpose here. There was obviously some sort of supernatural activity happening here though try as Ruki might, deducing the actual sources of it was difficult. The area was too supernaturally charged and made pinpointing a particular source difficult. Amaro meanwhile continued to talk to Moko and even help around the cottage. The elderly couple having their fun as only the elderly can, causing a good share of laughs. Though Ruki was reminded that as a Miko, there were a lot of simple common pleasures and joys that normal people get to have that she simply couldn't. This didn't normally come up but it was during times like that Ruki remembered that her 'family' consisted of herself and a large deity like dinosaur. It was mostly these insecurities that caused Ruki to try not to blame Moko too much but the nagging sensation that something wasn't quite right continued.

Ruki wondered if Moko might actually be a shape shifter that was simply taking advantage of the old couple's hospitality, but then why would she be so eager to help her and Amaro? It was also suspicious that some calamity or suffering hadn't befallen the old couple before her and Amaro arrived. Ruki began consciously looking for signs that Moko was a Yokai. Moko wasn't a habitual drinker and acted like any young...pretty...woman would act. Ruki was about to believe she was over thinking it when they were crossing the stream nearby on another trip to the Graveyard. Moko was chatting with Amaro as per usual and suddenly slipped. Amaro reached to catch her and got pulled in instead, the two landing on top of each other. Ruki could only stand dumbfounded as this harem comedy routine played out in front of her and Amaro bashfully tried to sort Moko out and their hands touched for a moment. Before this could get any more emotionally complicated Ruki cleared her throat and told Amaro that he should probably make camp and start a fire so as not to catch their deaths out here. Amaro, eager to escape the situation eagerly went looking for firewood. Ruki and Moko stared at one another a good while...and the woman gave the Miko a wry grin.

"He's quite something isn't he Hoshoku-sama."

"Yeah...he is."

"He doesn't strike me as someone who has lots of friends back in Yamatai. Are you two...close?"

"We...I've known him since I was little."

"Ah, a childhood friend. Turned bodyguard hrm. You're worried about him aren't you."

"We've had some close calls lately...he tends to get into more trouble than you'd think."

"Those that live mostly on their own tend to do that yes. Maybe that's why you gaze at him so."

"E-excuse me?" Ruki stammered, taken aback.

"He might be oblivious but you and I are women are we not? I can see your interest as keenly as you can see mine. You live in shrine away from everyone, I live with my elderly parents as far from the closest village as one can get. We both see him as a kindred spirit of sorts...and perhaps more."

"Is there a point to this? Other than watch you gradually catch hypothermia?" Ruki retorted, ironically feeling more exposed than the soppy wet woman in front of her.

"Forgive my impudence Miko-sama, but I think you might be a bit selfish." Moko explained coyly with a slight head tilt.

"You are making doe eyes at 'my' bodyguard and I'm the selfish one? Tell me more about how you're the paragon of charity Moko." Ruki spat sarcastically, her face starting to flush up.

"Amaro-kun isn't...well liked around the villages is he. A little affection and honest familiarity and he falls all over himself. Even when he does recognize these things he is unsure and hesitant. Like he expects to be harmed or reprimanded. He is...alone. Just as you and I are alone."

"You have parents."

"And you are watched over by Kaitheros-sama himself. We are isolated from other people. My isolation is from sheer distance. Your's is from the nature of your birthright. We maintain this isolation because of duty, responsibility to those that depend on us. However, Amaro is not like that."

"What do you mean?"

"I can understand our mutual desire, but I believe yours to be harmful to him. You would chain him to you but never be able to give him what he needs, what he's lacked his whole life."

"Wha-what the hell are you imp-"

"Have you truly been wandering around all this time as the Hoshoku Miko and not recognized what that means?! As his bodyguard he will be the closest to you...but never close enough. That isn't right for him...or you. I can give him what you can't."

"I-I don't even have time to think about stuff like that right now!" Ruki insisted. "There's nothing wrong with it anyway! Compared to past Hoshoku Miko it's...it's normal! Other than Thero-kun he's the only one I trust to stand by me! H-how dare you!" Ruki seethed in a mix of anger and other conflicting emotions.

"I again apologize for my impudence Miko-sama, but be mindful of who and what you are. Can you truly say you can give Amaro-kun what he needs and perform your duties as the Hoshoku Miko? How many people do you think depend on you? Our liaison with the spirits and with the Lord of Predation himself who ensures this sanctuary for us is kept intact. You would be so willing to pass on your responsibilities to another of your line to satisfy your own heart?"

"And what of it?!" Ruki snapped. "What could you possibly know of what he's been through, his struggles or mine for that matter?! You live all the way out here and you expect to empathize with his troubles?! I saw it more than once growing up! They almost never treat him fairly! When I made him my bodyguard he actually started getting respect! How can they say he doesn't belong now?! What are you compared to that?!"

"Because we are Koshin." Moko replied unflinching. Ruki stood agape, remembering the history of that particular faith.

"Koshin...then, that's why. So you and your parents..."

"We are very well aware of what we are...and welcome you regardless Miko-sama. We perhaps more than any other in all the East know what persecution for one's beliefs is. What being a pariah is. How 'primitive' we look to outsiders. Even the Ainu think we are fairly base. Your faith makes small allowances in our memory but little more than that. While our name does not carry the prestige yours does, it does not carry the weight of its shackles either. He would be among those like himself, those that survive independently but proudly."

"Still...that doesn't mean-"

"Think carefully about your decisions Miko-sama. They effect far more than just you. Think about what's truly best for him. That is all I will say...for even now I have said too much. However, that is how important I feel this is." Moko concluded. Ruki and Moko held that pensive tension between them until Amaro padded back to them.

"Moko-san, I have lit a fire for us! We can dry our clothes...now...is something the wrong?" Amaro asked as he looked between the two girls. Moko was the first to break eye contact and turn to Amaro.

"No Amaro-Kun. We were merely discussing details of our next foray into the Graveyard. It's at fairly treacherous part. Now where is this fire? Did you remember gather enough dry kindling?"

"Ah-of course Moko-san. Please dry yourself first."

As the two headed toward the campfire, continuing their banter Ruki stood in place like a stone. she stared at the waters of the stream as small rivers of her own spilled silently down her cheeks.

"I feel something is amiss Ruki...are you alright?"

"..."

"Ruki are you there?"

"I-I'm fine Thero-kun. We've made progress on the Graveyward purification. We're staying at an old couple's and their daughters cottage as a base camp between trips."

"All the way out there? Wait...no it couldn't be them. That was almost a century ago... Bah, it's always the little things. I suppose it's good fortune that there is a tiny sliver of civilization out there." Kaitheros mused.

"Yeah...real fortunate."

"Are you sure you're alright...did you two have a fight again or something?"

"No, nothing like that. I'm just...tired, that's all. I'll be fine Thero-kun." Ruki projected passively.

"...Well alright. Let me know if you find a Yokai. Burial grounds of any sort are prime locations for Yokai activity. You never know what you'll find lurking among the markers." Kaitheros stated somewhat teasingly.

"..."

"You want to talk about it?"

"Not...not right now. I'll be fine Thero-kun...really." Her tone getting a little lighter.

"If you say so. I'll be here if you change your mind kid." The Lord of Predation concluded.

Ruki looked out over the stream and saw the glow of the fire. Amaro and Moko were chatting around it, trading stories and laughing together. Ruki's stomach felt like a ton of bricks...but she trudged toward the fire as she heard Amaro called out for her. She put on a smile as she came to sit next to it.

---

After coming back from the purification trip, Ruki glumly sat on the porch of the cottage, staring off into space. Amaro finishing carrying more firewood for the old couple and spotted the Miko. Somewhat concerned, he walked up to her. He realized how out of it she was when she didn't even notice him approach.

"May I sit next to you Miko-san?" Amaro asked. Ruki was momentarily surprised before her face fell again and she nodded silently. The two sat quietly for a time.

"Amaro-kun." Ruki suddenly spoke.

"Yes Miko-san?"

"What do you think of Moko?" She asked. Amaro was surprised by the question out of the blue but mulled it over a bit.

"I...I think Moko-san is a kind person. A hard worker, clearly loves her parents and is dutiful and caring for them. She is good natured, sensible but takes small joy in day to day things. I'm impressed that she knows this strange area so well. I wonder what sorts of rites the family practices to keep the mist from effecting them..." He trailed on.

"Could you live the rest of your life with someone like her?" Ruki asked somberly.

"Wha-what? What do you mean Miko-san?" Amaro spluttered, unsure of even how to answer, his eyes growing wild for a moment as he stared at Ruki who looked at him with an expression of pure melancholy.

"Could she make you 'happy' Amaro-kun. That's what I mean."

"I...I don't know. I never thought about it. I generally don't think of such things." Amaro admitted, face flushing red. Ruki's mouth turned up a little at his honest straightforwardness.

"Of course you wouldn't. You never had a family of your own really so you tried not to think about things like that because it just reminds you of that right?"

"I have...never known what that is like Miko-san. This is true. But...I don't know the 'burden' of it either."

"You don't think you're missing something?" Ruki inquired plainly.

"I can't miss something I never had Miko-san. Having family, having a name. I imagine it to be a great thing, great and heavy like a ox's yolk. I can't even fathom how heavy the burden of your name, your legacy is Miko-san. But...there is a certain pride...a purpose in carrying that yolk right?" Amaro mused aloud. Ruki nodded. "I...I don't know if Moko-san's name is something I could carry Miko-san. Would it fill that void?" Amaro asked more himself than her as he struggled with the idea.

"Amaro-kun...this family, is Koshin. They would understand you probably better than I ever could. I've always seen how they treated you differently Amaro-kun. I only saw those things, I never experienced them. Wouldn't it be selfish of me to drag you all over the place? Wouldn't that be just using you?" Ruki asked. Her eyes fluttered wider when she found Amaro's hand resting over her own. She looked to find his eyes about with a strange sort of intensity that was startling.

"Ruki-san." Her heart skipped a beat. "Moko-san is a good person, perhaps even a good woman as far as my limited understanding of such things go. But Ruki-san to me is Ruki-san. Before being a Miko, before being the Hoshoku Miko. Only you saw me. Out of two people in my life, other than Hunter-san, you saw me. You did not pity, nor did you judge me. You cared, honestly, even from where you stood. You acknowledged me as a person and to me that is a debt I am only now beginning to repay. It is a debt I owe myself as much as you. I have stumbled, and I have made mistakes that have endangered myself and you. I know have caused troubles for us even with my misplaced intentions. But still, I would serve you Ruki-san. I would protect you. To me, that is more important than any fleeting pride or happiness I could obtain doing anything else."

"But Amaro-kun I'm a Miko. I'm not suppose...I can't...I wouldn't do that to-"

"Ruki-san. By anything else I also mean anyone else. Without you I would wonder if I would even still be a person. Whatever you require, I will be. When and where you need it of me. I would do this because it is important to me. My burden is not yours to carry Ruki-san. But yours is one I will gladly carry alongside you. Until my last breath. You are my bow. I am your arrow. My flight, my destination, my target, these are all your choosing. I ask only that you retrieve me when I have missed my mark." He slowly removed his hand and faced forward, putting on a serious face. "And that is all I have to say on the matter Miko-san." He concluded.

Ruki sat in stunned silence before the look on Amaro's face finally made her own crinkle up and begin to laugh. Her own laughter was contagious and soon Amaro was chuckling alongside her. Finally the distance between then had been mended. In the garden Moko looked over to see the two laughing side by side. She sighed and allowed herself a small smile as she shook her head.

"Humans...certainly are interesting." She said, sharp fangs poking over her lips for a brief moment as she turned back to the herbs she was tending to.

---

There were only a few areas of the Graveyard left to inspect, though they were twisted and ancient parts of it that even Moko didn't know. The old couple had taken Moko aside and with hurried whispers they went inside. Later Moko told them that the Koshin day was upon them and that they had to prepare. Ruki asked if they could observe the ritual, as she had never seen it actually performed. Moko said it was for good reason that it was not observed...but she would ask. At first the old couple were anxious at being found out but when Ruki insisted that she merely wished to observe and would not try to stop them or condemn them they agreed. Amaro agreed to watch outside the room, used to long hours watching for things. As night fell, the old couple, Ruki and Moko entered the room and shut it tight.

The old couple drew forth three talismans, craved monkeys that had either their eyes, ears or mouth covered. The third was given to Moko as she joined them. In a triangle the three sat and began to make prayers to Shomen-Kongo, a demonic deity that prevents the mysterious Sanshi (three corpse worms that deliver sins to heaven to be judged, possibly causing illness or shortened life spans as punishment) from leaving the body. Ruki could actually see the Sanshi inside the old couple, strange ethereal tube like creatures struggling to break free but were instead held tight. The sight was mystifying if a bit disturbing. The old couple and Moko each prayed in a position similar to their talisman. The old man had his ears covered and his wife her mouth, leaving Moko to cover her eyes. The Sanshi meanwhile seemed to suffer from all three debilitations at once and were unable to navigate at all. Ruki could feel the presence of a large entity hovering around the three. While not on the same plane, it could be felt and it's many arms seemed to dwarf the entire room. Ruki's eyes widened as the arms seemed to hesitate over Moko for a few moments before dismissing it and continuing with its manipulation of the Sanshi. Now Ruki knew that Moko was not what she seemed. If whatever entity could sense something off with her for even a moment then there was something there.

"Thero-kun." She projected.

"Hrmm? Ah, feeling better? Finding anything interesting?" He asked.

"Thero-kun I need your vision for a moment. You might be able to solve this for me."

"Now that you mention it...what are you even doing out there? Is that-"

"Koshin ritual yes, I'm observing one but there's something else here."

"Wait, is it chirping over there? Do you hear chirping? This is important."

"Your eye Thero-kun, we'll see about chirping later okay?"

"Alright, give her spin Ruki. Show me."

Ruki took off her glasses for a moment and allowed Kaithero's vision to take the place of her own. Her eyes flared with Enigma and her pupils stretched into reptilian slits as Kaithero's vision became her own. The room was suddenly alive with energy. Every line of Enigma could be traced. The entity's form could be clearly seem pushing against the fabric of the Material Plane. A great six armed demon like being hunched over the room protectively. The Sanshi could not be fully seen, struggling to escape in and out of their hosts. But what startled Ruki most was that Moko was not Moko anymore. Rather in her place and in her clothes was a what looked like a red skinned teenager with sharp ears, horns and claws. Sensing Ruki starring at 'it', the red skinned being turned around in shock and uncovered it's eyes. A unnatural purple stared in a mix of shock and horror as Ruki stared back.

"Ah...a Yokai?!"

"You big fucking genius. How the falling fuck did you know?" It snarled out.

"Ruki, that's an Amanojaku!" Kaitheros growled.

"Ruki!" Amaro shouted from behind the door. "There's something out here!"

"What is it Amaro?" Ruki said with keeping her eyes on the Amanojaku.

"It's moving too fast for me to track it, but it's making this chirping sound all over the place!" He said as something HEAVY hit the roof. A droning sound could be heard that sounding like a very, very large mole cricket.

"Ruki, if that's what I think it is you need to get the old couple out of that house NOW!"

"What? Why? What about the Amanojaku?"

"Forget the 'brat oni' for now! It's harmless as long as it's inside a human skin anyway. The real threat is right outside!"

Suddenly Amaro rushed inside the room and slammed the door.

"It's on the room Miko-san! It's trying to claw its way in! I tried shooting at it but my arrows bounced off of it!" Amaro explained as a scraping and hacking sound made debris fall from the ceiling as the ominous droning sound increased in volume.

"Ruki you need to run NOW!" Kaitheros roared in her head as Ruki shot up and grabbed the 'Moko' by the wrist.

"I don't know what you're doing here, or why but it will wait till later. We need to get out of here, is there a place we can take them safely?!"

"I'll need to tell you everything, but here is certainly the right place! I'll drop one of them, get the boy to drop the other! I don't know the way!"

"That's completely insane!" Ruki shot back at Moko as a large scythe like claw punctured through the roof.

"It's an Amanojaku Ruki! It does everything contrary to what it means! But as long as it's in a human skin it can speak normally! Disengage my eyes Ruki!" Kaitheros insisted. Ruki sighed and put her glasses back on. Suddenly the Amanojaku was Moko once more, looking nervous and disheveled.

"Please help them!" It asked desperately.

"Amaro, grab the old man, we're following Moko out of here!" Ruki ordered. Amaro didn't waste a second, putting the panicking old man across his shoulders. Moko meanwhile did the same with the old woman. Moko then popped a panel in the cottage floor and ushered them down. The group dropped down and began to follow Moko's brisk pace down the tunnel. Above them they could hear something big and noisy trashing the cottage looking for something. Suddenly the tunnel began to shake as the droning got louder again.

"Shit, I think it's following us!" Ruki exclaimed.

"It is a Shokera! It will not stop for anything! Keep moving!" Moko shouted back as they continued to run. A small hatch leading out into the forest again allowed them outside. As the droning sound got closer. Moko pulled a cord out of the side of the exit and suddenly multiple supports fell, collapsing the tunnel. Despite the droning having stopped, Moko continued to run with the old woman on her shoulders.

"Did we stop it?" Ruki asked quietly. Suddenly there the droning started up again and the sound of ripping and tearing of rock and dirt began to shake the tunnel. Ruki and Amaro looked at each other in mutual horror before taking off after Moko.

"It can burrow as well?!" Amaro yelled. As the tunnel began to blow outward in a fountain of debris and rock. A jet black carapace casting particles of dust and dirt everywhere as it emerged.

"We must keep running! It will not stop!" Moko insisted as the group continued to race through the forest. The Shokera, gave a droning screech and began chasing down it's meal.

----