Chapter 98: Shopping

I sat by the water's edge for the rest of the night, my gaze drifting over the dark surface, mind caught somewhere between the calm reality around me and the distorted remnants of the nightmare. It was only when dawn broke that I finally heard Retsu's approach. She moved quietly but with purpose, carrying a still-sleeping Eri in her arms.

"Are you alright, Ryou?" she asked gently, her voice soft in the morning light.

I turned to her and managed a small smile, though my mind was still thick with the haunting images from the night before. "Yeah, just had some things on my mind last night."

Retsu regarded me with a searching look, tilting her head as if reading between the lines of my answer. "What are your plans for today? Will you be leaving again?"

I stretched, reaching for Honjo Masamune, and gave her a reassuring nod. "We're heading to the Youkai festival."

Her eyebrows raised slightly in curiosity as we started back toward the place we'd camped. She spoke while gathering her things. "I've heard rumors about something called the Hyakki Yagyō. Is that what you're talking about?"

"Yeah, it's also known as the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons." As we moved back through the trees heading back home, I continued, "From what I've read, Nurarihyon will lead the youkai through Japan's streets on summer nights. Anyone who crosses paths with the parade is said to perish or be spirited away… although I doubt it's exactly like the legends say."

She hummed thoughtfully, still keeping pace with me. "Do you have any idea how powerful Nurarihyon might be? In case he becomes a problem?"

I shrugged. "I don't know much about him beyond the myths. Most likely though, he's a leader of a faction ."

Satisfied for the moment, Retsu fell into silence as we navigated the dense forest. But as I scanned the path ahead, I noticed a slight, sickening change. The trees seemed to shift, their shapes warping under a familiar haze. 'Again?' I steadied myself, forcing my mind to focus. 'It's not real.'

Even if I was aware it didn't matter, the hallucination started trickling into my senses. I stepped onto a thick branch only to find it morphing under my feet, twisting into a skull, half-rotted, with glistening, vacant eye sockets. What once were green leaves now appeared as hanging organs, dripping slowly from dismembered limbs that dangled where the branches had been. A cold sweat broke out along my neck, and I blinked hard, grounding myself.

"Are you okay, Ryou?" Retsu's voice, calm but concerned, pulled me from the twisted vision.

Turning to her I nearly flinched, I saw her as a mangled figure, face half-torn, a skeletal Eri cradled in her arms. I forced a strained smile. "Peachy." I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "We're almost back home."

In the corner of my eye, Retsu's expression changed slightly which caused a part of her hanging flesh to fall on the skeleton in her arms. "About the Hyakki Yagyō then" she continued, as if unaffected. "When were you thinking we should go?"

"Tonight, most likely." My voice sounded more neutral, though my heart was still racing. "It'll give us time to get some new clothes."

I heard her distorted hum in response as we continued our silent path through the forest, her presence both haunting and calming.

~Scene Change~

Once Retsu, Eri and I arrived back at the house, the hallucination faded, vanishing as if it had never existed. I felt a small wave of relief as I prepared for us to head out again to shop for festival clothing.

"Eri." I called out, catching her attention as she turned away from Honjo Masamune with those big, sparkling red eyes to me. Summoning Muramasa, I watched her eyes widen in wonder. "This one's better, right?" I said with a smirk.

Sliding down from the chair and onto the floor, I held Muramasa out and Eri crawled over, her tiny hands reaching for the sheathed blade. I snorted as I felt Muramasa's curse subtly pulse, trying to resist, but it was held in check by my touch. 'Knock it off, Muramasa.' The blade's intensity flared briefly, which reminded me of my regained access to Bloodlust, but I ignored the urge to test it. Eri oblivious, drooled over the sword, fascinated.

A voice interrupted. "I thought I told you to keep weapons away from Eri?"

I looked up from where I was sitting on the floor to see Retsu standing there in a short, purple sundress and a wide-brimmed summer hat. She tilted her head as she looked down at me, eyebrow raised.

"Black sweatpants and a white shirt?" she noted, unimpressed.

I unsummoned Muramasa to Eri's clear disappointment and picked her up as I stood. Now that I was back to my usual appearance, I towered over Retsu's 5'2 frame. Shrugging as I put Eri on my shoulder, I took the bags Retsu held out.

"We're going shopping, not a modeling studio." I said.

She didn't look impressed. She glanced at Eri, who was wearing one of my shirts cinched around the waist with a piece of rope, then back at me with a look that made me break a sweat.

"Why is she dressed in one of your shirts with a rope around her waist?"

I raised a hand defensively as Eri giggled. "I couldn't find any clean clothes for her."

Retsu's stare intensified. "Did you check the bags?"

"Yeah." I said, a little too quickly. "Even the green one with my clothes in it."

Her head tilted to the other side. "So, if I go check myself I won't find any?"

I twitched, which she immediately noticed. Holding out her arms, she gestured for Eri. I handed her over, feeling a bit sheepish.

"Go get proper clothes for her, and then we'll go," she said.

I sighed, nodding as I went back inside to find something suitable for Eri.

~Scene Change~

Admittedly, I hadn't spent much time in the heart of Tottori, and the only time I'd gone shopping was for Eri's baby necessities back in Hokkaido. Frowning slightly as Retsu and I stepped out of Koyama Station, I let a thought linger. 'Am I a bad father?' Shaking my head, I hailed a taxi, countering my doubt. 'No, I'm still in her life.'

Once a taxi arrived, we climbed in, giving directions to a store specializing in festive kimonos. Glancing over, I noticed Eri watching the passing buildings and cars, her eyes wide with wonder, while Retsu observed her with a gentle smile. 'Yeah.' I thought. 'That's what matters.'

We arrived at the shop shortly after and entered the small, quaint store. Traditional clothes of all kinds hung around us. "Nifty." I muttered, looking around. Retsu gave a nod, and I turned to her. "Retsu, you and Eri can look around on your own. I'll pick something out by myself."

She raised an eyebrow. "It'll be a surprise for tonight." I explained. After a moment's pause, she nodded and walked off with Eri in her arms.

I headed to the section with men's kimonos, glancing through them. Some were entirely white. 'Not those.' Some were completely black. 'Probably those.' Just as I reached for a set, my fingers were smacked by a wooden ruler. 'If one more person hits me with a stick...' I thought, turning to face the culprit.

A wrinkled old lady with thinning white hair looked up at me, ruler still raised. Her voice was raspy. "Don't touch!"

I narrowed my eyes. "Can I buy this kimono or not?"

"They can be bought." I reached out again, only for her to snap, "But not by you!"

'If I'd brought Honjo Masamune, you'd be a stain on the floor right now.' I thought with a sigh. "Why can't I buy this, uh...?"

She gave a snort that showed off some questionable grey nose hairs. "Sayako Jukujo!" She raised the ruler again, and I resisted the urge to grab it and snap it in half. "This'll be wasted on you!"

Surprised, I raised an eyebrow, but she turned briskly, motioning for me to follow. "Come! I saw the woman and child with you. I won't let a customer shame their wife!"

A little stunned by her quick pace, I followed her to the back of the store, where she demanded. "When do you need it?"

She stood me on a platform and began measuring me. I was still processing when she suddenly smacked the back of my head. "I said, when do you need it?"

"Before I leave the store." I muttered, rubbing my head.

"Fine! Strip to your underwear!" she barked.

I let out a sigh, stepping off the platform. "Look, thanks for your concern, but I'd rather just buy one now instead of getting fitted." I started to walk away, but her voice stopped me cold.

"Do you love her?"

I froze, frowning. "What?"

"Do you love her?!" she repeated, eyeing me as though she could see through me. 'Love Retsu?' I turned back toward her, answering evenly. "Whether I do or not is none of your business."

She sighed, her face softened, but her tone stayed firm. "Oh, but it is! If she's buying a kimono here, everyone will know."

I groaned and turned around, just in time for her to continue. "Everyone knows my kimonos! When people see some bum with a woman of that beauty, they'll question her choice."

My eye twitched at the thought. 'They'd either have a death wish or find themselves talking to a wall.'

Jukujo snorted knowingly. "You think she'll brush them off, that it won't bother her. But will she? Can you be sure she won't wonder why her husband dresses in second-rate clothing while she wears the finest?"

Her words struck a nerve. Letting out a louder groan, I moved back to where she stood, which earned me a toothless, triumphant smile. "Good! Now, strip!"

'This better be worth it.' I thought, reluctantly removing my clothes and bracing myself for what was sure to be an uncomfortable fitting process.

After a lot of prodding and poking, she told me to sit in a nearby chair, then briskly walked off to another part of the shop. I sighed, rubbing my eyes. 'Wonder if Retsu and Eri are having a better time.' After a few minutes, I heard footsteps approaching and saw the old lady returning with a bundle of clothing.

"Try this on!" she barked. Still in my underwear, I got up and put on the outfit. Facing a nearby mirror, I saw the face I was used to, looking at the clothes on me. A knee length dark grey haori with white flowers on the right arm, which sat atop over a plain white almost cream-colored kimono, all tied together with a black obi. Looking down, I noticed matching hakama pants, the same shade as the haori, though without any floral patterns.

"And try the geta on!" She shoved the wooden sandals into my hands, which I slipped on. Tilting my head, I examined the ensemble, then looked back at her. "Isn't this a bit much?"

She smacked my back, only causing my eye to twitch in annoyance. "Your wife and baby will be dressed better than you, so you need to put in the effort to scare off any would-be flirters!"

I raised an eyebrow as she muttered. "Not that you'll need much help in the scare department, considering that face of yours."

I touched the markings on my forehead and chin, then asked/ "Do you know what they mean?"

She stayed silent for a moment before responding flatly. "You had them tattooed on your face without knowing what they meant?"

I shrugged and started taking off the clothing. She sighed and began explaining. "In the Edo Period, certain markings were given depending on the crime committed. For example, thieves were marked on the arm, and murderers were marked on the forehead." She packed the clothes into a box as I changed back into my normal outfit. "As for the chin tattoo, I'm not entirely certain, but it might signify sin or greed."

She handed me the box, and I frowned slightly. 'Sin and murder, huh?' With a sigh, we returned to the front of the store, where I spotted Retsu waiting at the entrance. I moved to pay, but the old woman waved me off.

"No need! Off you go now!"

Shrugging, I walked over to Retsu and Eri. Retsu spoke first. "One of the store ladies helped me pick out a kimono. Did you have help too?"

I hummed and nodded as we stepped out of the store, Retsu following. "Yeah. Now that that's settled, let's grab a bite to eat and find a hotel for the night."

She gave a soft hum and handed me her bag, which contained a few boxes. "No peeking, Ryou."