Chapter 5

"Oh!" Ochiba clapped her hands. "Your hair is beautiful," she exclaimed, her voice reminiscent of a choir of angels. "I have tons of wigs, but the way I styled this makes it even more special." Her grin was like the radiant sun breaking through the clouds. "Again, my name is Ochiba Miyuki. I own this wonderful establishment."

"Thank you so much," he replied, his words like a melodious hymn. "My, my, what a handsome monk," Ochiba remarked, her eyes sparkling like stars in the night sky. "Tell me, which girl is your lovely wife?"

The mention of marriage caused a stir among us. Sango and Kagome's synchronized reaction startled me. I instinctively pulled my left sleeve closer to my shoulder. "Are you married miroku?" I jabbed for answers. I inquired, desperate for clarity. "What!" he exclaimed. "No. At the moment. I'm single-by choice might I add."

Sango glimpses at me. I glance at her. "Do you have a boyfriend?" she asks. "Boyfriend?" A boyfriend is like male friend. Sometimes you can fall in love with such people. I remember Lucas Hoh. His grandmother came straight from China and her daughter married a Japanese businessman. He told his wife to kick his mother out the house and put her into a nursing home. They never did. 

She was shot in her sleep. I never saw Lucas again. The foster care took care of him. 

I used to wonder about foster care. Could I visit him? Could I sleep over? It made me cry thinking he was gone. I recall when we played outside in Chicago, he was scared of butterflies. We saw a yellow butterfly on a tree and just so happen to smack him in the face. He said he got bit.

"Thank you Ochiba for the dress." I pull the kimono to the side. As I thanked Ochiba for the dress, a sense of gratitude washed over me like a gentle breeze. "I'm... new to the country," I confessed, "Ochiba," open eyes were large, "You mean Ayoola."

"Oh whatever her name is..." Kagome slumped over, pouting. "We don't know her real name." she counts on her fingers. "There's M, N, O, and J." she swats her hand across her face. "At least that's my letters. You can ask Yewande. He's her husband."

"Excuse me." said little Shippo. "Why is the village poor?"

"Demons, we had a tea house."

"What's wrong with the tea?" asked Miroku.

"You can ask Lady Nishina Hideyuki. We used to make Ravu~ā Tea. We had a contest and this pig demon made Jorogumo's Juice."

"What's Jorogumo's Juice?" asked Shippo.

"A liquor." she said. "2 oz dark rum, 4 oz of sake, 1/2 oz lime juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, and a tablespoon of honey." she laid her hand against her cheek.

"That's a lot of sake..." said Sango. "I think it's the dark rum. Sake isn't that strong," said Ochiba. Inuyasha's pouty remark only added to the surreal atmosphere, "You don't say?"

With a lingering sense of unease, we bid farewell to Ochiba Miyuki and her intriguing establishment, our minds swirling with thoughts of demons and dark concoctions. As we stepped back out into the village, the air felt heavy with anticipation, as if the very fabric of reality was tinged with uncertainty.

"We should find this Yewande," I suggested, my voice barely above a whisper. "Perhaps he can shed some light on the village's plight."

"That's a good idea," Miroku agreed, his tone serious as he surveyed our surroundings. "We need to understand what we're dealing with here."

With determination we set off in search of Yewande, guided by the faint hope that he might provide us with answers. As we walked, the conversation turned back to Jorogumo's Juice, its mysterious ingredients lingering in our minds like a haunting melody. "That's a lot of sake," Sango remarked, her voice tinged with concern. Inuyasha's pouty remark only added to the surreal atmosphere, his skepticism mirroring our own apprehension. "You don't say?" he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm.

After conversing with several villagers, each one offering cryptic hints and veiled warnings, we finally stumbled upon a small hut nestled at the edge of the village. It was humble and weather-beaten, yet there was an air of tranquility about it that stood in stark contrast to the rest of Gaimu.

"This must be it," Sango murmured, her voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

Approaching the hut with cautious steps, we knocked on the door, the sound echoing through the stillness of the surrounding forest. Moments passed, and just as we began to wonder if anyone was home, the door creaked open, revealing a figure standing in the dim light of the interior.

"Yewande?" I ventured, my voice trembling slightly with uncertainty.

The man who stood before us was tall and lean, with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of ages. He regarded us with a calm demeanor, his expression unreadable as he took in our ragtag group.

"I am he," he replied, his voice soft yet commanding. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

"We seek answers," Miroku spoke up, his tone earnest as he stepped forward. "We've heard whispers of demons and dark forces at work in this village. We need to understand what's happening here."

Yewande's gaze lingered on each of us in turn, as if weighing our intentions with unseen scales. Finally, he nodded, gesturing for us to enter his home.

"Come," he said simply. "We have much to discuss."

As we stepped into the dimly lit interior of Yewande's hut, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation mingled with hope. Whatever secrets lay hidden within these walls, I knew that uncovering them would be the key to unraveling the mysteries of Gaimu village.

After conversing with several villagers, each one offering cryptic hints and veiled warnings, we finally stumbled upon a small hut nestled at the edge of the village. It was humble and weather-beaten, yet there was an air of tranquility about it that stood in stark contrast to the rest of Gaimu.

"This must be it," Sango murmured, her voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

Approaching the hut with cautious steps, we knocked on the door, the sound echoing through the stillness of the surrounding forest. Moments passed, and just as we began to wonder if anyone was home, the door creaked open, revealing a figure standing in the dim light of the interior.

"Yewande?" I ventured, my voice trembling slightly with uncertainty.

The man who stood before us was tall and lean, with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of ages. He regarded us with a calm demeanor, his expression unreadable as he took in our ragtag group.

"I am he," he replied, his voice soft yet commanding. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

"We seek answers," Miroku spoke up, his tone earnest as he stepped forward. "We've heard whispers of demons and dark forces at work in this village. We need to understand what's happening here."

Yewande's gaze lingered on each of us in turn, as if weighing our intentions with unseen scales. Finally, he nodded, gesturing for us to enter his home.

"Come," he said simply. "We have much to discuss."

As we stepped into the dimly lit interior of Yewande's hut, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation mingled with hope. It came to mind, I wave my hand dramatically, "Do you know Miko?

"You are black?"

Yewande was definitely African. His afro was dusty and the hut was a mess. There blood on the wall and a smeared blood stain on the floor. He looks at Kagome. "Your's?" he points at her. I thought he meant gay, "No, I frail my hands in front of him. "Do you know Miko?"

"You mean Ochiba?"

"What!?" Kagome falls back on her heels. "We just left Ochiba."

Inuyasha glances at Kagome. He looks at Yewande, "Your her husband, right?"

"Divorced," he says. "Ochiba has many names. Or..." he looks at the ceiling. "No, I'm thinking of Hidehiko. You need someone named Miyuki." he put his head down in thought. "Ochiba Miyuki may be her daughter. Ochiba Hidehiko died because of Ochiba Miyuki cause she's a daughter of Ketsueki no Ayashii Te."

I'm taken aback. "The Ketsueki no Ayashii Te?" my eyes flutter. "Yes. Ketsueki no Ayashii Te was priestess to the Sōsakku. She gave them blood and bodies. Then they met a jiangshi. That's the lost heir to the village." he stated bluntly.

"What is the name of the name of psychic?" prodded Shippo. "We'll be here all day.

"What? Psychic?" Yawande says. His eyes flutter, "My name is Kawakami Miyuki. I run the sake shop in this town. We make Akawain jigoku."

"What!" shouts Shippo.

"Where is the psychic Miko!" yells Sango, she gets her knife ready. "Enough!" Inuyasha gets his Tessaiga in position. 

"Where is Miko!" I yell. "We are looking for Miko!"

"Can I help you some fine Gaimu tea. Satōdzuke Ale is our specialty."

"Where is Miko!" Inuyasha screams.

[Yewande > lvl 5 > HP: 1500]

Abilities: 

[For this advanced battle, you have to look out for Chi. Everyone has the power to hold five balls of chi for abilities. Yewande is a Jikinki with five balls of chi, but he takes up 2 for every attack. Except one.]

"Wind scar!" Inuyasha released a powerful blow but Wande put his forearm across his face. [-40] I wonder if I can use that red barrier again. As I look at my hands. I see them bleeding.

The butterfly, I hear. Is that... grandma?

I stare in composed panic as Yewande 's once-familiar features deform and twist into a horrific shape. His skin turns a horrible color, coated with mildew and rot, and his limbs grow into twisted appendages. With each step, my breath stops in my throat, and a cold sweat spreads across my shaking body. My humility makes me immobilized, unable to fathom the tragedy before my eyes. The crimson glare in Yewande eyes sends shivers down my spine, and primordial horror grips my whole being. I want to go, to escape this nightmare, but my feet are fixed to the ground as if kept in place by invisible shackles.

Inuyasha's wind scar left the hunt with streaks. I see water under the house and bugs drowning.

The butterfly?

"You are one of us!" he raises his hand up in praise. "Moonlight Nectar!" A bottle of liqour materializes. He drinks from the bottle. A blue light glows and my vision can see it's a barrier like a butterfly's wings.

Kagome readies her arrow and as it flies by, the barrier blocks it. I watch the arrow break and fall to the ground. "I can see a barrier..." I mumble. "Let me give it a try." Miroku goes into his robe. He throws a piece of paper at Yewande and a burst of energy cracks the butterfly. Sango throws the Hiraikostu and it is sent back by the partially broken barrier.

I watch helplessly. My bleeding hands turn into heads and wrap around me. 

Why do I act?

I stare at Yewande, "Bloodbath Surge!" my eyes glow and I sprint towards him with my fist balled up. The barrier breaks, he's breathing heavy. "Damn! Damn!" he shakes his head. "Brewmaster's Brew!" a brown bottle materializes.

[Yewande's Chi is full]