Chapter 7: Goodbyes are hard, even to bears...

Morning broke gently over the forest, casting warm rays of sunlight through the leaves. The air was crisp and fresh, a perfect morning to wrap up our weird little camping trip. The chaos from the night before had finally settled, and everyone was busy packing up. Well, except for Bob. He just lounged on his back, snoring loudly enough to scare off any remaining wildlife. Typical Bob.

Kurumi and Sora were getting ready to leave, and Hiyori and I decided to head back to Kyoto with them. Soseki, of course, was staying behind. The forest was his home, and he'd sooner fight another demon beast than leave his secluded little paradise. Fukuhara was going back to his house in the mountains to do whatever it was mountain men did—probably meditate under a waterfall or something equally serious. And Koyasu, the ghostly lush, decided to tag along with us back to Kyoto. He wasn't exactly keen on being homeless, but his drinking habits didn't leave him many options. Besides, he was too much of a mess to live alone.

Kurumi was trying to fit a ridiculously oversized tent into a bag half its size, mumbling about how things always seemed to expand after you unpacked them. Sora stood off to the side, looking at us with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.

"Ready to go?" Hiyori asked, her tails swishing behind her as she adjusted her bag.

Kurumi grinned. "Yep! Can't wait to see this 'village' of yours, Kyoto, was it?"

I coughed, suppressing a laugh. "Yeah, Kyoto. It's, uh, a bit bigger than a village, but I'm sure you'll love it."

"Big or small, I'm sure it'll be charming!" Kurumi said, utterly oblivious.

Sora looked at her, then at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're messing with her, aren't you?"

"Who, me?" I said, feigning innocence. "I would never."

Fukuhara, meanwhile, was saying his goodbyes. "You guys take care," he said, slinging his sword over his shoulder. "Try not to summon any more demons without me."

"Can't make any promises," I replied with a grin.

Soseki, standing by a tree with his usual disinterested expression, nodded slightly. "Safe travels. And next time, leave me out of your pranks."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I said, giving him a mock salute.

But there was still one last goodbye that I wasn't ready for. I turned and saw Bob, our trusty, overweight bear, still sprawled out on the ground, oblivious to everything. I took a deep breath, my chest tightening as I walked over to him.

"Hey, Bob," I said softly, kneeling down beside him. He opened one eye lazily, his massive frame shifting slightly. "I, uh… I guess this is goodbye for now."

The others fell silent, watching as I sat next to Bob. This was harder than I thought it would be. I reached out and patted his head, feeling the coarse fur under my hand.

"I know we've been through a lot together, buddy," I started, my voice a little shaky. "From fighting Shadow monsters to you eating half my food supplies… you've always been there, doing what you do best. Just… being you."

Bob grunted softly, his big brown eyes half-open, watching me. I could feel the lump forming in my throat, and I tried to swallow it down.

"You're more than just a bear, Bob," I continued, my voice cracking slightly. "You're… you're family. You're the one constant in all this madness. No matter what happened, no matter how bad things got, I always knew you'd be there. I could always count on you."

I could feel tears welling up, blurring my vision. "I'm gonna miss you, you big, beautiful, brown bastard. I don't know what I'm gonna do without you. Who's gonna eat all my leftovers? Who's gonna knock over my campfire and then look at me like it was my fault?"

The tears started falling, and I didn't bother to wipe them away. "I know you'll be okay here in the forest. This is your home, after all. But damn it, Bob, it's gonna be so empty without you."

Bob lifted his head slightly, sniffing the air, and then he did something he rarely ever did. He nuzzled his head against my shoulder, letting out a low, rumbling sound that almost sounded like a purr. That did it. I broke down, wrapping my arms around his massive neck, burying my face in his fur.

"Don't take this the wrong way but... I love ya, Bob," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "I'm gonna miss you so much."

The forest seemed to hold its breath for a moment, the only sound the soft rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds. Then, slowly, Bob's head lowered back down, his eyes closing as he drifted off into sleep again. Typical Bob, always knowing how to lighten the mood.

I stood up, wiping my eyes and sniffing loudly. "Alright, let's get moving before I change my mind and decide to become a forest hermit."

Hiyori gave me a smal smile. "You did good, Y/N."

Koyasu floated over, his usual smirk softened. "I never thought I'd see the day you'd get all emotional over a bear."

I chuckled weakly, still wiping my eyes. "Yeah, well, Bob's special. You all know that."

Kurumi clapped her hands together. "That was so touching! I never thought I'd see someone cry over a bear like that."

"Yeah, well," I said, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Let's get going before I embarrass myself even more."

We set off down the path, leaving the forest behind. Soseki stood by his tree, watching us with a slight nod. Fukuhara had already disappeared into the shadows of the mountains, his presence like a ghost fading away. And Bob... Bob stayed behind, a silent guardian of the woods.

The journey back to Kyoto was surprisingly quiet. The morning sun had risen fully, bathing the world in golden light. Kurumi kept chattering away about all the things she wanted to see in Kyoto, blissfully unaware that it was a massive city, not some quaint little village. Sora looked more and more exasperated with each passing minute.

"So," Kurumi said, turning to Koyasu, "what's it like living in Kyoto? You must have some great stories."

Koyasu, floating lazily alongside us, chuckled. "Oh, I've got stories, alright. Most of them involve me drinking myself into a stupor and waking up in strange places."

Kurumi laughed. "Sounds like quite the adventure! Maybe I should join you sometime."

"Please don't," Sora muttered under his breath, but his mother was already daydreaming about bar hopping with a spirit.

We reached the edge of the forest, where a small village stood. It was the last stop before reaching the bustling city of Kyoto. Kurumi looked around, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Wow, look at this place! It's so... rustic," she said, clearly impressed.

I smirked. "You think this is impressive? Wait till you see Kyoto."

She gave me a playful nudge. "I'm sure it'll be amazing with you as my guide."

Sora groaned. "Mom, can you not flirt with every guy you meet?"

Kurumi laughed. "Oh, Sora, lighten up! You've got to enjoy life while you can."

The village was quiet, with only a few early risers going about their morning routines. The locals stared at us as we walked through, probably wondering what a ragtag group like ours was doing here.

We made our way to the edge of the village, where a small, rickety cart was waiting to take us to Kyoto. Koyasu floated inside and plopped himself down on a pile of straw. "Wake me up when we get there," he mumbled, closing his eyes.

Hiyori and I climbed in after him, followed by Kurumi and Sora. The cart started moving, and soon the village faded into the distance, replaced by rolling fields and distant mountains.

The ride was bumpy, and the cart creaked with every turn, but it was peaceful. I leaned back, looking up at the sky. It was a bright, clear day, and for a moment, I felt a strange sense of calm.

"So, Y/N," Kurumi said, breaking the silence. "What do you do in Kyoto? You seem like someone who's always up to something interesting."

"Oh, I just go with the flow."

She laughed. "You're funny. I like that."

"Glad to hear it," I said, flashing her a smile.

Sora rolled his eyes. "Great, now we have two crazies to deal with."

"Hey," I said, leaning over to ruffle his hair, "it's better to be crazy than boring, kid."

He swatted my hand away, but I could see a small smile tugging at his lips. "Whatever."

The rest of the ride passed in a blur of laughter, stories, and a few more teasing jabs at Sora. By the time we reached the outskirts of Kyoto, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange.

"Wow..." Kurumi gasped as the city of Kyoto unfolded before us, a sprawling sea of rooftops, temples, and bustling streets. The golden light of the setting sun bathed the city in a warm glow, and for a moment, even I had to admit it looked beautiful. "This... this is Kyoto?" she asked, her eyes wide with awe.

I chuckled, nodding. "Yep, welcome to the 'village' of Kyoto."

Kurumi turned to me, blinking in surprise. "This is way bigger than I imagined! I thought it would be a small, quiet place with rice fields and maybe a shrine or two."

"Well, you're not entirely wrong," I said, smirking. "There's plenty of rice and more shrines than you can count, but there's also a lot of everything else."

Koyasu, who had been dozing in the straw, cracked one eye open. "It's a city, Kurumi. Lots of people, lots of noise, and lots of drinking spots."

She laughed, the sound bright and carefree. "Oh, that sounds perfect! I can't wait to explore."

Sora, however, looked less than enthusiastic. "I thought we were going somewhere quiet. This looks like a nightmare."

I patted him on the back. "Don't worry, kid. Stick with us, and we'pl show you all the cool spots. And maybe some haunted ones, just for fun."

"Gee, thanks," he muttered, pulling his backpack tighter.

As the cart trundled along the cobblestone streets, Hiyori's ears perked up, her tails swishing with excitement. "It's been a while since we've been back in the city, huh?"

"Yeah, five days is a long time..." I said, looking around at the familiar chaos. People bustled everywhere—merchants yelling out prices, kids chasing each other, street performers juggling flaming torches. The smells of fresh food, incense, and the occasional whiff of sewage mixed in the air. Home sweet home.

The cart came to a stop near a small inn on the quieter side of town. We all hopped out, stretching our legs after the bumpy ride. Kurumi looked around, her eyes still wide with wonder. "So, where to first?"

"First, we get you two settled in," Hiyori suggested, gesturing to the inn. "You can stay here until you get your bearings."

Kurumi nodded eagerly. "That sounds good. Thank you so much, Hiyori!"

As we made our way inside, I glanced over at Koyasu, who was already eyeing a sake stall across the street. "Oi, Koyasu, try not to drink yourself into a ditch before dinner."

He gave me a mock salute. "No promises, Y/N."

Inside the inn, the owner—a grumpy-looking old man with a wispy beard—greeted us with a grunt. "Rooms?"

"Two," I said, pointing to Kurumi and Sora. "For them. We're just passing through."

The old man squinted at us, but nodded and handed over a pair of keys. Kurumi took them with a bright smile. "Thank you, sir!"

Sora leaned over to her. "Mom, we really need to be careful around strangers in a place like this."

She waved him off. "Oh, relax, Sora. Everyone seems perfectly nice."

I snickered. "If only she knew," I whispered to Hiyori, who elbowed me in the ribs.

With Kurumi and Sora settled in, we decided to take them for a little tour of Kyoto. Hiyori and I led the way, pointing out the main streets, the bustling markets, and a few spots tourists usually missed.

As we walked through the city, I noticed Sora hanging back, his eyes darting around, clearly overwhelmed by the crowds and noise. "Hey, Sora," I called, dropping back to walk beside him. "You doing alright?"

He shrugged, his face a mix of anxiety and curiosity. "I don't know. It's... a lot. I've never been anywhere this crowded before."

"Yeah, I get that," I said, nodding. "It can be a bit much. But there's a lot of cool stuff here too. You just gotta know where to look."

He glanced up at me, skeptical. "Like what?"

I grinned. "Well, for starters, there's this old bookstore a few blocks from here. The owner's a bit of a grump, but he's got books on all kinds of supernatural stuff. Conspiracy theories, ghost stories, ancient curses—your kind of thing, right?"

His eyes lit up, and for a moment, I saw a genuine spark of interest. "Really? Can we go?"

"Sure thing," I said, leading him down a side street. "Come on, I'll show you."

Kurumi and Hiyori continued chatting up ahead, Kurumi marveling at every new sight. Koyasu, predictably, had disappeared the moment we passed the sake stall, probably already working on his second bottle.

As we reached the bookstore, I pushed open the heavy wooden door, a small bell jingling as we stepped inside. The place was dimly lit and packed with old, dusty books stacked floor to ceiling. The smell of paper and ink hung in the air, along with something faintly musty.

An elderly man with thick glasses and a permanent scowl looked up from behind the counter. "You again?" he grumbled. "Didn't I tell you to stop bringing strangers in here?"

"Aw, come on, Old Man Tanaka," I said, grinning. "You love having me around."

He snorted. "Love's a strong word."

I gestured to Sora. "This kid's into all that weird stuff you keep in the back. Thought he might find something interesting."

Tanaka squinted at Sora, then sighed. "Fine, but if you break anything, you're paying for it."

I winked at Sora. "See? Told you it'd be fun."

Sora nodded, already wandering over to a shelf filled with books about supernatural creatures and ancient myths. He looked more at ease here, surrounded by the quiet, dusty stacks. I left him to explore, stepping back outside to where Hiyori and Kurumi were waiting.

"Think he'll like it?" Hiyori asked, her fox ears twitching with curiosity.

"Yeah," I said, leaning against the wall. "Kid's got a good head on his shoulders. Just needs to loosen up a bit."

Kurumi smiled warmly. "Thank you, Y/N. For, you know, showing him this side of things. He's always been so serious."

I shrugged, smiling back. "Hey, he's a good kid. Just needs to find his place."

As we stood there, watching the bustling street, I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me. Maybe it was the afterglow of that emotional goodbye to Bob, or maybe it was just the realization that, despite all the madness, things were okay. We were okay.

"Y/N!" Sora called out, sticking his head out of the bookstore. "You gotta see this book on yokai! It's got all these weird stories in it!"

I laughed. "Alright, alright, I'm coming."

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Kyoto, showing Kurumi and Sora the sights, the hidden gems, and, of course, the best food stalls. Kurumi was like a kid in a candy store, her enthusiasm infectious, while Sora slowly started to relax, his serious demeanor softening bit by bit.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the city was alive with lanterns and the sounds of evening festivities. We found ourselves back at the inn, sitting around a small table, sharing a meal and a few stories.

Koyasu, now properly buzzed, leaned back in his chair and raised a cup of sake. "To new friends, old habits, and whatever the hell comes next."

Kurumi laughed and raised her cup of tea. "Cheers to that!"

Even Sora cracked a smile, lifting his glass of water. "Yeah... cheers."

Hiyori and I exchanged a look, and I felt that warmth again—a strange, comforting feeling. Despite everything, we'd found a new adventure, new companions, and maybe even a new home away from home.

I raised my cup, smiling wide. "Cheers, everyone. Here's to whatever madness tomorrow brings."