Chapter 3

"We're almost to Ryoshima coast." Uno said as we crossed the city checkpoint bridge. We had gotten up early and gotten the heck out of that old creepy house. Though I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind, I really wanted to know why Uno would attack travelers for no reason. Well, might as well get it over with.

"Uno?" I asked as we walked off of the bridge. "We've heard rumors of a wolf attacking travelers in Taka pass and-"

"Are you the one doing it?!" Issun said cutting me off, I growled angrily at him. Uno gave a slight gasp and looked over to me with an appalled look of his fox face.

"I did no such thing." He said. "It must have been someone else, and besides I'm a Kitsune."

"Okay, Okay!" I said to calm him down. "Just wondering..." We walked into Ryoshima coast, though I might have been here before. When I first fell down to Nippon, 100 years ago, which in my case it certainly changed over the years.

"Now I'll tell you two what I told Ammy." Issun said. "The city is pretty big and-"

"I am the one who has lived here for years." Uno said suddenly. "I know my way around, bug." Issun got really mad and started to give us the cold shoulder... I sighed and started on the long walk to the city. Uno darted past me like he seemed as if he was in a hurry. I sighed as I ran also, we ran across the beach, dead flowers growing under my paws as I picked up speed. I slowed as we came some stairs.

"The city is up this way." Uno said flatly. We ascended the steps and walked into the city gates. I looked around the clean city streets that were pretty busily, I let a whine out as we walked down the streets. I couldn't help feel like I was getting glares at my direction, but when I looked around I noticed that I was. I guess a pure black wolf that happens to walk into the city is an odd sight...

'Uno?' I looked over to an ally were an animal's voice came from. In the ally was an old black and white cat. Uno looked at me and nodded, we both then walked over to the cat.

"Yes it is." He whispered so the humans close by couldn't here him. The cat purred and walked over closer to him.

'I'm so sorry about the humans behavior...' She mewed. 'Y-You just up and left all of a sudden, when that strange mist covered the city...' I've heard tales of how Blight infested the emperor and caused the strange mist to cover the city and get every one so sick that they started to drop like flies. Issun seemed to lean in closer, interested in the conversation now. Why he didn't like Uno, I may never know...

"I know..." Uno answered. "There were some things I went through, I just had to get out..."

'Well, the humans have their suspicions...' The cat mumbled. I let a little growl out to remind Uno of what I needed him to do.

"Oh, Yes." He said turning back to the cat after looking at me. "My friend here is looking for a little white wolf pup. Have you seen him?"

'Sorry to say I haven't." The cat said turning around to leave. 'It's been a pleasure to see you again... and I advise that you dont go to the upper level of the city. After all you ARE a stray, Nueve La Cola Seguidor.' My mouth was open wide, was that Spanish that the cat was just saying?! I glanced over to Uno who had the same expression on his face.

"What did she say to you?" I asked. Uno just shrugged it off.

"Nothing, it's not important..." He mumbled. Turning to go.

"Should we ask some more people in the city?" I asked also turning to go.

"I do not know if they would trust us." He said. He seemed sad about something, maybe bringing him to the place that he had lived at so long ago brought back painful memories… Hey I can be deep! I started to trot a few feet up ahead of us. Someone that was in a rush ran out of an ally that was right next to were I trotted to, and they ended up running into me. I yelped and jumped back, this human though fell down. Oooppps!

"It's a babe!" Issun cheered, I sighed shaking my head.

"Are you okay, Nama?" Uno asked walking up to me. I nodded then looked at the human, she looked really PO-ed.

"YOU STUPID BEAST!" She screamed at me, harsh much?

"Y-Yea, bad Nama!" Issun said hopping onto my nose, was it just me or was he swooning? I let a low growl. I then turned to the human, who had gotten up. She wore a long brown dress that had green vine-like designs on it. Her long straight hair was brown with green streaks in it, I noticed that she had a scarf that was tied around her head that kept the top of her head from view. The scarf was a lime green color, and it was tipped with purple. The woman put her hands on her hips.

"Do you walk much you stupid wolf?!" She growled out angrily, it was odd and funny at the same time since the growl sounded canine. I let out a growl of my own, and the woman gasped. Ha, I scared her.

"Sorry about that!" Issun said sucking up, oh boy… "It's hard to keep Namakemono here on a lease." The woman gasped again.

"Namakemono, as in the goddess?" She asked, I was very impressed that she had heard of me.

"Yup." Issun said.

"Then what does that make you? A flea?" The woman asked. Uno and I laughed out unable to keep it in, Issun scowled.

"No! I'm Issun the great traveling artist!" He said defensively. "… Oh and that is Uno La Cola." The woman looked over at Uno and slowly took a step back. Why was everyone afraid of him it seemed.

"O-Oh, my name is Haka…" She mumbled, with her eyes still on Uno. Haka, uh? Sound familiar much, maybe it does… I can't help but think that I've heard it before. I looked at Haka's hands, which held a brown leather bag. She was trying to keep the bag hidden from view, but to be honest she wasn't doing a very good job. She noticed me staring at it so she hid it behind her back.

"So, are you guys going to the festival in Kamiki?" She asked which made me look up at her.

"Oh, I almost forgot about it trying to help the fleabag here and all." Issun said. "Speaking of which. Have you seen a white wolf pup anywhere?"

"N-No I haven't." She said looking towards the exit of the city. I wondered why she was in such a hurry.

"Now if you excuse me, I have somewhere to go!" She said running towards the exit. I cocked my head to the side.

"I wonder where she's going?" Issun asked.

"Oh shut up lover boy." I growled. Uno then walked up to me with a sneer on his face, it made me jump.

"I don't like the looks of her." He lowly growled as we walked towards the exit too.

"I do…" Issun mumbled. I rolled my eyes. I was mad though that we had come all this way here for nothing, but somehow I felt that we did make progress.

"What do we do now?" I asked. We were now walking across the beach again.

"Go to Kamiki for the festival, if we're lucky that babe will be there!" Issun said hopping up and down excitedly. I sighed sadly, I couldn't go home until I found Chibi… Alive… plus Nippon was a big place. You got Sei-an City, Kimiki village, and all the way up in Kamui. I looked over to Uno, who was walking sluggishly behind. Why had everyone treated him like that? Dang I'm becoming paranoid…

"What does , Nueve La Cola Seguidor, mean?" I asked, Uno flinched and looked up at me with sad eyes.

"N-Nothing important…" He mumbled looking down at his paws. We finally came too the city checkpoint bridge. Uno seemed to be perking up though, which was good. It was the city itself that was brining him down. Chibi I couldn't help but wonder… Where was he!?

"AHHHHHH!" I heard a scream coming from Taka Pass up ahead.

"Hey, was that the babe?-" Issun asked. I let out a growl as I sprang into action, and yes of course the scream came from Haka. I glanced behind me to see Uno right at my heals, we were ready for a battle. I let out a howl as we ran into Taka Pass ready to face what ever awaited…