After his exploits at Sandy Wind Ranch, Kyuubi rushed towards the gate that led to Shion Village. At first glance, it seemed to be the same as it was when he last was here. Well, save for the distinct lack of guards. With a curt nod, Kyuubi walked through the gate.

"Hey..!" Kyuubi mused along as he walked through the village. Except for the increase of citizens and buildings, and the darkened sky, Shion Village did not look half bad. "At least this place is thriving." The orange-haired demon sighed.

"Yes, it seems that this place has some sort of protection over it." Sakura added. Kyuubi walked through the village, observing everything about the once-small area. Just as Kyuubi was about to walk towards the well to get a drink of water, there was a swift movement through the air.

"Is that Gobi?" But instead of the platinum wolf, Kyuubi gasped softly as he what he saw. It was a large, beige bird that, strangely enough, seemed to made from clay. Kyuubi looked on until it landed near the house that Kyuubi remembered belonged to the blonde demon, Deidara.

And, after the bird disappeared with a 'poof'' and in its place was the very same blond that Kyuubi had been thinking about. He was grown up now, too. A bit younger than Sasori, but he was still older than Kyuubi was anyway. Just as the orange-haired demon was considering saying hello, Deidara picked up the large bag that was next to him, looked around carefully, and rushed inside his house, shutting the door.

"Oh..." Kyuubi groaned as his ears drooped a little. Abruptly, he heard a group of people chattering away. He moved closer and he could hear the conversation:

"I'm telling you, I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Of course, of course... And I'm the Nibi No Nekomata!"

"But it's true! I saw the spirit of the old Grave-digger in the Graveyard! It seemed like he was holding something very close to him..."

"Maybe your wits?"

"Oh, never mind..."

Kyuubi walked over and asked, "Excuse me? Did you just say that there's something strange in the Graveyard?" At first glance, the demon-girls in the group all blushed; all entranced by Kyuubi's looks. But then the eldest out of them spoke up,

"Don't mind her! Ever since we escaped Kon Castle Town, she's become so timid!" The girl who had been talking huffed out,

"But I'm telling the truth! I saw the ghost of the grave-digger floating around his grave! And it looked like he had some sort of treasure!"

"Treasure huh?" Sakura murmured from her hiding place in Kyuubi's hair. The orange-haired demon nodded and after he gave the girls a nod of thanks, Kyuubi rushed off towards the Graveyard, completely ignoring the longing looks that the girls sent after him.

"He looks like a god..."

"A handsome god!"

"Do you think he has someone already?"

Kyuubi made it to the Graveyard and, at once, his whole being bristled. Something was very... off here. First of all, there were all the discarded lanterns that were scattered around. And second, no one was here paying respects. Kyuubi's claws grew out as he carefully walked through the Graveyard.

Shaking it off, Kyuubi walked through the Graveyard, looking for anything strange. One of the lanterns moved. Kyuubi's ears twitched and he stopped his movements.

Two more of the lanterns moved by themselves. Burgundy claws extended slowly.

With shrieking laughs, the lanterns began rushing through the air towards Kyuubi. With a quick breath, the demon jumped out of the way. Missing their target, the forms of various spirits could be seen holding the lanterns. Kyuubi growled before he went on the attack. He cut through one spirit before dodging just in time for the two others to bump into each other.

"What are they hiding?!" Sakura cried out. Kyuubi huffed before he looked around. The last time he had been attacked by a spirit, it was near the Royal Family's Tomb. But the only thing near them was an ordinary gravestone.

"Wait a minute." Kyuubi said, activating his shield charm (thankful that it still worked). When the spirit's attack recoiled, Kyuubi jogged over to the gravestone and read, "Daigo the Grave-digger... This is it!" The spirits came back and recoiled again as Kyuubi murmured his apologies. With a grunt, the orange-haired demon began pushing the stone out of the way. It was hard work, and the attacking spirits did not help at all, but soon the heavy stone was moved to the point that Kyuubi could fit inside. "Here we go!" He called out as he and Sakura jumped into the darkness...

...The well-lit darkness. Kyuubi was shocked as he landed in what seemed more like a house than a grave. "It's so... tidy." Sakura commented.

"Why thank ya." Kyuubi quickly turned around, claws ready, just to see an old demon standing behind him. Only, he was holding a lantern... and floating in the air?

"Wait, you're... dead, aren't you?" The demon nodded,

"Yep! The name's Daigo and I used to be the Shion Village Grave-digger! But enough about the past..." Daigo chuckled a bit before stating, "Heh heh heh! Hey you, young man!"

"Yes spirit?" Kyuubi bowed slightly.

"Don't you go callin' me that! The name's Daigo and it's a pleasure to see someone so lively down here! Heh heh!" Daigo smirked at Kyuubi, "Hey, are ya fast on your feet?"

"I'd like to think so." Kyuubi smirked back.

"I may not look it, but I'm quite the quickster!" A doorway opened behind them. "Let's you and me have a race!" Sakura whined,

"Down here?" Daigo simply chuckled before he called out,

"Maybe I'll give you somethin' if ya beat me! C'mon!", as he floated away.

"Hey! Wait!" Kyuubi called over, following the spirit.

"You are quite the speedy one, young man!" Daigo chuckled as Kyuubi ran into the room, panting and smoking.

"I would have been speedier if someone didn't keep cheating!" Kyuubi had chased the spirit all throughout the subterranean workings of the Graveyard, as well as dodging the fireballs that kept being tossed his way by said spirit. Daigo simply smiled,

"As a reward for keeping me company, I'm going to give you my greatest treasure. It's called the Hookshot!"

"The 'Hookshot'?" Kyuubi blinked.

"Its spring-loaded chain is great for helping you get to high places!" Daigo explained as he tossed the device towards Kyuubi. The orange-haired demon caught it, regarding the metal-device. "Doesn't that sound neat? I'm sure it'll help you in your journey!" Kyuubi jolted,

"Wait, how did you know--?"

"No matter. I live here now, so come back again anytime! I'll give you something cool for your time!"

"Of course!", Kyuubi chuckled and shook his head.

"Be careful on your way back! Heh heh heh!" With that, Daigo disappeared in a blue plume of flame.

"Thank you!" Kyuubi called out into the air. After placing the Hookshot into his satchel, Kyuubi tried to find his way out of the grave. He entered the hall that was behind the room and saw that it was blocked off by two large blocks, made from blue marble.

"Hey, those blocks are just like the Door of Time!" Kyuubi looked and saw what Sakura was talking about. The blocks had the same markings that the Door of Time had. "Maybe if you sing the Song of Time, something will happen?" Kyuubi nodded and brought out the Metronome of Time.

'Time flows...

Like a river...

There is no one who can stop

Or control the flow of time...

The gods...

May permit us...

But the flow of time is

Ultimately their own...'

All at once, the marble blocks disappeared, revealing an ascending staircase. Kyuubi smiled before walking up them. Soon, he began to hear music. "Hey! It's the windmill!" He announced and ran faster. Soon, he reached the top and, indeed, the staircase did in fact lead to the windmill. Kyuubi jumped from the stairway into the Windmill. He wanted to say hello to the Windmill girl, but didn't see her. "But then where's the music coming from? Oh well."

Kyuubi left the Windmill.

Afterwards, seeing as how it was still daytime, Kyuubi decided to go on ahead and head to Hana Village. 'I hope that everyone is okay...' He thought as he left Shion Village.

The orange-haired demon wasn't aware in the slightest that someone had been watching him.

A/N:

Next time on The Legend of Hoshi: Metronome of Time:

"Though you look so strange... You seem familiar. Have we met before?"

"You can say something like that."

The Mystic maze known as the Lost Woods… What dangers does Hana Village hold now?

-Tyranno's girl.