Kobayashi Samuru looked at the directions again as he stood before the gate of an Inn. This was the place. He tucked the directions back into his dark robes and knocked. Inside, he could hear children playing. He was pleased that his sister's son had been cared for by a nice family.
"I got it!" a girl yelled. The door opened and the girl said, "Greetings, sir."
Samaru gapped at the girl. He'd never seen anything like her in person. The teenager had long, light purple hair, including light purple eyebrows. She also bore cat-ear type accessories that were painted white with light purple flowers on them. He had heard that many children now engaged in cosplay.
Recovering, Samuru bowed to the girl. "Greetings, miss. I am Kobayashi Samuru. I was told my nephew is here. His name is Ishiguro Hisoka," he said formally.
"Hisoka's uncle? Hi, my name is Mariko, I'm his girlfriend. Please come in," she said all smiles.
Samuru followed Mariko in, noting the other two small children also bore the same cosplay of wildly colored hair and fake cat-ears. Thinking it a fad of the latest generation, he payed no attention to it.
Entering, Mariko called out, "Hisoka, your uncle is here!"
Yuka came into the entry. "You must be Mr. Kobayashi. I'm Yuka. We spoke on the phone."
"Ahh yes, greetings Yuka-san," Samuru said with a bow. "I thank you for watching over Hisoka after his mother passed. I am truly sorry I could not come sooner."
Eyeing his dark robe, Mariko asked, "Are you like a White Robe?"
"I do not know what a White Robe is. I am a monk. Living at a monastery outside of Komatsu on the west coast, I did not hear of my sister's demise until recently," Samuru explained.
"We were all saddened by Lady Chizu's passing," Yuka said.
"Lady Chizu?" he asked.
"Lady is the formal title for a woman of age, and White Robes," Mariko told him.
Samuru nodded and said, "Then please forgive me, Lady Yuka, for addressing you improperly."
"That's fine, please come in," Yuka said, motioning the way.
Samuru met Hisoka in the hallway. Pleased at seeing the tall, healthy boy, he introduced himself and asked the fine young man to come sit with them. Another girl with only a touch of wild pink in her dark hair – but also with the cosplay ears, came in and introduced herself as 'Lady Kanae'
"Kanae isn't grown up yet, but she is an apprentice White Robe, so she has the title of "Lady Kanae'" Mariko said proudly.
"I see. And who are these White Robes?" Samuru asked Kanae.
"Religious figures, teachers, healers. White Robes have many duties. Including protecting the innocent," Kanae explained.
"How very noble of you, Lady Kanae," Samuru said reverently. "To what religious group do White Robes belong?"
"The sect of Yuakita, the Earth Goddess."
Samuru frowned and said, "That name does seem familiar, but I can't quite place it. Please forgive my ignorance."
"It is not well known," Yuka offered.
"The sect is really cool," Hisoka piped up. "Are you staying for dinner? Mama Lucy will be bringing Lady Himari over. It would be great if you could meet them."
Nana's voice drifted into the room. "Mariko, Hisoka, could someone give me a hand here?"
"I'll do it," Mariko said, then bounced up with a yell of, "Coming, Mama Nana!"
"You have very nice children here, Lady Yuka. Are there ... many families that live here?" Samuru asked.
"Just us," Yuka said. "Mr. Kobayashi, do you have a place to stay?"
"I have rented a hotel room. This is my first time living with modern conveniences. I must say that it make me want to travel more."
"What's your monastery like?" Hisoka asked. "Do you not have electricity or something?"
Samuru laughed. "Yes we do, we even have electric bread toasters!" he said with wide eyes, which made Hisoka and Kanae laugh. "But we do tend to use such modern appliances sparingly. Less distractions make for a more fulfilling religious experience. One's concentration is greater."
"I know what you mean," Kanae said eagerly. "In a quiet, dark room you can sense things much easier."
"Yes, indeed," Samuru agreed. "I take it you have had some training?"
Kanae nodded and said, "Yes, but it was very hard. I have to wait until I graduate high school before I can do any more."
"Do not rush, Lady Kanae. Take some time to be a child before you commit to your Goddess," Samuru told her. "After all, there is no room in serious religion for cosplay."
"Cosplay?" Kanae asked. "You mean like dressing up as a cat and stuff like that?"
Hisoka giggled. "Uncle Samuru, no one is doing cosplay," he said with a grin.
Samuru offered him a smile and said, "Perhaps you are so used to seeing Kanae's cat ears that you forgot she is wearing them."
Hisoka shook his head. "She's not wearing anything. Those are real."
"What do you mean real?" he asked.
"Snack time!" Nana announced as she came in carrying a tray of cookies and tea cups. Around her legs, the young boy and the four year old girl with pink hair raced in to plant themselves at the table. Mariko carried in a pitcher and a teapot. Samuru noted the older woman also had white cat ears.
As she set the tray down, cookies floated off the tray and into the younger children's hands.
"Junior, Chika, show some manners. Guests first," Yuka said sternly.
"Sorry Mama Yuka," Kouta Junior said, and offered his cookie to Samuru. The small girl also offered him a cookie.
"Please, go ahead," Samuru said as he wondered how the cookies had floated through the air like that. Something was tickling at the back of his mind, but he couldn't place it. It seemed so familiar, yet he knew he'd never seen people with horns before.
"Greetings, Uncle Samuru," Nana said with a bow before she sat down.
Samuru was getting more confused by the minute. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Nana," he replied. Trying to figure out which child belonged to which 'mama', he noted the nearly identical facial features and color of Mariko and Nana's hair. They were obviously mother and daughter. He guessed Kanae belonged to Yuka, since their hair color was similar. The woman Hisoka called Mama Lucy, was obviously the mother of the younger children. "You seem to have a very large and happy family," he said to Yuka.
"Oh yes. It does get a bit crazy from time to time, but we're all happy," Yuka said with a smile.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Nana said brightly.
"Tea?" Mariko asked as she offered Samuru a cup. He took it with a thanks. He watched Mariko pour the tea. When the cups got too far away for her to reach, the teapot floated out of her hand, poured tea, then returned to her grasp.
"Milk or sugar?" Mariko asked.
Samuru could pass off the floating cookies as an optical illusion. There was no way that teapot was an illusion. "How ... did you do that?" he asked.
"Do what?" Mariko asked.
"Mariko can do all kinds of cool things," Hisoka said. "And Mariko is a real hero, she saved a whole hospital full of people! This guy was ..."
Wincing, Mariko said, "Hisoka, could we please not talk about that?"
"Sorry. I'm just proud of you," Hisoka offered.
"I know," Mariko said in a dull tone, then perked up and again asked, "Milk or sugar?"
"No, thank you," Samuru said.
"We are all proud of our daughters," Yuka said cheerfully.
"Saving lives is always something to be proud of," Samuru agreed, "It may have been hard, Mariko, but the fact you saved those people means you deserve the credit for such a selfless act."
Putting the pitcher down, Mariko shrugged and said, "My main concern was saving Hisoka. I am happy all those other people lived too."
"You did well, dear," Nana assured her.
"You did what you had to do," Kanae added.
Anxious to get off that topic, Maiko smiled at Samuru and asked, "How long are you staying, Mr. Kobayashi? Maybe you can see our community center."
"Yes, I'm sure as a man of the robes, you'd like to see what White Robes do," Kanae said.
"I would like that. Any chance to learn is always beneficial."
Samuru had a pleasant time with his nephew and this strange but nice family he was living with. As Samuru thought more about it, he did remember something in the texts about the Yukaita sect. Like the children and Lady Nana, they were born with real horns on their heads. By the texts, they also had incredible mental powers that even the most powerful priests could not match. There was something else too, but it was so long ago that he'd read about it, it slipped his mind.
"Have you gone to mom's grave yet?" Hisoka asked. "I was going tomorrow with Mariko, you could come with us if you like."
"I have visited Chizu's grave, but yes, I would be honored to accompany you." Samuru said reverently.
"Mr. Kobayashi, you mentioned about Hisoka's wellfare?" Yuka asked.
Samuru said, "Yes, that is my primary reason for this visit. As his closest living relative it would normally be my responsibility to raise him. However, the life of a monk would be very ... boring for a teenage boy. From what I see, it would also be unfair to cart him off away from those he cares about. Hisoka has already lost his mother, to loose his entire life would be even more devastating."
"So, Hisoka can stay with us?" Mariko asked.
"If that is what Hisoka wants."
Hisoka nodded briskly, "Yes, I do want to stay here. I have friends, and eventually, I'm going to marry Mariko."
Samuru chuckled at his nephew and said, "Then if it is fine with the man of the house, I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to."
"Kouta will be home at six, just before dinner," Yuka said. "I am sure he will be happy to see you, Mr. Kobayashi."
Not sure who was who in this house, Samuru said, "I would like to speak to his wife at the same time, if that can be arraigned."
Nana said, "Lucy will be home soon also. You'll be able to speak to everyone. Mr. Kobayashi."
Samuru offered a smile and said, "This will be about financial arrangements, the children shouldn't be bothered by such things yet."
"Mama Yuka, can we go play now?" Kouta Junior asked.
Nana looked over at Mariko and asked, "Mariko, dear, would you mind watching them?"
"Of course, Mama Nana," Mariko replied. She got up and held her hand out to Kouta Junior. "Come on, let's go play on the swings!"
"I want Hisoka to push us high!" Chika said as she bounced up and beamed a smile at Hisoka.
"Dear, give Hisoka some time to see his uncle," Yuka told her.
"Please, go ahead," Samuru told Hisoka. "One great joy is to see a child's smile."
"Thanks, Uncle Samuru," Hisoka said and got up. Chika grabbed his hand and led the way.
It was hard for Samuru to grasp the concept of a child with pink hair, or orangish or purple hair for that matter. Then again fact was fact, he couldn't deny it.
"Would you like to see Hiskoa's room?" Yuka asked.
"Yes, that would be nice."
Samuru walked down the hall behind Yuka. He was struggling with putting the pieces together in his mind that just would not fit. White Robes, Yukaita sect, these terms were familiar, but he knew of no religious organization to match them. Even during the Great Prayer Meeting he had attended that had included thousands of Christian, Buddhist, and Muslim, he couldn't remember seeing or hearing of a single member of the Yukaita sect.
"Ah, Lucy, you're home. Welcome, Lady Himari," Yuka said happily.
Samuru stopped to bow and welcome the women as they came around the corner. Upon seeing them, his eyes locked on the silver haired woman in the white robe. The picture in his mind went to a page of old text, and suddenly he remembered everything. The Yukaita sect : the mountain devils that thousands of men had died fighting. The Master killers of Satan himself. They were suppose to be myth, but here he was facing one.
Time slowed as Lady Himari's smile faded, and Samuru's shock was replaced by fear for this family. Lady Himari waved her arm in slow motion, knocking the red head and Yuka to one side. Samuru's arms came up, he planted a fist on his open palm as the texts of power directed. Summoning up all his spiritual energy, he spoke the Holy Word and released his energy in a blast at the Devil.
The white robed devil deflected most of the power up into the ceiling. Some got through to hit her head. She recoiled, arms flailing to hit the floor on her back.
The next thing Samuru knew, he was pinned to the wall, spread eagle with the red head Lucy glaring at him. It was then he noticed she had horns painted the same color as her hair. By the way he was being held with invisible hands, she too was a mountain devil. In her reddening eyes, he could see his own doom.