Chapter 79
The path led Genji out of the forest and into the open fields. Another hidden road continued past another rock wall. Genji cleared the wall in one jump and continued onward down the hidden path. Surrounded by more rock walls he zipped foreword. The whole world seemed to fly by him, but he didn't care. Three very important people were on his mind.
Ryu! Momiji! Yume! I'm coming, guys! I hope you're waiting for me!
The path opened into another field and spilled down a bluff of rocks. Just perched on the edge of the bluff was a five story high watchtower made of wood. He saw someone up the very top of the tower, shaded under the straw canopy. Genji pushed his mask off his face and waved to the person in the watchtower. The person leaned over the wooden rails to look at Genji.
His face was covered in a red hood and cloth that covered his nose and mouth. He was dressed in a blue kimono shirt and white pants.
It was a raven priest.
"Wolf clan?!" the priest called.
Genji nodded.
"Genji DragonLore?!"
Genji nodded again.
"We have been expecting you. The wise woman awaits you in the village."
Genji waved up at the priest in understanding, then headed for the bluff. He fell a little way before landing on a flat rock, then he leaped his way down easily to the bottom like a jackrabbit. It was a clear run down a hill from there.
Wedged between the land and a steep rock wall of a cliff was the Emishi Village. The guard wall and village entrance was entirely made of wood, and the buildings were entirely straw and wood. The streets were quiet and peaceful, but those who were out kept to themselves and their work. The center of the village had a long pole in the ground topped with a long mane of cotton strips and an antler branch. It was a totem to the Shishi Gami. It was proof this village was Mononoke.
Genji stopped at the arching tori in the village entrance. He could see the few people who were outside in the streets. All of them wore kimono shirts of dark colors, cotton pants of light tans, and most were barefoot. Everyone wore a tied bun atop their heads held in place with a wooden hairpin, or they fashioned their hair up into bows or small ponytails. No one wore their hair down.
Genji walked into the town, instantly greeted with stares. He looked around for his friends as waves of whispers rose among the people. He noticed villagers peeking from their doorways at him, and he could hear children hiding behind their mothers. They seemed to be afraid of him…
Then, he heard barking on the other side of the village. It sounded like…
"Genji!"
Yume, the giant wolf, bounded over to Genji happily. He was knocked to the ground by her giant paws, and was given many wolf kisses on his face. He scratched Yume's ears and mussed the fur around her neck.
**Yume! I missed you!**
"I missed you too, Genji! Everyone missed you. I wanted to howl for you at night for your honor, but no one here would let me, not even Murasaki…"
As Genji got back up, the rest of Genji's friends ran out to greet him too.
"Genji-kun!" Momiji cried, clamping onto the boy with a tight hug. "I missed yu soh much! I thought yu'd neva git here! Yu alraight? Nuthin baad happoned?" Genji pushed her arms off him as she gave out a tired yawn.
"Hey, kid!" Ryu greeted, mussing Genji's hair. "Great ta see you made it. We've been waiting for you since the sun came up, but Momiji and Arangami were waiting all night."
**Arangami? He's here?**
"Genji, my man!"
"Hey, guy! You made it!"
**Trunks? Goten?** Genji blinked.
"We drove everybody here." Trunks explained. "The truck is parked back in the lot."
**What are you doing here?**
Yume relayed Genji's response.
"We wanna help you." Goten answered. "You're one of the Z generation now, and we Z guys stick together."
Genji shrugged.
**Great to see I've got friends in you guys…**
Arangami then arrived silently, dressed in his ninja attire, mask and all. He and Genji exchanged serious stares. Genji put one hand to his bow to be prepared. He didn't know what to expect.
Then, Arangami bowed.
"It is good to see you at full health, DragonLore."
Then, he said for only Genji to hear:
**Thank you for saving my life.**
Genji nodded.
**It was nothing. I couldn't let you die.**
"The wise woman awaits." Arangami told Genji aloud. "She wants to see you immediately."
Genji looked around.
**Where's Murasaki?**
"She can wait. Come along."
Genji sighed and followed Arangami to a council chamber built on the cliff wall. Meanwhile, he socialized with his friends, happy to be back in their company…
…And happy to end his journey.