The villagers recommended that Byaku visit the village elder; if there was someone who might know of Kohaku, then it would be him. With Kiara, her feline companion, following her, she attempted to make her way to the elder's house; however, she found herself lost.
"I wonder where it could be," she asked maybe herself, maybe Kiara, "according to the villagers' directions I was supposed to turn left when I faced the dragon statue... but now I'm here..."
Kiara mewed, maybe for amusement, maybe to answer her new owner's question. She eventually caught her owner's attention when she suddenly assumed her battle form, and unleashed a fierce growl that one would never expect from once such a small and cute animal to be capable of.
"Kiara, what is it?" She had no idea what Kiara had sensed, but she trusted her intuition and grasped the hilt of her sword to be safe.
Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her. She turned and instantly found herself staring at a young, handsome man. He had a gentle smile and very tranquil quality to him. She blushed, but she convinced herself it was a coincidence.
"How long have you been there?" she demanded.
"I'm sorry if I surprised you," he replied with a soft, calming voice. "I just wanted to gaze at your beautiful face from afar. Oh, don't worry. I didn't mean anything by it. Are you lost?"
She coincidentally blushed again. She found she could not trust his convincing voice; after all, she knew what men were: they professed love without sincerity and hurt the ones they promised eternal happiness.
"I-I'm looking for the elder's house..." she said awkwardly, then quickly added, "but, I don't need your help!"
With a bright smile, he walked past her and approached Kiara, who was still growling tensely. He patted her head gently, and immediately she reverted back to her normal domestic form.
"I can show you the way, if you like. I'm on my way there anyway."
"Then, it that case, I will accept your generosity." (She was reluctant; in other words, a part of her wanted to follow him.)
"This is probably where you were tricked." The newly formed trio had returned to the dragon statue. "Sometimes the wind can cause that waterfall there create a perfect reflection of things; in other words, if we turn around..."
Byaku found that the real statue resembled completely the wind's guile. They continued, and after walking for some time, she noticed the wind change slightly and when she looked over her shoulder, the reflection was gone.
The elder's hut's outer appearance appeared ordinary, but the interior was oddly filled with relaxing fumes, statues, and markings. It was candlelit, like a room used for rituals. The room was empty, except for the two of them, and Kiara.
"Where is the elder?" Byaku asked.
"Maybe," the young man replied with an interesting laugh, "if you turn around you'll see him. The wind is perfect right now."
Trusting the wicked wind's trickery, she obliged. When she turned, she saw the reflection of the young man. She almost raised her hand to touch it as if to test its integrity, but it soon disappeared with another slight variation of the wind.
"Then you are the elder!"
"I'm truly sorry if I surprised you, again. I am the village elder, Shihai."
"I, wasn't surprised," she lied. "You are very young for a village elder."
"You are very young for a taijiya. I heard you saved my village from that youkai. Thank you. I also heard you refused any reward. How humble of you. I must admit I don't have a lot to offer you... my village is often targeted by youkai, so it is very poor."
"That's alright," she said, suddenly regaining her tough, determined tone, though he could sense a tint of sadness in her voice. "The villagers told me you might know something about Kohaku."
"Yes, I know that name. I would suggest not getting involved with him. Wherever he goes, there's always a bloody massacre. It's a pity."
"That's probably the reason why I have to kill him. I fully intend to do so."
"I can see that. Then I'll tell you, but please be careful. From what I know, he's always on the move. He'll most likely be accompanied by a woman named Kagura. You can't take her lightly; some say she has the power to control the wind, though personally I don't believe that. He was last seen at the village north of here; it's a three-day walk."
"You seem to know a lot."
"Gossip finds ways to travel; the wind carries from ear to ear. This village is said to be where all of the winds of the world meet; well, it's the legend anyway."
"By the way, did that youkai have a shikon shard?"
"No." She didn't know what she said that. "Thank you for everything. Then, I will be leaving."
"Please wait. Stay in my village at least for tonight. You need to rest after that battle, and I can supply you with at least a little bit of rationing for your journey. And tomorrow the wind should be more favourable. It's the least I can do."
"Then... I suppose I'll accept your hospitality." (She was reluctant.)