Disclaimer. I do not own Yashahime. All rights belong to the creators.

CHAPTER SIX

What felt like hours was only a few minutes before the well started glowing. Startled, Reasui leapt up out of the well, landing just outside and looking in.

Takechiyo clapped his tiny hands together. "Hurray! She's back! I wonder if she brought any ninja snacks!"

Reasui gawked at him. "Ninja…..snacks?"

Takechiyo nodded and danced around on the ledge of the well. "Yeah! Like noodles…or chips! Or tea…but tea tastes gross."

Reasui watched him, amused. "I see."

She glanced down the well again, just in time to see Moroha appear out of thin air. She was carrying a small pack, and looked very pleased.

Reasui was relieved and angry at the same time.

"You! You could've told me what you were going to do before you vanished!"

Moroha craned her neck, looking up at Reasui. "Oops. Sorry. Guess I was excited!"

Reasui flatted her ears. "You're not sorry at all."

Takechiyo interrupted the kitsune's scolding.

"Didja bring them? Huh? Huh?"

Moroha smiled hugely. "You betcha! Here, catch!"

She dug in the pack and brought out some sort of foodstuff.

Reasui narrowed her eyes at the loud crinkling noises the food package made. It said, 'BBQ flavored chips! One bite and you'll want more!'

Moroha tossed the package upwards but Reasui snatched it midair before the tanuki could.

Takechiyo started hitting her arm. "Give it back! It's mine!"

Reasui held one hand against his forehead, keeping him at bay as he struggled. "C'mon!"

She stared at the chips, wrinkling her nose. "Weird."

Removing her hand from Takechiyo, she threw the package at him. He caught it and fell off the ledge onto the grass.

"Oof!"

Reasui leaned into the well, holding out a hand. Moroha took it, and Reasui pulled her up and out of the well.

Moroha sat down, and started digging through the pack.

"I wasn't sure what you'd like…Reasui. So Mama Higurashi just made some bento. It has steamed rice, pickles, salmon sushi, and ginger beef."

She handed Reasui the box, and she took it, surprised by the weight.

Reasui opened the top, and stared in amazement. Everything was neatly arranged. "This actually, looks delicious."

Moroha smiled. "I'm glad you think so!"

Reasui closed the bento box, and handed it to Moroha. Then she stood up, and grabbed the chip bag from Takechiyo.

"Hey! Give it!"

Reasui gently pried the tanuki from his adored chips, and tossed the bag to Moroha, who caught it. There was confusion in her eyes.

Reasui raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Moroha blinked at her.

Reasui rolled her eyes. "Let me put it simply. A boar. You hunt. Get money."

Moroha stood up quickly. "Oh yeah! Silly me. Ha. Ha. Ha."

Reasui just stared at her.

Takechiyo flinched when Moroha stomped up to him. "You know what this means? Takechiyo?"

The tanuki crossed his arms. "No. No way. I've done enough for you today. I'm not flying directly into danger."

Reasui walked up to Moroha, and put a hand on her shoulder. "I think he has a point. But don't worry. I can carry you if we need to move quickly."

Moroha looked embarrassed, scratching her head. "Ah…if you think that's best."

Reasui glanced at Takechiyo. "If you want, you can go back to the village we were at. I'll bring Moroha back once we're done slaying the demon."

Takechiyo looked grateful. "Thanks. That would be best."

Reasui crouched down, waving her hands behind her. "Come. Get on."

Moroha awkwardly climbed on, and Reasui stood up.

The smaller girl sneezed. "Your tail fur is making my nose itchy."

Reasui stiffened. "Nothing I can do about that."

She curled her tails around Moroha's body. "I'll do this so you don't slip."

Reasui was about to bound off when Moroha patted her head in a panicky manner. "Wait wait wait!"

The kitsune gritted her teeth in frustration. "What now?"

"I ah….forgot my bow at the village. I left it in a different hut. Which is why you never saw it."

Reasui sighed very heavily through her nose. "I see."

Moroha laughed nervously. "Ahaha…."

Reasui straightened. "Very well then. Let us be off to the village. I just hope that the demon doesn't end up killing anybody."

Moroha slouched, not taking the jab at her very well.

Reasui started running, her bare feet hardly making any sound.

Takechiyo transformed, and started flying above them.

Moroha held tight to Reasui's shoulders, surprised by the speed. "You are fast."

Reasui flicked an ear but didn't say anything. She leaped over a stream, and avoided an overhanging tree branch.

Moroha leaned into Reasui's back and shut her eyes.

Reasui ran over the all too familiar hill with the tree, and screeched to a stop. The smell of a demon was in the air.

Moroha lifted her head and got off Reasui. "Even with my limited senses as a quarter demon, I can smell it. It's the one I was tasked to slay."

Reasui crouched down, glaring at the village. She couldn't see it, but her ears picked up the sound of something huge snuffling and moving around heavily.

"Yeah, it's a boar alright."

She pointed a tail at Moroha. "You. Go find your bow. I'll run down and start distracting it."

Moroha hesitated. "But…"

Reasui bared her fangs. "This is no time to be arguing! Do you want the target to escape? Or worse…destroy your bow? Or go rampaging if it senses us?"

Moroha opened her mouth, then thought better of it. She nodded. Reasui smiled tensely. "Good. Get going. I'm going to distract it."

Reasui, while still crouched, crept down the hill, tails low and trailing on the ground. "Moroha. Be quick. But be quiet. Even if it's more intelligent than a normal boar, it's reaction will be the same. Startle it, and it might start stampeding."

Moroha gave her a thumbs up, and slunk down the hill in a different direction.

Reasui felt like the air was holding it's breath. 'Here we go. Let's hope this works.'

END OF CHAPTER SIX