A Town Hall was the formal name given to the meeting of the Three Ruling Families of Serikawa to discuss new things regarding their livelihoods or, in extreme cases, an Heir/Heiress denying their role. Of course, it had to look like that given the new style of government implemented in Japan a few centuries ago. Akari Furude was the mayor chosen via an "election" but in reality, the Furude, Mitejima, and Amawaka Families rigged it and no one cared or were none the wiser. So when a Town Hall was called, all members of the Three Families were required to attend. At least, all that were living in town at the time. The Town Hall took place in the Furude Manor within a large meeting hall located a hop, walk, and a skip from the Main House.

Shin followed in after Kureha and Asia. The most prominent and promising members of the Three Clans were present. On the left sat an old woman sipping tea from her cup. Her glasses sat promptly on the bridge of her nose and her elderly hands gingerly placed her cup down. She wore a grey kimono with a brown haori covering it. She was, in Shin's memories, Hakua Mitejima, current head of the Mitejima Clan.

On the right of the central figure sat a young man. He wore a skin-tight shirt that wrapped snugly around his muscular body. The t-shirt had a roaring tiger on the front. His face looked down at everyone in the room with thinly veiled arrogance in his eyes. He had a scar going down the side of his face. Shin knew where that scar was from. Everyone did. And while he wanted to forget the humiliation he suffered, everyone went out of their way to knock him off his horse using the fact. This man was Yasuo Amawaka, head of the Amawaka Clan, and the person who lost to his mother a long time ago.

And finally, in the center sat Ayaka Furude, head of the Furude Clan. She was in formal wear today. A prim and beautifully decorated violet kimono. Her eyes radiated an aura and pressure that outshined that of even the eldest member. Everyone in the room spoke in hushed tones around her.

Shin and Asia separated from Kureha, who sat behind her mother, and took a seat next to Akane and Riser. Their parents sat silently at the head of the line, next to the Three Heads.

"Silence," Ayaka said. Her voice carried a tone that commanded absolute obedience from everyone in the room. Any signs of hushed whispering and snickering from the younger members died immediately. "Thank you all for coming today. I know that this isn't customary since we just had a town meeting a few weeks back in preparation for the Dragon Festival this year but, this is considered to be important… at least…" Ayaka's eyes flitted to Yasuo and a few members of the Furude Clan in the crowd," to some people in this room. My older sister has come home and wishes to induct her new child into our clan."

Hushed whispers erupted in the room. Whispers of outrage from the older members and whispers of curiosity from the younger ones. Even slanderous words escaped the tongues of the members of the other two clans. An event such as this had not happened… ever.

"Ahem!"

Ayaka's eyes landed on a sleepy girl. Her violet hair was a tangled mess and she was wearing a pink long-sleeved blouse with a lavender skirt. Her sleepy expression changed the moment Ayaka looked at her but the bags remained underneath her eyes.

"What is it, Akemi?" Ayaka asked.

"By… new child, does it have to do with the European girl that Aunt Akari brought in with her today?" Akemi asked.

"Hmph, it seems like Akari's always bringing in wayward foreigners into our house," Yasuo said. The disdain for her was clear in his voice.

"Quiet, Yasuo. Show some decorum as a clan head," Hakua chastised.

"You know it's true. First, she brings home that Scot. A clear slap to the face of Lord Tenma and Lady Sakurai. And now she brings home another one?" Yasuo said.

"Enough," Ayaka said. Lightning arced off her body and her ki manifested itself as an aura around her body. "Asia-chan, please stand."

Akari and Rowan shot Ayaka a look.

Ayaka ignored them and nodded at her to stand.

Asia gulped and glanced to her older siblings for support.

Akane smiled and patted her shoulder lightly.

Shin grasped her hand and gave it a supportive squeeze.

Asia sighed and clenched her jaw. She tentatively got to her feet and immediately felt all the eyes in the room lock onto her. Kureha waved at her animatedly and the girl, Akemi, she remembered her name was, stared at her as if she was an exotic animal. The rest of the stairs she got were off boredom, disdain, or curiosity. She felt a burning gaze on the side of her head and saw Yasuo glaring daggers into her skull.

"M-My name is Asia Faulkner, pleased to meet all of you!" Asia bowed deeply in front of everyone.

Her greeting was met with silence. No one dared speak a word and the pressure in the room was slowly being piled onto Asia's shoulders. She began to quiver in her shoes and waited for anyone to greet her in response.

"When I said I wanted another grandchild, I never knew you two would go to such lengths to get me a beautiful one to spoil," an elderly voice said.

Asia looked up and her green eyes flitted across the room before landing on a man that sat next to her adoptive parents.

He was old. No, he was ancient. An ancient man with a bald head and wrinkles that were most prominent on his forehead with a jagged scar running down his left eye. He had sharp, pronounced cheek bones and like his daughters and grandchildren, had a sharp nose. He had thick, long eyebrows and mustache with a beard that went down past his waist. The moment Asia looked into his eyes, she felt like she was staring into Akane's. His eyes were the same shade of sunset red as hers. He wore a black kimono with a white, oversized haori draped over it.

"U- Um," Asia didn't know what to say. And it appeared that none of them knew what to say either.

Akari coughed into her hand and motioned for Asia to take a seat.

The whispers returned once more.

Lord Tenma approves of her?

What of Lady Sakurai?

Was this meeting just to introduce her? She's not even going to make it past initiation.

Such a frail girl cannot possibly perform the basic technique of the Furude Clan's Onigari-Ryuu…

Asia shrank in on herself, hearing their barbed tongues spit fire and brimstone at the notion of her mere existence. It reminded her of her time at the church. Even when she was a Saint, she was never comfortable with the fake praise and the snide remarks that came as soon as she turned her back. It got even worse when she was outed as a witch.

"I don't see the point of this meeting," Yasuo said. "Are we just here to introduce one of Akari's kids here?"

"No, this is a formal introduction. Something that hasn't happened in over a thousand years," Ayaka said. "As the Three of us share important matters such as this, it was only right that this meeting was called. The Three Clans are now aware that Asia Faulkner is under the familial protection of House Furude and will now undergo clan training. This meeting was in no way to seek your approval Yasuo. For all you know, Kureha might get bored of being heiress and then, Asia, as the youngest daughter of my Onee, will come to inherit my position as Furude Clan Head."

Raised voices erupted this time with the most vocal coming from her own house. Cries of outrage and indignation that a mere outsider who was adopted had the ability to rise and become the heir and eventual head. To them, suggesting such a thing was mere blasphemy. To some of them, their former heiress had tainted their pure bloodline with the dirty blood of an outsider. And now this?

Having had enough of the situation, Ayaka's eyes glowed and what felt like the entire weight of the Earth's atmosphere slammed down on everyone that was screaming in the room. Their faces and bodies were forcefully slammed into the ground by the sheer weight of Ayaka's Touki radiating from her body.

A pale Asia immediately hid behind Shin and Akane, who were watching the scene with mild disinterest. Akari and Rowan merely watched with some amusement in their eyes while Tenma stroked his beard. The others who were not affected by Ayaka's Ki Pressure paled when they saw the Furude Clan Head's look of tranquil fury.

"I will have order in this house," Ayaka's voice boomed across the room. Her voice oozed authority and power and because of that, their primitive animal instincts ceded to her. They were forced to obey her command.

Even the other elders were shaken up by Ayaka's sudden display of power. The girl had never taken a tone with anyone during council meetings and preferred to let the others speak, however, this time was different.

"As I said, this is merely a formality. Introducing Asia is a formality and not beneficial to the actual adoption process. As my older sister has abdicated her position as heiress to me and took her husband's last name, the process of letting Asia into the family is entirely up to them and not us. Even if it was, I would forbid any of you from interfering," Ayaka said in a dangerous tone.

Their fear of her overpowered their pride and they obeyed without question. Though, it wasn't without much struggle. Many of the opposing clan members turned over and mustered the strongest glares they could at Asia. The other families there did the same though not to the same degree.

"I have one more thing to bring up in this town hall. During this year's Dragon Festival, the base of Mount Benizakura is off-limits," Ayaka said.

Her announcement was met with an uproar of protests and jeers. To the Three Families of Serikawa, the base of Mount Benizakura was a place to pay homage to the great founder of the village and head of the Furude Family. Closing it off on the year that many aspirants hoped to go and gain their own Shikigami or pay homage to the Founder was simply seen as heretical to many. A lot of the protesters looked to Yasuo, who they believed would support them, only to be met with disappointment.

"I agree with Ayaka on this one. We are closing off the base of Mount Benizakura for safety purposes. There's been an uptick in suspicious individuals congregating in the forests around the base of the mountain. Until we can deal with these suspects, we highly advise everyone to stay away from the mountain," Yasuo said.

Shin crossed his arms. Now they warn us? He glanced over to Asia, who had calmed down sufficiently. She sat there, listening aptly to the announcement. However, he saw something in her eyes.

"Hey, Onii. I have a question," she said quietly.

"What is it?" Shin said.

"Are the enhanced youkai in the mountain? Do they have violet auras?" Asia asked.

"Violet auras? No, they're just stronger. I've never seen any of them having an aura color like that," Shin replied.

Asia nodded.

"Why did… you see something?" Shin asked.

Asia didn't say anything for a few seconds. Her gaze stared into the distance before turning to him. "It was… something," Asia said.

"Does it have to do with that girl you said you saw? The one with the horns?" Shin asked.

"Maybe," Asia said. "I'm not sure. I'm really new here so I don't know what's regularly in those woods," she replied.

"When can we go back into the woods? A lot of the younglings in all three clans use this time to look for a Shikigami to bond with them," Akemi said.

"We don't know. Just please, don't go into the woods," Ayaka said.

"Is there anything else that needs to be said for this meeting?" Hakua asked.

Yasuo said nothing. Ayaka shook her head in response.

Hakua nodded. "That is all. You can all go about your days now," the old woman said.

As soon as the words left her mouth, the members of each clan began to file out of the house one by one. Shin and Asia got up, stretching their sore legs. Sitting for a length of two hours on a hardwood floor was not the most comfortable thing in the world. Shin's eyes looked out from the corner, seeing his parents talking to his aunt. Akane and Riser were having their own private conversation and Kureha was sauntering her way over to them.

"Um, Onii, there's someone coming," Asia said.

Shin looked in the direction she pointed at and saw Akemi and… Tenma?

"Shin, you've grown," Akemi said, looking him up and down. The last time she had seen her older cousin, she had been nearly the same height as he was but now, he was a full head taller than her.

"Of course, he's going to be taller. He's my grandson, isn't that right, Shin?" Tenma laughed. His long beard jostled with every laughter that left his belly.

Shin stood awkwardly with Asia in front of them. The reason he was looking forward to the trip to Serikawa was standing before him. If his older sister wouldn't help him, then perhaps his grandfather would. Aside from his parents, aunt, and older sister, Tenma Furude could be described as the strongest person in the Furude Clan. A man who fought in World War II against the Supernatural Powers that interfered within human affairs for their own purposes. The man who revived the Godslaying Sword Art, Ama-Kakera-no-Ken.

"Grandfather, I-"

"So you're Asia, huh?" Tenma said, leaning in close to the blonde that had glued herself to Shin's arm.

"U-Um, y-yes, nice to meet you, G- G…"

"Guh?" Akemi and Shin looked at her.

Asia's face flushed as she stuttered to get the words out of her mouth. "It's nice to meet you, Grandfather!" Asia said, eyes closed in embarrassment at her sudden increase in volume.

Tenma froze completely. His muscles tensed and his breath slowed down to a crawl. The words echoed over and over again inside of his head. Those cherished words that he heard from his grandchildren. And now, hearing it again for the first time from his newest grandchild. It was like a dream come true. A blonde European beauty in his family. A new child to spoil.

Shin snapped his fingers in front of his grandfather's eyes. He looked to Kureha, who shrugged.

"The old man's catatonic," Shin said.

"What did you guys do?" Kureha asked.

"We didn't do anything. He became like this after Asia called him grandfather," Akemi retorted.

"I-Is he experiencing catatonia because of me?" Asia asked, fearful that she had just possibly sent a high ranking member of her new family into a living coma.

"No, gramps is just having a moment processing this. His grandkids birthed by his daughters aren't cute kids anymore so he can't spoil us like he used to. But you… a new girl is uncharted territory for him once more so…" Kureha snapped her fingers. "Hey Old Man! Asia's worried. Like wake up or something!"

"Um, grandfather?" Asia asked.

And like a switch flipped inside his brain, Tenma was brought down from Takamagahara down to reality. His eyes refocused and he saw Kureha's fingers snapping repeatedly in front of his eyes.

"Can you… please stop, Kure-chan? I'm fine now," Tenma said.

"Are you?" Kureha asked. "You gave poor Asia a scare here."

"Huh? Oh, Oh dear. Asia-chan, Grandpa's sorry that he scared you," Tenma said, reaching over and softly stroking her head.

"He really likes Asia," Akemi said.

"I know… it's weird. They just met and he's already treating her like a puppy he found on the road," Kureha said.

"Well, at least, he's not doing it to us," Shin said, crossing his arms.

The three watched as Tenma fussed over and patted Asia. The scene began to resemble a dog and its owner with Tenma being the overzealous, overly affectionate owner and Asia being the golden retriever that was now trapped in a swirling torrent of affection. She looked to them for help, asking for anyone of them to distract the old man with silent, pleading eyes.

"Um, Grandfather," Shin spoke up.

"Hmm?" Tenma looked in his direction while his left hand continued to pat Asia like a dog.

"I've come… to ask you for help," Shin said.

"Help?"

"You helped Mom, Aunt Ayaka, Onee, and Kureha too, right?" Shin asked.

Tenma removed his hand from Asia's head. His demeanor changed and his attention was focused on Shin. A knowing smile came on his face yet he said nothing. Tenma wanted Shin to say the words himself.

"I've hit a roadblock with my training and there's only so much I can do on my own. Please, Grandfather, train me!" Shin said, bowing his head deeply in front of his grandfather.

Tenma stood there silently. His eyes scanned Shin's body language. The boy's posture was tense and rigid. He really was placing his all into that uncomfortable bow. But something about his request seemed off. Shin would have never come to him for training. That much was made clear when Tenma requested to his daughter to allow him to finish Shin's training. However, Akari stated that it was no longer necessary. Shin had her and his older sister. It was true. Akane was more than enough to train the boy. But if the girl's trauma held her back, then Akari should have finished his training. The only reason Shin would go to him was…

His eyebrows raised in realization.

"Of course… Akari is too busy looking for her replacement and…" Something happened between you and your sister, Tenma added as an afterthought.

Kureha looked at her cousin silently. She grabbed Shin by the collar and dragged him a little bit away from them.

"Dude, what are you doing? I thought you were finishing your training with Aka-nee? You told me a few weeks ago that you were learning the Musou-no-Onigari-Ryuu," Kureha hissed in a whisper.

"Things happened. Things that I don't want to talk about but… Onee and I aren't on speaking terms right now. And… frankly, I don't want to get into why. So, for the time I'm here, I'll continue training the Musou-no-Onigari-Ryuu with Gramps and maybe even get started in learning the Ama-Kakera-no-Ken," Shin said.

"You and Aka-nee aren't on what?" Kureha's eyes widened.

"Nevermind that. Just ignore what I said," Shin said. He pulled away from Kureha's grip and muttered something under his breath. "I won't allow myself to be weak anymore… with or without Onee's help, I'll prove that I can just be like her…"

Tenma's eyes glinted. So there was something he needed to beat out of the boy.

"Let me prepare first," Tenma said.

Shin and Kureha turned in his direction.

"G-Grandfather! Shin hasn't even performed the Nine Bows yet! How can you already start training him?" Kureha asked. "Even if we break rules, there are customs too sacred for us to break!"

"I haven't performed the Nine Bows for my sister either," Shin said. "Onee isn't formally my master until I perform it."

"See, all Shin has to do is perform the Nine Bows and I can take over as his teacher," Tenma said.

Kureha bit her lip. "Dude, Shin, are you alright with this? Grandfather's training is nothing to laugh at. You might die," Kureha said.

"Die?" Asia's countenance morphed into one of distress.

"You survived. And I'm pretty sure Akemi will when she starts training so what's the harm?" Shin said.

Kureha shook her head. "Shin, I barely made it. You're crazy for even trying," she said.

"Meet me at the cliff overlooking the Forest at sundown. You know which one it is. It's a walk away from the Shrine," Tenma said, putting his hands behind his back. A wicked smile appeared on his face. "I'll enjoy this as much as I enjoyed throwing your sister off the mountainside."

Shin looked up with determined eyes, not allowing his grandfather to see his apprehension at the words he spoke.

Tenma smiled at the look on his grandson's face. And with the billow of his white haori, Tenma turned around and walked out of the meeting hall, leaving the Faulkners and the Phenexes to gawk at what just happened.

Akane bit her lip, clenching her fist tightly. She could feel the strong emotions coming from her younger brother. A comforting hand rested itself on her shoulder.

Riser gave her a reassuring smile that did nothing to make her feel better.

There was one string of words that pervaded her thought process.

Shin was going to die trying to prove he wasn't the weakling Yaldabaoth made him out to be.

"I need to speak up. I can't let him-"

"Let him," Akari said, interrupting her daughter.

"Mama?" Akane looked at her mother in shock. "You of all people should know better how Grandfather trains people!"

"I know but… this will be good for him," Akari said.

"It'll help him grow," Rowan added.

"Hey, hey," Riser said, cupping her cheek.

Akane's eyes flitted over to her boyfriend's.

"Shin's stronger than this. You know that. He took on Kokabiel and held him off as best he could until you got there," Riser said. "You have to learn to trust him… even though he was being an asshole to you after the Three Factions Summit."

Akane bit down a few choice words she wanted to hurl at her parents and boyfriend, who she believed were in her corner of the ring but it seemed they were in Shin's. The look of trepidation never left her face as she watched Shin leave the Meeting Hall with Kureha, Akemi, and Asia.

"Tell me something. Did Auntie Akari drop you on your head as a baby you idiot!?"

Shin sat on the bench outside of a local family restaurant.

Kureha towered over him, letting loose the spittle and words she had stored ever since they left the meeting hall. Her yellow eyes glinted with worry and anger in the light of the Sun. She knew all too well what training with their grandfather was like. And Shin, who had taken a sabbatical for 4 years unlike her, was certainly not ready in her eyes.

"No, and I know how you feel but I'm going through with this," Shin argued back. "Besides, if you can do it, why can't I?"

"I BARELY SURVIVED, DUMBASS!" Kureha bit back.

"Literally or figuratively?" Shin asked.

"You're unbelievable!" Kureha said. "He's going to drop you right at the base of Mount Benizakura where all the strong Youkai live. The place is so thick with miasma from Moryo's body that you'll be plagued with hallucinations and besieged on all ends by all the youkai that soaked in it for decades!"

Her temper and anger flared to the point that her touki began to cover her in a faint violet aura.

"O- Onii, are you sure you want to go through with this? Can't you and Onee just continue training like always?" Asia asked.

"Guys, I'll be fine. Akemi, back me up here. You're fine with me going to the base of Mount Benizakura with Grandfather right?" Shin asked.

"Umm, don't drag me into this. Though, personally, I think you've lost a few brain cells, Cousin. Kureha's right to be worried. When Grandfather went to retrieve her, Kureha was curled in a ball inside her Balance Breaker," Akemi said, biting into her dango.

"I'll be fine. I'll have Ran. I know Grandfather only lets you take your sword and Shikigami," Shin said.

"Yeah, that means you won't be able to use your Contract! No more Unlimited Blade Works for you, you idiot," Kureha said.

"Kureha, I'll be fine damnit! Just calm the fuck down! I can do this! Don't look down on me just because Gramps trained you!" Shin shouted.

Kureha bit back her reply and shoved it down her throat. Instead, she sighed in a frustrated manner. There was no talking Shin out of something once he had set his mind to it. Trying to do so would be like talking to a brick wall.

"Fine. Go. But don't expect me to visit you in the family infirmary when you come back," Kureha said, crossing her arms.

"Fine," Shin said. "I can always ask Asia to heal me anyway."

Asia shrank in her seat when the two cousins turned on her. So this was what a little sister was going to be like? This was supposed to be a vacation to get used to her new family. So why did it feel like she'd already been part of them for years?

"Just up there right?" Shin asked.

Only Vivi, Kureha, and Asia had accompanied him to the Shrine. The Ryuugami Shrine of Serikawa Village was a Shrine dedicated to the God, Ame-no-Uzume, the Goddess of Mirth and Dawn. Perhaps it was strange that a Goddess so close to Amaterasu decided to take interest in a clan rejected by the Guardian Beasts.

"Shin, remember to call me if you need me to pull you out," Vivi said, floating around him. "And Ran, keep an eye out for him!"

Ran barked in response.

"Geez Vivi, you're not sounding like yourself. Aren't you going to troll me or something?" Shin asked.

"Shin, I might lose you here. I've heard horror stories from your mother and sister," Vivi said. "Besides, can you imagine how the others would make fun of me for getting my Contractor killed?"

"And there it is," Shin said. "Grandpa's going to seal my ability to access my Stigmata to use my Contract but we can still communicate telepathically so you can keep tabs on me while I'm there."

Ran hopped out of Shin's arms and sniffed around the base of the Torii Gate. She raised her leg and was about to urinate when Shin grabbed her and picked her up.

"Ran, no. Don't have the only Goddess who took our Clan's side get mad at me," Shin begged.

"Well, maybe if she didn't try to strip at a banquet, I wouldn't feel the need to piss all over her shrine," Ran replied.

"What? What the hell even is that?" Shin asked. "You know what. Nevermind. Last minute check. Vivi."

"Flashlight," Vivi said, reading a list.

"Check," Shin reached into his pack and pulled it out, "Next one?"

"Dried Fruits and jerky."

"Check."

"Sleeping bag?"

"Check."

"Water."

"Check."

"Tent."

"Check."

"Talisman Carrier."

"Check."

"Firestarter in case flashlight breaks?"

"Check."

"I think that's it," Vivi said.

"Well, I'm off," Shin said. "Wish me luck."

"Don't die," Vivi said.

"Be careful, Onii," Asia said.

"Don't get yourself killed," Kureha said.

"Thanks, guys," Shin said.

The journey to the location that he and his grandfather agreed upon was a rather long but uneventful walk. Past the Shrine, the path led him deep into the woods where he and Ran trudged along. The Shiba Inu had expressed happiness at being able to leave the Shrine. She hopped onto his shoulder, shrinking to a smaller size so as to not debilitate her master.

Shin ran his fingers along some of the shrubberies until he broke past the treeline. In front of him was a rope bridge that extended across a gorge. On the other side was the forest that led to the cliffside his grandfather spoke of.

He took one tentative step on the ancient bridge and gulped when he heard the wood groan against the weight of his foot. Ran let out a few whines.

Shin smiled and stroked her fur. "I guess I should use Shinsoku for this," Shin said. The ki in his body circulated and vitalized his entire body. In a burst of speed, Shin crossed the bridge without so much as placing his full weight on any of the ancient boards.

"I guess it's just a few more minutes from here," Shin said, walking into the woods.

It would not be just a few minutes. The trek took Shin uphill and lasted a good fifteen minutes before he arrived at the "cliff" that his grandfather spoke of.

Tenma sat on a large rock overlooking the rest of the lush forest and Mount Benizakura itself. He turned his head slightly to acknowledge Shin's presence. His haori blew lightly in the breeze.

"Grandfather, I'm here. So what do I do first? Do I do the Nine Bows? Do I need to have some sort of assessment done? Do you need me to do anything?" Shin asked.

Tenma said nothing and got off the rock, walking over to Shin.

"You won't need that pack. Just Ran and a weapon. I'll give you a few seconds to make a choice before I seal your Contract," Tenma said, resting his hand on an old cane.

"That's it? Wait… no backpack?" Shin asked.

"Of course, this is training. We'll be catching our own food," Tenma said.

"W-We?"

"By we, I mean you and Ran. So choose a sword unless, of course, you don't think you can handle this," Tenma said.

Shin said nothing. He took off his pack and dropped it.

Ran looked at her master in worry before nudging his cheek.

"Don't worry, Ran. We'll be fine," Shin said. He held his hand out and Secace manifested in front of him. As the sword manifested, Shin altered the shape of the sword into a more traditional katana rather than its western shape. He didn't know why he did it. It just felt right for this training.

"Hmm, good. Now, the purpose of this training is… well, I'll tell you later," Tenma said.

"Tell me wha-"

Without warning, Tenma slammed his fingers into Shin's abdomen. The tips of his fingers were bathed in a violet flame.

The most intense pain that Shin had ever felt coursed through his body. He felt his ability to use Reconstruction fade away, locked behind an ethereal cage on his soul. Soon the pain became too much and he passed out. The last thing he saw before fully fading was Ran incessantly barking at Tenma.

Shin groaned. The pain in his abdomen had thinned out but he could still feel the dull ache. Speaking of which, his memory of what just happened was fuzzy at best.

"Master!"

He felt a pair of warm arms envelop him. Shin's black eyes looked down at the mop of black hair and arms that wrapped themselves around him. He smiled and patted her back.

"Ran, you're crushing me!" Shin said, feeling Ran's hug grow tighter.

Ran quickly separated from Shin, feeling embarrassed at her sudden action. "Master, are you alright?" Ran asked.

"Yeah, just…" It was only now that Shin noticed that they were not in the same location as before. On all sides, Shin could sense the predatory bloodlust and hunger of the denizens of the forest he now found himself in.

"Ran, where are we?" Shin asked.

Ran closed her eyes and got to her feet. Her tail swished and the tip was coated in black flames.

Shin looked past her and saw an array of charred corpses strewn across the clearing. Some were of kitsune, others of bakeneko, and Shin noticed a recently charred baku with steam wafting off its corpse.

"Lord Tenma blindfolded me and took both of us to the base of Mount Benizakura," Ran said. "He left you a note. It's stuffed in your pocket."

Shin raised an eyebrow and reached into his pockets to feel a piece of paper resting in his right pocket. He pulled it out and unfolded it. After reading it for a few seconds, his eyebrows furrowed and he sighed in frustration. So this was why Kureha was so against it. His eyes flitted around the clearing and he saw the shining form of Secace resting next to him. He grabbed it and picked it up before walking over to Ran.

"Grandpa's crazy," he said.

"What is it, Master?" she asked.

"The first training exercise is survival. I have to make it back to the village in three days or else I fail," Shin said.

Here begins Shin's training. A survival test... in a forest that's off limits. Because Tenma doesn't listen to his own daughter's orders. Also, Asia will notice that she has a black talisman in the next chapter. I'll also sprinkle some bits of where everyone else is. After all, they are all major characters.

Well, that's me signing off for now. See ya'll next time.