• The Tengu dropped down from the tree and landed near the four companions, his mouth watering and his claws gleaming. He stepped forward, and Ayame screamed… and Kirisaki doubled over in momentary pain before-- “Hello again, brave priest-man.” Everyone turned and faced Kirisaki, who had once again sprouted batlike wings and was covered in black armor-like hide. “I bet you forgot me, didn’t you? Can’t you remember that I feed on fear? You just let me out.” Zabuza looked warningly at Ayame, but she had already passed out. Meanwhile, the Tengu had stopped his advance to stare, wide eyed and wonderingly at the form Kirisaki had taken on. He began to stammer and sputter, but Fear waved a hand at him dismissively. "Please, go away Tengu. No one loves you." The beast blinked a few times, and then spread his wings and flew away, looking confused. Akiko turned to Fear and gave him a long stare. “what? No ‘oh thank you mighty Fear, for helping us get rid of that big, bad Tengu, and keeping us safe! Here, have this tasty young girl as a present!” He looked at Ayame hungrily. Akiko smiled sweetly and said “oh thank you, ugly Fear, for scaring off a weak Tengu that we could have handled ourselves! Here, why don’t you take this as a gift of appreciation?” and lit a fireball in her hand. “No… no need for that, I’ll just go… um… you do remember that this is the master’s body, don’t you…?” “Oh I remember just fine” she replied “but he doesn’t usually feel the WORST part of the burn, now does he?” Fear beat a hasty retreat back into Kirisaki’s mind. About that time, Ayame woke up again, blinking. “um… what happened? I saw the Tengu… then some big ugly thing came out of that kid…” she said, pointing at Kirisaki. Kirisaki looked ashamed, like he had just wet himself in public, while Zabuza and Akiko explained things to Ayame. After some time, Ayame said “Oh. Well, I’ve seen weirder.” and got to her feet. “So, where are yall going? Cause I’m coming with nee-chan.” At this, she took hold of her brother’s arm, and there was somehow just no saying no to her face.

    Later that night, as the four bedded down around a fire, Zabuza was the last to fall asleep. He looked sadly at Ayame's sleeping form, and took out his black book again. By the light of the fire, he read silently: ‘mission 78. Kill the demon Kirisaki. He will lie to you, and say he is important to the Earth. Do not believe him; just kill him and any who have had contact with him.’ Zabuza looked again over the sleeping forms, and silently got up, unsheathing his sword with not even a whisper of sound…