Prelude - Ikari, Kayo, Satoshi

The woodsman's face turned darkly serious when Satoshi asked about any strange goings-on in the forest, which loomed forbiddingly on both sides of the slopes as if it heard what was being asked. For they had cut through the more accessible route to reach Itsuno, their route cresting up and then down again to reach this tiny village that sat next to the river in the small dip in the valley. Again they saw his arm tighten around his axe. "I avoid it. The blood rain. Sometimes it comes, but I cannot sense any pattern to it. Impossible to penetrate, even though I know these woods like the back of my hand. Are you sure someone came here before?" He pointed towards the eastern line of trees, Satoshi's words causing him a slight doubt.

"We know the constable, Nira. No he hasn't been here." He responded to Kayo as well, and it seemed that the doshin's fate was getting grimmer and grimmer. Sawada's face was one of consternation as he found himself overwhelmed by the disturbing mystery of the entire situation.

The woodsman rapped at the wooden gate of the elder's compound, then swung it open to let himself in, expecting Ikari, Kayo, Satoshi and Sawada to follow. "Otona? Otona!" The woodsman addressed the elder Koji by his title, with a tone of tension to prepare otona Koji for the surprise. "There are people who've come to see us!"

"Echigo?" The voice inside called out in reply, for that must be the woodsman's name, before the door opened to reveal the elder Ikari had spied on earlier. Koji took one look at the assembled group and motioned them into the house, minding his manners not to immediately demand everyone's identities. Sawada was first to begin to introduce himself, before a female voice behind Koji blurted out, "Daughter?!" Was she referring to Kayo??

Kayo froze, a woman's cry of "Daughter!" piercing the tense air. The impossible word sent a tremor through her. She pushed past Koji with uncharacteristic force, her gaze desperately seeking the source. "Mother?" she breathed, the single word heavy with a longing she barely dared to acknowledge.