"Where's the peanut butter?" The question warranted a point of a finger from the store clerk.

Unkempt brown hair shook with an annoyed fury in response. The messy kimono wearing girl pointed to the empty bottom shelf.

"Peanut butter."

Pause.

"The big jar."

Another pause. "I need the big jar."

Between each pause had been a jab of her finger in the direction of the empty shelf.

The poor store worker looked more and more tired as seconds passed. The truly terrible side of working in retail. The customers.

"We're out...But, you could buy two of the normal jars for the same amount. There's only a small difference the money you save." He tried to say in a calm, polite voice.

All he'd be given in return is a deadpanned look from the girl.

"There isn't enough peanut butter on the shelf...Go check in back."

He started "Miss, I don'-", only to be quieted by the girls quick words.

"Go - Check - In - Back." A larger pause taking place than the one she held between each of those words.

"Please." Came after. Manners.

The scene changed. Indeed there were more peanut butter in the back. The girl stood in front of the check out line. She looked left, right, up, and down. Nostrils flaring here and there as she took in the scents from all around her.

She leaned in close to the woman standing beside her. An older woman who looked to be in her mid-forties and well dressed. A long whiff taken, followed with a cough. The wild girl stepped back and pinched at her nose. The perfume the older woman wore was terrible. Strong and terrible.

She waved a hand in front of herself while the disgruntled woman let out a not so happy grunt, along with a few choice words to show her distaste. Not that the peanut butter buying girl cared, she was far too busy watching the lights of the cash register flash with each pass of the peanut butter jars.

"You must...really like peanut butter." The cashier tried to make small talk.

"Yup.", is all she'd get in return. The young woman bounced a little some, as if antsy for the transaction to be complete. Once the final peanut butter jar had been placed inside the bag and the total was flashed, she'd be gone. All that was left behind would be a few bills.

She could already hear the cashier call out, "What about your change"!" but she hardly cared. It wasn't her money! Yurei-Hime might chastise her later for not collecting it, but the mission is all she cared about right now.

Bike basket loaded up with bags upon bags of peanut butter. She'd make sure to strap them down just in case before putting feed to peddles and speeding down the street.

"Child...what reason brings you into our domain?" The large gray wolf that laid upon the cool rock next to the steady flowing spring said. Its feral eyes locked on the white wolf pelt wearing girl.

"I assume Yurei-Hime sent you?" Said another wolf. Smaller in size compared to the pack leader, but still far greater than any normal wolf. Her question full of mirth, which gave the other wolves lounging about a chuckle or two.

Yasei bit her tongue. She needed to show respect. She would only respond after taking a second to collect herself. "No...It was Granny who sent me." Her choice of title may not be the one the wolves spoke of among themselves, but they quickly understood either way. The smaller ones kept quiet; only the leader spoke up in return.

"Then you have my attention. What do you need?", she said. Those large, red eyes stared unblinking, as if they were peering through Yasei's own soul.

The pelt wearing girl swallowed back and gave a lift of her chin before speaking. "Three merchants have been attacked while traveling through the path. All died from their wounds, but one was found before death...he said a wolf attacked him...The pathway is neutral ground and anyone is allowed to use it," Her words stopped.

"Do not tell me what I already know, child. I was there for the agreement." The large wolf said.

Yasei furrowed her brows behind the hood of her pelt. "...I was rude, I apologize."

"You believe one of my pack to be responsible for these attacks?" The gruff question met Yasei's ears.

She shook her head. "No. I know the wolves have pride and would never break the agreement...But, I believe someone with a sinister motive is trying to frame the pack."

"I heard my husband in your voice.." The great wolf said. Its teeth revealed. "I want you in my presence no longer," The tone grew larger and more fierce. "Leave."

Yasei retreated a few steps. Her head bowed heavily to show respect. "...As you command..", but she did not leave - not yet.

"The attacks?" She said. Her head still bowed.

A silence took over the small area of the forest. Only the sound of the stream broke the uneasy atmosphere.

"I will investigate.." The words of the great wolf broke the silence. "Now, leave."

Yasei had no reason to stay then. Her work done. She'd offer the pack one last bow before she turned and began to walk away.

One of the smaller pups spoke up then. "The peanut butter?" Innocently said.

The half-human stopped and took slow knee. The watchful eyes of the great wolf seen out of the corner of her eyes, but then came a turn of that large head. Perhaps telling her that she did not care. Yasei let out a small sigh of relief then went to work on opening the bag.

One pup came closer, followed by another, and another. Yasei spent her short period of peace-time by unscrewing the lids off those jars and rolling them to each of the young wolves. She may not be able to please the older ones, but she can at least work on building a friendship with the younger generation.

Three days. Three nights. The fourth came slowly as sun faded away into the backdrop of the horizon. Guard duty during the day; traveling the travelers pathway during the night.

Uneventful wouldn't be the wisest word to detail her time. The annoying kitsune became a frequent guest during her patrols; the same being said about a picky Yuki-Onna who did not enjoy the word no. They made the night more interesting, though Yasei would not admit such inner thoughts to the open air; if she did, they might take it as an invitation to intrude more often.

It had been when the stars shined their brightest in the sky that the eerie blue flames that flickered in the distance caught the half-youkai's eyes. Her lips twisted to form into a rather relaxed smirk. The kitsune came to mind. "I'm not following you tonight. I told you that last night, and the night before that." she said in a tone akin to a mother scolding a child; yet the flames did not disperse.

Her nostrils flared. A new scent taken in coming from the direction of the flames. "...Corpses.", she muttered in an uneasy tone.

It was then another scent followed. This coming from a brush of wind blowing from the south of her. As she looked over her shoulder to verify, it had already been too late. A streak of blue illuminated the space at her right; as it did at her left. They wore moving and not for her. No, the other scent she smelled had been the intended target. Human.

A twist of her body which sent furred pelt fluttering behind her in a wave-like motion. Her knees: prime, bent, and ready, launched her forward in a sudden dash. The ghost-lights moved far too fast. She couldn't keep up with them. Every step she took, they had taken the distance of three.

She could see the caravan on the move. The yellow tint of their lambs creating shape with light in the darkness of the forest. They were alert now, she could already see three figures take a position before the wagon. The blue light spotted, she couldn't even yell out before the sound of gunfire filled the air.

All she could do was take a sudden, very unsafe step to the side. Her body twisted in a loss of balance as she felt something rip into her abdomen. Bare foot hit the dirt trail in an attempt to steady herself mid-step in her dash. Toes dug into the soft trail and helped push her forward to continue the run.

The gunfire stilled, but only to allow for a scream; then came the loud bangs once more. Yasei witnessed as she came upon the scene of the two remaining men fire into the third. The third — now lit in the gathered blue flame, could only scream. It wasn't a scream of pain, Yasei knew this one well enough from experience in the past. This was the scream of a soul leaving the body.

This urgency brought a sudden rush of strength to her legs. A leap that took her into the air. The wolf pelt fluttering behind her once more as she arced mid and landed beside the other two men. They were busy reloading, though when she landed; their screams were one of true terror. Arms outstretched at either side of her as she wrapped them about the two men's torsos to push them back from the scene.

The third was no longer their. When the blue fire pulled away, another had formed in the middle. Yasei grit her teeth as she witnessed the metamorphosis. She dug a hand inside the cloth that wrapped about her waist, though the twinge of pain that came from her mid might have stilled her for a split second; never the less, those talismans were taken in hand.

"Stay. Inside." She muttered in a low tone to the two men. Their shocked expression spoke well of their obedience as she laid the talismans about the three of them. "You..!" A hiss of a whisper to the man still within the wagon. When she spotted that youthful face that poked out from the cloth-draped window, she realized it was no man; but a woman instead.

No matter. She made a motion with her hand, all while keeping an eye on the flames that danced around before them. She found it odd enough that they did not come closer. Instead - they began dancing about their newest inductee.

Think. Yasei told herself. The Onibi are spirits of the dead; but what have caused them such grief to latch onto others" To torture the living and invite them into their fold" If this continues — merchants will no longer use this path; the shrine may lose possible revenue. Not only that, but Yasei did not want to see her Hime's sad face if there were to be no visitors from far off lands regaling her with stories of the realms beyond. Yasei may be a wolf, but she's one with a figurative collar.

She would not wish to see the one she was sworn to protect saddened.

"Spirits. If you leave these three be...I will give you myself, but only if you grant me one last request." Yasei said after a shaken sigh. The blood loss getting to her. Fatigue setting in.

"What is this request?" — "Tell us.." — "Your soul burns bright.."

This brought a smirk to Yasei's lips. "Take me to whatever is disturbing your rest...Only then will I freely allow you to take me."

Yasei attempted her best to ignore the whimpers of thanks behind her. In a way she felt revealed for them. Granny would call it a job well done that she kept the three safe. Now, she just needed to figure out a way to get out of this newest predicament. She rose up to stand and gave the three one final look. "Stay in here. Only leave when you no longer see the lights, alright?", she said and watched the two slowly nod their heads.

"So. Spirits, do we have a deal?" She made a motion to leave the circle behind. A single footstep taking her beyond the barrier; a show of good faith in her end of the deal.

"Follow us." — "Follow us." — "Follow us." — "Follow us."

She couldn't say no to this request. Yasei knew there was a jealous kitsune wandering around the forest now. This brought a smile to her face. The blue orbs began dancing in an elegant motion away from the wagon.

"All of you owe the miko at the Akiyama Shrine a gift the next time you use this path." Would be her departing choice of words to the three as she left them behind.

Yasei reached up and took hold of the wolf-face hood of her pelt. A gentle tug brought the mighty beasts features over her own; it brought her comfort as she followed the spirits in silence.