Heavenfall

Shinjo stepped forward. "Thank you all for coming. We have established a plan for rescuing my brother." "We have been developing it for a while, but it took Shinsei's wisdom to figure out how exactly we can use Reiko-san's connection with him to help extract him from Jigoku. Her connection is strong...

"Giving it a weaker hold in this realm will likely make its eventual assault weaker, as well," the goddess added. "If you think of it like a battle, cutting off your enemies supplies is an essential tactic."

She nodded to Jin. "Yes... I remembered some and connected the dots when he talked about it." "They will have whatever it likely detected upon her. And if it could find her, we can undoubtedly find a way to do so, as well. Reiko, Haka, or Agasha might be able to help. Jin, you, as well. Perhaps all ...

Shinjo looked to her companions. "From what he's said, there is a cycle that repeats every thousand years, where Ningen-do and Jigoku clash, each with their own champions. Shinsei hoped to stop the cycle this time through the rescue of my brother. Jigoku seems to be keen on him for its champion." Sh...

Shinjo resumed her human shape. She touched the jade to herself and to Shinsei as she looked to Ryoko. "No... this is the real one." she looked to the monk. "Floaty monster... That was the being you told us about, yes? It seems we were too late to catch it." She turned and bowed deeply to those pres...

Suddenly, a graceful creature wreathed in flame barreled through the camp before coming to a sudden stop, a crow with it and two people on its back.

"Of course... I'm glad she feels better," she replied with a warm smile, putting her hand on her shoulders and squeezing them gently. "Both of you can always come to me."

/scene

Shinjo nodded and began to braid her hair thoughtfully. She took her time, careful to make sure it's obvious so it can be repeated later. None of her tugs as she worked were painful. Once she was finished, she coiled the braid and tied it up to itself with the ribbon so that it was out of the way. "...

"Thank you..." Shinjo smiled a little and nodded. "Just resist the urge to kill the poor man in his sleep."

/scene

Shinjo's eyes went wide at the revelation. "Jiyo-san was talking about a marker at one point. The Five Races engaged in this fight at one time, didn't they?" "Do you have any idea how soon this might be coming?" He should have told at least her sooner, but that was in the past no use worrying about ...

As she continued, working toward the scalp painlessly, she looked to Aono. "Would you ask if she'd prefer a braid or a tail for her hair, please? I'll so something simple for now."

Shinjo's ears perked at the discussion and she returned. "Half of the wounds you have are ones that were inflicted on the spirit? How are we to fight it, then, if doing so will harm you, as well?"

Shinjo began to work in sections, first combing the hair from the bottom while holding it above so that the tangles wouldn't pull on her scalp and it wouldn't hurt. Then she moved up the length methodically. She looked to Aono as she did and said, "You can tell her, as well - I used to do this with ...

Shinjo suddenly found it very important to get up and go keep an eye on their surroundings so nothing strange jumps them.

Shinjo smiled a little and met Phi's eyes. "I think he'll understand."

She glanced at Shinsei. "As for you... if you weren't deeply, severely injured, I would slap you the way I slapped the Seidou woman the other day. Never do that again."

Shinjo fiddled with her pack and pulled out a comb and a plain black strip of cotton cloth. "May I?"

Shinjo simply moved and rolled him gently but quickly to the side so he could vomit there (away from Phi) rather than into his own mouth, potentially choking again.

Shinjo looked her over thoughtfully, then smiled. "I'm curious, Miuna-san, is there a reason you haven't been putting your hair up?"

Shinjo's hand went to her forehead. "Yes... Let's not engage in human sacrifice to the Realm of Evil. I imagine it would be all too enthusiastic to encourage us to believe it worked temporarily."

Shinjo studied the cuts and bruises, pulling out a medicine kit. "We won't be able to move him for a while. Maybe not for the rest of the day, depending on how well he takes this... I can do field dressing, but I wish Shiba were here..." She murmured as she pulled out the appropriate supplies, caref...