Exploring The Deep (Rei)

How was life spent in the forest? Well, for one, Youji was forced to be on his gaurd at all times- so much so that his natural knack for sensing skills showed its self. As a scavenger in both worlds, one needed a sharp nose or sense about them. His nose told him something was different about the forest today. A low sigh slid the lips of the light blue haired fox oni slipped through the forest, away from his location. That scent went down the tracks, and Youji needed to move. Far stronger Oni lived in the forest, as well as Youkai. A growl slipped the lips of the oni. Many of them could solidify, and it was a skill that had nearly ended his life on several occasions.

His nose took him towards the middle of the forest, where he spotted an oni in white, with a strange fur thing over his shoulder. Eyebrow rose in the air as the male cracked into a light smile. Someone he could mess with. Well, it was best to test him first. The fox demon smiled, and appeared to any looking at him like the Cheshire Cat, "So, you are new to the deep, stranger? You don't wear the garb of a monk, so what are you, then? An oni,by the look of your ears, stranger?"

"Oh," pouted Youji when the being did not answer his questions, "so rude, to not answer my question and instead ask your own. Oh well, you'll likely tell me later. I'm just a spirit with a knack for tracking. Curious, though."

It was then that he stood and sat on the branch as he smirked down at the oni. Oh, it couldn't really effect the real world, but he could feel himself being a bit more solid. Meh, it had to be a trick of his senory, though. He waited a moment forany further quests from the oni below him and slid down to ground calmly and brushed himself off. The smile never left his lips, though it looked far more human, "Well, in case you were wondering, this is a place the humans call The Deep, in the forest outside their city. They've been more cautious since that large demon attack though. way more cautious. Stay here if you need to rest, stranger."

He paused a moment before he added, "Oh, I meant to tell you a name. Call me Minamoto. Can I get your name, stranger?"

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A tilt of of the head looked oh so cat like on the fox demon. Not that he really needed to act this way, it was just fun to mess with people. Being a kitsu, it really was not something he thought too much about. He then noted the name- he found it to be a strange one, this Valkrist character, but he did not think on it too much. A short pause later, the oni ask how Youji had survived. Ah, finally, a question that could be answered proudly!

Youji puffed up a bit and replied with some pride, "It's my sensing. I'm a natural at it, you see. If I need to, I move away. Of course," he continued his his eyes, normally golden, turned crimson, "If I smell or sense a weakling, I devour them. As for why I'm not in Onitoshi, well, if you think about it, it only makes sense- Onitoshi is a place of demons that are and are not civilized. I'd rather be out here to sharpen my skills than be devoured in that demon city. Besides, I was curious about this human realm when I first arrived. Now, I present you with the same question; why are you not in Onitoshi? You are defiantly not a weakling."

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Oh, this guy was so boring! The guy as just here because he was curious? Cruelty, it was surely going to be a boring person. Perhaps a few tricks, later? Yes, that's what would happen. For the moment, a nod would go the stranger's way, "Yes it does, Valkrist, though that isn't very detailed. Is there," the fox oni asked as his eyes flashed crimson for a moment, "Something in this forest that you are searching for? Perhaps more than just looking around. I could help you look for it- I can track oni and kami and even those possessed nine hours since their passing."

He was rather proud about that last bit of information. He had honed that ability, but he was going to get some fighting abilities soon. Yes, it would be best to get fighting abilities. If more like this Valkrist character came into the forest, Youji might find his game of devouring turned against him. Sometimes his tracking abilities didn't save him. Sometimes it was just dumb luck, or whatever it was called by the humans. Yes, Youji thought to himself, at least physical combat in this form was needed. Besides, the fox oni knew that it was truly pointless to try and fight his way out of some battles with just a punch and a kick.

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750/750 (Completed Spiritually Impression)
Misc Gains: 1 TEXP

A quest was thrown Youji's way- to see if he knew of anything useful of these sorts of things. Soldiers, fodder, workers for his dirty deeds- for all oni had dirty deeds, there was to be no quarrel about that fact. Benefits, of course, there could be many. A low tone rumbled from Youji's throat, "Hmm... well, I have heard about... hold on."

Youji got a bit closer to Valkrist with his nose pointing the way. He sniffed for a dozen heartbeats before he grinned and continued, "Yes, as I thought. I smelled wolf on you, among the human scents. There are wolves in this forest- of course, they are oni. Most of them are freal, however, lost the ability to speak. They and I often play a cat and mouse game- the feral ones, anyway. The others are smarter, and leave me be. They have others to worry about."

The teal haired fox oni pulled back a bit before he sent out his senses- quested for both sides as he asked as a smile played on his face with his eyes flashing crimson once more, "Which one do you quest for, Valkrist? Those that speak, or those that will bend to your will blindly, once you become their alpha male?"

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750/750 (Completed Spiritually Impression)
Misc Gains: 1 TEXP

"Heh," the word easily slid from the oni's throat as he nodded his head and picked out the trail among the hundreds in the forest, "Then I'll take you to the group that has an ill alpha male. He should be an easy push over. But I'll warn you, he does have quiet some years of experince. He's a few hundred years old..."

His tone trailed off as he noticed that he had actually become solid- you see, a misqueeto met it's death when it landed on him- an automatic response- but before, he never actually killed one. A smirk slid from his conciousness as he added, "They are unable to solidify, yet. The smart ones know how to, though. Come, this way, Valkrist. The trail moves strangely along."

He moved South, along a confusing trail. Youji never hunted them before, but other oni did. The fox oni took to the trees as he spoke down towards Valkrist, "Come, I'd rather avoid as many demons as we can at the moment. It will save your strength, just in case that ill leader was already downed. You may need to make the rest submit to your will."

Words: 1,266
750/750 (Completed Spiritually Impression)
Misc Gains: 2 TEXP