Chapter 4 : Wander

On that winter day, snow was slowly falling from the sky, the sky was dark preventing the sunlight from bathing the world in its light.

On the road to the small town of Ishikawa, a young boy of about a dozen years old with short black hair, loose-fitting clothes and a white sheathed katana hanging from his belt was walking towards the small town.

"I really hate winter atchoo!" Says Ibuki, wiping his nose blocked by the cold.

It had already been two years since he had left the village, fife was much simpler now, he just kept walking on a random road without knowing where it would lead him, sometimes he would pass through villages or towns, during those two years he even managed to find a few demons that he killed without too much difficulty, he sometimes stopped and challenged kenjutsu dojos on his way, he hunted for food or sold the carcasses of the animals he killed for money.

"Maybe this is freedom." Said Ibuki looking up at the dark sky before frowning.

"It's a perfect season for demons."

He continued walking like this for half an hour before reaching the city.

The town was big enough for those times, the houses were bigger than in the villages he was used to, in spite of the cold some inhabitants continued to walk in the streets, some were working and others were just walking around.

Ibuki, slightly attracting the attention of passers-by, walked for a while in the streets before sitting at a yatai (mobile restaurant), the owner seeing Ibuki's arrival was slightly surprised before quickly regaining his smile.

"Dear customer, what would you like?"

"A Yakisoba and a bowl of Ramen miso."

Ibuki took off the loose clothes he was wearing, folded them and put him on his chair, then watched the cook frying the noodles and stoking the fire under a stock pot.

At the same time a man approached the yatai and came to sit on one of the stools.

"Hello Kusuke."

"Welcome Jirocho, do you want the usual?"

"Yes, but you add some sake, with the events of his last days I can't sleep."

"It's true that these disappearances of children are becoming more and more frequent."

"Don't tell me about it, the hunters think it's the work of an animal, we last found the torn body of a poor little girl by the lake three days ago, it was a horrible sight."

Then the man (Jirocho) looks at Ibuki.

"I hope we didn't scare you too much with our stories, my boy."

"No, I'm fine." Said Ibuki shaking his head.

"Enjoy your meal!" Said the cook as he laid down his fried noodles in front of Ibuki.

"My boy, if I'm not mistaken, you're not from this town."

Ibuki nodded in response and took a pair of chopsticks and separated them before taking a bite of his meal.

"Take more care of yourself, don't walk without your parents, it's dangerous to go out alone in winter."

"My parents are dead." Says Ibuki while eating.

Hearing this, the man felt awkward for a moment before finally sighing. :

"May their souls be sent to heaven by lord Enma."

After finishing his Yakisoba the cook brought him his ramen, which he ate quickly before putting on his loose-fitting clothes.

"Thank you for the meal." Said Ibuki as he put some coins on the counter, but before leaving he suddenly looked at Jirocho who was drinking sake.

"Can I ask you where the lake is?"

The man unconsciously pointed to the southwest with his finger and took a sip of sake.

Ibuki nodded his head in thanks and then left.

The cook who noticed this suddenly stopped and looked at Jirocho.

"Wait a second, do you know what you just did?"

"What are you talking about?" Jirocho asked, while he drink a big sip of sake.

"You just told a 13-year-old boy a place where children have gone missing and died."

"Haha it's ridiculous, I would never...What!!!!"

"Damn, that kid had such a mature look and attitude, I forgot how old he is! I have to stop him from going!"

Jirocho hurriedly left the Yatai in front of the cook who was scratching his head.

"Who's gonna pay for the Sake?"

. . . . . . .

As he left town, Ibuki was walking along a small snow-covered forest path, heading towards the frozen lake a few hundred meters away, but he suddenly stopped when he heard the familiar voice of Jirocho further on.

"Kid wait!"

Ibuki waited for Jirocho to join him before asking:

"Why are you following me?"

Jirocho panting looked at Ibuki with a little resentment before saying:

"Of course I came to stoo you! This place is no place for children! Go back home quickly!"

"Because of you I couldn't enjoy my sake."

But he saw that Ibuki, instead of listening to him, kept walking towards the lake.

"Come back here, damn kid!?"

But Ibuki still wouldn't stop, forcing Jirocho to run after him.

"Kid, don't you think I dare give you a spanking?"

"A good child must obey the adult, so don't make me use force."

But suddenly Ibuki stopped and blocked the mouth of Jirocho who wanted to talk.

"Silence! Listen."

Jirocho who wanted to take Ibuki's hand out of his mouth suddenly stopped.

"Help! Help! mom! dad! oni-chan!"

A small and faint voice from farther away, came to their ears.