My hand sifted through the box of cloth. After enough rummaging, I finally reached a piece of fabric made of higher quality than the rest.

I pulled the coat from the wooden crate and inspected it in the candlelight.

It was lined with fur and thicker than the rest. I smiled at my efforts paying off. "Early bird gets the worm." With that, I draped it over my shoulders and tied two small strings from the lapel to hold it all together.

The cold of winter was setting in, and I wasn't letting myself get stuck with a glorified potato sack to try and keep me warm.

With a swift lick to my fingers, I pinched the candle sitting atop a barrel, extinguishing the light.

I opened the door and made my way into the courtyard of our bustling camp.

Luckily today was a slow day for me. I had given the Doctor his supplies and sparred with Lee a few hours ago. Since then I've finished all I've been tasked to do.

There was a roaring bonfire in the center of the camp, where a few others that had completed their work as well were already resting.

I sat down on a log and held my hands towards the fire. The people sitting at the fire were unfamiliar, except for one.

Sora sat on a separate log across from the fire, book in hand. I decided to move seats closer to him, hoping for some conversation.

As he caught sight of me, Sora nodded. "Afternoon."

I gave an "mmm" along with a nod as a response.

After that, we sat in silence for a moment. I worried that I might bother Sora from his reading so I would let him start when he was ready.

After a few pages, it looked as though he had reached a point to stop. Sora closed the text and spoke. "You seem thoughtful. What worries you?"

At least Sora was the same as ever. "Have you talked to Lee recently?"

He looked down for a moment, remembering the last time they talked. "I have, but only momentarily. He seemed distressed."

"He has been as of late. I believe it's his upcoming birthday."

Sora raised an eyebrow. "And he's distressed over it?"

I thought for a moment. I would try to be quick with all the information I had. "He turns nineteen this year. And he told me he joined this place in hopes of getting an ember."

Sora nodded in understanding. "His time is running short."

"Exactly." I looked around, trying to find Lee. To no avail. "Next time you are able, spend some time with Lee. We all know just how much of a comforter you are."

He ironically rolled his eyes. Sora was aware that he usually came off colder than he meant. "I'll try."

Yasuo caught my eye in the distance. He was waving and walking towards me. So I would end it short. "Thank you, Sora. I know that you do try." Sora just nodded and opened his book once again.

I stood up from my seat and walked to Yasuo. Immediately, he spoke. "Kohei, the Huntsman, and I are holding a meeting to discuss our future plans. I thought I could repay you for keeping me from the Doctor by letting you sit in."

The Huntsman was acting strangely as of late, so knowing what he was planning would be beneficial. But I wouldn't take all the credit. "Remember that I didn't do all the work. Lee kept the Doctor from your room longer than I did."

Yasuo looked a bit surprised at me not instantly taking him up on his offer. "Would you prefer him to take your place?"

I shook my head. "No. No. I believe he's busy. I'd be more than happy to come."

He nodded. "Excellent then. We haven't time to waste." He waved for me to follow, and I did.

We moved through the camp, people moving aside for Yasuo as we went.

Soon we reached a large and round tent. Yasuo pulled open the curtain entrance and waved for me to go ahead.

Upon entering the room, I was met with a large round table, atop it a map was strewn. It looked like the entire island of Nihon.

At the other end of the table were Kohei and the Huntsman, Kohei held a candle while both inspected the paper.

Kohei looked up and greeted me with an air of surprise. "...Kenshi? Have you a reason to meet us?"

Yasuo answered for me as he closed the drapes to the dark tent. "I brought him to this gathering with me. Sir Kenshi had caught wind of the yokai's plan before any of us did. Along with his... past experience. I thought it proper for him to give an opinion."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Kohei made a sour expression, pursing his lips in defiance. "Fine. Just be aware, Sir Kenshi, that you are here on Sir Yasuo's request only. And that you will take that privilege with grace."

I would cater to Kohei's pride. If I wanted to keep myself inserted in these type of meetings, I would need to make a good impression. "I understand, high Samurai Kohei." I gave a small bow to tie it all up in a ribbon.

Kohei smiled smugly as I spoke of him. He corrected his posture to a more commanding figure than hunched over the map. "Good. You may join us, Sir Kenshi." Now I'm unironically Sir Kenshi. I suppose it really did only take some pandering comments to get on his good side.

I stepped nearer to the table and took a closer inspection of the tent. A single lamp hung from one of the support beams in the center of the rather large tent, but it didn't make enough light to completely fill the room or to comfortably read the map, hence the candles.

In the dark corners sat boxes of what was mostly meaningless supplies, perhaps more maps? And then there was-

Then there was... The Doctor.

I spoke to him. "And the Doctor is here as well?"

Before Kohei could defend him the Doctor spoke for himself. "I'm the chief of medicine in this company. Of course, I'm here."

I leaned on the table to get a closer look at the Doctor in his shadowy corner. "You're the only person in this company that works in medicine..."

He adjusted forwards from his seat atop a wooden crate. Just close enough to the center of the room for the lamp's light to catch in his glasses. "Precisely!" He beamed a smile at the thought of his response.

I waved my hand at him. "Fine." Then I looked over to Yasuo. "Are we ready to begin?"

Yasuo immediately looked to Kohei. "Exactly what I was about to ask our high samurai."

Kohei straightened a few papers on the table, then spoke. "Yes. Everything is in preparation."

The Doctor stood from his crate and walked to the table.

After a moment of silence, the Huntsman decided he would be the one to start. "The yokai was last seen heading north towards Mt.Fuji and it's surrounding cities. It's started snowing recently, so if we don't move quickly we'll lose its tracks."

Yasuo spoke. "Why are we even chasing after this yokai? Our assignment is to exterminate ALL yokai. Wouldn't we be wasting time hunting this particular one?"

The Huntsman gave a dastardly look towards Yasuo. Ever since he failed the Hunt, that yokai had been the only thing the Huntsman would speak of. "Because... Because we last saw it going towards a large grouping of cities."

Kohei nodded. "It would be irresponsible to leave it on a potential path of destruction."

Yasuo gave a disappointed look. "Kohei, you can't possibly think that this is logical..."

The Doctor intervened the conversation. "This specimen is more intelligent than any yokai I've encountered. It's crucial I study it. And study it alive."

Yasuo rubbed his thumb and forefinger over his eyes. Then looked to all of them. "Fine, then. What cities are the yokai estimated to hit?"

The Huntsman took his opportunity to move forward with his 'plan B'. Not giving Yasuo a chance to resist any further. "We've been given letters from a few villages already speaking of a scarred and arrow pierced yokai attack around this area." He pointed towards a general area on the map, somewhere between the beach where Hayato was stationed and Mt.Fuji. "I've spoken to the shogunate and we should have hounds delivered to us in our next shipment. We'll go to the yokai's last sighting, and the dogs will snuff it out."

Kohei nodded. "That sounds fair enough. What say you, Yasuo?"

Yasuo shook his head. "I say we're on an undeserved witch hunt." He thought for a moment, then turned to me. "But we've yet to get another opinion. Kenshi, have you anything to say?"

I knew Yasuo wanted reinforcements to back up his point. But I didn't know. There was something about that yokai. Something evil. But I did agree it was time-consuming to chase after.

Dodging the question was a better course of action. "Well... The yokai is most likely spiraling towards the summit of Mt.Fuji. They've always been drawn towards Lady Amaterasu's palace."

Kohei responded. "This is true. But Lady Amaterasu has gone missing, so why would it scale all the way up to her palace?"

I shrugged. All I said was a thought. And there was really no argument behind it. "Perhaps it's just unaware?"

The Doctor spoke up. Adjusting his glasses and inspecting the map. I could see him envisioning the yokai's trail as his eyes tracked every road and path. "Perhaps... But whatever the reason it's still drawn up there. We have a path. And the longer we wait, the further away it goes."

The Hunstmans spoke up in a hurried tone. He didn't like the thought of that. "And we can't let that happen! I say we leave as soon as the hounds arrive."

Yasuo shook his head. "We can't be hasty. Rash decisions make for bad outcomes."

There was silence for the longest time. Every man had a different selfish goal around this table. But only one had the final say in the matter. Kohei looked over the map intently, drifting his hand over the parchment. "We can't let the beast get a greater lead on us. Three days until the next shipment. Three days to prepare."

Hearing this, Yasuo pushed off of the table. "I'll go inform the men of your decision." Kohei nodded.

These men weren't ones I was particularly fond of, so I left with Yasuo. All that needed to be said was said and all that needed to be heard was heard.

Yasuo was ahead of me, but I caught up with only a small bit of jogging.

He looked back as I entered his peripheral vision. "You didn't have to leave early on my account."

I pat his shoulder as I slowed down. "I wasn't entirely interested in the after-party anyway." My hand slowly drifted away as a thought came to mind. "Yasuo. You mentioned my 'previous' experience with yokai... Do you... Know?"

He solemnly nodded. "Everyone in that room knew beforehand. Kohei keeps his friends informed." He looked down to the slightly snowy ground with a thoughtful expression. "Just know that I think no less of you. What you did was hard... I understand."

I grimaced at his words. They dug deep and stung like a wound that had never healed. "What I did is not forgivable, and not allowed to be passed away as nothing. I deserve to be here in all of my dishonor."

We grew closer to the middle of the camp. We would have to move the conversation along quickly. Not that I wanted to keep indulging in this topic. Yasuo spoke the end of all this. "My lips will stay sealed, never the less. I tried to speak with you in mind, somewhat. But it looks as though nothing has changed."

My head shook. "I'll be fine with what we have to do. I can't keep hiding forever."

Yasuo had no more time for words. But the look on his face told me all that he would have said. He stood tall in the middle of camp and asked for the Samurai to gather around. Once they all formed, he began. "We... Uh... High Samurai Kohei and his committee of advisers have come to a decision..." He shook his head vigorously. No more time to be formal. "In three days we all leave to continue our hunt. Make sure the horses are ready and everything is in order. Thank you."

The crowd burst into a surprised and panicked state. Questions shouted to Yasuo as he walked slowly back to his quarters.

And so begins plan B.