Ichi held out his palm, signaling for Renya to stop.

"I wasn't serious."

"I am." Renya said seriously.

Her naked crouch didn't shift at all. Ichi stood up. He shifted the shaft of orc sword onto her shoulder.

"All right. I dub thee Maid Knight Renya." Ichi's head cocked. "That sounds fun."

Ichi grinned at the girl.

"'Maid Knight Renya'?" Renya said under her breath.

"Yeah. You don't mind the change right? That's enough talk. Come on, lets go get something to eat. Tama's got a spread setup inside the fort. I'm hungry."

Ichi turned without a second thought, a grin on his face. His orc sword shouldered, he walked away from the naked girl. Renya looked at his back, a smile creeping on her face as her fingers curled around the wolf sword at her feet. She rose, following her new lord.

The sounds of the forest flooded over the two. They walked in silence, Ichi sniffing the way back. He purposely detoured through the long winding road Renya paved as she chased him last night. The memories of almost dying six times were something to laugh at now.

The hot sun baked into them as they passed through the treeline near the fort. Ichi walked straight up and knocked on door, and it creaked open. Rikya stood there, sleepily rubbing her eyes.

"Ichi? And-" Her eyes moved to the naked Renya and she looked away. The door opened fully to reveal Tama who sat at the table drinking tea.

Ichi walked in and said the most important thing first.

"Got a maid outfit?"

Tama said nothing but a flash of garments appeared out of the air.

Ichi thumbed through them, upset that nothing western was there. What's the point if it's not western style? No, Ichi realized, these could be called 'maid outfits' as well. It was his misunderstand of what a maid was- a servant. Tama's sense of culture would no doubt be different.

"None of these are good." Ichi said. They disappeared with a flick of Tama's hand. "Mind if we eat?"

Tama showed them the table with her hand. Behind him, Renya had already dressed.

"When did you..."

"There were clothes and I was naked. Why wouldn't I wear them?"

"So fast." Ichi complained.

He dug his teeth into something that looked like turkey with both hands holding it like a football. His table manners were appaling. Renya respected the wide array of cutlery and used it properly, waiting until Rikya served her.

Tama coughed.

"Anyways. Ichi, how do you feel about living in the village?"

In between bites Ichi mouthed out some vague statements of disapproval.

"Rikya and I are heading on a vacation. I have some friends in the Spirit World that won't mind accomdating us." Her eyes moved over Renya, solemn, with the wolf sword at her side as she ate neatly. Tama's grin lose a little of it's luster.

"Would you like to come?" Tama offered Ichi.

Meanwhile, Ichi ripped the turkey to shreds. He looked more like a dog than human. As a Tanuki, he figured he could get away with this behavior, especially since he was at the table with someone who could easily be his enemy tommorrow. Ichi's gaze moved over to Rikya, who nodded her head and smiled as he looked at her.

He snapped a bone from the turkey and used it to pick scraps of food out from his teeth.

"Sure. I'll rest first. Tired from last night. Then, I've got something to pick up from home. Renya, prepare yourself as well."

Renya nodded at Ichi's words. They would be going to the Spirit World with Tama. Ichi felt like he was walking into a trap, no, this was definitely a trap. Instinct could tell him that much.