The Day of Thunder

Sora had a great deal of annoyance to cope with, so he did the only sane thing under the circumstances, and went looking for some spiritual guidance.

Of a sort.

Finding the monk Kichi absent from the camp, he had gone into the village to see just what the hell he was getting up to now...

The monk was standing in the village streets, seeming to be amused with several children dangling several feet off the ground holding onto his arms and giggling. He looked over as Sora arrived. "Sora-san. You'll forgive me if I don't bow."

One of the kids drops to the ground with a grin. "Kichi-san is really strong!"

"That he is, kid, that he is."

He hunkered down a bit to look the kid in the eye.

"But where are my manners... I'm Jiyo Sora, and that would mean you are...?"

"Ichiro!" He said excitedly. "I don't have two names, though. I want to be that strong someday!"

"Well, Ichiro, it takes a lot of hard work, but if you apply yourself..."

He cocked his head to the side, looked from Ichiro to Kichi, then back.

"Yeah, I think you could manage."

"Let's go get stronger!" Ichirou says, and all the children drop and go start playing a game that had something to do with that, undoubtedly.

Kichi drops his arms and stretches his back, which lets out a couple of pops. "My hero."

"As a legendary hero of the Empire, I could do no less."

He paused, enjoying the good feelings seeing children able to play in a carefree fashion gave him, before stuffing them down for the moment.

"It dawned on me that with everything that has happened recently, I should maybe see how you're doing."

He shifted his shoulders before finally straightening. "I appreciate it." He looked up at the sky. "Yume-Jigoku is close. I can practically feel it. Everything smells wrong when that's close by."

"It's going to get worse before it gets better. And... I can't help noticing much of your, ah... support has been knocked away."

He tilted his head to the side.

"Is there anything I can do, Kichi-san?"

He smiled a little. "I appreciate it. I wish I could say there was an easy solution, but this is an inevitable part of this happening."

He lifted his shoulders and dropped them, not quite a shrug. "Ukyou-sensei has been guiding me for five years, but I knew our paths would diverge soon. He has a place he needs to be, and I must stay in the Empire."

"Any idea what that's gonna look like for you?"

He took a deep breath in through his nose and out through his mouth. "If I survive this, I will be going into hermitage for some time to free myself from the last of Jigoku's influence. Then..." He shook his head. "I'm not sure just yet. I want to find an answer to what my place in the world is, as a... somewhat unusual person."

"We're all unusual people, Kichi-san, but I take your point."

He surveyed the village.

"But if you ever need to talk to someone who... knows? Look me up."

He chuckled.

"I've buried the hatchet with Anjing, I've discovered I like every single one of Nanzi's kids I've met, I might as well keep it going."

Kichi chuckled and nodded. "It... it really does mean a lot, to have someone to talk to. Even after five years... It still feels strange."

He was silent for a moment, then said, "I will not do so except under the most dire circumstances, but... If it looks like people may not otherwise escape, I will show myself."

Sora nodded. Once.

"Let us hope it doesn't come to that, Kichi. But if it does... it has been an honor, seeing what you have managed to become."

"I hope so, as well. I trust those who have come here to defeat the evil that's coming," he said with a smile, nodding. "I'm glad we've met again, Sora. If you don't mind, I feel like I can call you a friend."

"Y'know, I think I'd like that, Kichi-san."

He smiled, the expression warm. "Thank you." He looked out toward the edge of the village. "I may have to go south, to the lands of the Nezumi. I suspect Jigoku's natives may be trying to escape. I have no doubt that Yume-Jiogoku is eating into its other parent realm, as well."

"With its mania for human creativity, I can see how it might be a bit... difficult."

He frowned.

"I think the Nezumi can hold the line, but... I'm sure help would be appreciated."