The Purist Muji

The morning sun filtered through the old Japanese inn's thin paper windows, casting a soft, golden light across the room. Hoshiyo, Takeko, and Rei slowly stirred from their futons, each sister waking to the gentle sounds of the village outside. The air was crisp, but the warmth from the kotatsu beckoned them as they gathered around the low table, still wrapped in their blankets.

"It's still freezing in here," Hoshiyo murmured, her breath visible in the chill.

Rei, already nestled under the quilt of the kotatsu, nodded. "Yeah, but staying warm isn't our biggest concern right now. The heater beneath will keep us comfortable for a while."

Takeko stretched, letting out a tired yawn, and absentmindedly tapped her fingers over her mouth. "I'm starving. Think we can ask them downstairs for something to eat?"

Hoshiyo's stomach growled in agreement. "We'll need some food if I'm going to be useful for today's mission."

Rei smiled faintly, her eyes half-lidded in the warmth. "I'm sure she'll bring something up soon. Before we discuss our next move, there's something important I need to tell you both," she said, pulling out three small vials from her pouch. The vials contained a pale, shimmering liquid. "These are antidotes that Kuzunoha prepared. I only have three, so we'll need to be careful. We'll use these if we come into contact with the sorcerer's magic or the black ooze. But we have no extras, so we must be smart about this."

Hoshiyo nodded, her gaze steady. "Then we'll have to approach this mission carefully. We can't afford any mistakes."

Takeko leaned forward, resting her arms on the kotatsu. "What's the plan, then?"

Hoshiyo took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "We'll hide our identities. Blend in with the villagers. The sorcerer sells charcoal, so we'll pose as customers—ask for some without drawing too much attention. It could get ugly fast if he recognizes us, so we must be discreet. Once we've got him, we'll question him away from the village, someplace private. We need to know how to stop him and end this madness."

Rei tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "A food stall should be a good place to wait. Busy, lots of people around to hide us. We'll use that as our cover."

"Exactly," Hoshiyo agreed. "We can watch for him there, act natural, and strike when the time is right."

Just as they finished laying out their plan, the sliding door creaked open, and the elderly woman from the inn entered the room, balancing a tray of steaming bowls and dishes. She smiled warmly at the sisters as she placed the food on the table. "Here's some breakfast for you," she said gently. "Miso soup, white rice, and dried fish. Eat well before you go."

The sisters smiled in gratitude, bowing their heads. "Thank you so much," Hoshiyo said. "You've worked so hard for us."

"It's my pleasure," the elderly woman nodded before quietly leaving the room.

The three sisters sat together, savoring the simple yet comforting meal. The miso soup was hot and savory, the rice soft and perfectly cooked, and the dried fish crisp with a hint of salt. They ate in peaceful silence at first, the warm flavors bringing a sense of calm before the day's mission.

After a few moments, Takeko broke the silence with a grin. "This breakfast might be the best part for a mission where we're hunting down a dangerous sorcerer."

Rei chuckled, nodding in agreement. "I must admit, it's nice to start the day like this. Even if it's just for a moment of peace."

Hoshiyo smiled softly, but her thoughts lingered on the mission ahead. "Let's not stick around for too long. We have a lot of work to do after we eat."

After finishing their meal, Hoshiyo, Takeko, and Rei gathered their belongings and descended the narrow staircase of the old Japanese inn. The creaking wood beneath their feet echoed in the quiet inn as they descended, their steps purposeful and light. Outside, the morning air greeted them, crisp and refreshing, as they stepped out onto the dirt road.

They traveled to a nearby Taiyaki food stall, the enticing scent of freshly baked treats wafting through the air. Together, the sisters met the stall owner, a stout, cheerful man with a kind face, who enthusiastically waved them over.

"I heard what you're doing for the village," he said with a broad smile, his eyes twinkling. "It's an honor to have you here. Please accept these Taiyaki as a token of our gratitude." He handed over the fish-shaped pastries, still warm from the grill.

The sisters exchanged glances and smiled, grateful but focused on their mission. Hoshiyo said, "Thank you for your kindness, but we also have a favor to ask. We want to use your stall to remove the sorcerer responsible for the curse. He delivers charcoal to this village; we suspect he'll be here soon. We need you to keep our identities a secret, just in case he recognizes us."

The cook's smile faded slightly, replaced by a thoughtful look as he wiped his hands on his apron. After a moment of consideration, he nodded. "Okay, I'll help you, but please keep my Taiyaki shop out of the fight. I'd rather not pay for any foreseeable damage at the moment."

"Of course," Hoshiyo replied.

With a grateful nod, the sisters sat at one of the old wooden tables beneath the stall's wooden roof. The open view of the village provided a clear vantage point. They tried to appear casual travelers, savoring their Taiyaki and chatting quietly as they watched the village's bustle.

Rei and Takeko sat across from each other, giving them a clear view of the village, while Hoshiyo positioned herself at the end of the table, her eyes scanning the street, ready for any sign of the sorcerer.

Hoshiyo raised her red bean Taiyaki to her lips and whispered, "Can you both see both sides of the street clearly?"

Takeko glanced around, her Taiyaki in hand, and whispered, "No issues on my side."

Rei nibbled on the tail of her Taiyaki, adding, "Same here. No sign of anyone fitting his description, not that we got much of one."

Hoshiyo nodded, taking a bite. "He'll be carrying a straw basket full of charcoal. That's all we need to identify him. He'll reveal his true nature if he feels threatened, so we have to act fast."

"Agreed," Rei said quietly.

Takeko, meanwhile, chuckled, clearly lost in her thoughts. "I hope he's handsome. It'd be more motivating to chase him if he were."

Rei and Hoshiyo froze, their Taiyaki momentarily forgotten as they stared at Takeko in disbelief. They didn't need to exchange words—their expressions said it all. Takeko's comment was wildly inappropriate, given the sorcerer's crimes, and they could only hope she'd focus when the time came for the fight.

It wasn't long before the cook spotted the sorcerer approaching—a hunched man with sharp eyes, a large basket of charcoal slung over his back. The cook waved him down with a friendly call. "Oi! Over here! I need some charcoal for the stall."

The sorcerer narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering toward the sisters at the table. Suspicion clouded his face as he studied them, but the cook, ever the smooth talker, chuckled. "They're just travelers passing through, nothing to worry about. Come on, let's do business."

The sorcerer hesitated briefly before shrugging and approaching the stall. He wore a tattered black cloak over a faded, ragged, dark brown yukata. A slender wooden staff hung at his belt while a weathered lantern swayed from his opposite hip. His eyes were dark, almost lifeless, with heavy bags beneath them. His skin was pallid, marred by cuts and scrapes, and his unkempt black hair, tangled and matted, fell to his shoulders.

In a low, monotone voice, he asked, "How much do you need?"

"Five pounds of charcoal, please," the cook replied, bowing to him. Sweat beaded the cook's forehead, and fear crept in that their cover might already be blown.

The sorcerer set his basket on the dirt and said, "I can do that."

As they exchanged goods, the sisters rose from their seats and crept past him, hoping to draw him into the street. Trying to keep things casual, Takeko turned and waved, calling out, "Thanks so much!"

Her gesture was meant to dispel any suspicion, and the cook, catching on, returned the wave with a broad smile. Her cheerful face eased the growing tension in him, and as he picked up the charcoal, he held it close, ready for anything that might go wrong.

Just as the sorcerer turned to go, Hoshiyo moved swiftly, grabbing his arm in a vice-like grip. Takeko and Rei were beside her in a flash, flanking the man from both sides. The sorcerer tensed, trying to pull free, but the sisters had anticipated his every move.

"You're coming with us," Hoshiyo said coldly, her voice low but firm.

When they turned the corner, the sorcerer twisted out of Hoshiyo's grip with a surprising burst of speed. He ducked low and spun, slipping between the sisters with agile movements. His dark cloak whipped through the air as he bolted down the narrow street. Hoshiyo, Takeko, and Rei were momentarily stunned but quickly gave chase, their eyes locked on the fleeing man.

In one swift motion, the sorcerer leaped onto a stack of crates, quickly propelling himself onto the tiled rooftops. He stood high above them, sneering down with a gleam of triumph in his eyes.

"You'll never catch me!" he shouted, echoing through the village. "You think you've won, but I am not your enemy. I am Muji, a Purist. My only goal is to cleanse this island of the dangerous creatures that infest it! The Kami—those monsters—you revere will destroy us all if left unchecked."

Hoshiyo clenched her jaw and drew her katana, the blade flashing in the sunlight. "You don't understand, Muji," she shouted, calm but fierce. "The Kami are not your enemy. They protect this land—they are this land. Without them, the world as we know it would die."

Takeko readied her Tekko-Kagi, the iron claws gleaming menacingly as she glanced toward her sister. "He's fast. We'll need to outmaneuver him."

Rei stepped forward, gripping her Naginata with steady hands. "Let's end this."

Muji smirked as he brandished his weapon—a wooden staff embedded with glowing crystals, shimmering with the raw power he had stolen from the island's sacred places. "You think you can stop me? I don't need to fight the Kami to destroy them. I'll weaken them, break their connection to the land, and when they're powerless, humans will rise. You'll see."

With a flick of his staff, Muji sent a pulse of energy toward the sisters, forcing them to scatter. Hoshiyo dashed to the side, her katana ready as she lunged forward, slashing at Muji's legs. He parried with his staff, the crystals glowing brighter as he pushed her back. Takeko closed in from the opposite side, her Tekko-Kagi slicing through the air with deadly precision. Muji spun, blocking her strikes with his staff, but the force of her blows knocked him off balance.

"You don't stand a chance, Muji," Rei said, thrusting her Naginata forward. The blade connected with his staff, sending sparks flying. He grunted, stumbling back toward the edge of the rooftop.

"You don't understand!" Muji spat, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "The Kami are too powerful! They'll turn on you eventually, like they did on me!"

"They didn't turn on you," Hoshiyo countered, her katana slicing through the air as she pressed her attack. "You provoked them. You tried to control them. The Kami have a purpose—maintaining balance and keeping the world alive. Humans need them, whether you like it or not."

Muji's eyes narrowed as he swung his staff, a wave of energy crashing toward the sisters. They dodged expertly, but Muji was running out of room to retreat. His breath grew heavier as he realized he was being cornered.