Kodama forests's Curse

Chapter 7- Kodama Forest

Finally, Japan appeared on the horizon, and they arrived in a city at approximately ten in the evening. Lexi disguised himself as an albatross to match Dauirmuid and they flew down together, the wind felt even colder against their faces as they closed in to the ground. The lights were bright, blinding and beautiful, the buildings were as tall as Dauirmuid remembered. He began to breathe lighter, finally, he felt he actually had a chance to stay human. The two landed in a narrow alley and turned into their human selves. Lexi stared at Dauirmuid in awe for a few seconds as he fumbled around, trying to stand up straight. Something about seeing him in real life and finally being able to hear his voice made him feel lightheaded, or maybe it was airsickness..
"Well, we're here. Now we just need to find that forest."
"We better rest before we do any of that, as long as we can convince the tanukis you meant no harm before the time the curse began for you, they can make you human again. Doesn't have to be right away."
"..Yeah, I imagine that was exhausting for you. And, uh- sorry for making you carry me out of the ocean and to Japan."
"You didn't 'make' me do anything, I could've left you back there of my own will." Lexi mocked. "Oh, by the way, heres your bag." And he pulled the purple bag off his back and tossed it to Dauirmuid.
"Hah, yeah. Thanks." Dauirmuid smiled. "So, would here do?"
"Yeah, I suppose so." Then Lexi turned himself back into the fox.
"You sure love to do that don't you?"
"Yep. But this time it's for warmth, I suggest you do the same." Dauirmuid hesitated for a minute before turning to default. Now he looked exactly like a raccoon, but with the glowing white pupils and black sclera. His heart skipped a beat as he looked at himself.
"..what if we can't convince them to turn me back?"
"We will. After all that flying we're going to have to." Said Lexi, trying to sound confident.
"I know, but as far as I know those guys hate humans. What would they do for some guy?"
"I don't know. We can try a very sincire apology and work our way from there." Dauirmuid curled up, his eyes illuminated a small part of the ground. He shut them and turned over to face at the sky, he couldn't see very much. There was a very faint light coming from the moon and that was pretty much it.
"..just. Try to sleep Dauirmuid. You'll need it." Lexi said, noticing him struggling to relax. Dauirmuid kept fumbling around, until he eventually just turned himself back into a human and curled up into a ball. He was cold, but he couldn't sleeep if he was going to have to be that.. thing. A nearby crow took off into the night as the two slept.

As soon as light started to shine from behind the tall buildings, Dauirmuid scurried to his feet and started to shake Lexi awake.
"Hey, Hey! Can we get going to the forest now?"
"What.. what time is it?"
"I don't know. But it's early, and the earlier we start the sooner I can be human again."
"Right, getting up." Lexi pulled himself up, and Dauirmuid offered him his hand. Lexi took it and stood up, they stared at each other for a split second before Dauirmuid took off to get directions from someone. Lexi stumbled behind him as he ran. Dauirmuid walked up to the first trustworthy looking person he could find and tapped their shoulder.
"Hi, sorry. Do you know where ko-"
"pSumimasen, nandesuka?"
"I- I'm sorry I dont know much Japanese- watashi wa ima, amari.. nihongo.. shimasen."
"Ā, ī yo." The stranger responded. Daurimuid looked back at Lexi, who was slightly hunched over and heavy eyed.
"Hey, do you know how to ask for directions?"
"..Nope. Sorry." Dauirmuid turned back to the stranger.
"Sorry."
"It's okay." And the stranger walked away.
"Maybe there's some tourist maps around here?" Dauirmuid glanced in multiple directions.
"Wait, what city is the forest in?" Asked Lexi.
"Err.. pretty sure... Krishima."
"We're in Fukuoka right now, or at least it says so there." Dauirmuid looked over and sure enough, there was a resturaunt with a sign in the window that said; "Welcome to Fukuoka tourists!" and underneath the same in a few other languages.
"Oh. So.. More flying then."
"Yeah. Get back into the alley, we better hurry."
The two ran into the alley and waited for there to be less people, then took to the sky. Dauirmuid in the form of an albatross, and Lexi changed from a bird and into a kistune again once they got far enough from the ground.
"So, directions.." Lexi looked back at Dauirmuid.
"I think it's this way." And he pointed his muzzle somewhere south.
"Alright." And they began the flight, this time it was significantly colder, despite not being overseas. They stayed in silence for the remainder of their journey, Dauirmuid was beginning to panic.