(Remaster) The Ship of the Tempest

What It's Like, When Thunder Cracks

Several hours have passed since the meeting, and Musashi was soon waiting outside the Shrine, sitting with Kawakaze as she waited for Akagi to come receive her. The conversations were held to a minimum, but Kawakaze seemed fine with that, especially since she usually had to stand in silence anyways.

It was only a few minutes before Five o'clock, the time she told Akagi to meet her again, and she still hadn't showed up. 'Where the hell is that girl...'

The sun was already beginning to set, the sky starting to turn orange before she finally noticed a head of brown hair cresting the hill. Soon enough, Akagi came over the ridge, looking professionally cleaned up, much better than when she left the Garden earlier that day.

In a minute's time, she was in front of Musashi, and bowed to her. "Lady Musashi, I'm ready to take you to Orochi."

"Orochi?"

"It's none of your concern Kawakaze, please drop the subject."

Kawakaze was curious, but nodded to her and stepped back. Musashi stood, stepping forward to Akagi with her yellow eyes staring deep into the Carrier's soul.

"Let us be on our way. Daytime is burning fast, so we must be quick."

"Of course." Akagi turned right around, walking with a surpassingly fast pace back towards the town.

Musashi followed right behind, most she passed by surprised to see her, but considering how fast the two were moving, they didn't bother to intervene, believing it was something important. With Akagi ahead, Musashi kept her stare into her back, checking every move she made while subconsciously remembering the route.

"It should be just this way Lady Musashi." Akagi soon broke away from the main path, leading the two down a natural walkway that was clearly well worn, probably from others taking the same path.

Although, during one of the densest parts of the path, Akagi suddenly took a turn, heading through some bushes that she pushed out of the way. Clearly she remembered this due to repetition, so Musashi quietly carved a line in the dirt with her shoe before following after her.

The foliage was thick, and considering this was the first time Z73 went through such things with massive tails behind her...it was easy to see she was getting pretty pissed off from the constant snags and pain that came from it. Akagi didn't seem to be faring much better, but she sucked it up much like she did, and pressed onwards.

"I'm sorry about it being so dense Lady Musashi, but it needed to be kept secret."

"It's quite alright, but it better be worth the hassle of getting to it."

It was another minute or two of travel, before Akagi fell out from the bushes and into clear ground again. Musashi was right behind, breaking away and seeing that they were at the mouth of a cave.

"So you hid it in here?"

"It was the only place suitable. It both fit the project, and hid it from view."

"Not to mention how out of the way this area is." Musashi picks a few loose twigs out from her tails, which Akagi did as well before the Red fox continued in.

Musashi followed behind her, and almost immediately upon entering, she felt a wave of cold air wash over her. The air in a cave was usually a little cooler then the outside, but something about this cave felt...off.

'It feels like someone's watching me...I better be on my guard.' Her eyes darted to and fro, spotting no one around her, but knowing better than to drop it.

"Lady Musashi, it's just beyond this point." Akagi turned a corner, a little bit of light shining on her face as she did.

Musashi slowly followed, seeing an oriental bridge that her escort was now standing on, looking down over the side. She came up to her, looking over as well, soon feeling her eyes widen at the sight.