Book of Noodle

Chapter 30

Mazuu. A shape shifting demon of unimaginable evil.
That's who i was hunting down.

Turns out Chiyoko knew more about Demons than i thought. And I was just the girl to hunt him down.

I was on my way to find Jinmenji. The all seeking tree. But. I wasn't going alone. Chiyoko had provided me with a little yellow bird named Hito.

I felt bad for leaving, the village was just starting to feel like home to me. And not to mention I had promised Kengo we would go out tomorrow.
But this was no time to get attached.
With my katana in hand and Hito by my side. I was prepared to find Mazuu and end his terror before he caused any more.

Our first journey was a top a mountain.
We had traveled for about 48 hours before we got to the mountain side.
It was cold and misty. Dark too.
Hito had guided me to a Cliffside that was as smooth as marble. The only ridge it had in it was a crack that lead all the way to the top. No doubt it was from some ancient Kaijo that use to rule this area before the dawn of time.

Hito managed to hover in front of the ridge as if hunting something at me.

"You want me to climb this thing?"
I asked.
The yellow bird flapped with excitement. Putting away my katana I began to shift my way up the marble smooth cliff side. The cold ice piercing my skin with each grip I took.
It would've been really nice to have gloves but I'll just have to suffer through.
I shuttered as I looked down from where I was. Surely if I fell it would look similar to a blob of Mochi ice cream being splatted onto pavement.
With each movement I felt my wrists become fatigued and my hands becoming sore as I traveled upwards.

Unexpectedly a group of deadly Japanese hornets came swarming in from the darkness coming in to attack me.
Losing my grip I felt myself flailing about before i hastily grabbed a lone branch growing out from the side of the mountain.
My heart was pounding fast as the adrenaline kicked in.

A few moments later and i was able to shimmy my way out and fall flat onto the snow atop the mountain. Fatigued and out of breath.

"Bravo! I thought you were a goner there!"
My eyes widened as I saw the yellow bird flitter above me. Did he just- speak?
"Oh! Sorry about that, i probably should've mentioned i could talk!"

"Its fine."
I sat up, rubbing my wrists.
"C'mon then Hito. Lets continue."

We continued our journey tirelessly. Over plateaus, through ravines, towards distant jagged mountains that seemed to be getting further away with each step.

The sun began to set once we reached a bamboo forest.
It was Hito that suggested we rest a little before we continued.
Hesitantly I sat down. Perhaps a little rest wouldn't hurt. After all i was feeling a bit fatigued and tired after all of that climbing.
However, I was unable to sleep. Like my eyes were being forced open.
My body ached but if I couldn't sleep then there was no use in staying in one spot for too long.
As Hito Nuzzled into the crook of my neck, being warmed by thick strands of my long black hair I continued to carry on.
As i did so my legs began to feel heavy. They felt as if they were no longer mine but belonged to the earth.
"Hito. I'm stuck."

I spoke, causing the little yellow ball to fluff up and pop out of my hair.

"Hello? What?"
He blinked his eyes rapidly as if waking from a deep slumber.

I was unable to see what was happening through the gloomy fog beneath me, but I could feel it. Soft cotton like fur snaking around my legs. It flowed and moved with each slow pulse of my heart. Like it was reading me.