Satoshi scratches his chin nervously. "I suppose? I'm... not really sure where one goes to ask around aside from inns... At least that usually seems to be how it works? I'm not sure which one matters though... so maybe just whichever one we see that looks occupied?"
Kichiro shrugs. "Well, since neither of us has any better idea, let's just stop at the first one we find that seems to have people in it."
Satoshi shrugged, and subtly (or at least with an attempt at subtlety) let Kichiro take the lead. "Might as well. No point standing around, right?"
The influx of travelers due to the natural feature of the hot springs become more evident as the two of you approach. At a glance, the layout of the onsen village had grown around spring, with accomodations made for the natural land. As such, there are a cluster of buildings near what could relatively be called the center, distinct markings of several smaller bathing houses around a larger, the colors bright and easily visible. Sprawling out around them are shops and a few places to eat, with residences and other services arraying out behind in one and two-story buildings.
Of the somewhat orderly spill of buildings outside of the wall, the closest inn that you find is along the main road in, one street behind what looks to be newer-built houses and shops, one example of the growth of this village— or small town. The conveyance garners attention as you have come to expect, with the few passerby stopping to see its progress, noting your arrival at the inn.
The inn itself is also relatively recently built, with a bit of an eye for the future growth of the town, given that it is certainly a step above that of the pallet-and-floor design that would be the bare minimum for an inn. The materials are well-made and built, while the smell (a spike of Hunger, prowling, discerning, growing) of the nearby area is normal, though a thread of interest is there.
Kichiro tries to ignore the Hunger as he gets off his brother's contraption. "Looks like a good place to check out?" he half-states, half-asks.
The kitsune (in human form, as usual) walks into the inn and quickly looks it over, getting a feel for the current patrons and whether this would be a good place to ask questions.
Satoshi shrugs nervously, before huffing and pulling himself together. No time to waste.
"Sure. Might as well start there."
He also looks over the new-looking construction. "I wonder why the shrine looked so old and abandoned when the city seems to be growing..."
As Kichiro looks around the interior of the inn, he can see that some care was taken in the design, as the wooden floor becomes raised not too far in, with enough space for someone to remove their shoes before stepping onto the smoothed and stained wood. The tables are low, though small stools are available for those that wished for something to sit on. The smells are that of a handful of people, with only two other, newer scents present. It seems like not that much traffic in the past few days, which might make sense with the weather.
Satoshi is able to notice that the construction was done with some diligence, with the joins and finishes watched with a skilled hand. The inn area was separate, this area being much like a place where one could get food for a lunch break from work. Two other doors for the wings of the building were two of the three other entryways, a short hanging cloth denoting the separation, while the kitchen was the third— excluding the front door. None of the quality of the furniture was exquisite, though it was decently crafted for its use. The woven mats on the floor were done similarly, the designs painted onto the windows and flourishes in ornaments emphasizing the relaxation and tranquility of the town as a whole.
The offerings of the inn are hanging from tiles on the wall, as well as the price, and there are a few simple offerings, as well as some dumplings and teas, to a couple more elaborate dishes if one were inclined. Rooms are also available by inquiry.
The host was seated nearby, at a table out of the way, where a steaming pot of tea that neither of you recognize sat with a cup that they were enjoying. A long and thin wooden pipe was in their hand, though it was not filled or lit, and they looked a bit surprised at your entry, standing to greet you.
"Oh! Welcome, young masters to the 'Onsen's Edge', please, have a seat, and let me know what you would like!"
Kichiro is not too surprised to see how quiet the inn is at this time of day, though he's a little disappointed.
"A half-dozen dumplings, to start," he responds to the host with a smile, "And maybe some news of the road. Have there been many travelers? What can we expect as we head east?"
"Not much", they said, with a bit of a shrug of their thin shoulders. "The season has just broken, so things will be picking up as the season brings travelers, so everyone is finishing up preparations." They hurried off, the thin wisps of grey on their head held back by a red and yellow kerchief. Shortly thereafter there was the sounds of preparation, and not too long after, the smell of the buns being heated. They did return with a hot kettle and two small cups for the two of you, moving with a familiar skill despite the age that their wrinkled hands would seem to indicate.
"East would see increasing traffic on the roads, while undoubtedly there is the usual increase of banditry that either the headman or daimyo will have to send men out to scatter, there have not been any odd reports, so nothing strange should be about..."They trail off thoughtfully as they consider things.
"That does mean that you two would likely have the springs with fewer company than you would have at any other time. I can recommend one if you like." With a placating gesture, they head back to retrieve the cooking order, which may be a few minutes more, judging by the smell.
Kichiro nods thoughtfully as he listens, and takes the tea with thanks.
"Yes, a recommendation would be most appreciated," he says. Skipping the onsen would look suspicious, and besides, they still had money. "Oh, one thing we were curious about--we passed a small shrine on the way into town that looked abandoned. Do you know what happened to it?"
Satoshi stood quietly by for the time being.
Though he was drawn to the thoughts of collecting some of that spring water to see if it actually had any differences in alchemical properties compared to normal water.
"Well, if you're looking for luxury, the Moonstone bath is further on in almost the center of the town. The shrine, however~ they should be about to reopen it once this cold breaks. That travel is not for the weak, especially in the snows of the cold. One moment."
They turned with a bow, and made their way back to the kitchen, the bloom of the smell of the dumplings almost mouthwatering, and shortly thereafter, a plate of them sat between the two, the buns arranged around a center dish of a dark sauce for dipping. From the smell, the meat was a blend, but they were made with care. The flavor is solid and homey, definitely a comfort food that traveled well, though a touch of extravagance is in the sauce, complimenting it in a manner that it does not have on its own.
"I will leave you to your food", they said as they retreated back to the kitchen for now.
"Thank you," Kichiro says to the host, then turns to his brother.
"We still have a good bit of money--we might as well try the Onsen, right?" he suggests with a grin. "Sounds like it shouldn't be too busy right now, which should be good for me..."
His smile gets a bit forced before he lets it drop. He quickly eats one of the dumplings to banish the spike of Hunger his thoughts brought, hardly bothering to taste it in his haste.
He voices another thought. "Still, we might want to ask about work, too... though it might be hard to find something we could do quickly, since we don't want to linger too long. We should figure out our route to the next town, too..."
Satoshi ate more slowly, appreciating the food.
"We might as well. I've heard they're supposed to be good though maybe a bit tough if you have fur to get soggy. A bit unusual, but I suppose understandable if the shrine is seasonal?"
Chewing thoughtfully to focus himself, Satoshi paused some before responding again.
"Maybe we should look into work that we can do outside of town? To help cut down on... problems? There's sure to be some need for gathering something from the countryside, and we're getting better at the travelling thing."
"Just stay in human form," Kichiro whispers back to his brother with a grin. "I suppose we should have guessed that about the shrine. I'm not really sure where to look for jobs like you're suggesting... I suppose we can ask at shops or something maybe?"
Eventually, the dumplings are consumed— if a little less satisfying than Kichiro would have liked– and the host returned with another pot of tea, replacing it for the one that had cooled. "Would you like anything else today? If your meal has been sufficient, perhaps you would like rooms, or a recommendation to the baths? If you have trade to sell, there are also recommendations that can be offered. Any news of the road?"
You get the impression that any travelers are a good opportunity for some influx of coin, as the off-season does not see much traffic and thusly news and information that might not be heard about until later.
"We'd like to reserve a room, yes, though we won't need it until tonight," Kichiro replies.
He continues with some description of what they saw on the road.
"As for selling, we don't have goods, but we do have skills. My brother is skilled with devices, and we're both capable of handling ourselves in a fight if there's need to protect someone."
Satoshi pulled together his courage to offer a response.
"We-well, I know a bit of alchemy. I'd be interested in places that sell reagents and herbs... O-or I can sell finished products..."
He soon loses his nerve to continue on to actually imparting any news without further prompting, however.
You catch an appraising eye given to you both before there is a nod from them, and a bit of reassurance in their tone. "That's fiine. A kin worth for a room each along with something to eat in the morning, and an extra few gin to put the word out. Everyone could probably use extra hands if they can spare it." Deft motions collect your plates with long-practiced familiarity, and the table is cleared of empty dishes in seconds.
"I'll hold your keys until you need them, do not worry. I would not expect word of work to come until evening, at the latest." A glance outside tells you that you have somewhere around half of the day before then.
_______________________________________
"Thank you," Kichiro says, giving the innkeeper a bow and the requested coinage.
He turns to his brother. "I suppose we have a while, why don't we go take a look around town for a bit?"
Satoshi nodded, still a bit unsure.
"I suppose it... shouldn't hurt? Maybe at least look at those... springs that are apparently popular?"
Kichiro nods. "We might as well, it would be a place to start. Let's go find the one the innkeeper recommended."
Satoshi nodded, then gathered himself a bit and nodded more firmly.
"Y-Yes. Let's go. Maybe some time to relax will help me clear my head a bit"
He still drifts just slightly behind Kichiro for most of the time spent walking there.
As expected, there is quite the amount to see here in Shuryo. From the famous hot springs to spas, there were relaxation services related offerings from restaurant to entertainments that could last well into the next mornings. The outer edges of the town— if it could barely be called that by the size– seemed to lean more towards the trades, and work that required a larger amount of space. Stables, some farms at the far edges,
The closer the two of you came towards the center, the more extravagant things became, with designs and colors to tempt the eye and draw attention, some of those being touched up by workers in preparation for the busy season. Noises of enjoyment and celebration can be heard, though not so loud as to be a nuisance. Despite the weather, there was still a reasonable amount of people that stood out from the locals, whether by behavior or attire. A little off of the main thoroughfares, there were smaller, less ostentatious buildings, the residences and businesses of the locals. There, you see the people going about the daily life that you are more familiar with, grown used to the vibrant display that exists a few streets over.
Satoshi's eye can pick out the difference between the majority of the people at a glance, with those tasked to keep order dressed uniformly in a cream and leaf green color with red gold accents. Likewise, those of more unlawful occupations are visible, though more by manner. You do discover that the town was built around the original onsen, named "Shuryo", and the town had been referred to as that for so long, whatever the original name might have been has long been subsumed.
The famous onsen itself stands, a little off-center from the heart of the city, with it holding some space apart, much like the green and quiet spaces that surrounded the other hot springs that you had seen to be the most isolated. Everything is carefully cultivated to lend an air of peace to the surroundings, something that the closest buildings also benefit from, small tea houses and shops quietly existing.
To Kichiro, this place is a riot of scents. From the wet herb and mineral of the onsen underneath it all, permeating the air, to the spices and seasonings used in food preparation, as well as the perfumes, colognes, and oil used by some of the people that were clearly visitors. Sand, coin, oil and metal also cross his nose, details that separated traveler from tradesperson and tourist from local. The Hunger was a growling black undertone to it all, spiking and reaching out for this sense and that, only held back by will and long-practice. Eating well would not be a problem here.
By now ignoring the Hunger was becoming almost automatic, save for when it spiked the strongest. The scent of so many people was one of those times, but Kichiro did his best not to show any discomfort.
"Well... I don't see anything too out of the ordinary... should we just go to the onsen?" he asks his brother. "I think it's right that way... relaxing for a bit does sound good..."
The Moonstone onsen was located somewhat lower than what Satoshi would assume was the primary flow of the underground spring, the white walls and polished wood of the fences part ornamental, part obscuring. It is not lacking for patrons as there were three in evidence even as the two of you make your way along the path made with polished stones, possibly gathered from elsewhere if they were not manmade, bordered by more intentionally cut stones to frame the suggestion of a path amidst the property. A curious scent is in the air, that of an herb of some sort, bright and sharp to the nose of Kichiro, but a light and soft earthy green to Satoshi.
The sounds of some patrons can be heard from the inside, a couple voices raised in conversation, but pitched low enough that the general ambience of calm is not disturbed. Wood, lacquer, moisture, and stone are prevalent, with the chill of the thawing spring over it all, sharp and hinting at ice that will not be coming.
_______________________________________
Kichiro hesitates just a moment, the thought that it would be nice to let his tails out in the onsen tickling his mind. He pushes it aside, though--no need to test what this town thinks of kitsune, especially ones with an... odd tail.
He walks over to the path and walks in, listening to the conversation as he makes his way in.
Satoshi felt some of the tense nervousness that normally haunted him these days fade a bit.
"This place seems well-built. I wonder what they're using for that scent?"
He otherwise follows along with Kichiro, though taking some time to quietly appreciate the architecture.
It is evident that pains were taken to liken the decor to the name as the two of you enter the common area of the moderately-sized inn. At rough estimate, they could comfortably host almost fifty people and press for more, if schedules were managed well during the busy season. The wood was the rich, dark stain that had been lacquered quite well, given the scent of the nearby springs and the humidity of the air even in the cooler weather. The shade of white on the walls was a pale, warm color, while the accents themselves almost seemed like pearl, though those accents were limited, touches here and there as they might catch the eye.
Employees of the establishment were dressed uniformly in shades of brown that seemed close to the color of the wood, and it seemed that three of them were present as they diligently assisted the patrons at three tables of the eight tables in the room. All of them seemed slightly tense, but that could be due to the stature of the patrons or perhaps personal issues. The patrons themselves seemed to be in various states of leisure, though there was a group of three reasonably well-dressed individuals that were intent on a conversation with each other.
A few glances are given to the two of you as you enter, but you are quickly greeted by the day manager no more than two steps in. Her shorter hair was pinned elegantly up, the brown and cream kimono accented by a small flower pin, a single moonstone in the center. Her voice is elegantly deferential, and smooth. "Welcome to the Moonstone Onsen, good masters, what would you like?"
To Satoshi, the words were undoubtedly practiced, but were genuine enough. To Kichiro, the Hunger was a swirling rising thing that took notice.
Kichiro hesitates just long enough to be awkward as he tries to forces the hunger down, a smile frozen on his face.
"...Ah, we'd like to have a good soak in the hot springs," he says at last. "How much is it?"
As he speaks, he casually tilts his head towards the three people talking at one of the tables, curious what they're conversing about.
"A soak is two silver, one more additional for our herb-infused soaps and oils." An artful tilt of her head added just a touch of expectation to the statement.
Kichiro notices that the merchants seem to be speaking about the upcoming season and their hopes for sales, as it seems each of them took a gamble on something uncommon along with their usual wares.
One additional thing catches his eye— the edge of a bruise along the shoulder along the collar of their hostess.
Kichiro finds little of interest in the words of the merchants. He's never really be interested in the mercantile profession, save for the travel. Buying and selling and paying attention to prices isn't so much his idea of fun.
"Just the soak," he replies, passing over the silver pieces.
He can't suppress a frown when he notices the hostess is bruised. For a moment anger at whoever did it flares, and the Hunger leaps up with it. He forces it down as he sniffs slightly at the air.
"You're hurt?" he asks, right before his brain catches up and informs him that asking point-blank like this is probably not the best way to approach things.
Satoshi gives the sellers of herbs and oils a more critical eye. It's a welcome distraction from worry and potential social problems to try to determine which herbs and oils would actually be effective, which are liable to be scams or placebos, and which ones he might want to acquire and then use for... other projects or potions.
"Hmmm? Oooh, hey that looks like some good stuff over there... Do you think you could maybe help bargain for it?"
He only realizes after muttering in Kichiro's direction that Kichiro is already talking to someone. Drat.
The hostess briefly paused in reaching for a chit for the two of you, the motion a slight flinch at something being noticed that they were not expecting. The motion was continued as if the flinch did not occur, and her expression of politeness has gained a brittle quality to it that was not there before. "Four silver, good masters. Will you be wanting food or drink once you are done?"
There are a good number of scents in the air, from the smells of the individuals present in the room, the lingering scent of the soaps and oils offered, to other smells from outside, food and drink both.
The oils and soaps are decently made with a care that implies that such crafting is part of the business as well. The details are not lost on Satoshi, and the side-by-side comparison of some of the soaps in their presentation show that they were made by two different makers. The herbs are known to be generally fragrant, though the distinct scent that stands out is one of an herb that— while fragrant– is usually used in rituals and ceremonies pertaining to spirits when giving offerings.
____________________________________
Kichiro inhales deeply, bloody visions of wrecking vengeance on some sort of vague villain briefly flashing through his mind before he shakes them off.
"Sorry," he says, with a slight bow. "Uh... no, no food and drink afterward, that won't be necessary."
Kichiro inhales as the hostess leans forward, his focus and the Hunger in concert as details reveal themselves to him: warm, healthy skin, freshly washed barely a handful of hours ago, the recent bruise with a trace of spirit, and the lure of delicious organs...
Thisonewouldtastesweet,sohealthylikeapeakripefruitwithatouchoffear
"Here you go", her manner is slightly stiff, her attention fully on Kichiro with a hint of wariness.
_______________________________
Kichiro doesn't know which is more disturbing, the thought of eating the hostess or the fact that he can apparently smell the traces of a spirit touching her.
...Okay, the eating part is more disturbing. The smelling a spirit part is new, though.
He takes the chit with an awkward smile and turns away. When he thinks it won't be obvious, he starts sniffing again, trying to detect another trace of this spirit...
Acquiring the scent is difficult for Kichiro as she had just handled the chit, though picking out what was that of the hostess and what lingered of the spirit was harder. At a guess, any space where it influenced someone or something would make it easier, since the chit was not enough. There is the scent of another person, however. Female, older, likely family.
A sign on the wall indicated the direction of the bath, further in. The rooms were further split by gender, with cubbyholes for attire and items, benches for ease of dressing and undressing. Seemingly for those that were new to the practice, directions were posted on the wall for the proper etiquette. Everything was tastefully done in similar colors to the common room, though the quality of the craftsmanship was middling. It was likely that the care of things was done in-house as well, with some small things that have yet to receive their final touches. Certainly adequate for a middle-tier bathhouse here, and with the season to start soon, they would likely have no trouble maintaining clientele.
Kichiro glances around and tries to make sure no one's watching, then starts sniffing around in here, seeing if he can catch the scent of the spirit again. Even if he can't he figures that just eliminates somewhere it's not been.
Satoshi stirred himself from thoughts of repurposing the soap herbs as alchemical components as he noticed Kichiro behaving a bit oddly.
"Is... is everything alright? I was hoping that all the perfumes and such here would...ummm...block things out a bit for you, but if it's actually making things worse we could go?..."
The scent of things that were often intangible was keenly difficult to acquire. The only aid that Kichiro had was that he had something to compare it against, and even then, it was very hard. Still, with a bit of work that left him feeling like his sense of smell would no longer be the same, he is at least confident enough to believe that he has its scent.
It is all over this area.
_____________________________________
Kichiro looks around carefully to make sure no one's overhearing, then whispers back to his brother, "That woman has been bruised... and I can apparently smell spirits. I don't know how I know that's what it is, but its smell was on her and it's all over in here. Help me look for anything strange?"
Kichiro slowly makes his way towards the bath, looking for any signs of something odd. He's not quite sure what to look for--signs of things being thrown around? It'd help if he had any clue what kind of spirit he was smelling...
Despite the attention to detail Kichiro is giving everything, there is little beyond the scent lingering nearly everywhere, it seemed. As they reach the bath, the smell fades, replaced by the smell of the herb bundles that they have scenting the water. The pool is enough to fit a good numbe rof people comfortably, though at this point in time there is one other person in the bath, an older man, relaxing in the corner, his towel over his eyes. The pool itself is sectioned by gender, with a wall around the perimeter for privacy. The slight chill in the air makes the warmth of the pool even more inviting, steam saturating this area. It must be a sight on foggy mornings. Wood, water, and stone comprise the majority of scents of the area, both male and female(deliciouseateateat) along with the sounds of the town, muted by steam and the walls.
Kichiro makes a note to tell his brother more when they get out as he quickly walks to the pool and steps in. He sinks down, getting his nose as close to the water as he can without breathing some of it in, and trying to get comfortable and relax.
His warring instincts make that... rather hard. He wants to eat the man with them. He doesn't want to close his eyes, because with the water and steam his vision is his best sense for detecting threats or prey.
...Is he getting more animal-like? Like... some kind of fox monster? Is that what's happening to him?
That worry definitely makes it hard to relax, too.
He looks over to his brother and forces a smile. "Feels nice to relax after our journey, right?"
Satoshi, while not the most observant, is able to tell immediately that Kichiro is not actually relaxed.
"It... is certainly nice. I don't really know much about spirits to say what's actually going on here, but it doesn't help to worry too much right now. Sometimes you just have to remember that relaxation is a state of mind though. But I can tell that they are using some pretty good herbs. I think the baths are actually better without fur, though I have no idea why I'm thinking that"
Satoshi was... somewhat relaxed. He still felt like his mind was running too fast for such a sedate setting, but the warmth WAS nice, and the scent was pretty good. There'd be time to worry later... he had to keep telling himself.
Keen eyes nonetheless scanned the area out of habit.
The bathing area does not seem out of order in any particular way to your eyes as you relax in the spring. The steam rising from the water does a lot to insulate you from the touch of chill still in the air and give a bit of a sense of isolation in the shared pool. Any stray breezes are blocked by the well-built walls, and the bundles of herbs that have been placed in the water works well to strangely complement the natural smell of the spring. The heat soaking into you from the water is a welcome feeling, almost letting you set your mind to drifting as the both of you can— for once, perhaps– relax since you started the journey from your home in the Forest of Spirits.
The other occupant of the spring does raise a hand in greeting as you enter, but is otherwise content to sit and soak, his arms back against the edge, as his towel is over his eyes. No marks seem to be in evidence on the parts of his body that you can see, and from what you can hear of Shuryo, there is a fair amount of construction or repair going on as you can hear the distant falling of hammers on wood, or the faint sounds of sawing. Even here there are touches of improvement, color in the walls where a plank was replaced, a slight difference in the shade of paint that was used. This upcoming season must be something to see.
(freshcleanmeatrightthereeatingandbleedingagedripeandrawherbsseasonedonthet ongueandsosatisfyingeateathungereatmeat)
Kichiro sits in silence for a while, just trying to let the hot water do its trick. He pushes aside thoughts of the spirit, of the road ahead, of the terror of not knowing for sure what was going on with him, of the scent of the meat here in with him, how delicious the heart would taste...
No. He was relaxing. Which of course meant that his self-control was relaxing, which... okay, well, that was a problem. He'd just have to... only mostly relax. Yeah, that should work.
After a few minutes, it becomes quite clear that it's not working. He gives his brother a look before standing and stretching.
"I think that's enough for me for today," he says aloud. "I'll head back outside now."
The contrast of the cold air is as invigorating as the heat from the pool was relaxing. The smell of herbs was damp under the steam, but it was a nice touch, no doubt. Relaxation was part of the atmosphere, and everything here was well-tailored towards that. Even the gentle curves of the stone path around the pool to the cultivated bamboo that served as a screen beyond the fence. More people were active, heard and smelled along with a sense of anticipation.
Kichiro takes a deep breath of the air, both trying to steady himself and to see if he catches scent of the spirit from the outside. On that thought, he glances around to make sure he's not observed. Assuming no one's looking, he sniffs around a bit more thoroughly, wondering if there's an exit or entry point for the spirit.
Nothing reaches his nose that speaks to the spirit. In the time that they were in the bath, it seems like there have been a few more pations that have arrived, the smells of their food in the air, as well as the sounds of their conversations. Pinpointing the spirit is not going to be too easy, it seems. Was the spirit that was here different from what they had grown up with? What was it even doing here?
In the bath, Satoshi can quite enjoy the soak, the other individual occupying the opposite side of the pool continuing to relax with a contented sight, occasionally shifting a little to make himself more comfortable in his seat.