Kuzunoha

Kuzunoha: *deep breath*
Kuzunoha: O that which shines like the durn sun! I beseech ya, release yer light'n make manifest its brilliance! Onmyo! Haaaah!
Kuzunoha: *cough* Well, heck. That ain't no good...
Seimei: Stupid fox! How many times are you going to screw this up? Why did you detonate the jufu talisman all the way over there?
Kuzunoha: Sorry, master—but hey, least it went better'n last time! I got a bright future, I just knows it!
Seimei: A bold statement from a blockhead who can't do anything on her own.
Kuzunoha: The cuss did ya just call me?!
Seimei: Are your ears just for show as well? I called you a blockhead who can't do anything on her own.
Gozu Tenno: What's going on here?
Kuzunoha: Hey, I'm doing m'darndest to be a good assistant for ya!
Seimei: And failing miserably. All you do is make MORE work for me, not less.
Gozu Tenno: (Oh. They're fighting again.)
Kuzunoha: That ain't true no how! Just 'cause I mess up more'n the average fox don't mean I'm good for nothin' at all!
Seimei: Then can you at least leave this room on your own, or must I order you to undertake that action as well?
Kuzunoha: Oh, if ya want me gone, I'm goner than a hog's slop bucket a minute after supper! Just don't come cryin' to me what when ya realize what ya done, 'cause I am OUT!
Gozu Tenno: Are you certain about this?
Seimei: Hmph. This is nothing new; she'll come crawling back as soon as she's hungry.
Gozu Tenno: *sigh*

Kuzunoha: *sniff* Curse that sourpuss of a man... Don't he realize the whole POINT'a trainin' is so ya can fail and learn?
Woman's Voice: What?! Another one?!
Kuzunoha: What'n the hey is that about?

Town Resident: It's the third sudden disappearance in town just this month. The young girl of the family who runs Bizenya.
Woman: Alas, we've a kidnapper in our midst! What are the authorities doing about it?
Town Resident: I fear they are already stretched quite thin, and mostly focused on more obvious sorts of crimes that are easier to identify.
Town Resident: Like that weird "Mukuroshu" bunch that have been causing trouble lately.
Woman: How horrid! I'm heading home right now before I become the next victim!
Town Resident: If you like, I'd be happy to escort you.
Woman: Pass. I'd rather risk a kidnapping.
Town Resident: Ooof! Ice cold...
Kuzunoha: The Mukuroshu is that group Lord Seimei was ordered to pursue! Sounds like they're getting up to heaps'a mischief here...
Kuzunoha: Reckon he mentioned to me 'bout how they were abductin' folks what to conduct experiments with Yomi chi, so...
Kuzunoha: Hot dang! That gives me a dilly of an idea!
Kuzunoha: If I solve this all on m'own, Lord Seimei can't be callin' me useless no more!
Kuzunoha: Heck, just findin' the Mukuroshu base or the kidnapped folks or somethin' like that will probably be good enough.
Kuzunoha: All right! Time to start sniffin' around town for some dang evildoers!
Kuzunoha: Can't wait to see the look'a frustration on his face... This is one fox he's gonna regret pokin' fun at, boy howdy!

Kuzunoha: (Hot bowl'a oatmeal! Can't believe I went and found a suspicious sort so darn quick! This here's even better'n I'd hoped...)
Mitsuhide: Whoa! Watch it!
Kuzunoha: Whoops! Sorry, I was in a hur... Wait, Lady Mitsuhide?! THE Lady Mitsuhide?!
Mitsuhide: Oh, right. You work for Seimei. It's, er, Kuzunoha or...something?
Mukuroshu: Oy! Who's there?!
Kuzunoha: Aw, horse nuggets! We gotta hide!
Mukuroshu: Come out! I know you're there!
Kuzunoha: *yip yip yip*
Mukuroshu: Bah. Just another wild fox.
Mitsuhide: I can't believe that worked...
Mitsuhide: I heard rumors Seimei was in this area— I assume the two of you are also trying to chase down the Mukuroshu?
Kuzunoha: Nope! This here's all me.
Mitsuhide: Huh? He didn't, like, order you to do it?
Mitsuhide: (C'mon. There's no WAY he'd leave a mission like this to an idiot like her!)
Kuzunoha: Mind if we hoof it while we talk? I can't lose sight'a them Mukuroshu types if'n I wanna get revenge on Lord Seimei.
Mitsuhide: Uh, sure, all right. Lead the way. (She is SO gonna screw this up...)

Mitsuhide: ...So basically you want to find who's responsible for these disappearances so you can make Seimei feel bad for saying terrible things about you?
Kuzunoha: That's it, all right! What about yerself?
Mitsuhide: I'm after the same thing—er, though not exactly for the same reason. I just want to bring peace back to the land, y'know?
Mitsuhide: Anyway, that's why I've been walking around keeping my eyes peeled for anyone suspicious. Only seems right, what with this being part of my territory and all.
Kuzunoha: Hoo-eee! And here I heard ya didn't have time for nothin' but slackin' off!
Mitsuhide: Hard to slack off when the world is on fire.
Mitsuhide: Plus everybody else who could do something is out on even bigger threats.
Kuzunoha: What threats're those?
Mitsuhide: Don't worry your fuzzy head about it. How about we just work together here since we're after the same thing?
Mitsuhide: Unlike Seimei, no one's ordered me to look into the Mukuroshu—I just hate 'em stirring up trouble in my territory.
Kuzunoha: Reckon I'm gonna pass.
Mitsuhide: Wait, what? Why? Two people can solve this thing twice as fast, right?
Kuzunoha: Yer head of a Wyrmclan just like Lord Seimei, which means yer his rival what to be the next shogun.
Mitsuhide: And you think I'm going to try and steal all the glory to help me with that?
Mitsuhide: I'll tell you a secret, fox: I couldn't give one whit about that stupid job.
Kuzunoha: Ain't about what YOU think— it's about what Lord Seimei thinks.
Mitsuhide: Ah, and you think he'll hate knowing that I helped him with a problem he sees as his own? ...Yeah, okay. That's fair.
Kuzunoha: Yep! Ya hit that mouse right on the noggin'! Er, hope that don't offend ya none.
Kuzunoha: Plus, I can't be showin' him how wrong he is 'bout my talent and usefulness if'n I get help from every darn passin' hand!
Kuzunoha: If I don't do this all on m'lonesome, he ain't never gonna ask me to stay.
Mitsuhide: No, that all makes sense—but can you REALLY do this by yourself?
Kuzunoha: Heeeey! What're ya implyin' there?!
Mitsuhide: Just that you're clearly not cut out for... You know what? This isn't my business. Good luck byeeeeee!
Kuzunoha: Oof. She really knows how to hit a fox right in the ol' snout...
Kuzunoha: Not a secret I ain't cut out for this whole "trailin' folk" business.
Kuzunoha: But I wanna be useful—and if I can do somethin' good on m'own, Lord Seimei's sure to praise me heaps!
Kuzunoha: Which means I gotta hop back on the mule and find the Mukuroshu's trail!

Kuzunoha: Can't believe they made a base inside a cave like this. Better take me a gander...
Woman: ......
Kuzunoha: (Sweet potato pie! That's gotta be one'a the folks what went and got kidnapped! I KNEW the Mukuroshu was behind this!)
Mukuroshu: Who's there?!
Kuzunoha: (Sheep dung! They got me!)
Mukuroshu: Tsk! Just the wind. I really gotta find a more low-key line of work...

Kuzunoha: Whew! That was close. But it's sure as heck good to see ya, Lady Mitsuhide! How long ya been here?
Mitsuhide: Oh, for quite a while now. But since you made it PERFECTLY clear that you wanted to work alone, I tried to stay hidden.
Kuzunoha: Well then, I owe ya twice over for savin' me. Thought I was gonna be pushin' up pretty flowers there for a tick.
Mitsuhide: Think nothing of it. If you'd been found, my hard work would've been for nothing.
Kuzunoha: Still, it means I didn't find the darn Mukuroshu base on m'own after all.
Mitsuhide: Sure you did! I just got here first.
Kuzunoha: That's a real bum steer of a prize there...
Mitsuhide: Anyway, I'd hurry back to Seimei and fill him in on all of this if I were you.
Mitsuhide: The Mukuroshu don't stay in one place for very long, you know?
Mitsuhide: And if you don't hurry, this hideout's gonna be empty before he can even get here.
Kuzunoha: I appreciate the warnin', but I can take 'er from here. Lord Seimei's gonna have these folks handled a'fore ya can say 'boo'!
Mitsuhide: So I can just sit around and watch all the fun? Perfect.
Mukuroshu: We need to find our next abduction victim and start... Huh? What's that?
Mukuroshu: ...A jufu? Heh. Looks like we've got Seimei's little shikigami on our tails.
Mukuroshu: Better let Master Doman know about this. Heh heh... Bring it on, Seimei!

Seimei: Got it. I'll take care of the Mukuroshu before they move their base.
Seimei: If you insist on coming, knock yourself out—but don't expect me to watch your back for even a second.
Kuzunoha: Now just a corn-shuckin' minute! That ain't no way to talk to me what after everything I just did!
Kuzunoha: The only reason ya even know where that darn base IS is 'cause I went'n found it!
Kuzunoha: So I reckon ya could at least PRETEND to be gratefu... Huh? Where'd he go?
Kuzunoha: Dangnabbit, he's gone and left me! Lord Seimei, waaaaait!

Seimei: So that's their base, eh? I hope you remembered to bring your jufu.
Kuzunoha: 'Course I did! Heck, I went'n brought, uh, one...two...three...49 of 'em!
Seimei: You know 49 is an unlucky number, right? Anyway, to business. How many of them are waiting for us inside?
Kuzunoha: I only followed the one, so there's at least that many! Could be more, though.
Seimei: So a number equal to or greater than one? *sigh* I'll just go look for myself.
Seimei: O that which can see beyond the horizon! I beseech you, reveal our foes! Onmyo! Haaaah!
Kuzunoha: What did you just do?
Seimei: Seeing how many people are in there. I count five, though that likely includes the woman you said they kidnapped.
Kuzunoha: So we only gotta take out four of 'em? Heck, this'll be easier than shovin' a muddy hog down a chute!
Kuzunoha: Back me up, master! I got this!
Seimei: What are you...?! Ugh. Fine. Suit yourself, you stupid fox.

Kuzunoha: The jig's up, friends! Put them paws in the air and don't gimme no backtalk 'bout it!
Mukuroshu: Who the hell are you?!
Kuzunoha: (I see three of 'em and the one victim. Reckon that means the other kidnapper's somewhere further inside.)
Mukuroshu: Well, well. If it isn't Seimei's little dog come to us like a lamb to slaughter.
Kuzunoha: I ain't a dog OR a lamb! I'm a cute ol' fox!
Kuzunoha: You all right there, ma'am?
Woman: Who...are you?
Kuzunoha: I'm yer dang rescue party! Now stand back while I give these fools a thrashin'!
Kuzunoha: Well, heck! They look all weak and spindly, but they're faster'n greased geese!
Mukuroshu: Heh. If a shikigami like you is the best Seimei can do, it's clear the rumors of his greatness have been exaggerated.
Kuzunoha: The cuss did you say?!
Mukuroshu: Seimei is no match for our great Master Doman!
Kuzunoha: They went and got a shikigami!
Mukuroshu: And no ordinary shikigami—this one was granted to us by Master Doman, and is unparalleled in strength!
Kuzunoha: That's a darn dirty trick what to keep crammed up yer sleeves!
Mukuroshu: You can regret your foolishness in the depths of hell. Destroy her!
Seimei: Now do you see why I told you not to run off alone, you useless fox?
Kuzunoha: Lord Seimei!
Seimei: You protect the woman—I'll take care of this rabble here.
Mukuroshu: We've been waiting for you, Seimei. Master Doman won't even need to sully his hands, because we'll finish you off ourselves!
Seimei: Hmph. You're going to need greater numbers than that to finish me.
Mukuroshu: Then how about...THIS?!
Mukuroshu: You can't handle this many on your own!
Mukuroshu: Aargh!
Seimei: One weakling or a thousand, you're still mere weaklings, moron.
Mukuroshu: Gah! GET HIM!
Mukuroshu: Aaargh!
Kuzunoha: Hoo-eee! Pretty as a picture, Lord Seimei! But now I'm gonna back ya up with this here onmyodo of m'own!
Kuzunoha: O that which shines like the darn sun! I beseech ya, release yer light'n make—
Mukuroshu: Fool! You left yourself open!
Kuzunoha: Argh! When did YOU sneak up behind me?!
Mukuroshu: Give it up, Seimei!
Mukuroshu: Surrender, or it's the end for this little lady here.
Woman: Please don't kill me! Please!
Seimei: Bah. What a mess.
Kuzunoha: It's all my dang fault. If I'd just been watchin' her like ya told me to...
Seimei: *sigh* Run away.
Kuzunoha: Heck no! I ain't gonna just run and leave ya what to deal with all them folk alone!
Seimei: Well, you're not helping me by being here, you stupid fox!
Mukuroshu: Don't move!
Seimei: Shikigami Kuzunoha, I order you to scatter the jufu you possess and flee our foes! Onmyo!
Kuzunoha: Argh! My body's movin' all on its own! Don't do it, Lord Seimei! I don't wanna be runnin' away without ya!
Seimei: Go find something even a useless idiot like you can do—I'm counting on you.
Kuzunoha: Lord Seimeeeeei!
Mukuroshu: Thought I told you not to move.
Seimei: You told ME not to move, but I don't think anyone mentioned it to my stupid fox.
Mukuroshu: You think you're so smart, don't you?
Mukuroshu: Heh. We're gonna enjoy this...

Kuzunoha: *pant* *pant* I can finally move on my own again...
Kuzunoha: (I gotta get back to Lord Seimei! It's all my fault, so I gotta be the one what makes everything right again!)
Kuzunoha: (Please be safe, master!)

Kuzunoha: Lord Seimei?! Lord Seimei, I'm here!
Kuzunoha: Huh? There ain't no one here.
Kuzunoha: I'm too late... Oh, what've I done?
Mitsuhide: Hoo boy. What a mess.
Kuzunoha: Lady Mitsuhide? Gozu? What're y'all doin' here?
Mitsuhide: I just happened to run into Gozu Tenno, and when I told him you were planning an assault, he asked me to take him here.
Mitsuhide: Never thought we'd arrive to find Seimei abducted by the Mukuroshu.
Kuzunoha: It's all my fault—I went and ignored what he told me to do.
Mitsuhide: Yeah, I figure things would have played out differently if he'd come alone.
Mitsuhide: This is what happens when you try to do something that's beyond you by yourself. Right, Gozu Tenno?
Gozu Tenno: Erk. Well...
Mitsuhide: Still, a subordinate's failing reflects on the boss—Seimei must have known this was a distinct possibility.
Mitsuhide: And since our Wyrmclans are rivals for the position of shogun, I've got no duty to help him out of this particular jam.
Mitsuhide: So if you've got nothing else to say, I'm going to take a nap and wait for all this to play out.
Kuzunoha: It's my responsibility, which means I gotta set things right by m'own self!
Mitsuhide: Okay, I said I wasn't going to get involved, but I reeeally don't think Seimei wants you to feel that kind of obligation.
Kuzunoha: I reckon that's true.
Mitsuhide: The last time you charged into danger like a maniac, I asked if you could really handle it all alone. Remember?
Mitsuhide: That's not something I would have said to Seimei, because I honestly think that guy is capable of anything he sets his mind to.
Mitsuhide: But YOU? You're a big ol' klutz and a half, and you really need to accept that.
Mitsuhide: Still, being a klutz doesn't mean there's nothing you can do in this situation.
Seimei: Well, you're not helping me by being here, you stupid fox!
Seimei: Go find something even a useless idiot like you can do—I'm counting on you.
Kuzunoha: ...Yer right. I can't do nothin' on m'own, 'cause I'm just a useless fox.
Kuzunoha: But Lord Seimei's countin' on me, and just 'cause I can't do nothin' on m'own don't mean I can't do nothin' at all!
Kuzunoha: Please, Lady Mitsuhide! Ya gotta help me save him! Ya just gotta!
Mitsuhide: Oh, fine. Why not? Having Seimei in my debt might even be fun.
Gozu Tenno: You have my aid as well, for my intent was to save Lord Seimei from the first.
Kuzunoha: Aw, yer both just the best!
Mitsuhide: So what's our first move? It doesn't look like the enemy's been gone for very long.
Mitsuhide: Still, there's no guarantee we'll find anything useful just looking around, and I can't reeeally be bothered, so...
Gozu Tenno: Lord Seimei is not the kind of person to let himself be captured without a plan.
Gozu Tenno: I am certain he will have left some manner of clue to aid us.
Mitsuhide: All I see are a boatload of jufu scattered all over the floor.
Kuzunoha: Wait... I know how to find him!
Gozu Tenno: Go on.
Kuzunoha: See, I can detonate them jufu there and make 'em stun enemies with bright light and crazy noise and the like.
Gozu Tenno: Is that not the same skill you were practicing with Lord Seimei this morning? I recall it going...not well.
Kuzunoha: Look, just put that in the ol' dustbin. Right now, we gotta focus on the jufu on the floor there.
Kuzunoha: I know I scattered more of 'em than that, which means Lord Seimei likely managed to grab a few before bein' hauled off.
Mitsuhide: And you think you can detonate them from afar to learn his location?
Kuzunoha: So long as they're somewhere my mana can reach, yer sure as shootin' I can!
Gozu Tenno: I can vouch for this; I was a victim of such just this morning.
Kuzunoha: Aw, I'm awful sorry 'bout that.
Mitsuhide: Well, if you can do it, let's stop talking about it and just get it done already.
Mitsuhide: We need to try it before the Mukuroshu take Seimei and the jufu out of range.
Mitsuhide: So Gozu Tenno and I just go outside and listen for the detonation, right?
Kuzunoha: That's right!
Gozu Tenno: If this can lead us to Lord Seimei, I will gladly try. Let us be off.
Kuzunoha: *pant* *pant* I'm gonna show everyone there ARE things I can do!
Kuzunoha: O that which shines like the darn sun! I beseech ya, release yer light'n make manifest its brilliance! Onmyo! Haaaah!
Kuzunoha: *cough* *cough* Aw, horseshoes. I failed again. ...But I ain't givin' up!
Kuzunoha: Yeee-haw! I did it! It blowed up but good! Now we can find Lord Seimei!
Kuzunoha: Hang in there, Lord Seimei! I'll be there before you know it!

Gozu Tenno: Judging by the direction of the sound and the faintly remaining smoke, Lord Seimei should be in this area!
Mitsuhide: Knowing him, he's probably taken advantage of the explosion to start causing new trouble.
Mitsuhide: He always has to do everything himself!
Gozu Tenno: There! I see him!

Woman: Eeeeek! Not again!
Seimei: Would you please cram it already?
Kuzunoha: LORD SEIMEI!
Seimei: Well, well. Look who finally showed up. ...What'd you bring the lazy mouse for?
Mitsuhide: Oh, she insisted she wanted my help, and I thought it was a very nice chance to put you in my debt.
Seimei: If you want me to feel like I owe you, you'd better put the work in.
Mitsuhide: Nah, I'm good. I'm just gonna protect the lady over there while you do your thing.
Seimei: *sigh* You are so hard to read.
Seimei: I'll give that big one to you, Gozu Tenno.
Gozu Tenno: As you wish, my lord.
Seimei: You ready for a fight, Kuzunoha?
Kuzunoha: You were right about me all along, master. I ain't like you, and I ain't no help to nobody what when I'm by m'lonesome.
Kuzunoha: I know I caused more trouble'n a newborn bull in a surgery clinic, but I still wanna help ya if'n I can!
Seimei: Heh. Then give it your best shot.
Kuzunoha: Yeee-haw! Let's do this!

Kuzunoha: *pant* *pant*
Kuzunoha: O that which shines like the darn sun! I beseech ya, release yer light'n make manifest its brilliance! Onmyo! Haaaah!
Seimei: Heh. Not bad.
Seimei: Perhaps you're not completely useless by yourself after all.
Kuzunoha: Sorry, what's that, master? M'ears are still ringin'.
Seimei: Bah. I was telling you not to let one victory go to your fuzzy head!
Kuzunoha: That there's a right mean thing to be sayin'... Hee hee!
Seimei: What are you grinning about? Stop that. It creeps me out.
Kuzunoha: 'Member how I said I can't never be like ya, master?
Kuzunoha: Well, now I feel like if I keep tryin', one day I WILL be just like ya!
Seimei: Get that idiotic idea right out of your head. You'll need to do a lot more than this to even approach my level.
Kuzunoha: Still, ain't no harm in a fox dreamin', am I right?
Kuzunoha: Look, I was just so darn desperate to be useful that I let m'self get carried away.
Kuzunoha: But I'm a stubborn ol' critter, so I kept right on tryin'—and that darn near got a lot'a good folk hurt.
Kuzunoha: So I know there's stuff even an stupid fox like me can do—I just gotta find it.
Kuzunoha: Anyway, while I look for that, I promise not to cause ya more trouble by tryin' to get too big for m'britches.
Seimei: Exactly—you don't need to be me. If you want to be my assistant, you just need to find ways to be USEFUL.
Kuzunoha: Y'mean...I'm yer assistant again?! For reals?!
Mitsuhide: Sorry to disturb this tender moment.
Kuzunoha: Lady Mitsuhide?! Why're you here?!
Mitsuhide: I came to report to Seimei about the Mukuroshu.
Kuzunoha: Oh, right. Gozu took 'em all somewhere after we beat 'em down, didn't he?
Mitsuhide: Yeah. I was hoping we'd be able to get something useful out of them, but...
Seimei: But what?
Mitsuhide: But they died before they could talk.
Kuzunoha: What?! We didn't hardly scratch 'em!
Seimei: It was not us. It was Doman's curse, presumably.
Mitsuhide: So you knew this would happen?
Seimei: Do you really think I would have foreseen this and just let our only leads up and die?
Kuzunoha: So what's all this chitter and chatter 'bout some kinda curse?
Seimei: A curse on his followers that takes their lives if they ever attempt to reveal information about him would be a simple thing for an onmyoji as capable as he.
Seimei: Those Mukuroshu said they borrowed shikigami from Doman, so I'm guessing the curse was placed in that moment.
Kuzunoha: But how could he do somethin' so dang cruel to his own allies?
Mitsuhide: He doesn't see them as allies any more than a chess master grows fond of pawns.
Kuzunoha: ......
Seimei: Hmph. Don't look so glum.
Seimei: We dismantled one of their bases; that's enough achievement for one day.
Mitsuhide: And I helped out my people!
Kuzunoha: Yeah, I s'pose it's nice the folk here don't need to worry about bein' stolen from their beds no more.
Mitsuhide: That reminds me: There's something I need to show you, Seimei.
Seimei: ......
Kuzunoha: A map? But what do all the numbers and symbols represent?
Mitsuhide: They show trends in the number of people disappearing in each district. I looked into it while dealing with all the trouble the Mukuroshu stirred up.
Mitsuhide: See how a few of them have weird spikes compared to last year?
Seimei: Meaning if we follow the spikes, we can find the Mukuroshu.
Mitsuhide: Can't be sure, but it seems likely. Better than stumbling around in the dark, at any rate, so...good luck!
Seimei: I take it your part in this little adventure has come to a close, then?
Mitsuhide: Like I said, I just wanted to save my own people.
Mitsuhide: Traveling miles to help others isn't my idea of a good time—I leave THAT to you.
Seimei: Why do I get the feeling I'm being used...? Bah. Fine. Have it your way.
Seimei: Come, Kuzunoha. We're leaving.
Kuzunoha: What, now?! But we ain't ready!
Seimei: Then GET us ready! That's an assistant's job!
Kuzunoha: Yes, master! Right away, master! I'll get us readier than a farmer at the first day'a spring!
Seimei: *sigh* I wish I could trust that.
Kuzunoha: The cuss does that mean?!
Seimei: Never mind. Let's just get going.
Kuzunoha: Wait for me, Lord Seimei! Waaaaait!