#saganbou

Amane Big Sis Himari! Whose birthday will we be celebrating next?

Himari Ah, well...... wait for awhile. I'll check my notebook......

Izuna Ahem! I know who's next! It's Kikusui-han!

Himari You're right, it's going to be Kikusui-sama's birthday soon.

Amane If it's Big Bro Kikusui, we should prepare saké after all!

Izuna That old man, every time he opens his mouth, all he talks about is saké and women.

Himari Ahaha...... In that case, let's prepare a feast with enough dishes for everyone accompanied by saké.

Amane Uh huh! I'm looking forward to it too! But, who's going to bring Big Bro Kikusui to headquarters?

Izuna I'm not doing it. That old man's real stubborn after all. He won't listen to a thing I say.

Saganbou What're you guys talking about?

Karajishi You should enter the bath after training and wash away the sweat. You're going to catch a cold.

Amane Big Bro Saganbou! Karajishi too! Heheh, I just thought of a good idea!

Izuna Ah! I know what Amane-han is thinking about! Hey, we have a favour to ask of you guys.

Saganbou --I see, so you guys want us to bring Kikusui here?

Karajishi Why do I have to? If I'm that free, I'd rather continue my training.

Saganbou Mt. Takao is neither too high nor too low, and it seems that it's just right for mountain running. I don't see a lot of foul people running around either.

Karajishi Mountain running...... Tch. There's no helping it. I'll go.

Amane Thanks, Karajishi! Run as much as you want!

Karajishi Hmph......

Saganbou Well, I'm going to fly though.

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Saganbou Oh, as expected, you're fast! I also just reached here.

Karajishi *Exhale*...... This mountain certainly has the optimal gradient for mountain running. It'll serve as a good training.

Saganbou Well, good for you. Back to business; that hut over there is where Kikusui lives. I'll go call him first so Karajishi, you can wait for us here.

Karajishi Yeah.

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Saganbou He~y! Kikusui! It's me, Saganbou. I know you're there.

Kikusui Ooh, it's you. 'Tis been a while. Did you get some fine saké recently or something?

Saganbou Well, you're far from it but it's always been like that. The princess said they're holding a birthday celebration for you at headquarters. They also prepared a lot of saké and side dishes.

Kikusui Oh ho~, the little missy is? Well, that deserves some gratitude.

Saganbou Alright, then let's go. Do you want me to carry you while I fly? Or would you rather run with Karajishi?

Kikusui Absolutely not! First of all, I never said I'll go.

Saganbou Huh? Do you have some other business or something?

Kikusui Yes. I need to collect the herbs in the mountains before the snow buries them. When the snow piles up, it's close to impossible to collect the herbs after all. Better stock them up now.

Saganbou I see. Then it's better to finish up as soon as possible...... I bet the princess will be disappointed.

Karajishi Hey, you're being slow. If you guys are doing to engage in idle chatter, do it on the way down.

Saganbou Yeah, sorry. I made you wait. Well, you see--

Karajishi Got it. So we just have to pick the herbs, right? I'll give you a hand. We should be able to finish in an hour.

Saganbou An hour!? That's impossible! You can say that because you don't know how vast Mt. Takao is.

Karajishi Hmph, I can do it 'cause it's me. Hurry up and lead the way to the places where the herbs are growing.

Kikusui Oh ho, what an interesting oni young'un. Well then, why don't you show me what you've got. Fill this basket up with the herbs.

Karajishi Got it. Let's hurry up and go.

Saganbou Ah, jeez. I don't know anything about this. I'm not going to help either!

Karajishi I just have to collect the herbs from this area, right?

Kikusui Oh ho, aren't you impatient. "Do" be careful of poisonous snakes. They tend to be more menacing before hibernation.

Karajishi No problem. Let's start.

Karajishi and Kikusui both collected the herbs and placed it into their respective baskets on their backs.

Karajishi (The basket is already half full. We can finish in half an hour instead of an hour) (Well, that youkai grandpa probably hasn't gathered much) (Let's see--)

*Kikusui appears behind him*

Karajishi Wh-, what!?

Kikusui Oh ho, what an abundant harvest~.

The basket on Kikusui's back is already filled with herbs.

Karajishi How did you- in such a short time? Did you use a technique!? That's cheating!

Kikusui Oh ho, I wonder. Maybe I'm just accustomed to it?

Karajishi Shit! I'll catch up soon. Just you wait.

Kikusui Hohoho, I can't lose to the young'uns just yet!

Saganbou (When did this turn into a competition......?)

Karajishi Huff, huff...... I got more herbs faster than you.

Kikusui Puff, puff...... but my herbs are in better quality compared to yours.

Saganbou Good work, guys. Now we can go down the mountain and back to headquarters. Karajishi, you'll be running down the mountain like you did just now right?

Karajishi ......Yeah...... It's good for training......

Kikusui You should bluff in moderation. Saganbou, I'll have you carry me down. I don't fancy being carried by a man, but I want to quickly down myself with the little missy's saké.

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--The next day.

Himari This is...... A letter from Kikusui-sama?

"Saké after a job well done is truly exquisite. The side dishes were perfect masterpieces as well. Moreover, it's been awhile I competed with a young'un and it was fun!"

Himari *Giggle*, I'm glad that Kikusui-sama was happy with it. Hmm? There's something in the envelope......

Another piece of paper fell out of the envelope.

Himari What is this?

Himari Wow, such a cute painting! *Giggle*, it'd be great if we can celebrate Kikusui-sama's birthday again.

~~Fin~~

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Notes:

Izuna is actually spelt Idzuna but it’d be weird since Mikadzuki is Mikazuki, so that’s how it is.

Izuna is speaking in dialect. I suck at dialects so here u see normal English instead of fancy-schmancy English.

Izuna calls Saganbou “ossan” but I didnt put it in since I’m not sure what he calls Karajishi.

Kikusui is a Nurarihyon if you guys don’t know. He’s also very very old he gave up counting his age. Probably older than Saganbou at 300+ years old. Everything else will explain itself just know he’s a Nurarihyon.