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The party were invited by Ide Asamitsu to join him on a hunting party to catch the first boar of the season. The journey out of the city to Hyobu's Forest was relatively uneventful as they wagered over who would succeed in claiming the boar with Otaku Genshi so confident in her skill that she put forward a fine Unicorn riding horse.

While tracking the boar, an out of place stone was found near a small creek, a large lump of black granite quite like the stone composing the walls of Ryoko Owari. This turned out to be only part of a trail of such stones eventually leading to a tree grown into the creek exposing some of its roots. Stuck within a hollow inside was a small package wrapped in rough cloth containing 2 bu and a small scroll: "Continue watching NV. Recent disruptions should serve our needs. The coward has once again revealed himself, but that time is not yet right."

Eventually the tracks led back to a boar's den, but only babies were found. Kitsune scooped them up and put them in her saddlebags in order to take them home with her. While busy playing with the babies Bayushi Otado came crashing out of the woods, accusing the party of having scared the boar off. Only moments later it made it's appearance known by charging into and fatally goring one of Otado's servants, something he ignored in order to give chase to the animal.

Trying to pick up the trail again the party stumbled on a small shrine carved into the base of a tree where inarizushi and sake had been left as offerings. Which Kitsune promptly ate herself.

Not long after they were again able to find a boar, but as Ichiro was taking aim with his bow, his horse suddenly reared up and he lost the shot trying to calm it down. Later inspection found a small wound on the animal's leg. Following the boar's tracks from that point only succeeded in the party becoming turned around and lost in the woods, passing by the same place several times until they found themselves back where they started. While trying to get their bearings an arrow shot out, nearly striking Mirumoto. Once again Otado rode up and complained that he had somehow gotten in the way as the boar he had shot at was now nowhere to be seen. In the midst of arguing over this Otado spotted a fox and, though not the prize that a boar is, took off after it as a consolation.

The fox led him on a desperate chase through the forest with the party in tow, leaping over bushes, slipping through narrow gaps between trees, and deftly navigating its home. Eventually it came to a small embankment too steep for the horses, leapt down, and vanished into the woods.

Not long after this as the party was attempting to figure out where they were and find their way back to the boar den they had found earlier, they noticed some strange changes going on to all except Kitsune. Before long they had all changed into the form of animals, respective of their clan. Consulting the kami revealed that they had passed through into Chikushudo, the spirit realm of animals.

Attempting to find their way out they encountered a fierce tiger that Kitsune was able to talk down as well as a giant frog that nearly succeeded in eating Ichiro. Eventually, however, they were able to find the fox that had led them here, a magical kitsune who had been playing the earlier pranks on them. It identified Kitsune Nitsuki as another of it's kind, merely shifted into human form. After some discussion she was able to convince it to lead them to the passage back to the human realm of Ningen-do and show them how to activate it. Returning home everyone slowly resumed their original forms.

Once back in town Kasuga Osamu revealed that he had received a note in the form of an origami turtle directing him to specific place and time along with the message "Four will get you Seven." Heading to that address in the Fisherman Quarter it turned out to be the gambling hall, Nanaraku. Which after a moment's thought was resolved out as a combination of "nana" (seven) and "naraku" or (very roughly) "Seven Hells." Heading inside he laid down a bet of four zeni, an ill omen that caused the other gamblers to change their bets against him. Despite the dice coming up in his favor, however, the dealer apologized and took his money, glancing pointedly at the back room before paying out the other gamblers. Heading to the back, the guard there received a nod from the dealer whereupon Kasuga was ushered into a small, gaijin-style office where Kasuga Nana, a smuggler and fellow Tortoise, introduced herself.