"There's the entrance to the village. Stay close and keep your lantern high." Kiki murmured after what seemed like forever. Damion glanced up at the lanterns as Miyuki slowed down so she was walking in line with them. He noticed they had images intricately painted on just like the ones in the tunnel.

"Why are the lanterns important?" He hesitantly asked Miyuki, hoping she still wasn't upset about his Kitsune form. She glanced at him with a mildly surprised look before it changed into a smile as she spoke. 

"Every Kitsune brings a lantern imprinted with their family crest to represent their lineage. We light up the village with everyone's lanterns for the festival, just like how it was when Mori first arrived here." She explained, her eyes glittering. Damion was relieved to find all the jealousy gone from her voice. He glanced up at Miyuki's lantern and saw a beautiful tree on it with a kabuki mask on the center of the tree's trunk.

"So since I'm normally human what's my family crest?" He finally asked, trying to look up at his lantern. Miyuki's eyes glittered with amusement but she stayed quiet. He glanced over at Kiki and scowled as he found her chuckling. "What's so funny? What is it?"

"Some families have died out but not everyone knows that so I was able to pick you up an ancient crest," Kiki said, trying not to laugh. Damion didn't know what was so funny as he lowered his lantern to get a closer look at the crest.

It looked like a warped tree with a stout trunk and scraggly roots and no branches. It looked pretty lame if you asked Damion. He scowled at it and glanced up at Kiki who had finally composed herself again. "Well, what is it?" He asked impatiently.

"Your crest is the Honey Root," Kiki replied coolly, smiling as she finished saying it. Miyuki was giggling beside him as he lifted his lantern back up.

"Wow guys, thanks," Damion growled, although he did have to admit it was kind of funny. A thought suddenly occurred to him as more lanterns started moving through the forest, all heading to the entrance.

"Since I'm a Kitsune right now I can eat Honey Root right?" He asked, feeling his stomach clench in agreement. To his disappointment, Kiki shook her head.

"You're still a human inside. The Honey Root will just worsen your addiction. Be quiet now, more Kitsune will be walking in with us and we still don't know if the Guardians will let you past." Kiki said quietly as she looked ahead, her eyes betraying her sudden unease.

"Guardians?" Damion whispered but fell silent as they came upon the entrance. It was a large red gate set into the side of a hill in the large forest. Standing at each side of the gate were two large stone tiger statues. At least he thought they were statues.

He jumped as one growled, it's jet black eyes sweeping over the crowd that had now formed around them. Damion glanced at the ground as the tiger stared at him, sighing in relief when he felt it's powerful gaze leave.

"What if they don't let me in?" He asked in a small voice, fear settling in the pit of his stomach as he saw the two stone creatures again. Suddenly Miyuki hooked an arm through his and clutched his hand.

"They will. Just stay quiet." She growled. Damion glanced down at her hand in his and felt a flutter in his chest. He snapped his gaze up as they finally reached the gate. He tried not to look at the stone beasts as they studied them but he couldn't help another glance up.

He noticed Miyuki had glanced up too and was glaring venomously at the beast. The statue shifted on its haunches and dipped its head. A loud hiss came from the other and Miyuki turned her glare on them as well. After a long, agonizing moment of it glaring at them, it reluctantly dipped its head as well, watching through narrowed eyes as they sauntered through.

"That went better than I thought it would." Kiki murmured, lifting her lantern into the air, the beautiful rose with a clock in the center printed on the side casting jagged shadows over the ground.

Damion's heart was still pounding after the encounter but his breath was taken away by the scene in front of him. Lanterns lit everything, bathing everyone in yellow candlelight. Kitsune were all around, stopping at stalls or wandering the roads bordered by lanterns and stalls. Kids with fox tails and ears rushed past, screeching in excitement. Foxes in an array of colors filled the streets as well, chatting with others as they weaved between and beneath the disguised Kitsune.

Heavenly aromas filled the air from the many food stalls scattered through the village. All the buildings had a heavy eastern influence, making Damion feel as if he had been transported to another world. It took Damion a few moments before he realized the whole village was underground. He tried to see the top of the massive cavern but even all the lanterns couldn't illuminate the darkness above.

 "You can let go now, Damion." Damion jumped at Miyuki's voice and glanced down, realizing he was still clutching Miyuki's hand.

 

"Sorry. I just can't believe this place. It's so amazing." He said, letting go of Miyuki's hand. "Where's Kiki?" He asked, just now noticing she was gone.

"She's placing her lantern," Miyuki answered, pointing over to the side of the path they were on. They walked over, weaving between the fresh wave of Kitsune to reach Kiki's side. Kiki carefully set her lantern onto a small silver clip, emitting a click as her lantern pushed against it. She let go of it and it stayed in place, standing perfectly still as it joined the row of lanterns already positioned on either side of it.

"Shall we go get something to eat?" Kiki asked, and Damion nodded enthusiastically. His stomach was growling as loud as one of the Guardians.

"Yeah, let's go! Ready Miyuki?" Damion said, glancing over at Miyuki. He saw her standing a little ways off staring at a lantern. "Miyuki?" He asked, coming over to her. He was shocked to see fear flash in her green gaze as she whipped around.

"Yep," Miyuki answered, the fear disappearing so quickly he wondered if he had imagined it. They strode back over to Kiki who was at a stall, examining a jar full of a familiar powder.

"This is a good price for Honey Root. Want some Damion?" Kiki teased as she handed the merchant some money. Damion ignored her, too excited to be bothered by it. They wandered the winding roads, stopping to look at certain knick-knacks that caught their eyes. The scent of food grew stronger as they walked, causing Damion's mouth to water.

"Most of the food stalls are up ahead. They even have a buffet." Kiki said after they had been walking for a while.

"Then let's hurry up! I'm starving." Damion exclaimed, rushing in between other Kitsune. He dodged a group of young Kitsune playing ball in the middle of the path and rounded a large stall selling silk scarves when he stopped in his tracks.

"I never knew anyone could get so excited over food," Kiki mumbled as she caught up, smirking at Damion as he looked around. It was a huge open area with stalls arranged in two crescents around the perimeter of the area. Small round tables were scattered in the center of the semi-circle and in the middle of everything were two long counters full of food. The sweet smells of cakes and donuts mingled with the savory smells of roasted ducks and chicken wings.

"I'm going to my favorite stall. We can meet up at that table." Kiki said as she pointed to a table off to the left, leaving without waiting for an answer. Damion just nodded and without realizing it, found himself at one of the buffet counters. He felt giddy with joy as he picked up two plates and started filling them with everything and anything that would fit. Noodles and rice of various kinds, any meat you can imagine prepared in any style, fresh vegetables that looked as though they had just been harvested at their peak, exotic fruits emitting tantalizing fragrances, pastries and desserts fresh from the oven were all piled on his plates in haphazard stacks.

I'll have to come back for seconds. He thought as he carried his overflowing plates to the table Kiki had pointed out. He cracked open his chopsticks, said a quick prayer, and dug in.

By the time Kiki came to the table Damion had already licked one plate clean and was starting on his next one. His mouth watered at the smoky aroma wafting from Kiki's plate. "What is that?" He asked, suddenly wondering if he should get that next instead of more of the buffet. He immediately discarded the idea when he realized he only had a dollar left.

"Roasted Duck with a smoky Honey Root rub," Kiki replied, smiling as she took a huge bite. Damion scowled at her and shoved a mouth full of lemon custard into his mouth, causing him to sigh happily at the sweet taste.

"You do realize that pudding has Honey Root in it, right?" Kiki pointed out quietly. Damion groaned, realizing that was why his stomach hadn't been clenching painfully.

He shrugged and licked his spoon. "Well, this will be the last time I eat it." He said, knowing he couldn't do anything about it now. The festival had made him feel so happy he didn't think anything could get him down. He started to eat some more of his food, not realizing something was off until Kiki said something. 

"Where's Miyuki?"