Ash Ronin

Kimboto:*finishing getting dressed.* I'm still not used to shifting at will ok Yumi.

Akane: *laughs to herself* It's nothing I haven't seen before, Yumi.
Amiko: I wish I could say the same. So you said something about hot springs?
Akane: Yes, down a path on the other side of my temple. Although it's not separated by gender...

Kimboto: You three go ahead I wanna talk with my mom more.

Amiko: Right. Have fun!
~In the hot springs~
Amiko: *strips down and enters the spring, sitting down in it* Ahh...this is what I needed...

Yumi: *Sighs contently as she steps in* Yeah, this is certainly nice...

Kimboto: So why is it I can't talk while in my fox form?

Amiko: Say Yumi, why do you always wear that necklace?

Akane: Kitsune talk to humans by projecting their speech psychically. It's hard to master.

Yumi: Well, it gives me my shapeshifting powers. Why do you ask about it, anyway?

Amiko: Why would you need shapeshifting powers in a hot spring? Paranoid?

Kimboto: Or I could make the wind sound like my voice. Also You've seen my fox form. may I see yours?

Yumi: Well.... *Looks around* I kinda like this form, actually. *Blushes a bit from embarrassment*

Amiko: Eh? What do you mean by that? Do you mean that....this isn't your real form or something?

Akane: Very well...*shifts into her kitsune form, her kimono falling to the floor*
Her kitsune form is tall and elegant, with her nine tails flowing peacefully behind her, and five blue flames floating around her head in a circle.
Akane: Well? What do you think?

Kimboto: Wow mom. You look amazing.*rubs her fur* It's so soft. I'm just so glad you're safe. But thinking on the fight. I don't think Goro is even human. I mean he shrugged off some our best attacks like it was nothing. Should I talk to the others about it?

Akane: He didn't seem like a yokai to me, but some people can be more than human.

Yumi: No, it's not. Just promise you won't freak out or anything okay?
Nervously, the red headed girl reaches up behind her neck to remove her necklace. As it's removed, her body starts to rapidly change until she becomes a young, slender man with short, white hair and yellow eyes.
Ryo: My real name's Ryo...

Kimboto: Thanks mom. But I'm gonna talk to the others about my theory. And by the way that fire ring really cool.

Kumiko: So you're a guy. Huh. First Kimboto's half yokai, now Yumi's not even female. What's next? Amiko isn't even a human but a cat? *sighs and leans against the edge letting her boobs float on the water*

Ryo: Well what about you? What secrets do you have to hide? *Puts the necklace back on to turn back into Yumi*

Amiko: Kumiko's secretly a candlestick and that's why she likes fire and junk.

KImboto: Do We have any other Yokai family?

Kumiko: yes, exactly. I'm a candlestick. You hit it on the nose.

Amiko: I knew it! ^^ So anyway Yumi, why take on this persona anyway? And where did you get that necklace?

Yumi: It's a long story, and it brings up some bad memories...

Cut back to a few years ago, in a cave outside of some small village, where a ninja has fled to seek refuge from a warlord's army

Ryo: Damn it... I need to hide.
He looks around frantically, trying to find a place to retreat, eventually spotting a cave.
Ryo: There! *Runs into the cave*

After a few moments in the cave, he comes across a dead end.
Ryo: No, there must be more to this cave; a place to hide. Something!
He kicks a rock in frustration, causing the wall in front of him to crumble and reveal a small shrine holding a necklace
Ryo: What? "To hide from sight, by turning into what others least expect"?