The setting sun's afterglow spilled over the ruined shrine, stretching the three little monkeys' shadows very, very long.
Maodou had cried enough. He wiped his face with a filthy paw, his bamboo hat tilting to one side.
"You... you're really willing to help us find Lord Ape God?"
His voice still carried a sobbing note, but a glimmer of expectation had appeared in his eyes.
Huangdou and Lvdou also lifted their heads, six round eyes staring at the three children as if they had caught hold of their last lifeline.
Inuyasha folded his arms over his chest and turned his head away.
"I said I'd help you find him, so I'll help you find him. I, Inuyasha, never go back on my word."
"Big Brother just said he'd look 'after he got stronger.'"
Saku hugged her doll and quietly added a line.
"We have to look now."
Inuyasha's ears shot upright at once, and his face flushed bright red.
"Th-then we'll look now! What's the difference!"
Sakura looked at her younger brother's embarrassed state, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, but she did not expose him.
She crouched down and looked Maodou in the eye.
"Where did you last see Lord Ape God?"
Maodou tilted his head and thought for a moment.
"The shrine... right here."
"Back then, the shrine was still fine. Villagers came to make offerings every day. There were rice balls, fruit, and..."
Huangdou swallowed.
"And candy."
"And then?"
Sakura pressed.
Maodou's eyes dimmed.
"Then... one day, lots of people in armor came down the mountain."
"They fought at the foot of the mountain. They fought for a very, very long time."
"Later, someone set fire to the mountain, and the flames reached the shrine..."
Lvdou shrank his neck in, his voice very small.
"Such a