as written by Script, Sentry and ConnorTavarin
As the trio made their way into the village, the decorations and lights grew more and more prevalent. It was still early afternoon, and so the festivities were not yet in full swing - many villagers were in the process of hanging decorations, setting up stalls and tents or otherwise making preparations for the coming evening.
The village itself was bustling with activity, and there were far more people here than was to be expected for a village this size. Seiji and the others were not the only ones who had come to Yan'Xin for the festival, and tourists from all across the island filled the streets. Some carried suitcases on their way to hotels, others walked slowly pointing out the sights to one another, but it was relatively easy to tell them from the locals quietly going about their business.
Some stalls were already set up, those selling intricately patterened ceremonial masks or face-paints that would be worn come nighttime by most of the festival-goers. Others were selling food or souvenirs to the tourists.
The three new arrivals drew little attention, though Kinaro's secretive attire attracted some glances - but if there was ever a time of year where wearing a mask would not stand out overly, it was now.
"Pshaa!" Seiji tutted at Junwei, "You should be more enthusiastic! There is more to do than see sights! There will be dancing, and feasting, and music, and all sorts of things! You will dance, won't you both?" he asked, turning to walk backwards with big, expectant and hopeful eyes.
Kinaro observed the activity going on throughout the village, occasionally muttering his interest in what he sees. He seemed to express his relief that no one really found his attire too suspicious due to the festivities, so he picked up his pace, walking a little more confidently. A couple of children tug on his cloak, to which he quickly turns on his heels, about to raise his voice. When he realizes they're just children, though, he keeps his composure and sighs "Sorry, little ones, but please do not pull on my cloak...it is of poor quality and can get damaged very easily." he says politely. They curiously follow him for a few more steps before asking "That's a pretty mask, mister...where'd you get it?" a question that makes Kinaro stop in his tracks for a moment. "I...oh, it's a family heirloom. My father passed it down to me, and he got it from his father." he said, hoping they wouldn't catch him in the lie. They seem satisfied with the answer before going on their merry way.
As they walk across the village, Kinaro spots someone on a ladder, fumbling with a decoration before it slips out of his fingers. Kinaro quickly dashed towards the falling object, catching it just barely. Standing up, he offers it to the person on the ladder, who voices his gratitude. Nodding his head, he was about to go back to Junwei and Seiji when suddenly he is approached by an elderly woman "Greetings, child...I could not help but notice your kind actions. Many others would have just ignored the falling decoration and kept going on their way, but you went out of your way to help a stranger. I am a local fortune teller, and I wish to give you a free reading, if you will take the time. Your aura is quite fascinating." she says with a gentle smile. Unsure of what he should do, he simply nods, not seeing the harm in it. He looks to Junwei and Seiji "I will return shortly." he says before following the woman to a table.
Sitting down on one of the chairs provided, the woman gestures for him to put his palm out. Kinaro does so and the woman takes hold of his hand, gently tracing her fingers along his palm and occasionally pressing down. Her smile turns to a concerned frown "You do not trust your companions...and it seems as if you have never truly trusted anyone. You believe that no one will accept you no matter the circumstances. Yet...you still help those around you. A noble, yet tragic heart. Allow me to give you advice, child...your happiness will never come unless you learn to open your heart and secret to your companions." she says as Kinaro pulls his hand away, standing up. He turns and starts walking away as the woman says "Your identity is a gift, not a curse...as much pain as it has given you, it will prove to bring you great happiness one day. I hope you realize that soon...Kinaro." she says. His eyes widening, Kinaro turns "How did you know my...?" he was cut off by the fact that the woman and the table she was sitting at was gone. No one around him seemed to bat an eye at her sudden disappearance, as if she was never there to begin with. He silently returns to his companions. "I'm sorry...my mind must have been playing tricks on me..."
"What are festivities, but a time to drink and pass out for the night?" chuckled Junwei. He raised one of his hands to bop the underside of a paper lantern as he passed it. "Certainly different from the city, however. I wonder what I can expect of a small village here."
Not hunters, at least.
"Dancing?" mused Junwei. "Enticing, really, child. But I might have to decline."
"Are you sure? I can take all of this?"
A young lady stood at the outside of a shop, a bag of cooked rice shoved into her arms by an older man who's face was sun-baked and who's wrinkles flopped over his eyes. He pat her soft cheek with a calloused hand and a chuckle. "You go, dear, you take it. You got so much meat for us, dear. Eat all the rice now, get big and fat."
The young woman couldn't help but smile and give the older man a deep bow. "Thank you. I'll come back next week to see if you need more help. I promise."
Turning away and wandering off, the young lady tied the bag of rice to her belt. It was heavy on her hip, and she stumbled a moment to get used to the weight, but she managed.
She wasn't a very strange visitor at all, though she was quite the stranger to Yan'Xin. She was what one would expect for the festival, dressed in colorful, layered clothing that she'd modified to leave her legs free. Her long hair had been tied up and her bangs had been messily combed out of her face, behind a white fox mask tied there. She was a bit tall for a woman, a bit boyish, but still undoubtedly female.
The one thing that caught a bit of attention was her bow and quiver filled with arrows, but she was a hunter. People had seen her cart all sorts of animals into the old man's butcher shop for the last week in exchange for cooked food. No doubt, she'd traveled a bit far for the festival.
Seji smiled and nodded to Kinaro as he was led aside by the fortune teller, though his eyes lingered on the woman for a few moments longer than might have been expected before he turned back to Junwei at his reply.
"Ohh, but you must!" Seiji exclaimed plaintively, "It's one of the best parts!" He paused for a moment in thought before grinning, and adding "I'm sure there'll be plenty of women dancing, who you'll be able to impress! Nobody will want to cavort with a spoilsport who doesn't dance for the festival!" He giggled.
When Kinaro returned, Seiji blinked and peered over his shoulder at where the fortune teller had been. After a moment, he gave a knowing smile and shook his head. "No tricks, I don't think! I saw her too. Whatever she said to you, you should be sure you take it to heart! I'd bet my hat that she was a spirit!" he nodded his head self-assuredly. "But you'll dance, won't you Kinaro?" he went on, apparently unperturbed by the prospect of a spirit-woman enough that he was still fixed on the dancing question.
Fixed enough that he was still walking backwards, and so it was almost inevitable that he'd end up backing straight into someone. Thankfully for both of them, his small stature meant that the impact when he backed into the girl in the fox-mask mostly made him stumble forwards, rather than upsetting her balance. "Oh! I'm sorry!" he said, spinning around to bow apologetically.
Kinaro was relieved that he wasn't the only one to see the mysterious old woman. It did surprise him a bit that she may have been a spirit, though he wasn't so sure if he really should take her advice to heart. He hears Seiji's question of whether or not he would dance. "Dance? I can't say I'm familiar with how to dance but...what would be the harm be in trying? I'll observe a bit later and see if I can learn a few steps." he smiles under the mask. Seiji was such an outgoing and friendly person. It made Kinaro think if it's been foolish of him to be hiding for so long. However, he wasn't ready to remove the mask or cloak. Not yet in any case. Junwei still made him feel a little uneasy with how stoic he was, but he didn't completely distrust him.
When Seiji bumped into the woman with the fox mask, he put his hand out to help keep Seiji's balance as he turned around and started bowing apologetically. He couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the display. He looked at the woman, seeing the mask. Something about the mask was...comforting. He didn't know why, but it had a sense of familiarity. Foxes or things resembling them brought him peace for whatever reason. "Forgive my friend here. It was an accident. What is your name, miss?" he asks. He laughs as Seiji presumably kept bowing "You can stop now, I think you've made your point."
"I'm sure any woman here to see me dance would be more charmed by the humor of my stumbling and not any skill I have toward it," Junwei jested, though he was sure there was much truth to it. The crumping and grinding of the city wouldn't be of much use here, in a village that hadn't seen such things.
He had to eye what had been the fortune teller, now gone. He'd looked away for only a moment, he swore he had. Kinaro's confusion, which he'd seemed to miss earlier, caught his attention, as well, but he let it go as Seiji ran straight into another person.
"Oh, whoops!" she exclaimed, hands out to soften the impact. She blinked at the kid, but then grinned. "Hey, it's alright! No harm done, yeah?" She reached to readjust Seiji's hat, but paused when she saw the mouse. "Little one, you've got a stowaway," she laughed, pointing to the tiny creature. "Some of the women in this village won't take too kindly to that. They get into the rice!"
Her eyes met with another stranger. The one with the mask. For a moment, she was thoughtful, lips spreading thinly as her eyes darted over him. It started, and stopped, with that mask. "Me? Oh, I'm Ayajin. You all look like travelers! You're together? Whereabouts are you from?"
"Aiee," Seiji's eyes peered upwards, as the mouse on his hat peered down. "He'll behave, won't you!" he said to the little creature. It squeaked. Whether or not that constituted a reply, Seji nodded and grinned. "I'll make sure of it! My name is Seiji, I'm from... all over the place, really! But I was born in Tianshi, if that's what you mean. I haven't stayed in one place for very long for a while now!"
He paused, as though realising something. "And hey! I'm not that little! Why does everyone call me that?" he exclaimed, pouting. "Harrumph! Well anyway, it's nice to meet you, Ayajin! I like your mask!"
Again, he paused. "Ah! Mask! We need to go get masks!" he spun around to face Junwei, "Kinaro is all prepared, but we're maskless! Come on, I saw a place selling them back across the road this way!" he said, grabbing the larger man's arm and tugging him off towards a stall a short way back down the road.
When Ayajin asked where they were from, Kinaro wasn't quite sure how to answer "To be honest...I don't really know. I've traveled across the world, made many friends...lost those very same friends because of...what's under this." he taps his mask. "All I'm doing is trying to find a place where I can just belong without people judging me...pointing fingers...laughing." he looks down slightly. It was difficult to speak of such things, but he wanted to get closer to being more comfortable with what he was. He wanted to know what he was.
As Seiji drags Junwei off to go get some masks, Kinaro inspected the one Ayajin had "That's a beautiful mask. Did you get it for the festival? I heard it's an important part of the festivities from Seiji. He's very knowledgeable despite his young appearance." he said, trying to brighten the mood after his short ramble on who he was.
Junwei groaned as Seiji pulled him off. "Must we?" he whined, a scowl of misery and distaste spreading across his face. Even so he didn't pull away from the boy and he kept following. If there was any true loathing for the child or his behavior, it certainly wasn't showing.
Ayajin watched after the two with a chuckle. Must be brothers!
"This village here is filled with a lot of nice people. I'm sure you'll be fine," said Ayajin with a reassuring smile. She took the mask on her head and slid it over her face.
"Thank you. My guild gave it to me when I joined. All the members have one. It really fits in here, hmm? What about yours?"
"Yes! We must! It's a very important tradition!" Seiji affirmed, dragging Junwei up to the stall. There was an almighty array of masks on display, of all different shapes and sizes and colours. Each mask held its own meaning, a spirit or concept that it represented. Most of them, anyway. Some were simply designed to be decorative.
The stall-owner was a tall moustachioed man with a big, warm smile that he flashed to the two as they approached. "Hello! Welcome, welcome! I saw you arrive in town, I thought I might see you come by here soon."
He gestured towards his vast collection of masks, no two the same. "Take your time, take your time. Your choice of mask is important. It should represent something about you, something core to your being. Though you will be masked, you should still be wearing an aspect of your self as your face!"
Seiji gazed wide-eyed at the selection. "Aiee. There's so many to pick from..." he murmured.
The shop-owner smiled. "Don't worry. The right mask has a habit of finding you, as much as you find it."
"Hmmm." Seiji stroked his chin ponderously, gazing from mask to mask. "What one are you gonna get, Junwei?" he asked the larger man with a grin.
Kinaro doesn't respond to her when she said that the village is filled with nice people. He thought the others were nice people as well before what happened. When the conversation changed to the subject the masks, he spoke up "I've had this mask for a very long time. Longer than I can remember. It's the only possession of mine that's truly precious...I don't have a home, I don't have anything else to my name other than my sword and the clothes on my back. I guess that's part of the reason people call me The Vagrant. It's a fitting title." he said, laughing a little.
He then decided to ask her more about the guild she mentioned. "What is this guild you mentioned? Does the fox have a special significance to what you do?" he asks. His curiosity of local folktales and customs was genuine. He truly wanted to learn more about this guild and what their purpose was in the grand scheme of things. He eagerly awaits her reply.
Junwei mused over the masks carefully, taking each into consideration. His fingers slid over the smooth surfaces of the masks carefully, until finally they stopped.
Beneath his hand he found the mask of a snarling, fiery lizard, lips raised over pearly white teeth. Small horns sprouted from the tops of the mask, twining backwards unevenly. For a very long moment Junwei was caught in a trance with the fearsome creature. His fingers curled around the edge, as though he was trying to pick it up.
At the last moment his hand deviated to the one next to it. A long-faced dog with droopy ears. "This one," he told Seiji with a tight smile. "It calls out to me."
He pointed to the puppydog one on the other side of the table, tongue out in a dog's grin. It was certainly silly. "And I think that is you," he jokingly stated.
"The Vagrant... that does ring a bell!" Ayajin chimed, tapping the chin to her mask. "But I'm not sure if the tales reach all the way where I'm from. I might have heard whispers around here, though. What an interesting life you lead." She tilted her head to the side, one hand on her hip.
"The guild is BeastEye, known for using magic concerning the animal that's chosen us. The fox is normally cunning, though I didn't think it was a trait I possessed..." She moved the mask over one eye, an eye that didn't belong to the young lady anymore. It was amber colored, the pupil vertically slit. Her dark hair and fair skin had been replaced by red fur.
Before he would get a good enough look at her, Ayajin moved the mask over to the other side, once again the human woman he'd been gazing at before. A sly smile curled upon her lips. "I think it comes naturally, though."
Seiji eyed Junwei with suspicion. The bigger man's hesitation hadn't escaped his notice. "Are you suuuure?" he teased, grinning up at him. "You don't come across as a droopy dog!"
When he pointed out the puppy mask, Seiji looked over to it, then folded his arms and huffed. "That's a kid's mask!" he whined, "Just because I am small doesn't mean I'm a kid!"
The boy went back to surveying the stall, until something caught his eye. He leaned up on the stall to reach for the back of the rows of masks and pluck one from it. The mask depicted a cat with a sweet smile, its face lined with silver and gold. "What does this mask represent, sir?" he asked the stall-owner.
"Ahh," the man replied, "That mask has several names - the happy cat, the beckoning cat or the fortune cat. As a cat, it represents a free and independent spirit, but it also symbolises fortune through companionship. It beckons, and those that take heed find some happiness - whether small or large."
Seiji tilted his head thoughtfully, musing over the mask before nodding. "I'll take this one!" he said cheerfully, reaching into his pocket for a few coins to hand to the man, who accepted them with a gracious nod.
The man turned to Junwei, then. "And you, are you decided on the mourning hound? The mourning hound represents grief for the loss of a leader, or one whose path you followed, as the dog would mourn its master's passing. But fear not, for like the hound, there is solace to be found in new companions - perhaps even ones you now lead in their stead."
Kinaro could have sworn he saw something change about Ayajin, even if it was only for a split second. No one else seemed to bat an eye at this and he was about to assume it was his imagination again. Then again, he was wrong about that before. "I've always liked foxes. I can't really put it to words why, I just sort of have an affinity for them. Oh, and my life's not all that interesting." even though no one could notice, it was painfully clear by the tone of his voice that he was blushing. "Honestly, I would love to one day have a true home. One where people will accept me. I can't see that happening, though." he says. Kinaro was always so happy to help others, but he seemed constantly negative about his own existence. The sad part was how matter-of-fact he says it, as if he's so used to thinking like that.
As he realized he was being negative again, Kinaro shook his head "I-I'm sorry for rambling. I shouldn't bring down the mood of such a wonderful festival." he says. Wanting to know more about BeastEye, he starts to ask more questions "So what exactly do you do in this guild? I'm not familiar with the name or what kinds of magic you possess. It really sounds fascinating."
Ayajin seemed perplexed at first, biting her lips with a tilt of her head to the other side, but Kinaro veered the conversation elsewhere.
"We take jobs for people. Help them for a price," said Ayajin. "I'm usually the one scouting around trying to find people who want to give us jobs and take it to the guildhouse for those who're interested. But I'm here for the festival!" She stretched her arms up high above her head, cupping her elbow in a hand, behind her head. "I need some time off! And well..." She looked around at the villagers nearby. "The magic can be flashy, so I'd have to show you some other time, yeah?" Her tongue stuck out at him. "I should get going. Perhaps later. What was your name again?"
Junwei stared solemnly at the dog mask, his eyes wrinkling at the ends as the pupils glazed over. No, it wasn't his mask. The one it belonged to was far away now.
"Then perhaps not," Junwei grumbled, putting the mask down. Closing his eyes in a sigh, he reluctantly picked up the dragon mask. "This would be the one," he told the man. "I suppose."
He eyed Seiji, looking about the cat mask. "Perhaps it is more appropriate. But cats are more like women," he teased the child. "And dogs, men."
Seiji stuck his tongue out at Junwei, "Nyaah. That's what you think! I'm perfectly manly!" he exclaimed, puffing up his chest, "It's not fair to use you as comparison! You're bigger and taller and stronger than most people anyway!"
The man mused over the second choice in mask, "The dragon, now that is a very special mask indeed." he said, "A dragon represents unity of soul and body, balance and power. The dragons of the mountains are said to have achieved total oneness of their spirit and their physical form, allowing them to travel between the realms at will. That is why they are so rare, as they spend as much time out of our reach in the spirit realm, as in our world. This mask is of a fire dragon, strong and courageous - filled with an intense fire that roars within them, but is contained by their carefully maintained outer calm."
Grinning, Seiji nodded his head at Junwei. "That's much better for you! You're strong, and brave! And I bet you can roar like a dragon when you're angry!" he giggled.
Kinaro nodded "My name is Kinaro. I'm looking forward to being able to see some of this magic you've been talking about. Farewell, Ayajin. It was nice meeting you." he smiles before politely bowing, returning to his companions. Upon seeing their mask choices, he laughs "Those are good matches for the both of you. So what are our plans for the moment? Find a place to rest? Look at more of the festival preparations?" he asks, leaving it up to the others to decide what to do. He started fiddling with his mask slightly, wondering if he should remove it. He thinks about how these odd circumstances are just sort of shrugged off by the people of this village. The mysterious old woman, Ayajin's sudden transformation, and all this talk of spirits was making him curious. In the end, he left the mask on. It was different with him. It always was. At least that's what he thought.
Despite his worries, he did feel at peace here. It was quiet, tranquil, and the whole village felt like it worked together. There were also so many stories to hear from these friendly inhabitants. Kinaro wanted to hear as many as he could before moving on. If he decided he even want to leave this village.
"It is the most fitting for now. There's... just not as many choices..." mumbled the man, strapping the mask on to the side of his head. "But I can roar much louder than a dragon," he grinned.
He took a glance at Kinaro, lifting a brow. He supposed there was no hiding that the dragon was his fit. He had to sigh. "Perhaps the little one knows," he said. "As he knows everything else."
"Psha! I don't know everything! I know a lot about specific things, because I ask a lot of questions!" Seiji smiled brightly, "But I have been here before! There's an inn this way!" he turned on the spot and pointed into town, "Follow me!" he exclaimed, before starting off down the road.
As the trio made their way into the village, the decorations and lights grew more and more prevalent. It was still early afternoon, and so the festivities were not yet in full swing - many villagers were in the process of hanging decorations, setting up stalls and tents or otherwise making preparations for the coming evening.
The village itself was bustling with activity, and there were far more people here than was to be expected for a village this size. Seiji and the others were not the only ones who had come to Yan'Xin for the festival, and tourists from all across the island filled the streets. Some carried suitcases on their way to hotels, others walked slowly pointing out the sights to one another, but it was relatively easy to tell them from the locals quietly going about their business.
Some stalls were already set up, those selling intricately patterened ceremonial masks or face-paints that would be worn come nighttime by most of the festival-goers. Others were selling food or souvenirs to the tourists.
The three new arrivals drew little attention, though Kinaro's secretive attire attracted some glances - but if there was ever a time of year where wearing a mask would not stand out overly, it was now.
"Pshaa!" Seiji tutted at Junwei, "You should be more enthusiastic! There is more to do than see sights! There will be dancing, and feasting, and music, and all sorts of things! You will dance, won't you both?" he asked, turning to walk backwards with big, expectant and hopeful eyes.
Kinaro observed the activity going on throughout the village, occasionally muttering his interest in what he sees. He seemed to express his relief that no one really found his attire too suspicious due to the festivities, so he picked up his pace, walking a little more confidently. A couple of children tug on his cloak, to which he quickly turns on his heels, about to raise his voice. When he realizes they're just children, though, he keeps his composure and sighs "Sorry, little ones, but please do not pull on my cloak...it is of poor quality and can get damaged very easily." he says politely. They curiously follow him for a few more steps before asking "That's a pretty mask, mister...where'd you get it?" a question that makes Kinaro stop in his tracks for a moment. "I...oh, it's a family heirloom. My father passed it down to me, and he got it from his father." he said, hoping they wouldn't catch him in the lie. They seem satisfied with the answer before going on their merry way.
As they walk across the village, Kinaro spots someone on a ladder, fumbling with a decoration before it slips out of his fingers. Kinaro quickly dashed towards the falling object, catching it just barely. Standing up, he offers it to the person on the ladder, who voices his gratitude. Nodding his head, he was about to go back to Junwei and Seiji when suddenly he is approached by an elderly woman "Greetings, child...I could not help but notice your kind actions. Many others would have just ignored the falling decoration and kept going on their way, but you went out of your way to help a stranger. I am a local fortune teller, and I wish to give you a free reading, if you will take the time. Your aura is quite fascinating." she says with a gentle smile. Unsure of what he should do, he simply nods, not seeing the harm in it. He looks to Junwei and Seiji "I will return shortly." he says before following the woman to a table.
Sitting down on one of the chairs provided, the woman gestures for him to put his palm out. Kinaro does so and the woman takes hold of his hand, gently tracing her fingers along his palm and occasionally pressing down. Her smile turns to a concerned frown "You do not trust your companions...and it seems as if you have never truly trusted anyone. You believe that no one will accept you no matter the circumstances. Yet...you still help those around you. A noble, yet tragic heart. Allow me to give you advice, child...your happiness will never come unless you learn to open your heart and secret to your companions." she says as Kinaro pulls his hand away, standing up. He turns and starts walking away as the woman says "Your identity is a gift, not a curse...as much pain as it has given you, it will prove to bring you great happiness one day. I hope you realize that soon...Kinaro." she says. His eyes widening, Kinaro turns "How did you know my...?" he was cut off by the fact that the woman and the table she was sitting at was gone. No one around him seemed to bat an eye at her sudden disappearance, as if she was never there to begin with. He silently returns to his companions. "I'm sorry...my mind must have been playing tricks on me..."
"What are festivities, but a time to drink and pass out for the night?" chuckled Junwei. He raised one of his hands to bop the underside of a paper lantern as he passed it. "Certainly different from the city, however. I wonder what I can expect of a small village here."
Not hunters, at least.
"Dancing?" mused Junwei. "Enticing, really, child. But I might have to decline."
"Are you sure? I can take all of this?"
A young lady stood at the outside of a shop, a bag of cooked rice shoved into her arms by an older man who's face was sun-baked and who's wrinkles flopped over his eyes. He pat her soft cheek with a calloused hand and a chuckle. "You go, dear, you take it. You got so much meat for us, dear. Eat all the rice now, get big and fat."
The young woman couldn't help but smile and give the older man a deep bow. "Thank you. I'll come back next week to see if you need more help. I promise."
Turning away and wandering off, the young lady tied the bag of rice to her belt. It was heavy on her hip, and she stumbled a moment to get used to the weight, but she managed.
She wasn't a very strange visitor at all, though she was quite the stranger to Yan'Xin. She was what one would expect for the festival, dressed in colorful, layered clothing that she'd modified to leave her legs free. Her long hair had been tied up and her bangs had been messily combed out of her face, behind a white fox mask tied there. She was a bit tall for a woman, a bit boyish, but still undoubtedly female.
The one thing that caught a bit of attention was her bow and quiver filled with arrows, but she was a hunter. People had seen her cart all sorts of animals into the old man's butcher shop for the last week in exchange for cooked food. No doubt, she'd traveled a bit far for the festival.
Seji smiled and nodded to Kinaro as he was led aside by the fortune teller, though his eyes lingered on the woman for a few moments longer than might have been expected before he turned back to Junwei at his reply.
"Ohh, but you must!" Seiji exclaimed plaintively, "It's one of the best parts!" He paused for a moment in thought before grinning, and adding "I'm sure there'll be plenty of women dancing, who you'll be able to impress! Nobody will want to cavort with a spoilsport who doesn't dance for the festival!" He giggled.
When Kinaro returned, Seiji blinked and peered over his shoulder at where the fortune teller had been. After a moment, he gave a knowing smile and shook his head. "No tricks, I don't think! I saw her too. Whatever she said to you, you should be sure you take it to heart! I'd bet my hat that she was a spirit!" he nodded his head self-assuredly. "But you'll dance, won't you Kinaro?" he went on, apparently unperturbed by the prospect of a spirit-woman enough that he was still fixed on the dancing question.
Fixed enough that he was still walking backwards, and so it was almost inevitable that he'd end up backing straight into someone. Thankfully for both of them, his small stature meant that the impact when he backed into the girl in the fox-mask mostly made him stumble forwards, rather than upsetting her balance. "Oh! I'm sorry!" he said, spinning around to bow apologetically.
Kinaro was relieved that he wasn't the only one to see the mysterious old woman. It did surprise him a bit that she may have been a spirit, though he wasn't so sure if he really should take her advice to heart. He hears Seiji's question of whether or not he would dance. "Dance? I can't say I'm familiar with how to dance but...what would be the harm be in trying? I'll observe a bit later and see if I can learn a few steps." he smiles under the mask. Seiji was such an outgoing and friendly person. It made Kinaro think if it's been foolish of him to be hiding for so long. However, he wasn't ready to remove the mask or cloak. Not yet in any case. Junwei still made him feel a little uneasy with how stoic he was, but he didn't completely distrust him.
When Seiji bumped into the woman with the fox mask, he put his hand out to help keep Seiji's balance as he turned around and started bowing apologetically. He couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the display. He looked at the woman, seeing the mask. Something about the mask was...comforting. He didn't know why, but it had a sense of familiarity. Foxes or things resembling them brought him peace for whatever reason. "Forgive my friend here. It was an accident. What is your name, miss?" he asks. He laughs as Seiji presumably kept bowing "You can stop now, I think you've made your point."
"I'm sure any woman here to see me dance would be more charmed by the humor of my stumbling and not any skill I have toward it," Junwei jested, though he was sure there was much truth to it. The crumping and grinding of the city wouldn't be of much use here, in a village that hadn't seen such things.
He had to eye what had been the fortune teller, now gone. He'd looked away for only a moment, he swore he had. Kinaro's confusion, which he'd seemed to miss earlier, caught his attention, as well, but he let it go as Seiji ran straight into another person.
"Oh, whoops!" she exclaimed, hands out to soften the impact. She blinked at the kid, but then grinned. "Hey, it's alright! No harm done, yeah?" She reached to readjust Seiji's hat, but paused when she saw the mouse. "Little one, you've got a stowaway," she laughed, pointing to the tiny creature. "Some of the women in this village won't take too kindly to that. They get into the rice!"
Her eyes met with another stranger. The one with the mask. For a moment, she was thoughtful, lips spreading thinly as her eyes darted over him. It started, and stopped, with that mask. "Me? Oh, I'm Ayajin. You all look like travelers! You're together? Whereabouts are you from?"
"Aiee," Seiji's eyes peered upwards, as the mouse on his hat peered down. "He'll behave, won't you!" he said to the little creature. It squeaked. Whether or not that constituted a reply, Seji nodded and grinned. "I'll make sure of it! My name is Seiji, I'm from... all over the place, really! But I was born in Tianshi, if that's what you mean. I haven't stayed in one place for very long for a while now!"
He paused, as though realising something. "And hey! I'm not that little! Why does everyone call me that?" he exclaimed, pouting. "Harrumph! Well anyway, it's nice to meet you, Ayajin! I like your mask!"
Again, he paused. "Ah! Mask! We need to go get masks!" he spun around to face Junwei, "Kinaro is all prepared, but we're maskless! Come on, I saw a place selling them back across the road this way!" he said, grabbing the larger man's arm and tugging him off towards a stall a short way back down the road.
When Ayajin asked where they were from, Kinaro wasn't quite sure how to answer "To be honest...I don't really know. I've traveled across the world, made many friends...lost those very same friends because of...what's under this." he taps his mask. "All I'm doing is trying to find a place where I can just belong without people judging me...pointing fingers...laughing." he looks down slightly. It was difficult to speak of such things, but he wanted to get closer to being more comfortable with what he was. He wanted to know what he was.
As Seiji drags Junwei off to go get some masks, Kinaro inspected the one Ayajin had "That's a beautiful mask. Did you get it for the festival? I heard it's an important part of the festivities from Seiji. He's very knowledgeable despite his young appearance." he said, trying to brighten the mood after his short ramble on who he was.
Junwei groaned as Seiji pulled him off. "Must we?" he whined, a scowl of misery and distaste spreading across his face. Even so he didn't pull away from the boy and he kept following. If there was any true loathing for the child or his behavior, it certainly wasn't showing.
Ayajin watched after the two with a chuckle. Must be brothers!
"This village here is filled with a lot of nice people. I'm sure you'll be fine," said Ayajin with a reassuring smile. She took the mask on her head and slid it over her face.
"Thank you. My guild gave it to me when I joined. All the members have one. It really fits in here, hmm? What about yours?"
"Yes! We must! It's a very important tradition!" Seiji affirmed, dragging Junwei up to the stall. There was an almighty array of masks on display, of all different shapes and sizes and colours. Each mask held its own meaning, a spirit or concept that it represented. Most of them, anyway. Some were simply designed to be decorative.
The stall-owner was a tall moustachioed man with a big, warm smile that he flashed to the two as they approached. "Hello! Welcome, welcome! I saw you arrive in town, I thought I might see you come by here soon."
He gestured towards his vast collection of masks, no two the same. "Take your time, take your time. Your choice of mask is important. It should represent something about you, something core to your being. Though you will be masked, you should still be wearing an aspect of your self as your face!"
Seiji gazed wide-eyed at the selection. "Aiee. There's so many to pick from..." he murmured.
The shop-owner smiled. "Don't worry. The right mask has a habit of finding you, as much as you find it."
"Hmmm." Seiji stroked his chin ponderously, gazing from mask to mask. "What one are you gonna get, Junwei?" he asked the larger man with a grin.
Kinaro doesn't respond to her when she said that the village is filled with nice people. He thought the others were nice people as well before what happened. When the conversation changed to the subject the masks, he spoke up "I've had this mask for a very long time. Longer than I can remember. It's the only possession of mine that's truly precious...I don't have a home, I don't have anything else to my name other than my sword and the clothes on my back. I guess that's part of the reason people call me The Vagrant. It's a fitting title." he said, laughing a little.
He then decided to ask her more about the guild she mentioned. "What is this guild you mentioned? Does the fox have a special significance to what you do?" he asks. His curiosity of local folktales and customs was genuine. He truly wanted to learn more about this guild and what their purpose was in the grand scheme of things. He eagerly awaits her reply.
Junwei mused over the masks carefully, taking each into consideration. His fingers slid over the smooth surfaces of the masks carefully, until finally they stopped.
Beneath his hand he found the mask of a snarling, fiery lizard, lips raised over pearly white teeth. Small horns sprouted from the tops of the mask, twining backwards unevenly. For a very long moment Junwei was caught in a trance with the fearsome creature. His fingers curled around the edge, as though he was trying to pick it up.
At the last moment his hand deviated to the one next to it. A long-faced dog with droopy ears. "This one," he told Seiji with a tight smile. "It calls out to me."
He pointed to the puppydog one on the other side of the table, tongue out in a dog's grin. It was certainly silly. "And I think that is you," he jokingly stated.
"The Vagrant... that does ring a bell!" Ayajin chimed, tapping the chin to her mask. "But I'm not sure if the tales reach all the way where I'm from. I might have heard whispers around here, though. What an interesting life you lead." She tilted her head to the side, one hand on her hip.
"The guild is BeastEye, known for using magic concerning the animal that's chosen us. The fox is normally cunning, though I didn't think it was a trait I possessed..." She moved the mask over one eye, an eye that didn't belong to the young lady anymore. It was amber colored, the pupil vertically slit. Her dark hair and fair skin had been replaced by red fur.
Before he would get a good enough look at her, Ayajin moved the mask over to the other side, once again the human woman he'd been gazing at before. A sly smile curled upon her lips. "I think it comes naturally, though."
Seiji eyed Junwei with suspicion. The bigger man's hesitation hadn't escaped his notice. "Are you suuuure?" he teased, grinning up at him. "You don't come across as a droopy dog!"
When he pointed out the puppy mask, Seiji looked over to it, then folded his arms and huffed. "That's a kid's mask!" he whined, "Just because I am small doesn't mean I'm a kid!"
The boy went back to surveying the stall, until something caught his eye. He leaned up on the stall to reach for the back of the rows of masks and pluck one from it. The mask depicted a cat with a sweet smile, its face lined with silver and gold. "What does this mask represent, sir?" he asked the stall-owner.
"Ahh," the man replied, "That mask has several names - the happy cat, the beckoning cat or the fortune cat. As a cat, it represents a free and independent spirit, but it also symbolises fortune through companionship. It beckons, and those that take heed find some happiness - whether small or large."
Seiji tilted his head thoughtfully, musing over the mask before nodding. "I'll take this one!" he said cheerfully, reaching into his pocket for a few coins to hand to the man, who accepted them with a gracious nod.
The man turned to Junwei, then. "And you, are you decided on the mourning hound? The mourning hound represents grief for the loss of a leader, or one whose path you followed, as the dog would mourn its master's passing. But fear not, for like the hound, there is solace to be found in new companions - perhaps even ones you now lead in their stead."
Kinaro could have sworn he saw something change about Ayajin, even if it was only for a split second. No one else seemed to bat an eye at this and he was about to assume it was his imagination again. Then again, he was wrong about that before. "I've always liked foxes. I can't really put it to words why, I just sort of have an affinity for them. Oh, and my life's not all that interesting." even though no one could notice, it was painfully clear by the tone of his voice that he was blushing. "Honestly, I would love to one day have a true home. One where people will accept me. I can't see that happening, though." he says. Kinaro was always so happy to help others, but he seemed constantly negative about his own existence. The sad part was how matter-of-fact he says it, as if he's so used to thinking like that.
As he realized he was being negative again, Kinaro shook his head "I-I'm sorry for rambling. I shouldn't bring down the mood of such a wonderful festival." he says. Wanting to know more about BeastEye, he starts to ask more questions "So what exactly do you do in this guild? I'm not familiar with the name or what kinds of magic you possess. It really sounds fascinating."
Ayajin seemed perplexed at first, biting her lips with a tilt of her head to the other side, but Kinaro veered the conversation elsewhere.
"We take jobs for people. Help them for a price," said Ayajin. "I'm usually the one scouting around trying to find people who want to give us jobs and take it to the guildhouse for those who're interested. But I'm here for the festival!" She stretched her arms up high above her head, cupping her elbow in a hand, behind her head. "I need some time off! And well..." She looked around at the villagers nearby. "The magic can be flashy, so I'd have to show you some other time, yeah?" Her tongue stuck out at him. "I should get going. Perhaps later. What was your name again?"
Junwei stared solemnly at the dog mask, his eyes wrinkling at the ends as the pupils glazed over. No, it wasn't his mask. The one it belonged to was far away now.
"Then perhaps not," Junwei grumbled, putting the mask down. Closing his eyes in a sigh, he reluctantly picked up the dragon mask. "This would be the one," he told the man. "I suppose."
He eyed Seiji, looking about the cat mask. "Perhaps it is more appropriate. But cats are more like women," he teased the child. "And dogs, men."
Seiji stuck his tongue out at Junwei, "Nyaah. That's what you think! I'm perfectly manly!" he exclaimed, puffing up his chest, "It's not fair to use you as comparison! You're bigger and taller and stronger than most people anyway!"
The man mused over the second choice in mask, "The dragon, now that is a very special mask indeed." he said, "A dragon represents unity of soul and body, balance and power. The dragons of the mountains are said to have achieved total oneness of their spirit and their physical form, allowing them to travel between the realms at will. That is why they are so rare, as they spend as much time out of our reach in the spirit realm, as in our world. This mask is of a fire dragon, strong and courageous - filled with an intense fire that roars within them, but is contained by their carefully maintained outer calm."
Grinning, Seiji nodded his head at Junwei. "That's much better for you! You're strong, and brave! And I bet you can roar like a dragon when you're angry!" he giggled.
Kinaro nodded "My name is Kinaro. I'm looking forward to being able to see some of this magic you've been talking about. Farewell, Ayajin. It was nice meeting you." he smiles before politely bowing, returning to his companions. Upon seeing their mask choices, he laughs "Those are good matches for the both of you. So what are our plans for the moment? Find a place to rest? Look at more of the festival preparations?" he asks, leaving it up to the others to decide what to do. He started fiddling with his mask slightly, wondering if he should remove it. He thinks about how these odd circumstances are just sort of shrugged off by the people of this village. The mysterious old woman, Ayajin's sudden transformation, and all this talk of spirits was making him curious. In the end, he left the mask on. It was different with him. It always was. At least that's what he thought.
Despite his worries, he did feel at peace here. It was quiet, tranquil, and the whole village felt like it worked together. There were also so many stories to hear from these friendly inhabitants. Kinaro wanted to hear as many as he could before moving on. If he decided he even want to leave this village.
"It is the most fitting for now. There's... just not as many choices..." mumbled the man, strapping the mask on to the side of his head. "But I can roar much louder than a dragon," he grinned.
He took a glance at Kinaro, lifting a brow. He supposed there was no hiding that the dragon was his fit. He had to sigh. "Perhaps the little one knows," he said. "As he knows everything else."
"Psha! I don't know everything! I know a lot about specific things, because I ask a lot of questions!" Seiji smiled brightly, "But I have been here before! There's an inn this way!" he turned on the spot and pointed into town, "Follow me!" he exclaimed, before starting off down the road.
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