[Once upon a time...]
Honoka smacks the back of her head, "Be serious!"
Yua frowns and rubs the back of her head then mutters, "I am. Some best-friend you are."
She takes a deep breath and starts again.
[Over three years ago, I was traveling through the desolate jungles of the earth Country of Kametochi. Far from civilization, I found a lone little boy with crimson red hair and beautiful emerald eyes. He was extremely sick, suffering intense fevers, nausea, and irregular breathing. His Chi flow was all over the place. The boy was dying.]
[There wasn't much I could do for him in the middle of the jungle. I could see a storm starting to roll overhead. With it being wet season, I knew we could not stay there. So, I took him with me and searched for the nearest settlement. It took a few days, but I finally found a small village. Unexpectedly, the reactions of the people were not so kind when I walked in. I tried to explain to them I meant no harm to them, but the rural people claimed that the boy had evil eyes; those of a powerful monster who would bring calamity into the world.] People nodded their heads in agreement.
[I begged them. "We just need to rest for a bit and we will leave when the rains stops." Luckily, the village chief allowed it saying, "If we did not, the 'evil thing' would come back to haunt us." They gave us a shelter on the outskirts of the village. The boy's fever was running high. With us being caught in a downpour for the past few days, it couldn't be helped. I went to the village chief to see if there were any medical Chibushi around. He said that this village had only non-Blesseds. We waited and waited for almost a week, but the rain never stopped. In fact, it became even heavier. On our seventh day in the village, disaster struck. A loud roaring sound could be heard outside. I looked through the window and saw death. With the crazy amount of rain, the terrain loosened over the passed week and triggered a major landslide that was directly heading toward all of us.]
[The villagers tried escaping, but there was no place to turn. We were surrounded.]
[Before my eyes hundreds of people were about to be buried, but in an instant we were all safe. To our surprise, a layer of white Chi that was not mine blanketed the village. It was a the boy. The lifeless boy who I carried on my back. The boy that was too weak to lift his head. That little boy protected us with his own power.]
[We looked at the little boy whose eyes were glowing brilliant emerald and was exuding an amazing amount Chi. "You're a Dragon Vessel," I said. That day, disaster struck, but a miracle occurred.]
[Afterwards, the boy's body became healthy and the rain eventually stopped. We left the village who ended up giving thanks to boy in the end. Months passed and by chance, I asked the little boy what it was that he wanted most in the world, what his dream was. He did not hesitate. "I just want to get along with others."] Just like the villagers, the people of the restaurant begin to change the hatred in their eyes.
'Good. It's all going as planned,' two minds think simultaneously.
[Hearing this, my heart hurt...] Grandma Mari starts sniffling. "You poor child!"
[The little boy wanted to live a normal life and I wanted give it to him. So, I decided it was time to return for a bit!] Like she was telling fairy-tale to kids, they were hooked. [We were both so excited. I told him many stories about my life here. About the people who I met and the memories we shared together. We left Kametochi to Koisan, then landed on the South side of the island. It was already late in the evening, and he and I were already tired. I didn't think it would hurt to wait until morning to travel to the other side of the mountain, so we retired at South Harbor INN.... Then.. after falling asleep.. the fire broke out. It spread so quickly. It was.. horrible. As much as I tried, as much we all tried, it was useless.] The room sank low. Everyone knew that there wasn't much she could do. It wasn't a normal fire. It was something else.
[Buildings were burning. People.. were burning. I couldn't save them.] Tears rolled down her face, but she continued. [Soon, the only place we could go was up the mountain. We rushed uphill, but it was too rapid. We ended up being caught in it before barely managing to escape somehow.]
A few moments pass before Yua returns back to herself. "And this is the story on how I met Taitsuke."
There were 10 other customers in the restaurant (all mostly old fishermen), two cooks in the back, Grandma and Miku in the front, and lastly, there was Taiyo, Honoka, and Taitsuke listening. Yua sat back down and took a gulp of water. Grandma Mari shuffled to the back and took out a large piece of pie. "I'm sorry you've gone through such pain Taitsuke-kun. From now on, come in whenever you want. I'll just bill it to Ambassador Taiyou and Honoka."
Taiyou starts to choke at the guesstimated price he would be paying per meal. "Oh! Amatsuchi-san, we give Taitsuke allowance each month that he can spend on what he wants to eat."
"Nonsense!" Yua smiles mischievously. "I bet that allowance is another restriction by the Council. It's probably not even enough to feed a cat for a week!" Brows furrow downward throughout the restaurant from her speaking badly about the Council. Taitsuke! "How much money is in that envelope they give you for your daily expenses each month?" Taitsuke looks to Taiyou and and Honoka for approval. Honoka is sinking down in her chair while Taiyou winks slyly at him.
"$50 dollars."
Miku drops another plate on the floor. "$50 dollars? My brother sends me $100 dollars a month and I can't even get by with that!" He huffs. After a moment, he notices his reaction was a bit too extreme then returns to his usual cool self. Yua flashes a smirk at Taiyou and continues her act.
She flicks Honoka and Taiyou's foreheads as if she was scolding children, then asks Taitsuke, "Seeing as we live in a society where you're old enough to work small jobs like Miku here, have ever thought of working?"
Taitsuke fiddles with the crumbs on the plate where the large slice of pie used to be. "I did think of working and I tried interviewing, but I was immediately turned away." The customers all knew why and they all stayed quiet in shame. Not wanting pity, Taitsuke quickly adds, "BUT! When I'm able to work as a Chibushi, I'm going to be able to make my own money. I'll be fine until then."
"Hm. Is it your dream to be a Chibushi?"
Taitsuke raises his head and answers honestly. "No. It's not my dream. I have aspirations to be a Chibushi since they are some of the most respected, amazing, and strong people in the world, but that isn't my dream. My dream is exactly the same as it was when you asked me 3 years ago. What I want the most is get along with other. I want them to see that I'm not who they think I am. If I become a Chibushi, they'll understand I'm not trying to hurt them, but protect them!"
They are all moved by his honest words.
A clatter comes from a table across from them. "Taitsuke! If you ever need any extra money, come stop by the east dock! I'm always looking for some helping hands," a kind fisherman offers.
"No! Taitsuke! Just come to my shop! I'm sure I can find some use for you."
"You can come to..."
The four finally leave the restaurant a bit groggy from all the chatting and eating.
As if she just caught her second wind, Yua energetically informs them, "Oh! Sorry. I almost forgot I had a drinking appointment tonight. I'll see you guys later." The flowing white ponytail drifts upward and over the rooftops. "I guess its just the three of-" Honoka begins then sees Taiyou has disappeared as well. "..two of us."
Taitsuke gives her a pitiful look. "I live just right there so...." He points to the apartment next to them and walks away.
Alone, she presses her temples. "Goddess of Shika, the people I'm around."
The sun has set into the sea to his left. Taitsuke stares out the window and down to the tiny restaurant. "I can't believe all that just happen." He's never had so many people eager to talk to him. So many things have happened today. He was allowed to go free; he ate an amazing meal; he 'spoke' with his rival Miku; he heard a story about a bit of his past; he had people offering HIM a job; he met Yua; he's back at home.
On the roof of the restaurant he sees a small bird hopping to the top. It stops for a moment and looks faces the sea before it opens its wings and flies away.
Taitsuke has a weird feeling surge through him. "I have a feeling that things are going to start to change."
"Yua." Before running off, Taiyou stops her on the top of the roof of a random INN. "Yua, give me your report before you go." The two enter Honoka's apartment.
Taiyou starts to scan the space. "Did you check for bugs when you were here earlier?"
"Yes. There were a few, but I placed seals on them before Honoka came back."
With a satisfied look Taiyou nods. "Good."
Yua straightens her posture and places her fist on her chest. Meeting his eyes, she reports, "At approximately [1:00 pm], I returned to the island. [1:45 pm] reached home. [2:30 pm] Honoka informed me about your status. [2:40 pm] I met with General Miyamoto. He was walking out of the the Council Conference Hall. From what I could tell, he was not told about the Council's finding about Taitsuke, only about how Taitsuke was not the perpetrator. [2:45 pm] I met with the Council." She pauses there and her eyes turn dark.
"We were right in suspecting something was happening six years ago. While talking to them, I noticed their reactions to the King's words. It seems that the nation of wind has not completely abandoned their King and are not willing to fall under Koisan. Their general and two ambassadors showed fake reactions when I insulted the Koisan King. Though they seemed angry, I can see that that it was just to butter him up."
"Koisan on the other hand is still holding the reigns over the Alliance, thus no matter what, the other two nations will cooperate. They also had no intention on looking any further in your case. They wanted to just stop at your arrest. They never even questioned prince Jirou in whether he was conspiring with you. I believe that this little incident was made to set us up."
Placing his hand to his chin, he says, "Yes, that's what I believe too... What about the Shikakokka members?"
She grits her teeth. "They are pieces of scum. They had no qualms for feeding you to that shark. You are a citizen of Shikakokka, but they had no intentions in defending you. The two generals are completely under prince Jirou's control and prince Jirou is kissing the Koisan King's ass. Before I left, the three of them still had some type of connections to the King of Shikakokka, but those power hungry bastards are now willing to cut all ties."
"Don't worry, as long as the you have power, I will have power and just the same, my King will have power."
She beats her fist to her chest and smirks. "Shikakokka Ambassador Yuuryou, this concludes my report."
Saluting her as well, he hits his chest. "Thank you, Kametochi Ambassador Kozuki. You may go."
The door unlocks and Honoka looks at the two of them. "What the heck are you two doing?"