Tsukiyomi was awoken by a somewhat familiar smell. He sat up and saw that Tadashi was setting a table, laying out plates of truffles. "Good morning, Tsukiyomi. Did you sleep well?" he asked, Tsukiyomi nodded his head. "Right then. Come over and have these jelly filled truffles, they're fresh and I made enough." Tsukiyomi got up from the cot and walked over to the table. Tadashi poured him a cup of steaming tea, milk tea by the smell and appearance, and gave him two truffles on his plate. Tadashi then got up and went behind Tsukiyomi. He had a green ribbon in his hands and began to tie Tsukiyomi's hair up. "It's to replace the other one you have." Tadashi said,
"Thanks..but I don't understand why you're giving me so much." Tsukiyomi said as Tadashi finished putting Tsukiyomi's hair up.
"Like I said before, I want to help anyone in need." Tadashi sits down and pours himself a cup of tea. "I've noticed you have a lot of scars on your body from when I was cleaning your wounds. There's a hot spring in Morphian I know of that would help. It isn't two far from here. I could take you there." Tadashi suggested after putting his tea down. Tsukiyomi shrugged, taking big bites of the truffles. "Whatever," he said, in between mouthfuls, "I honestly don't care. Besides, I don't really have anything else to do or anywhere to go anyway."
It was true however, there wasn't really anything Tsukiyomi was fully capable of doing considering his leg injury. Tsukiyomi started to notice that Tadashi was constantly writing in a small journal. Tsukiyomi wondered what Tadashi wrote about. Eh, what's it to him anyway. It wasn't his business.
Now, Whither was the biggest wall in all of Moonrose. It was split in half, Left Whither and Right Whither. Right Whither was where Tsukiyomi had stayed for the longest time. Kracked Skull market connects with the docks of the Kracked Skull waterway and canal systems that run throughout the walls, helping ships come and go. Welt city is where Tsukiyomi stayed. Morphine was another city across the Kracked Skull lake, the other side from Welt. The two took a ferry across the lake to make the trip faster. "I'm not used to going to Morphian. I normally stay in Welt." said Tsukiyomi as the ferry took off.
"Well, stay near me, then. These places are usually filled with not the best people." Tadashi said as more people started to crowd in. Both of them had cloaks on, their hoods covering not only their head but part of their faces. Tsukiyomi lacked knowledge of Morphian but knew it was huge.
It took a bit but they eventually reached Morphian and got off the ferry. Since Wall Whither was the biggest wall district, it was always crowded with people coming and going. All around Tsukiyomi was dark and gloomy. Some people were sitting around, Tsukiyomi assuming they were homeless. Scary looking demons and yokai passed by. Tsukiyomi stuck close to Tadashi. "How far is this place?" Tsukiyomi asked,
"It's at the edge of the wall. We can catch a carriage. We'll be close to wall Claudonia." Tadashi responded. And that's what they did. They found a carriage, paid for the ride and soon enough, Tadashi and Tsukiyomi were heading to the hot spring Tadashi spoke of. The two sat silently, across from one another, the carriage rocking side to side. Tsukiyomi felt somewhat bad for Tadashi paying for everything. But he didn't say anything about it. The silence was interrupted when the carriage suddenly hit a bump. Tsukiyomi fell forward from his seat. Tadashi luckily caught his fall. "Why don't you sit on my side?" Tadashi suggested. So Tsukiyomi moved.
After a while the carriage stopped and the two got out. It was surprisingly calmer than when they arrived in Morphian. Tadashi led Tsukiyomi down an alley to a broken gate. To Tsukiyomi's surprise, it looked completely different from anything he had seen. It was a small building, two stories at most. The two entered the shop right away. Tsukiyomi could feel the steam and mist of the hot springs, breathing in the smell of the hot water.
A short man appeared behind a counter. "Ah, Tadashi, my best customer! As well as a guest?" said the man.
"Just the springs and a room for the night please." Tadashi set a few coins on the counter, the man smiled and said, "As always, everything else is on the house. Cloths and a few towels and yukatas are in the back near the springs. The springs are especially warm today."
Tadashi bows and Tsukiyomi follows him behind the counter. A wall separated two dressing rooms. Tadashi went in one, Tsukiyomi went in the other. Tsukiyomi felt somewhat embarrassed and uncomfortable showing his skin and bathing in the same spring with someone he barely knew but he shook the thought away. It was supposed to be a relaxing experience. So he undressed, avoiding the painful spots on his body, and pulled the towel provided around his waist. Once he was done, he nearly ran into Tadashi. "M-My bad." he said, following Tadashi to the springs. The sound of water filled Tsukiyomi's ears. Mist and steam cleared and he could see the steamy pool of clear water. Tadashi stepped in first. Tsukiyomi was anxious to go in but went anyway. Tadashi stared at Tsukiyomi's back, looking at all the scars. The water stung Tsukiyomi's wounds. Tadashi took a cloth and dunked it in the water. "Do you mind if I undo your hair?" he asked, Tsukiyomi nodded. Tadashi carefully pulled the ribbon from Tsukiyomi's hair as it fell onto his back and into the water. "How long have you been growing this out for?"
"SInce I was a child, I think." Tsukiyomi said, moving his hair out of the way of his back so Tadashi could scrub it with the cloth. Tadashi paused though. Tsukiyomi assumed he was questioning the scars. "Their whip marks. I don't remember what from though." he said.
"What's this brand? I don't recognize it?" Tadashi asked. The brand…Tsukiyomi had nearly forgotten about it. "A punishment. It was a long time ago I think. Made by a branding iron, someone must have burnt the shape on my back for some reason. And that's it. There forever and it won't go away."
Tadashi carefully scrubbed Tsukiyomi's back with the cloth. He had to admit, it was painful, but he had been through worse. Tadashi then ran his fingers through Tsukiyomi's hair, soaking it in the water. He was gentle and kind, affection in his actions, he didn't try to hurt Tsukiyomi at all. "You really don't have to do any of this. I'm more than capable of doing things." Tsukiyomi said as Tadashi moved in front of him.
"You're injured and you need time to heal. If you keep going and getting up everyday, your injuries will just get worse." Tasdashi said, "Now close your eyes so you don't get water in them." Tsukiyomi rolled his eyes but closed them. Tadashi moved the hair out of Tsukiyomi's face as he poured water over Tsukiyomi's head with a porcelain jug. Tsukiyomi opened his eyes and stared at Tadashi's eyes. Tadashi stared into his eyes. Tadashi's eyes were golden yellow. It reminded Tsukiyomi of something but he couldn't recall the memory.
After Tadashi finished, he got out of the springs. Tsukiyomi stayed in though. Tsukiyomi reached behind his back to feel the brand, trying to recognize the shape of the brand. Tadashi came back with tea and a bowl of fruit. He set it down next to Tsukiyomi and stuck his legs in the water. Royal milk tea, made from wall Primrose. Tsukiyomi felt like a child, being taken care of. But it felt different, in a good way though