It was midday by the time they reached back at the hut and Tadashi cooked lunch. A gourmet trout dish with parsley and potatoes on the side served with Jasmine tea. Tsukiyomi watched, his head resting on his hand just watching, fascinated with Tadashi's cooking skills. "You can really cook." he said, Tadashi smiled.
"If I had more room, a bigger kitchen, more material to work with I would cook more. I enjoy it." Tsukiyomi couldn't seem to take his mind off of what happened that morning with his pendent. He wondered if his yokai side would show everytime that would happen. He hoped Tadashi had forgotten about it.
"Tsukiyomi." said Tadashi, surprising Tsuki.
"Y-Yeah?" he said as Tadashi brought over their meals to the table. "I have this feeling that you're hiding something. You're not very good at hiding stuff. I want to be as open with you as much as possible. Meaning I want to trust you and I want you to trust me." Tsukiyomi wrapped the chain of the pendant around his fingers, twisting and twirling it anxiously. He didn't know what to do but had to make up his mind quickly. He never likes keeping secrets. "Tsukiyomi-"
"This morning!" Tsukiyomi exclaimed, interrupting Tadashi, tripping on his words as he spoke, "T-This morning I-it was the pendant. I touched it and suddenly everything was just like the cathedral. It took me back to my past life with Rose. I…I didn't know it could do that.." Tadashi smiled and sighed, sitting down next to Tsukiyomi.
"That might explain your strange appearance this morning," said Tadashi. But Tsukiyomi wanted to do it again. He wanted to go back and get answers, more answers this time. "Maybe I could try again. If I hold it. And maybe you could see too." Tsukiyomi held onto his pendant and put his other hand on Tadashi's as the hut around them disappeared into a library. Rose sat at a table, piles of books and papers, documents and a feather and ink. She laid her head on the table in her arms, her hair a wild mess. The older Tsukiyomi was sitting across from her on a windowsill, cleaning a blade. Rose groaned. "This is so boring. I almost regret becoming Lady of the Heir. it's books and reading and writing and reading every single day!" she complained, hitting her head against the table. The older Tsukiyomi chuckled, rolling his eyes as he walked over to organize her work. "I thought you told me it was the best thing in the world besides me. You've worked so hard to get here but now you hate it? Rose, you are very confusing." he said, laughing. Rose growled and sat up, slapping his hands away so she could organize everything herself. "Tsuki! This is no time for jokes! I need to focus!!"
Tadashi moved his hand and the two were back in the hut as the memory around them vanished. Tadashi looked confused, Tsukiyomi was confused. Why did it just stop again? And he barely learned anything he wanted to. "Why didn't you tell me?" Tadashi asked, looking dissatisfied. Tsukiyomi looked away, biting his lip.
"Because I thought you wouldn't believe me or think wrongly of it." Tadashi sighed. He took a small sip of his tea and a bite of his food. Tsukiyomi did the same, waiting for Tadashi to say something else. "Why would I not believe you? Yes, when you first said it it sounded a bit strange and silly but that pendant has some sort of potential, Rose's spiritual power. It belonged to her." Tsukiyomi rests his head on his hand, taking bite after bite of the well made food. Did Lazhu know about the pendant? If she did, why didn't she tell them? But besides all of that, Tsukiyomi asked the next question. "Where are we going next? If we have time anyway." Tadashi took out his map from his satchel and pointed to a wall on the edge of Moonrose. It said 'Jasmanium'. "Jasmanium. We have just enough time. There's a dance called the Jasman temple ball, held by the wall leader, Nicholas Fawnhigh, a womanizer and desperate man who will do anything for..you know…sex." said Tadashi, clearing his throat. Tsukiyomi crossed his arms as he finished the last bits of his meal. The man already sounded disgusting. "If we get the Jasmanium artifact, we'll have to steal it. He wears it as a brooch pin on his clothes. Although, the ball requires every man to bring a lady. But we're both men…" Tadashi slowly turned to Tsukiyomi. Tsukiyomi's eyes widened. "No," he said, "We are not doing that!" Tadashi stood up, still smiling, he had an idea obviously.
"No, because it's perfect. You have the looks for the disguise. We just need a hairdresser and formal clothes, a tailor and I know exactly where to find them!" Tsukiyomi wasn't exactly fond of the whole crossdressing idea. He had learned something from Tadashi. Tadashi never backs down from his words, nor his ideas. Tsukiyomi thought this was going to be a disaster.
After their meal, they washed up and caught a carriage to Welt city…This wasn't his choice. Tsukiyomi stared at Tadashi who was once again writing in his journal. Tsukiyomi scowled at him, giving him an evil eye, trying to show he was obviously not fond of it.
Tadashi shut his journal as the carriage slowed down right outside of a shop. The sign above the glass shop read 'Mary's Tailor'. A small sign in the window said 'closed'. "It isn't closed, she must still be here." said Tadashi as the two exited the carriage and approached the glass. Tadashi knocked at the glass door. A faint bicker came from the other side. "...Didn't I tell you, no, I don't have the money yet! Were closed anyway!-" a young girl with long brown hair and a green petticoat appeared at the door. Her exclamation was muffled behind the glass. "Urufi? It…it is you!" Tsukiyomi snickered at the nickname 'Urufi' which meant she was calling Tadashi 'Wolfie'. He held in his laugh as the girl opened the glass door and let the two in, locking the door behind them. "It has been way too long, Okami! What has it been, four? Maybe five years? Come in and sit down., I'll get some tea. Also who's your friend?" She had a sweet smile and soft voice, she was definitely bubbly and talkative.
"I'm Minkami Tsukiyomi..'' Tsukiyomi began to say but before he could finish, the girl began to run her fingers through Tsukiyomi's long hair.
"It's so much! Silky and long and smooth, it's so perfect..oh, my bad!!" she said, backing away and going to grab tea. Tsukiyomi and Tadashi sit down on a couch. "That's Mary, my step sister. Her and I were raised by an elder demon name Himo. Although it seems Himo isn't here at the moment." said Tadashi, Mary comes back into the room and sets a tray of steaming tea on the little table in front of the couch. All around them were mannequins and dresses and fabric and silk laying in piles on top of sewing machines and stitching needles. Scattered dance shoes were under crowded tables. Mary took a seat in a chair across from Tsukiyomi and Tadashi. "Sorry, I sometimes go a little overboard. Anyways, what brings you two here?" Mary asked, crossing her legs and smiling, she looked almost tired.
"Mary, we're going to the jasman temple ball tonight and need outfits." said Tadashi, Mary clasped her hands together.
"The jasman ball? That starts in an hour! I have two perfect suits!"
"No, Mary, Just one will do, we need a dress for Tsukiyomi." Tsukiyomi crossed his arms, Mary frowned but then smiled again, getting up and took Tsukiyomi's hand. She took him behind a partition. Behind it was a mannequin wearing a magenta and golden dress with boots. She picked up a pile of clothes and went to go give them to Tadashi, then she came back to Tsukiyomi. She started measuring him and lifted his arms. "I can make you look very womanly in no time!" She gave him pantalettes and a girdle and left to give him privacy. He was a little confused how to put them on but figured it out. Next, she came back with a small petticoat, a collar, long gloves with frills at the ends, and high knee socks. Sheshowed him how to put them on then took the dress off of the mannequin behind her. But before she helped him into it, she tightened the girdle. "A woman always makes sure that this is nice and tight. It makes them seem more attractive. Although, you already have a perfect torso. I have a dress that will be perfect for you!" she said, then grabbing the dress and helping him into it. He put the brown boots and gloves on. Tsukiyomi followed Mary to a small dresser with a mirror. He sat down as mary put a brush through his hair. "I have a good idea with what to do with your hair. It seems you always have this one strand of hair that always loops around your ear. I can braid it." Mary tied up his hair with a sky blue ribbon, it was almost perfect. With the rest of the strands of his hair, she made four braids, two looped around behind his ears. His bangs were evenly brushed out. He really did look like a woman, even without make-up. Tsukiyomi saw through the mirror, Tadashi adjusting his suit. He looked stunning. Tsukiyomi looked away. Mary made Tsukiyomi and Tadashi stand side by side. She clapped her hands excitedly to see her work come to life. It was true, the two looked stunning and looked like a man and a woman couple going to a ball.
"Since Tadashi is my Otouto, everything is on the house as long as you return it by tonight or tomorrow. Now, I called another carriage for you two to take to the airships." said Mary, seeing the two off and out of the door. They left their normal clothes at her shop because they planned to return the suit and dress after the ball.
They reached the airship landing area to board an airship heading to Jasmanium. Tsukiyomi stood close to Tadashi, for he was not fond of heights. The airship rose higher and higher, up, and up, and up, until they were over the wall. Tsukiyomi wondered why the airships couldn't just fly right over Moonrose if they could fly over other walls. It was a mystery, really. But once the airship landed in Jasmanium, Tadashi and Tsukiyomi traveled on a train to the Jasman Temple. On the train, Tadashi discussed the plan. "At this time every year, the Jasman Temple has this little traditional ball with a traditional dance called the Moon Dance. It's a night where all three moons are aligned and full. After the dance, that will be the start of our mission. Now, almost everyone knows that Nicholas Fawnhigh, the leader of the wall, is fond of women. Every event he holds, especially this one, he has women, mostly humans, line up and appease and arouse him. My thought was you could be one of those women and when the time comes you can snatch his brooch, the rosette charm. He will wear it on his coat. And if anything happens, I will be close by with my sword. I also have my satchel with the Glorophian pouch in it. But he only likes the pretty and flirtatious women. I thought you would fit right in." Tsukiyomi sighed, trying not to draw any attention from other passengers onboard the train. "So basically…what you're saying..is you want me to be bait. And 'bait' as in harassed by a perverted sex offender?" Tadashi nodded his head. "This is just great!" Tsukiyomi complained, being sarcastic. He looked out the window of the train as Tadashi kept talking. "That is why I said I'll be close by in case anything bad happens. Plus, you did tell me that you were good at pickpocketing." Tsukiyomi looked back at Tadashi and laughed sarcastically. "Pickpocketing?!" He said, "Tadashi, this isn't pickpocketing! This is his outer coat!" At this point, the two were just Bickering back and forth again. "I think you'll figure it out once it happens." said Tadashi, Tsukiyomi changed the subject. "Well, I don't dance. So what is your solution to that?" asked Tsukiyomi,
"I'll teach you, just like how I taught you to use the katana," Tsukiyomi sighed, Tadashi continued. "I promise, it'll be easy. You just have to try and seduce him."
"You're kidding, right?" Tsukiyomi exclaimed, "I'm about as seductive as a rock!" Tsukiyomi and Tadashi took a break from bickering. They were halfway to the temple. Looking out the glass, he could see many humans dressed up in fancy clothing.
"This population is all money and fancy silk, isn't it?" Tsukiyomi said, again being sarcastic.
"Even though the original wall leader, Lyra Jasmanium was a demon, this wall has been turned into one of the biggest human populations." answered Tadashi,
Tsukiyomi rolled his eyes and joked, "Run by the worst leader!" Tadashi was slowly learning more and more about Tsukiyomi. "I've sadly heard that Nicholas Fawnhigh abuses his right-hand man who is a dragon demon who has no gender identity." Hearing this triggered Tsukiyomi. He lashed out and got angry at nothing.
"Why should it matter what anyone is?!" he grumbled, "We're all living things. It's idiotic to just see the way people treat others who are different in this world." Tadashi smiled. He thought Tsukiyomi had a good mindset. He had a good way of seeing the world…sometimes.