Tadashi awoke first, the sun blinding him through his curtains he had never closed the day prior. He rubbed his forehead. He glanced at Tsukiyomi who was just then waking up. He then saw a pile of folded clothes on his tea table. He remembered he had bought them from Mary for Tsukiyomi.
Tsukiyomi sat up, rubbing his eyes. He quickly glanced at Tadashi, then at the pile of clothes on the table. Tadashi sighed.
"Sorry about last night. It must have been a bother for you-"
"It wasn't." Tsukiyomi didn't look at Tadashi at all. "You simply just…passed out. So I took you back here." Tsukiyomi changed into the clothes set out for him. Tadashi didn't mind that he never said thank you. It wasn't much more than a peasant outfit. Patched and mended clothing. But with nice, tall leather boots that went up to his calves. A white, light weight blouse with a black vest to go over it and brown leather gloves that went under his sleeves that matched with his boots. He took the green ribbon that Tadashi had given him and put his hair back up with it. Tadashi got up to relight the fire and heat up tea over it. Tsukiyomi laced up his boots when suddenly a tapping was heard at the window.
"What was that?" Tsukiyomi asked, Tadashi grabbed his sword. He had been acting very protective lately.
"Stay there." The tapping continued as Tadashi approached the window. He slightly opened the curtain only to see that it was a bird.
"Tadashi, that's a pigeon."
"Not just a pigeon," Tadashi opened the window and let the pigeon fly in and land on the table. "This is a quartz crested pigeon, a Clorina messenger bird. It has a letter in its mouth addressed to us." Tadashi took the letter and gave it to Tsukiyomi. The bird flew away back out the window. Tsukiyomi opened the letter.
"It's from Lazhu," He began, "To both of us. 'Tsukiyomi, I assume you have come across a recent memory. I have as well. It was the memory of Rose and the former leaders. I also forgot to mention that Rose used to write letters addressed to your past self. One mentions visions she had. One in particular was related to your current life. You probably had already seen it. She explains this vision in one of her letters. These people she saw were traveling alongside you. She wants you to venture outside the walls. The pendant was hers. A gift to you. It holds memories she had and visions of your past and future. A spell that even us Time Yokai could not do. Holding the pendant will make you journey into the vision. I understood who the silhouettes were in your vision. They are people who will venture outside with you. Some of these people you might already know. Now these letters that Rose had written are no longer in the cathedrals possession. They disappeared from Clorina a long time ago. If possible, please find them and return them to Clorina. I understand that the leader of Glorophina has already given you a mission but please accept mine as well. Do your best. I believe in you. Goodluck. Sincerely, Lazhu of wall Clorina'." Tadashi smiled as Tsukiyomi set the letter down as the two took a seat for breakfast.
"It seems we have more traveling to do then." Tadashi said, pouring himself and Tsukiyomi the heated tea. Tsukiyomi nodded, he seemed excited. He was. He was finally going to new places and experiencing new things.
Tsukiyomi blew on his tea.
"Tadashi, how many walls have you been to?"
Tadashi got up and grabbed his map from his satchel. He opened it and on it were markings and crosses on most of the walls.
"Twenty-one walls. There are twenty-six in all of Moonrose. I don't journey to Fraya, Darkai, Blacktown, Aster, or Wall Veldonia. I only know of them. And I don't go for good reasons. Safety reasons."
Tsukiyomi thought those walls sounded familiar. He just couldn't put a name to it.
"But, we have to go to every wall for each artifact, right?"
Tsukiyomi said, finishing his tea. Tadashi went to grab a loaf of bread.
"Well, as long as I don't lose you along the way, I'll risk my life to get them. I don't want to lose any more people in my life." Tadashi said, Tsukiyomi looked away. He didn't like being alone either. It didn't feel right. A warm, nice feeling burst inside him. Just the words, 'As long as I don't lose you' made him smile. Tadashi came back with bread and sliced the loaf into pieces, separating them equally.
"I promise to stay by you as long as you want me to. Maybe until the end, until we finish our tasks, I'll be right by your side. I want to help protect you. I've never met anyone quite like you and when I did, something told me that you were a special person who needed to be watched over. I know I might be getting kind of deep in this topic but I want you to understand that this is all the truth. I'm here for you, Tsukiyomi." Tsukiyomi was stunned. It was a lot to hear from Tadashi. He had never heard suck words before. He nodded in understanding, thanking Tadashi. Tsukiyomi felt like Tadashi had given him so much yet Tsukiyomi hadn't really returned that kindness. But he had, he just didn't know. He had given Tadashi companionship and friendship. Maybe even family. Something they both didn't exactly have.
After finishing up, they grabbed their boots and decided to start on their journey. They were going to try to find the letters first.
"According to Lady Lazhu's letter, it sounded like the letters were stolen, I say we go to the walls that seem most suspicious." Tsukiyomi suggested they walk out of the hut and start towards the streets of the little village.
"I know you must be excited now that we can travel to different walls but you have to know that not every wall is entirely good or friendly. We have safety in mind as well as concern for our surroundings."
Tsukiyomi tried to remember all the walls and then one came to mind. Wall Zinnian. But when he suggested it, Tadashi had a nervous look on his face. He shook it away though, taking out his map. He had gone that way before. They could cross through the Kracked Skull water canal into wall Glorophina and then travel through wall Dorphian, which would at least take a day. They would then spend the night in an inn on the outskirts of the Serafina city of Dorphian. In the morning, they would be right next to the entrance to Zinnian. Through each wall they could try to look for the artifacts as well. Dorphian held the water harp and Zinnian held the cloud blossom amulet.