The annual festival was finally here and Toda in its whole was in effervescence.
Hatsu, Heihachi and I had set out early in the morning to do our shopping together in order to find ourselves an outfit for this evening.
'And what if we tried something which is in opposite of your personality?' suggested the blond male.
We had stopped in a big shop in Shibata neighborhood, which was specialized in all kinds of disguise costumes, outfits and different styles of street fashions.
'I don't know why but I have a very ugly feeling abruptly,' I mumbled to myself.
'Here! Try this!' ordered Hatsu, presenting me an outfit.
My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the very sight of it.
'What? This?!'
***
In the evening…
'I'm not very much at ease...' I mumbled, taking in my appearance in the mirror.
Out of the blue, Tsunan appeared in the doorway of my bedroom and coming to a stop, his eyes widening at me. 'Shun?!'
I stared at him, utterly mortified, my face heating up.
I was dressed as a bunny girl!
In less than two, my vision filled with darkness.
When I came back to myself again, I was lying on my bed.
Tsunan was sitting by my side on the edge, facing me.
'What happened?' I asked, sitting up slowly.
'You fainted.'
I flushed up again, looking down at my outfit. The bunny suit was composed of a red strapless corset teddy, tall bunny ears, black pantyhose, a fluffy cotton tail, a bow tie, collar, and cuffs.
'It's just that... I'm feeling a bit ridiculous like this.'
'You're very pretty.'
He's saying this only to boost up my moral! I thought to myself, weeping interiorly. What took over me to accept wearing this? Oh, Hatsu!
Contrarily to me, the doctor looked absolutely dashing in his outfit.
He was disguised in samurai. He was wearing a Japanese traditional samurai suit of armor constructed from bamboo.
'Where's your mask?' I asked, curiously, since he was wearing the kabuto, but the face mask which accompanied it was missing.
'It was way too damaged to wear. This armor is in my family since centuries.'
'You're looking very nice,' I told him with a smile.
***
A small while later, we were walking down the streets of town together.
I had never seen Toda like this ever before at this hour, or at least, not outside Shibata neighborhood.
The streets were crowded, as well as the shops and restaurants, with decorations of light everywhere.
I remained two steps behind Tsunan as we walked, feeling pretty uncomfortable in my outfit.
As we were passing by the supermarket, a guy called at me, suddenly, 'Hello, you!'
The latter was sitting on the pavement in front of the supermarket with two other men, dressed like punks, smoking a cigarette.
'Do you know you're very sexy in this costume?!'
They jerked to their feet, cutting my way. I staggered to a stop.
'Would you like to go have a drink with us?'
'Huh? What? No, thank you,' I replied, putting my hands up nervously.
'Oh, how cute she is!'
They grinned crookedly and I understood that it hadn't really been a question.
I began to panic.
'And did you see her bunny ears, guys?! Adorable!'
They were about to touch my bunny ears when, Tsunan intervened, having come to a stop. 'Say, wouldn't you want to leave her alone and go jump in a lake?' he muttered at them with an icy look, and their faces scrunched up at him.
'What's your problem? Is she your girlfriend, man?'
The three punks turned back to me and they began to usher me away forcefully when, Tsunan came to my rescue, putting the three men K.O in two to three swift marital arts movements.
I stared at the doctor, surprised, and in full admiration of his prowess. He was incredibly good!
Tears of shame filled my eyes then. 'I'm sorry. I should never have stepped out of the house in this attire!' I whispered and turning around, I began to run away.
'No, Shun, wait!' he called after me.
Reluctantly, I paused down and turned half-around to look at him.
'I find you very pretty like you are!'
'Is it true?' I asked, uncertainly.
'Yes. Let's go to the organization together.'
Shedding my tears, I gave him a timid smile and nodded.
***
'What are you doing rigged out like this?' exclaimed Agasa Tsudzuri as I walked in the hall of the organization.
I flushed up.
The dark-haired girl was seated at a table with her two friends. She had opted for a maid-servant outfit for the festival. Yanagi Hakushū had let down the Gothic Lolita fashion- specially for this evening- for a nurse costume. While, Cho Kururugi had opted for the Kogal look.
The three girls were staring at me, their expression astounded. Ayame Tsuge, Shirane Nakagiri, Katsuya Hattori, Shuda Yagari and Tsurayuki Senryū were staring at me too, their faces having gone tomato red.
I squirmed in embarrassment, flushing up deeper.
The hall had been decorated with balloons, and twisted garlands of pastel crepe paper festooned the walls. Music was playing at a moderate volume and a long buffet table had been set at the foot of the staircase.
I guessed that it was Master Kagami and Yama-san who took care of organizing everything.
Ayame was clothed in the minimalistic and conservative dressing style- Kireime-kei- his outfit being composed of black denims, classic shoes, a white shirt, a striped tie and on the top, a gray jumper.
Shirane had opted for Visual-kei. He was wearing a pair of tight denims, a leather jacket, a pair of boots, and eyeliner; his red hair, wild. For the occasion, he had had a piercing made at his right earlobe, and three other piercings at the cartilage of his left ear.
On his side, Katsuya was wearing a blue pair of jeans hitched up to his knees, a white shirt, a black tie, a thin gray coat, casual shoes and a hat. I recognized the style being Salon-kei.
Shuda had played it vintage street style for the festival, clothed in a plain white shirt with his sleeves hitched up to his elbows, dark trousers with braces and a beret hat.
While Tsurayuki was disguised as a ninja, clad in black garb. He had his mask lowered though.
It was only thanks to Hatsu that I recognized the different styles. He taught me a lot of things while we did our shopping. The latter and Heihachi were nowhere to be seen.
The girls jerked to their feet, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets when their eyes fell onto Tsunan.
'Kakkoii! He looks like a hero disguised in samurai!' they exclaimed amongst themselves, excitedly; holding their faces in-between their hands and blushing hard.
I turned to Tsunan, telling him smilingly, 'Will you please excuse me? I'm going to greet Yama-san.'
He nodded, returning the smile.
I began to make towards Yama-san who was standing close to the buffet table, alongside Gakkuri and Natsuhiko.
Master Kagami was on top of a ladder a distance away, fixing some remaining decorations.
As I went past Cho, Agasa and Yanagi, I almost flinched as I caught their furious looks.
'Did you see that? Tsunan smiled at her!' they grumbled, their moods having shifted drastically. But in less than two, they were all excited again, running to Tsunan to talk to him.
Scratching the back of my head, I giggled, nervously.
'Good evening!' I greeted Yama-san, as I joined the kids and her.
'Good evening, Shun!' she greeted me back, pleasantly.
The master and his wife were wearing assorted outfits. They were both clothed in Bōsōzoku fashion.
Their outfits consisted of a white tokko-fuku- a type of military issued over-coat with kanji slogans- which was worn open, with no shirt underneath, showing off bandaged torsos. Matching baggy pants tucked inside tall boots completed their outfits.
'Ane-ue! You're here!' exclaimed Gakkuri, joyously. She had disguised herself into a cat. She was wearing a full black and white cat body costume with the tail, the big paws, and cat ears standing out of the hood.
'Hello there!' I cooed, crouching down to be at eye level with her. 'And I see that you're here too,' I said to the boy spirit with a large grin.
He blushed, telling me, 'Gakkuri invited me.'
'And you're disguised...' I took in his appearance, tapping my chin. '...In yourself! Eh?!'
'Good observation!'
My mouth went slightly agape at his sarcasm.
'Oh, Ane-ue, your rabbit ears are so lovely!' declared Gakkuri, and she caressed my bunny ears with her hands.
'Ah, you're so cute in this costume!' I told her in another coo, and unable to resist it anymore, I pulled her into a hug.
'KAKKOII!' exclaimed Natsuhiko, out of the blue, and I followed his eyes onto Tsunan. 'That man has really got class!'
I chuckled at the young spirit's reaction. His eyes were sparkling with admiration for the doctor.
'Go have a talk with him,' I suggested, and he cringed away in timidity.
'Come! I'm going to present you!' Gakkuri told him eagerly, and grabbing his hand, she pulled the flustered boy away with her to meet Tsunan.
I straightened up following the two with the eyes for a minute.
'She appears very cheerful to me!' I murmured, almost to myself. I looked back at Yama-san then, inquiring anxiously, 'How is she at home? Does she work well at school? Do her parents call her sometimes?' I flushed up as I realized that I wasn't behaving well. 'I'm sorry. I'm assaulting you with my questions.'
The dark-haired woman chuckled, assuring me, 'It's okay.' She glanced at Gakkuri then, telling me, 'She was pretty depressed at first but she seems very buoyant lately. She's a brilliant student at school. Unfortunately, her parents never call.'
My expression fell at the last part.
'What's that sad look?' demanded Hatsu, who appeared behind me out of nowhere, sending his arm around my neck. 'It's party time!'
I cheered up instantly at his sight and that of Heihachi.
The blond male was disguised into a vampire, with the long black cape, the red vest, the white shirt, dark trousers, classic shoes and the fangs. It suited him very well.
On his side, Heihachi was clothed in aristocrat fashion. He was wearing a white ruffle front shirt, with a black vest, a tailcoat, and tailor-made trousers.
It was Hatsu who had picked the style for him.
'Well, well, Tsunan,' Hatsu declared at the latter. who approached us, 'I see that you've taken the pain to disguise yourself this year!'
'What are you talking about? I disguise myself every year!' contradicted the doctor.
'You talk! Disguising yourself into a doctor while you're already a doctor!' the blond male muttered, cynically.
I stared at Tsunan, bitting my lower lip, stifling a laugh. 'You really did that?!'
'That's it! I can't take it anymore!' declared Heihachi, abruptly. 'I already hate wearing clothes, now this outfit! It's stifling me. I need to strip!'
He began to undo the buttons of his shirt and Hatsu jumped at him to try to stop him, the two beginning to struggle with each other.
I laughed, Tsunan and Yama-san chuckling to themselves.
'Ane-ue! Let's go play outside!' exclaimed Gakkuri, who appeared at that moment, and grabbing me by my hands, Natsuhiko and she began to pull me towards the back door which opened onto the swimming pool.
'Don't let them get too close to the swimming pool, alright?' Yama-san called at me, and I called back at her, 'Yes!'
I played tag with the kids for a while before I decided that it was time for us to get back inside. I found Tsunan and Hatsu sitting at a table, surrounded by Heihachi, Master Kagami, Yama-san and the girls.
I guessed that the doctor and the blond were affronting each other at some game.
Out of curiosity, I moved up to the small group, asking, 'What are you playing?'
'It can't be! I've lost again!' shouted Hatsu, lowering his head on the table and weeping bitterly.
I realized that Tsunan and he were playing cards.
Hatsu sat bolt upright suddenly as his eyes fell onto me and these began to shine brightly.
I gulped, having an ugly feeling.
'I've found you your new opponent!' announced the blond male at Tsunan and getting up from his seat, he pushed me down in his place by my shoulders; a diabolic grin spreading over his face.
I blinked. 'Eh?'
'Shun! I order you to defeat him!' he stated, flamboyantly.
'Eh? What?' I cringed away. 'But I don't even know how to play this game!'
How does he want me to defeat Tsunan?!
'I'm from all my heart with you!' Master Kagami exclaimed at me in encouragement.
I didn't miss the malicious glint in his eyes.
Why do I have the impression that the master has played against Tsunan too and has lost; making the doctor undefeated till now?!
Cho, Agasa and Yanagi didn't seem to be happy at the idea of my playing cards with Tsunan, contrarily to the Hatsu and the master.
I giggled nervously as they casted at me dark-aura looks.
But something in Hatsu's expression seemed to make them change their stands and they began to encourage Tsunan, with rigor, 'Go on, Tsunan! We're with you!'
'Play with me!' the doctor told me, and unable to resist the soft look he gave me, I agreed.
***
After a small moment…
I jerked to my feet, staring at the cards on the table.
'I- I have won!' I gasped out in astonishment.
Wounding his arm around my neck, Master Kagami pulled me backward against his chest, ruffling my hair with his hand, fervidly, crying out, 'That's my little Shun!'
He strode away with Hatsu then, both smiling self-satisfyingly. The other moved away too; Cho, Agasa and Yanagi dragging their feet under them as they walked.
I looked at Tsunan, knowing perfectly well what he did. I wasn't insensitive to the gesture.
'Why did you let me win?' I asked him, with a tiny smile.
Somehow, Master Kagami and Hatsu had been sure that if Tsunan played against me, the latter would intentionally lose; this was why they had picked me as the doctor's opponent.
'I don't see what you're talking about!' he said, making as if nothing.
I shook my head, smiling wider.
***
'Oh? There's flirting in the air on that side!' asserted Hatsu, who had joined me at the buffet table with Heihachi.
The latter and I followed his eyes onto Ayame and Shuko who were talking and laughing with each other in a corner.
The brown-haired girl had disguised herself into a Punk Lolita for the festival.
'You think?' I wondered, perplexed.
'Of course, yes! My love sensor never betrays me! Also, everyone knows that Ayame has always had a crush on Shuko!' he declared, squirming with excitement.
'It's too much now! I need to strip!' stated Heihachi, out of the blue, and Hatsu jumped at him to stop him, the two going for yet another round.
I laughed.
Heihachi had been trying to take his clothes off during the whole evening and I found it extremely funny every time.
'Shun,' said Tsunan, who arrived behind me suddenly, touching my hand and speaking in my ear.
Blushing a little, I glanced at him over my shoulder, meeting his eyes.
'Come with me! I know an excellent place to watch the fireworks display!'
I nodded, tagging along with him.
We left the party together, wounding our way through Kuribayashi, then Shiratori neighborhood.
When the Hitachiin's family compound came into view, I asked the doctor in bewilderment, 'Are we going back home?'
'No. It's just a little further,' he replied, turning to me. 'But I think I'm going to make a small jump home to change myself. This armor makes its weight.'
'Okay.' I smiled.
While he was changing himself, I took advantage of the fact that we were home to change myself too and grab the gift I had bought for him during my shopping of this morning.
Just like me, Tsunan had changed into a kimono, and I followed after him, making our way up the street.
'We're at the shrine!' I said in surprise, as we began to climb up the long stone staircase of the Shintō shrine next door.
It was utterly quiet and peaceful, a small agreeable breeze blowing.
We stopped under the torii at the head of the stairs and indeed, from there, we had a clear view over Toda.
The most amazing of it all were the hundreds of fireflies crowding the surrounding forest, lighting it aglow, while it was quite late for the season that they appeared.
The beautiful scene gave everything an unworldly look.
It was truly a sight to behold.
'Thank you for bringing me here!' I told Tsunan, mesmerized and turning to face him, I held out to him the small bag in my possession, saying, cheerily, 'Here, this is for you!'
He seemed surprised.
'They are handkerchiefs. When I saw them, I remembered that I never returned to you the handkerchief you had given me sometimes ago.'
It had been during one of my trainings with Shirane when I had had a nosebleed.
He kindly accepted the gift. 'I've also got something for you,' he said, presenting to me the small bag he had himself been hiding.
I held my breath, a bit surprised.
'Open it!' he told me as he handed me the bag.
Blushing a little, I opened it, discovering a white box in it, and inside of the box, was a mobile phone.
I looked up at Tsunan instantly, my eyes widening at him. 'I can't accept this! It's too expensive!'
'Please! Accept it! You could tell yourself that it'll reassure me.'
I fixated him a minute, unsure about what to do. It really was too expensive for me to accept. But if I could do anything to make him less worried…
I noticed that there was an Omamori- similar to the one he had gifted me before- attached to the cellphone. He had even thought about that!
'Alright. Thank you,' I whispered, gazing at him.
He smiled in relief.
'Oh, when I think that I offered you handkerchiefs!' I moaned out in embarrassment, holding my face in my hand.
'It was well thought!'
There was an explosion of light in the sky abruptly, the fireworks display starting. And standing there under the torii of the shrine, we watched the spectacle quietly together, the midnight sky lightening up with different colors.
Thank you for reading!
Glossary
Kabuto - helmet