Book 1 Chapter 3
A couple of days later, the four managed to make through the Raetia forest and entered a beautiful valley. Every hill was green with blossoms all around; the air was fresh and much easier to breathe into, and everything else felt nice and peaceful.
"Why can't the atmosphere be more like this in other towns?" Itsuki wondered.
"Gee, I wonder," Kyonko answered his question in sarcasm. Of course thanks to the war, all the other places didn't have a pleasant atmosphere.
Yuki turned her head and asked Mikuru, "Which direction does your necklace say?"
As Mikuru held out her ruby necklace, she replied, "It says to keep going forward."
They continued to follow the necklace's direction. Soon enough, they had reached a town close by.
As they got there, they noticed that the town square had decorations around the walls, balconies, windows, and all sorts of colors to the houses and shops. It appeared that a festival was going on in this town. They saw the citizens getting excited and crowding around one thing or another.
As Yuki parked the horse and the wagon, the four wanted to get a better glimpse of what the citizens got excited for. It turned out to be street performers, gypsies to be exact. Each and every one of them were dancing, juggling, playing instruments, puppet performers, or actors with colorful masks on.
Mikuru and Kyonko were astonished by this joyous event. At their own town, they would rarely have them especially this time of the year.
Kyonko turned around to Yuki and begged her, "Can we please stay here until the festival is over?!"
Itsuki stepped in front of Yuki and spoke rudely, "We have more important things to take care of."
"He's right about that, for once," Yuki added. "But that doesn't mean we can't stay here any longer."
"So we can enjoy ourselves?" Mikuru questioned.
"Of course."
Kyonko and Mikuru jumped as they shouted out with glee. Then they started to lurked around all the amazing entertainments and activities. Itsuki then glared at Yuki for a moment. She noticed the moody glare once again.
"Problem?" she asked.
Itsuki then took a deep breath and exhaled. "Nothing." He decided not to have another argument with Yuki for now. She then left him behind to take a look around.
Kyonko decided to wear papier-mâché tiger mask she made at one of the activity panels. As she wondered off to look around the clean town, she suddenly heard a guy yelling at two other men.
As Kyonko entered through the bottom of a bridge, she saw a young male gypsy dressed in fuchsia button-down shirt, jeans, a deep blue vest, a golden bandana, and a hoop earring on his left ear. Two guards were trying to get a bag of gold that the gypsy was holding.
"Get your hands off of me!" he shouted.
"We'll only leave you alone if you pay up," one of the guards demanded.
"I worked very hard for this money and you aren't getting a single gold!"
"Look, all we want for you is to pay up and we'll leave you alone," the other guard said.
"I don't have to pay for anything!"
The gypsy started to kick one of the guards and tried to run away with his bag of gold. The other guard grabbed both of the gypsy's hand. Kyonko immediately stepped in as she took of her mask.
"Excuse me, what seems to be the trouble?" she asked.
"This gypsy here stole some money!" as the guard throw the gypsy down to the floor.
"I didn't steal anything!" he interrupted. "I earned it!"
"You lie!" The other guard jumped.
"Look, if he said that he didn't steal anything. So would you please just leave him alone?" Kyonko kindly asked.
"And if we don't."
Kyonko then face palmed. She then grabbed one of her arrows from her bag hanging on her back. Her right arm was point to the sharp end of the spear.
She pouted her face and asked the question, "Do you guys want this up your asses?"
The guards looked at each other in awkwardness. The gypsy tried to keep his laughter in. Eventually the guards left the gypsy alone. Kyonko then came up to him and lent him a hand.
"Are you all right?" she said as she pulled the gypsy up.
"Thanks," he replied with a giant grin. "That was a really funny stunt you pulled on those guards."
"Actually, I wasn't joking about that part."
The gypsy's laughter then exploded. Kyonko thought that he was really strange.
As the gypsy wiped a tear off his eyes, he told her, "If you want to see me anywhere else, I'll be performing on stage in the next hour."
"What will you be doing?"
"I'll be singing a merry little song and might be dancing around. See you at the show!"
The gypsy left as he was singing a tune. Kyonko thought to herself, what a strange guy.
Back at where the festival was being held, Yuki was eating an apple covered in caramel while Itsuki was staring at all the other people running around.
"You hungry?" as Yuki offered a piece of apple covered with caramel.
"No thanks, I'm good for now," Itsuki looked at all the children laughing and playing around with their parents. He couldn't help but feel warm inside just by looking at the smile on everyone's faces.
"Hey," as Itsuki wanted Yuki's attention. Her face turn to his. "All right if I try one of those?"
Yuki gave Itsuki a caramel dipped apple. As he took a bite of it, his face was in surprise.
"Is it good?" Yuki asked.
"This is the best thing I've ever tasted!!"
"So do you want to see a puppet that's about to start in five minutes?"
"Let's do it!!"
Itsuki immediately grabbed Yuki and rushed over to the puppet theater. It's official. He wasn't himself. There, they were showing "Rumpelstiltskin". Yuki sat through the whole performance. Even though Itsuki was acting childish, Yuki didn't seem to mind being around his presence.
About a half an hour later, the citizens began to crowd around the stage. Yuki and Itsuki met up with Mikuru who had been waiting earlier.
"Where's Kyonko?" Yuki asked.
"I'm not sure," Mikuru answered. "She said that she was going to wonder around the town for a while. I hope she isn't lost."
"I'm not," Kyonko popped out of nowhere as she was wearing the papier-mâché tiger mask on her face.
The four gathered around the crowd. As the show was about to begin, a sudden blast of smoke blasted. Out appeared an elderly man in a colorful costume as everyone applauded and cheered!
"Ladies and gentleman," the gypsy leader began. "I welcome you to the Festival of Apollo & Artemis! Tonight, we have a special treat for you! Each of us Roma performers will entertain and delight you with our special talents in the spirit of the sun god and the moon goddess!"
The show began with gypsies dancing with musicians improvising. Afterwards, there were jugglers, acrobats, animal trainers, and magicians. Each of the performances were a delight and everyone in the crowd was entertained.
"All right everyone! Before we end the show," the gypsy leader began. "I have one more performer for you!" This made the whole audience curious and even more excited.
"He has a voice given by the muses, poetic lyrics like the legendary Orpheus, and a delightful song the end this wonderful night for you all! I present to you, Haruki Suzumiya!!"
As the crowd cheered, to spotlight came to the curtains. The music began to play an intro. As the intro ended, a shadow appeared that was within the curtains and to serenade a song. His voice sounded velvet and had made most of the girls in the audience swoon.
On this night
When the moon is shining bright
As I feel the music swaying through body
It gives me the urge to sing high above the havened clouds
I want to be heard around the world
As I sing a merry song and also dance along
Let the monsters fear from all the sound
As play my tambourine and serenade
When the curtains opened, there appeared the singer who was dress in a black button-down shirt with an orange jacket. Kyonko's jaw dropped in surprise as the singer appeared to be the gypsy she met earlier. As he started to dance while singing and playing his tambourine, everyone was clapping along and was being enlightened.
When the creatures of the night are giving me a fright
I sing a happy song that I will sing on
Let the music guide me through the rhythm and the beat of drums
As the melody begins to play along
Mikuru eventually joined along with the rest of the crowd. Itsuki was jumping up and down to the song as Yuki just stood there with a blank face (once again). Kyonko seemed like she was amazed at the way the gypsy singer was performing.
A song that will last forever more
What a solo song that'll play for a thousand year
A song that'll always keep me safe
The spirit inside me will dance into the light
During an instrumental break, the gypsy caught a glimpse of Kyonko wearing her tiger mask. As the gypsy got close to the audience area, the gypsy dragged her up to the stage after he took off her mask. He then started dancing around her. Kyonko didn't know what to do.
"Don't you know how to dance?" the gypsy asked.
"Why did you drag me up her of all people?!" as Kyonko got embarrassed.
"You were in the mood," Haruki added with a big smile. "Just let the music carry you around!"
He then continued to dance and shake his tambourine as Kyonko was trying to follow the music. The gypsy then grabbed her hand and held her waist. As they started to dance around the stage, Kyonko began to follow the gypsy and she eventually got the hang of it. They continued to move their bodies around until they had reached to the end. Haruki held an exotic pose as Kyonko tried to make one on time. All she did was that she bend her knees with jazz hands.
The festival eventually ended as the gypsies were packing their stuff and the citizens began to leave. As for Yuki, Itsuki, Kyonko, and Mikuru, they decided to hang around the stage for a bit.
"My legs hurt," Kyonko commented.
Itsuki added, "At least your stomach isn't hurting from all the excitement. Yuki, remind me to never eat high sugared foods. Not even one bit."
Itsuki and Kyonko collapsed on the stage.
"At least today was satisfying," Yuki noted. "We should go to a nearby forest to get some rest."
"You're right," Mikuru agreed.
"You guys go right ahead. I need to rest a bit more," Kyonko added. Mikuru and Yuki left as Yuki began to carry Itsuki to the wagon.
After Kyonko healed a bit, she decided to look around backstage. Once she got inside, she saw the gypsies making a toast and celebrating their success in the event. Kyonko wanted to take a closer look when all of a sudden, two male gypsies stopped her.
"Hey, isn't the festival all ready over?" One of them spoke.
"I wanted look around," Kyonko answered. "You know for stuff."
"What kind of stuff?" The other one questioned.
"You know the stuff that's this…and there's that." Kyonko couldn't think of anything quickly. Not good.
"It's okay guys. She's not one of the guards," said a familiar voice. Kyonko saw the gypsy she's been seeing all day. He was still wearing his orange performance outfit. The two gypsies then went back to their own business.
"So what you mean by 'stuff'," the gypsy spoke. "Do you mean this?" The gypsy gave back Kyonko's tiger mask. All this time, she had forgotten about it. She was too busy being sore from all the dancing.
"Thanks," she said. "I enjoyed the festival as well as your performance. You and the other performers."
"I'm glad you liked it. I'm just glad this crowd was better than the others."
"What happened?"
"Oh something stupid. They think that we're evil, do all kinds of tricks, and also believe that we're always stealing money. All we want some fat loot! That's all!"
"Wait, what?" this had Kyonko bewildered for a moment.
The gypsy continued, "The reason why I had the money from before is when I was serenading before the show started. It was for the other gypsies so that we could be even richer than ever!!"
Kyonko still thought this man was awkward. "Um…okay… So, does everyone from your tribe perform on the streets?"
"Most of us do. We let the children run around the city whenever we're doing our job."
"But then who's watching them?"
"We have our gypsy leader take that role. That way, no one's in harm."
"Well, it's getting late. I should get going."
"Wait!" the gypsy stopped her. "Where are you off?"
"A war," she answered. "I'm sure I'll see you again sometime."
"Before you go, what's your name?"
"I'm Kyonko. And you?"
"I'm Haruki." He smiled warmly.
"See you later, Haruki. Thanks again for…you know," Kyonko joked.
"Take care," Haruki replied. Kyonko then left and went back to the wagon.
The morning came and the rising of the sun was breathtaking. Yuki, Mikuru, and Kyonko began to pack the sleeping bags that were set last night. Itsuki was less sick from last night's sugar rush but still didn't feel like doing much. Later on, they began to leave the Raetia area and entering the Rosetta forest. It had almost the same atmosphere as the previous town they went to.
"So what happen last night before we left?" Mikuru wondered about Kyonko.
She answered, "Talking to the gypsy singer. Apparently, he's obsessed 'fat loot' or something I don't understand."
"It would be nice if you saw him again."
"I don't know about that. He's sort of…meh," as Kyonko tilted her right hand back and fourth.
As reached to the point where it was the middle of the forest, they heard the sound of a child crying. They went further and saw a girl hiding behind the bushes. Yuki stopped the horse and came towards the girl.
"What's wrong? Are you lost?" Yuki asked her.
Tears were running down the girl's face as she answered, "It's not only that."
"What is it?"
The girl didn't answer. As she continued to cry, a sudden screeching noise coming from behind. Yuki turned around and saw something before her eyes. It was another dark creature! It was in the shape of a raven all black and red eyes.
It tried to aim for the girl and Yuki's direction. As it got closer enough to Yuki's face, she grabbed the creature, slit it's stomach with her dagger, and soon its motionless body disappeared into smoke.
There's more than one of them," the girl mentioned.
Yuki turned around and there was gang of other dark creatures. Itsuki, Mikuru, and Kyonko got out of the wagon. As Itsuki and Mikuru joined Yuki preparing for battle, Kyonko came to the little girl for protection.
When the dark creatures aimed for battle, Yuki created fireballs and lightning blasts, Itsuki created red orbs, and Mikuru turned into a lioness.
Yuki and Itsuki used their powers by killing the creatures one by one as Mikuru used her claws and started biting the creatures ferociously.
Afterwards, all the bodies of the dead creatures had turned into smoke. It was satisfying for everyone now that they're rid of them. All of a sudden, all the smoke made duplicates of more dark creatures. As Yuki, Itsuki, and Mikuru began attacking many of them one by one, they kept forming into even more creatures.
"What do we do now?" Mikuru questioned, still in her lioness form.
"I don't know!" Itsuki replied. "We're obviously outnumbered!"
The dark creatures were coming closer and closer towards the three. All they heard was the screeching noise and growling. That was until they heard a beautiful voice out of nowhere. The screeching and growling eventually stopped as the creatures turned around.
There, Yuki and the others saw a familiar face. It was Haruki, the gypsy singer they had saw yesterday! He was standing on a tree branch holding a tambourine. After a malicious smile, he jumped off the tree branch and landed on his feet perfectly.
"Haruki!" the little girl and Kyonko shouted in unison.
"Well then evil spirits," Haruki spoke. "Let me serenade you with a song I'm sure you'll find to your liking."
Haruki began to sing these words while shaking his tambourine.
What a wonder, what a chance
To raise my voice and dance
As the terror of night
Begins to fade away!
The dark creatures were going crazy and didn't like the sound of music. Itsuki, Mikuru, and Yuki realized that they were becoming weak.
As Haruki continued singing and playing, the others started attacking every dark creature. The battle was easy as they kept on making a move on them. Eventually, the dead bodies vanished into smoke never to form again. Itsuki got inside the wagon as Mikuru returned to her human form. As of Yuki and Kyonko, they saw the little girl rushing to Haruki and cried tears of joy.
"Are you all right?" Haruki asked hugging the little girl.
"I am now!" the girl cried tears of joy. "Thank you for saving me."
"Don't run off to the forest without us knowing, okay?"
"It's not going to be the same without you. We're all going to miss you."
"'Miss you'?" Kyonko questioned.
"Well the thing is," Haruki began. "I decided that I shall take part in fighting the war. I was worried about the gypsies having to travel while this war is going on."
Haruki then patted the little girl's head.
"Would you guys like to join a farewell party?" he asked the four. At that point, he had them curious.
Night had fallen as they got back to the town of Raetia and the gypsies cheered when they arrived (or more likely cheering for Haruki when they saw him). As they gathered around a table, the gypsy leader tapped his glass for a toast.
"My people, we are gathered her on this celebration for our friend, Haruki. He will serve us in the war; promises to bring us peace, and give us more fat loot!"
Everyone applauded and cheered for him. The musicians began to play as the other gypsies danced while the children were playing tag.
As the celebration was going on, Yuki was standing around the alley ready to throw away the bone of a turkey leg.
After she threw it away, she turned around and a mysterious man with blue hair appeared out of nowhere. She immediately pulled out her dagger and pointed it towards the man.
"Who are you and why are you here?" Yuki glared at the man with her eyebrows narrowed down.
"Relax," the man spoke. "I am here for an offer."
"I don't need to take offers from strangers."
"I am not a stranger. You're obviously fighting in the war so I'm here to help."
"How so?" as Yuki got bewildered by his words.
"There is a book you have to find that is hidden in this world. Only one person who has a mastered ability can find it and you are one of them."
"What about me?"
"There are not many people quite like you. And you are the only one who is sincere enough to end this war."
"So what is this book about?"
The man gave her a smile. And so he began explaining.
"It's a book of spells that can only by used by those who are worthy enough. It has a spell inside that can get rid of the dark creatures and will turned to people who were infected back to normal.
"One way or another, you are the only one who could use the book. Be ready for your next journey."
As Yuki turned around, the mysterious young man instantly disappeared. Instead, she saw Itsuki standing there looking at her like she was crazy.
"Whom were you talking to?" he asked.
Either Itsuki saw the young man or he thought she was only talking to herself. Yuki instantly knew he was thinking about the second option.
"No one," she replied. "Just thinking about the future."
"Okay, but we best continue the celebration."
"Right."
As the night continued, the fireworks began to go off.
After the party was over, they set off and went back to the Rosetta forest. Haruki decided to join the four in their adventure. Once they got to the middle of the forest, they began unloading their sleeping gear and set up a couple of tents that Haruki brought along.
Yuki thought for a moment about whether to tell what the mysterious man told her or not.
"Hey," as she got everyone's attention. "There's something very important I have to tell you."
"What is it?" Kyonko questioned.
Yuki thought again. She then came to the conclusion that now wasn't the right time. It was getting late anyway.
"I'll tell you all in the morning," she answered.
For sure Itsuki, Mikuru, Kyonko, and Haruki were all curious about what Yuki needed to tell them. They would have to wait until the morning came.
