Well, after two months in Japan, I can finally update again. Thanks to those who reviewed, and I hope you enjoy this installment.
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Love Hunt
Chapter Three
The next day it rained. Everyone was prepared, though. Kari had long ago invested in a large hat that sheilded against the sun and rain, Shibushi had a long, hooded cloak, Iou had an umbrella, and No Face was just used to the rain. This did not make them overly cheerful, however, and they walked silently, single file, towards the nearest town. Iou was last, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for No Face, the only one without any type of protection. She offered him her umbrella, but he declined. She tried to cover him with her own umbrella after he turned it down, but he was taller than she was, and it was difficult for her to continue at the same pace while straining to be taller. She was continually running to catch up, and making small 'omph' noises as she tried to cover No Face. Finally, Shibushi couldn't stand it any longer. He stopped and turned in one swift movement.
"For kouran's sake, No Face! Just carry her! Maybe that'll shut her up!" With that, he turned around again and began walking forward quickly.
Kari had stopped, too, and stated, "It wasn't the best way to put it, but you are right, Shibushi. If No Face carries Iou, she'll be under the umbrella with him, and they'll both be dry. So," she motioined to Iou and No Face, "if you two would be so kind, we can get on our way."
And that was that. Iou, a little embarrassed that she had caused such a fuss, allowed herself to be carried, and No Face didn't complain (but then, he rarely did).
They reached the next town not a moment too soon, and by unamious vote, decided to get something to eat.
"At a place like this, you'd better get the special," Shibushi whispered to Iou, who nodded, innocently. The point was moot, as Kari ordered kouika for them all. The meals arrived and everyone dug in, except for No Face. Iou was the first to point this out.
"Don't you like it? It's really good!" she took an extra large bite of her own meal to emphasis her statement.
"Ah, ah,"
"Don't mind him," Kari told her, "He's just embarrassed because you've never seen him eat."
"Why would that be embarrassing?" Iou asked.
"You've never seen him eat," Shibushi replied, continuing to eat his own meal.
"There can't be anything terrible about it," Iou said, trying to understand, but not having an easy time of it.
"You'd better just eat, or she's gonna harp on it all night," Shibushi advised No Face.
"Yes, please," Iou said, ignoring the look Kari was shooting at her. "I want to see what all the fuss is about."
Having no choice, No Face picked up his kouika, and ate it whole (he had been hoping to do it in private, when no one was looking).
Iou tried very hard to hide her shock. She hadn't expected him to have such a large mouth, nor for it to be where it was (she had really expected that he ate through the mouth on his mask). Even her odangos seemed tense, and it took a moment for her to ease up again. She laughed nervously, "Well, that's...um...y'know..."
"Are ya happy now?" Shibushi asked, going back to his meal.
"Uh, yes. I am," Iou replied, grateful for the comment, even if it was a little brisk, since it took the focus off her reaction. She turned to No Face. "Could you, um..., could you eat again?"
Everyone facefaulted at her request, even No Face.
"What kind of a request is that?!" Shibushi shouted at Iou, who cowered at his (seemingly) massive form over her, mumbling incoherent explanations.
"If you wish to pay for another koika, feel free," Kari said, brushing off her initial shock, "Otherwise, I'm sure it was enough."
Iou nodded, embarrassed. No Face just nodded. And that was that.
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"In a town, we should stay in an inn!" Kari annouced.
"Sounds good to me," Shibushi replied, "Beats sleeping on the ground, anyway."
The inn they chose was attached to a lovely outdoor hot spring, a pleasure the four indulged in that evening (on their respective sides, of course).
Settled in, Iou and Kari were enjoying themselves immensely in the hot spring.
"Ah, this is nice," Kari sighed, sinking into the hot, steamy water.
Iou didn't say anything, but was humming. After a bit, she looked over to Kari and said, "I can't remember the words, but this song has been stuck in my head all day."
"Oh?" Kari looked over at her drowsily. She played the notes Iou had hummed, and before long, she recalled the words, and with a little prodding, she and Iou were singing away. "Once I was a pu-rincess, once I was a mu-sician. I cast a spell and it's all OK!" they sang together.
On the other side of the spring, Shibushi was brooding, with only No Face to talk to.
"Do they have to be so noisy?" he griped, sinking lower in the bath. No Face merely looked in the girls' direction. More snatches of the song floated over.
"With magic, with magic, I can do anything!"
"It's inane, they're acting like children," Shibushi glowered. No Face decided to ignore him, and enjoyed Kari and Iou's song.
Kari and Iou finished their song, and the two lapsed into silence. In the warm water, Kari's thoughts began to wander, and she felt a little sleepy.
"I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time," she thought, sinking down in the water.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Iou, who had fallen asleep, and was now mumbling softly in her sleep. After a moment, she broke into loud laughter, before settling down again.
"Wonder what that was all about...." Kari thought, before letting her mind enter a state of no thoughts whatsoever.
Author's notes again: Just FYI, kouika is a kind of fishy thing, and mostly my name for that thing Chihiro's dad eats in one slurp at the beginning. As always, please review. I'll try and have a new chapter up ASAP.