Yawning with the satisfaction of waking well after dawn, Takara was greeted by the smell of cooking fish. As gross as it looked, it smell delicious, and it wasn't long until it was served to her with a side of rice.
"Good morning, Miss," came the voice of Jaony, sweet and kind as usual. The man sat by her, chatting lightly as she ate her meal. When she was finished, he took her bowl and more or less threw it into a rice sack, along with a few others. "I have someone I would like you to meet. She and Rai are gambling right now, but they won't mind if you interrupt." Still smiling, he stood and then turned to help her up.
Together they walked along a rough, untraveled mule path to a clearing in the distance. When they emerged through the trees, Takara could see little cottages, side by side, rather worn down. Each had a small patch of dirt in front and a straw mat to match the woven door. A fire for every two houses was pitched between them, a large copper pot on each. Children ran about, dressed in rags, and elderly women sat in wooden chairs at the fires, stirring the pots. Younger men and women weren't visible, but talking was heard through the trees across the clearing when a stream ran.
"I see this village, but no Rai," Takara observed. Jaony nodded.
"He's behind the houses in the square." Jaony walked ahead, going around the little cottages. Even before he was there he could hear the harsh cursing of his friend.
"Damn it, Yui, you're poker face is so deceiving!" Rai yelled, not minding the children who would pick up his bad language.
Female laughter was heard, and then a teasing, "That's why it's called a poker face!"
Takara and Jaony advanced upon the two who were sitting on straw mats with a pile of coins between them. "Rai, mind your curses. There are ladies present." Jaony smiled at Yui and sat next to her, closer than simple friends might.
Rai rolled his eyes and offered a spot on the ground to Takara, who plopped down on her knees and folded her hands, smiling to Yui. Yui extended the hand that wasn't trapped under Jaony's, and Takara took it, giving it a little shake. She had picked up the gesture walking through the town, watching children playing hand games, and a few young men shaking hands just as she had with Yui.
"I'm Yui," the young woman said, smiling with a slight purr as Jaony's hand slid out from under hers and disappeared behind her back to rest upon her bottom.
"Takara," Takara said, not noticing Jaony's hand. Yui smiled pleasantly and slid off her knees, stretching them out. She yawned, suddenly flopping back to rest her head in Jaony's lap, closing her eyes.
"I win, once again. All that gambling really wares a person out. Who fancies a nap?"
"Damn cat." Rai shifted his eyes and settled down on his back in the shade, lifting an arm to rest over his eyes. Jaony stroked Yui's hair and finally settled down beside her, while Takara stood up and decided to explore a little. Some kids taught her hand games, and after that she took a walk in the forest, sticking close to the path. Just as she was settling down to examine a flower on the ground, she was hit with a small furry ball straight in the back.
She was thrust forward onto her stomach, and then felt what had hit her. By the collar of a tiny blue kimono, she pulled out exactly what had hit her- a ball of fur. At a closer look, she discovered a young dog demon, squealing with fear and clinging to her bosom.
Growls could be heard, and slowly Takara turned to see two shaggy dogs behind her. She screamed and instinctively lifted her hand, a beam of yellow light shooting out. She flew back, hitting the ground with a moan, but the dogs were gone when she lifted her head. The pup still clutching at the front of her dress, she crawled back into the clearing and fainted in the grass, the warm light of the sun kissing her skin.