Hello! My apologies in taking so long to post, as was not originally planned. I got a nasty cold that took me out. But I'm on the upswing!
Welcome to readers old and new, and please enjoy.
-Suzaku Shrine-
"What's with the men in this world? The only one I've met who hasn't been a dick is Chichiri!" Speaking of Chichiri, Tia thinks his voice sounded cool in that timbre. With the assumption that they would escape unscathed, she confirms with herself that she has a lot to learn about him. "Gotta draw out the cool voice more."
A small nod of confidence all for herself is all she can revel in before the action begins.
"Oi monk, ya must be heading to the shrine! But me 'n my boys here couldn' help but notice that you was travelin' with a real fine piece and were wonderin' what a holy man could possibly do with her. If you hand her to us, not only will she be somewhere she'll truly be appreciated, but you'll get some nice compensation to offer to our gracious almighty Suzaku, to help the poor. 'm I right fellas?"
The young man who gave the delightful speech steps forward boldly, gesturing to his snickering "fellas" with all the swagger of a stereotypical frat boy. He stops about five feet away from the pair, meeting Tia's eyes with a cocky smirk before beginning his stare down with her protector.
"So, we gonna do this easy? I can offer ya quite a bit-a protection in this place. Not often we see foreigners, so she'll be pricey. Whaddaya say?"
"I think the lady and I would like to be moving on peacefully, no da," Chichiri answers, his voice lighter again. He doesn't make to step forward however, as it's obvious by the sudden frown that twitches on the gang leader's face that they're not allowed to leave. Tia starts to feel something strange, something warm and electric, pulsing from the man beside her. She focuses her eyes back on him to figure out what it is, only to see him surrounded in a pale red light. It's a thin, sparking layer of energy, like a low-key version of Dragon Ball Z! Tia gapes and searches for any other reaction only to see that "no one else is seeing this holy shit he's GLOWING!"
"I don't like the thought of messin' with a holy man but y-ain't givin' me much of a choice. Ever since the Emperor's ministers started finding all the choice beauties for 'His Highness,'" the thug uses hand gestures to emphasize with a rude face, "we ain't been able to get as many for ourselves. Can't let this opportunity go."
Tia is thoroughly confused as to what this guy is really talking about but understands that it doesn't spell good for her. Still a bit slack jawed at the energy surrounding her friend, she watches as Chichiri merely sighs.
"I try to stay out of violent situations, or solve things peacefully no da, but I suppose that protecting you is going to be far more important from now on no da," he says, turning to Tia with his strange face in a confident, reassuring smile. She opens her mouth to ask what he means, but the gang leader lurches forward with a clenched fist. She instinctively flinches, but Chichiri snaps into action as if everything was happening by his intention in the first place.
The butt of his staff connects soundly with the leader's middle. Tia winces at the choked gurgle of pain. The rest of the men begin charging with belligerent yells. Tia swings herself around, pulling her fists up in front of her and staring down a couple of men heading straight for her. With her back to Chichiri, she solemnly promises herself to at least try to help out.
"These two guys are pretty big! They're in better health than those other guys before too–!"
Her buzzing thoughts are halted when she feels a surge of that electrifying warm feeling. Tia's vision fills with a pale red light. Within a heartbeat's breadth, she watches, wide-eyed, as every man around her drops into a dead faint.
Every man except for Chichiri.
Seeing that they're not in danger, she turns to him.
"Um holy shit." She's shaking her head. The existence of magic, real magic, is still a bit too fantastic for her.
"I can't believe I thought I was in Utah."
"Did you forget about magic again no da?" The teasing hint in Chichiri's voice is back again, so nonchalant as if what he did was nothing. He gestures for her to "come along" and resumes their journey to the shrine.
"You didn't kill them did you?" Tia jogs to catch up, giving wide berth to the bodies she passes on impulse.
"Killing would go against my vows no da, so they'll just have nasty headaches when they wake up. Once we get to the shrine I'll definitely need a nap, those types of attacks are draining no da!" he answers, rolling his shoulders tiredly and upping their pace slightly.
"Well why didn't we just warp there in the first place?"
"I don't have the best skills when it comes to landings, no da. Not to mention that my powers aren't just for shortcuts no da," he responds again. Tia catches his subtle indignant tone and let the issue drop.
The two keep up light small talk this time, which eases Tia's anxiety. Eventually she has to take pause due to her painfully dry throat. At that point however, she believes she's made a respectable stride in learning about her wizard friend.
Firstly, he's definitely her friend.
Secondly, he learned his magic at Taikyoku-zan.
And, to her disappointment, thirdly: No, he won't teach her.
The streets become more respectable now, filled with more people and with shops selling religious paraphernalia. Tia can smell incense lightly coating the air. There are a few people dressed in robes, with religious articles, and even a few in clothes like Chichiri's.
"Must be the religious district, which means I'm close to a drink of water." Tia inwardly crows with delight at the thought of water. She's worked up a sweat in the heat, sure that she smells to high heaven.
"It's been a long time since I've been here no da. Pretty nostalgic…" Chichiri trails off as they round a corner, looking up at a building that's large and drenched in the trademark red and gold of the city. Tia glances up at him with a small frown to see him with a neutral expression.
"Sounds like it's not a fond memory."
"If being here is uncomfortable we can figure something else out," she blurts, and he turns his face to her, brows furrowed. She feels her face heat up in embarrassment.
"Sorry. There are places I don't like going back home because of past uh, 'traumas,' and you've done way way way too much for me already so if being more comfortable means we take up washing dishes to afford a room at an inn then I'm all for it," Tia rambles, an uncomfortable grimace on her face from the pain of speaking and at the sound of her pitifully raspy voice. He takes in her words and a small smile appears once more.
"Not to worry no da. It's nothing too major, and if I couldn't handle it then I wouldn't have suggested it no da. Thanks for your concern though! I'm not used to it these days no da," he chirps, and they begin walking across the small square in front of the shrine.
His answer troubles her. She doesn't really know him, doesn't know if she'll even have the chance of knowing him, but... in her mind, shouldn't everyone have someone who thinks of them? She has her parents. She supposes Carly and some others from high school count too. Shouldn't he have friends? Fellow monks, at least? She doesn't know how religious sects work in general. She stopped going to church a long time ago and studying them wasn't typically in her range of interest. Are monks solitary? Are they supposed to be solitary?
All this does is make Chichiri even more mysterious. "If he's secretly evil though I'll eat my computer when I get home. He's just so… man, what's a good word?"
As she ponders a proper description, Chichiri and Tia enter the shrine, to which there's a process of bowing, a couple claps, bowing, murmurs of a couple prayers in front of a golden-colored bird statue, a stick of incense, and one last bow. Tia attempts to follow Chichiri's lead in doing so to be respectful. Appealing to whatever god there is might at least throw a cool, somehow deodorizing breeze her way. While moving inside to a larger room, she lets her friend practically drag her to a certain spot, as she's too busy taking in the details and relishing the cooler atmosphere. Chichiri catches the eye of a middle-aged man in robes and shakes Tia from her stupor as the man hastens to them.
"Houjun, it has been so long, but you are unmistakable. What brings you here?" the man asks kindly, straying his eyes to Tia quickly, where she sees the tell-tale signs of confusion in his face. She takes it in stride, as she's used to it by now.
"It's Chichiri now, no da. My friend Tia and I must take you up on that old favor you offered, though we do not plan to take advantage of your kindness for long, no da," Chichiri responds casually, but something in what he said must have been a secret code. The next thing Tia knows, the man has snapped his head to her and is gazing in outright awe. She brings her right arm up to rub her left uncomfortably, avoiding his eyes.
"Um, hi?" she whispers, and the man shakes his head as if to clear it.
"My apologies, Miss Tia. I will have two rooms made ready and get fresh robes and nourishment for you."
He bows to her, meets her eyes again almost curiously, then bows again hurriedly and bustles away.
As it still hurts to talk Tia can only try to convey her confusion to Chichiri with her expression and her hands.
"Don't worry about it, he was just being respectful no da. Follow me, I know the way back to where the lodgings are no da," he says, brushing off Tia's subsequent look of suspicion and narrowed eyes. She makes a rude noise while sticking her tongue out at his back but keeps a close follow. Everything is going over her head, and China was never the culture that she was super into reading about either. If it had been based on Ancient Egypt, she would still be miserable in the heat but at least she had read more extensively on the culture there!
The living quarters of the shrine is well kept, its floorboards polished to a shine, the red paint unchipped, and paper windows untorn. To match the décor and smell of incense, a fragile humming of prayer thrums in the building between the sounds of their footsteps. Briefly Tia wonders if their shoes are supposed to be off, but figures if Chichiri is wearing his then she can't be in trouble. After that, it's the artwork that really dogs at her attention. There are effigies and paintings and even faded murals of either a human figure with wings or a handsome red bird, so it must all relate back to that bird statue…
"Oh, that's Suzaku!" she rasps out loud, as she's been thinking on where she's heard the name before. It overrides her throat pain, as sudden lightbulbs in her mind often do. Tia also smacks straight into Chichiri's back, as he's abruptly stopped at her outburst.
"You know of Suzaku? You didn't say anything before no da," he asks, not turning to face her. "Uh-oh," she thinks. "Must've said something bad."
"Well, sort of. Just a name that's thrown around in some uh… stories? Stories works. Stories back home. Other than that I have no clue," she clarifies, sticking to telling the truth. Even if she's in trouble, at least she won't have to worry about keeping up a lie. Tia generally hates lying anyway. Might as well just face the consequences…
"Ah, I see no da. Suzaku is the guardian god of the South, and as Konan is the southern empire he is also chiefly worshiped here, no da," Chichiri explains, surprise gone. While he waves at the monk from before as he turns the corner, Tia gets her fried fuzzy brain to work on how everything is connected. His reactions, Suzaku, the whole "arrival" thing, it all adds up somehow. There's something glaringly obvious but she can't put her finger on it at all…
"Miss Tia, your room is this way. It shares a common space with Chichiri's, as we do not have much room here and I assumed you would prefer a friend to a stranger," the man informs, ducking his head once again.
"Oh, thank you that's very nice, thanks," Tia manages, once more cringing at how bad she is at speaking. The monk only smiles and gestures her into the room, Chichiri following behind after exchanging a few pleasant words. Tia sees that the small, low table has two worn cushions on either side and several dishes of food and a steaming teapot. In truth, it is all one room, separated by portable folding screens depicting mountains, blossoms, and Suzaku. The window in the back of the room provides some light, and is propped open to let in air, while there are candles lit in some darker corners of the room to help visibility.
"Ah, it's very different from Taikyoku-zan no da. You don't have to wait for me, I'm sure your throat would appreciate some relief," Chichiri says, placing a gentle hand on Tia's shoulder and urging her to the table. She nods, shooting him a grateful smile before sitting at the table and pouring herself both a cup of aromatic tea and some water from a small pitcher. She hums in delight after taking sips from both, the hot and cool refreshing her significantly. She visibly relaxes and watches as Chichiri goes behind his side of the room, where she hears him set down his staff.
She shrugs and puts her attention on the food, lifting the lid to a wooden bucket-type thing and getting a face full of steam from the rice. Next to that is a platter of vegetables, and the last bowl is filled with a few peaches.
"Okie dokie, pretty simple but no complaints here," Tia mutters to herself, scooping rice onto the empty bamboo plate provided her and then staring around for a utensil to put vegetables on top. She searches in vain, causing her to wonder if she's supposed to use her fingers.
"What's wrong? You make very entertaining facial expressions no da."
Tia snaps her head up, flushing in embarrassment at his comment, only to be met with that same smile as always. He's leaning with one shoulder against the wall, arms crossed. He's taken off his robe, which he had called a kesa in their small talk before and has also removed his shoes.
"Oh shush, I was just looking for something to put the veggies on my plate, like a serving spoon or fork," Tia admits, only to feel more bashful when he shakes his head.
"Just use your chopsticks. I don't mind that there aren't any serving chopsticks no da," Chichiri points out, strolling forward and pointing to the two sticks next to her plate. She freezes, suddenly remembering where she is.
"Ohhhhh right! Well this will be an adventure and a half because I am terrible with chopsticks," Tia grumbles, picking the utensils up and attempting the correct hold. She stretches out her hand toward the platter and promptly drops her top stick, slamming her mouth shut to keep from cursing. Holy ground. It's a no-no. She sucks in her dignity and grabs up the fallen stick to place it back on her hand. This cycle continues a couple more times, her focus growing more alongside her desperation.
Then, she gets distracted.
"Oh, gods… I'm sorry, it's really rude no da but…" Chichiri trails off, his shoulders shaking with laughter as he turns away from her in his position across the table. Tia pouts, putting the chopsticks down, taking up a teacup to hide behind as her dignity disappears.
"Glad I'm so entertaining to you. They have these back home too, but they're only for… I guess specialized foods or in certain parts of the world. I usually use different utensils," she explains defensively, although she can't help but enjoy the sound of his real laugh. Those other teasing moments had been tiny. Still, she'd really like to eat…
"If you're done laughing at my expense, could you help me out? I'm starved and I'm not above eating with my fingers," Tia continues, and the man across from her nods, calming down and scooting around the table to sit at her side.
"Here, put them in your hand like this." He settles her fingers around the chopsticks. "Keep the bottom one still and move the top with your pointer finger," he instructs, showing the movement with his hand and then moving hers. With steeled determination, Tia tries again, taking hold of a piece of eggplant. Lifting it a few inches, she sticks her tongue out in concentration and begins bringing her prize back. She grins as she gets close.
The eggplant falls from her grasp, plopping onto the table.
Tia hangs her head in shame, hearing Chichiri beside her bust up into another fit of chuckles.
She huffs and ignores the man, figuring out her own way to eat without using her fingers. The meal doesn't last too long, as Chichiri goes back to his side of the table and easily finishes his portion. Once finished, Tia conglomerates the dishes.
"What're you doing no da?"
She pauses, confused.
"Cleaning up? Where's the kitchen, I can scrub these out pretty easily."
"You don't have to do that, there are enough junior disciples here to take care of the chores no da," Chichiri replies, though he does get up to carry a pile for himself.
"Meh, I've been getting a lot of freebies. Lead the way, Chichiri."
Through the winding hallways they go, the two strange friends exchanging quips of humor at their odd day as they walk and as they help clean in the kitchen. Due to their exhaustion the jokes they sling at each other are corny and lame, which only serve to make them laugh more and more. Once finished, Tia is escorted to a much needed bath.
While usually one for lobster-boiling temperatures, Tia relishes the milder room-temperature water in the tub. While washing quickly, her mind wanders.
"Eventful day. People like attacking me, so I guess I got pretty lucky meeting Chichiri, but like what is happening? Did the house get hit by a rogue tornado? Is this a coma dream?" she thinks, humming in distress with a frown. "I hope it's not a coma dream, I want my mom. At least jaunting off to college meant I could still call my parents."
... ... ...
Tia sits in a sleeping robe, her regular pajamas sitting in a pile next to the lumpy futon mattress that is her bed. The only candles lit are one on Chichiri's side and another sitting a foot from the thin pillow for her head.
"Good night, Tia."
"Nighty-night, Magic-Man."
Both candles are blown out, and soon after, the two friends are perfectly asleep.
The two have made it to safety! It's early in the story, things are usually fairly easy...
Thanks to those who've been reading, as always.
Til next time,
-A
