Sweat fell from the youth's brow while he sat awkwardly in his chair. He should have known better than to leave the forest, now he had to deal with this. In all honesty, he wanted to leave, though he hated having to hurt Anju's feelings. After all, she hadn't seen him for some years now. Should he leave, or should he endure this?
"Well, look what the cat dragged in?" Inuyasha remarked with annoyance. "See? What did I tell you? Pointed!" The man explained to his friends with sudden seriousness. Now they'd believe him instead of saying he was crazy.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome warned. For once, couldn't Inuyasha be at least a little polite? Openly pointing at someone was rude enough without him vociferating it to the entire table. People had feelings too, but did he care? Obviously not. Ignoring his grunt of ignorance, the priestess turned her apologetic eyes upon the boy before opening her mouth in complete wonder. She didn't realize her staring made Link uncomfortable. 'So it is true!' Maybe pointed ears were normal here? As a matter of fact, everyone else's ears were pointed.
While Miroku silently ate his meal, he glanced at the lad thoughtfully. His clothes were strange, as were the caretakers here. He guessed it was normal, and that their own appearance might have appeared foreign in their eyes. Miroku offered the child, who was seated diagonally from him and Sango, a friendly smile. "Nice to see you again. You come here often?" he asked as he held his utensils in the air awkwardly.
"Not often enough," replied a youthful voice from behind.
Hearing the familiar voice, Link glanced over his shoulder. Leaning against the wall near the door, with his arms crossed, was Kafei. Only, Kafei wasn't an adult, rather, he was Link's age, fifteen. The curse did not break after all this time. Did that mean he and Anju still married each other?
The youth smirked at his expression. "Surprised? So am I." He walked over to an empty seat at the head of the table, smiling. "How's the food? I'm sure my cooking isn't too terrible?"
Kagome was the first to respond. "It's great! Thank you so much!" All the while, she couldn't help but awe at his cuteness. She also noted his ears too. 'I wonder if we stand out.'
The fox child sitting to Kagome's right gave the food a questionable glance before poking at it. Everything was just odd and unfamiliar to him, and it wasn't as if he disliked it, but it reminded him of some things Kagome brought back with her. "What is this, by the way? It's all white and squishy. What's this yellow stuff?"
"That's mashed potatoes, and that's sweet corn," Kagome explained, earning understanding from the others. "They're good for you."
Without taking the time to chew or savor his food, Inuyasha swallowed the entire meal down in one gulp. Trances of white morsels gathered around his lips. "It's not bad."
"I'm glad to hear that." Kafei turned his gaze to Link, whose stare did not falter. "How have you fared? I missed you at the wedding." The fifteen-year-old boy remembered asking if Link would attend the ceremony, but when he hadn't showed up, he thought something had come up. No, he wasn't disappointed. Just curious.
Guilty, Link stared at the floor and nodded. It was true, Link didn't show up, and it was selfish of him. Link only cared about returning to his homeland, and there was no time for a wedding. Sure, it was rude of him, but he had more important things to worry about.
After the brief silence, the fairy spoke up. "He's just tired from exhaustion. Doesn't talk much these days," she replied.
Blinking rapidly, Kafei gazed at the floating ball of pink light. "You're not the same fairy from before. Who are you?"
Turning a vibrant pink, the fairy bobbed up and down. "My name is Serena! No, I don't believe I have been acquainted with you, Mr. Blue haired boy. How do you know Link?"
He laughed. "Pardon my manners. My name is Kafei. I met Link some years back." Turning his purple eyes back to the boy, he noticed right away the bloodstains on his green tunic. "Forgive me for asking, but how did you gain such stains?" Had something terrible happened to his friend?
Serena also stared. "Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about that. He doesn't seem in pain. He was probably fighting those monsters in the forest again."
OOO
After finishing his food, Inuyasha shoved his bowl to the side and yawned, while stretching his arms above his head. "Damn. This place is weird." His eyes fell on the clock in the room, the walls, floors, and so forth. This house almost reminded him of Kagome's time, only not as plain.
"Actually, it feels kind of homey to me," Kagome muttered in to her steaming cup of hot tea. She took a sip, letting the liquid dance around her mouth. The drink left her feeling all warm and tingly inside. "I wonder what we do next," She stated as she relaxed in the comfy chair, happy that her legs could finally rest.
As if it was obvious, Inuyasha snorted. His friends could be so forgetful; it was not funny. Inuyasha crossed his arms. "We ask questions, that's what! You shouldn't be getting too comfortable."
The door opened suddenly, revealing a young woman in her early twenties, Anju. In her hands, she held a tray of delicious food. After setting the bowls and a cup of tea before Link, she patted his head. "You eat all you like, dear. There's plenty more left in the kitchen. I've already prepared a bed for you and if you like, we have enough firewood for a hot bath."
"Kind of overdoing it, aren't you, Anju?" Kafei laughed at Anju's affection toward Link, who blushed at her antics. Of course, he didn't mind one bit. Anju was kind. That's why he fell in love with her.
Hearing this, she laughed and threw her arms around Kafei. "Someone's jealous!" she kissed him on the cheek before picking up Inuyasha's, Miroku's and Sango's dishes. "I'm just being hospitable."
Watching the couple, he couldn't help but think back before the two wedded. Link remembered it vividly, as if it had happened yesterday. On accident, Link stumbled upon a child, no bigger than himself, who wore a mask. Many times he came across him, but he never got the chance to ask his name because he ran with incredible speed, as if he were in a hurry to be somewhere. The Laundry House, near South of town, was the only place he occupied. Often, Link would follow the boy out of curiosity, and he had recorded his routine walk. Every day, the boy stood outside the Inn, looking in through the windows occasionally, as if he were locating someone. On and on again, Link watched as the child stared upon the young woman working at the Inn, but she was unaware of his presence, sometimes just standing in front of the entrance to the building, staring off with unfocused eyes.
It wasn't until some trips back in time that Link finally understood the story between the boy with the mask and the woman working at the Inn. With everyone, there was a story waiting to be told, and with those two, it was one of tragic lament.
On the day, when Link appeared in the land, where it seemed everyone had a problem, he realized there was a sense of longing and uncertainty lying between both persons. Anju explained to Link that she was waiting for someone special to her, a man named Kafei, but one day he disappeared. She waited day in and day out for her companion, and when he failed to show, her hope diminished. Of course, his disappearance helped little as her mother told her he had run off with someone and he wasn't good enough for her.
One night when the land was about to suffer a fatal attack, the child had tried to break in to the Inn, and Link was near to stop him. Of course, he had little time to deal with the lad, but he wanted answers. The boy fled, and Link gave chase, ignoring the bell from the Clock Tower and the fireworks above the town. When he finally caught up with the lad, the child's mask fell away, revealing a youthful but familiar face. The boy claimed he was Kafei, and when Link doubted that, the boy spoke of an imp wearing a mask. A cursed was placed on Kafei, and he was now an adult trapped inside a child's body. He admitted he wanted to tell Anju that he hadn't abandoned her, but in his state, he was mortified at being rejected. Unfortunately for him, Link explained that Anju had taken refuge at a ranch in order to escape the peril threatening to befall any moment. She had given up hope that her love would never return. Heartbroken, Kafei fell to his knees in tears.
Understanding Kafei's dilemma, Link agreed to help him get to Anju, but this did not ease the lad, as he believed it was too late. Little did he know that there was a boy who could travel in time standing right before him. Eventually, after a rigorous side quest, Link brought them together, only minutes away from certain doom. But, no matter how many times he tried, he always had to go back in time and do it all over again, and eventually he succeeded. Link saved the land, and the marriage was still on. If Link had not interfered, he may not have gotten to Anju and Kafei in time.
"But Kafei's curse was not lifted… Why is that?" A girlish squeal interrupted Link's thoughts, and he woke from his musings.
"Awe. They're so cute!" Kagome exclaimed, easily embarrassing Kafei and Anju as they blushed.
Miroku nodded in agreement. "Surely you must be brother and sister. I've never seen such growing affection in all my life." He gave the woman a charming smile. "I'm sure you'll make a wonderful bride one day."
Anju smiled kindly; however, Kafei clenched his hands, his smile faltering slightly. "You're all kind."
"What was that, monk?" The slayer questioned next to him. Sango's eyes burned with jealousy.
Gulping, Miroku gave a weak laugh. "Oh nothing, my dear Sango! No one's beauty compares to one as lovely as you—"
A slap ceased whatever words left Miroku's mouth. A red hand print marred his face, yet he continued smiling.
The couple glanced at one another warily. They hoped that this was not the beginnings of another fight. They were lucky enough to have the roof still over their heads.
"Actually," Anju began as she leaned over Kafei's chair from behind. The woman wrapped her arms lovingly around his shoulders, her blush darkening. "We're husband and wife."
Hearing this, Kagome choked on her tea, and Inuyasha just stared between the two with a strange silence. He didn't know what to think, yet he did not detect any lies.
"Married?" Sango asked. "But aren't you older?" Sure, it was natural for an older man to marry a younger girl, but to have the complete opposite happening here was baffling to her. Yet, the two seemed happy enough. But it was still strange.
Miroku leaned closer to the woman next to him. "I believe the customs are different here. Though, I suppose if you're really in love, age doesn't matter," he whispered.
"Wait, wait! You two are married?" Inquired Inuyasha, who pointed toward Kafei, who merely arched a delicate brow. "He's just a kid! What kind of sick—"
"Sit boy!"
Before the dog-eared half demon could continue his rant, he was once again reacquainted with his friend on the floor. This made five times in one day, but he held a record far larger than this. He grunted as he tried to stand, placing his hands on the table for support. Under his breath, he cursed Kagome for sitting him. Heck, he was only stating the facts.
Happy that her companion had settled down, Kagome gave the couple a smile. "That's great!" She ignored Inuyasha as he now sat glaring at her. "So, how long have you been together?" She pretended that the strangeness of the couple did not bother her one bit, but she found the customs interesting.
"Four years," Kafei explained, smiling at the young girl. "To be more precise, four days from now is our anniversary."
"Pardon me for asking, but how old are you now…" Miroku could not think of his name.
"Kafei, and fourteen. I know our ages may seem questionable, but I'm fourteen and my wife, Anju, is in her early twenties. We were betrothed when we were children, but that's another story I don't wish to trouble you with. I'm sure you're all quite tired."
Shocked, the group was astounded to find out that he was fifteen.
Forgetting her manners, Kagome stood up, causing all eyes to fall on her. "Sorry. My name is Kagome. I guess we should have introduced ourselves sooner."
"And I'm Shippo! I'm a fox demon!" The kit replied. Turning his gaze toward Inuyasha, Shippo pointed. "And you already met Inuyasha."
Miroku nodded. "I am Miroku, a monk in service to Buddha."
"And I'm Sango. I'm a demon slayer. This is Kirara, a cat demon."
He couldn't help but smile. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Tell me, what brings you to Clock Town? The festival, I'm sure?"
"Festival?" Kagome asked.
"Actually, we have traveled from a distant land. I'm afraid we do not know what land we live in," Miroku explained, watching as Kafei's expression turned perplexed.
Taking a seat next to Inuyasha, Anju gave the strangers a kind smile. "That would explain why we had no other reservations. This land is called Termina. Right now, you're in Clock Town. Three days from now is the Carnival of Time, a festival we have every year in honor of the Gods."
"In other words, children," a weak and tired voice exclaimed between both Kagome and Link, who jumped nearly a foot from shock. "Each year, the season of harmony begins when the sun and moon are in alignment. Paying homage to how both nature and time are tirelessly progressing… The Carnival of Time is when the people of the four worlds celebrate that harmony and request fruitfulness for the year. For years, people have worn masks resembling the giants who are gods of the four worlds. Now, it has become a custom for each person to bring a handmade mask to The Carnival of Time."
After her speech, Inuyasha couldn't help but stare. "Where the hell did you come from? And who are you?"
Sitting across from Anju, sat a little old woman in a spiked wheelchair. Her nose was fairly larger than any normal person's, same with her chin. Her appearance was frail and weak, and her skin somewhat pale. This old woman sat hunched over in her chair, with her gray hair pulled up in a messy bun. The old lady had squeezed herself in between both Kagome and Link.
When the little old lady heard such words, she reached over the table and smacked the dog-eared man across the head, earning a yelp. "Watch your tongue, silver hair! There are children present!"
Having seen this, Shippo laughed. "Serves him right!"
Anju apologized to the half demon, who held himself back from attacking. "Granny? I thought you were going to bed?" Anju asked, but the old lady merely gave a grunt.
"I couldn't sleep with all the racket! What? Does my presence here bother you, Tortus?"
Anju shook her head. "Not at all. But it is getting late."
Paying no mind to her granddaughter, granny turned her head to stare at Link. "Hello young lad. Are you staying for the Carnival of Time?"
"Wait, what's the Carnival of Time again? I'm afraid I only caught half of the story." Sango asked. She felt a little embarrassed for not understanding. She was surprised when the old lady showed up, and her mind just did not click when she suddenly started talking.
Noticing her slight discomfort, Anju explained, "Well, in the past, it was a tradition to wear masks resembling those of the four gods who protect the land of Termina. To this day, it's a custom to wear handmade masks of whatever you want. The main attraction of this carnival is the Clock Tower. At midnight, there will be a display of fireworks and after this, the door to the Clock Tower opens and falls over so that it's level with the ground. The people stand on the clock's face, praying for a bountiful and rich harvest, as well as singing the ceremonial songs to the gods."
With excitement coursing through her veins, Kagome gave Inuyasha the puppy dog look. "That sounds amazing! We should all stay for the carnival, right everyone?"
Not at all hesitant, everyone agreed, Shippo being the most enthusiastic. Everyone except Inuyasha was excited.
"Oh, but I've never made a mask before," Shippo muttered. "Is it hard?"
"Actually, it's quite easy. I used to make masks when I was little all the time. I'll teach you!" Kagome explained, giving the child hope.
"Not only that," Anju began. "But there's also a legend. It states that if any couple should unite on the day of the carnival, then good fortune will be given upon them. This is done by fusing both masks together."
Bewildered by the information, Shippo asked, "You said something about four gods?"
Nodding, Kafei told the group of strangers about the gods and it ended up leading to what took place four years ago. Kafei elaborated on the past, while Anju could not help but laugh. "But all is right again, and the moon is where it belongs."
Annoyed by everyone's sudden excitement over a festival, Inuyasha growled, slamming his hands on the table, thus causing some of the tableware to shake. "We've got more important things to worry about than some festival!" His eyes glared at Kafei, who merely stared with confusion. "You! All we want to know is how to get back home. Do you know anything about some strange light?"
Kafei and Anju were beyond baffled by his question and could only stare at him as if he'd grown two heads.
"Pardon, what? I'm not sure what you mean?" Kafei began. "You're all lost?"
Laughing at the sudden strangeness of it all, Kagome nodded. "Yeah. Actually, we were taken from our home and brought to this land. I know it must sound strange, but a light brought us here."
"Yeah, that's strange," Kafei replied, causing her to sweat drop.
Anju leaned in to her husband and whispered something in his ear.
Nodding, his eyes fell upon the group. "We'll allow you to stay for three days until after the festival is over."
"Really?" Kagome asked. "How much will it cost?" Kagome had not expected such kindness from the people here. They were allowing her and her friends to stay for three days, but there had to be a price.
"Normally it would range to fifty rupees, but for you it's our treat!" Kafei winked, causing Kagome to grin and Inuyasha to glare.
Realizing that her grandmother had fallen asleep, Anju stood up and wheeled her toward the door before turning around. "I'll be back. Link, I have something for you, if you don't mind waiting." She left the room, leaving behind a baffled Hylian.
Looking toward Kafei at the end of the table, Sango asked, "What other countries are near here?"
Bewildered, he shook his head. "None. Unless you mean the regions? This land is Termina. As far as I know, this is the only land we are aware of, yet you were all brought by a light. The only explanation I have for you, and forgive me if it sounds strange, but perhaps you might have a purpose to fulfill here."
"So, I'm guessing you're Hylian. Am I correct?" asked Miroku.
Not sure what a Hylian was, Kafei replied, "Actually, I, and from what I'm aware, all the people of Clock Town are Terminans. Though, there are some who'd rather live in different climates in the four regions."
Again, the group could only stare at the boy, who simply sighed. "Termina comprises different regions with different climates. North of here is Snow Head Mountain, south of here is Woodfall, east is the Lost Kingdom of Ikana, and west is Great Bay. There are different inhabitants living in those regions." Kafei hoped this shed some light on the foreigners. While he explained this information, he wondered just where these people came from. Their clothes were also baffling and strange, as were their accents. To top the strangeness, their ears were not like the people of Termina, except for the little boy with the tail. No, their ears resembled the pirates he heard much of in stories and rumors.
Before the group could ask what he meant by different inhabitants, the door opened. Thinking it was Anju, everyone was surprised to see a huge, robust naked man enter? No, it was not a person, rather a creature made of rock. This creature had huge beady black eyes and a wide mouth. Its face was round, and strange tattoos adorned its arms. Not only that, but its head resembled that of a miniature size of Mount Fuji to Kagome.
"Where is the bathroom, Goro?"
Standing up, Kafei pointed toward the corner of the room. "Right over there, sir."
"Thanks, Goro."
The moment he disappeared through the door, Kafei grinned at the newcomers expressions. "I take it you've never seen a Goron? Yes, they inhabit the mountains north of here. They are one of the four races of Termina."
"One of the four?" Kagome asked. "What are the others?"
Despite their lack of knowledge, Kafei did not mind as he explained the other three races. In fact, he enjoyed having friends to talk with. After he finished with his explanation, Kafei stood and stretched, before pushing his chair in. "The storm has yet to let up," he muttered as the wind howled from outside.
Shaking his leg out of irritation, Inuyasha finally cracked. "Damn! We've wasted too much time listening to stories! Does anyone know how we might get back home?" Inuyasha asked.
A little irritated by his foul words, Serena, who had sat patiently listening, gave a grunt of annoyance. "The only person who can help you is the Great Fairy."
Not sure exactly what the floating ball of light was talking about, Inuyasha asked, "What's a Great Fairy? Is she like you?"
"No," she replied. "The Great Fairy is our birth mother. She looks more Terminan than us. If anyone would know how you got here, it would be her. She knows all about the land, and what goes on."
Finally satisfied with this, Inuyasha stood raring to go. "Well, it's about time we got some answers! Let's pay this fairy a visit. The sooner this is done, the faster we get back to destroying Naraku!"
"There's no hurry Inuyasha," Kagome muttered as she placed her tea down on the table. "Besides, if you haven't noticed, there's a storm going on out there!" She settled back in her chair as she closed her eyes. "We can do that in the morning, besides it's too late and we're all tired."
"Kagome's right, Inuyasha," Sango replied, ignoring his death glare. She silently took a sip of her tea, while Miroku merely yawned.
The door opened again this time, and to everyone's relief, it was Anju. In her hands, she carried a bundle of what appeared to be clothes. Her eyes fell on the group. "Where is Link?" She asked as she searched around. "The bath is almost ready, but…"
Noticing that they were missing a person, the group also looked around.
"He was just here a second ago," Kagome explained curiously. "Do you know where he went, Inuyasha?"
"Who cares!" was his reply.
Serena floated toward the door. "He went to see the Great Fairy, if that's what you want to know."
Hearing this bit of news, Anju walked over toward the window, watching as Lightning illuminated the sky. "Oh dear, He shouldn't have gone out in that storm."
Kagome sighed. She wanted so badly to have a hot bath and a nice bed to sleep in, but that would have to wait. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go see the Great Fairy." She turned her chocolate orbs to the young woman, who continued to stare out the window, still holding the bundle in her hands. "We'll bring him back, don't worry."
The group removed themselves from the table and stood ready to leave. Through their appearance, they were quite weary from travel and in desperate need of sleep. Each gained dozens of bruises and scrapes, though many were harmless. Their eyes fell on the pink fairy.
"You want me to lead you to the Great Fairy?" When she received eager nods, she sighed. This was the same group that interrogated her partner, well, it was mostly from Inuyasha. "Okay, follow me." What could it hurt to lead them there and back? Besides, they were strangers to a world they did not understand, and as a fairy, it was her duty to guide others, even if some didn't deserve it.
Kafei and Anju watched as the strange group went off into the night. Their silhouettes were illuminated by the fairy, guiding them through the darkness.
"Such a strange group of people," Kafei muttered as he cleaned off the table.
Suddenly, the Inn shook, much to the young couple's surprise. The tableware fell, shattering the moment they hit the floor, and as for the couple, they had trouble staying on their feet. After a minute, the shaking stopped, and the door flew open, letting in a mighty gust of wind.
Startled, Anju hurriedly shut the door. "My goodness! What was that?" she asked her husband, who was busy picking up the broken glass.
"I don't know." Kafei knew it was too quick to be an earthquake. Whatever it was, it was gone now.