It was like a picture out of a story book.
There were blue birds flying about and singing, water fountains, yellow pebble roads lined with beautiful fruit trees and flower bushes. The people were all beautiful and dressed in bright colors, happily greeting each person they passed by, including Kaku and Kate.
Kate was now wearing Kaku's orange jacket, and a black cap. The pants didn't fit, but luckily the jacket was long enough to cover her. Kate felt self-conscious and hid behind Kaku who was floored by the scenery.
It wasn't like anything he'd ever seen. Even the air somehow tasted better to him.
"Kate, this place is fantastic!"
She smiled but continued to hide behind him…
Everyone here is so gorgeous….
Kaku could feel her uneasiness (thought he wasn't sure why) and rubbed her back comfortingly.
"Let's go find a place to set up camp, shall we?"
They ended up at an Inn not too far from the centre of town.
"May I please get a room for two for 3 months? On the highest floor if possible?"
Kate shot him a look.
3 MONTHS?!
The inn keeper was a man in his late 60's with peppered gray hair. Though he was old he was still extremely handsome. He looked at him quizzically which caused Kaku to smile.
"Don't worry, I ain't gonna jump from the window or anything!"
He laughed at his own joke…because while he wasn't going to necessarily jump from the window—he was.
The inn keeper suspiciously eyed Kate who was still hiding behind Kaku.
"Who is the girl? We don't run that kind of establishment here…"
There was a sign hanging above that had some religious verse about celibacy until marriage.
Kaku stared at the man sternly trying to translate what he meant.
Oh, he's assuming Kate might be a pro—
The thought angered him. He should kill the man for being disrespectful, but instead he shot him his classic Kaku smile.
"Oh this beauty on my right? She's my wife."
What?!
Kate began to cough profusely.
The Inn Keeper's frown immediately changed into a smile.
"I was just pulling your leg! The way she's attached to you makes it obvious enough!" They began to laugh together.
"And what brings you to Monogatari?"
Kaku pondered….
"We're newly weds you see, and we wanted to explore the seas a bit before settling in a spot. Ain't that right honey?"
Kate nodded silently.
What an idiot!
The inn keeper laughed again.
"Oh to be young again!" He reached below the counter and pulled out a key with the number 55 on it along with a catalogue of some sort.
"This is the highest room we've got! But since you're on the very top, try not to be too noisy. I remember when my wife and I first got married we—"
Kate was uncomfortable with where the conversation was going so she quickly grabbed the keys, bowing to the inn keeper to thank him before running up the stairs.
Kaku placed berries on the table and waved, following Kate up the stairs.
The inn keeper chortled.
"Looks like she couldn't wait!"
-
Kate buried her face into a pillow on the bed.
Kaku dropped their belongings and sprawled out on the bed beside her.
The young woman got up and started to berate Kaku.
"FIRST of all—did it ever occur to you to maybe tell me the plan first?"
He opened one eye to see her.
"I'm real sorry about all that. But I had to improvise!"
She looked at him suspiciously.
"That was a pretty elaborate tale for someone improvising…"
He chuckled.
"Well, with my line of work you need to be a quick thinker in situations like this.'
Her look went from suspicion to confusion.
"Do shipwrights need to make up stories a lot?"
He closed his eyes to hide his slip up.
Darn it.
"Yeah, you know customers…and Paulie."
He began to chuckle nervously.
Kate sighed.
"Whatever, it's too late anyways…" she laid down on her back. "So what do we do now?"
She looked over at him when she didn't receive a reply.
He was fast asleep.
As mad as she was at him—she really had no right to be. The man not only saved her life, but he also left his whole life behind to accompany her while she was in hiding for a crime that was her fault.
She sighed and closed her eyes…soon enough she was asleep too.