Chapter 16 – The Welcome Party
He could see even from distance that a dim light was flickering behind its windows, indicating that someone was there. He stepped close to the door and knocked a few times. He then habitually turned the door handle to open the door for himself, but as he pulled, the door remained firmly in its position. It was locked. Kyouichi again knocked on the door, this time with more force, so that the old man could hear it.
"Hellooo~! Naota-san, are you there~?!" he shouted through the door after some more loud knocking.
He then pressed his ear against the door to listen. A moment later, he could already hear the familiarly gruff voice of Naota Tanisake and his footsteps getting ever louder as he approached the door.
"Keep your fundoshi on! I'm coming already…" sounded his muffled voice from the other side of the massive oak door. "Man… Whom the devils bring here this time?"
Kyouichi couldn't help but to snicker at Naota's grumpiness. A sound of the door being unlocked was heard and right after that, the door opened.
"Oh…!" exclaimed the bald old man in working overalls standing in the doorway. "It's you."
"Hey, good evening there, Naota-san!" Kyouichi greeted him rather cheerfully. "I didn't see you at the campfire, so I figured I'd find you here."
"I was just about to go there, actually. You want something from me, kid?"
"Why, of course I do." acknowledged the young outsider. "Why else would I bother visiting an old irritable geezer at this late hour?" he jokingly remarked.
Naota let out a snorting chuckle. "So what can this old geezer help you with then?"
"Remember when you said that we should throw a welcome party once all my admission business was done?" Kyouichi began explaining.
"Don't tell me that…"
"Yes, I'm telling you exactly THAT." he cut off Naota's sentence immediately. He then pulled out his ID card and flashed it to the old man. "Ta-daaah~!"
The retired carpenter took a closer look at the card with his mouth ajar. "Well, kid, hehehe, of course I remember our little agreement. And today seems like a great day for a party. Wait here, ok? I'll be right back."
Kyouichi crossed his arms as he waited for Naota who walked back into his house. A couple of minutes later, he came out with a leather bag in his right hand. The clinking sounds that it made as Naota was carrying it, spoke of its content.
"Here, you carry this for me, kid." said the old man, passing the heavy bag to Kyouichi.
The curious youth took a peek inside to see five full bottles of sake.
"O-hoho~! I'm so going to skip school tomorrow…" he stated at the sight of all that alcohol.
"It's not just for the two of us, you know…" growled back old Naota as he again showed up in the doorway with yet another, albeit smaller bag. "I'm also bringing some cups, so that we wouldn't have to drink from the bottles like some wild savages." he explained the content of the second bag.
"I know, I know…" nodded Kyouichi, "I don't know if Mizuto told you, but he's coming too."
"Mizuto? Really?" asked Naota with a surprised tone. "I haven't seen him since last week… I'd sure like him to come and have a drink or two with us. That young wife of his is probably keeping him on a tight leash, hehe."
The old carpenter locked the door of his house and gestured to Kyouichi with his head to follow him.
"So he didn't tell you? That's weird. He seemed to be looking forward to the party…" said Kyouichi as he followed Naota to the fireside, lugging the heavy bag. "Maybe I should go and pick him up."
"Looks like you won't have to, kid." replied Naota, pointing at the band of people gathered around the fireside. "It seems, he's already started without us."
"That traitor!" jokingly muttered Kyouichi as he drew closer to the fireside along with Naota.
Mizuto was already sitting on one of the logs and excitedly talking to some strangers who were probably his friends. Then as he finished his sentence, the whole group was engulfed in jolly laughter and they all raised their drinking cups up and drank their content to the bottom. As Mizuto saw two familiar people approaching, he waved at them from the distance and shouted loudly over the entire street: "Heeey~! There they are! Over here, Naota and Kyouichi! We have roast meat and there's enough sake to flood the village!"
"Oh my God…" chuckled amused Kyouichi. "And we're bringing even more!"
"Better safe than sorry." noted Naota calmly. "It's always good to have some extra reserve."
Mizuto already reserved a place for two more people on one of the wooden logs, where Kyouichi and Naota took their seat.
"This one here," Mizuto pointed at Kyouichi, "is now our new member of the family. He's come to Gensokyo from the outside world four days ago, all beaten up and exhausted."
"It's not like I've actually come here, as much as I've simply appeared here." Kyouichi corrected him.
Mizuto, however, continued without paying attention to Kyouichi's words. He was apparently already half-drunk.
"We decided to take this poor, lost young man in and provide him with our humble shelter and food. Today, however, he's officially become registered as a proper denizen of the Human Village. Everyone, let's raise our cups and have a drink to our new friend, Ishimaru Kyouichi!"
Kyouichi didn't even notice when did someone put a drinking cup into his hand and before he could react, Mizuto was already filling it with sake and prompting him to drink with everyone.
"Cheers~!" sounded all the gathered people in unison as they raised their cups.
"Cheers? No, no, no, no, no…" Naota shook his head in disapproval. "You ought to say "bottoms up"!"
"Isn't that the same?" asked Kyouichi with an amused expression.
"You bet it's not." said the old man. "When you say "cheers", it means people can drink, but not necessarily the whole cup or glass. Now "bottoms up" clearly states what the drinkers should do."
"Oh…"
"Well then, why are we still wasting time?" spoke Naota again. "Bottoms up, people! All of you!"
"Yeah~!" called out everyone as they emptied their drinking cups in one go.
Kyouichi didn't even get to properly enjoy the taste of the sake when he noticed he had his cup already refilled.
"What the…? When did you…?" he stuttered confusedly. "This cup must be magical." he jested.
"And a round two!" called out Naota raising his cup into the air, provoking everyone else to do the same thing. "And to the bottom!"
Kyouichi had no objections or problems drinking another cup of sake. He could already feel the warm sensation spreading from his stomach all over his body. Mizuto didn't waste a second refilling Kyouichi's cup again. As if having an empty cup would attract some really dangerous youkai to the village.
"Um…Naota-san?" he suddenly asked the old outsider.
"What is it, kid? Need a refill?"
"I just wanted to ask you something while you're still… relatively sober."
"I'm listening." replied Naota.
"As you may know, I'm not the only outsider who got spirited away to Gensokyo four days ago. And in case you didn't know, well now you do…" preambled Kyouichi.
"Yeah, I've already heard." nodded Naota. "They say that over 15 outsiders were spirited away on that day."
"To be exact, over 15 outsiders made it to the village safely and/or requested citizenship at the village hall." Kyouichi corrected the statement. "There's probably even more of them here or in the other villages. I'm afraid that a good number of the outsiders that were spirited away didn't make it, so I can count myself among the lucky ones. But I digress… Those who did make it to the village are now by the order of the village council attending the Kamishirasawa Affiliated School, so I got the chance of getting to know all of them. I've become aware of the special policy of the village council to support the families who decide to take outsiders into their custody and many of those people who made it here found their new homes in some nice families that way. Some, however, were not so lucky and they were given provisionary accommodation in the barracks of the Ryuuken militia. I probably don't have to tell you that their living conditions there are far from ideal, or at least that's what one of my friends told me… I've promised to that one friend of mine that I'd at least ask you, Naota-san, if you could consider taking her into your custody, because she said that some of the Ryuuken can be very abusive in their superior position and I don't want her to suffer from it. So what do you say, Naota-san? Would you care to take a young 16 year old lady in?"
"Whoa, kid…!" exclaimed Naota in amazement. "That was quite a monologue… But.. I… I really don't know… if she'd even want to live under my roof. I'm not the most ideal person either, I know that."
"She said she'd be perfectly fine just about anywhere else but the Ryuuken barracks." said Kyouichi. "She said she'd even do the housework for the family that would take her in."
"Well, if she won't mind a… how did you call me back then…? An old gruff, irritable geezer to be her caretaker, then she's more than welcome to move in. But I'm afraid I can take in only one person, meaning your other friends will just have to stay in the barracks…"
"Thank you very much Naota-san." nodded Kyouichi thankfully. "I'm sure she'll appreciate the offer… And I didn't call you gruff back then, only an old irritable geezer." he added jokingly.
Naota chuckled loudly. "Well aren't you a comedian! Tell that friend of yours that she can move in whenever she's ready… Man… I ought to cut down on drinking now that I'll have some responsibility…"
Kyouichi bowed once again. He knew that underneath the shell of grumpiness, Naota was a good person on the inside. Though he viewed all youkai with the same level of prejudicial hatred, fear and disgust, he was kind enough to humans who had something in common with him. In this case, being an outsider in Gensokyo. Midori should have no problems living in his house. Probably… Hopefully Dan and Sayuri will be more able to cope with the tough conditions of the Ryuuken barracks before they can find a better place to stay… or return to their real homes in the outside world.
"Well it seems that we have another good reason to celebrate today." remarked Naota as he was refilling his cup. "Say, what is this friend of yours called, kid?"
"Midori Iwakami." replied Kyouichi.
"Well then, to Midori Iwakami's new… and hopefully better home!" called the old carpenter with his cup raised up.
"Yeah~!" shouted all the party attendants as they threw another dose of sake down their throats.
The party went cheerfully on, lasting almost until dawn. Kyouichi and the others enjoyed the happy atmosphere, the warmth of the fire, the taste of roast meat and more than ample amount of sake. That all changed after Naota and Mizuto exchanged a couple of stories and then they stared interrogating Kyouichi about what he thinks of the life in Gensokyo.
"Sooo, have 'ye got used to living here?" asked the drunk old carpenter, his speech becoming less and less comprehendible.
"Hardly!" disconfirmed Kyouichi while taking another bite of the roast meat, his mood taking a sudden downward slope. "I may have a place to stay, some work to do and a school to attend, but I'm already starting to miss the conveniences of modern technology. There are no computers, no internet, no TV's, heck, not even radios… I'll yet have a hard time adjusting to this lifestyle. Not to mention that my family is probably already searching high and low for me. I feel bad for them, since they don't even know if I'm alive. They must be going through some serious heart-wrenching moments and the thought of that makes me feel miserable…"
"Oh… s-sorry…" apologized Naota. "I shouldn't have reminded you…"
"That's okay, Naota-san." Kyouichi comforted him. "You haven't reminded me… I've never forgotten… It's a hundred years too early for me to forget about them… Well… actually only my mom, because I never got along well with my father… I'm not all that eager to see that man again, but there are still a few people out there whom I miss and I'm sure they miss me as well."
Naota pityingly patted Kyouichi on his shoulder. "Listen, kid, it's good to remember your family… No, you HAVE TO remember your family and friends, but you also mustn't allow your sadness to get the better of you."
Kyouichi didn't say a word and instead, had another cup of sake.
"I know it hurts," continued Naota, "but there is nothing you can do about it."
"Oh yes, there is." Kyouichi opposed him immediately. "I've stared working on it since the day one."
"If you're talking about looking for your youkai of boundaries, I suggest you should give that idea a rest. You'll only end up getting yourself into trouble. And I don't mean just a couple of cuts and bruises."
Kyouichi didn't have the slightest intention to heed Naota's warning. "You're not going to talk me out of this, Naota! I won't stop looking for a way out until I'm certain that I've tried everything within my abilities to do so."
Taking another deep breath, he continued: "I already have the support of many people, who are working towards the same goal. Unless we fail to find Yukari after searching every nook and cranny of Gensokyo, or if we find her and she says: "Screw you, human fool! You'll rot in Gensokyo forever, muwahahahahaaaa!", then and only then will I be at peace, knowing that I did my best, but failed."
"Do you even have any idea how damn near-impossible is that going to be?" asked the old man with concern.
"Not if we spread the news about ourselves and get more people and even some youkai to help us."
"Then maybe I should help you too…" spoke Mizuto after a longer while of watching those two exchanging their opinions. "I'll tell your story to the other fishermen at the colony and ask around if any of them knows anything that could help you."
"I would very much appreciate that, thank you." said Kyouichi, approving of Mizuto's assistance.
"I don't have any contacts outside the village," spoke Naota again, thoughtfully scratching his balding head, "but I could ask Yukiyama if he hasn't heard anything interesting about Yakumo…"
"So you do approve of my idea after all?" wondered Kyouichi after hearing Naota's surprising change of view.
The retired carpenter exhaled loudly and shook his head. "Don't get me wrong, kid. I don't mean to deprive you of your will to try and find a way out of here. I'm simply trying to warn you from the danger that you're sure to encounter if you plan to travel around these lands. I can't say I approve of you looking for that youkai, but that's your own decision…"
"I know there's danger and I'm not that big a moron to roam around Gensokyo alone." Kyouichi reassured him. "And if you're so much against Yukari, then I should also tell you that it's not just her we're looking for."
The aged man gave him a curious glance. "And that would be…?"
"Information about Gensokyo's location in Japan." replied Kyouichi after he again refilled his cup with more sake. "All we need is to get a fix on the nearest human settlement to the Hakurei Shrine in the outside world and we're as good as home. But since none of us want to end up getting lost in the mountains, we need to know exactly where to go…"
"Ah, I see." murmured Naota understandingly. "That way you won't even have to search for the gap youkai."
"Exactly." confirmed Kyouichi, nodding once in response. "Although I still think that I shouldn't neglect the first option…"
"Fine… Suit yourself." growled Naota indifferently, his hand brushing off any remaining concern he had for the young outsider's safety. "It's your life that you're risking…" he added and subsequently took a near-empty sake bottle and drank the remaining sake right out of it, without bothering to pour it into his cup.
"I've heard that she's not one of those human-eating types…" remarked Kyouichi after a Naota finished off the bottle and put it on the ground next to the other empty ones.
"Even so, I wouldn't trust her even if a hundred people would try to convince me to negotiate with her…"
Turning slowly to Mizuto, Kyouichi presented him a rather personal question: "Say, Mizuto-san, what's up with Naota's negative attitude towards all youkai?"
As the fisherman's lips parted, ready to give an answer, the old man immediately silenced him with a menacing gaze. "Some things, I'd rather keep to myself… But I assure you that it's not just me. You'd be surprised how many people hate the youkai here… and for a good reason they do. The humans and youkai have always been in a constantly shifting predator/prey relation and no amount of time has changed that fact. I say that all those who act all friendly are only cunningly waiting for their opportunity…"
"That's enough, Naota." Mizuto ended his monologue. "I understand your feelings, but you shouldn't force your presumptuous opinions to others. It's a clear fact that not all youkai are enemies to humans and yet you seem to be ignoring it stubbornly."
"And you're wondering why?! After what they've done?!"
"You can't blame every single youkai for what happened back then." continued Mizuto, referring to some unknown event, leaving Kyouichi to make wild guesses. "Some of my best friends are youkai and I would trust them with my life."
"Bah, whatever…" grumbled the ex-carpenter as he stood up from the wooden log. "I'm going home. I've had enough sake for today…"
Having said that, he turned away and slowly walked away from the fireside, his steps unsteady and stumbling from the amount of consumed alcohol.
Kyouichi's cheerful mood from just a couple of minutes ago was now replaced by a mixture of different and confusing feelings. Only he and Mizuto were now sitting at the smoldering fire.
"Some party this turned out to be…" remarked the young outsider.
Mizuto sighed as he buried his forehead in his palm, looking tired. "That Naota… He worries me sometimes…"
"Come on, can't you tell me why he hates all youkai?" inquired the youngster.
"I'm sure if the time comes, he'll tell you himself. If he wants to keep it to himself, then we should respect that."
"I guess so." whispered Kyouichi, more to himself than to Mizuto, his mouth then gaping wide open in a big yawn.
"We should go home too." suggested the fisherman. "You've got school in the morning, remember?"
"Oh my god…" groaned Kyouichi in displeasure. "Tomorrow morning's gonna suck…"
"Come now, let me help you…" Mizuto offered to support him as he saw that he could barely stand on his own.
"Thanksss… Mizuto-san." uttered Kyouichi as he made an audible hiccup. "Oh maaan… it's starting to kick in…"
"You drank almost more than the old man himself. And that is something to say, since he drinks almost like an oni." chuckled the fisherman slowly guiding Kyouichi's steps to the Saitou residence.
Kyouichi, however, no longer paid attention to any of Mizuto's words as his vision started to blur and overwhelming feeling of sleepiness was taking over his entire body.
"Almost there…"
"Nice and easy…"
"There we go…"
A warm sensation of a comfortable futon was the last thing that Kyouichi remembered before passing out into a dreamless black sleep.