The festival had been delayed for a week, so everyone was ready for it when it was finally held.
A festival meant pretty much everyone would be there, and with this many people, wandering off for a moment easily meant losing the sight of one's companions.
Crisp, evening air, the smell of food stalls all around and Elise talking about stuff she likes. Kannon sighs and resigns himself to hearing every detail of her stories throughout the evening. The real Problem, he feels, is that he doesn't mind. He should. He doesn't like that stuff, he doesn't care about it in the slightest and there are a million things that they could talk about. But the way Elise gestures as she explains why she likes certain things and the 'Super delicious Cake' she ate a week ago-
"You're kind of like cake, you know?"
Elise blinks. Her hands have stilled and she's looking expectantly at Kannon. "Uh." he starts, " I don't like Sweet stuff, but i enjoy baking as they are pretty to look at...?" he's guessing somewhat but he thinks that was the gist of what he originally thought. "Oh... That's cute. You know what else is cute? Bunnies!..." and there she goes again, blathering on about everything she likes, so Kannon tunes out again, instead enjoying the way Elise's face lights up and the way she pulls up the sleeves of her Furisode back up to her wrists every time they fall down from her gestures.
Elise grabs his wrist and tows him towards the takoyaki stall.
The stall owner grins at them, "Nice night, isn't it kids? What'll it be?"
Kannon looks startled, he shoots a look at Elise who answers the man "Two plates, please. Kannon is paying." Kannon's look turned confused, so she explains, "I don't have any money, but I am hungry and I li-" and Kannon rolls his eyes. "Yeah, okey." he says and forks over his money. Once they had their food and the takoyaki man is busy with another customer, Elise catches him by the elbow and drags him past the main street of the festival, down a narrow side alley to a cluster of trees and benches that can't really be called a park but still had a sign declaring it one. Mysterious detour or not, Elise has still managed to shove all of her takoyaki into her mouth and swallows them all at once. Her throat shouldn't fit that but she seems fine after thumping her chest a couple of times.
Kannon eats his more delicately, but he hasn't had much today so his share is gone in moments too. As he swallows the last of them Elise says "You think the others are here too?" which is apparently what she needed to get way from the crowds to say.
Kannon takes her empty plate and his own, throws them into the park's trash and shoves his hands into his Jean's pockets as he considers what to say.
"Could be, haven't seen them yet." he replies.
"Yeah...I kinda don't wanna meet them..."
Kannon's breath skips a beat and his hands bunch involuntarily inside his pockets. "Oh yeah?" Elise hadn't seemed interested in anything but explaining why she likes certain stuff until just now. Which is what they always do when they spend time together. Elise talks about whatever has happened to her lately and Kannon forces in a comment here and there through the barrage and occasionally Elise seems to appreciate it. When they are not arguing, of course.
"Yeah. I figured this could be like..." Elise trails off, raises her hand to scrub through her hair and groans. "Nah, forget it. I'm being stupid."
"Like a date?" Kannon asks, making sure to keep his voice light. "Yes..." she says, uncharacterisically small and - it dawns on Kannon- this is what he was worried would happen.
Except, from the way Elise finally breaks her gaze and looks up at the stars, that's definitely what she's thinking. "I guess," Kannon says. This isn't technically a confession, just an explanation of what they are doing at the festival. He begins again.
"I guess that means I'm your boyfriend then." His heart thumping in his ears and every little movement in the air around him seems a thousand times louder than he could ever imagine.
This could all go so wrong.
Elise's head snaps down and their gazes lock again. Her eyes shine wide in the dark and Kannon can't believe he's not running in the opposite direction, back into the crowd because what the hell are they doing here? "Seriously? You'd want that?" Elise says, like she can't believe that they could ever be on the same page about this. Kannon is grateful for the darkness because he can feel his face heating up and it's bad enough that he can't stop fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "Only if you'd want to," he says because there's no point denying it now.
Now this is a confession.
Elise's face lights up and it's a million times brighter than before, "Yes!"
She ran at him, hugging him tightly. A laugh could be heard from the Shadows.
Their gaze turned to the place the laughing came from and a figure ame out holding their stomach, from laughing so much. "Who knew that when you go for a Pee Break you could actually overhear a confession. And you guys say that you aren't dating."
Elise let go of Kannon, she groans slightly. "Shut up, Pheonix. T-This is my first Confession!" she says, nervously tugging on her sleeves. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. It was kinda a cute Confession you know?" he said, leaning against a nearby tree.
"I hope you slip and break you neck." Elise hissed, avoiding his gaze. Kannon sighed.
"At least it's done..." he mumbled, pulling on his shirt one more time.
"Whatever you say Lady Elise. I do have to say you guys look cute together." he says, crossing his arms, looking up at the night sky.
Kannon glares at him, "Shut up."
"Ok, ok. Sorry,I like teasing others." he says, gesturing wildly.
Silence. No one said anything, it felt awkward, no one knew what to say anymore.
"So, shall we go back to the Festival?" Pheonix broke the silence, he walked past them to the sign at the entrance of the park. He looked at them, waiting for an Asnwer. Kannon and Elise looked at eachother and nodded. "Sure," Kannon says, following Pheonix out of the Park.
"So what shall we do?" Pheonix asked, gazing over at Elise. "You know guys, I am kinda hungry, how about we gra-" he was interrupted by someone tugging on his Yukata. He gazed over and saw the same Red eyes he fell in love with. "Good evening Pheonix." she said with a smile. "Elizabeth..." he gasped, he didn't think he'd meet her here. "What are you doing here?" he asked her, like he'd never thought about her vacation plan actually incorporating the Festival. She smiled, "Good evening Kannon, Lady Elise." Elise smiled at her,trying to be as friendly as possible while Kannon didn't even look her direction .
"I-I lost sight of my Maids, Alice and Rebecca. I was left alone and then, I heard you..." she said, playing with her hands. She gazed over at Kannon, "Don't be so cold towards me." she said, he nodded slightly. Pheonix gently took her hand, pushed Kannon forward, and walked with her toward one of the many food stalls. Elise followed them, slightly angry at Pheonix for ruining her almost Perfect Confession, one that was nearly like the one she dreamt of.
She tried her best not to ruin anything for the others.
"Wait for her, no one is chasing us so we don't need to hurry." Elizabeth said as she held her Kimono up a little to not trip over it. Pheonix turned to look at her "B-But I am hungry." he said with puppy dog eyes. "Doesn't matter." she said, staring him down.
He stepped back a little, slowing down. "There's really no need for us to go with you two
..." Elise said, she was looking at the ground, kicking gravel in front of her.
"Oh, why? It would be fun to do stuff all together!" she smiled at the others, trying to stand while Pheonix pulled on her to get to a nearby foodstall.
Elise sighed "Of course it'd be fun... but Elizabeth."
"No but's! We are all going to have fun!" Elizabeth interrupted her, smiling.
"But..."Elise started but she stopped herself, she knew it was hopeless to argue. She looked at the ground, kicking the gravel again. Kannon sat down at a nearby bench and leaned back.
Beth sighed "Fine, we can seperate. But it will be the first and last time we'd ever have fun seperated." she smiled at her, Pheonix pulled on her Sleeve like a young child that wanted something real badly. "Elizabeth, come on! I need food." he begged her.
She giggled "Fine, Fine. See you later Kannon and Elise. Have fun." she said and went with Pheonix to a nearby foodstall, he looked at the menu with a sparkle in his eyes.
Elise sighed "Yeah, yeah..." she walked over to Kannon, sitting down next to him.
"The first and last time to be alone...?" she mumbled, burrying her head in her hands.
"What's wrong Elli?" he asked her.
"Pheonix eat slowly, you're going to choke!" Elizabeth scolded him for stuffing food into himself. But he wouldn't stop,the food was delicious and he wanted to eat it all.
"She'll never leave me, or us alone. She said it's the first and Last time we'll be seperated from them. I-I can't take that. I-I don't want that..." she explained, pulling on her skirt as panic rised in her. Kannon sighed softly "Don't mind them, Elli. They'll go home sooner or later." he said in a calm way.
"Don't tell me to eat slowly, Elizabeth. I haven't eaten since a few hours or even a day, I don't quite remember." he said, stuffing his face with food.
"Fine but don't tell me your stomach hurts." she said as she took a small bit of her food.
"Are you sure she meant what she said?" he asked her.
"I am sure she meant it. I am sorry... She's so weird..." she said.
Kannon leaned forward, "I'll go and get something to drink for you. Calm down a little, Okey?" he asked her, standing up and walking towards the nearest stall selling drinks. The Stall owner greeted him warmly "What can I do for you kind sir?" he asked him. "Two Soda's please," he said, putting money on the counter.
The others were just a stall away from him, slightly arguing over the way Pheonix ate his food.
"I told you to eat slowly!" Elizabeth yelled softly, she hit his back gently. He nodded "I am going to say you were right..." he said coughing. "Wait here, I'll get you a drink." She said walking over to the next stand. "Here you go." The man handed him two bottles, took the money and went over to the next customer. Kannon was about to go back to the bench when Elizabeth showed up. "Oh, Kannon. Did you buy drinks for you and Lady Elise?" she asked smiling a little.
"Yeah." he answered, taking the second bottle from the counter.
"One soda please," she said to the seller, he handed her a bottle and took the money.
"There you go, Young Lady."
"Thank you very much." she smiled.
She looked over at Kannon, "Say are you hungry?" she asked him leaning against the food stall. "No not really, why?" he answered, "Are you hungry?"
"No-" she started but was interrupted by the growling of her stomach. "Maybe I am hungry... come with me, Kannon. We could get some food together." she said, smiling brightly.
He glanced over at Elise, "Maybe later or tomorrow."
"Fine, we should go for a walk tomorrow like when i was little.," she said and walked over to Pheonix, who was still eating his food. Even though he was close to choking before, he still found time to eat more. She threw the bottle at him a smile on her lips.
"Drink something" she said.
Kannon looked after her "Like when you were little?" he mumbled.