Part 15 Spring Festival
I sat on the porch of the Hoshigakure manor waiting for Makaiko, a bunch of lads walked passed and started to come closer, laughing and looking in my direction. They all backed off when I stood up to glare at them, I may be small but boy was I a threat to theirs and others, health and safety (yes that includes mental health), "Yeah you just keep walking you bastards," they all legged it, they knew I wasn't afraid to fight like I'd done the other day, but that's all you need to know about that. I looked up to see the sun had significantly moved since I had last looked. Makaiko never seemed to set store by time; I actually mean never ever, the world would be flat before she came on time to anything. I looked up to see Katsou walking over unaccompanied by his usual fan club, he probably got up really early like I'd done because he looked exhausted,
"Hey Keitii-chan"
"Hey Katsou-kun you got up early as well then?"
"Yeah," he sighed and sat down on the step next to me, "You going to the festival?" I looked up,
"Of course, I have to being the Hoshikage's daughter and all,"
"Poor you," I pulled a face thinking of it, "What you waiting for?"
"Makaiko-san, but she never sets store by time," he laughed,
"You going to the festival with anyone then?" I looked in to the distance,
"Yeah I'm going with Makaiko-san," I put my chin in my hand,
"Oh right well I'll see you around then Keitii,"
"Yeah see ya," why had he been asking about the festival anyway? I couldn't be bothered pursuing the subject. I kept looking hopefully down a street trying to see if she was approaching, she probably would drop from the sky knowing her, she always liked dramatic entrances. I looked at the trees swaying near by, they were beautiful, pink and white blossom plumed from the trees. My eyes scanned them before I stared long and hard at the person sitting staring back at me from the tree. After a long tense few moments,
"Oh you can see me," she said awkwardly, "I'll just go n-" she couldn't finish her sentence as I launched myself in to the tree knocking us both over and in to the river. Makaiko let out a high pitched scream which is the type bats can hear, she scrabbled up the bank pushing me under the water in the process. I swam back to the surface but my heavy kimono kept dragging me under,
"Help me Makaiko!" she looked at me as though I were mad,
"I am NOT going there," I glared at her when I next popped back up, "Why don't you just take the kimono off?" was she mocking me or just being plain stupid?
"I can't walk home in my underwear!"
"Well you have no morals or dignity anyway, you weren't supposed to abandon me to go drinking with the lads were you now?" who was she to lecture me on morals?! I once again sank down; my limbs were getting tired trying to struggle constantly. Suddenly I felt two arms wrap around me and drag me to shore. I spurted some water out in a fountain at Makaiko who shrieked and ducked behind a tree. I had a very lengthy coughing fit trying to battle to get my lungs to work,
"You okay Keitii-chan?" I looked at one of my rescuers from the deep dark abyss lake, it was Amaterasu,
"Yeah," I spluttered,
"No thanks to Makaiko I guess,"
"She hates water I don't blame her for it," I only said this so Makaiko wouldn't rip Katsou limb from limb as she had a particularly murderous gleam in her eyes,
"Coward," he muttered,
"I am not a coward you baka!" she growled trying to claw his eyes out, but not before Amaterasu had put herself in between them holding Makaiko's arm, "You're the cowardly one, I have seen more brave things in the gutter than you!" I decided to intervene before someone got their head ripped off,
"Come on Makaiko I'm going back home to change," she stood still glaring at him, "Makaiko,"
"Fine," she snapped. She looked at me, I must have been a horrible sight with running make-up and sopping wet hair, "Personally I don't see why you bother with him,"
"He's on my team I have to be bothered about him,"
"You so like him," she teased,
"Do not,"
"Do," and it carried on in this vain for sometime before she ended muttering under her breath. After I'd come out of my walk in closet in another kimono,
"Finally, I thought you'd died in there,"
"Well sorreeee not all of us are shape shifters," she sniggered, I looked at my watch, "Fuck I'm late!" I grabbed her arm and ran outside and to the festival,
"Keitii-chan chill for gods sakes," my dad may literally kill me, I stopped next to the podium after leaving Makaiko by the side of it,
"Keitii thank god you arrived just in time," whispered Sachiyo, I smiled at him and he gave me a hug,
"Well at least your here," father opened the festival, "See ya later Sachiyo," I waved to him before jumping down in to the crowd next to Makaiko,
"Where do want to go then?" her face showed excitement, she loved festivals and got all hyper, personally I knew it was an excellent chance to go drinking. We weaved through the crowds,
"Ooo look at that!" I pointed to a kissing booth, she made a face,
"No, how about this one?" I looked to where we were stood next to, there was your bog standard whack a mole with a twist the moles exploded with water. Last time Makaiko had moaned how it should have been blood and whack a Katsou, I don't know if you noticed but she hates him. She paid the guy manning the stall and picked up a giant mallet, the moles popped up and down really fast but I ducked behind a wall till she finished. She laughed manically all the time she hit them. We went around all the stalls, but Makaiko wouldn't let me near the kissing booth. In the end our days work added up to Makaiko- a unicorn stuffed toy called Charlie which she turned murderous also a big blow up mallet which she kept whacking me over the head with repeatedly, I- two big fans. I dragged her in to a near by pub, I stopped outside and whispered,
"Makaiko-san,"
"What?" she whispered lowering her head,
"Shape shift to make yourself look older and you get the drinks," she grinned and I deposited some money in her hand then she shape shifted in to a slightly older version of herself but with jet black hair so not to be recognised. We'd done this many a time before so I sat down at a table,
"What can I get you me lady?"
"A warm sake please, and umeshu," the guy bustled around and set them down in front of her and she gave him the money.
"Thanks Makaiko," I said as she slid in to a chair beside me. After a few more (quite a bit more) drinks we made our way back home weaving about in the street,
"Come on Charlie lets cross the bridge Charlie," I laughed at Makaiko putting on a higher pitched voice, "To candy mountain Charlie, yeah to candy mountain Charlie," as we drew closer to the Hoshikage manor we separated, "Say goodbye Charlie," Makaiko called back,
"See ya, hic, Makaiko and Charl, hic," I tried to be as quiet as I could as it was really late but the earth seemed to be swaying a lot and as soon as I entered my room I flopped on the bed still holding some bags,
"Keitii," an exasperated voice said from the door way,
"'What 'atter?" I said the bed muffling my voice,
"You're drunk well at least father didn't catch you,"
"Yeah, that bastard," I murmured, I felt Sachiyo's arms lifting me in to bed the pulling the sheets over me and taking the bags out of my grasp. He kissed me on the forehead,
"Goodnight Keitii,"
"Goodnight," I gave a smile as my eyelids drooped.