Sei'an city, the capital of Nippon. A grand metropolis, a hub for all sorts of cultures and traditions, filled with history and tradition.
"Ah~! This place is amazing." Reiko had visited the city multiple times, but she still couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of it. The streets were clean and orderly, lined with houses and shops of all sizes. People were bustling about, going about their daily business. "How are you holding up, Samickle?" She asked slightly mischievously, stealing a side-long glance at the masked man next to her. This place was completely something else than a tiny village in an icy wasteland he had become used to, and Reiko couldn't wait to see his reaction.
"Ah, yes. It's quite nice." He nodded, a little stiff.
"Just nice? We've been walking for half an hour and you haven't even glanced around."
"Well, I, uh..." Samickle shifted a little, feeling a bit flustered.
"It's alright. It's quite different from Kamui, isn't it? I understand if it feels a bit overwhelming. This place is huge, compared to home."
"Well, it is pretty big, that's true."
"We can find an inn, rest and recover a bit. Then, maybe later, we..." She trailed off, noticing that people kept staring at Samickle as they passed by. "Uhm... Samickle?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think you could... I don't know, take your mask off for a little bit?" She asked quietly.
"What, why?"
"Because everyone is staring."
"What do you mean, everyone is- Ah." He blinked, noticing the curious glances people were giving him. "Oh. Uhm..." He felt his cheeks warm, a bit embarrassed. Seeing an Oina outside Kamui was rare, especially this far south, so people had every reason to be surprised.
"They're probably just curious. Nothing bad."
"Right." Samickle sighed, trying to not make eye contact with the passerbyers. He could feel a headache coming.
"And, well..." Reiko gave him a coy glance as she continued. "I kind of liked it when you didn't wear the mask at the resort. I got a bit used to seeing your face."
"O-oh, really?" Samickle's heart skipped a beat, his cheeks warming. He couldn't help but feel a bit shy, but the thought that Reiko wanted to see his face..? He couldn't possibly say no to her.
"Yeah. But, well, I understand if you're not comfortable with taking it off. After all, you've been wearing it for so long, I can't really expect you to get rid of it just like that."
"No, no, it's not that. I was just... a bit nervous, is all. And a bit surprised, too."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I mean..." He fidgeted, his cheeks turning even redder. "This place is new to me. And I'm a stranger here, too. So, I..."
"Ah. Trust me, there's no need to worry." Reiko reassured him. "You're drawing more attention if you hide your face. At least in a place like this, you'd probably fit right in. And you can always put it back on if you get nervous."
"Okay." Samickle took a deep breath, his fingers shaking a bit as he undid the straps on his mask. It was hard for him to admit it, but he was a little scared. After all, it wasn't everyday that an Oina went to a busy city like this.
"There you go." Reiko smiled at him as he hung the mask onto his belt. "Don't worry, nothing bad is gonna happen. It's okay."
"If you say so." Samickle took a moment to compose himself, trying to calm his nerves. "Okay. Let's go."
"Okay. Come on, follow me." Reiko said, gently grabbing his hand and leading him through the crowd.
Samickle blushed a little at the gesture, his heart pounding.
They continued their walk, slowly making their way through the busy streets. They didn't speak much, both of them still deep in thought, trying to sort their feelings. After finding an inn to stay at, they took a short moment to rest before heading out again. Reiko wanted to spend time at the market, doing trading and buying things they needed.
After wandering around for a while, they reached a small marketplace, and Samickle couldn't help but be fascinated by all the sights. There were various kinds of items, from jewellery to food, all kinds of goods. Reiko had just traded all of her northern jewels for southern money, and was about to head out to find some medical items to purchase, when she saw a familiar face in the crowd.
"Ah! Reiko!" A woman in a green kimono waved, rushing over to them.
"Tsune! How are you?" Reiko smiled, embracing her friend. "Long time no see!"
"Too long! How have you been, Reiko?"
"I've been doing well, thank you. Oh, Tsune, I'd like you to meet my companion. His name is Samickle, and he's a warrior from the north. Samickle, this is Amago Tsune. Her family owns a shop here in Sei'an city."
"Nice to meet you." Samickle gave her a slight nod, his expression blank.
"Nice to meet you, too. Ooh, a warrior from the north, huh?" Tsune was intrigued, she hadn't seen an Oina before. "So, what brings you all the way down here?"
"Travelling isn't as safe as it used to be, so Samickle offered to accompany me." Reiko answered the question, her tone a little dry— The way Tsune was looking at Samickle was a bit unnerving.
"Oh, really? How chivalrous." Tsune gave him a coquettish smile, batting her eyelashes at him.
Samickle shifted awkwardly, avoiding eye contact. Reiko, instead, was gritting her teeth so hard one could almost hear it.
"Reiko, why didn't you stop by at our shop the first thing when you arrived? You know I'm dying to show you our newest designs." Tsune pouted a little, her tone slightly sulky.
"Ah, well, we had some things to take care of-"
"And look at these old rags you're wearing. You're a princess, and you dress like a peasant." Tsune interrupted, grabbing her hand and pulling her along. "Come on, I'll lend you something more suitable to wear~!"
"I'm not a princess, Tsune, and my clothes are just fine..!" Reiko tried to resist, but the other woman was much stronger. "Tsune, please, let me go."
"Oh, hush. You need some decent clothes, and I have just the perfect kimono for you. Don't worry, it's on the house."
"Really, it's fine, I don't-"
"Nonsense!"
"Ugh... fine..!" Reiko rolled her eyes before turning to look at Samickle. "I'll be right back, okay? You can take a moment to look around, or wait for me, if you want."
"Sure." Samickle gave her a brief nod, keeping a neutral expression.
"Okay. Well, bye, then." With a last glance, Reiko followed Tsune, her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Samickle waited a moment before setting off, heading for a nearby food stall. "That girl, Tsune... What was she doing, acting like that? Did she have to interrupt us?" He felt a bit annoyed, and couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as he thought about how that girl had dragged Reiko away with her. But, why did he feel this way? Was he just protective, or... No. Samickle shook his head, dismissing the thought. It was not his place to feel jealous, or possessive. After all, Reiko wasn't his. He sighed, ordering some food.
Samickle spent the next hour or so, wandering around the marketplace, browsing the items. He felt a bit awkward without Reiko by his side, but tried to not let it bother him too much. There were lots of interesting things for sale at the market, and he ended up buying a few trinkets and other useful items. Then, finally, he spotted Reiko, and his breath caught in his throat.
"Woah..."
She was dressed in a beautiful deep purple kimono, the fabric adorned with golden floral patterns. The hem was decorated with small snowflakes, and the whole ensemble made her look stunning. Her wolf mask was still with her as well, attached onto the kimono's obi. Samickle's cheeks flushed at the sight of her, his heart hammering.
"Samickle! Did I make you wait for too long?" Reiko approached him, looking a bit flustered. "Sorry about that, Tsune… She's really something." Reiko chuckled a little, fidgeting with the decorative hair pin Tsune had given her. "What do you think? Do I look good?"
"Uh... You, uh, you look really nice." Samickle stammered, trying to compose himself.
"Thanks." Reiko blushed a little, a small smile spreading on her lips. "I hope you didn't wait too long."
"No, I didn't. I was just... looking around, that's all." He answered, his cheeks turning even redder, if possible.
"Did you find anything interesting while I was gone? Anything you need or want, maybe?"
"Ah, well..." Samickle hesitated a little, his voice wavering. "I found some interesting items. A little this and that."
"Anything you want me to take a look at?" Reiko tilted her head a little, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"No, no. I, uh... I already got them."
"Alright." Reiko didn't press further, figuring that he just didn't want to discuss his purchases.
"So... where should we go now?"
"We can just walk around. Grab something to eat, and go see some of the sights. Maybe visit a shrine or a temple."
"Sounds good." Samickle nodded, his expression unreadable. "Lead the way."
"Sure. Follow me." Reiko turned around and began walking, the hem of her kimono swishing.
They spent the rest of the day wandering around the city, enjoying the sights and scenery. Reiko was eager to show Samickle all her favourite spots, and Samickle was happy to see her smile, enjoying herself. She was so cute, looking at him with bright, shining eyes. She was so enthusiastic, talking a lot and pointing out various things. Samickle was amazed at how easily she could make conversation even though he was the silent type himself, and the fact that she was a natural storyteller didn't hurt. He could listen to her all day.
It was already getting dusky as they were making their way back to the inn, but Reiko couldn't help but to stop at one more food stall.
"Ah, Samickle, look!" Reiko pointed at a display, a wide grin spreading on her lips. "They have the BEST takoyaki here in Sei'an city! We must get some!"
"I can't believe you're still hungry." Samickle laughed a little, amused.
"I can't help it. Everything is so delicious." Reiko grinned, bouncing a little. "Just wait a second, I'll be right back!"
Before Samickle could say a word, she was already hurrying off, leaving him to stand alone. He couldn't help but chuckle, finding her energy cute. He watched as she ordered the food, the smile never leaving her face. "Heh... She's so adorable." He thought, a warm feeling filling his chest.
But, then a strange, unnerving feeling creeped into Samickle's body; He turned around, scanning his surroundings. The feeling was a bit hard to explain, but it was almost as if someone was watching him. "I've had this feeling since the morning, but..." He furrowed his brow, trying to identify the source of the discomfort. "Is someone-"
"Hey, Samickle!" Reiko waved, a small box in her hands. "Let's go try them, come on!"
"Ah, yeah, okay." He nodded, following her.
They took a seat on the bench nearby, and Reiko opened the box, excited to try her favourite treat after such a long time. Samickle, though, couldn't help but to keep glancing around, his instincts telling him to stay alert.
"Are you alright?" Reiko asked, her expression a bit worried. "You seem a bit tense."
"Ah, yes, I'm fine. It's just..."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing. Just..." Samickle rubbed the back of his neck, unsure of how to explain the feeling. Then, he just shook his head, trying to push the thoughts aside. "It's nothing. I'm just a bit tired."
"Okay. If you say so." Reiko nodded, giving him a reassuring smile before turning her attention back to the food again. "Here, you can have the first bite; Say ah~!" She held out a piece, offering it to him.
"Huh?" Samickle's face went beet-red, his heart hammering in his chest. "Wh-what do you mean, 'say ah'..?!"
"Come on, it's okay." Reiko smiled innocently. "I'm sure you'll like it."
"Uh, well, uh..." Samickle was blushing hard, his whole face burning. He didn't know how to respond.
"Please? It's the best takoyaki in the whole world. You have to try it."
"W-well, alright." He relented, leaning in. "A-ah.."
"Here~!" Reiko smiled, and fed him the treat, giggling softly. "It's the best, right?" She smirked, taking a bite of her own takoyaki.
"Uh, yeah." Samickle averted his gaze, his cheeks still flushed. "It's good."
"Mhm. Told you." Reiko hummed happily. "The best."
They ate the rest of their food, and soon it was already getting dark.
"Well, I guess it's about time to head back." Reiko stood up, brushing some crumbs off her kimono.
"Yes, let's go."
As they began making their way to the inn, Reiko's curiosity got the best of her— She had noticed a new blade on Samickle's belt, still wrapped in a cloth, and had to ask. "What is that you have there, Samickle?"
"Oh, this?" Samickle stopped by his tracks. He seemed a bit hesitant for a moment, but took the sword from his belt nevertheless. "Uhm… You see, I…" He cleared his throat, trying to keep his composure. "I got it... for you."
"For me?" Reiko blinked, surprised. She certainly hadn't expected this..!
"The local blacksmith had some decent weapons, and I... well..." Samickle unwrapped the sword, and held it out for her to see.
"Oh." Reiko felt her cheeks heat up, her eyes widening in surprise. "Is that a..?"
"A wakizashi." Samickle nodded, handing the blade to her.
"Oh, it's... It's beautiful." Reiko's gaze lingered on the gleaming metal, her fingers tracing the engraved pattern.
"It's yours."
"Are you sure? I mean, it must've been quite expensive, and I'm not that skilled with swords..."
"Of course I'm sure. Besides, you'll need it if we're going to travel. The world is a dangerous place, after all. And..." Samickle blushed a little, his cheeks reddening. "If you're still up for it, we could have another training session sometime. You can practise with the new weapon."
"That would be great..!" Reiko couldn't hide her excitement. "Thank you, Samickle, thank you so much! I don't know what to say."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it." Samickle gave her a warm smile, a happy feeling filling his chest. "You deserve it."
As the two of them were about to head back to their lodgings, Reiko noticed something as she was attaching the sword to her belt; The decorative tassel on the sheath looked awfully familiar, the pale violet colour and the jade beads... Was it the same accessory that she had always seen hanging from Samickle's belt?