Once Link and Tatl arrived back in front of the Clock Tower, the boy wasted no time. He went straight to the observatory through the sewers and got his Moon's Tear. It unsettled him how it only fell when he looked through the telescope, figuring it had to be the Skull Kid trying to kill him. That, or the imp was missing on purpose just to taunt him. Since the Curiosity Shop didn't open until late at night, Link just placed the blue stone in his bag for the time being.
After that, he simply waited outside the inn with Tatl until it opened. He really hoped this would be the Cycle where Anju and Kafei would get reunited. The boy just didn't understand why a man would run away from someone he loved so much. There had to be some other explanation, but Link couldn't work out what it was! He didn't really understand marriage very much, only the basic idea of it when he asked Zelda, so it was still confusing for him.
After the inn opened, the two went inside and got their room as usual. Link noticed the look Anju gave him, that open pity that made him so angry and embarrassed! He had half a mind to tell her to stop staring, but in this Cycle especially he didn't want to upset Anju. Instead, he just thanked her for the key and went up to the room.
"Hey, you're not going to ask her about Kafei?" Tatl asked as the door to their room closed. "That was the whole point of this, wasn't it?" Not that she was complaining, if this silly little diversion Link was going on prevented them from going to Ikana Canyon, she didn't mind much!
"Last time I did this, it was after the Postman came." Link reminded her. "I think I should do things the same way. Do you remember what time that was?"
Tatl huffed. "I don't remember small details like that!" Still, she tried to remember, closing her eyes and crossing her arms as she concentrated. "I think…it was after lunch time. I remember being really hungry after it." So many of the Cycles melted together, but that encounter with the Postman was something she had only seen once, so it stuck out in her memory.
Link reached back into his own memories, and they seemed to line up. "Okay, we'll do that, then. Meanwhile, I have an idea to pass the time." He shed most of his gear beside the bed, only leaving the Ocarina of Time on his belt, and took out the All-Night Mask. "I can see if Granny will tell us another story." He felt more confident doing it while Anju was around, she'd surely be a lot nicer if she caught the two in there than her mother was.
"Oh hey, good idea. Just tell me how it goes when I wake up." Tatl knew she wouldn't be able to stay awake as that old crone rambled.
With that, the two went downstairs and around the back. Anju was still at the desk of course, so they went by her quietly. The door to Granny's room was open just a crack, just as it had been before, the sound of a warm fire crackling from within. When they entered, the scene was the exact same as before. Granny was sitting in her chair, a large book in her lap as the fireplace lit up the room and warmed it in a sleepy atmosphere.
After Link closed the door behind them, Granny's head lifted from her reading. "Oh, Tortus! Didn't expect to see you so soon!" The old woman cooed softly. "You look upset, let Granny tell you a story!"
Link was wondering if she could really tell how miserable he seemed or if it was just her confusion telling her so. Honestly, a part of Granny's behavior terrified the boy. He met some old people during the two years he was living in the castle, such as some servants. Link observed how weak they seemed and how they forgot things easily, though Granny was far worse off. The thought of turning into that one day was mortifying…
"Yes, Granny, that sounds nice." Was all he said though. As he sat down, he tried to work out how to put on the All-Night Mask. The warmth of the room was already creeping into his body and making him drowsy. Tatl just sat on a nearby pillow, not even trying to keep awake.
The old woman didn't seem to notice Link fidgeting with the mask. "How about I tell you the story of the Giants again? I have the book right here, Tortus."
A part of Link was tempted to refuse, he hated the idea of hearing some surely pleasant story about the Giants. But he wanted to keep Granny content. "I'd love that, Granny, thank you." As he said this, he finally managed to work out how to put the mask on. When the mask was on, he still felt drowsy, but his eyelids didn't feel as heavy. He wasn't trying to resist the urge to fall asleep, it just simply never came.
Granny let out a light chuckle as she turned the old pages of the book. "Very good. Now let's see…"
Long ago, before time and the sky, Termina was a barren place.
Sand, ash, rock, and dead wood was all that resided there.
Bringing time with them, the Four Giants emerged and looked at the dismal scene.
From where they emerged, they each took one hundred paces.
North, South, East, and West. Each in one direction!
The Giant to the South took the dead wood and carved the pieces into people and breathed life into them, creating the Deku.
When the Deku emerged, they looked at the Giant and cried out.
"Please, Giant, we need water to survive! Please help us!"
Moved by the woes of the Deku, the Giant dug with its mighty hands until it found water beneath the soil, creating the swamps.
It then breathed life into the remaining trees, allowing the new swamp to flourish and become a home for the Deku.
The Giant to the North saw a scolding hot mountain. It took some of the rocks and breathed life into them, creating the Gorons.
When the Gorons emerged, they looked at the Giant and cried out.
"Please, Giant, it's too hot on this mountain! Please help us!"
Moved by the woes of the Gorons, the Giant took a deep breath and blew onto the mountain. Snow and ice was in its breath, cooling the mountain down for its new dwellers.
The Giant to the West came across an endless stretch of sand. It scooped up the sand and created the Zora, whose scales were as rough as the very substance they were made from.
When the Zora emerged, they looked at the Giant and cried out.
"Please, Giant, there's nowhere for us to live and nothing to eat! Please help us!"
Moved by the woes of the Zora, the Giant began to weep. The torrent of salty water created the vast ocean, and with it came fish. A place for the Zora to live and eat.
The Giant to the East came across a region of rock and clay. Out of the clay, it formed people and breathed life into them, creating humans.
When the humans emerged, they looked to the Giant and cried out.
"Please, Giant, we need to live up high, so our enemies don't attack! Please help us!"
Moved by the woes of the humans, the Giant carved out the canyons and pulled the ground up so the humans could perch their future Ikana Kingdom up high.
When Termina was flourishing with life, the Giants went to sleep, promising their people they would return when needed.
Eventually, some humans migrated out of Ikana and created Clock Town, celebrating the Giants that brought time and life to Termina.
Once a year, the Carnival of Time is celebrated, people carving masks based on what they believe the Giants look like.
Link listened to the story, thinking it'd make him increasingly tired. It made him more frustrated than anything, hating to hear the praise of gods. Still, the atmosphere of the room was far stronger, and he felt an intense desire to sleep. He even tried to close his eye and relax…but nothing happened, he never fell asleep! Tatl was already snoring peacefully, and he somewhat envied her. At the very least, he got his answer, the All-Night Mask definitely worked! No other way he could explain managing to stay awake for so long. The story was short, but Granny told it rather slowly…
"How about another story, Tortus?" The old woman asked with a wrinkled smile. "You've done so well in school lately; I think you've earned it." Even as she asked this, she started to flip through the book to look for another story.
The boy took his new mask off, placing it next to him. Already, he felt an intense wave of exhaustion hit him like a punch to the nose. He was barely able to keep his eye open as he gave a nod and lied on his stomach. "I'd like that, Granny." Link didn't even hear her response before he passed out.
"Excuse me? Mr. Link…?" A kind voice called. Link's eye opened, and he looked to see Anju standing over him, a tray of food in her hands. "Mr. Link, what are you doing here…?"
"Link? Who's that? That's Tortus, child!" Granny corrected. "He just got a bit sleepy listening to my stories, the poor thing. He's working so hard in school, you know!"
Anju let out an exasperated noise, but quickly calmed down. "That's not Tortus, that's one of our guests." She corrected.
Sitting up, Link glanced over to see Tatl was awake too. He felt a bit embarrassed, but this was at least a more pleasant encounter than last time. "I'm sorry." The boy apologized. "I was just curious about what was back here."
The innkeeper sighed through her nose, placing the tray in Granny's lap. This got a bitter murmur from the old woman, something about 'horrid cooking' that Anju didn't acknowledge. "This isn't a place guests should be. I'll have to ask you to leave."
Even though Anju was being so nice, Link still somehow felt like he was being yelled at. Standing up, he made sure to pick up the All-Night Mask with him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause trouble."
"Oh, you're being too hard on Tortus. He just wanted to hear a story, child!" Granny interjected. "And what a good listener he was, very quiet as I went on!"
Anju decided to ignore her grandmother this time as she led Link and Tatl out of the room. When the door was closed, she looked down at Link. It seemed like she wanted to appear stern, but a visible pity bled into her expression, like she couldn't bring herself to actually be upset at the boy. "I won't ask you to leave the inn, just please leave my grandmother alone. Her mind isn't all there, I'm afraid."
What a terrifying way to live. Link had a mental image of himself, withered and with grey hair, unable to recognize his friends or loved ones. What kind of a life was that to live? Why did people have to grow up at all? The Kokiri were so lucky…! "I understand. I'm sorry." The boy said, hoping this wouldn't conflict with the Kafei situation later on.
The redhead gave Link a small, almost sad smile. "Thank you. I remember you were scheduled to have lunch here. If you go up to your room, I'll bring it up to you."
Link didn't say anything and just gave a nod as he and Tatl went upstairs. When they were in their room again, he sat on his bed with a sigh. "I'm glad it was Anju that caught us." He murmured as Tatl hovered by his head.
"Me too, her mother is a real nasty woman." The fairy agreed. "So hey, how about the All-Night Mask? You weren't wearing it when I woke up!"
He looked down at the mask, its unsettling red eyes staring right back up at him. "I didn't fall asleep when I had it on. I still felt drowsy, it was almost kind of painful, but even when I closed my eye, I couldn't sleep." Link gripped the mask, contorting its already uncanny visage. "To be honest, it was really uncomfortable."
Being exhausted but physically unable to sleep…that did sound pretty painful. "Yeah, I don't think that mask is going to help us at all. You should probably just toss it."
It had been a while since Tatl suggested that. Then again, it had been some time since he got a mask that wasn't helpful. "I don't like to just toss things away." Link recalled how things were in the Lost Woods. New things, things from the outside world, didn't come along every day. He only tossed something if it was broken beyond repair and couldn't be reused as something else. Every object from outside the woods was a miniature treasure! Not that the All-Night Mask was exactly a treasure, but he still felt bad at the idea of just tossing it. Maybe he'd be able to utilize it somehow…
Tatl rolled her eyes. Before she could call out the dumb idea, Anju came inside with lunch. The innkeeper greeted her guests and left the food just as she always did despite what happened downstairs. "You owe me some nice food after you sell the Moon's Tear." The fairy informed Link as she nibbled at a bit of Anju's cooking he set aside from her. "Something sweet, maybe, how about some candy…?" Not exactly 'nice food' but for Tatl, chocolate was almost as valuable as gold!
"I'll buy you whatever you want." Link promised as he dug in himself. He'd never grasp why Tatl despised Anju's cooking so much. Sure, it wasn't exactly the best, but he thought it tasted pretty okay. Before long, the meal was done, and he left the tray on the room's table as usual. "We should wait by the desk. The Postman could come at any time." As he said this, he got his bag, tossing the All-Night Mask in it. He didn't want Anju to see Kafei's Mask, still worried about doing anything outside of order.
The two went downstairs, Anju was once more at her desk, waiting for any guests or other visitors. Her gaze fixated on Link when he came into view, and especially when he sat at the bench in the inn lobby. "Is everything alright? Are you waiting for someone?" The woman asked gently. "Your parents, maybe? They weren't mentioned on the guest list, but…" Her tone was cautious, yet hopeful, her intentions more than clear.
A spiteful and childish part of Link wanted to just tell her that he was an orphan just to see the shock on her face, and to shut her up. He then scolded himself, not knowing where this aggravated attitude came from! Anju was always so sweet to him; she helped care for him when he was sick and when he lost his eye…what was wrong with him?! Perhaps he was just sick of her looking at him with open pity, treating him like a vase that'd shatter if he was hit by so much as a strong breeze.
"I'm not waiting for anyone." He answered, placing his bag on his lap. "It's okay if I sit here, right?" What else would the bench be for?
Anju frowned a bit before quickly correcting herself and putting on a more neutral expression. It didn't stop the pity in her eyes, though. "I see. You can sit there, it's not a problem." She wasn't able to stop the disappointment in her voice either.
For a good, long while, Link and Tatl remained in the lobby. Anju didn't speak to them again, though every so often she threw a glance their way. A few times it was pretty clear she wanted to say something, but then she stopped herself. Time ticked by slowly, quite literally with the clock on the wall audibly counting down the seconds. Link wondered if he should have Tatl teach him how to tell time…though he supposed as long as she was with him, he wouldn't need to. No clocks like that in Hyrule anyway, so what was the point?
At about two o'clock, the door to the inn opened and the Postman came in, right as he did last time! Link and Tatl watched as he delivered a letter to Anju, once more being frustratingly vague on where he got it from. After making an excuse about his schedule, the man turned and left, not giving Link and Tatl so much as a glance. The boy felt awkward, remembering he hid out of sight last time, and so tried to give Anju some privacy by pretending to be interested in the strap of his bag, fiddling with it as the woman read her letter. After a few moments, she sighed and put the paper under the desk somewhere.
This was the time to strike. Link got Kafei's Mask from his bag and approached the counter. "Excuse me. Are you looking for Kafei?" He asked, holding the mask to his face like he was going to put it on. "The mayor's wife asked me to help, and she said you're his fiancé." It still felt so wrong to deceive people, pretending like he had no idea what Anju's relationship with Kafei was.
Anju let out a gasp, her hand flying to cover her mouth. She glanced about the room as if looking for eavesdroppers. She lowered her hand and leaned in, speaking quietly. "You're looking for him too? He's my fiancé, yes, but it seems like so many people have given up on him…"
"I haven't. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know." Link assured, glad that his getting in trouble earlier didn't ruin this interaction.
The woman bit her bottom lip, quietly contemplating how to move forward. After a few moments of thought, she nodded. "Okay, yes, please meet me in the kitchen tonight. I'll be there at half past eleven, we'll talk then."
Link had to wonder why she wanted to do this in such an odd way. He forgot to ask last time but chose not to do so this time either. The boy was still nervous about deviating too much and messing something up. "We'll be there at midnight, then. Thanks for trusting me to help." He replied with a light nod, going back upstairs with Tatl.
"Guess we just gotta kill time." Tatl replied as Link sat back down on his bed. "What should we do?"
Already, the boy tossed his gear to the side and shed his boots. "I'm going to take a nap, we have to stay up really late to meet with Anju, so we should rest." Link pointed out.
Oh. Yeah. Tatl didn't like the stupid meeting time! "Okay, but later today you're going to buy me that chocolate, okay?" She wasn't going to let him forget that promise! Link just gave a simple nod as he lied down and went to sleep.
Later in the day, the two awoke from their naps, it only being the middle of the afternoon. Link got Tatl the chocolate she wanted, it was only a small piece, but bigger than her head. Yet she somehow managed to eat all of it, the boy getting a bit for himself too. He still remembered the first time he ate chocolate, a woman that looked just like Anju gave it to him. Or…he supposed Anju looked just like that Cucco Lady…
The two went out to eat, and when the Curiosity Shop opened, Link sold off the Moon's Tear to get his wallet filled back up again. After that, they slept again, going to bed early to be sure they'd be awake enough for their meeting. Even though Anju didn't get there late when they did this before, he insisted they get there at the allotted time anyway.
"Maybe this time she'll get there when she said." Link replied as Tatl whined about the wait. "Small things can make a big change, right?" Who knew why she was so late last time? Maybe something that happened in this Cycle made a difference.
Tatl shrugged. "I guess, yeah. It's only fifteen minutes…" She just hoped Anju wasn't later than last time instead. The fairy still felt all of this was a waste of time. Kafei was clearly okay, and after Link dropped off the letter he'd get, it really stopped being any of their business. Yet this was so important to him, she had to go along with it, maybe she just felt bad for him more this time around. Maybe it was that missing eye…
Later that night, the fairy awoke Link from his slumber when he wanted, and the two went down into the kitchen. Once more, they waited in silence, past the meeting time again. Another fifteen minutes or so later, Anju came into the kitchen in her usual attire, an envelope in hand.
The redheaded woman seemed relieved, as if she didn't expect Link and Tatl to actually show up. "I'm sorry I'm late. It was difficult to write my feelings down how I wanted." Anju explained, gripping the envelope tightly. "The favor I wanted was for you to mail this for me."
"You're too nervous to do it yourself? Are you that scared?" Tatl asked, already knowing the answer. She didn't dislike Anju, but she found it annoying that a grown woman relied on a kid for help to drop off a letter.
Anju sighed and gave an embarrassed nod. "I know I should do it myself. The reason I asked you to come so late was so I could put the letter together and find all the right words to say. And to have the courage to ask for your help."
Link extended a hand, a bit curious to see what the letter actually said. Not that he could read it even if he tried. "I'll do it for you. I'll drop it off right now."
The woman let out another sigh, this one of deep relief. "Oh, thank you! This really means a lot to me!" Anju handed the letter to Link, but also placed a hand on his shoulder, not seeming to notice his brief flinch. "I know you probably don't understand these things, but this is very important to me." She hadn't done this before, and her hand gripped hard at the boy's shoulder. "I…I also want you to follow the Postman, see where he goes. I know this is asking a lot, but…I need to know where Kafei is…" Her voice cracked, like she was about to burst into tears.
Having to resist the temptation to shove Anju's hand away, Link gave a nod. "I'll do that." It was true what she said, he didn't fully understand the whole marriage thing, but he knew what it was like to lose a loved one and not know where they were. "I promise I'll find out where Kafei is."
Anju quickly calmed down, giving a small smile at Link as she finally let go of his shoulder. "Thank you. I know this is unusual, especially since you're a guest. I'll find some way to repay you for this."
"That's not necessary." Link assured as he walked past Anju. "I agreed to help find Kafei, so I'm going to do it." It was as simple as that in his eyes. He didn't look back at Anju, still feeling her grip on his shoulder as he left the kitchen and then the inn itself with Tatl at his side. Once they were outside, he glanced up at the fairy. "Are you going to try to stop me again?"
"Not this time. I give up, you do what you want with Kafei. Still, none of our business, but you're pretty determined about this." Tatl replied with a shrug. She chose to leave out it was a nice delay to their Ikana Canyon trip.
Of course Link was determined. He pitied Anju, and saw a bit of his own situation in her. And it was just the right thing to do. Going over to the same mailbox as before, he dropped the letter in. "When did you say the Postman started his route?"
"Nine. Every single morning on the dot. Guy's a real nutjob for his schedule." Tatl replied with a shrug, never in her life did she have to follow any sort of schedule. Her time with Link was the closest she ever got to it.
"Okay, we'll wake up then and wait here for him." Link paused and cleared his throat. "Thanks for letting me do this. I really want to help these two."
Tatl scoffed with a roll of the eyes. "You'd probably do it anyway unless I really hammered it in not to like last time. Not like I could actually stop you anyway." She couldn't help but cover how the thanks actually felt kind of nice. "Let's just get to sleep, I hate being up this late."
In the morning, Tatl woke Link up about a half hour before nine so they could get something to eat. Link only got lunch from Anju, so they were able to go out and get something Tatl could actually stomach without almost gagging.
At nine, they stood beneath by the inn's door, the awning protecting them from the rain. They knew it'd take the Postman at least a bit to actually arrive at the postbox. It was hard to tell how long they waited since the sun was behind the clouds, but eventually they saw the Postman come from South Clock Town, right towards the postbox! He looked inside and grabbed the letter, putting it in his bag before going on his way.
Link and Tatl quickly followed, trying not to be seen. Not that it mattered much, the Postman seemed to be in his own world, not so much as glancing or stopping to greet anyone he passed. Time seemed to go at a snail's pace as they tailed him, watching him check every single postbox and drop off letters at various places. Sometimes he went into establishments, sometimes he knocked on people's homes. Either way, Link and Tatl always scoped out who he delivered each piece of mail to, but none of them were Kafei, none had that noticeable purple hair. To their dismay, around noon, he went back towards the post office, entering at twelve on the dot.
"I don't understand." Link said as he watched the schedule-obsessed man enter his workplace. "No one looked like Kafei. Is he done for the day?"
"Heck if I know. I just know his morning schedule; I don't know every step of his schedule." Tatl remarked with an annoyed tone. "Unless one of those homes was harboring Kafei, it looks like he didn't drop off the letter Anju wrote."
Link thought for a moment. "Should we go to the houses he went to?" Not that he could remember each one, he hoped Tatl did, though.
"No way. If one of those people was harboring Kafei, they'd never just tell us because you asked. It's easy, Link, just go in and ask if he delivered all the letters he got." The fairy suggested. "Just be vague, say you were really hoping for a letter to be delivered today, maybe he just eats lunch before going for the rest."
That made sense! Link tried the door to the post office, seeing it was unlocked, and went in with Tatl. Inside was a most unusual area, at least to Link. There was a glass pane with a desk right in front of them, a large wooden structure on one wall with little cubicles in it where letters and other papers were sorted out. Like most interiors of Clock Town, there was a large clock on the wall, but there were also numerous others along the desks. Since they had hands on them, Link was able to get the general idea that they all had the same time on them.
On the other end of the area was a miniature bedroom. A bed, a desk, and a closet with the familiar red cap and bag hanging in it. The Postman sitting on the bed, eyes shut and seeming to be concentrating on something. Link glanced up at Navi, not sure if he should interrupt, feeling a bit nervous. Yet, she gestured for him to go ahead, and the boy cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Mr. Postman?"
The man let out a startled yelp and his eyes shot open, looking over at Link with wide eyes. "What are you doing?! You're interrupting my training!"
Link flinched; he hated it when adults yelled at him. It was something he just wasn't used to! "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were training." What kind of training was he even doing? It just looked like he was resting his eyes.
"I'm trying to count to ten seconds exactly, not a single millisecond late!" The Postman explained, gesturing to the numerous clocks in the room. "It is important to keep with my schedule!"
"Hey, we didn't know, so don't bite our heads off!" Tatl hissed back. "We just had a question about a letter, that's all!"
At the mention of mail, the Postman calmed down a bit, but still seemed mildly peeved. "If you have a letter to mail, drop it off in one of the postboxes. I will pick it up according to my schedule!"
"It's not that. I was just wondering if a letter I put in last night was delivered. It's very important." Link assured. "It needs to be delivered today." He also had to wonder what a millisecond even was…
The Postman huffed. "I am just following my schedule. I may have delivered it, but after my scheduled break, I will deliver the rest. You must have patience, young boy!"
"He really loves the word schedule…" Tatl muttered, quietly enough that no one else heard her. "Okay, we just wanted to check." She said normally. "It's just important to us, that's all."
At this, the unusual man waved away Tatl's comment. "You should have marked it Priority Mail if that were the case. There aren't many letters today, so it will be done according to-"
"Your schedule, yeah." Tatl finished with a roll of the eyes. "That's all we needed. Let's go, Link."
The boy didn't argue, the Postman not even saying bye as they left, he just closed his eyes for his training again. When they went back outside, Link leaned against the nearby wall. "So, do we just wait?" It was past noon, and he was getting kind of hungry, but he didn't dare go too far from the Postman…
"I don't want to do this all over again…I dunno, let's just wait. How long could his break be?" Tatl asked. "He's so focused on his mail; it probably won't be too long."
Link rubbed his stomach lightly but nodded in agreement. Still, he moved farther from the office, not wanting the Postman to see them when he came back out again. "Okay, we'll just wait." Unfortunately, it took quite a bit of time, but eventually the schedule-obsessed man emerged, assuredly on the dot of whatever time he had chosen to finish his break.
Once more, Link and Tatl followed him around, seeing he went through each area of Clock Town again. They stopped by one of the stalls to get a quick snack in East Clock Town, and thankfully the Postman still seemed oblivious to their presence. It was nearing three in the afternoon when he made an unusual detour that he hadn't yet done. After everything else, he went to the Laundry Pool of all places.
Making sure they were still out of sight, Link and Tatl peered around the wall, noticing Anju wasn't at the bench. He had no idea how long she stayed there to cry, but he assumed she didn't do that today, since she had more hope in finding Kafei and that surely must have lifted her spirits. In any case, the two watched the Postman ring the bell by the water, prompting a door on the far walkway to open. Out came the unusual boy with purple hair and his unusual fox-like mask, which Link recalled as being a Keaton Mask, at least in Hyrule.
Shockingly, the youth went over to the Postman and was handed a letter. It seemed like the two exchanged a dialogue, but with the adult facing away from the two and the strange kid's face covered, it was hard to tell. When the Postman started to turn back, Link and Tatl rushed back to South Clock Town, ducking behind a few of the construction workers on break as the Postman came back out and towards West Clock Town.
Link and Tatl went back to the Laundry Pool just in time to see the mystery kid going back to his abode. "That's weird. Who's writing a letter to some kid? I don't think that's even a house over there, not that I've heard of." The fairy mused. "Thinking of it, that kid…his hair looks like Kafei's Mask, doesn't it?"
"But that can't be Kafei. He's an adult." Link pointed out. "Why does his hair matter?" Still, it really was pretty odd.
"Only other person in this whole town with purple hair is the mayor, at least from what I've seen." Tatl explained. "Maybe that kid is like, Kafei's little cousin or something, helping him stay hidden." Her tone then lowered, distaste in her voice. "Or maybe Kafei's been running around behind Anju's back for years…"
Not understanding genetics, Link had no idea what that all even meant. He wasn't even fully sure what a cousin was. And then something about running? "What would running have to do with anything?" He asked, wishing Tatl would be more clear about things.
Ah, yeah. Tatl forgot Link was still a kid, and a clearly naïve one at that. He seemed so eerily adult at times it slipped her mind. "Nothing, forget it. It was just a thought."
The curiosity was going to eat at him, but he chose to shrug it off for now. In any case, Tatl sounded so sure about the cousin thing…so he chose to accept her wisdom. "Okay, so we just need to get inside. I doubt he leaves the door unlocked."
"That's easy. You hide in the water, and I'll ring the bell. When that kid comes out, you duck inside." Tatl remarked with a grin. It'd be kind of fun to trick someone a bit, it felt like forever since she got to. "If Kafei is in there, we'll question him." Hopefully this was even the right track, but this was the only delivery the Postman made that was so suspicious.
It was better than anything Link could think of. Save for breaking the door in as a Goron, but he'd rather not do anything so drastic. "Alright, let's do it. We should do it now, right?" Without really waiting for a response, Link went to the pool and held his bag over his head as he got in. Didn't want to get anything wet!
After Link got into the corner by the door and out of sight, Tatl rushed to the bell and slammed into it! The impact stung, but it was worth it, as the effort brought another, loud ring. She then flew over to Link, wanting to be out of sight as well. A good twenty seconds passed, and nothing happened. The two began to wonder if the bell was loud enough, but then the door to the mysterious abode opened and the masked child came out.
The purple-haired youth looked around, muttering something, but his words were muted by this mask. Still, he went down the path and across the bridge to investigate the bell and left the door wide open. Meanwhile, Link quietly slipped out of the water, he and Tatl slipping into the open door while the stranger wasn't looking. The rainfall helped hide the noise as well as any wetness on the path that'd give Link away.
Inside, the boy and fairy saw there was very little to the home. A staircase went upwards and into a single room with very little to see. Some dusty boxes and books off in the corner, a small bed in another corner. There was a small area with a desk and an open book with scrawled paper strewn about. Aside from that, there was just the usual clock on the wall and a creepy mask that had eyes that seemed to glow. And…that was it. No other rooms, no place for Kafei, or anyone else, to hide.
"Wait, that can't be right…" Tatl murmured. "If that kid isn't hiding Kafei…was the purple hair just a coincidence?"
As she spoke, footsteps went up the stairs, Link and Tatl hiding underneath the desk as the boy came into the room. The youth took a few steps and then stopped, his hands clenching into fists. "Come out. I know you're there." For once, his words were clear enough to make it through the mask.
Cautiously, Link and Tatl came out from hiding. They were in front of the staircase, blocking off any way for the boy to escape. "Okay kid, fess up! Who are you and why are you in this dingey room?! Do you know where Kafei is?!" She was so ready for this fiasco to be over, so she just went all in!
"You're looking for Kafei too?" The boy asked, his tone oddly calm given he was cornered. "Why? You're just a kid, what do you have to gain from it?"
"I promised Anju I would. She's sad, and she doesn't understand why he left." Link explained, giving the masked boy an intense look. "If you know where he is, you need to tell us. Did the Postman give you Anju's letter?"
The masked boy stared at the pair. His eyes were hidden, yet they felt an intense gaze from behind the piece of yellow wood. "You're trying that hard to find him, huh? And Anju's really that upset?"
"I saw her crying about it once." Link explained, remembering the time he and Tatl saw her sobbing on the bench. That's when he really felt the determination to make the woman happy. "I'm not going to leave until you help us."
There was a pregnant pause, even with his face hidden, it was clear the youth was thinking deeply. "…I see. Okay. I'll tell you everything I know, but this isn't easy to talk about. The only reason I trust you is because you were mentioned in Anju's letter. Just remember, it's a secret to everybody. Got it?"
"…Okay. I promise." Link lied. He was going to tell Anju no matter what. It'd make him feel a bit guilty later on, but his desire to help vastly outweighed his distaste for lies.
There was a sigh from behind the mask and another pause. For a moment, it seemed like the strange boy didn't believe Link. However, after another sigh, like he was prepping himself, he removed the mask. "I am Kafei." He said simply.
Link's eye widened and Tatl let out a startled noise. While, yes, the confession threw him off, it wasn't just that that startled Link. It was the supposed Kafei's face. There were differences, yes. His skin was a bit of a lighter shade, and his eyes were piercing red rather than a dull blue, which made Link remember the Sheikah. There was the purple hair of course, but…aside from that…
Kafei looked just like Link.
The damaged boy had stared at himself in the mirror enough to know when a reflection was before him. Yes, the eyes were different, but the shape of the supposed Kafei's face was exactly the same as Link's! His nose, his jaw, his cheeks…everything…it was a carbon copy! Thinking of it, the two boys were the same height too! The blonde felt his stomach churn, and bile started to fight its way to his mouth, but a stern swallow forced it back down.
"Hold on, how are you Kafei?" Tatl asked, hovering around the youth. "You're just a kid! Kafei's an adult, not a squirt like you! Are you trying to pull a fast one on us?!" The fairy was too distracted by the boy's age to notice the similarities between him and Link.
Once more, the stranger sighed. "I know it's hard to believe, but I really am Kafei, and I am an adult. Or at least, I used to be." His red eyes glanced around, seeming paranoid. "Have you seen an imp around? One with a terrifying mask?"
"The Skull Kid?! Is he the one that did this to you…?" Tatl asked, feeling aggravation towards her old friends. Just how many lives did he mess with?! It was certainly easy to believe he'd do such a thing, he put Link through a far worse transformation. The way he spoke certainly seemed more adult than one would expect from his appearance, very clear and concise, a strange tone of maturity to it. It sort of reminded her of Link…
"If that's his name." Kafei replied with a shrug. "I was coming home from the bar one night; I might have been a bit drunk when I ran into that imp. I don't even remember what I said, but it must have angered him because he made me…like this. Stuck in a kid's body…can you imagine a worse fate?!"
That last statement snapped Link out of his trance. Right away, he felt a harsh anger broil in his gut. Kafei was really going to act like being a kid forever was some horrid curse?! That ungrateful man was living out Link's deepest fantasy and he has the gall to whine about it! The Skull Kid should have done that to Link, not some ungrateful adult that clearly had zero idea how horrible it is to grow up despite already having done so!
The boy's hands clenched into tight fists, which shook lightly, and as his nails dug into his palms, they very nearly drew blood. There was a deep temptation to punch Kafei right in the nose, or knock out a tooth or something. This spoiled man who had Link's face and his dream…it just wasn't fair! First Tingle mocked him by showing what he may become, not Kafei has his appearance and his most desperate desire…why did Termina keep doing this to him?!
"I can imagine a few." Link responded, managing to keep his violent desire in check. Still, he had to fight to keep his entire arms from shaking and to keep his voice steady. He couldn't remember the last time he had such a deep anger towards someone! "So, this is why you're hiding, right?"
"Not entirely." Kafei said with a sigh. If he noticed Link's anger, he didn't show it. "After being changed, I went to the Great Fairy to seek aid, but then something precious was stolen. A prancing, bald, grinning thief stole my wedding ceremony mask from me."
A bald, smiling thief…both Link and Tatl recalled such a man, the one that stole the old lady's bomb bag so many Cycles ago. "So, you're just careless, then. How did a thief get to you in such a crowded town?" Tatl asked, but kept going before Kafei could even answer. "Is the mask really that important? You can't even show your face in front of Anju?"
Kafei ignored the first part. "Of course it's that important to me. My mask, the Sun Mask, is one I made myself. It's a symbol of my love and devotion for Anju! To let it get stolen away…it's unforgivable." He mirrored Link's actions, hands clenching into fists. "I know Anju is worried, but I promised I'd greet her with the mask in hand…"
"So, what are we supposed to tell her? You really think we can keep all this a secret? She'll never be satisfied if we refuse to give any details…" Tatl couldn't help but compare Kafei's stubbornness to Link's.
The cursed man reached into his shirt, pulling out an unusual pendant that had been hidden from sight. "Please, give her this. She'll understand what it means. Trust me, this is the only way!"
Despite his near-hatred for Kafei, Link managed to calmly take the pendant. He really didn't understand a lot of this marriage stuff. There were masks involved? Was it just a Termina thing? The boy could hardly focus on his own curiosity through his rage, his body felt burning hot from it despite being drenched in cold water. "I'll take it to her." Was all Link said, deciding he'd keep all the details a secret per Kafei's request. Despite his feelings, he promised he'd help, and this was the way Kafei wanted things to go.
"And then what? Just wait? For how long?" Tatl implored with a huff. "What if you don't get the mask back and return?"
Once more, Kafei paused in thought, but quickly came with a conclusion. "If I don't return to Anju by about noon tomorrow, come back here." He pointed to the odd mask on the wall. "That mask is a peephole into the Curiosity Shop, I've been keeping an eye for Sakon. If I don't see him before tomorrow noon…I'll just have to come up with something else…"
Seemed a bit faulty, but Link had no idea what else to do. This was far from his expertise, but he still wanted to help the pair even with his newfound disgust towards Kafei. He didn't feel he had much of a choice but to trust in the adult before him and listen to his plan. "Okay, I'll wait until tomorrow to come back here."
"You sure about this? With how you are now, I doubt you could wrestle the mask back from that thief." Tatl intervened as she crossed her arms. Link could, sure, but Kafei seemed like just a normal kid.
"I'm positive. Please, take that to Anju as soon as possible, I want her worries to be eased." Kafei replied, shooing Link and Tatl away hurriedly.
Tatl clicked her tongue at Kafei's rudeness, but wordlessly followed Link as he went back down the stairs and into the rain. Almost as soon as they left the hole in the wall, the door closed behind them. "I didn't think things would get so complicated…" The fairy commented as Link observed the pendant Kafei gave him. She really thought that Kafei had just fled Clock Town or had a mistress or something, being cursed into being a kid never crossed her mind…
"I didn't either." Link replied as he started to make his way back to the inn. "I didn't think the Skull Kid would be responsible for even more misery like this."
The fairy silently winced. A part of her felt somewhat guilty for everything the Skull Kid did to others. If she had stopped him from the start, talked him out of attacking the Happy Mask Salesman…none of this would've happened! "So, we're really going to wait until tomorrow, then?" She asked as she rode on Link's shoulder. "You're calling the shots on this."
Link sighed through his nose. Made sense, he forced Tatl to let him do this from the start. "I'll just do what Kafei wants. I don't understand these things." He confessed, feeling guilty about Anju. While he wanted to give her all the details, he figured he shouldn't, he'd let Kafei fix his own problem.
Tatl couldn't help but find that amusing and tittered lightly. "Hey, you never know. You'll probably understand one day."
What, like getting married? Link didn't fully understand it, but it didn't seem like something meant for him, even with Ruto's desire for it. He just shrugged off her comment as they entered the inn.
Anju was standing at the desk as usual, a look of blatant worry on her face. When she saw Link, her expression brightened. "Oh! You came back! You were gone for so long, I got worried…" She placed her hands over her heart, looking almost terrified as she went on. "…Did you…find Kafei?"
Link wasn't sure what to say exactly, holding up the pendant to her. "I was told to give you this, that you'd understand what it meant."
The woman's eyes widened, and it looked like she wanted to cry, yet it wasn't from sadness. "His pendant! Oh…!" Anju took it from Link, seeming to have to hold back from snatching it out of his group. "Link, you don't know what this means to me…! Thank you so much, you've done more for me than you think!"
She was truly right about that. Link didn't understand why the pendant was so important. He was tempted to ask, but she'd probably say he was too young to understand or something. If it was so simple he was sure Kafei would've explained it. "What will you do now?" Was what he asked instead.
"I'll wait. With this pendant, I know Kafei will come for me." Anju explained, wiping at her eyes and clearly overwhelmed with emotion. "My mother won't like it, but it's what I'm going to do." She took a moment to regain her composure, seeming to have to fight off a smile to look more proper in front of her guest. "As for you, you should leave town. It won't be so safe here for long…"
Even through the walls and ceiling, Link felt the gaze of the Moon on him. Suppressing a shudder, he nodded. "We'll leave in time, don't worry." Might as well just lie. It'd be easier that way. "I'll be going back to my room now."
Anju bowed, gasping a bit as she choked back a light sob. She was right, this meant so much more to her than Link realized. "Yes, of course, have a good rest. And thank you again, I promise I'll find a way to repay you."
Rather than argue about repayment, Link just went off to his room without another word. He couldn't help but feel a bit of satisfaction from such a response, even though he hadn't fulfilled his end of things. Kafei and Anju weren't actually reunited, but hopefully tomorrow they would be.
"So, we'll head back at noon tomorrow, right?" Tatl asked as she watched Link settle onto the bed. She really disliked staying around so close to the Moon falling, its gaze and form so close it was impossible to ignore it like she normally tried to do. "What if Kafei can't get his mask back?"
"Then we'll help him do it." Link said simply. He still held a resentment towards the 'cursed' man that he didn't think he'd be able to let go of any time soon, but he was still going to help.
The fairy shrugged and rested on her pillow. "I thought you'd say that. You're pretty predictable, Link." She teased, getting no response as Link lied down and turned towards the wall. Sighing silently, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.
Link and Talt simply killed time with little to do until the allotted time. They napped and then went out to dinner, staying in their inn room for the rest of the night. There were murmurs coming from a nearby room, a fight it seemed, and they assumed it was Anju and her mother talking about Kafei and the innkeeper's plan. Anju was at her desk the following morning, and she seemed almost disappointed to see Link and Tatl who didn't heed her warning to leave.
At about noon, after some lunch, the pair went to the Laundry Pool. The Moon seemed to glare at them specifically as they went through the near-deserted South Clock Town. When they got to the door to Kafei's, Link tried the knob and found it was unlocked. Slowly, the two entered the abode and went up the stairs, noting how quiet it was. To their shock, it wasn't Kafei in the bedroom, but the Curiosity Shop owner!
The man flinched a bit, and then relaxed when he saw who it was. "Hey, I know you guys. Not every day a kid sells off a rock like that!"
"What the heck are you doing in here?" Tatl asked. "Where's Kafei? You do something with him?"
"What? No!" The store owner replied, openly insulted. "Look, I have a message from him. I don't know if he told you, but I've known him since he was just a kid. Er, I guess when he was just a kid the first time." He let out a shudder. "Let me tell ya, seeing him as a brat again was kinda creepy. Never saw anything like it! But when I saw him wearing the Keaton Mask, I knew it was him."
"He hadn't mentioned any of that." Link mentioned, not entirely sure how much he trusted the man. He did have that air of untrustworthiness about him.
The man let out a chuckle and shook his head. "I guess he was too wound up in things to remember. There's even stuff about his situation he didn't tell me, after all. Didn't expect him to keep the mask in such good condition for so long, though." He reached behind him and grabbed something off a box and handed it to Link. "Here, something tells me he'd want you to have it, kid."
Link took the object, seeing it was the Keaton Mask. Sort of surreal to hold it again, just like with the Mask of Truth. He wasn't sure why Kafei would want him to have it. "Thank you." The boy replied anyway.
"So, hey, what was this message from Kafei?" Tatl prodded. "Where the heck is he anyway?"
"Oh, right." The shop owner said and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a letter with a fancy envelope. "This is a letter to Kafei's mother, he wanted you to deliver it to her."
Another letter? Link took it anyway, really wishing he could read. "What does it say?" He tried asking, more comfortable being nosey here than with Anju's letter.
"What kind of guy do you take me for? I don't read other people's mail!" The man scoffed. "As for Kafei, well…it isn't good. See, I have this regular customer, a thief named Sakon. Now I don't ask where he gets his stuff, I just buy it. Anyway, Kafei was in the shop last night when Sakon was there, and he got all pale. Before I knew it, he was chasing after the creep. I don't know where exactly the thief lives, but I think it's somewhere in Ikana."
Tatl let out a startled nose. "Ikana?! He actually lives there?! And Kafei went there on his own?!" Just talking about the place sent an intense shiver through her body.
"Yeah, I didn't really remember that fact until the two of them were gone." The man replied. "No idea how Kafei's gonna handle things, I wouldn't step foot in that area!"
Link put the letter in his bag along with the Keaton Mask. "Thank you for the information. We'll get the letter delivered." With a 'good luck' from the Curiosity Shop owner, Link and Tatl left the hole in the wall.
"Hey, I don't think we should go to Ikana, not yet." Tatl instantly piped up as the door closed behind them. "I know you want to help Kafei, but…Ikana, it's…" She shuddered. "I think you shouldn't go there unless you're totally focused on freeing the Giant. It's too dangerous to have to look out for Kafei too. At least the first time…" Not like she knew entirely what the place would be like, they had to have a good grasp on it before worrying about Kafei, she thought.
"What about Kafei? If Ikana is as dangerous as you say, he'll need our help." Link pointed out. Tatl's nervousness rubbed off on him a little, she was so terrified of Ikana, it made him worried what it'd really be like.
"If that Sakon guy can live there, Kafei should be fine enough." Tatl thought for a second if Ikana was truly as dangerous as she thought if someone could live there…but…with all the stories she heard over the years, she couldn't let go of her paranoia.
Link rubbed one arm as he thought, holding back a sigh. "Okay. I'll listen to you. I still want to deliver the letter, though. I said I would." He still disliked Kafei, but he'd still do this favor, he supposed.
"Sure, alright. Just hold back on Ikana for now, okay?" Tatl was willing to go along with any dumb errand if it pushed off the visit to the East for a bit longer.
He really wanted this Anju and Kafei scenario cleared up, but if Tatl was so insistent about Ikana Canyon, he'd follow her advice. "Okay. We'll wait."
With that cleared up, the two went over to the mayor's residence. Above them, the Moon was growing ever closer, its gaze intense and direct. It made the two feel uncomfortable, like the stellar object would suddenly swoop down and devour them.
At the mayor's residence, there was the buzz of a meeting going on in the office, just like way back when Link and Tatl first heard of Kafei going missing. The receptionist was still there, who stared at Link's face, notably his eyepatch, before clearing her throat. "Hey there, honey, what can I do for you?"
"I need to talk to the mayor's wife. Is she in right now?" The boy asked, noticing the woman's gaze darting to his missing eye every few moments.
"I'm afraid she's a bit busy, is there a message I can give to her for you?" The receptionist asked.
Link reached into his bag and took the letter out. "I need to give this to her. Can you give it to her for me?" Kafei wanted him to do it, sure, but he doubted that he'd really care who gave it to Madame Aroma.
The woman shook her head. "Oh, I can't just go around delivering letters like that, honey! That's the Postman's job, don't you know that?" She asked, not unkindly. "And you shouldn't be delivering it either, unless you wrote it."
"I didn't." Link replied, quickly realizing that was a mistake. "Okay. So, I just give it to the Postman, then?" Too late to wait for tomorrow's letter pickup. There wouldn't even be a tomorrow. Thinking of it, was the Postman even still around? He didn't recall seeing him…
"Exactly, if you're in a rush. I see it's Priority Mail, so if you give it to the Postman, he should get to it real quick." The receptionist explained. "But say, shouldn't you be heading out of town with your parents?"
"You're still here, aren't you?" Link asked, not even thinking before he spoke. Maybe he was just mad at her for staring at his eyepatch.
Rather than get angry, the woman gave a strange little smile, its emotion impossible to read. "I suppose I am. Can't say I have anyone to leave with, so I don't know why I'd bother."
Link wasn't expecting that response and stuffed the letter back in his bag. "I don't really have anyone either." Was all he said as he turned and left the office with Tatl in tow.
The fairy frowned at Link's statement as they went back outside. She knew what he meant by it and had to wonder if he had any parents. Link mentioned being raised by Kokiri, but did that mean his parents were dead? Did he ever reunite with them? At no point did he ever mention them or say he was an orphan, and she wasn't feeling brave enough to ask. "I didn't think you'd mouth off to her like that." Was what Tatl mentioned instead.
"I didn't really mean to." Link said as he started off toward West Clock Town. "I don't like it when people treat me like I'm a helpless kid."
It was hard not to pity him on sight, though. At least Tatl thought so. When an adult sees a kid with an injury, of course they'd get gentler with him, especially women. "I understand, but they're not doing it to be mean, though."
"I know that, I still don't like it." Was all Link could think to say. When they arrived at the Postman's office, there was a sign on the door that wasn't there before. "Tatl, what does that say?"
Tatl read the sign and then gave an aggravated sigh. "It says the office is closed until six in the evening. Great, so we still have to wait hours!" She sighed and glanced at the Moon. Even though it wasn't looking in her direction, she felt its gaze upon her. "You're sure you want to stay around so late?" As if on cue, the ground trembled, not that she felt it, but she saw Link brace himself.
"I'm sure. We just have to let this letter be delivered, and we can go back again." Link didn't like staying so close to the end either. He, too, felt the Moon staring right at him.
"Hey, in the meantime, you're gonna run an errand for me." Tatl declared, flying in front of Link's face. "You're gonna go to the swamp and get a Red Potion from that hag, okay? You're not going to Ikana Canyon without one!"
That was a good idea, yes. Link foolishly never took the time to get one before going to the Great Bay and nearly died from it. "Okay, we'll do that right now."
With the use of the Goron Mask, getting down to the swamp was easier than before. He just rolled his way South, none of the monsters that'd normally bother him dared to impede a rolling Goron. It pained him to see the purple waters again, feeling his cleansing of the area was just a waste of time. Thankfully, Kotake was still in her shop, and she still mentioned Koume was missing, and gave Link a Red Potion to take to her.
"Let's just go back now." Tatl said as Link went down the ladder.
"What about Koume?" He replied, though not feeling like he wanted to help someone that tried to kill him in Hyrule…or at least looked like her…
"What about her? When we go back, she'd just be injured again." Tatl pointed out. "You've let her lie injured there dozens of times, you can't keep fixating on things you can't permanently fix."
"You'll let me help Anju and Kafei, though." The boy argued. "I can't fix that permanently either."
Tatl huffed. "Yeah, only after I argued you against doing it a dozen times, but you did it anyway. Look, you need that Red Potion, that's the difference here. I refuse to let you go to Ikana without some backup, okay?"
Link still felt guilty, glancing over at the forested area where Koume was laying injured. Though…this was the third day…was she even still alive? "…Fine. This is the last time I'll do something like this, though." In a way, he knew Tatl was right. The monkey was being held prisoner for a crime he didn't commit, the Goron Elder was frozen if he wasn't dead, Lulu was missing her eggs, Romani had been taken by Them…he couldn't save everyone, not all at once.
…Right?
The trip back weighed heavily on Link, and there was still a few hours left until the Postman's office opened when they got back to the inn. Anju was still at her desk, seeming determined, yet exhausted. Link couldn't even bear to glance at her, knowing where Kafei had gone, but unwilling to actually tell his fiancé…
In their inn room, the two rested, Link looking over the Keaton Mask as they waited for six o'clock to come. He ran his finger over one of the closed eyes of the mask, trying not to think about how this second mask from Hyrule was also in Termina. And Kafei's eyes…red, like a Sheikah…was that a coincidence?
Thinking of it, it was almost like the Keaton Mask was Kafei's true mask, not the one Madame Aroma gave to Link. The yellow object was what the cursed man used to hide his own face from the world. Link could relate to that, even if the circumstances were different. When Kafei returned to normal, he didn't need the mask anymore. Heck, he already left it behind, it was just a useless object to him.
He felt another surge of anger course through him. How dare Kafei get so lucky with his 'curse' like that…it wasn't fair! Why did he have to look so much like Link too?! Why?! Link nearly threw the Keaton Mask to the floor but stopped himself and just put it in his bag before sleeping uneasily until nearly six.
Tatl woke him up, and the two went back downstairs and saw Anju still at the desk. She still had hope in her eyes, but her energy was lower. Again, Link tried his best not to look at her out of guilt, and she didn't acknowledge him outside of a small nod. When the pair got to West Clock Town, they saw the sign was still on the Postman's door. Still, Link tried the knob and found the door unlocked, his other hand clutching the letter to Madame Aroma.
Inside, the office was a mess! Paper was thrown about, one of the clocks was busted against a wall, the sheets on the bed were bundled in a corner…and the Postman himself knelt on the floor. He clutched his head in his hands, groaning as in pain. "The…The schedule…I can't…!" The man murmured, seeming unaware of Link and Tatl's presence.
"Hey! What the heck is going on here?!" The fairy demanded, but her words apparently fell on deaf ears, the Postman didn't acknowledge her.
"I want to flee! I have to! B-But the schedule, I have to follow the schedule!" The Postman exclaimed, his voice cracking as if he was about to break down in tears.
The sight was pitiable, yet almost disgusting to Link. If he was so scared of the Moon, why didn't he run? Why follow some schedule that only he seemed to care about? At this point, Link felt guilty about wanting to ask him about the letter. Should he still do it…? "If you want to leave, then leave." The boy said simply. "Don't let something hold you back if you're scared." It wasn't the Postman's duty to save Termina, it all fell on Link, just like it always did.
"My schedule…! My…" The Postman moaned, but then stopped as he spotted the letter in Link's hand. "Th…That!" He swiped it from the boy's hand in the blink of an eye. "This is Priority Mail! The highest class! Yes, I'll deliver this right away!" In just that small amount of time, the Postman went through a disturbing transformation. One second, he seemed ready to cry, and then he was entirely stoic and schedule-focused like always.
"But…weren't you scared just now?!" Tatl exclaimed as the Postman got his bag and put on his hat. "Are you going to leave after this?!"
"No time to talk, I must deliver this! I know just where Madame Aroma would be at this time of night!" The Postman replied, rushing past the two and out the door.
Without really thinking, the pair followed the Postman, too curious to just call it a Cycle after seeing that display. The three went through into East Clock Town, passing through the near-empty South Clock Town. To the surprise of Link and Tatl, the Postman was heading right for the bar!
"Hey, you have a mask that lets you go in there, right?" Tatl asked Link as they grew ever closer to the building. "You want to see how this goes, don't you?"
Link did, yes, but…he really hated Romani's Mask. It seemed like he was hating more and more things lately, and that made him feel rotten. He took the cow-like mask from his bag, feeling disgust just from holding it. A symbol of being an adult…what a twisted object it was. What kid actually wanted to grow up?! "…I do, yes." Was what Link said instead, strapping the mask on his head.
He felt ridiculous.
The boy had never been in a bar, but heard of how they were where adults drank weird drinks that kids weren't supposed to have. He and Tatl followed the Postman inside, the interior being calmer than Link expected. There was a staircase leading downward into the main bar area. A stage was off on one side and the bar itself taking up most of the rest of the room. There were a few people sitting on stools, sipping at some milk and looking drained. The exception was Madame Aroma, who was a lot more chipper than the rest.
However, Link briefly paused when he saw the bartender. It was Talon…or…no…someone that looked like Talon. His eyes lacked the happy energy that rancher had, and he wore a suit that the real Talon wouldn't be found dead in, he always wore comfortable overalls. Talon was one of the few men that Link really felt comfortable with, the other being Darunia. Unfortunately, the Goron was always so busy and rarely got to visit, and Link couldn't bring himself to step foot in Kakariko Village, so he couldn't visit Goron City. Talon, though, he was very nice to Link and was the only one to make the boy wonder what it'd be like to have a father, if only briefly.
The mustached man who wore Talon's face gave Link a silent, curt nod as he dried a glass with a cloth. Meanwhile, the Postman went right over to Madame Aroma. Surprised, the large woman turned around and let out a dramatic gasp. "You! What are you still doing here?!" She asked, more shocked than anything.
"I have Priority Mail for you, Postmistress!" The Postman declared, handing Madame Aroma the letter. "I couldn't let a letter be undelivered! Tomorrow's delivery is…is still scheduled…" Near the end, his voice cracked, unable to hold in his emotions entirely.
The mayor's wife took the letter, but didn't take her eyes off the Postman. "Schedule?! Oh, that blasted schedule of yours! Did you see the sky?! The Moon?! It's right on top of us!"
"But…But…The schedule…" The Postman weakly argued, though calling his stuttering an argument was rather generous.
Link couldn't help himself and stepped forward as Madame Aroma sighed and started to glance over her letter. "Don't you care about your life at all?" The boy asked, flabbergasted at the Postman's reluctance. How foolish could he be?! Link had an obligation to put himself in danger, but the Postman didn't! "Your life isn't worth some letters or a schedule." His tone was solid, and despite himself, a bit of anger slipped out.
Both adults looked over to Link, apparently just realizing he was there. "He's quite right, you know." Madame Aroma said, her mood a bit better and not seeming to mind the eavesdropping. "As for this letter, it's from Kafei! Oh, a bit of joy, even in the end…!" She then turned to the Postman. "As for you, you schedule obsessed buffoon…! Flee! Get out of Clock Town and to safety, that is a direct order!"
The Postman gulped, but he didn't argue. In fact, his shoulders slackened a bit as Link and Tatl practically saw his muscles unclench. "Understood." Was all the Postman said as he turned and made his way out of the bar.
Madame Aroma sighed, then turned back to Link. "Thank you for your assistance. But my, you're far too young to still be in town, I don't care what mask you have on!"
Once more, Link couldn't help himself. He had to know about the letter. "What does the letter say? You said it was from Kafei?" While he wasn't technically lying, he was still deceitful in his next move as he took Kafei's Mask from his bag. "You might not remember, but you hired me to find him."
For a moment, the woman frowned in concentration, muttering something unheard under her breath. "Mmm…My, I must have been out of it, I simply don't recall meeting you. These last few days have been a blur…but there's no other way you'd have that mask. I suppose you have a right to know, but my dear Kafei wrote his situation in a letter to me, and I know he's okay. He can't see me face-to-face, but…well…it will have to do. As long as he's happy, I'm fine with it."
Link nodded, glancing over at the fake Talon, who was eyeing the conversation from afar. It made him uncomfortable seeing someone like him looking so dreary. His gaze snapped back to Madame Aroma. "I'm glad to hear that, I'm sorry I couldn't bring him to you."
With a light laugh, the mayor's wife waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, it's quite alright! You were on quite a tight schedule. I got to hear from my darling Kafei, and that's all that matters. Now then, you should leave too. The Moon…well…the end is near; I think you realize that too. You're not a fool like some people…" She muttered something else, Link and Tatl hearing a brief mention of 'Mutoh' in the grumble.
"If you know things are so dangerous, why are you here? Shouldn't you run?" Link asked, feeling a bit surprised at his own curiosity. He'd been digging into the business of others so much recently.
Madame Aroma wasn't offended, a sad smile on her face as she picked up her bottle of milk and took a sip. "My husband refuses to leave. He knows the danger, but he insisted on staying if others were going to. I just need a bit of liquid courage and I'll be joining him." She took another sip. "As long as Kafei is doing what makes him happy and I'm with my husband…it doesn't matter what happens, I'll be satisfied. I have no regrets."
The boy swallowed heavily, never having given Madame Aroma much thought. He was obsessed with finding Kafei for Anju's sake, but he entirely forgot his parents. After all, the initial promise to find the man was made to Madame Aroma, not Anju. "I'm glad." Link actually meant it, though there was a twinge of envy. She didn't get to see her son, and she clearly knew the Moon was going to kill everyone, but she was still so composed! He wished he could have an outlook like hers, but it was too painful.
Navi was just too important.
"Thank you, dear. Now I mean it, you should gather anyone you still care for and leave. I can't order you about like the Postman, but I'd really appreciate it if you did that for me." With that, she turned back to face the bar, sipping more at her milk.
Without another word, Link left the bar, with Tatl right by him. He practically ripped Romani's Mask off when he got outside, somewhat wondering what a Postmistress and 'liquid courage' even meant. By the gate leading towards Ikana Canyon, the Postman was still there!
"What the…? Hey, didn't the mayor's wife tell you to get out of here?!" Tatl exclaimed as she and Link approached the schedule-obsessed man.
"I'll be going, but I wanted to thank you first." The Postman replied, sounding far less monotone than usual, a heavy relief in his voice. "You handed me that letter and you and the Postmistress helped me realize I needed to leave."
Link wondered if the Postman realized that he and Tatl overheard him wanting to get out of Clock Town back in his office. The man clearly wanted to run the entire time; he just needed the push. "I didn't do anything; you could've done it all on your own." The boy pointed out.
The Postman smiled, more jovial than the pair had ever seen him. "Whatever you think is fine with me. I'm free now! I can set my own schedule!" He let out a sigh of relief and took the hat off his head. "Here, I don't need this anymore. You can have it, young man."
An odd gift, but Link took it anyway. Before he could give the Postman a word of thanks, the man turned and all but sprinted past the guard and into Termina Field. Link glanced over the hat, the bunny symbol on the front being something he hadn't noticed before. It reminded him of how the Hyrule version of the Postman wanted the Bunny Hood…a coincidence…?
"You're getting all sorts of weird stuff today, huh?" Tatl bemused before glancing back at the Moon. "But, uh, hey, can we go back now? The Moon's getting too close for comfort."
Link stuffed the Postman's Hat in his bag. It felt oddly heavy in his hand, as if the weight of its past owner's responsibility was weighing it down. "Are you ready for Ikana Canyon?" The boy asked as he readied the Ocarina of Time.
"No." Tatl admitted with a sigh. "We have to go there sooner or later, though. So, we might as well go now."
The boy looked over at the inn. He wondered if Anju was still there waiting for Kafei. A part of him was tempted to check, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Once again, he failed in his task to reunite the pair…but next time…he swore he'd bring them together again.
With that promise in his heart, Link played the Song of Time and all he managed to accomplish was undone yet again.
A/N: This chapter turned out a lot longer than I expected. To be honest, I was so focused on the Anju/Kafei portion I somewhat forgot that you get the Priority Mail at the same time as the Keaton Mask, so I figured I'd include the Postman portion too. I was pretty happy with some bits, especially ones I threw in at the last second like Link's talks with the receptionist and Madame Aroma. I also had fun writing the mythos of the Giants, creation myths are fascinating to me, and I hope I did a good job with it. As for basically redoing the entire Anju/Kafei quest so far, it's something I probably will only do once. I just wanted Link's perception of doing this particular sequence all over again, but next time it'll be briefly recapped instead.
No more delays, though, next chapter is the start of the dreaded Ikana Canyon and boy do I have some plans...