|
Post by jadespider on Jan 8, 2008 23:34:49 GMT -5
Kasumi had been home for some time now - with 'home' meaning the country she grew up in. Still with no way of knowing exactly where she was or which direction her town was in, she searched for a nearby villiage.
It was dirty. Most of the men here were fisherman and their smell made it obvious. She found a merchant family who was kind enough to take her in for a night with a hot meal... and a song.
After she played for them, she retired to the meager room which they offered her and wondered what direction the wind would take her in the morning.
|
|
|
Post by taureanchorono on Feb 8, 2008 12:55:24 GMT -5
Omoki wasn't happy. This town smelled bad, and now so did he. He needed a bath, but he knew he wouldn't find one around here, so he had best just retire for the night and move on in the morning, hopefully finding a hot spring on the road. Not wishing to deal with accusations of being a drunken old wanderer, he decided to retire in a guest room without permission. The first one he snuck into, however, was already occupied - by a sleeping young woman, no less! His interest piqued, Omoki decided that sleep was, for tonight, only a pleasantry; staying awake and out of the observation of this woman was more important. He quietly entered the room and flattened himself against the wall, blending in perfectly - except for his face, which now appeared to be an unusual mask hanging on the wall. He was in a comfortable position, so he settled in to wait for the woman to wake.
|
|
|
Post by jadespider on Feb 10, 2008 17:26:03 GMT -5
Kasumi woke to the sound of gulls outside her window. She took a moment to stretch and yawn and her eyes wandered over the strange mask on the wall. "Hmm...." she said, rubbing her eyes, "I must not have noticed it last night...."
The room was bare other than some shabby furniture, so the "mask" seemed to stand out being that it was the only decoration. Kasumi really didn't have too much time to ponder over it or even take a closer look when there was a short rap on the door frame.
"Pardon me, miss." The merchant's wife opened the door in the traditional way. She had gotten to her knees in order to slide the door to the side. She gave a quick, curt bow in such a way that it was obvious that her politeness was only a formality. "You have overslept and missed breakfast. I have brought you some rice. She stood and brought the tray over to Kasumi, who had been busy trying to make sense of her hair which she had taken out for the night's rest.
Kasumi smiled sheepishly and got to her feet. She wore only a loosely-sashed juban ((The japanese version of our dress slips here in America, the under-kimono)) and her hostess was appalled at the sight of her lack of etiquette. Of course, in her mind, anyone should have been up and dressed by now - especially a foreigner who was clearly attuned to the Japanese way of life.
But Kasumi was nocturnal by nature and she had difficulty falling asleep to begin with, and then waking up was difficult. She bowed to her hostess and accepted the tray. When the merchant's wife bowed at the door before sliding it shut, she took just long enough to say to Kasumi before she left: "If you would please not alter the room. We like how it appears and any holes in the walls to hang decorations like your mask could damage our property, miss."
Kasumi was confused. She had taken a big bite of rice ((mmmm, rice)) and had to swallow hard ((in that oh-so anime way....)) and looked around incredulously. Was it that mask? She didn't put it there. She scratched her head and then took another bite before moving closer to find out more about it....
|
|
|
Post by taureanchorono on Feb 11, 2008 13:23:33 GMT -5
Omoki had drifted off slightly in the night, but had woken in time to re-camoflage himself and assume a grin for his "mask" pose. He held perfectly still through all of the bustle with the housewife's entrance and the young lady's eating, but when she came close to examine him, he quickly leaned forward, kissed her on the cheek, and then rolled to the side, removing his camoflage and ending in a crouch, holding his finger to his mouth in a "shush" motion. 'Hopefully, her full mouth will prevent a scream, and she'll obey my request for silence. Wouldn't want the entire house to be alerted to my presence,' Omoki thought.
|
|
|
Post by jadespider on Feb 12, 2008 23:38:18 GMT -5
Omoki had drifted off slightly in the night, but had woken in time to re-camoflage himself and assume a grin for his "mask" pose. He held perfectly still through all of the bustle with the housewife's entrance and the young lady's eating, but when she came close to examine him, he quickly leaned forward, kissed her on the cheek, and then rolled to the side, removing his camoflage and ending in a crouch, holding his finger to his mouth in a "shush" motion. 'Hopefully, her full mouth will prevent a scream, and she'll obey my request for silence. Wouldn't want the entire house to be alerted to my presence,' Omoki thought. Kasumi jumped back, her eyes wide in shock. She swallowed her food and narrowed her eyes after a moment to catch her breath. "Who and what are you.... sir?"
|
|
|
Post by taureanchorono on Feb 12, 2008 23:54:22 GMT -5
Omoki chuckled. "I's Jus' ol' Omoki. A wanderer, and enjoyer of all the pleasures dis world has to give me." He sniffed the air, then smiled. "An' since you's of a similar "'persuasion,' is safe for me to say I's a demon. Of de snow macaque kind, you see." He lifted his jug and took a swig, then offered it to her as he swallowed. "An' you? Got a pretty name to go wit dat pretty face?"
|
|
|
Post by jadespider on Feb 13, 2008 1:02:52 GMT -5
Kasumi stole a glance at the door. No, there was no sign that her hostess was returning. She quickly pulled one of her silk kimonos around herself and tied it shut with her obi-jime.
"My name... " she spoke slowly, eyeing this newcomer. "Is Ocada, Kasumi. I am a guest of this house. Do you hold the same honor?"
|
|
|
Post by taureanchorono on Feb 13, 2008 14:05:26 GMT -5
Omoki shrugged and lowered the jug, tying it back on his hip. "Dere ain't much 'honor' in being what I is in dis house; I s'pose 'unknown guest' might describe it best. Now, I's told you 'bout meself; why don't you do me de same favor? I can smell de good blood in you, but I can't tell what kind of demon you is. Though, you's a lot prettier den most of de ladies of my kind; is dat more what you are, or jus' who?" Through this talk, Omoki had slowly drifted in the direction of the window in this room, and he was now standing below it, his eyes flicking between Kasumi and the door. It was obvious that he was ready to make his escape if any others came to the room.
|
|
|
Post by jadespider on Feb 13, 2008 20:30:07 GMT -5
This stranger's words were confusing and Kasumi had to take several seconds to wade through them in her mind so they would make sense. "I'm afraid I don't understand..."
|
|
|
Post by taureanchorono on Feb 13, 2008 22:37:21 GMT -5
"I meant, is you so pretty because your kind of demon is pretty, or is you just a pretty one of whatever-you-are?"
|
|
|
Post by jadespider on Feb 14, 2008 18:32:30 GMT -5
Kasumi blushed and raised the sleeve of her kimono to her face to hide it. "I- I wouldn't know... I don't know any others like me."
|
|
|
Post by taureanchorono on Feb 14, 2008 18:58:20 GMT -5
Omoki grinned. "Mebe I know others like you. What kind of demon is you? I can see de horns, and de fangs, but dat don't give it away much. Lost o' demons got dat." Omoki was relaxed now, and scratched himself rather rudely, though, being a monkey demon, he found it perfectly natural.
|
|
|
Post by jadespider on Feb 14, 2008 23:13:37 GMT -5
Kasumi looked strangely at his odd behavior before looking away to give him the privacy she thought he needed. "I'm afraid that my race seems to spawn more ill feelings than most."
She continued getting herself dressed and put her hair up loosely with long silver hairsticks before setting down upon her mat with a great sigh. "How do you feel about... spiders?"
|
|
|
Post by taureanchorono on Feb 17, 2008 16:21:57 GMT -5
Omoki scratched his head "Spidas? Dey's ok. Treat dem nice, and dey'll do de same to you. 'Course, dey get a bad rap, 'specially 'cause a dat Naraku fella. He gives monkeys a bad name, too, wearin' dat baboon skin all de time. Don' like him, much." Omoki shook his head, then looked at Kasumi with sudden understanding. "Oh! You's a spida demon!" He smiled. "Dat's ok wit me. "
|
|
|
Post by jadespider on Feb 18, 2008 14:48:16 GMT -5
Kasumi gasped at the mention of Naraku's name, her face clearly showing her dislike for him. "I never thought about that, but it would make sense. He shape-shifts and might just use the baboon's pelt as a means for a disguise." She sighed. "I'm sorry. Your folk just might have it as bad as mine."
She moved over to the sliding door and took a moment to listen. "My hostess must be outside." she thought, "It's too quiet..."
Turning back to Omoki, she smiled. "So what brings you to this town? And.... this room?"
|
|