Snippet #2817426

Perhaps it was karma, but now it was Namari who found herself to be dragged by the chain. Her feet stumbled awkwardly over the cobble in a half-resisting, half-following motion as Shuin heartily ran on ahead, seemingly undeterred by the weight of his unwilling companion. Not that she was heavy, of course.

They joined the gathering crowds at the back, surrounded by the faces of Poyo and the mounting, indiscernible chatter that filled the square like so much useless noise. Namari didn't hate crowds, per se, but being around people -- especially this many -- reinstated her disdain for the common man. Like a speck of dirt, unpleasing but unassuming on its own, multiplied by thousands. Their combined stench was awful.

She covered her nose with a floppy sleeve, filtering out the odor of the unwashed masses and probably also some diseases. If it were up to her, they would be long gone from Poyo by now, but this man...

The noblewoman glared at Shuin, grinning and oblivious as usual. Though she couldn't quite place it, his stupid, smug face reminded her of someone...

"I have information!"

Her brow visibly furrowed as she leaned her head to the side, getting a better look at the stage.

"I know! I KNOW! Where the banditos will attack!"

After a brief moment of processing, Namari's stare turned into a squint. That's Yuyu.

She'd recognize that mug anywhere, even if it has been years since they last met face to face. A wave of unwanted nostalgia struck her, and she was suddenly back in the gardens near the steps of the old temple, trying to keep up with another one of his 'adventures' into the surrounding woods. Pins of golden sunlight pierced through the dark green canopies above them. The air was warm and gentle, and the calls of cicadas echoed from the treetops as their feet tread across soft dirt and their arms brushed aside hanging boughs.

He never liked being cooped up inside, to deal with the banalities of politics and formality and noble posturing. During those days she was much the same, but time wears its mark on some more than others. But that was all in the past, now there--

"I'M A GREAT WARRIOR!" Before she realized what was happening, Shuin had made his way to the front of the mob and proudly flexed his admittedly remarkable biceps. "Any cowardly bandits try to lay a hand on this beautiful little town, I'll send them all home without teeth!" He paused, and then pointed to Namari. "She's also a great warrior, you don't want to mess with her!"

Namari's eye twitched.