Wandering, Chapter One: The Festival
Following close behind Oberon, Kikyo's eyes intently watched the young man as his feet shuffled across the dirt path, his hands at his side. Unlike before, he wasn't nearly as uncertain of what was ahead. A sense of confidence loomed about him, making the priestess increasingly curious of the man's motives. Her arms were folded across her chest and silence fell between the two, minutes pressed on with each step forward. Breaking the monotonous chain, Kikyo spoke to the mysterious person while he led her on."So, what do you intend to do?" she asked, raising a brow through her blank expression. The woman's vision looked to Oberon, who turned his head to his shoulder to listen. His walking ceased. Kikyo continued, "What's the purpose of dragging me along?"
"Well, uh..." the young man nervously answered, scratching the back of his head, which caused the blindfold over his eyes to fall to his neck. "You'll see when we get to town."
"Town?" the priestess questioned, her eyebrow rising in uncertainty. "You mean where the festival's taking place?"
"Yep, that's right," the boy knowingly responded, trudging forward to the now known destination.
Kikyo continued to stand in place, her voice elevating in volume so Oberon could still hear her as he began to distance himself, and she shouted, "Why didn't you inform me of this? We could have just waited for the others to join us."
Oberon paused, turning his head back, his empty gaze slightly missing Kikyo, and he replied, "Nah, they'd just slow us down. 'Sides, they wouldn't much enjoy it I don't think--Come on." The blind traveler readjusted his headband to cover his eyes and headed forward once again.
Kikyo lowered her head and sighed, following closely behind.
After a bit of walking in uninterrupted silence, the traveling duo finally reached their terminus, pausing at the sight. The priestess's eyes widened in awe. The calm village Kikyo had seen after her arrival in Riyona was now fully alive, flooded with excited people and lively festivities. Oberon smirked.
"Well whaddya know?" he commented. "Didn't expect this kinda crowd in a boring place like this."
Kikyo nodded in agreement. "I didn't realize this many people lived here. Do you think some of them came from outside lands?"
"Maybe," Oberon said, wincing, "It's really loud too."
It was true, in addition to the commotion of people about the cobbled paths, a great deal of shouting and music was taking place as well. A small orchestra with unusual instruments was situated behind a makeshift performance stage, in which a few men with wooden swords were huddled, talking upon. A sign to the right of the stage read, "the Riyonan Samurai: a Reenactment."
"Hm...it looks like some sort of an act is going to be taking place. This must be the sword fight Kohana mentioned," Kikyo informed her companion.
"Mm," Oberon agreed, awkwardly standing beside Kikyo, "I heard people here talkin' about it earlier. It's based on something that happened a few hundred years ago with their forest guardian...sounds like rubbish, if ya ask me."
"Perhaps," Kikyo responded, thinning her eyes. "You seem very skeptical of people, Oberon."
"Yeah, well, it's people's nature to be dishonest and only out for themselves," the young man said, turning away. "It's easier to start out not believing 'em, then let them make good with you. Buildin' the trust meter, y'know?"
"It's not wise to assume everyone is in the same category," Kikyo stated, glaring at the back of Oberon's head. "They can surprise you."
"What's up with you? You're acting really weird compared to how you were when we met," Oberon stated, turning back to the priestess and raising a curious brow.
"I was distraught then," Kikyo replied coldly.
"Yeah, well, I liked you better before. All this 'faith in humanity' crap is pretty darn annoying."
The young woman snarled.
"So, what time is it anyway?" Oberon asked anxiously.
"I have no idea," Kikyo answered, "How do you measure time here?"
"Uh...by the sun," the young man said, pointing upward and chuckling. "Duh."
"Then why can't you just look-- oh, right, it seems to be about mid-day," Kikyo replied, slightly blushing. She was relieved that Oberon couldn't see her flushed face.
"Damn," Oberon responded with a frown. He flopped down on the dirt below, gaining confused stares from people around them. "Then we've got some time to kill."
"When exactly is this...thing?" Kikyo inquired, irritation present in her voice.
"Well, uh, a little bit later," Oberon answered, looking up at the young woman. He faltered for a moment, an embarrassed grin growing on his face, then continued, "In between noon and evening."
Kikyo's eye twitched slightly and she gave a deep, powerful groan to the young man. "Then why did you bring me now?"
He paused again, thinking carefully, and smirked. "I was...kinda bored."
Kikyo's groan became even louder and more tiresome, and she grimaced at the blind boy positioned below her. She sighed, deciding to throw her ambitions to the wind, and sat down next to Oberon, saying, "I suppose there's no point in being mad now. What's done is done. What should we do until your...appointment?"
"Um...watch this reenactment thing?" Oberon suggested, pointing towards the source of the square's attention. Kikyo looked as well and saw quite the brawl going on at the stage; it appeared as though the cast members had gotten into a fight over some sword they were tugging between themselves.
"I don't think that's going to start very soon," Kikyo said hesitantly. "Besides, I don't imagine you'd enjoy it very much...I apologize, I didn't mean to be rude."
"Don't worry about it," Oberon said with a shrug, seeming unaffected by the priestess's comment. "I still enjoy hearing things, y'know."
"Of course," Kikyo said with a hint of remorseful embarrassment in her voice. "It must be difficult though...since you do not live like everyone else, I'd imagine."
"Heh, people make it out to be a lot harder than it really is," Oberon said with a chuckle. He took off his blindfold, revealing his foggy eyes to Kikyo, and looked up at the sky; the sun shone brightly down upon his face. He took in a deep breath and continued, "I can still feel the warmth of the sun, hear people's words, taste and smell food; using all of that I am able to see, in my own way, at least."
Kikyo smiled at the young man, now admiring his face; she wasn't sure why she hadn't noticed how cute he was before, even charming. "If only he wasn't so much like...him," Kikyo thought with a sigh.
Oberon continued, "Things have never been very hard for me...at least until now, since my uncle and-- oh, hey, I think that play thing is starting."
Kikyo turned her attention to the stage, which now had red curtains drawn and a crowd of applauding villagers around it.
She smiled warmly and replied, "Let's go find a place to sit."
As the priestess scouted about the crowded area, her keen eyes managed to spot a suitable place for her and her new companion to seat themselves. Oberon shambled to his feet; his hands uncertainly felt about the hard ground beneath his fingertips.
Looking to the young man, Kikyo developed an unexpected emotion of pity toward the blind teenager, and feeling the urge to aid him, she crept to him and held out her hand.
Sensing her presence, the boy's hidden eyes widened, and he wearily grasped the air until his hand met with the woman. A gentle smile crossed his face, and Kikyo promptly blushed in reply.
