Chapter Six: The Morning Of
As the hours quickly moved along, morning had already come, and the three adults in the living area were wrapped up in deep conversation.
“So, your friend Cloud really did that?” Miyo asked Vincent after he had explained the defeat of Sephiroth. Captivated by his epic story, the hostess sported a large smile. It had been ages since she had heard a truly exciting tale.The Turk looked to the woman; a small smirk grew on his face. “Well, with a few more details, that’s about right,” he explained, taking no credit for himself. He took a sip of his tea, and letting out a sigh, the man leaned back in his seat.
“Impressive,” Kikyo stated as her fingers laced together in her lap. “I’ve never heard of such skill. Your world... It must be interesting, Vincent.”
The sound of faint footsteps became audible as the small girl opened her bedroom door in which slammed closed behind her. "Miyooo," she said, walking into the room and stretching out her sister's name. "I'm hungry." Kohana still looked considerably tired, and she slowly rubbed her eyes. The child looked up and saw a hole in the side of her home. Blinking to assure she still wasn’t sleeping, she then asked, "What happened to the wall?"
The woman raised her eyes to the ceiling as she released a most fatigued sigh. "There’s nothing to worry about,” she persisted, looking to the child and offering her a smile. “We’re doing renovations on the house, that’s all. I have more tea brewing in the kitchen, so you can help yourself to that, Kohana. I hope you’re ready for the festival.”
Sitting in a chair and offering a bright smile, the little girl exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Oh, yeah! I almost forgot!" She darted her gaze to the two adults that had arrived in their home only the day before, and her grin increased tenfold. "Kikyo, Vincent, will you come with us to the festival?"
The Turk lowered his head. He hadn't gone to any sort of celebration in many years, and he hadn't been around a large crowd for some time. The man thought for a moment and didn't seem to be in the mood for interacting with others.
"I don't know," Vincent said after taking a breath. "I haven't been around a lot of people in a long time. I don't think I'm up for it."
Pouting her lower lip, the girl hopped off of her chair, and she threw her hands in the air. "Oh, please come!" Kohana said, whining. She shot a desperate glance to her older sister. "Miyo, tell Vincent to come!"
"You know I can't do that,” the older sister insisted with a firm tone in her voice. She looked up to the Turk and gave him a smile before turning her attention to her younger sister once again. “He can make his own decisions. Listen, you'll need some energy for flower picking today. Why don’t you get some fruit from the kitchen, Kohana?" Groaning, the child then sauntered into the kitchen, just as her sister had instructed.
"Flower picking?" Kikyo asked, noticing the plants on the dining table. "But you already have a fresh bouquet over there."
"Today, we pick a rare flower that only blooms around this time," Miyo replied, gazing at the flowers Vincent had brought in the night before.
Coming back from the kitchen, Kohana took her spot once again as she climbed to her seat and proceeded to feast upon a piece of fruit. "It's a Spider-Lily!" the girl announced with bits of food flying out of her mouth. “It’s my favooorite flower!”
Nodding and placing a hand under her chin, the priestess raised a most curious brow as she added, "I see, but what about those three people in your room, Miyo? Shouldn’t we be worrying about them?"
“I’m not even sure of what to think of the situation,” the woman grunted. "I really have no idea. For all I know, two of them are only concerned about the girl that Vincent saved. It would be better if we stayed here just in case."
The man looked at the Kohana’s face and sighed. Still sporting the same grim frown as she before, the Turk became guilty of his previous choice. He cleared his throat and then crossed his arms. "Alright, Kohana," he stated, gaining her attention. "I'll go to the festival, if you could tell me something: why do you want me to go?"
Kohana became a little nervous, and she started timidly playing with her fingers. "Well, festivals are fun to go to, and I thought that you would like to come," she replied, her face blushed with color. She looked to Miyo, who offered her a reassuring smile, and she then turned back to Vincent, continuing, "I’m sure you’d have fun with us."
The man nodded. "I think you've convinced me, Kohana," he said, playing the good sport. "I guess it wouldn't hurt." For some odd reason, Vincent Valentine felt the urge to show off his contentedness, and he did the unthinkable by expressing a small, rare smile.
Kohana's face lit up with happiness and joy as she gave a bright smile to match the Turk’s. "Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed, jumping up from her building excitement.
"Well, in that case, wash up and go get dressed, Kohana," Miyo said to her. "Your clothes should be in your room."
Kohana gave a small nod and started walking away. Suddenly, she stopped and gave the Turk one of her brightest smiles. "Thank you," she uttered as she rushed off to get changed for the festivities.
Looking to Vincent, Miyo couldn’t help but express a cheerful face. It had been some time since the warm feeling of friendship and family loomed in her house. Biting her lower lip, she looked down to the floor before stating softly, “It’s been years since a guy’s been around. My brother, Jeimuzu, was the last man to live here. Kohana doesn’t get attached very easily, so you’re one of those rare exceptions. I hope she’s not troubling you.”
Vincent looked up at Miyo and shook his head. "It's no problem at all," he said as he looked out the hole in the wall to see that people coming outside to begin the festivities.
Like the Turk, Kikyo gazed outside and saw that the people of the village were decorating their homes with white ribbons. A majority of the townsfolk were even dressed in white and red, donning the traditional colors of the festival. "It looks like fun to me,” she said, looking down at her clothes which, ironically, were red and white. “I seemed dressed for the event."
"We wear those colors because they’re of the Spider-Lily," the hostess replied. "There are eight white petals with red lines which gives the appearance of a spider. It's very beautiful."
Growing increasingly curious, the man looked down at his red cape. "So, red and white?” he asked, glancing toward Miyo. “I guess I'm partially suited then."
The man grinned. “Well, apparently so,” the woman replied, putting a hand over her giggling mouth. “Now, if we could get you to wear some white, I think you’d blend in rather well.”
Kohana finally emerged from her bedroom, and demonstrating a large grin, she pranced into the living area. "How do I look, everyone?" the child asked, her voice was filled with enthusiasm. The cuffs of her sleeves were red, and she was dressed in a white gown that extended to the middle of her shins. “Isn’t my dress pretty?” The young girl shuffled her foot as she awaited an answer.
"Yes, you look like a princess, Kohana," Miyo said with a smile. "I have a basket for you to put the flowers in."
"Okay, but aren't you going, too?" the girl replied, looking at her sister’s dull house clothing. "We should all go together!"
"Alright, alright, you all wait here," the older sister stated with laughter. Leaving the room and creeping into her sleeping quarters, the woman noticed that the three intruders were still sleep, and hoping not to wake them, she quietly fetched her apparel before dressing in the room Kikyo had during the night.
Looking toward the direction which the woman had left to, the Turk nodded and stood from his chair. "So, what sort of things will we be doing today, Kohana?" he asked, presenting a smirk. "I'm starting to look forward to this festival." Vincent couldn't believe what he was saying. It had been a long time since he had been excited for an event as such.
"Oh! Lemme tell you what we’re gonna do! First, we're going to the Riyona shrine! We’ll stuff our faces with food, and then we’re gonna watch a play, and then we’re gonna watch a fake sword fight, and then we go to the shops, and then we go flower picking in the afternoon, and then at night, they have a fireworks show, and it's reeeeeally pretty!" Kohana said in one breath. "I'm sure that you'll like it."
Emerging from Kikyo’s room, Miyo stepped into the hallway after gently closing the door behind her. She entered the room where her friends and sister were, and using her hand to flip her hair over her shoulder, she produced a grin as her eyes shimmered in the light coming from the outside. Turning to her and widening his intense eyes, Vincent, stunned by the woman's appearance, felt his face brightened with color, and he felt a small smile gradually grow. Never before had he been so entranced by a woman.
Chapter Seven: Parting > >
