Hospitality

Menkoi City was lively and pleasant, as if it were home to a continuous cultural festival.
People in yukatas roamed the streets, children played with pinwheels and kites, and paper lanterns decorated the buildings. Even some performers were delighting the citizens, many of whom appeared to be priests or shrine maidens, including one woman who was filling the city with tranquil flute music.

However, none of that compared to the delicious scent of food permeating the air. Wherever Sumire looked she saw everything from street food vendors and sweets shops, to thriving noodle houses and teppanyaki restaurants.

“Whoa…” she breathed in awe, trying her best to see everything she could. “Menkoi City is amazing! All these smells are making me super hungry.”

“It's incredible,” Jimmu sniffed the air. He seemed to be wonderstruck than Sumire was. “I've never smelled any of these foods before! The Wani Kingdom only had seafood. But up here your fish is…baked and filled with sweet paste?”

Jimmu had gotten distracted by a taiyaki stand, far too captivated to continue with the group. Only a couple places ahead of him before they stopped as well, Nezu giggled and stepped up beside him.

“Actually, that's called taiyaki — they're only shaped like fish,” she explained. “They're a warm pastry filled with azuki paste. It's a favorite treat of mine.”

“Ah, Miss Nezu, welcome back!”
The owner of the stand was a middle-aged man who looked positively delighted to see them.
“This man’s with you, eh? Well, here, have one to try! No charge!”

“Really? For…for me?” As the man presented him with a fresh taiyaki, Jimmu regarded the gesture with genuine surprise. When the man nodded and continued to smile brightly, he gingerly took the warm pastry into his hand.
“Thank you…very much…!”

“You're the best, Mr. Kato,” Nezu giggled as she began to usher Jimmu back to the others. “I'll drop by later and repay the favor!”

“Ah, no need. You kids have fun!”

He called after the group as they continued down the road, waving energetically. He didn't seem to care one bit about what they were up to, instead only being concerned with spreading joy to them. It was an attitude shared by all of the residents in Menkoi City, especially when they saw Nezu.

Sumire had always lived in a friendly environment, however the people of the Mako territory were also gruff and honest. They worked hard and loved harder, but the warmth and hospitality of the Tsubame residents was an oddly new experience. She had never imagined there were so many different kinds of kindness.

“You'd better eat it while it's still warm,” Nezu nudged at Jimmu, watching him admire the taiyaki in his hands like a wide-eyed child. “That's when they taste the best.”

“Oh, uhm, yes,” a bit self-conscious, Jimmu slowly took a bite out of the fish’s head. As soon as the azuki hit his tongue, the Wani’s face lit up.

“By the gods… This is incredible! So soft…and delicious… Miss Healer, I understand why these are your favorite!”

Jimmu’s enthusiasm was infectious. While Sumire and Senren were at least somewhat familiar with the many sights Menkoi City had to offer, having had similar customs and novelties in their own homes, the Yokai was completely enamored and amazed by all of it. Seeing this, many of the vendors offered Jimmu free items and samples, happy to witness the joy in his face as he tried new things. Because of this, by the time they made it to Nezu's home Jimmu was laden with souvenirs and enough snacks for all of them to share.

Nezu led them all down a path which soon left the bustling streets of Menkoi City’s heart and descended into the forest. From there, the dirt path was meticulously cared for, lined with lanterns and the periodic jizo statue.

“It's beautiful here,” Senren remarked, leaving a small piece of mochi at one of the statues. “I'm glad we got to walk this way instead of riding on the caravan. It's a truly refreshing experience.”

“Yeah, I guess there's something to be appreciated in the forest,” Sumire agreed, stretching. “But it's got nothin’ on the beauty of the sea.”

“Look, guys. We're here!”
Nezu suddenly pointed ahead of them, where there stood a beautiful shrine complex. It was large, enclosed by a sort of cobblestone wall with jade green roofing, and it connected to a grand freshwater lake that sparkled in the early morning sun.

“This is my home, the Mikon Shrine Complex. More importantly, that's your first destination — the sacred Jinsui lake.”

Her three companions’ eyes reflected the Jinsui’s glittering surface as they admired it. Sumire felt the sense of adventure steadily growing inside her, like a rising beast of adrenaline and anticipation. The fact that her dreams were growing so close still felt unreal.

“I see… the Ryusui River is what feeds this lake, correct?” Senren asked thoughtfully.

“Mhm, you've got it,” Nezu confirmed. “Which is what you guys will be traveling up. Of course, we can't just travel through the Jinsui to get there. It's considered sacred, after all, and there are a ton of spiritual and pollution laws that prevent people from just swimming or boating in it whenever. So, why don't you all come inside while I prepare some things for your voyage?”

“You are…inviting me into your home, Miss Healer..?”
There it was again; despite learning their names, Jimmu continued to refer to Nezu by such a simple nickname. It was almost as if using her name was too much for his heart to handle for now — almost as much to handle as the idea of being invited into her home looked to be at that moment. His fair cheeks were turning scarlet again.

“Of course I am, Jimmu. You three will always be welcome here as my friends.”

Sumire felt herself completely awestruck as they followed Nezu into the shrine complex. Priests, shrine maidens, and other healers bowed to them respectfully as they passed, many offering to help Nezu with whatever she needed. In response to these offers she requested a rowboat, storage for Jimmu’s souvenirs, and baths to be prepared for her guests.

“Ah, Miss Healer, you don't—”

“Nezu. You can call me Nezu, you know.”

“Y…yes… N-Nezu…” Jimmu only got redder, to the point that he couldn't bring himself to even look at her. “You need not…accommodate me…”

“Nonsense! You're my friends, going on a dangerous journey!” The medicine woman insisted. “Besides, Jimmu, you were run out of your home. I don't mind letting you live here with the Mikon-Tsubame family while you get adjusted to your environment.”

“I can…live here…with you..?”
The Wani appeared to be at his processing limit, but Nezu didn't seem to notice even a bit. Remaining a few paces behind them, Senren and Sumire nearly burst into laughter at the sight. The entire scene was too comically endearing to ignore.

After insisting she needed to make preparations for them, Nezu departed from the others. In her stead, the shrine maidens and priests took Sumire, Senren, and Jimmu to their respective bathhouses. There, they were each provided a cleansing bath, followed by a brief soak in the shrine’s hot springs while their clothes were laundered.

“The hospitality of the Mikon-Tsubame family is impressive,” Senren remarked as he lowered his deeply scarred body into the steaming water. “I never expected to be so pampered here.”

“Mm,” Jimmu nodded absently, careful to not submerge the wound on his chest. Under the water his smooth skin shimmered iridescently the same way his hair did in the light. “It is a lot to process for me. So many things have happened in such a short time… Roughly twenty-four hours ago I was exiled and nearly killed you, and now I will soon be guiding you on a journey. It is enough to make my head spin, but also make my heart pound. But for Miss Healer, I will ignore the overwhelm and serve her well…”

“Heh, are you sure it's the overwhelm making you feel those things?” Senren teased coyly. Of course, after seeing Jimmu freeze and nearly turn red, the ronin changed the subject. “I've actually been meaning to ask you something. I know Yokai can be capable of many things, but how exactly are you going to help us boat upstream?”

“Hm? I thought that was obvious,” the Wani blinked in surprise. “Here, let me show you.”

He leaned back against the edge of the hot spring and crossed his legs. Beneath the water, his body began to elongate and darken, until it became the black-scaled, serpentine tail that Jimmu possessed in his Wani form. It swished and swirled beneath the surface hypnotically, drawing brief captivation from Senren.

“I see… So your body will allow you to swim against the current.”

“Yes. It should be quite simple,” Jimmu explained. “The ocean has far stronger currents than that river would have. I should certainly be strong enough to propel our little boat.”

“Well thought. But the river will take us past the Imperial Capital. How do you intend to hide yourself from their superstitious judgement?”

Jimmu thought for a moment. Then, when he came to a conclusion, he directed Senren’s gaze to the water. There, his tail began moving much more methodically, in a gentle way which erased any rippling created. This specific movement also caused his iridescent scales to reflect light through the water’s surface in such a way that it became almost imperceptible.

“Impressive. You're quite prepared,” after ensuring an acceptable plan was in place, Senren finally found himself at some form of ease. At last, he relaxed against the side of the hot spring and allowed himself to enjoy its warmth. “I suppose we deserve this bit of relaxation for now, then. I just hope Sumire can do the same.”

On the other side of the hot spring, in the designated bath for women, the pirate in question sullenly dipped her mouth beneath the water. She then blew air out to create as many bubbles as possible, using small electric shocks to pop them out of boredom.

“Hmph. This sucks…”