14.i The Peach Festival

We’ve finally made it, Dear Traveler. We have reached the part where the spider spirit reunites with the rest of Sun Ritsu’s cadre. How did she manage to find him? Well, it seems that you’ve finally learned how to ask the right questions.

Though Anari was a skilled tracker and huntress, there was really no need for her to rely on any of that sort of expertise. The annual Peach Festival was so popular, she was bound to run into an advertisement or twelve. Once she saw the details of the event, she figured that it would attract any and all sun clones in the area. Therefore, the odds were in her favor that she should run into Sun Ritsu.

Let me tell you, Dear Traveler, the spider was more than pleasantly surprised when she happened to pass by a typical gaming booth and spot her benevolent monkey waiting in line to test his strength . . .

~

~ Anari ~

Sun Ritsu caught Anari’s attention at a time when she hadn’t really been looking for him. He stood in a line, towering above half a dozen other spirits. He was dressed casually, too casually for a festival in fact.

Anari herself wore a cornflower blue robe tied in the traditional way. An even pattern of finches and berries stitched with fine golden thread stretched across the seams. The hem of the robe brushed her at mid-thigh, making her stand out among those whose robes dropped down to their ankles. For shoes, she had to forgo her usual boots for a pair of wooden platforms.

This morning she had felt confident in her attire, but after seeing Sun Ritsu, it made her second guess everything.

Pull yourself together.

Sun Ritsu’s golden brown gaze wasn’t even focused on her and she was already losing her head. As he edged closer and closer to the booth, she felt his mere presence pulling her toward him. But she had no idea what she would say to him. She tore her eyes away from the monkey, if only to clear her head.

That’s when Anari actually recognized the premise of the gaming booth. And the prizes.

In a booming, sonorous voice, the rock spirit running the booth said, “The spirit mighty enough to bend this bamboo into a full arc will be rewarded with an artifact better than any trophy. They shall receive the monkey god’s staff!”

The prize was most definitely a toy replica, nothing more. No one in the line except Sun Ritsu seemed to even care what the rock spirit was going on about. Most of them were already tipsy and simply there for the fun of the challenge.

That’s right. He did say he was looking for his staff, Anari remembered.

Before she lost her nerve, she made her way towards the monkey. This was it. Only a few more steps –

“Ay! No cutting!”

A burly sun clone blocked Anari from getting any closer to Sun Ritsu. She caught her balance and glared at him. “I wasn’t cutting. I just needed to talk to him.” She pointed to make herself clear.

Someone else pushed her. “Get in line like everyone else!”

Anari stumbled again. “Watch it!”

That’s it. If another one of these ugly baboons touches me –

A hand closed around her bicep. Falling back on instinct, the spider clapped her hand over the intruder’s and held it in place while she spun and drove the flat of her palm towards their skull.

She blinked in disbelief at Sun Ritsu, who was on the ground with an arm over his bleeding nose.

“Sun!” she gasped.

The other spirits looked on with a mixture of interest and intrigue. The burly monkey from earlier muttered, “What an idiot.” He shook his head in admonishment. “How could he just give up his spot like that?”