18.i Walking Crane, Barbecued Duck

How now, Dear Traveler?

It’s been some time since we touched base, and we both know what a struggle it can be for you to keep up with this cheap excuse for a monkey god tale.

So then, tell me what’s on your mind.

Nothing? You mean to tell me that you have no questions at all?

Not a question, but an observation, you say? Let’s hear it then.

Mm-hmm.

Yes, I noticed that too. The nobles mentioned that an entity called Next Dimension was responsible for sponsoring the event. The very same entity that Anari the Spider works for. And based on that last phone call with her chief employer, we know that New Dimension Inc is managed by a very powerful sun clone. Clones such as he are also known for financially backing community events like the Peach Festival.

What does it all mean?

Dear Traveler, how the hell am I supposed to know? It’s all speculation at this point and I’m nothing more than a humble traveling bard. Honestly, you give me far too much credit.

Still, I see what you mean. It does seem strange that Anari would walk right into one of her company’s own events, especially when we got the impression that she wanted to distance herself from work for the time being. Perhaps the spider did not know. Next Dimension is massive and involved in a number of projects across the Ninth Heaven. I get the sense that Anari does not spend much time at headquarters. Naturally, she may not always be updated on the company’s current affairs.

Based on the imbecilic expression on your face, I’d say that this is enough detective work for now. Wouldn’t want your head to explode, now would we?

~

~ Anari ~

Anari tried to not look like she was panicking, but Dear Traveler, you could guarantee that she most certainly was. The group of sun clones was closing in on her and Ritsu. She knew that if she could somehow get past the monkey barrier and to the stone wall that separated the pool from the garden, she could disappear into one of the trees with Sun Ritsu in tow.

However, the longer the spider and the monkey stayed huddled together while the greedy clones advanced on them, the less likely of a possibility that was becoming. There was one way they could possibly have a chance at breaking through the monkeys. But that was only possible if Ritsu…

“Eat the peach,” Anari whispered.

Ritsu backed into her. “What?”

Another sun clone barked over them, “Don’t you dare, small fry! Hand that peach over to me.”

Anari dug her elbow into Ritsu’s side. “Eat it now!”

Ritsu flinched, but obeyed. This in the end, did not bode well for him. The rest of the clones burst into a cacophony of snarls and shrieks as they launched themselves at Sun Ritsu all at once. Anari knew she would regret it later, but she was not going to let herself get pummeled. So at the last moment, she leaped high and gracefully backflipped to a safe distance.

Sun Ritsu, unfortunately, was brutally tackled by his greedy brothers and sisters. It didn’t take much for them to wrestle the peach from him, but then they started fighting amongst themselves. One clone seized Ritsu before he could get away and demanded, “Tell us where you got this, baby brother.”

The term of endearment seemed so out of place considering how roughly they were handling him. Ritsu didn’t hesitate to give them the answer they wanted to hear.

“The pool,” he wheezed through the clone’s iron grip, “it turns the pears into peaches.”

A few of the clones shot him suspicious looks, as if he was some thief of ancient knowledge. In the end, they were more concerned with boosting their strength with immortal peaches. As soon as the mob released Ritsu and stampeded towards the Jade Pool, Anari ran up to him and briefly assessed his physical state. A few bruises, but he would be fine. She took him by the hand and tugged him towards the currently vacant wall.

“Come on, Sun. This way.”

The way that Ritsu was limping concerned Anari, but there wasn’t any time to fuss over him.

And even if there was, she thought, I wouldn’t be caught dead being anyone’s mother hen.

In the back of her mind, she heard the saboteur scoff at her.

<Something tells me that for the handsome monkey king, you absolutely would.>

Anari pretended like she hadn’t heard the jab.

When she and Ritsu reached the cluster of trees hugging the stone wall, she let go of his hand and searched the canopy.

Without looking at him, she said, “Grab hold of me, Sun.”

To no one’s surprise, Ritsu hesitated. Anari continued to scan the upper layer of the trees and the branches that skimmed the top, flat surface of the wall while Ritsu worked up the nerve to do as he was told.

“Uh, like this?” His hands rested tentatively against her hips. Even under the rich fabrics she wore, Anari’s skin tingled at the added pressure.

Once the spider settled on her mark overhead, she said, “Sure. If you want me to drop you.”

Ritsu made a sound of understanding. “Oh. Like this, you mean?” He tugged her backwards until their hips connected. Then he looped his arms more securely around her waist and tucked his chin over her shoulders.

“I’m ready now.”

Anari thanked the Great Sage that Ritsu could not see her face. It took a fair amount of effort for her to ignore the solid, warm abdominal muscles hugging her spine. Or the way Ritsu snuggled his sideburns against her cheek, which felt equal to heaven despite the roughness.

Anari bent her knees, latched onto a trace of singular focus and leapt off the ground. She sprang high, just past the treeline before floating down towards a favorable branch. From this position, she and Ritsu could witness the events play out on both sides of the wall.

The spider heard the monkey gasp in her ear while they descended through the sky like a feather on the breeze. Anari couldn’t help but give a little chuckle. She reached back and scratched the hair flaring out from Ritsu’s temple.

“We’re just riding the air resistance. Perks of hanging with an arachnid.”

Only when they landed on the wall did the tension leave Ritsu’s body.

“Right. Unfortunately I’m easily excitable,” he said as he disentangled himself from her while trying to stand steady on the wall. With a self-deprecating snort, he added, “Perks of being a monkey.”

Anari was well on her way to getting lost in his honeyed gaze and easy smile when the wall under their feet began to shake. One of her glamoured arms shot out instinctively to save Ritsu from toppling over the side. She yanked him back and righted him in place, which of course only resulted in them clinging to each other yet again.

Anari sighed and looked away. There was no point in trying to hide her bashfulness. The monkey had to see it by now – the way her body reacted whenever he touched or, Sage, even looked in her direction.

“Anari, look!”

She turned to see what was causing the wall to tremble. The floodgates had not opened, but the horde of sun clones did not care. They were tired of waiting. A wave of both glamoured and unglamoured sun clones crested over the wall. The spirits guarding the Garden of Immortal Peaches could not hold them back. Some fled while others were merely trampled.

It was clear that all of the clones had claimed a pear and used the Jade Pool to transform it into an immortal peach. Eating those peaches would explain why they had grown so bold and strong enough to overrun the barrier between the Garden and the Pool.

Anari and Ritsu’s eyes followed the stampede of sun clones as it traveled to the extended dining table where the nobles were. A familiar figure crouched near the end of the table.

Correction, Dear Traveler, I meant to say two familiar figures. One stood on the table at about five feet, four inches. Their body was shaped like a bird guarding their nest.

The words left Anari’s lips before she realized it.

“Bodhi.”

The next words came from Ritsu, identifying the second recognizable spirit.

“And Ham Song!”