Her eyes, red like those of tree leaves, were vibrant and attentive. As I continued my deep bow, she studied me closely.
"Okay! Come with me!" She talks in an adorably high-pitched voice. A quick vibration informs me that her vocal cords haven't begun maturing into those of an adult.
"Alright. And you are?" I'm asking this while getting up from my bow. My flexor muscles are not very developed, and it is taking me quite a while to stand straight. A normal person wouldn't be able to move at this point, but as the previous Stone Pillar, I had faced much worse hardship than a little malnutrition.
"Oh, I'm Takoyoru Sakime, but you can call me Sakime, Himejima-san!" She chirps. Motioning for me to follow her, she skips off toward a small house.
We walk for a little while; well, I walk and she skips, but my legs are long enough that I can easily match her pace. The roads we walk are lined with grey stone, sturdy and strong. My senses tell me of their age: they were laid here around 100 years ago.
As we walk past, people look at me. My tall frame and gangly arms give me the appearance of a skeleton wearing skin, and the reactions vary from frightened to curious.
"Who is he?" A young child, no more than five, curiously points at me.
"What a poor child," an old man casually remarks to his wife. I can feel the pity in his gaze.
"Is he a pirate?" A shopkeeper, around fifty years old. He is suspicious of me and is afraid I might do something to the townspeople.
When we arrive at the house, it is already night. A strange new color has been introduced, one that decorates the bricks of the house. Strangely, it reminded me of Rengoku...
"Sakime-kun? Can you please tell me what color this is called?" I inquired while pointing at the wooden walls.
"Is it perhaps violet? Or yellow?" Sakime laughed at my question. The sound is clear, like a chime singing in the wind.
"No, silly! That color is red!" I gape in surprise.
"Then what is the color of your eyes called?" Sakime titters.
"My eyes are green! Himejima-san, are you blind?"
"No, I was just inquiring quickly." My reassurances are taken easily, and Sakime opens the door to the house happily, calling out for her mother.
To be fair, I probably should have known that Kyojuro-kun wouldn't have loved a tame color such as green. His spirit burned brightly every second, blazing with this color known as red.
I smile. It suits him.
"Himejima-san! Come in quickly!" The little girl calls me over with a wave of her little hand and a crescent-eyed smile.
"Yes, of course!" Quickly replying, I make my way inside the house. A cute little fireplace burns inside the living room, with a quaint little table and three chairs situated far away from the flames. Stairs are going up nearby, and little wooden toys are strewn everywhere. Vibrations tell me of a garden in the back filled with vegetables and fruits of different varieties, as well as a small basement underneath.
"Hello, Himejima-kun." A different voice greets me this time, and I turn to meet its speaker. She is a modest woman wearing an apron, with brown hair strewn around her shoulders and warm hazel colored eyes. Her bones are weary, but the smile lines on her face tell me of a happy life.
"Hello, and you are?" I bow quickly yet again. It is getting rather tiring.
"My name is Takoyoru Harime." She gives me a quick and terse introduction. I can feel that she is suspicious of me, as any responsible adult should be.
"Takoyoru-san, I am a monk from overseas. Please, provide me with a bowl of rice, as well as lodging for one night. In return, I will chop lumber and return your money fivefold! Please!" My heartfelt plea seems to have garnered her attention. She sighs:
"Sakime seems to have taken a liking to you. Even so, my husband will make the final decision. Until he comes home, you may have dinner with us." I bow even lower, thanking her profusely.
"Thank you so much!"