<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>

The street festival held in a corner of Tokyo was a lot of fun. Booths selling toys and art and clothing were everywhere, mixed in with some that looked to be carnival games. Some of them were familiar to the dragote, but a surprising number weren't. And the food! The delicious, exotic aromas wafting about were enough to make his belly rumble.

Chathran's ears flicked towards the sound. "You're hungry again? We just had some imagawayaki not five minutes ago!"

"Gesundheit," Xodiac replied, making the equine snort amusement. "Sorry. Good food is one of my weaknesses, is all."

"It does smell nice around here," Chathran admitted.

The festival was the latest Local Experience the tour company had arranged for them, and Xodiac thought it might be the best yet. At least, in regards to being a truly local experience, rather than just some event they made him dress up for. There were plenty of natives enjoying the festival right alongside them. They had to weave through crowded walkways – and streets converted into walkways – to get anywhere.

Xodiac turned to look at one couple as they swerved around each other. "It's weird that people dress up for something like this," he said to his companion. The pair had been wearing traditional kimonos as they enjoyed the fair, as had quite a few people. "I mean, you wouldn't get people back home wearing... I don't know, Revolutionary War era suits, or something, to the state fair back home."

"No, you wouldn't," Chathran agreed. "But I kind of like it."

"Yeah. It makes the scene a little bizarre. But in a good way! Mixture of modern and ancient."

"Right." There was a pause, then Chathran ventured, "And how do you like yours?"

The locals weren't the only ones wearing kimonos. The company had distributed sets to the group this morning, and they were expected to wear them as they wandered the festival. "At least my outfit isn't too much different from yours, for once," Xodiac said with a shrug.

"Except mine is a nice blue with pinstripes, whereas yours is pink and maroon," Chathran pointed out.

Xodiac grimaced. "Well. Yes. Except for that."

"With flower blossoms."

He glared up at the horse. Cheeky bastard was a full head taller than him. "Yeah."

"And you have that giant sash thing around your waist."

"The obi," Xodiac said through gritted teeth. "It was a bitch to tie, by the way."

"Oh, cheer up!" Chathran said brightly. "At least you don't have any trouble walking, this time!"

"True," Xodiac growled. Then he pointed towards a stall up ahead and quickened his pace. "Oh look, some dumplings!" he said in a blatant attempt to change the subject.

The horse kept up easily. "Nikuman."

"Gesundheit. C'mon, I wanna try those things." Xodiac grinned. "You're buying."

Chathran grinned back. "Does that make this a date?"

"You know, on second thought, I'll pay for my own."

<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>

---

Art by  crazymelimelo. Story by me.

486 words (this part)