Chapter 26: Phantom Fang Part 1

From then on, the three of us went out to the marketplace. Since most merchants are still busy getting ready, there isn’t that big of a crowd as usual. It is soothing, watching this small little girl run around and do things her age. She’s done her share at such an early age and she never once mope—at least not in the open—about her responsibilities. It reminds me, back when I was her age, my pastime was to dismantle a gun. I smile, thinking about those good old times when I built my first rifle.

“You’re surprisingly domesticated,” Emily says, adjusting her straw hat.

I laugh at her remark. “I just love peace and quiet.”

“That’s basically the same thing,” she says, leaning at me, her hands clasped behind her back. I try to focus on the road ahead, but her golden brown eyes just have those mysterious vibes, I can’t help but return her gaze so deep into mine.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes,” she giggles.

Damn she beats me. My eyes wandering for a means of escape, I search for Poppie. There, found her gawking in front of a stall, her cookie colored eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Crouching to her eye level, I smile and ask her in a gentle tone, “What do you want?”

Emily stands beside us. She starts to converse with the merchant watching the stall, attempting to get us some discounts. Damn she has that merchant blood too. Now that I have a good look at the merchant’s wares, he only carries papers of different colors, so it’s kinda obvious, but Poppie’s still hesitant to say it.

“It’s okay,” she murmurs, fidgeting. “I don’t have any money… But anyways, thank you for asking, Mister.”

“Come on, that’s why we’re here. Because I want to get you something.”

“Why?”

“Why? Just don’t think too much about it, okay?” I smile again, as wide as I can. I forgot I might look like a criminal right now, however her brooding expression is too much for me to bear. That’s why, call it cheap sympathy or whatever, but I want to make this girl smile. Even if that smile will only last for a short duration of time.

“But mother told me not to accept gifts from strangers.”

Yeah, I’m a stranger. The truth hurts. I sigh and turn my gaze at the merchant.

“Sir, how much do these papers cost?”

“Oh, yes,” he croaks at my sudden intrusion, a weird blush creeping on his face. “A copper a piece.”

“Alright, I’ll buy a set of ten for each color,” I say.

Two silver coins sadly parts with my coin pouch, but if it will make this girl happy, then it’s all worth it. After accepting my purchased goods, I hand the big bag of papers to Poppie.

“Here, it’s what you wanted, right?”

“Thank you, Mister, but you really didn’t have to,” she hesitantly accepts it while wearing a bemused expression.

“That’s fine. Kids your age needs to be more selfish. Although you have me curious, what do you plan to do with those papers anyways?”

“Oh, this? Do you know that if you make a thousand paper cranes and string them all together, a crane will grant your wish? My mother told me so!”

She sticks her chest out with pride. However this story was probably a lie her mother made out of desperation. Of course I’m not cruel enough to break the fantasies of a child, but this is ridiculous. To give her false hope or to make her hold onto something, that’s the purpose of this story. What a joke it’s not even funny.

“I see. That’s quite an interesting story,” I say, reaching out a hand to pat her head. “Besides, where is your mother right now?”

“Mother… She… uuuu… She…”

She starts to sob at the mere mention of her mother. Oh yeah, seeing that she lives in an orphanage, that question is one gigantic landmine. I’m such an ignorant jerk.

“Umm, you don’t have to tell me,” I mutter softly, patting her head to make her feel better. Honestly, she can cry in my shoulders if she wants to, but that’s something I should avoid at all cost.

“I’m not… I’m not crying… uguuu…” Snot is running down on her nose as she holds back her tears.

“Good, good, brother Reimuz is here,” I continue patting her head till she finally stops crying. Sniffling, she ceases her cries after a single minute, regaining her lost composure from before.

“Thanks again, Mister,” smiling cheerfully, she gives me a quick peck on my cheek.

“You keep saying Mister when I’m only nineteen years old,” I blink a few times in bewilderment. Damn did she just…

“Mister is Mister, so later!” she waves her hand to me and smiles radiantly before running away again. Wait, we still haven’t gotten you some clothes, dammit.

“Boy oh boy, she never listens,” I laugh with a shake of my head. Rubbing that part of my cheek, I stand up and face Emily. She peers at me with deadpan eyes for some reason. What the hell did I do?

“Vermin.”

Such a painful word.

“Now you’re sounding like the Emily I know. Perhaps a small pinch on your ass will bring out the real you, eh?”

My words jolts her out of her expressionless face. She smirks back at me, pulling a hand against her chest, electricity gathering in between her fingernails. Yikes.

“You’re free to try, but I can’t guarantee your safety,” she says with a wide grin.

Now you’re just tempting me. With my windshields, I can probably survive a strike or two, and that’s just enough time for me to run away after enjoying the sensations of your fine ass.

“Nah, it’s not worth it to risk my life for something so trivial,” I tease her, and she pout her lips.

“I should’ve snapped your neck in twain while I had the chance back then.”

“Oh really? I’ve been meaning to say this, but your hypocrisy makes me want to vomit.”

“You’re such a douche,” smiling, she taps my head with her knuckle.

“Well I’m still planning to buy Poppie some clothes, you want to come?”

“Is that supposed to be an invitation for a date? Cause if it is, it’s a very lousy one,” she crosses her arms and tilts her head away from me, her cheeks reddening with a faint blush.

“It won’t be a date unless you’re planning to pay,” I retort.

“You’re the embodiment of cheapness.”

“Call me practical please.”

Emily sneaks a glance at me, and I smile. I scratch my head and reach a hand to her. Half a minute after, she accepts, and I tug her with me to the deeper part of town. Getting Poppie’s clothes out of the way, we entered a formal tailor shop. Emily tries on a variety of dresses, all of which are sleeveless, perhaps because of the summer heat. I snicker after getting a good shot of her armpits, and she blushes furiously.

Of course, I’m not so ignorant to pay for her clothes. A man’s opinion was all that mattered, is what she said. In the end, that trip to the tailor ate all of our time away. Seriously, now I know the terror of girls and the word “shopping.” Ending the day with an early dinner at a nearby pub, I now find myself standing in front of her inn.

“Remind me not to go shopping with you again,” I say, catching my breath.

“Hehehe, you only have yourself to blame.”

“I guess I do.”

I glance skyward. It really has turned dark without me realizing it. I guess this means hanging out with Emily was just that fun, as much as I try to deny it.

“Well, have a goodnight, Reimuz. I had fun.”

“Me as well. Goodnight, Emily.”

Holding the results of her shopping spree, she heels backwards and step toward the inn.

“So… I heard about what happened…” Emily stops and murmurs, her gaze lingering at the moon above us.

“Don’t get started… It’s nobody’s fault. Just like you said a while ago, I only have myself to blame.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard, Reimuz. A single person can only do so much by himself. I’m sure you have friends you can rely on. There’s Wein, there’s Erumina, there’s Elseria, there’s Poppie, there’s me—we’re all worried about you. Don’t do everything by yourself, or you might get crushed by the weight you imposed on your shoulders.”

“Thank you,” I murmur to her back that suddenly looks so reliable. I never expected this feeling of relief, especially one to come from a person like her. I underestimated Emily.

“Well, goodnight.”

That’s all she says before returning to her place. In my mind I thank them all. She’s right indeed. Maybe I need to rely on my friends some more, but at the same time, I don’t want to share the dangers that trails me like a shadow.

Strolling in the middle of the night, I walk to the western part of the city. In front of a dejected and dark house, I kick my boots down the door, twice, then waited for a full minute before kicking it three more times again.

“State your name…” A male’s threatening voice rang on the other side.

I breath. “Phantom Fang…”