Rin moved through the busy market, scanning the crowd for Rei and Akari. The place was unusually lively today. Not the usual kind of busy where merchants yelled over each other to sell things, but cheerful and colorful, like a celebration was about to begin. Ribbons hung between stalls, paper lanterns swayed in the breeze, and the smell of sweet dumplings filled the air.
After pushing through a group of laughing children, she finally spotted Rei and Akari sitting near a sweets vendor, feeding each other snacks and laughing like a couple straight out of a romantic drama.
"Finally, I found you guys!" Rin said, walking up to them. "I thought you said you were around the corner."
Rei grinned and winked. "We are. We just wanted to give you and your fiancée some alone time."
Rin sighed, folding her arms. "Yeah, so much for alone time. I didn't even get what I wanted."
Akari tilted her head, resting it on Rei's shoulder. "What happened? Didn't your reunion with the Queen go well?"
"Well…" Rin mumbled, looking down. "I didn't expect her to show up today, but she refused to kiss me. Something about a vow or whatever."
"Oh, the Ice Queen refused to kiss you because of a vow?" Rei teased, pretending to think deeply. "But why do you look sad about it? I thought you said you don't love her?"
"What? I don't love her!" Rin said quickly, her face flushing red. She paused, fidgeting with her fingers. "But whenever she's around or not, I have… so many intentions."
Akari leaned closer, curious. "What kind of intentions?"
Before Rin could answer, Rei leaned in and whispered something into Akari's ear. Akari's eyes widened.
"No, no! Not that kind of intention!" Rin said, waving her hands frantically. "Rei, stop putting weird thoughts in her head!"
Akari giggled, covering her mouth. "Ohhh, wow. Cousin Rin, unbelievable."
"Seriously, you guys should stop." Rin pouted, then glanced around at the colorful stalls and decorations. "By the way, what's going on here? Why is everyone decorating? Is there a festival today?"
Akari smiled. "No festival. It's just a wedding. Two merchants are getting married tonight, right here in the market."
Rin's eyes widened. "Wait, what? I'm a merchant too, how come I didn't know about this?"
"Because they just announced it a little while ago," Akari explained. "The other merchants decided to help out and decorate together."
Rei stretched her arms behind her head. "Well, babe, when it's our wedding, the celebration will last a full moon. The whole of Kaida will be covered in decorations, and our names will be written in the sky."
Akari blushed, nudging him playfully. "You always say the sweetest things."
Rin smiled softly, her earlier frustration fading. "Hmmm, I can't wait to see that day, to see my favorite characters finally get their happy ending."
Akari beamed. "Alright then, let's help them decorate! It's almost nightfall."
Rei stood, brushing the sugar from her hands. "Let's go, before all the fun jobs are taken."
Akari grabbed both their wrists, pulling them along. The three of them laughed as they joined the other merchants in hanging lanterns and arranging flowers. The air buzzed with excitement and the sound of music warming up for the night.
For a while, Rin forgot all about her failed kiss attempts and the strange vow Selene had mentioned. Under the light of dusk, surrounded by laughter and the scent of sweet food, she almost felt normal again, for someone who doesn't like being around people.
...…
Daichi and Shion Still Fighting For Land
The sun had already set.
Two rival clans still faced each other on the open land, the tension heavy in the air. It wasn't a battlefield tonight, at least not yet. Thanks to Daichi, there had been no violence so far.
Instead, both clans, Daichi and Shion, sat facing each other at a long wooden table, surrounded by their guards. Empty sake cups filled the space between them like fallen soldiers. They were on their one hundred and second round of drinks, and somehow, neither had passed out yet.
Most of the guards were already half-asleep, leaning on each other or dozing where they sat. The night air was thick with the smell of rice wine and sweat.
"I must say, Lady Hoshino," Daichi said with a grin, lifting his cup. "You do know how to hold your drink. My Baby Rie passes out after her twentieth cup, but here we are, on our hundred and second, and you're still standing."
Across from him, Shion's face was flushed red. Her eyes were hazy, and her face was unsteady, but she still held her cup proudly.
"Claiming this land," she said, her voice slightly slurred, "is the only way to make my father proud. If I have to drink a thousand cups, I'll do it. Anything to make sure he has the most land."
Daichi chuckled softly. "Ah, so that's it. You're doing all this for Daddy's approval, huh?" He raised his next cup and drained it in one gulp. Shion followed.
"Yes," she said, her eyes distant now. "All of this is for him. Maybe then, he'll finally say he's proud of me. Maybe he'll say… 'well done, my daughter.'"
Her voice faded as she stared into her cup.
Daichi leaned back, his smile fading. "Why do you want to please him so badly? I've heard the stories. You've already conquered lands in his name, and yet he still isn't proud of you."
He looked down at the sake bottle, then back at her. "My hubs, Ryuji, and my daughter, Rie, are my most priceless treasures. They're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Someone like me who paused his dream to be with man he loves is something I am always proud of, I don't care about all the rivalry, land claiming, if it were up to me I would take my family and explore round this world until I get to the floating island....."
Shion went quiet for a long time. When she finally spoke, her voice was low. "My father doesn't care about safety, or love. He only wants more land. I lost to my little sister when it came to making my mother proud. I won't lose this one too. Even if I have to give up my sleep, my love, my heart… I'll do anything to earn his approval."
Daichi sighed. "What kind of parent makes their child fight for affection? They're supposed to shower their children with love from the moment they are pluck, not make them beg for it."
He poured himself another cup. "Lady Hoshino, you shouldn't skip sleep or throw away your happiness for someone else's dream. Live your life the way that makes you happy. Drink, laugh, love. Live until it finally gets dark."
He lifted the cup to his lips and drank. It was his one hundred and fourth.
Shion didn't respond. Her head drooped slightly, her hair hiding her face. For a moment, Daichi thought she had fallen asleep.
"Lady Hoshino?" he called softly. "Are you still awake?"
Silence.
He blinked and smiled to himself. "Does this mean I won?"
Just as he reached for another drink, Shion's head slowly lifted. She was smiling, wide and wicked.
"I never lose a game," she said. Her voice was steady again. "Because playing is what I do best."
Before Daichi could react, she grabbed the nearest bottle and began drinking, every last drop in front of her. The guards who were still awake watched in stunned silence.
When she finished, she slammed the final cup down. "Looks like we're all out of drinks, aren't we?"
Daichi laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're unbelievable. Even though I thought you passed out, you ended up drinking the most, and we are all out of wine. That makes you the winner. Which means…" He sighed. "You can claim this land and give it to your father."
Roku, frowned but said nothing. The deal was made.
Shion stood up, her steps unsteady but her smile bright. For someone who was clearly drunk, her movements had a strange confidence to them.
"Wow," Daichi said, standing as well and brushing the dirt from his robe. "You really are something, Lady Hoshino."
He looked around at his men. "Alright, party's over. Wake up, everyone."
The guards straightened immediately.
Daichi sighed and stretched. "Guess I'll be heading home now. I can already imagine Ryuji's reaction when I tell him I didn't claim this land." He smiled faintly. "Looks like I'm not sleeping on the bed tonight…"
He turned to Shion and spread his arms. "I know this victory won't earn you the well done you're hoping for. But how about a hug from your new friend?"
Shion stared at him for a moment. "New friend, huh?" she muttered softly. Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
For a brief moment, it was peaceful. Her warmth against him felt real, gentle, almost comforting.
But Shion Hoshino wasn't someone who gave hugs easily, not to the enemy.
Before anyone could react, her hand moved. It slid into his chest and came out through the other side.
Daichi's eyes widened. Blood splashed across the dirt.
Shion smiled, tilting her head slightly. "Looks like I landed a punch after all," she whispered, grinning. "I won."
She pulled her hand free. Daichi fell to the ground without a sound, his eyes still open, but his life gone.
The land went silent. No one dared to move. The guards stared in horror as Shion stood there, laughing softly, like a drunk child who had just won a game.