Getting an inn room had been a difficult task for Kenji as he was a true filthy beast. Owing to the pouch, he was finally able to enter. He patted the pouch in gratitude. He opened it and pulled out the blue hair ribbon and used it to tie his own long gray hair. Unlike before, he was now clean. His extreme handsome features no longer covered in dirt. Through his sleeves, his left arm was fully covered in a pure white linen. His right hand and arm were the same.
Wasn't the world such a small round ball? Those people you never expected to meet again in your life came and stood right in front of you. The image of Raven flouted in his mind. Subconsciously, he pulled the hair ribbon from his hair and stared at it. He was aware that the mimosa scent in the hair ribbon belonged to her. Raven. A lady he had never expected to meet again in his life. He casually placed the hair ribbon next to himself, and laid down.
Dawn came faster than expected. It was raining outside. Kenji closed the window and went downstairs. There, he took an empty table near the window, and sat staring outside. A waiter came for his order but he only shook his head and continued to stare outside. The waiter went back.
The innkeeper gestured for him to come over.
"He needs nothing." He told him.
"Why is he staring outside?" the innkeeper asked.
The waiter's lips opened and then closed. How was he supposed to answer that question? He glanced back and shook his head. "Probably thinking about his life."
The innkeeper nodded his head at him. The waiter only flickered his eyebrows and went back to his work.
'Why is this rain not stopping?' Kenji wondered as he stared outside.
Several minutes later, it stopped raining. He immediately walked out. As he walked, he realized many eyes were on him. The looks were completely different from the one he had received the night before. People weren't disgusted by his looks but envious. Many beautiful ladies smiled widely at him hoping to be recognized. Some men and women questioned their whole existence. Instead of feeling flattered, he felt disgust and hatred boiling in his blood. A dark violent thought crossed his mind.
As he was walking, an old woman who was quite a distance from him, fell down because of the heavy weight of a bag she was carrying. A man who was near her, helped her up. He then spotted Kenji coming their way.
"Excuse me!" The man addressed to him. Kenji blankly looked at him.
"Are you headed this way?" The man asked him in a polite tone. Kenji gave a simple nod.
"If it doesn't bother you, may you please help this grandmother?"
Kenji approached them and took the bag. "Let's go." He told the old woman. That man smiled in gratitude. The old woman also thanked him. Kenji and that old woman went together. The silence between them was uncomfortable to the old woman, yet comforting to Kenji.
"When I was younger, I used to carry things of greater weight. But now as I am old, I am weak." The old woman broke the silence. Kenji glanced at her and gave an "hmm" in agreement.
The old woman went on. "Most places were jungles when I was still a kid. All with dangerous beasts in them. I had to battle with tigers…" Kenji glanced at her detecting a lie and excitement in her voice. He said nothing.
"There came a time where tigers run away when they saw me."
Kenji gave a smile.
Along the way, the woman told him her childhood fantasy and Kenji only cheered her on.
"There." The old woman pointed at a clothes shop. She went in front and led him inside. Raven was in the shop at the moment.
"You are crazy," she said, shaking her head.
Will gave a wide grin, " I am actually a living talent."
"Keep dreaming."
Jaden stood a short distance away. Leaning against the wall, a metallic ink brush spinning effortlessly between his fingers.
Will opened his mouth to reply. But then, Raven's laughter stopped.
She was no longer looking at him. Her eyes fixed on the shop entrance.
Her expression…strangely frozen.
Subconsciously, Will followed her gaze. There stood a tall familiar man. Before Will could say a thing, Raven rushed away. Will reached out his hand. His mouth slightly opened, but then closed. He titled his head towards the shop entrance. Their eyes locked.
From the wall, the soft spinning of the brush stopped. Jaden slid the brush into his sleeves and crossed his arms against his chest. Fixed his gaze at the two men.
Will said nothing. So did Kenji.
The old woman tugged Kenji showing him where to carry the bag to.
Will's eyes shifted to Jaden.
You also saw that?
Jaden gave a nod only Will was able to see.
Will just shrugged and walked to him. He patted his shoulder playfully. Jaden gazed at the patted shoulder and then at Will's face.
'What?' Will nodded at him. Jaden shook his head with a smile.
But in the end, they all looked at the path where Raven had ran to.
Raven ran back and forth. Then she stormed into a dressing room and closed the door. She sucked in a deep breath.
When she helped that dirty caterpillar, she knew deep inside who he was. But; she was afraid to accept it. Before a sigh of relief could escape her lips, a click echoed behind her. Her body stiffened. Eyes widened.
Slowly, she turned.
There, stood Kenji. Calm, his expression hard to read. His gaze focused on her.
This was a person she had never wanted to meet again in her life. But in the end, she was the one who always ran to him.
She sneakily pushed the door open in attempt to run.
Plan failed. She tripped and fell down. She glanced at Kenji and gave an awkward smile. Almost self-mocking.
'God, GET ME OUT OF HERE.' Her inner self pleaded. She crawled out and got up quickly. Rushed from the place.
Kenji expressionlessly stared at the door. Subconsciously, he reached out his hand to touch the hair ribbon. He stopped midair.