Martial Kim breathed a sigh of relief when Keekee showed him the way.
It only took a few turns and steps for her, to guide him to an open road on top of a hill. They reached a clearing on the edge, a bit of a respite. There were stone benches and a couple of tables carved out of stone that had a good view of the landscape below.
Just standing there alone, he could see what appeared to be a small town...
The houses in the village are strange. No slanted roofs or towers. Why do they all look like boxes? And the light shining from them? How powerful are their lanterns - even in broad daylight?
While Martial Kim was astonished of the grand view, Keekee's attention was elsewhere.
"Oh thank god, it's still here! I thought those bastard stole that too!"
Bike? An odd name for a horse...wait, that is no horse!
Martial Kim came upon a strange contraption that Keekee seemed to faun over. It had two wheels with flimsy metal wires and a skeletal structure that did not at all resemble any animal physiology. It carried two horns, but no skull. Having never seen anything like it, he could only stare in fascination as Keekee guided this thing over as easy as a pony.
"Man, if they took away my bike, it would be suuuch a drag to walk down the mountain on foot...Kim? What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
What is that thing? Was what he wanted to ask. However, seeing Keekee being so intimate and unbothered by the strange designs, made him believe this may have been something as second nature as a pet dog or wheel barrow. To avoid looking like a fool, he swallowed his question back into his gut.
"Oh! You're worried, can my bike carry two people? Yeah, I've done it before. I doubt you're THAT heavy!"
She then proceeded to mount it.
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Good grief! If only she had a skirt on, then she need not spread her leg before me in such an obscene manner! H-how can she be so calm, opening her legs in front of a man she just met!?
"You okay Kim? You look red, you hot or something. You know, you can take off your costume if you want.”
H-how? Wh-why would I strip myself in front of you? Only villains would do that! I-it is improper! I would rather die of heat stroke than to look unsightly in front of a maiden like yourself!
"Ah, I see. You're like, one of the shy types. I mean, I kinda wanna see your abs a bit - since you can do stunt without wires and all--Joke. Joke. I'm kidding. You're really cute when flustered!"
Please, dear maiden, do not make such a reckless tease!
"Hop on!" Keekee patted the flat basket of a carrier on the back of her 'bike'. It was thin, but long enough for someone to sit on it.
In which, Martial Kim was wary.
"Come ooon. Don't be chickeeeeeeen!"
Well I never... Fine.
After hiding an indignant huff under his breath, Martial Kim graciously sat on it like a chair.
"Alright, off we go! Pishoooooo!"
"!!!!!" The second the bike shook and rattled forward, Martial Kim hopped off out of reflex!
"Wh-what! Hey! K-Kim, d-don't do that out of a sudden! I nearly fell over!... You afraid of bikes or what?"
More like, I am concerned about your riding skills. This is nothing like riding a horse! This...thing has two wheels lined up, not four proper legs!
"Tell you what," Keekee grinned, "Hop on and I'll be careful, okay? You can even hug me if you want, to keep yourself stable. I don't mind!"
Wh-what? Hug you? Like a passenger on a horse? Absolutely not! A gentlemen cannot touch a refined lady such as yourself. Th-the dishonor I-I would bring to your reputation! Worse case scenario, doing so would make me obliged to marry you! I am not ready for that!
"Hehehehe. Someone's blushiiiiiiing—I-I joke. I joke! I’m sorry! D-don’t give me that mad face, i-it’s super scary you know!"
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