“Oh man oh maaan, I hope Kim is okaaaay!”
Keekee shook off the people who had been hounding after Martial Kim – and his ‘parkour channel on YouTube’. She didn’t know where to go exactly so she relied on educated wishes and gut instinct. Somehow, to her surprise, she won the lottery.
The last thing she expected to find herself in was a park. Actually if she thought about it carefully, the park was really the best place for anyone to cut ties with the city and just find peace in nature. The flowers, the pond, even the trees would not bother anyone like they are animals in a petting zoo.
The film assistant searched through the various park trails, hoping to find a familiar face.
“Oh! Kim! Found you!”
“Fae Fae?”
Keekee stopped short, spotting her friend by the pond, gazing at the sunlight on the water. For a moment, she feared he might jump in, but he stood still, hands gently clasped behind his back, like he was admiring a painting. A way to calm himself, she would guess.
When he finally turned to her, his eyes searching for another face – an unexpected pang of sadness shot Keekee in the heart...and she didn’t know why.
“K-Kim...I-it’s me. Keekee.”
“..............Ah. Yes. Miss Keekee. Please forgive me.”
Keekee thought of answering ‘it’s okay ’, but she didn’t want to say it.
“My apologies, for abandoning you like that.” Martial Kim bowed, “I have no excuse for my terrible actions.”
“N-no. I...They were just plain rude. No doubt you got startled and uh... It’s okay. I’m not mad.” Despite saying that, Keekee clenched her teeth when she added, “Who...Who is Fae Fae?”
Martial Kim tried to distract himself with the sunlight in the pond.
How do I explain to her? Fae Fae was a woman I rescued from death and vowed to never reveal her identity. Even if this is another world, a reality that never knew the great Sword Fairy of Celestial Dream Brothel, I still should not tell anyone about her. It was my mistake, for letting her name casually slip my silence. How thoughtless I have become. Shameful, most shameful.
The young master curled his fingers in and out, not wanting to make a fist but felt like he should clench them. After bobbing back and forth on his heels, he answered--
“Actually,” Keekee cut him off. “N-never mind. I-I shouldn’t have asked.”
“...Miss Keekee—”
“W-we need to change your looks! Yep!”
“...I beg your pardon?” Martial Kim raised an eyebrow as he turned to face her, “Please tell me honestly, does my normal attire truly make me stand out?”
“Er. Uh.” Keekee didn’t want to be rude but, “I hate to break it to you Kim. You can’t play as your character for 24/7. It’s not healthy! I mean: dedicated is one thing, this is pure obsession! You-you need to be yourself!”
“...I am myself.”
“I mean you, you, you get it?”
“No.”
Keekee facepalmed. The morning has barely begun and she felt like she wanted to curl back in bed. She ended up patting her head and cheeks, trying to come up with a hair brain scheme to resolve this problem.
“I’m sorry Kim, but you really look like a character from a fantasy film. We need to get rid of it.”
“I refuse to walk around naked.”
“N-no! No, no!......................................................................”
“...Miss Keekee, why are you blushing?”
“I-I’m not! I-I’m pl-planning!” Keekee pinched her cheeks to wipe out any unnecessary thoughts from her mind to declare proudly, “W-we need to change you from the ground up. Make you completely invisible!...Don’t stare! You’re judging me, I can feel it! Stop it!””
image [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/e5d49d01-e685-46aa-8d92-b07d57dc33fb/didaiyy-7cc70b06-faf9-4771-a24f-b7127efe7b76.png/v1/fill/w_1280,h_207/moon_tavern_page_break_by_suimaifiles_didaiyy-fullview.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MjA3IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZTVkNDlkMDEtZTY4NS00NmFhLThkOTItYjA3ZDU3ZGMzM2ZiXC9kaWRhaXl5LTdjYzcwYjA2LWZhZjktNDc3MS1hMjRmLWI3MTI3ZWZlN2I3Ni5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.V__LDKPGxPLEElJXKGgxKvmlMcRIG9Nv3hgCGY_VlEE]
Martial Kim didn’t know if Keekee truly meant turn HIM invisible, or turn SOMETHING invisible. Because the moment she brought him to a place in mind – he smashed into an INVISIBLE WALL.
BONK!
“OOOF!”
“K-Kim! A-are you okay!? Th-the door is right over here! See!”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Keekee struggled to guide the wounded young master through the glass doors of a store. She made sure he didn’t run into any more transparent screens before dragging him inside and out of any prying eyes or cameras.
A barbershop. The first of many steps to make him ‘blend into society’. Keekee knew a good haircut was one effective way to make someone less recognizable. Along with a new set of clothing for Martial Kim, they would be gold.
However, she didn’t expect step one to be so difficult.
“K-Kim, are you alright, you look pale?”
“Miss Keekee. With all due respect, I refuse to have my hair cut. It is against my good conscious.”
“I-I know, I would fight anyone tooth and nail to save my own hair, but--” Keekee ran her fingers through the young master’s hair.
Face to face. Chest to chest. It knocked out Martial Kim’s senses, it was super effective.
The film assistant pulled on certain strands, “Look how messy it is! You’ve been in the mountain for god knows how long! There’s some leaves and trash STILL stuck inside. I mean, even if the people don’t think you’re some internet celebrity – the police would think you’re just another bum on the street. They won’t take you seriously so we got to freshen up your look!”
“B-but, Miss Keekee—” The close contact tactic was too effective. Just Keekee’s body heart alone paralyzed him, rendering him nothing more than a puppet to her unknowing whims. So it was easy enough for the film assistant to shove him into a leather stool.
Before Martial Kim could object, someone flapped a cape over his face – as if trying to kidnap him!
Grab. Twist. Flip!
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” The next thing anyone knew, the attacker was sent arse over elbow with a martial flip. He crashed into a stack of equipment and scattered hair curlers in every direction.
Ded.
“....OH MY GOD!” Keekee screamed as if she witnessed a murder, “BARRY! A-are you okay!? A-any bones broken!?”
“Wh-what do you think, silly goose. Aaaagh.” The ‘attacker’ was helped to his feet while gripping his back. He snapped something back into place and fixed his jaw back into the right place. “I knew you call me for back up, but who the hell did you bring in? John Claude Van Damme?”
“Er, now. Th-this is Kim!” Keekee would nervously introduce the young master. “Kim, this is Barry! H-he runs the barbershop here!” After consoling her friend, she asked, “W-we’re in a bit of a rush. You think you can help him out?”
“You say that, but look at the mess on his head. A complete rat’s nest. Alright, let’s see what we’re dealing with—” The Barber, licked his thumb and was about to turn the hair around on the young master’s head.
Grab. Twist. Flip!
“DAMN IT!” The Barber once more felt the world spin around him and he landed on his back, groaning in pain. “What is wrong with you!?”
Martial Kim leered.
Keekee awkwardly glanced at the two men, and tried to cut the testosterone in the air with a cough, “G-guys. Uh...B-be nice. And Kim it’s alright, I trust Barry. He helps me with my haircut all the time and he’s reaaallly good at it.”
“Yep.” He suddenly smirked and rubbed a hand across Keekee’s back. “Real good with them, right doll face—”
GRAB!
“HEY! LET GO, YOU COSPLAYING BASTARD!”
Martial Kim gripped onto the Barber’s wrist, twisting it more, “You shall not address Miss Keekee in such a slanderous manner. Did your father not teach you the proper way to respect a lady?”
“Hey buddy, don’t you be bringing my old man into this! K-Keekee say something damn it!”
Keekee should defuse the fight as soon as she could...Should.
Somehow, Martial Kim’s defense stunned her into silence. No one ever stood up for her like that, she realized to herself. So this was...more than new. It was when she heard the Barber cursing in pain, did she she snap back into reality. “K-Kim. I-it’s okay. H-he’s joking. W-we know each other, since kids. We’re used to joking around, y-yeah!”
The Owner of the Barbershop and Owner of Moon Tavern locked glares. Without moving their lips, they were able to transmit the right words to tell one another to back the F off, one way or another. It was Martial Kim who broke eye contact, an apologetic glance to Keekee.
The Barber huffed with victory, shoving his opponent away, “Alright. Now that ‘introductions’ are out of the way. Let’s get to work – and don’t you throw me like a rag doll.”
“Hmm.” Martial Kim mumbled to himself.
The Barber got to work. Despite what happened, he only need to take in a deep breath and his hands began to move with the orchestration of a professional. Fingers swept through the long hair to gauge the damage and a few pulls and tugs were made to assess potential. Without further ado, the Barber swung around scissors and combs as easy as daggers between his fingers and teeth.
Meanwhile...
Keekee had no idea, why she was biting her nails. She used to it when little, when nervous, but grew out of it for a long time. So, for her to revert back to her childlike habits she couldn’t fathom what came over her. Neither did she know why did her heart ache, or for what reason.
Maybe, it was because Martial Kim looked like he was mourning over the hair being snipped. Every cut made him wince, as if the Barber was carving pieces of his flesh with a red-hot knife. The more he saw his hair fall dead onto the ground, the more he looked like he wanted to grieve over the loss of a kin.
“K...Kim?”
“I am fine,” Martial Kim lied...with a forced sigh, “I...am just thinking back to the time, when my mother would comb my hair when I was young.”
“I-I am so sorry,” Keekee gasped. Did...she take hair cuts for granted? Before she could address it, the young master waved a hand in silence.
“It...must be done,” Martial Kim uttered, as if about to put a dying dog out of its misery and suffering.
The Barber just rolled his eyes as he switched scissors and comb between his teeth, spraying water into Martial Kim’s head and face. “Oops. My hand slipped.”
Sure.
“Right, now for the finishing touch.” After clearing up most of the damage, the Barber reached for something to make some smooth adjustments, “Man, I feel like I’m going to need a lawnmower for you. You’re a god damn jungle bro.”
...What is a lawnmo--
The Barber thumbed a button, making it go—SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH!
RIGHT IN THE EAR!
TIGER SUBDUING PALM!
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!”
“KIM! KIM! RELAX, IT’S JUST A HAIR TRIMMER! S-STOP TWISTING BARRY INTO STRANGE SHAPES! PLEAAAAASE!”
To think, this was only the first step leading towards a long nightmare.
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image [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/e5d49d01-e685-46aa-8d92-b07d57dc33fb/di6ht8a-6b7841a9-7268-4fab-a51a-b1367877f8d8.png/v1/fit/w_828,h_1210/moon_tavern___pavilion_arc__lightnovel_image_01__by_suimaifiles_di6ht8a-414w-2x.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTY2NyIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2U1ZDQ5ZDAxLWU2ODUtNDZhYS04ZDkyLWIwN2Q1N2RjMzNmYlwvZGk2aHQ4YS02Yjc4NDFhOS03MjY4LTRmYWItYTUxYS1iMTM2Nzg3N2Y4ZDgucG5nIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTExNDEifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.1MRXBAT-lkHjJI86BlLFW_2-DsZ2mPQmrpQnyPY-Ay8]