--- Is this...a Buddhist Temple?
Strange. How did Martial Kim ended up in a place by this? Why was he surrounded by various golden statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Guardian Spirits?
The young master somehow found himself wading through a soft mist within an ancient temple. He walked passed a series of busts crafted in the image of great Buddhas, protective bodhisattva, and fearsome spiritual warriors and guardians. He even saw a group of monks in bright yellow robes and sun orange cloth, drumming on wooden bells in soft prayer.
--- How did I get here? Was I not in the other world? Did I return somehow?
Up ahead, he immediately spotted familiar faces!...Oh! Why, it was Martial Red Sister and Martial Yellow Sister. Why, they were amongst many other friends and allies of Moon Tavern? But why were they all gathered in this Buddhist temple? Why were they crying?
--- D-did someone die? No, it cannot be? Wh-who? How!?
Questions filled his head, but they were drowned out with an even bigger problem
--- Martial Blue Sister...I do not see her at all? Even if she hides in the crowd like a mouse, surely I could spot her out at a glance. There is no way I can ever miss her bright blue hair of hers!
Martial Kim rushed in with a panicked stride and tried to get everyone’s attention. Who died? Where is Martial Blue Sister!?
All he got were sob sob sob this and sob sob sob that.
--- Please, someone answer me! I must know, who is the deceased. Where is...Oh – Martial Blue Sister! There you are, thank good.......Wait...wh-why are you holding that!?
Martial Blue Sister was alive – but not thank goodness. She was adorned in full white mourning attire with a black band wrapped around her arm. She staggered out from a curtained room, carrying something small and heavy in her tiny hands.
An urn full of human ash. A name was painted on the name cloth, in the best ink in the empire.
“Martial Kim,” Martial Blue Sister wept while cradling the urn, “Do not worry...we’ll...we’ll keep you company. To the end. We’ll make your exit grand and noble... We will miss you so much.”
--- N-no. No...NO! Everyone! I am RIGHT HERE! Please, do you not see me!? I am over—
It is useless Martial Kim. No matter how you scream and dance in front of their face, how can they recognize you – if they can easily walk through your body like a curtain. One by one his many close friends and greatest allies all march through his chest like a cloth door, bowing in tribute and wailing his name as they left his person behind.
Was this...truly the end of his story?
“Martial Kim...it’s you.”
Oh finally! Someone recognized him in this mayhem of a reality! Hopefully—W-wait, these hands on his face. Why are they so cold? I-is that blood, dripping on the floor!? Wh-who is this!?
--- F-Fae Fae!?
The Courtesan and Sword Fairy of Celestial Dreams Brothel enveloped the young master in a deathly embrace. Nothing more than a beautiful corpse caressing his face with hollow love and blank passion, her lips red with her blood and eyes painted with ashen make up.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Martial Kim.”
--- No! Fae Fae! You are supposed to be alive! I saved you! You should be living a new life outside of the Capital! H-how did you become like this!? Th-this is not right! There has to be some mistake!
“Fear not,” The beautiful corpse whispered as she rubbed her greying cheeks against his shoulder, “I will be by your side, as your bride. We shan’t be alone.”
Martial Kim believed this was a mistake, but nothing he could say or do could stop him and his ‘betrothed’ from sinking into the floor of the Buddhist Temple. To be one with the bitter darkness.
“Martial Kim....Martial Kim....Kim....Kim............KIM!”
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]
“K-Kim! W-wake up! Please wake up!”
“OH!”
“KYAAA! I-it’s alright, i-it’s just me!”
“...M...Miss Keekee?”
Oh thank heavens, it was just a dream—rather a brutal nightmare! Every fibre in Martial Kim’s body screamed to return home, to see for himself what his home world has become in his absence in the alternate reality. Alas, even if he ran out into the cold night as is – he knew it was impossible to find his way home. It isn’t like the Nameless Pavilion and the two moons were waiting for him like a taxi ride.
“O-oh my god, Kim! Are you okay?” Keekee would wipe her hands all over the young master’s face to calm him down. “Y-you’re drenched in sweat! I-I woke up to the sound of your panicking, I-I just didn’t realize it was this bad!”
“...I...I am fine. Th-thank you M-Miss Keekee.” Finally Martial Kim realized, just how soft and warm the film assistant’s hands were on his face. Tender and— “Ah, um, M-Miss Keekee. N-no need to worry, y-you can unhand me now. Please!”
“That...must have been a really bad dream.” Keekee uttered, “I-I’ve never seen you afraid like that.”
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“I-it is nothing.”
“Nothing? Nothing!? And I thought I was the one who has sleep problems, but you just... Tea. I’ll make you some Chamomile tea to calm your nerves.”
Martial Kim nodded, tea would be excellent at this time. “W-wait. It is near morning. And you have work. You should return to sleep before the sun fully rises from the—”
Nope. Keekee rushed to the kitchen in a blink of an eye and already shoved a kettle on top of the stove to boil up the water...and it was after she turned on some kitchen lights, did Martial Kim realize what she was wearing.
Tank top and shorts that look more like panties than proper pants. People would go – why not just sleep in a nude!? Hence why Martial Kim choked, covered his eyes, and buried his face into the blankets.
--- Gods. Please be merciful. Kill me now.
Nah fam.
Before he could consider taking responsibility in seeing Keekee in her ‘vulnerable night gown’, the film assistant ushered him over and brought about a fresh pot of tea. Along with--
--- Wh-what is she doing? Milk and sugar!? Th-that is a waste of tea! It will corrupt the quality!
Alas, Oriental Tea and Western Tea function completely different. So seeing Keekee mix her tea with cream and low sweet was no different than mixing a soap bar and laundry powder into a cup of water. Sip.
“Aaaah. See!” Keekee chirped. “Nothing like a hot cup of Chamomile to ease the nerves!”
“...”
“Wh-what? Is there cream on my lips?”
--- Please, do not say it like that.
“B-by the way, Kim.” Keekee leaned into the table, propped on her bare elbows. She didn’t know why the young master was avoiding eye contact, so she had to lean her shoulders and chest about to get a good look at him. “D-did you remember something?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“R-remember what Prof. Stone mentioned, about recovering from Amnesia? S-sometimes, visions in your dream could actually be fragment of your memory. I-if you recall anything from before, i-it’s a sign you’re getting better...But, for you to scream like that.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Kim. I practically heard you from the other end of the cabin. And I TRY to be a heavy sleeper. So? Did you remember something?”
Martial Kim thought to himself. Should he just tell her the truth, he doesn’t have this amnesia problem. Or just...tell her what she wants to hear. Which was faster, to put her to sleep?
“I...started to remember...my friends.” Martial Kim regretted his decision. “I...Um.”
“You miss them?” Keekee asked, unaware this was helping the young master’s terrible lie.
“I do,” Martial Kim nodded, this time honest. “I do miss them.”
“Do you remember, what were they like?”
“...Capable warriors, each and every one of them. Whenever I came across a problem or puzzle, I could always depend on them. They are my...comrade in arms so to speak.”
Keekee smiled. She relaxed, knowing her friend was getting better; even when he cringed at the taste of the foreign tea. She felt so at ease, she started to rock her bare feet under the table. Perhaps she was too easy going, her toes often tapped into the young master’s shin. She often wondered, why were the tips of his ears turning so red.
“That’s cool, you know, Kim. I always wanted to have hardcore gamer friends!”
“...What?”
“Yeah! Well you said warriors and comrade in arms, you guys must have been like an eSports team playing fantasy MOBAs. Oh oh, maybe you play Last Fantasia 15, yeah that hit Online game where you raid dungeons and fight mega bosses as big teams!...Streamer community, perhaps?”
If the young master had seen a certain meth drama, he would surely go:
Keekee, what the hell are you talking about?
“Hahah.” Keekee snapped her fingers. “I’m pretty close, right? I wonder, what video games do you play – if-if you weren’t in ‘character’ all the time. Fighting games? Strategy games? Classic shooters?”
“...Yes.”
“So? Which one?”
“...Yes.”
“Kiiiiiiiiiim!” Keekee couldn’t help a giggle and sipped at her creamy sweet tea. Actually, she realized she didn’t need any of that. Somehow, a sip of water would feel sweet as strawberries for some reason. She couldn’t resist playing with her tea cup, a delicate finger dancing around the rim. “Say, when you get your memories back – you know all of it...Would you stay here? In this town I mean.”
“...I plan to return home, eventually.”
The finger slipped and fell into the lava that was hot tea. Keekee muted a yelp from the scalding touch, hiding it with a stiff smile.
“O-of course! I mean, can’t live in grandma’s cabin forever right? Hahaha. You probably got a home, a family, girl.........friend?”
--- Why is she stiff all of a sudden? It is like I am about to interrogate her. I wonder, was I too direct in my previous response about returning home. Ah, perhaps I insulted her hospitality... Still, I cannot lie to myself – this world is not for me. Ah, I cannot look at her. Not with those eyes. They remind me of the kittens straying around Moon Tavern for a piece of food.
It was in his thinking, did he realize something.
--- If I left, what would happen to Keekee?... What am I thinking? She already had a proper life before she met me. A job, a house, her own goals. She should be find without me... Right?
“H-hey Kim.” Keekee called out, her finger curling in her hair. “Um...If you’re free today, do you wanna...do stuff together? S-serious stuff, of course! Prof. Stone mentioned you need to be exposed to more 21st Century stuff. So I can totally help! Can show you around the city, take you to the library—”
“I, uh, very much appreciate your initiative, Miss Keekee. However, I recall you had to work today.”
Keekee made a quick text on her phone and done. “Called sick!”
“Miss Keekee, you need not push yourself to—” The young master was cut off, by a gentle finger touching his lips.
Keekee smirked, “No ‘ifs’ ‘ands’ or ‘buts’. I’m used to multi-tasking. How else do you think I worked my way to film assistant!”
For 10 seconds, Martial Kim fell in love with this strange girl... Only to burn those inkling feelings away in his heart. Any seedling would surely bloom into a tragedy at this rate.
--- For someone as sweet, kind, and beautiful as Miss Keekee, surely she would have a lover in her life.
“.......”
“......”
“....Fmffmfff—”
“Oh sorry!” Keekee finally remembered her finger on the young master’s lips and reeled it away. “Ahaha, sorry I just got carried away. Silly goose me.”
--- Silly goose? Where have I heard that before?
RING RING RING! RING RING RING!
--- Aaah! That noise again! What exactly is that!?
“K-Kim! Kim! D-don’t panic! Th-that’s just my phone, see!” Keekee was panicking herself – afraid the young master would weaponize her grandmother’s fragile tea cups! - and quickly ended the ringtone by answering a call. “H-hello?....Oh Professor Stone! Good morning!”
“Teacher? Where? I-I do not see him.”
Keekee stared, before returning to her call, “Yes, what is it?...Uh huh...Oh...Oh wow, that’s close by. Uh, yeah, I’ll get him there! See you in a bit!”
It was Martial Kim to stare as he still can’t find Prof. Stone anywhere in this cabin. “What happened?”
“Work called!”
“Oh. I take it, they did not believe in your sick leave. Then, I will not keep you from heading to your duties.”
Martial Kim politely excused himself from the table – only to be grabbed by Keekee.
“N-no, Kim! It’s your job! Prof. Stone needs you at a crime scene! Bottom of the hill! I’ll take you there on my bike! Come on!”
What strange murder mystery will the flustered young master walk into this time!?
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