"Wow!" Damon exclaimed, his eyes wide with bewilderment as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings of Kyoto. The air was heavy with the scent of cherry blossoms, carried by a gentle breeze that rustled Damon's dark coat. The streets buzzed with the rhythmic hum of life, voices, and footsteps blending in a harmonious chaos.
"Where are we exactly?" Hatta asked, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration. He let out a weary sigh, his breath visible in the cool air. "I can’t read Japanese, and I'm afraid I cannot decipher the signs." Hatta's words hung in the air, filled with a longing for their absent companion. "I wish Arashi was here," he murmured, his voice laced with a touch of melancholy.
“Well, that’s why we’re here, right? To find Arashi.”
They ventured forth, walking for more than an hour through the labyrinthine streets of the city's suburbs. Lost amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces, Damon's mind was filled with a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds. The hundreds of airships and balloons soaring in the sky. The colorful banners that hung from the buildings swayed gently in the breeze, their vibrant hues a stark contrast to the grayness of their confusion.
"I want to go to the Fushimi Inari-Taisha," Hatta said, his fingers tracing the pages of a photo book he had acquired from a nearby vendor. The images within depicted the iconic torii gates that led to the sacred shrine, their vermilion frames standing proudly against the vivid backdrop of nature. Damon's eyes lit up with curiosity and excitement. "We must find the school first, and then we can go there!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with childlike wonder.
Driven by their shared goal, Damon and Hatta pressed on. They continued with unwavering determination, their steps guided by a mixture of maps, intuition, and the occasional inquiry to the locals. Yet, language proved to be a formidable barrier, with their attempts at communication met with polite confusion and hand gestures. The people around them kept their distance, their gazes averted, bound by the cultural norm of not engaging with foreigners.
Damon's black coat billowed behind him as he forged ahead, his gaze scanning the surroundings for any signs of familiarity. Hatta, dressed in his red blazer, black pants, and a green topper, wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
Hours stretched on, the search becoming more arduous with each passing minute. Their bodies grew weary, and the weight of uncertainty bore down upon them. Eventually, their exhaustion led them to seek respite on the sidewalk of a small playground. They sank down, their bodies finding solace in the cool embrace of the rock beneath them.
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“I’ve been wondering,” Hatta broke the silence. “Why are you working for Völundr?”
"I have been working with Völundr for decades,” taking a deep breath, Damon said. “We go way back, all the way to when I was a lieutenant in the Prussian Army a few decades ago."
Hatta's eyes widened in surprise, his lips parting in astonishment. However, he just nodded and let Damon continue.
A wry smile tugged at the corners of Damon's lips. "My friend, I am not as mortal as I may seem. I am a vampire."
Hatta frowned. "A vampire? I never would have guessed."
Damon nodded, his expression solemn. "I don't blame you if you’re wary of me. But the fact remains that I have walked this earth for centuries.”
Hatta scratched his head. Although he hadn’t known Hatta for very long, Damon considered him a close friend by now. "And Arashi?"
Damon's eyes softened a hint of nostalgia glimmering within them. "After I left the Prussian Army, I met Arashi. He, too, was an acquaintance of Völundr. We both became his most trusted allies, though not technically his subordinates. We were more like partners in crime, you might say. Our objectives aligned. Arashi came to Europe as a Japanese diplomat."
Hatta leaned back, absorbing the weight of Damon's words.
"Decades of working alongside Völundr, and I never suspected him of any wrongdoings. But I still can’t understand most of what he’s scheming."
Hatta chuckled.
"Vampires have their ways, my friend. We can blend into the shadows, and conceal our true nature. But vampires are also wicked creatures that shouldn’t exist," he frowned.
“It’s funny, in my world vampires used to be huge big bat-like creatures. More beast than human. You’re pretty cute comparatively.”
Damon burst out laughing.
"Okay, let's go see the foxes," Damon said after he quieted his laughter. Hatta nodded in agreement, his smile widening as he wiped away the remnants of sweat from his brow. They reached for their rings once more, their fingers brushing against the cool metal as they prepared to embark on the next leg of their journey.
As they ventured closer to the Shinto shrine, the atmosphere shifted around them. The air crackled with an electric energy, the whispered prayers of countless pilgrims echoing through the sacred grounds. Damon's senses were overwhelmed by the scents of incense and the earthy aroma of moss-covered stones. The sound of rustling leaves filled his ears as if the very trees were whispering.
The sight that awaited them was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The torii gates stretched out before them, forming a vibrant pathway that seemed to lead somewhere beyond the mortal realm. Each gate stood tall and proud, their vermilion frames standing out against the lush greenery that surrounded them. Damon and Hatta stood side by side, their hearts filled with a sense of wonder.