Chapter Four

Beneath a bridge, I stood awaiting the sun shower to end. The evening was slowly approaching and with not much to go by, I have felt at a loss. The longer I wait, the more this being was manifesting itself, or even worse, was creating more space between itself and Me. 'Patience', I cooed to myself with a sigh. Not knowing what the being was for sure, was what was beginning to drive me mad. 'Was it my attire?' I thought as I looked down at my wardrobe. Many young women wore this dress in town. Maybe the color was too off? Before I could think of anything else I saw a familiar figure walking through the next street over. Although he wore a large coat, I recognized the dragon. There was someone else with him today. Another dragon? Unable to see her clearly I give up on my curiosity and return to my thoughts beforehand . Suddenly a child in a uniform can be seen greeting the couple, and with the child being picked up and spun by the girl, bingo. The tag that Wei mentioned can be seen behind the child's shoulder. It was a golden tag, a ring with an old character symbolizing "end."a very old and ancient language indeed. I had only recalled learning such characters in an old witchcraft spell book. Although it's only been used to mark children, it should also work as a time clock for when they are at their ripest. Which narrows it down to a few specters. 'If I could get a closer look..' I thought. Noticing the rainfall cease, I incautiously walked toward the group keeping my eyes fixated on the child whenever she gave me the opportunity to grace me with her backside. I made my way over a hill that ran alongside the bridge I took refuge under and walked along the very sidewalk the group were in. By the time we crossed paths I was able to hear the child mention a school. Crossing my arms as I continued down the street in thought, it had dawned to me before to look for another school, however the towns layout made it difficult to find the ones I've run into so far. I stopped at the corner. Turning to my right my eyes widened at the discovery of a large campus at the end of the next street over. Children with similar uniforms as the one I had just seen, nearly all marked with the same tags.

Lilly snapped open her can of carbonated ginger lime and was taken aback when it started to foam over the opening, "ahk!" She quickly brought the can to her mouth and drank the foam until it started to settle. "Real smooth," Rio pointed out as he sat across from his sister in the diner. They were finishing up their meal and Lilly wanted a drink before they departed. "Shoulda just waited," Rio taunted as he grabbed a cigarette from his jacket and brought it to his lips, "oh shut up," snapped Lilly as she swiped it from his lips, "these are bad for you, you know," Rio growled pulling out another one from his coat, bringing it to his lips and pats himself gently, looking for his lighter. "I'll be fine, I've lived a good life," unable to find his lighter, he clicks his tongue, "god damnit." Lilly laughs, "that's what you get for making fun." She drinks her soda as he puts away his nicotine. Including the one she swiped from him. "Do you have Zen's daughter today?" Lilly asked her brother. His lips twisting in response. Zen was his neighbor and although she was a kind middle aged woman, she tended to butter him up from time to time. Showering him with flirtatious advances and bringing him hot meals after work. As a single mother she's had to take care of her daughter on her own. So for some extra cash, Rio had looked after her child from time to time to ease the awkward encounters they had. "She told me that she wasn't sure about the date she was going on today." He took out his phone and pressed the screen a few times. He placed some money on the table and motioned to his sister that he was ready to leave. She finished up her drink and followed him. Walking out of the diner and realizing that it was showering, the pair stayed under the beam of the diner for a moment. Lilly stretched out her arms,"well I was thinking about making Mukbang if she comes. If not, what do you say to soft shell turtle?" She wiggled her fingers at him, knowing full well that he had become uncultured since coming to the homeland. The man groaned. "Will you leave me alone if I do?" Before she could respond the pair hear a voice behind them, "Lili!" The both of them turned to the sound and see a small girl run up to Lilly. "We get to play today!" Lilly smiled at the girl and scooped her up into her arms, "Oh! My sweet potato! How have you been?" A woman then followed behind the girl, , joining the group. "Hey Rio~ thanks for watching Vivi tonight," when the shower let up, the gang began to walk down the street, "No problem, enjoy your date," Lilly butts in, "good luck by the way! It's about time you started looking around again." The woman giggled, "although I was hoping your brother would valiantly scoop me up into his arms, I can't wait for him any longer~," Rio shrugged, as she dramatically rested her wrist to her temple. "I have wants and needs too you know," Rio rolled his eyes before Lilly laughed and continued to speak with Zen, when a strange woman caught his eyes ahead of them. She was pale, her hips rocking with her stride and her lips were moist and full. Her crimson eyes penetrating your soul if you looked directly into them, and her hair was short almost pitch black if it didn't have those red streaks in them. And she wore… wait a minute, is she wearing a mao mao café uniform? That's on the other side of town. The café is supposed to be a cat café that just opened up about two years ago. It's pretty popular in the springtime but.. isn't it fall? The dress she wore was a white lace with the skirt having ruffles. The shoulder straps were tied around the girls neck. The dress didn't have shoulders but it had sleeves that started mid tricep to her wrist. There was also a string that attached to her middle finger from the sleeve, giving her an awfully cheesy Lolita look. She was just missing the head piece, the tail and the paw gloves. Rio managed his composure well, as for his sister, she and zen just looked at each other after seeing the girl, "ahem! So, Zen, how was your day?" Rio interrupts the girls whispers. "I-oh! You know, the same as any other weekday. Brought vivi to school, got some work done in the office… oh! You know, I don't know what you two have been doing but vivi has been doing so well in math class now~" vivi turned around to face the group, "1+1 is 2, 2+2 is 4, 4+4 is 8, 8+8 is 16 and 16+16 is 32~" vivi sang. "Rios cheeks reddened when the girls giggle at her. Zen clapped her hands together, "my little bao bun is so smart!" Suddenly, Rio smelled something good in the air. Bamboo and sage with a hint of.. lemongrass? He glanced back, at the woman they passed before looking ahead again.