Endless Rain
Part 25: How Rude

"You ... pooped ... on your carpet ..."

Kino's neighbor was still trying to understand exactly what he was trying to say. Kino was an older gentleman, yes, but this was completely uncharacteristic of him. Was he finally going senile? The dark-haired woman leaned on her doorpost, simply contemplating what could be going through Kino's head right now. A moment later, however, she broke into laughter and called into her house for her husband to hear this.

Oh great ... Kino thought, embarassment reddening his face considerably even before the woman's husband began to laugh at the lady's re-telling. This is going to be a long day ... I can already tell ... he contemplated, turning on his heel in an effort to slink away with as much of his remaining pride as he could. The good lady neighbor stopped him with a gentle word.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have laughed ... I didn't know you were being serious. I'll come and show you what to do."

***

"I cannot speak with you again until you find the next crystal. Make haste. The Sendo seek the crystals as well, and are ever nearing the next that must be found. The red dragon guards the clue."

Baku spoke, disappearing into the forest. Nagata, Hitori, and Hana could only stare after him as he seemed to fade into the background, wondering if he was even really there in the first place.

"He--" Hana began.

"Afrain's son ..." Hitori spoke, finishing the thought.

Pretty soon, both Hitori and Hana were focused on Nagata. He had been getting advice from this man. This man who turns out to be the son of Afrain. And that was unbelievable news. Sure, the fact that the man had opened the way to the labyrinth was amazing and made him a very powerful person, but this conversation just hoisted him into the pages of legend and possibly even immortality! Nagata seemed more shocked than any of them or all of them put together. He was speechless.

***

The villagers stepped back as Moyasu fell, confused and fearful as they were unsure if she was friend or foe. She had been found suspiciously in a tree, where she could very well have been hiding, and had just now professed her lineage as being of the Chi tribe. They didn't know what to believe, but they were stunned enough to barely notice Moyasu was in trouble until she'd already hit the ground with a resounding thud.

"Afrain above!"

Moyasu cursed, the stabbing pain of multiple leafy branches stabbing her body and limbs adding discomfort to the bruises she already knew were forming from the steep fall. Also, with dismay, she realized she couldn't move even if she wanted to. Her ankle had been sprained.

"YOU MIKOMI ARE EVIL!"

She vented, wiggling back and forth in the confines of the bush as the onlookers continued to look dumb-founded down upon her.

"May I be--" "So kinda as to--" "Help you up?" The triplets spoke, Wevlum reaching his good arm down and gripping Moyasu's forearm as Wevli took hold of her feet and Wevles began to free her from the thorns and twigs that were pinning her down by her clothing.

"MY FOOT!" Moyasu yelped immediately as the three began to lift her out of her predicament.

"Sorry ..." Wevli apologized, taking a grip at her knee instead. Moyasu only growled and clenched her teeth, her eyes closed for the surge of pain now throbbing in her foot. She was almost beside herself. And the next thing she knew, she was in a room in the village, laying on a bed as a man prodded her foot.

"LEAVE ME BE!" She hissed, using her good leg to take a swing at him.