Eros. (Benimaru Shinmon)

🌸七 🌸

Year 195
As a way of celebration for the two Infernals,  it was in true Asakusa fashion to throw a festival.

I crouched down onto the floor and cautiously grabbed the kimono off the floor, swapping out my casual summer yukata to this beautiful masterpiece. It was a light blue kimono made completely out of silk, with an array of blue versions of sakura blossom patterns. The belt was a shiny ivory-looking fabric, also embroidered with silk. I grabbed a small bell collar from my rather large dresser and rang it.

I braided my hair in two braids, handing over my shoulder with decorative pins in place. My lips had gloss as a small smile played on my lips. I didn't look like the gentle soul of Asakusa but a very mature maiden.

"A gift to you my dear friend," I thought to myself as I walked out of my home and towards the main area of town. The sun had finally set, as the light from the festival lit up the sky, which could probably be seen from miles away. As I got closer to the festival I could hear the sound of music playing and the sound of everyone having a good time.

There were a lot of people at the festival as I looked around to see if I could see any familiar faces around but I couldn't see anyone among the mass crowd of people.

The main street was lit up with lanterns strung from the buildings, the smell of different food filled the air and the sound of music lightened up the mood. People from the town came to join in the activities, Asakusa was more alive than ever.

I walked through the different vendors and noticed the one seeking fresh Dango sticks and pushed, I tapped the edge of my face in contemplation.

"Come on Inori, you know you can't say no to Dango!"

How right she was...and my stomach was in the process of reminding me it required its hourly sustenance...

"I'll take four," I said cheerfully to the vendor.

"Hey Inori!" the vendor yelled out while holding four skewers with white, pink, and green Dango, as I took them in one hand, using the other to reach into my pocket for my wallet.

"Hey Sai," I said while handing him a few coins, "I hope you make a lot of money tonight!"

I set off, leaving the charmed vendor to his potential customers and walk around with the Dango in my hand.

Polishing off my third Dango stick, I couldn't help but notice that the men from the brigade were having a great time as well. Konro was right beside Benimaru with the drinks, laughing it up. The way Benimaru looked, aside from his uniform, he looked more handsome...maybe it was the fact that he was laughing. Whatever it was, I smiled at them having a good time and began to walk off, not wanting to disturb them.

"Hey Inori!" one of the town's people called out.

"Damn," I thought

I turned my head towards the person who called me to see a much elderly woman walking up towards me as I smiled towards her and waved.

"Beautiful woman such as yourself needs to be accompanied with a man," she reprimanded only bring me to sweat-drop at her statement. I hate the traditions of this town so much sometimes. Like let me be!

"I'm fine," I replied, "Besides, you should be giving out your Daifuku to the kids or something..."

"You need to get married, young lady!"

"But I'm only nineteen..." I thought but I couldn't help but laugh. Elderly people always want people to get married this day and age.

"Hey Inori!" someone called out.

I turned around to see Konro waving towards me while Benimaru was beside him drunk as can be and surrounded by the ladies. I rolled my eyes at him and turned my attention towards Konro and smiled.

"U-um, do you mind walking with me?" Konro asked a bit shyly.

I glance back at Benimaru as one of the females held his cheek and turned his face towards hers. He was completely out of it but that didn't stop him from wrapping his arms around her. I didn't even know why I was reading into her movements.

"Sure," I replied as I walked beside him.

"Beni, I'll be back after the fireworks," Konro called out as Benimaru shooed him away as Konro chuckled at him and walked off with me.

"I am really sorry for today," Konro said, "I had learned from one of the locals here that the infernal at your home was your best-friend."

"Yeah..." I mumbled, "But it is fine, like I said, you made a great choice by going after the other Infernal."

"Yeah," Konro said somberly, "But I should have left one person with you at least to put an end towards the Infernal. I don't even want to know what could have happened if that Infernal flipped the switch and became aggressive."

"Well, that didn't happen," I replied.

"Yeah," he agreed, "It's just weird for an Infernal to just blow-up though."

"In this crazy world," I began, "Anything is possible."

"I guess you're right about that."

We both sat down on the grass.  I looked up and noticed that the sky was lit with incandescent stars that shimmered and flickered like my old torch light. There was raucous laughter and excited giggling as groups of boisterous teenagers from the village huddled around the grassy area.

The smell of liquor permeated the massive throng, combining with the nauseating stench of pubescent sweat, creating a toxic team. And yet these smells brought my thoughts back on Benimaru. Why the heck was my head focused on his antics and actions. He clearly is going to screw one of the girls...but why did I care so much. My heart in a way ached. But I needed to get those thoughts out my head. There was an incredible man here wanted to make sure I was safe and cared about me...yet my heart was saying something different.

Konro put his arm around my shoulder while I took the opportunity to lay my on his shoulder waiting for the fireworks to start. It many outside of Asakusa this would have been seen as creepy. A 35 year old and a 19 year old. But maybe after doing a double take they would assume Konro to be in his early to mid 20s.

I heard the stream of fuse being lit. There was trail of light as the fuse burned into the central area packed with fireworks. Suddenly, there was a sizzling sound like sausage in a frying pan and a bright light growing in the centre as sparks flew. A burst of flame and a rocket the size of a man's head catapulted towards the sky, wavering in its course and seemingly halting at the pinnacle of its reach. Boom! The head exploded within an infinitesimal fraction of a second with a garish display of intense colors.

Several fireworks went off lighting up the area around us. We both watched the sky as the fireworks went off. He must of thought I didn't notice but I knew that  Konro turned to look at me while I was looking up at the sky. My eyes shining bright as the moon each time a firework went off. I then noticed Konro looking at me as I gazed into his dark raven eyes.

The firework was a supernova. All the colors densely packed inside revealed a luminous, exciting gamut of colors that touched every receptor in my eye. I knew the night was going to be long...But a truly marvelous one.

Cited(in italics): GauthamK-Firework display