Chapter Text
Kyoto was a big city, it was the capital after all, so it had the honour to hold smaller festivals. Far more modest than the ones of modern Japan. Still it was a pleasant atmosphere, a way for Ashikaga to 'approach' the crowd despite never appearing in front of his pupils. His name was directly tied to the event. So people would praise him regardless. There were some shops and stores open, selling food. Mainly snacks for the kids, because this is who the event was mainly held for, the kids who would run around and laugh, enjoying a warm summer night.
Some adults had volunteered to do tricks with fire, others were juggling while some older ones were telling tales about spirits, soldiers and young maidens. Even the older kids of the capital had organised small competitions with makeshift prizes, such as wooden swords or crowns, there were races, or group games.
As usual the Hie za troupe was performing for the people. A man in elegant clothing danced and sang on a wooden stage, they had been building that stage for the past few days. It wasn’t the best but a nice change from the Hie za’s usual more formal, elegant stages. Made the famous troupe leader appear less distant, like a common man who was participating in the event out of his generosity and good will.
The royal blue mask he was wearing hid his arrogant grin perfectly as he performed with various musicians behind him. There were rumours that as a special treat for the crowd, his two sons, the future leaders of the famous troupe would join him for a Noh dance later on. Once more people had gathered on the pillows and blankets the people of Kyoto had placed around this modest stage.
Even the people who couldn’t see his dance because they were elsewhere could still enjoy his voice as well as the musical instruments.
There were a few people who couldn’t exactly attend though...
Seeing the people of Kyoto come together to the central street, or gather around the wooden Hei za stage placed just right outside of their town, was truly magnificent. It just wasn’t all that inclusive.
“It’s not all that impressive from what i’ve heard…” hummed Tomoichi. His legs were hanging from the tree branch he had seated himself on and his friend, Inu-oh, was just a branch or two above him. Climbing with that arm of his was really easy.
“You can go you know…” hummed the other boy as he let out a sigh.
“It’s not really suited for a priest, let alone a blind one, to attend such a local festival and have fun. If i’m not going to play the biwa, i think it’s best if i avoid it.” Plus, he didn’t want to help out with the music of the Hie za leader. Not that Tomoichi knew everything, but he knew his one and only friend lived there and the conditions weren’t ideal. So he had far better things to do than support a cruel, mediocre performer.
Other than that, he was much younger than most of the priests… The other place he’d belong was with the younger teens who were playing games. But who would want to play with a blind guy? No one would want him in their team or even play against him, it would be dishonourable to lose to a disabled person but also beat a disabled person.
Most importantly.
Any crowd that didn’t accept his friend wasn’t worth being around.
Inu-oh had stayed silent for a while, his head occupied with the festival both of them were pretty much unable to join. The day he got his legs, he felt like he could do so much like this was only the beginning and that great things would follow. Sure he did meet Tomoichi, but he couldn’t be part of a society, at least not yet. Not tonight.
“We can’t hear much but I can at least see some things! Plus can you smell the food? I can tell it’s delicious! I’ll go grab something once there are fewer people!”
Inu-oh’s stolen snacks was their primary diet nowadays. Especially during summertime because there were so many more windows and doors open, people were more careless and in a better mood because the hardships of winter were over.
A chuckle left the young priest’s mouth as he turned to look up at his friend with a small smile. He couldn’t see him, but knowing that he was facing him was enough for Tomoichi. “Is it pretty?”
Of course there were no festivals in Dan-no-ura… he’d never get to see one. There was also this ever lingering curiosity, he had never pried into Inu-oh’s personal life and vice versa. They were friends that trusted each other; they just hadn’t fully opened up about such matters for now. Gradually they were doing so. So hopefully he’d get some more answers about Inu-oh’s residence.
For once inu-oh felt relieved his friend couldn’t see his shocked expression. He had watched the Hie za perform countless of times, despite not being exactly allowed to see their training. The dogs were lovely company, but as he got older he couldn’t help but feel curious, his friends there were enough, they played around, huddled when it got cold... Inu-oh just felt like he needed ... More. So he would climb up at windows, or see the performances they’d host in the house. If anything it was the last thing he would want to focus on.
Not only was it dull, it was even traumatising to a small extent.
Well technically there were many other things to see down there, from their tree on top of a small hill that gave him a perfect view of Kyoto. They weren’t that close to see clearly. Still, he’d give him a good answer.
Now it was Inu-oh’s turn to chuckle, it wasn’t as sincere as his friend and there had been a few minutes of awkward silence as he thought of his answers. Yet Tomoichi felt the branch he was on shift once, then trembling, then it shifted again and suddenly the boy was feeling his friend’s body warmth next to him.
With his longer hand Inu-oh had easily seated himself next to the other boy and took a deep, dramatic breath.
“You already know what it’s like! Kind of… There are kids running around, some teens are with them they must be around our age. Older ones are in smaller groups, you know girls and boys because apparently it’s that age?” No one had ever bothered to explain to him how females and males worked, what love was, how relationships were formed.
But from observing humans, he knew that girls and boys were meant to end up together eventually after they reached certain ages. Tomoichi had confirmed his simplistic logic a few months ago when he had asked about him. Both of them were pretty inexperienced though.
“Yep sounds like it, though i think their parents will get a say in those matters eventually…”
“Sounds complicated.”
Tomoichi laughed and nodded “It kind of is.”
But for the both of them, especially Inu-oh, feelings weren’t that complicated. Maybe because they were already outsiders.
“There’s more though, it’s like all the neighbours have gathered and are trying to entertain each other.” continued the masked boy and he could see his friend look slightly surprised as he heard him talk more.
“See, it’s not a big deal, Ashikaga isn’t even attending so it’s fine if we skip this festival out.”whispered Tomoichi.
His troupe’s relationship with the shogun didn’t allow him to speak so freely, judge Ashikaga or belittle the event he had supposedly held. “It’s all thanks to the locals feeling generous and festive…”he added, which made Inu-oh hold his breath for a few seconds.
Was his host, the man wearing the royal blue mask and dancing, generous and festive? “That or maybe they have something to gain out of it.”
Fame? A good reputation? An opportunity to find a boy for their girl, or a girl for their boy?
Immediately Tomoichi understood and nodded, his expression stiffening a bit as he wondered if he had made his friend feel awkward. “What’s the dancing like?”
By now the boy had accepted his fate, he planned on changing it and for once he was feeling way too generous and festive. Maybe it was the fact that he wasn’t allowed to participate in the festivities, or he just wanted to do something nice for his friend, but he grinned widely behind his own mask.
“Let’s get closer!” he said, now grabbing the tree with his long arm and swinging himself down from the branch. Quickly he lifted it back up to help guide Tomoichi down the tree, that boy had extremely good balance better than Inu-oh, but he still wanted to make sure his friend didn’t get hurt getting down.
“And one day you can visit secretly. I can take you to the window near the practice room of their house!”
Sneaking around sounded fun anyway. Kinda like a game, hide and seek! His friends, the dogs, would meet his new best friend, the only human companion he had. The thought of how precious Tomoichi was to him, made the brown-haired boy hold his friend’s hand, as inconvenient as it was, for a few seconds to give it a light squeeze before they moved closer to the festival.
Yet as they got closer and started hiding behind houses and in the few alleys of Kyoto they realised that they truly couldn’t enter the festival. At least not without someone spotting Inu-oh. Especially if they approached the Hie za stage, the young teen boy would be in some trouble with the leader of the house.
As they saw how hesitant they both were they sat down in the end of an alley, hidden thanks to the houses nearby. “I guess it’s not that easy huh…” muttered Inu-oh. This was practically his fault, so he felt as if he should comment on it first. “Hey, you can go ahead and check out the festival. I'll grab us something to eat!” he added and despite being unable to see his grin, Tomoichi could tell his friend was smiling. It wasn’t the most sincere smile.
“It’s not important, I don't care much.”
Really he wouldn’t enjoy it without his friend anyway. “It’s more fun around you!”. Tomoichi’s hand was now looking for the other’s, holding it in his own smaller hand soon enough before he guided his friend away from the alleyway. Since they weren’t going, might as well go somewhere more isolated in case someone saw them.
He was certain it wouldn’t really benefit his own reputation to be seen having fun at such an event simply having fun, he wasn’t sure what rules religious people should follow as he wasn’t exactly all that passionate. The most enjoyable part was learning how to play the biwa and later on singing and playing and dancing with Inu-oh.
While chatting they made their way back to the hill, better safe than sorry.
The quiet music and noises from the festival along with their embrace, because Tomoichi was now leaning against Inu-oh and the later had his arm around his friend’s figure, the two of them dozed off for a few minutes. Taking a nap on this summer night. It wasn’t often for Tomoichi to sleep outside, but sometimes when the weather was good he would nap with his friend.
Just the freedom he had when it was just the two of them, to speak, to have fun, to temporarily not be Tomona of Dan-no-ura or Tomoichi the priest and just be … him, was a newfound feeling of comfort.
…
“Is it raining?” asked Inu-oh, his hand now moving quickly away from the shelter of the tree’s leaves to check if there were any raindrops. Just a couple.
“Tomoichi it’s raining!”he announced excitedly. He always liked summer rains; they were warmer than those hostile ones he’d endure with the dogs during winter. Those were lighter, fun to run around in and play with.
The ground got all muddy and slippery and it was so fun and soft to run around on.
The dark-haired boy blinked a few times, his sleep being much deeper than he expected so he took a few extra seconds to process everything. Inu-oh’s words, the gentle tapping of the rain falling on the leaves of the tree, then on the ground which was turning into mud. All the familiar sounds soon enough cleared his thoughts and he smiled slightly.
Summer rains were indeed fun.
“Do you think they’re still at the festival?” asked Tomoichi.
A mischievous grin found its way on Inu-oh’s face, he did enjoy eventually seeing Kyoto’s residents freak out and he had sadly missed it. Ohhh the Hie za leader’s expensive clothes getting stained from the rain! THat would have been a sight!
Not that he was vengeful, if anything he was just playful.
“Not sure!”he said, the grin being audible from the sound of his voice alone.
“Let’s check!” Tomoichi got up, hurriedly grabbing his cane and walking closer to the festival, nearly running towards the edge of the small hill to check for any scents or sounds. “C’mon already!”
A loud laugh left Inu-oh’s lips as he got up, rushing behind his friend. “Kyoto’s streets are empty!”he announced happily. Now they turned to face each other, both instantly thinking of the same thing.
Inu-oh didn’t want to go because of his father - who didn’t really know was his father now - and because of the world.
Tomoichi didn’t want to go, because of the religion he had dedicated his life to, but most importantly because he didn’t want to be in a place in which Inu-oh couldn’t be a part of. Not when they were hanging out.
That didn’t mean they didn’t want to go. If they were in a good, safe world they would have spent their whole night dancing and singing, enjoying the food, the stories, the games and performances. In that ideal world, they wouldn’t change anything about themselves, the world just needed to be more accepting.
Doesn’t matter. They had the festival all to themselves.
Now they were in their ideal world.
Inu-oh had grabbed a piece of bread from a house, they found a small wooden ball which they would gently kick amongst themselves in the rain. They walked around looking for anything left by the people that had celebrated previously.
A few kids peeked out of their windows and saw them, which earned a scream out of most of them. But thankfully they had heard the parents blame it on the spirit stories they had spent their night hearing about. Which earned snickers out of the two boys.
Finally they had their chance to be normal teens.
After an enjoyable walk they had reached the stage. It was still raining, pouring even, it had gotten worse than before.
“Do you want to leave?” asked Inu-oh before he leapt, landing on top of the stage and causing a loud thud. Though they both knew they wouldn’t just leave. Not without a song or two. Now they had their own stage.
Back then performing in front of a crowd wasn’t exactly in Tomoichi’s mind and for Inu-oh it seemed more like a childish or even unreachable dream, he wanted to and he could. It just didn’t look all that possible because of the way he looked …
Doesn’t matter though, they were performers and musicians because they loved it. No other motif. Money, fame or even a crowd weren’t exactly needed, not at the moment.
“You already know we’re not leaving…”hummed Tomoichi, a playful grin on his face. Upon seeing it the brown haired boy let out a small laugh and nodded.
“One song though, we don’t want catching a cold or ruining the biwa.” he added.
“Riiight, right just start!”
Inu-oh didn’t even need the music, by now he had gotten used to the rain and the silence, so he was already tapping his foot to made-up melody, perfectly in sync with the sound of the rain droplets, making small moves as his friend made sure the instrument was tuned.
Like usual it was perfectly tuned and once he started playing, following Inu-oh’s steps and later on dance moves, the two of them found to be perfectly communicating through their love for music. They were best friends, they were close, during dancing though there was a special form of connection. Some trust between them.
For a moment Tomoichi could swear he could hear the rain dancing along and following Inu-oh’s dance moves…