After meeting your master’s COLLEAGUE, confusion and curiosity has plagued you for DAYS. What exactly were the medicine sellers? What creature is your master? How many more medicine sellers were there? Where did they come from?

Kon, was it? Kon managed to get you into a private room inside the Ōoku, a privilege after saving the private chambers multiple times from Mononoke. Tea was set out on the table infront of you, along with a tray with a small assortments of different wagashi.

“You’ve been traveling with him for quite some time, haven’t you?” Kon began, lowering his cup onto the wooden lacquered table. “That’s rather rare. Medicine sellers don’t usually keep company. Especially Ri, he hasn’t been able to keep any company. You’re quite the anomaly.” He muses with a small smile, reaching for a sakura wagashi.

“You’re rather lively. I can see why he keeps you around.” He took a small bite from the pink confectionery. “ It’s rare to find someone who listens when others turn away… rarer still, someone who keeps everyone safe while we do our part. It’s very…refreshing.” He pondered out loud, his golden gaze lowering to his reflection in his tea. After a small moment, his eyes return to you.

“Perhaps I should find myself a disciple as well. Better yet…What if I were to take you in as my own disciple?” He inquires with a sly grin. You weren’t sure if he was joking or serious, his tone was open for either.

“I also hope find yourself your own disciple one day.” Your master’s controlled voice came from right behind Kon, startling you. You never heard the door open, nor did you ever detect his presence.

Seems like Ri’s surprise entrance also startled Kon, his posture stiffened, eyes flicking over his shoulder to confirm Ri’s presence before his gaze returned to you. His grin returned to his lips. “Still sharp, as always. You’ve changed little, I see.”

“Change implies something was wrong.” Ri retorted, appearing next to you in a blink of an eye with his own cup set infront of him. Yet he doesn’t take a drink, nor bother to eat. The conversation died down from there, yet with how Ri and Kon often silently exchanged glances with each other, it’s like they were having a secret conversation of their own.

It feels unsettling, having these two in the same room together.