A Long Winded Errand

It was a cold and damp day. Myukou slowly walked up to the house of Aster standing in front of the building. She knocked on her door and waited for her friend to answer. She had a large backpack on her back indicating there was something that was going to have to be carried.

'Ah, hello little girl,' a maid greeted Myukou at the door. 'Oops, excuse me. I mean, greetings, welcome to the Twinkle Star nobility. Who do you seek? Would you like to come in? The weather's lovely today.'

"I seek Lady Aster," Myukou replies. She slowly takes a step into the building. "It'd be easier if I just wait here. We won't be staying here for very long."

'Very well, miss,' the maid replied, leaving Myukou standing in the doorway and walking out of the entranceway into the house. A bouncy step down some stairs could be heard and soon Lady Aster appeared, looking very much like your average Asian little girl, except for her jade bracelet and the green highlights and flower in her hair.

'It's Myukou!' Aster exclaimed. 'Hi Myukou!' Aster ran up and gave her friend a hug. 'What's that you're carrying?'

"It's a backpack?" Myukou said tilting her head a bit confused. "I usually carry a backpack, don't I?" She shrugged. "Well regardless it's more important thing time. My dad told me to pick up some chemicals for a science project he's working on. Because I won't want to go alone, I figured I'll ask if you'd like to go."

'Of course,' agreed Aster. 'It's always fun to go on a journey and you're the best companion. Let's go!' She led Myukou out of the house and started down the path, forgetting that she didn't know which way they were going.

"I'll lead the way," Myukou said as she started walking towards the train station of the town.

Aster skipped along next to Myukou. 'Don't you ever wish you were a little grassy fox so you could turn this day bright, sunny, and warm?' she asked. 'Or do you prefer the weather like this?'

"I like the weather better like this," Myukou replies. "It sets more of a mood. Not to mention it's really pretty looking." Myukou gazed up at the sky. She easily got lost into it, and continued staring at it for quite a while.


(It's harder to do long replies in this one)

Aster followed Myukou's gaze up into the wild grey yonder. 'It is really pretty, but what do you mean when you say it sets more of a mood?' she asked.

(Maybe that means the plot will advance faster.)

"I just get more emotion out of a overcast day than a sunny one. The mood that it sets and shines though can be felt and seen in ways that the mood of a sunny day can't," Myukou replied. "It just grabs me more."

(Hopefully)

Aster didn't get what Myukou saw in an overcast day. It looked nice enough, but sunny days were much prettier. They made everything shiny, bright, and lovely. For plants to grow, both rain and sun were needed and grey days like this one led to rain. What did Myukou mean by the mood shining though being felt in seen in ways that a sunny day couldn't? Myukou was a mysterious friend. There was no arguing with her, because she was very smart and even if she were wrong, there was no point putting a damper on her spirit.

'Fine, come any time you like,' said Aster cheerily with a nod. 'Let's get going, okay?'

"Aren't we already going?" Myukou asked with a shrug. She looked down and back to where she was going rather than elsewhere like she so often did. "When's the last time you've been to Stocke?" she asked.

'Stocke?' asked Aster. 'Never heard of it. Is it a place where prisoners are seated in traps for the enjoyment of passers-by?'

Myukou blushed. "That's something different. Stocke is a city that's a couple of hours South from here. It biggest thing we have to a big city in the nearby area. That is if you consider two hours away the nearby area."

Aster beamed. 'Wowie, a big city? That sounds cool. Does it rain often in that city? Are there lots of pretty city birds?'

"It rains there just as often as it rains here," Myukou replied. "Which seems to be more than the normal I guess. This place isn't really known for it's sunny weather. As for city birds I doubt there are any. Birds tend to be more common in towns like this."

Aster replied, 'Oh, okay. What else is fascinating, amusing, and splendid about a big city besides its size?' She danced a little circle around Myukou just for the fun of being a Twinkle Star family member.

"Well there are lots of different things one can do in a city," Myukou replied. "Unlike here where our options are limited, there are many different stores that offer all different kinds of fun things to do. Maybe I can take you to some of the places there while we are there."

'That's sweet, like berries,' said Aster, grinning from ear to ear as she skipped beside Myukou. 'Are we there yet?'

"Aster we aren't even at the station yet," Myukou sighed. "It's a long ways away."

'Yay, more time to walk with Myukou,' Aster cheered. She continued to skip in the proper direction thanks to Myukou's lead.

"Have you ever been on train before?" Myukou asked. She sighed happily. "Train rides are nice, espeically on days like today."

'Yes, my family has taken luxury trains to visit other clans of the nobility,' Aster replied. 'They are very nice.' Aster giggled happily. 'It's nice to hear a sound of contentment from you, Myukou. That doesn't happen every day.'

"Am I really that negative?" Myukou asked, now staring down at the ground. She didn't seem very pleased at this fact.