103 Everhand: 8105 (1/2)
Everything was on me now that I'm in Everhand. Once the ship landed at the Linden District, my sole priority was to find Yuuna.
A couple of blocks away from the port and into the market, I was greeted by stalls and friendly Elves trying to sell me something. People selling fish may not know where Yuuna was, so I walked around until I found a cobbler working on shoes outside his shop.
Kenta: ”Scuse me, is there anyone named Yuuna 'round here?”
Cobbler: ”Yuuna? Hmm… I may have heard the name. It sounds familiar.”
Kenta: ”You know where I'd find her?”
Cobbler: ”No, but I know she had a place near a bar. I think it was called Aki's Hub. It's somewhere in the south.”
I hit the nail on the head!
Sort of…
Kenta: ”Where's that?”
Cobbler: ”I don't know it well… it's all the way in the Historic District.”
Well, I could've landed in the Historic District, but it was 50-50 odds for me to get it right. Can't be a bad thing now that I'm almost certain Yuuna's still in the city.
Walking in the direction I was pointed to and gawking at the architecture, I inevitably end up in the Historic District. After walking aimlessly and getting myself lost, I forced myself to stop at a shop and ask for directions.
Kenta: ”D'you know where Aki's Hub is?”
Woodworker: ”That's down the street here and turn right.”
The further I go into the Historic District, the more traditional it gets. Almost all of the buildings were townhouses and a good number of them seemed like they were converted to shophouses.
The place called ”Aki's Hub” was no different. It turned out to be a nice, quiet spot that would be a good place to hang out.
Aki: ”Welcome to my hub! Have a seat and relax!”
Kenta: ”Scuse me, you know where Yuuna is?”
Aki: ”Yuuna?”
She narrows her eyes and looks at me suspiciously.
Aki: ”She doesn't live around here anymore.”
Kenta: ”Oh… is that so…”
I take a seat, rest my head in my hand, and sigh deeply.
Kenta: ”I'ssa dead end…”
Aki: ”Do you know her?”
Kenta: ”A long time ago, ya.”
Aki: ”Why are you looking for her now?”
Kenta: ”She's my kiddo's mom apparently.”
I really should've planned things out more accordingly. A Plan B would've been nice to have since I'm back at square one.
Aki: ”Well, if it helps… I hear she has moved to the Brewer Estate.”
Kenta: ”Wish I knew where that was.”
Aki: ”It's in the Linden District.”
Kenta: ”Really? I was just there.”
Great, my feet hurt already.
I already had got a sense of the place and headed back into the Linden District, asked around, and found myself in front of the Brewer Estate.
The gate could be opened, but am I supposed to do so?
No point in letting a gate stop when I already made it this far.
So, I opened the gate and walked up to the door, giving it a good 3 knocks before taking a step back.
Kenta: ”Ello?”
When the doors opened, a middle-aged, formally dressed, redheaded woman came out. She gave me stink eye, which made second guess Aki's claim that Yuuna was here.
Unless I really wasn't supposed to open the gates.
Woman: ”Can I help you? Better yet, what are you doing here?”
Kenta: ”Who're you?”
Woman: ”You're the one that's on my property. That should be my question.”
Kenta: ”I'm Kenta. I'm here for Yuuna Hisakawa.”
Woman: ”Well, she's not available.”
Kenta: ”Is she elsewhere?”
Woman: ”Yes. Try the local market if you need her so badly.”
Well, it might be more walking, but at least it's still in the same district. So, I sucked it up and went on my way.
But, as I dreaded, once I finally returned to the market, there was a carriage and a couple of guards blocking off the street keeping the crowd that has gathered from entering.
Guard: ”The market is temporarily closed.”
Kenta: ”It was open earlier.”
Guard #2: ”It was... but someone was just murdered and here we are. Until our investigation is done, nobody is allowed in or out.”
To hell with this!
I figured maybe a section of the market was closed and I went around to the other entrances, but there were also closed off. I sighed and sat at a nearby bench, relieving my legs and feet of hours of torment.
I'm ready to call it a day.
I brought money, but if this keeps up for more than a few days and I'll be sleeping on the streets.
Lady: ”Kenta?”
When I turned my head to the direction of the voice, I immediately recognized who it was.
Kenta: ”Yuuna?!”
Yuuna: ”It's really you!”
Kenta: ”Yuuna… you look… young? You haven't aged a bit…”
So this is Yuuna Hisakawa…
She sits right next to me and places the groceries between her legs.
Yuuna: ”How long has it been? Like 22 years!”
It feels like hasn't passed when I look at Yuuna. She always took care of her skin and I thought she was always self-conscious, but she still looks 20!
Kenta: ”Ya, that's right.”
Yuuna: ”I almost didn't recognize you. What have you been up to?”
Kenta: ”Just got here… 'n well, stuff.”
Yuuna: ”Wow, I can't believe it's actually you.”
Kenta: ”You look the same.”
Yuuna: ”What… You… Whatever happened to you? You disappeared that night. I remember we were going to run away together to Coria.”
Kenta: ”I got arrested.”
Yuuna: ”For what?”