~^~
Already Deidre was starting to feel the strain in her calves, but at least reached the village with no problems. The stares of curiosity and suspicion followed her down the street as she passed the villagers. She stood out like a tomato in a bowl of blueberries. Her gaze was kept toward her feet, not wanting to catch the eyes of the people. Also, she kept to the walls, not daring to blatantly walk down the middle of the street. She didn't know whether these people had witches or wizards, but decided on trying to keep a low profile... as much as she could, given the circumstances.
The carts that filled the street were definitely those of an old village. Merchants on either side of the street were trading things ranging from food and clothing to even toys and jewelry. Deidre had managed to walk for a quarter of an hour before someone had taken more interest in her existence. Before she knew what was coming, an unexpected hand shot from and alley she had passed too close to. It swept her behind the corner; she managed a feeble shriek.
Deidre thrashed against her attacker, "What're you- What do you want?!" He gripped her tighter, wrenching her around and wrapping his arms around her to pin her own to her sides. Her back was against him. He growled, "Oh nothin' much.. just a little fun," A kick backward to the creep's shin caused him to give a deep growl in her ear "Be a good girl and I won' have to hurt ya'..."
"Eeeep! Get away from me, creep!" She had enough. Before her attacker could respond, Deidre slipped her wand from her robe's sleeve into her hand and flicked her wrist so that the wand pointed directly up to her attacker. She cast the first thing that came to mind.
"RICTUSEMPRA!"
The man screamed and wrenched away from her before falling to the ground and writhed. His face contorted with laughter and confusion. "Wh- haa- What did- you do?!"
But Deidre had already started to run from the alley, giggling. No real damage was done, she merely cast a tickling charm on the creep. It would stop eventually, she didn't blast him that strongly.
She continued to jog down the street after she cleared the alley, deciding not to wander near anymore shady areas.
She would have continued down the street, but a wall of villagers stopped her from doing so. There was a spectacle of some kind. Curious, Deidre wriggled her way in between the people, trying to get a better look as to what the commotion was about.
"Oh!" She recognized this. The emperor's palanquin. The procession of soldiers marched down the street as curious onlookers talked and whispered about themselves.
Excitement filled Deidra. She was absolutely positive this was Konan now. In the Universe of the Four Gods. And in that pretty oriental decorated box sat the emperor, or more familiar to D, Hotohori of the Suzaku seven. But something was off. Soldiers continued down the road while Deidre still couldn't figure out what was different. Her head tilted in a thoughtful pose.
'..Ooooh,' She thought, 'Where's the heroine and hero of this story?'
She didn't have to wait long before some action down the wall of villagers filled in the holes of her memory. A single girl dressed in a brown schoolgirl uniform came bounding out of the line and along the emperor's side.
Deidra brought a hand to her face in exasperation. If she ever got the chance to talk to this dunderhead, she'd have a few things to say.
'Honestly, you'd think someone who ends up here as long as she does..!'
Quickly she made her way toward the other end of the crowd, closer to the commotion. She got there just in time to have a front row view to see the light of Suzaku engulf the two people now directly in front of the emperor. She watched with bewildered fascination as the familiar plot played through. The priestess almost made it back to her world. As confused as they were, the soldiers arrested the miko and warrior, not knowing their identities. But Deidre knew. And she wanted more opportunity to be involved in her favorite story.
Quickly Deidre forced her way past the wall of villagers and ran down the street.
.:~*~:.
