#the blue peacock and the crimson oni. ✧; thread

[glacialswordsman-a]

starter | @crimsononiarataki | plot call

"Drop anchor!"

The command shouted out from the captain of the ship carried out through the docks of Ritou and had garnered the attention of some while most others continued doing what they were doing on the piers. While the sailors of the ship busied themselves with mooring her, a person's head of midnight locks peeked out from below deck before they finally made their way up top. With a deep breath, a tanzanite-colored eye shaped into a crescent upon the sight that greeted the newcomer. The gorgeous reds of the maple trees contrasted beautifully with the deep emerald tiles that lined the buildings, and the clear blue sky above them hadn't a cloud in sight.

Kaeya's breath was taken.

The traveler had regaled him with tales of their adventures in Inazuma when they briefly reunited in Sumeru. He gave the blond outlander all his attention as they and their fairy companion animatedly went on about the trials and tribulations they endured; how they ultimately ended the war between the Shogunate and the Resistance, as well as abolished the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decrees. This led the Cavalry Captain to ponder... he still has time that he could use up. He had finished all his work and cleared a couple backlogs that had been a thorn in the Knights' side, earning him vacation days. Usually he hates idling his time away, but this has been a nice change of pace, going on his own little 'world tour'.

Thus, here he is now. He had to hand it to the traveler, they really know how to tell their tales and spark wanderlust within the Cavalry Captain. It was a little frightening at first, going out on his own so far away from the place he's called home for nearly all his life; and yet, he no longer feels that fear now that he has made his way along the docks and towards customs.

Fishermen, merchants, sailors, and artisans alike hustled and bustled along the port of the entry island of Inazuma. Most people here seemed to be foreigners just like him, having set up shop in Ritou long before the Decree ended. It was a sort of comfort, knowing he wasn’t the only fish out of water. Well, he still is compared to people who’ve hunkered down here for a while, but he’s been reading up on some informative books upon the culture and language in Inazuma during his travels from Sumeru, to Liyue, and finally to the land of the Electro Archon. Hopefully he won’t stick out too much.

The process at customs was—not fun, to say the least. Despite the borders being reopened, the process itself to enter the nation was still grueling and tedious. It took nearly an hour, if only due to the line and how thorough the Kanjou Commission Ashigaru were when it came to checking luggage. The nation may be welcoming foreigners again, but they still seemed to be rather strict with making sure nothing illegal was being imported; rightfully so, of course.

Once he was finally freed from customs and given his welcomes to Inazuma, the Cavalry Captain released a long breath that had been buried deep within ever since the start of his voyage. It renewed his strength and excitement, his eye simply twinkling with near childlike wonder. He began to think on where to start, before hearing his stomach grumble loudly. Ah.

Perhaps lunch is in order.

[glacialswordsman-a]

“They never need a reason.”

He looked towards Itto and shared a look with him, one that meant a lot more than words. All it takes is for you to exist, he wants to say, but instead he leaves it unsaid between them.

When given the oni’s assurance, he smiled and nodded, relieved that he didn’t actually offend him. He really wasn’t looking forward to trying to save his ass or find himself another guide over some careless words.

As Itto assured Kaeya he didn’t have to do anything when it came to the bullies, the Captain expelled a sigh from his nose as he pursed his lips and leaned back in his chair in thought. He’s right, it’d probably do more harm than good for Itto. Kaeya can say and do all he wants when he’s here, but there is a possibility that things would only get worse the moment he returns to Mondstadt. That wouldn’t be fair to Itto at all, but it still rubbed the Captain in the worst ways.

“You don’t have to feel bad. I’d be doing it out of my own volition. Bullies are never in my good graces.”

Still, he left it at that. He’ll deal with it if the time ever comes.

Listening as the dishes were listed off, Kaeya nodded slowly in acknowledgement, humming as his eye narrowed, contemplating his options. He was completely fine with seafood, but raw seafood? Now that’s new. He’s aware that Inazumans are very careful when it came to it though, and he’s heard lots of good things. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to be a little experimental today.

“Hmm. How about we just give it all a go, then? Sashimi, sushi, and sakura tempura. I’m eager to try out whatever Inazuma has to offer, and I trust your judgement when it comes to the food here. If you say it’s fine, then I’ll happily try it.”

"It ain't even that, they just accuse me of bein' a curse or some nonsense more than anythin' else. I've never done anythin' to 'em to warrant it either,"

The Oni would chuckle a bit, Kaeya had a point, but he wasn't about to ask for any sort of clarification. He'd shake his head slightly at the apology, after all, it wasn't like the other male was calling HIM bull-headed, though in a sense he kind of was, wasn't he? He did have horns like one, after all.

"Ya didn't offend me, so don't worry."

He was actually pretty hard to offend. It was usually only after his kind were talked badly of that he would say something. He didn't seem to care that a group of people called him all sorts of terrible names, he'd never done anything to them, and he didn't let their words hurt him in any way. It was only when they said something about his FAMILY or any other Oni who might be out there that he reacted. Never violently, of course, he couldn't use his strength against normal humans like the people who called him a curse among other things.

"Ya don't gotta do that and I honestly hope that nothin' does happen because I'd feel bad if ya had to say somethin' to 'em since you're here on vacation,"

The Oni also didn't want someone to become a target because they stood up for him, or something, that's why he told his Gang to never try to retaliate. Sure, his Gang members were all human, he didn't want them to do anything that would get them into trouble because someone decided to be a jerk to him. He was used to dealing with the group of jerks, and he'd likely have to deal with them for quite a few more years, he just needed to hope that the kids didn't wind up turning out like their fathers.

He'd follow Kaeya to the table, they weren't terribly small, but for the most part he had no issues sitting at them. He watched as Kaeya showed him how good he was at holding chopsticks and he'd nod, the taller male would wind up using a pair of chopsticks as well. The pair he used were made for him, they were something he often carried with him so he had them just in case. As the other asked him what he'd recommend he'd give it a bit of thought.

"If ya like fish, or wanna try it the Inazuman way, there's the sashimi platter, there's also butter crab, these dishes come with a bowl of rice on the side. There's also sushi, if ya wanna try that, if that ain't somethin' ya think you'll like there are tons of other options."

He'd tap his chin as he thought more, he wasn't sure if Kaeya would be okay with sashimi, or sushi, both were fairly common in Inazuma, as there was an abundance of fish. Of course, if he didn't like the idea of raw fish, he could always try the egg sushi.

"If ya wanna try somethin' with a little more 'Inazuma' in it, that ain't raw fish, the sakura tempura is always good."

[glacialswordsman-a]

“Well, that’s how it usually goes, unfortunately. Regardless of your ancestry to this land, others will still claim it anyway,” Kaeya responded, his voice airy yet still carrying a quality of discontent to it. “Try as you might, people will remain proud and bull-headed—ah. No offense.” He scratched at his cheek, hoping that didn’t offend Itto because of Paimon’s dumb nickname and his companion, Ushi.

As the two went inside to the restaurant, Kaeya once more took in a deep breath and took in the delicious, savory smells that invaded his senses. Oh, he’s absolutely going to eat as much as he can even if it makes him sick if the food tasted as good as it smelled.

“Trust me, it takes a lot more than that to ruin my mood, Itto. Don’t worry about it,” he assured, smiling at the taller man with an amused huff. “I won’t worry, but if anything happens, I don’t know if I’ll stay quiet. I don’t take kindly to bullies, after all.”

With a hum, his eye glanced over the interior of the building, pursing his lips in thought before deciding to sit at a table. He’d love to watch the chefs one day, but for now he had other things to focus on, such as their conversation. And the food when it eventually gets to them.

Moving to take a seat at one of said tables, he let out a long sigh that he wasn’t aware of holding. His feet were kind of killing him, but it’s nothing some good food and rest won’t fix up for him. He grinned and chuckled as Itto asked about chopsticks, the Captain bringing a hand up and waving it in assurance.

“Oh, there’s no need to concern yourself over that. I’ve learned how to use chopsticks since I was a kid. Kind of had to with my upbringing and all the trips we’ve gone on to Liyue,” he explained, picking up a pair of disposable chopsticks. He snapped them apart evenly, scraping them against each other to remove any splinters off the ends before holding them ever so perfectly. He was always eager to show off in any way he possibly could.

“See? I'll be just fine. Now, what would you suggest? Let’s get a couple of dishes, I’m pretty starved and I’m sure you’d be able to keep up just fine.”

The sad fact of the matter was that the people the Oni was talking about had been coming after him since he was incredibly young. After the deaths of his family which all happened suddenly, and at the same time, it left the young boy alone. He was quickly thrust out of the house he'd been born in, and had been growing up in, because a child couldn't manage a house. There were some human teenagers, they were adults now, much older than he was, and yet they still came after him. He never retaliated even when he was younger and he never would.

"They don't like me because I ain't human. Despite the Yokai havin' been on these islands since long before humans landed here,"

The story itself was long, but the families of the men, some of the children liked him, because he was different, but their fathers didn't like them talking to him. He knew that, which was why he tended to not stay in Hanamizaka anymore, despite it being his hometown. They were welcome to bully him but punishing their children simply because they wanted to get to know the 'guy with the horns' was going too far. He had a feeling their kids were going to rebel when they got a little older. Some were getting ready to turn into teenagers after all.

"I won't bore ya with the story, besides you're here to have a good time not have some guy ruin your mood by talkin' about how some people are here. Ya won't have anythin' to worry about anyway."

Even if something happened, Shinobu would know where to find the Oni. She would get him fixed up and they'd return to the gang's headquarters. The only reason the human members of his gang never went after the guys who threw beans at him or tried to get him arrested was because he told them not to. He'd stick to it too. As an Oni he made sure to uphold the agreement made between the Crimson and Blue Oni, he'd never use his strength against those who threw beans at him. They were just normal humans who likely feared him due to how he was different. Or perhaps it was simply them being jealous that they were born human, and he wasn't, he'd never bother to ask, and the men would never have charges pressed against them, because the guards would always conveniently look away whenever the men did anything to him.

"The food here at Uyuu is great, I treat my gang to meals here every now and then. They're a popular place too because they're acceptin' of those of us who ain't exactly human,"

He knows for a fact that Yae Miko, a Kitsune, and Kirara, a Nekomata, were both seen dining inside a lot. The horned male also dined inside because the owners were nice people. They even made sure that if anyone had an issue with him being there, they handled it before the idiots (typically incredibly drunk ones) would try anything. Not that the Boss of the Arataki gang would ever do anything to defend himself. He knew better. Harming a human with his strength was against his pride as an Oni.

"Alright, I'll duck in after ya go inside, we can either sit on the raised seats where ya can watch one of the chefs work on dishes, or we can try sittin' at a table."

Luckily, the restaurant wasn't busy at the moment, the inside was welcoming, and slightly warmer than it was outside. The scents of some of the most popular dishes would hit as soon as the door was shut behind them. The Oni would look around before waiting for Kaeya to choose where he wanted to sit.

"Do ya happen to know how to use chopsticks, if not, ya can get a pair from them that are easier to use than normal ones, or just ask for a fork."

[glacialswordsman-a]

Upon the oni admitting that there were people that didn’t like him, Kaeya shouldn’t really be surprised over it. Well, he wasn’t, but it was still a little miffing to hear that even come straight from the man’s mouth. Perhaps it’s best that Itto is self-aware, but still, he knows the feeling that comes with the knowledge of knowing.

“Don’t like you, hm? I’m shocked. You don’t seem like a man that’s easy to dislike,” he answered anyway, quirking a brow towards the oni.

Regardless, Kaeya doesn’t take kindly to bullies. Even if he’s a foreigner, he won’t stand for it. It’d be irritating if his vacation was suddenly interrupted by some hooligans who wanted to stir up trouble with his guide! He has things to do and things to learn, and he’ll be damned if he lets some people get in the way of that because they don’t like a single man.

Though, he nodded when asked about the Angel’s Share. “Yup,” he started, enunciating the ‘p’ with a pop, “the Angel’s Share is one of the more popular taverns in town aside from the Cat’s Tail. A lot of people, from citizens to tourists alike, go there to try our famed Dandelion Wine. It’s always packed at night, so it’s very lively and loud while Venti—the bard—plays songs for the entire establishment.”

The land of Inazuma certainly does have a story to tell on its own, from each village to city, each river to sea. He definitely needs to establish some more connections here before he heads back to Mondstadt.

At the mention of meeting Itto’s gang later on, Kaeya smiled and nodded once gratefully. “I look forward to meeting them as well as getting to see your revamped headquarters. Thank you again, Itto.”

Kaeya took in a slow and deep breath as they finally approached their destination, his stomach protesting a little louder now that they were so close. It was a little embarrassing, honestly, but at least the hardest part of getting there was over. Now they’d just have to wait to be given their food, but that was nothing.

“Any war is awful. Noo child should ever have to endure it, no less be a part of it,” he stated simply, his eye lingering on the restaurant in front of them instead of looking at Itto. It was…a touchy topic, yet one Kaeya felt incredibly passionate about. How could he not, when he lived through it himself?

“Let’s go into the restaurant, I’m sure I’ll have ample opportunities to try out the street food later on. The thought of being able to rest while I eat is a lot more attractive than standing at this moment. Surely you understand?” he inquired with a smile, gesturing towards the door with his head. “I’ll treat you, as thanks for guiding me here and giving me a place to stay.”

The Oni wasn't too sure himself about if he was truly ready to visit the Nation of Freedom. After all, in Inazuma, freedom wasn't quite the same as it was in Mondstadt, sunset eyes would normally be focused on the person he was conversing with, but since they were headed to the city itself, he felt it was better to keep his eyes on the path ahead. Not that anything would happen but he'd much rather not accidentally walk into something that he knew how to avoid with relative ease all because he was distracted by conversation.

"Maybe, but I'm sure you're gonna notice that there's some people here who... don't exactly like me in any way,"

He'd give a rather vague, and very small warning to the other male, because, well, there was a chance that the group of men who often triggered his allergies for their own amusement would attempt to do so. Likely because he as in the company of someone from outside of Inazuma. It wouldn't be the first, or last time they'd probably do so, either. He dealt with it fairly often and nobody really cared about the situation enough to do anything about it.

"I never asked the Mini Melon to tell me where he was from, since her and the Traveler have been all the way to Fontaine now and all. Plus, if she actually said somethin' that made sense it'd be a first... since most of the time she's talkin' about food. Angel's Share, huh? I think the Traveler mentioned that place once or twice when we spoke a while back."

The older folks would more than likely be quite happy to gossip with Kaeya at some point in the future. They tended to talk amongst themselves and sometimes they told stories to those who they could tell were outlanders visiting Inazuma. The Oni being seen with him would also help him to more easily make contact, too. Since the taller male often aided those in Konda Village with deliveries to and from both the city itself, and Ritou. The children in Konda were much too young to walk the path between Ritou and Konda, and none of the elderly were in proper shape to defend themselves anymore should thieves or other unsavory characters attempt to attack them.

"Yeah, they've both got quite some character too, not just includin' the people, either. They're great but the land has a story to tell all its own,"

He wasn't typically caught being quite as eloquent with his words or descriptors. He also wasn't the sort to put an act on, either, he was being honest, which was also something Kaeya would have learned from the Traveler, though Paimon likely likened him to being a dumb oaf who knew very little in terms of speech patterns. She wasn't exactly nice to those she wasn't fond of to any extent, even when they weren't within earshot to hear what she was saying. He could only imagine what she might have said in the Nation of Justice about him, probably something that would land him in prison the moment he tried to visit. Despite how rather mean she was to him, though, he couldn't find it in himself to dislike, or even hate her to any degree.

"I wouldn't insist if I minded. Ya wouldn't be botherin' anyone, besides, I rebuilt the house myself, the boys helped me paint parts of it before the whole thing was revealed to my Deputy. You'll meet them when we're done here in the city and I take ya there."

As Kaeya spoke his words of seeming admiration for what he and his gang did during the war, he'd honestly be pretty surprised, most people chastised him for 'making other people's lives difficult'. What they didn't know was the full truth about why he did things to wind up in jail so often back then. After all, there was a LOT about him nobody knew, and he intended on keeping it that way for the foreseeable future. Being a Yokai, he was longer lived than the humans or 'mortals' as most Yokai referred to them. There was something more there, not just due to him being an Oni, either.

"The war was awful. We lost a lotta good people, and quite a number of 'em weren't even old enough to wield a weapon of any kind, yet they were caught in the crossfire. Anyway, this is the restaurant I'd recommend for anythin' ya want, but if ya really do want ramen I can take ya to the ramen stand instead."

The pair were on the street just outside Uyuu Restaurant, the owners were very nice people who made sure that no beans, or bean adjacent items ever made it into the Oni's food. The various street food vendors who cooked also made sure that nothing that could make him sick wound up in his meals or drinks.

[glacialswordsman-a]

“Then you’re already prepared to visit Mondstadt,” he joked with a bit of a toothy grin at that.

Kaeya knew very well that while the citizens of the land of Anemo would stare, they would be quick to welcome him all the same. It’s always that initial meeting, but once that was out of the way, he knew they’d treat him as they do with all others. With kindness and warmth. He expelled a soft breath from his nose, feeling a small twinge of homesickness.

Homesickness… It left a bittersweet taste as he thought about it.

He didn’t linger on it for too long though. He’ll return to the Knights soon, anyway.

When Itto brought up the ‘tone-deaf bard,’ Kaeya couldn’t help the sharp snort that left him, bringing a hand up briefly to cover the lower half of his face. He immediately recovered by clearing his throat, straightening his back a tad, yet his smile was full of laughter still. He had to hand it to Paimon, that one truly was the funniest to Kaeya. “Yes, well… He’s not from Liyue, he’s from Mondstadt. You’d probably have the chance of meeting him there, honestly. He frequents the Angel’s Share, drinking to his heart’s content and singing songs to all the patrons. I’ll be honest, he's very far from being tone-deaf, but it’s still amusing.”

While passing through Konda, Kaeya would notice just how many people Itto greeted and who greeted him in turn. Lots of elderly folk, too. It made the Captain’s countenance soften considerably, often inclining his head towards the new faces as a small show of greeting of his own. As the oni told him about all these people, he listened attentively. Every time he was given a name and a face, even when merely passing by, he committed them to memory. Perhaps he can come back at some point to properly introduce himself and maybe help them out a bit, maybe establish some connections here too. Older folks are the best when it comes to gossip, after all.

Eventually reaching the entry point to Inazuma City, Kaeya’s eye wandered once more around the village that was connected to the bustling municipality. “Konda and Hanamizaka, hm? They both have their own charms and characteristics. I like them.” There’s something about living outside of a major city that Kaeya prefers. It’s comfortable, cozy, and quiet. He still yearns for that peace deep inside.

As Itto began to insist that Kaeya stay with them, the Captain’s lips curved into a faint smirk, humming in acknowledgement and consideration. “You’re correct in your assumption that I’m an adept fighter, but you raise a good point about me being on vacation. Even so, a spar here and a fight there wouldn’t ruin the experience,” he first stated before adding, “However, if you truly do not mind and insist on providing me temporary lodgings, then it would be rather negligent if I were to deny your offer. Thank you, Itto. The Traveler was right in your kindness knowing no bounds.”

While there was absolutely truth to Kaeya’s words, he was also buttering up the oni just a bit. No harm in doing so, after all. It only works more in his favor than against it.

“Troublemakers or not, it’s admirable what you and your gang did for others during time of strife. It’s never easy to live amid an oppressive government, no less a civil war. It’s apparent that people are grateful for the sacrifices you’ve made for them.”

"I get stared at plenty even here, where there are various Yokai. So it probably wouldn't bother me too much,"

The Oni had no issues being stared at, it was a fairly common reaction to a lot of humans, he'd noticed. Some of them looked at him in shock, as if seeing a Crimson Oni was a surprise, of course, he wasn't aware of why that was just yet as he'd never tried to inquire. Not since he finished traveling along the known islands seeking his kind from among the villages he knew they'd lived in, only to find out they all died off long ago. Likely around the time he'd lost his family, both of his parents, and his grandparents too. That was before he wound up on the streets, and a while before Granny Oni, as she came to be known, found him.

He wasn't a member of the Fatui, and even if he was, for some reason ever invited to join, he'd turn them down. The only thing he knew they were good at was enabling strife, and causing war like they had when they convinced the Archon that Visions weren't something the land of Eternity needed its people to have. While there were still some of the Fatui Delusions floating around, he'd not found any recently enough while on his commissions. He'd been helping the people of Inazuma to rebuild as had his Gang.

Should he decide to visit Mondstadt, which was honestly fairly possible, he'd be sure to be on his best behavior as an outlander. His manner of dress would show that he was Inazuman, though, perhaps not all the humans in the nation of Freedom would be aware of that. Some might even assume he was merely visiting from Liyue, as they had a number of Adepti, though he'd only met Xiao, and Yanfei, personally. Only one of the pair were fully Adepti, the other was only part, which was honestly kind of cool for him to learn, truthfully.

"She mentioned someone she called the 'Tone Deaf Bard' but I never met anyone in Liyue who fit that particular description."

The Oni would chuckle softly after he admitted that. He had a feeling the bard in question lived in Mondstadt, as he'd been told the nation of Freedom was chock full of bards, and other people similar to them. While he was a good singer himself, he was no bard, he'd never tried to play any instrument aside from his drum. From what he'd learned from the Traveler was that the bards in Mondstadt tended to play an instrument called a harp. He didn't really know what a harp was.

As they passed through Konda Village, he'd wave at the various older couples, smiling all the while. None of them tried to stop the pair, likely because they noticed that he was with someone they'd never seen pass through the village before. He'd shown a few outlanders around before, so it was probably no surprise to any of them. He'd likely tell Kaeya who the various couples were as well as how long they'd lived in the village. Most of them had been there since they were children. While it was a fairly small place, there were houses that had collapsed over the years due to disrepair. He planned on talking to the village chief to ask if he wished for them to be rebuilt.

The breeze that filled the air as they grew nearer to the city would bring down with it, the scent of the great Sakura tree that rested atop Mount Yougou. The Oni would hum softly as he took a few deep breaths in of the scent. He'd always been fairly fond of the scent that the tree filled the air with. Even though they weren't very close to the shrine atop the mountain, the great tree was visible from not only the city, but also the surrounding villages. He'd grin slightly as he turned his attention to Kaeya as they stepped through the large gate that led to the entry of the city.

"The first village we passed through was known as Konda Village, this one here is called Hanamizaka, while it's connected to the main city, it's a different area entirely,"

Hanamizaka was also his hometown, though he lived outside of it now, that hadn't been the case for a few years as he grew up. It was just when the groups of humans who decided he wasn't 'welcome' started throwing beans at him, that Granny Oni had enough, and they moved somewhere else. Her home was situated near the Arataki Gang's headquarters, so she could visit him and his friends, or they could visit her whenever they wished.

"Ya wouldn't be imposin' and as a guest in Inazuma, I would personally feel better knowin' ya were safe from the Kairagi and Ronin, that wander the land. Don't get me wrong, I can tell you're an adept fighter, but you're also on vacation here, right?"

The Gang's place was actually really nice, between the Oni and the boys, they got it fixed up and fully liveable. Each of the guest rooms was fairly 'bare bones' merely having a human-sized bed, a chair, a small nook for reading near the window, a 'dresser' to store clothing, and a mirror. There were a few bathrooms along the hallway that the guest rooms were situated along as well. Only one of the rooms had a claim on it, by the Traveler, but Kaeya wouldn't know that unless the taller male mentioned it while they were walking. Or the Mondstadt gentleman inquired about the rooms at the house itself should he decide to stay there.

"If ya think about it, as you're likely a fairly good friend of the Traveler, who is a good friend of mine, I can't in good conscience let ya camp out in the wilderness should the inn be booked out, which... it has been since our borders opened back up. Ya could get lucky and a room is available but I ain't sure how much they charge per night,"

As Kaeya responded to his mention of his family, he'd nod, since they were speaking of his Gang, and Granny Oni. While most people who had even a small group like he did who adored them, would typically be fairly full of themselves, he wasn't. The Oni was a very humble person but that had to do with how he was raised, and how he didn't think of himself as this grand person no matter how many people in Inazuma he'd helped so far. He was just 'doing his part' to help his homeland recover from the war that he'd hated every moment of.

"Durin' the two decrees, and the war that one of 'em caused, I was a bit of a troublemaker, tryin' to show that what was goin' on wasn't in Inazuma's best interest. Older folks had been forced outta their homes... my Gang and I camped in the wilderness and had to deal with Ronin and Kairagi fairly often."

Not to mention the Treasure Hoarders and other people who turned into thieves so they could survive. Some of them had since reformed, but there were still a few who were stealing, not because they wanted to, but because they'd grown used to it.

[glacialswordsman-a]

“Oh, certainly. The people of Mondstadt aren’t all that well-versed in being discreet. However, I can and will assure you that they are harmless. The moment you open your mouth to greet them, they’ll be all over you and would be eager to know more about you while unwittingly taking you on a tour of our city fair,” Kaeya explained, his expression just a tad fond as he spoke of the nation of Freedom.

The only people Kaeya knows the citizens of Mondstadt would be wary of are, of course, the Fatui. Are wary of them. Fortunately, the Traveler made no mention of Itto being an agent. The Captain held onto the Traveler’s word after all, as they never have reason to lie to him. After all, they’ve mentioned knowing other members of the organization before, such as being acquainted with a few Harbingers. He wonders if that number has gone up since the last time they spoke.

Regardless, Kaeya knew that Itto wouldn’t feel completely out of place there. Perhaps a little, but not completely. Who wouldn’t feel out of place in a new location, surrounded by a whole new culture, after all?

When Itto brought up the Chasm, Kaeya paused momentarily and regarded the man once more. That’s right, they had mentioned their adventures there and how they had been with a whole entourage. To be honest, his memories of that time specifically were a little fuzzy. To put it lightly, he hadn’t felt all that well when the Chasm was suddenly unsealed and was out of commission for a few days.

This was a golden opportunity. Something within him yearned to know more.

For now, though, he merely kept his smile and nodded along during their conversation as the oni led.

“She has a few that are admittedly quite funny, though she definitely knows how to pick ‘em and irritate those very people with said names. The name given to you though is quite unfortunate.”

Unfortunate was putting it lightly, he knows. Although, there was a small side to Kaeya that found amusement in the name. He would never use it, but it is quite a feat that the fairy is able to come up with these ugly nicknames at all.

Keeping in step with the oni, Kaeya’s eye wandered here and there as he took in the sights of the land of Eternity, quite drawn to the vibrant greens, pinks, and purples. Even the little village that they passed through to get to Inazuma was beautiful. Humble, yet lovely all the same. The change of scenery is truly a breath of fresh air, and he almost couldn’t believe he was actually here in Inazuma. He’ll have to give the Traveler a souvenir from this trip.

A hum of acknowledgement left Kaeya as Itto mentioned the inn may be booked. He’s not surprised about that, but he was slightly surprised by the offer of staying at Itto’s gang’s headquarters. “Oh? Well, I would hate to impose. The last thing I would want to do is take advantage of your good graces, no less when we have just met.”

All sweet words with little meaning to them, if only to make himself seem a polite and humble person. As much as he would love to jump at the opportunity right away, he always has that little itch to keep up images, even with complete strangers he just met half an hour ago or so.

His eye lidded slightly at the mention of Itto’s family. A subject that Kaeya was quite touchy with, yet gave his attention to the oni all the same. “I see. It’s good to know that you’re surrounded by people who care about you immensely. That alone says a lot about your character.” Normally, hearing about someone who was surrounded by constant high praises prickled at Kaeya incessantly, telling him there's something much more to it. Yet, Itto was anything but someone like that. He wasn’t surrounded by frequent praise, no. He had something real. It didn’t take someone with two eyes to see it.

The primary reason for the Oni mentioning rice and noodle dishes was actually fairly simple. There was an abundance of them, different preparations, sauces, spice mixtures, proteins, and vegetables were served depending on where the dish was purchased. Though, every street food vendor, restaurant, and street seating establishment knew that he was allergic to beans and products crafted with them. So he never had to worry about soy, beans or sauce, being part of any dish he ordered for himself.

"I have a feelin' I'd get some pretty open stares anyway, from what I know of Mondstadt, the nation ain't known for it's abundance of creatures like myself,"

He'd chuckle, though this one would be a genuine one, and not one that was laced with worry such as the one when learning that Kaeya knew the Traveler, and Paimon had been. He honestly loved traveling, and as a legitimate adventurer now, he could go to other nations and do commissions there, as long as things were available for him to do so. Hearing that the people in Mondstadt were welcoming wasn't a surprise to him, the people were fairly 'free' though, as someone from the nation of Eternity he wasn't exactly sure what 'freedom' was. Well, he knew the definition but now how it worked for people. He'd learn, should he ever travel to the nation itself which had been pretty tempting more than once already.

"She opted to give it to me before she ever met Ushi too, I ain't sure if the Traveler mentioned a time where they were trapped in the Chasm in Liyue with a group of others, but that was when she decided my name wasn't good enough."

He couldn't understand why Paimon opted to give people such awful nicknames but he had no real reason to ask. Knowing the little pixie, she'd likely come up with some strange, convoluted reasoning, and stick with it. The Traveler never called him by the awful name which was why he tended to speak to them, over Paimon, who was more often than not, much more childish than she claimed she was. Especially when she was being ignored. Shinobu had tried to talk to her from what he'd been told but the tiny floating fairly like companion of the Traveler had stuck to the awful nickname. She even referred to him as 'bull-chucker' when other people were around, at least he was nice enough to her, not to do the same with 'floating lavender melon'.

"I recall her mentionin' a few other nicknames she gave people, but I don't even know who she's referrin' to, since I ain't met anyone who resembles any of the names she's given,"

As Kaeya turned down the offer of a small snack prior to making their way to the city he'd merely nod at the other male. The trek wasn't arduous, nor was it particularly long. The walk from Ritou to Inazuma City took less than half an hour and that was even for the older people in the nation. While the older folk were often slower at moving, than the younger generation, he'd seen some make it from Ritou, or the village shortly outside the little island within thirty minutes before. It the more moderate weather seemed to help them, and Inazuma was cooler than Liyue was, temperature wise, and it cooled down even more at night.

"I can't say for certain if there'll be a room available at the inn inside the city, but my Gang's headquarters has a number of guest rooms."

He'd continue as he began leading Kaeya toward the city, it'd be pretty obvious where the city was, as there were a number of very large buildings that were visible shortly after they left Ritou itself. He'd walk at the same pace as Kaeya so he didn't leave the other behind, not only would that be rude to do, but he'd not be a very good guide if he did that. Ushi would let out a moo as he trotted next to the Oni, easily keeping up with the two men.

"My Gang, to me, is like my family. Granny Oni, she's an older human who found me when I was a kid and took me in. She's raised me like I'm her own flesh and blood. The members of my Gang have all faced some form of adversity in their lives."

The Traveler and Paimon weren't aware of his being an orphan, and he wasn't about to mention it without needing to. It wasn't a secret, most people in Inazuma knew that the Crimson Oni was an orphan who was raised by a human woman. It wasn't just her influence on him that made him the way he was though. Various things his parents had instilled in him prior to their deaths stuck with him and a lot of them were reinforced by Granny Oni as he grew up. Kaeya was intelligent, he'd already gathered that just from their conversation so far, so it was very likely that the other man would easily put two and two together, just going off of what the Oni had said.

[glacialswordsman-a]

Kaeya knew that the proud nation of Inazuma was rich with history and culture, of that he had no doubts. He was eager to try what he could during his stay, but it was rather amusing to him that Itto only mentioned rice and noodles if his mirthful smile gave any indication to that.

At Itto’s mention of Mondstadt, Kaeya’s smile once more grew, giving way to the slightest hint of entertainment at the oni’s vague gestures. With a gentle sigh, the Captain nodded and shrugged his shoulders, his arms lifting in tandem. “Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea before, but who knows? If I like you, maybe I could put in a good word to the Knights so people aren’t entirely…perplexed at the sight of an oni. It’d be their first time seeing one, after all; but while you may get some stares, you wouldn’t be run out of the city. You’d be quite the hot topic, in fact. Despite that, the people there are actually quite welcoming.”

Kaeya would know, of course. He was a strange child, one who looked out of place in the city of Freedom, and yet he was still welcomed into their beautiful home. It sent a certain pang through his heart, yet he made no indication of it.

“—Bull-chucker? My, another victim to Paimon’s ugly nicknames. I’m fortunate I haven’t been given one, and I hope that it stays that way,” he stated with a light laugh, shaking his head with a sigh. “Can’t say the same about others I know.”

With his hands back at his sides, the Captain’s head canted to the side slightly, his expression earnest as he mentioned, “The Traveler is a fair, straightforward and honest person. Of course I’d listen to them over Paimon, at least when it comes to talking about people.” He couldn’t even begin to fathom what Paimon had said about him. However, he can’t deny he enjoys letting peoples’ imaginations run wild about the type of person he is. It gives him an advantage, after all. The less people know about him, the better.

He briefly paused at the mention of there being a food stand nearby that they can grab a snack at, and while it did sound like an appealing idea, he’d rather get from point A to point B as soon as he could. While he has time, he prefers his time to be carefully spent.

“Tempting as that is, I’d rather make way to the city now. I still have to find some lodgings, after all, and I’d rather do so before it gets too late. I’m sure you understand.”

There were other dishes in Inazuma, of course, but almost every dish was served with a helping of noodles, or rice, depending on what the protein was. Or in some cases, the individual eating the dish had a preference for one over the other. With him, he wasn't too picky, so long as no soy, or bean products were in his food he would eat most anything placed in front of him.

"Ah, the Nation of Freedom. I've wanted to go but I've been told it ain't a good idea since... well,"

He'd vaguely gesture to his person. He was large, had numerous markings that most people assumed were tattoos adorning his skin, plus he also had horns, and claws. Within a nation that wasn't one that was known for any number of supernatural creatures, having one such as himself show up for a visit at any point might not be a good look. He was already ridiculed by certain groups of humans in Inazuma itself he'd rather not face that sort of situation in another nation. Liyue was very welcoming, as most humans seemed to think of him as an Adeptus, or something. He'd never asked but they also didn't mistreat him. He'd even made some friends.

"Yeah, she kept callin' me 'bull-chucker', which I don't like, at all. I find it pretty rude, honestly."

Plus, she'd coined that "nickname" for him prior to ever having met Ushi, and he'd never once thrown the little bull. Ushi was his companion, and while the little bull couldn't talk in the same manner as they could, the Oni could understand him. Once their handshake was done both his hands would rest at his sides. His stance was fairly relaxed showing that he wasn't uncomfortable with what they'd talked about already.

"I'm sure Paimon tried to paint me in a very different light than the Traveler did, I'm glad they decided to say somethin',"

He didn't know what the Traveler had said, but he couldn't see someone lying to him to make him feel better, plus, he got along well enough with the tiny blond anyway. Paimon was a different story which was why he called her mini melon but not all the time. He understood the need for someone from outside Inazuma wishing to uphold what was in the various brochures that tended to be available on the ships that came to Ritou. He knew that a lot of the older folks did prefer being referred to by their surnames, but he was fine just being 'Itto'. Sure, Kujou Sara called him 'Arataki' more often than not, but he also called her 'Kujou Tengu' in retaliation.

"Sounds good to me, Kaeya. The city ain't too far away, but we're in for a short walk. If ya need somethin' small to tide ya over until we get to the city, there's a little street vendor here who sells dry-braised roasted fish."

[glacialswordsman-a]

“Hm. Lots of rice and noodles,” he jested, his smile settling down into something more relaxed.

Kaeya returned the handshake with as much firmness as he could. Despite his smaller stature, he still had quite a grip and strength to him. Still, certainly nothing that’s comparable to the larger man before him. Even so he took on more information of the other just by this simple exchange and his curiosity only grew. He wondered if Itto used those claws to his advantage, and just how strong he really is. Perhaps that’s something he can witness one day.

“Mmm… You know, that’s a rather good question. Not very long, as I would have to return to Mondstadt at some point in the near future,” he’d mention, his thoughts briefly drifting as he recalled how many days he had left on his little world tour. He quickly put that thought in the back of his mind for now, as there were other things he could be focusing on, such as more information and the prospect of food.

A new nation meant new intel, and if there was some way that Kaeya could make a connection in a place currently out of his scope, then this trip would have been more than worth it. While Kaeya’s reach was pretty big, there were still some places missing, and to say he wasn’t a little anxious about that was a bit of an understatement. Just a bit. He liked being two steps ahead, liked to be in the know, liked to have the upper hand and keep Mondstadt safe. Can’t really do that properly if he doesn’t have intel.

“Ah, Liyue is always worth the trip. You should visit Mondstadt one day too,” he stated, knowing quite well that Itto has never been there. He would know. Rather, everyone would know, as the sight of an oni in their fair nation would’ve been the talk of the town. The mere thought of that amused Kaeya to no end, and if things end up going well, he can look forward to it in the future.

Upon hearing Itto’s chuckle shift from something mirthful to something concerned, Kaeya’s brow rose as he looked to him inquisitively. At least, until he mentioned the…mini melon. “Mini melon, you say… You know, I think that’s rather apt for her,” he’d state, a light chuckle of his own escaping him. Though, he waved a hand in assurance, shaking his head afterwards. “While Paimon certainly enjoys to talk,” or yap, “most things that come from her mouth aren’t the best to reference. While she spun eccentricities, the Traveler spoke well about you, so you may rest easy with that knowledge.”

When Itto gave him permission to call him on a first-name basis, the Captain smiled a bit more sincerely, briefly inclining his head in gratitude. “Age similarities aside, I merely wished to be mindful of the culture surrounding names, but if you are comfortable with me calling you Itto, then I will, and Itto you shall be. With that being said, feel free to just call me Kaeya, too. Now, how about we make our way towards the city?”

"No worries there, there are plenty of options as far as food goes, various noodle or rice dishes, and some rice noodle dishes,"

The Oni's handshake was firm but also likely reflected his gentle nature as he had a grip but it wasn't bruising, nor was he putting any sort of pressure on the other male's considerably smaller hand. He was also very obviously being mindful of his claws, which, most people wouldn't assume was the case for someone like him. He was physically strong, and it showed in his physique, but he didn't really flaunt that over people. He used his strength to help others, which was probably something Kaeya already knew.

"How long will ya be here for? People have been comin' to Inazuma since our borders were opened back up, for pleasure, business, trade..."

He'd tap his lips a few times before the hand on his face would drop down to his side the grin returning fairly quickly to his face. Kaeya's thoughts about him being able to hold his own were very true. It was unlikely he'd managed to come across anything regarding the larger male's people on the boat ride to Inazuma, but if he had any questions about them he would be happy to answer them to the best of his own knowledge. While it wasn't a lot, he could, at the very least let the other male know what he knew just from being a Yokai. He was just glad that the tonkotsu ramen he ate never had any soy products in it, the broth was plenty tasty without a trigger for his allergic reaction within it.

"No problem, I understand bein' in a new nation, though I've only been to Liyue a few times since our borders were reopened, each visit I've learned somethin' new,"

Upon hearing the laughter, followed by the question calling him the 'famed Mister Arataki' the Oni would wind up quirking a brow upward, though it wasn't out of confusion. Especially as the other introduced himself, the name 'Kaeya' sounded familiar but he knew not to trust Paimon's general description of anyone she and the Traveler had met in the other nations they'd visited prior to, and after Inazuma, since they'd been back a few times since they initially left. He'd chuckle as the other described the Traveler as a 'small blond' well, MOST people were small when compared to someone his size, but he couldn't help but chuckle softly. It wasn't noisy, nor was it quite as animated as his initial laughter was. In fact, it could almost be assumed that he sounded somewhat... concerned.

"Ahh, ya know my compadre, and the mini melon. I really hope ya didn't get told anythin' bad about me."

Paimon was a chatterbox, she talked, and talked, and talked, whereas the Traveler tended to just let her. Most of her comments were fairly innocent but some of the things she said about other people struck him as somewhat odd, he never tried to get her to explain anything though, it was probably better that way. He knew she'd mentioned a Kaeya to him but he'd not really let her words hold much weight. he'd never been one to judge people based on another person talking about them. Everyone who knew Paimon knew she liked to embellish things and make stuff up.

"Anyway, the only Mister Arataki was my old man, I'm just plain old Itto to most people. I've never cared much for bein' called 'mister', personally. Especially since I'm prett-y sure we're fairly close in age."

[glacialswordsman-a]

It was only just now that Kaeya had noticed the little bull that was by the oni’s feet. He couldn’t help the owlish blinks upon seeing it, and honestly…it was cute! The Captain’s eye briefly lifted into a crescent before he remembered himself, looking back up towards the man he had approached. The brilliant grin he was given once they were face-to-face seemed like it could blind Kaeya, and it only further proved the traveler’s descriptions of the man.

With a hum, the Mondstadtian merely kept his easy smile on his face, noting that the other began to consider his question. He used this moment to take in more features of the oni, his eye flicking from one thing to another. The horns, the markings, the hair, the other’s apparent strength, the vision, his height… He seems like someone who could hold his own and even throw around his weight if he wanted to. Yet, all Kaeya saw was someone who had no intention of doing so, if his cheery disposition and desire to help others was any indication.

“Ah, I’m glad. As for what I’m craving, I can’t really say. It’s my first time here, so I haven’t really had any Inazuman cuisine before,” he’d state, attempting to recall any pictures or descriptions of some Inazuman food from the books he read on the way here. He was rather hungry too, so he began to think of the more filling options. Kaeya also brought his hand up to his face in thought, his eye squinting just a tad as he pondered.

A non-committal noise left him at the mention of ramen, figuring it’d be a decent dish to start with during his stay here. He’ll learn more on what food there is as the days pass, so for now it seemed like a good option to settle with. “Ramen sounds just fine. As much as I enjoy Liyuen food, I came to Inazuma with the desire to experience the culture here, including the cookery.”

Once the oni offered to guide him towards the city, Kaeya’s eye glinted slightly as his smile grew just a touch. “I’d appreciate that greatly, thank you very much.” With their agreement in place, it only felt natural for introductions to take place—which fortunately, the oni had the right idea.

Taking the man’s hand, the Captain’s smile grew into a bit of a toothy grin. It was good to have full confirmation in whom he was speaking to, even though Kaeya already knew. “Haha, so you’re the famed Mister Arataki?” he inquired, recalling a passage mentioning that Inazumans usually prefer their surnames being used by strangers. Better safe than sorry. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Kaeya Alberich. We have some mutual friends, you know. One in the shape of a small blond and the other a floating fairy.”

The Oni had heard fairly soft, yet clearly unafraid footsteps nearing where he was. Ushi was at his side, the small bull gently headbutting him to ensure that the newcomer speaking to the larger male had his attention. Since the was done with the tasks he'd been commissioned before, lunch sounded good to him as well. He heard the voice and as a result he'd turn his full attention to the outlander who was speaking to him, a fairly wide grin appearing across his face prior to him speaking. Despite the level his laughter had taken his voice was much quieter yet still easily heard.

"Ya would be right about that. I am a native of Inazuma,"

The reason for his laughter had been something that had been said prior to Kaeya approaching him and the other person had since gone back inside their humble home in Ritou. He'd lift a hand and run his claws through his long hair as he mulled over how to pose his own question regarding the type of cuisine the other was seeking. He knew not everyone was fond of every type of food out there. His Geo Vision dangled from the spiked choker he wore and it would be fairly obvious that he took incredibly good care of it.

'Ya ain't botherin' me either, I'm already finished up with the work I was doin' here. Now, what kind of food ya feelin'? The main city has some prett-y good options,"

He'd grip his chin as he thought a bit more. He almost always recommended Uyuu Restaurant, or one of a number of street food vendors. It all depended on what the person asking about food options wanted. Uyuu sold ramen, but Yukio's stand had a few different varieties of the dish, and there were various other places in the city proper that sold an array of different options as well. After some thought, he'd focus his full attention on the other male once more.

"If ya want ramen, Yukio's stand in the city has a selection, if you're wantin' somethin' more 'adventurous' Tomoki sells a drink known as 'Dango Milk' which is actually tasty. Uyuu Restaurant offers a nice selection of foods not just from here in Inazuma, but also Liyue, and I think one or two dishes from other nations."

He knew Kiminami Anna had something known as 'Pizza' on the menu but the Oni had never tried it so he couldn't say if it was good or not, and he couldn't eat the rice cake soup due to the tofu that went into it on account of his allergies. So if Kaeya had a certain sort of cuisine he wanted, letting the larger male know would be his best bet, since the crimson horned male knew where all the various food stalls and restaurants were located.

"If you're feelin' up to a small walk, I can show ya around on the way to the city, as well as around the city itself."

While he was no Paimon, he knew his way around his home nation, which was a good thing. It'd be strange if he didn't after all he'd been born and raised within the nation itself. He'd extend a large, clawed hand toward the other, an offer to shake hands in greeting.

"The name is Arataki Itto, though most just call me Itto since it's less of a mouthful."

[glacialswordsman-a]

Throughout the customs procedure, Kaeya’s eye admittedly wandered here and there (at least when it wasn’t his turn). He was all too thrilled to take in the sights, his heart fluttering in his chest with both excitement and anxiety. He hasn’t felt this in… well, truth be told, he can’t properly remember since when. Perhaps during the Stormterror incident? Or was it long before that? Even so, the esteemed Captain was a bit jittery, though to most he still seems calm and composed. Years of keeping up appearances, after all.

However, while Kaeya’s sight scanned over the scenery and people, he indeed caught sight of one imposing figure amongst the crowds. Long snowy hair with streaks of vermillion certainly stood as a stark contrast compared to most other Inazumans who normally had black or brown locks. Not only that, but the most glaring feature was the pair of crimson horns that stood upon the man’s head.

Immediately, the traveler came back into his mind’s eye. He recalled the blond telling him about the people they had met during their stay, from the spunky Naganohara to the esteemed Kamisatos to lend some examples. Yet, another important figure in the traveler’s tales was the Crimson Oni, Arataki Itto, which Kaeya had memorized the name of . His attention to detail never lacked, including names. He was told how the oni had garnered an ill reputation within the nation as a delinquent gang leader by the Tenryou Commission, yet was then assured that the man was respected and liked amongst many, especially kids. Of course, the floating fairy had many things to say about the oni despite the traveler’s descriptions, but then again, she always had something to say about everyone, Kaeya notwithstanding.

Kaeya couldn’t deny his curiosity and interest as his eye lingered on that form more often than not, and now that he was free from customs with his stomach begging for a mere morsel (how overly dramatic), the Captain knew this was the perfect opportunity. Not only would he be able to get assistance from a local, but he’d get to know more about the part-oni and hopefully have a guide around the nation. Plus, with the traveler’s words in mind of the man being approachable, not to mention hearing the way the boisterous laugh from said man cut through the air, he knew he had good chances.

With his charming smile plastered across his face, the man with midnight locks began his approach towards the man with crimson horns. With a small wave of his hand to try and grab his attention, Kaeya soon spoke out, “Ah—excuse me. I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m new to Inazuma and I just managed to get through customs. You appear to be from around here and seem like someone who knows his stuff, so I figured I could ask you for some recommendations on where to grab a bite to eat?”

Being that the Oni was in Ritou as a few ships arrived, he heard the call from the most recent to drop anchor. He was fairly used to seeing ships arriving and departing now, but before the only ship that dared drop anchor for any length of time was none other than the Crux Fleet's flagship, also known as The Alcor. He'd turn his sunset gaze in the direction of the ship as it docked before focusing on what he was doing prior to its arrival.

He spent a great deal around Ritou as a whole, actually, it was one of his favorite places, not just because of the sheer amount of outlanders who lived there, either. He helped the various people with their livelihoods, picking up and dropping off packages of goods from most of them. There was a place where one could get wine that was supposedly from Mondstadt, he'd never tried it in Ritou, and he'd also never once been to Mondstadt, the closest the tall horned male had ever been to that Nation was Wangshu Inn, which was something of a mid-point between Liyue, and the Nation of Freedom itself. It wasn't that he didn't wish to go, he'd just never had a reason to.

He knew very little of the people in or from Mondstadt, what he did know was so little that it didn't count as knowing anyone, let alone anything, about the nation itself. He knew of the 'Knights of Favonius' because Paimon never stopped talking about how the Traveler was an 'Honorary Knight' among the group. He never bothered asking what that meant, because he was an Oni from Inazuma, and not a human from Mondstadt, plus, it was doubtful he'd ever need to know much about the group. As if he planned on visiting the Nation he didn't plan on getting into trouble with the law. He was much more well behaved than he had been in the past, but since the war was over, and the decrees that caused him to raise hell abolished, he had no reason to not be an upstanding (or, as upstanding as an Oni 'Gang Leader' could be.) citizen of the Nation of Eternity.

For all intents and purposes, should the Traveler have mentioned anyone they knew within Inazuma, if the Oni was mentioned, Kaeya would easily spot him amongst the throngs of people. Especially since he happened to be in Ritou as Kaeya stepped off the ship and got through customs. It wasn't as arduous as a process as it once was, but it was still a fairly long process. At least it no longer cost people a ton of Jewel, and they could get a travel permit within a few hours, at the longest. That was only if they were still required, since the borders were opened up once more it was likely just customs that the outside folk needed to get through. Thoma no longer needed to watch for traveling people from other countries to aid, since the abolishment of the Sakoku Decree there were many people coming from various other Nations to see Inazuma for themselves.

As loud as he once was, the Oni was considerably quieter now, though he still stuck out due to his height, and build more than his horns. Of course, having Ushi with him made him a bit more obvious, though the little bull tended to play with the local children, or the younger people disembarking the various ships while the Yokai helped the older people, or those who weren't too strong physically, carry heavy crates filled with goods for them to trade or sell to travelers and locals alike. There was no more need to price gouge, and there were many new goods coming in on various ships. Alcohol was much more abundant in some places but those places were within the city proper and not in Ritou itself.

Once Kaeya was through customs, he'd likely hear a fairly loud laugh, and should he look around his eye would fall upon the very tall, clearly non-human, man a few yards away. His manner of dress was indictive of his being an Inazuman native, so if he felt like he could, he was free to approach the tall male to inquire about food and drink places that a native would recommend a traveler from outside the nation.