[CENTER][h1][color=#814b46]SEIMEI KEIKO[/color][/h1][/center][right][sub]tags - [@Hero][/sub][/right][hr]

[indent]The trip from the tower to the village proper wasn't long, but it was just scenic enough that Keiko sometimes wished it was—never mind that she didn't tend to enjoy her time in town to begin with. Even from her place at the outskirts she could see folks bustling back and forth, partaking in the aforementioned lantern hanging and bean scattering and all manner of festivity. She tried her best not to look sour about it, as if any of them particularly cared. After all, it was a bright, crisp morning. She had enough fruit to sate her all through the afternoon, and she had all the time in the world to do as she wished. It was just finding what she wanted to do with all of it that was the problem. Luckily enough, as she wandered the streets and pondered the issue, a distinct sound managed to snap her out of her contemplation.

[i]Ting! Ting! Ting![/i]

It was one relatively familiar to her. To everyone, in truth, as few in the valley knew how to work their own metal. They all inevitably ended up at the town's smithy for all their needs, although ironwork was scarcely what brought Keiko to the humble little forge. The proprietor's nephew, Tsubasa, was something of an acquaintance of hers. She had been picking on him since his folks sent him waddling up the hill to learn how to Sign, and long after his time at the tower ended after an especially amusing incident involving an old tome and her mother's enduring wrath. To the lad's credit—if she even had the right to call him a lad—he had always taken her teasing in stride. An unfortunate thing, as it only encouraged her to keep doing it.

Before she knew it her feet had taken her towards the market square, and ever closer to the source of the sound. As she caught sight of the young man hard at work, she grinned wickedly. She had always prided herself on her light-footed nature, but it was so rare she even needed to sneak up on him. He always got so absorbed in his craft that she probably could have walked right on into the work area and he'd be none the wiser. It still didn't stop her from meticulously toeing her way towards the forge, careful to avoid his peripheral vision as approached from behind.

Only once she was within striking distance did she make her move. A quick pair of fingers reached up high to tap him on his right shoulder, just enough to get his attention. Then, nimble as could be, Keiko ducked to his left and hopped up onto the table besides his workspace, careful not to land her behind on any of the cooling works in the process.

[color=#814b46]"You lookin' for someone, pretty boy?"[/color] She asked cheekily as she kicked her legs back and forth, nonchalant as could be.[/indent]