House of Dragons
It had been many months since Demon sent me any alert messages and my humdrum work routine was slowly grinding me into submission. Bleary eyed and half asleep still, I rolled over in bed as my Demon phone alarm went off. Just another regular, humdrum work day, I stretched and cancelled the noise. Reluctantly dragging myself out of bed and hitting the shower, drying and dressing before going to the kitchen to rustle up breakfast.
Feeling like I needed a break and to get away from it all, so I opened the portal app on my Demon phone. Thinking to myself even better if I could time travel and stay as long as I liked with no consequence, before returning to the Prime present as if I never left. I discovered I could not programme any destinations, they all seem to be predetermined by Demon with little or no information or description. I turned some music on from my stereo, sprawling myself across my black faux leather sofa as I glared into the mobile screen.
Getting comfortable and searching the portal app before the phone automatically flashed through a sequence of flashing colours. Mesmerised and hypnotised I automatically stood up, clutching my Demon phone and pulling on my jacket before leaving to go outside. Walking the streets outside in my trance like state without needing to look for pinpoint locations on my Demon phone. Turning down the street where I found the decorative back doors to the Japanese Sushi restaurant.
Passing the metal wheeled bins and approaching the steps. A quick gust of wind almost took me off my feet, disturbing my hair. If I did not know any better I swear I heard the soft whistle of a flute and the dramatic roll of Tai bo drums, leading into an abrupt singular bang! I realised I was no longer in the dead end alleyway, but on the outskirts of a small village surrounded by fields. Searching out lights in the dark of night, hardly able to see or find a path or track I wandered a little lost and confused in my trance state. Entering the quiet and seemingly deserted small village, I noticed how the architecture seemed very decorative and different than home. The rows of houses and shop fronts were made from carved wood and paper I think. I could not find anyone around, so ventured further through the village streets towards where I could hear a lot of noise and lights.
Venturing into the establishment, finding it packed with Japanese people, all drinking, talking, having a good time it seemed. Not that I could understand a word anyone was saying, I brushed and pushed my way to the bar, trying to ask and establish where, and possibly when I was. The young and attractive barmaid had a hard time understanding me as much as her, my inquiries did not get me very far. I could not buy anything, I carried no cash, and was unsure if my bank card would work. The bar predominantly displaying modern recognisable drinks and electronic sales devices assured me it was I had not time travelled.
I searched the crowded place for somewhere to sit and consult my Demon phone while I was inside and it was warm and light. Finding a notification and reading it "Welcome my English fellow to the far east! I hope you have been brushing up on your Japanese? No? Well do not worry too much, In fact Demon has been tracking your daily routine and all work and no play is not healthy and constructive.
Demon feels you deserve and owe it to yourself to go on an adventure, as a famous Hobbit once said! St George was famous for slaying a dragon, well bold knight, Demon has a quest for you to embark upon. First of all you need to find your way to the House of Dragons, don't worry, Demon will guide your way."
I closed the message and the portal app displayed its map with portal locations and a pinpoint labelled as simply "Dragon's lair." Heading back out into the high winds, and dark of night I followed the directions through the streets of the village in my mesmerised state. Walking through a neatly laid out and well tended garden with many interesting features before reaching a small structure entrance labelled on the app as being "Machiya." I had no idea what it meant.
Knocking the door to the accommodation where Demon had sent me. I waited on the front wooden porch, hearing a commotion inside from beyond the door. In my mesmerised state I stashed my Demon phone in my pocket as the door swung open to reveal a seemingly old Japanese woman, wearing a very elaborate gold and silver Kimono. On the back was an embroidered circle with two dragons seemingly chasing one another forming a Yin Yang symbol.
One dragon was embroidered in gold and the other silver. I apologised to the old woman for interrupting her evening, which she seemed to understand with a soft smile playing across her lips. Upon stepping inside I noticed a neat row of shoes along the inside wall, being welcomed into the home with a warm smile. Standing in the reception hallway the older woman welcomed me. "We have been eagerly waiting for you, since Demon notified us of your arrival, if you could please remove your shoes." Bowing her head to me.
I hesitantly copied a bowed head in response to hers lowering again to me. Slipping my trainers off in the entrance before stepping further on and into the living and dining room area. The older woman handed a pair of white linen socks to wear over my feet, she gestured almost in mime to me what I needed to be doing with them. In my mesmerised state I slipped them on sliding them over my regular socks, smiling back at her as I took a look around.
On the wall near the door hung a long scroll with Japanese lettering. This was displayed alongside shelves and various strategically placed artistic looking ornaments, she insisted I make myself comfortable. Smiling to me warmly as she encouraged me further into the reception space with what looked like interlocking floor panels. I would later discover known as "Tatami" a kind of smooth but textured flooring.
Showing me further into the accommodation, I was unsure of her intentions in my mesmerised state before she announced "I am proud to welcome you sir to The house of Dragons." The reception space was minimally furnished, off to the left and through a sliding partition door was the kitchen. At the back of the room were two sliding doors leading out into a hallway. The place seemed very cosy, orderly, clean and tidy with many space saving storage solutions discreetly hidden away.
I was gestured to take a seat in the living room which was furnished with a flat screen t.v and corner "L" shaped sofa framing a patterned rug. Placed square on the middle of the rug was a light wood coffee table, and the whole place was lit with electric lamps or dimmable spotlights in the ceiling. The older woman continued to speak in broken English to me "It has been so long since Demon has sent us a new man toy to play with. Especially such a tall, lean and handsome man, the dragons have been quite curious about foreign men." She lowered her head to me and in my mesmerised state, I lowered mine back in reply. Standing in front of me as I sat on the sofa, the older woman continued to play host, slowly lowering to her knees, sitting with a straight back posture across the opposite side of the living space from me. She then turned on the t.v and set the channel to the spy t.v network, singling out one of the many live feeds from the main menu. Turning to me and explaining "Let me introduce you to Yang Itami the Black Dragon which is under Demon's influence." I looked at the flat screen, watching the seemingly mundane daily routine for Itami.
She was wearing a plain black "Maiko" style of outfit with some gold floral patterning.
I was not aware of what a "Maiko" was at the time but I knew a Kimono when I saw one. The older woman after some minutes of watching Itami's daily routine then encouraged me to use my Demon phone and open the time portal app. She gave me a task instruction while speaking softly "Go through the red portal in the bedroom to visit Itami's past, while you are there you will not be seen or heard. To everyone you will be invisible or as if a ghost, people could pass right through your apparition and not see, feel or realise anything. Essentially you are merely an observer into Itami's prime past rather than your own."
I stood up with a bowed head to her in my mesmerised state, clutching my Demon phone and following the instructions through the House of Dragons towards one of the bedrooms. Sliding back the door and stepping through the frame, I was instantaneously transported to Itami's bedroom I had just been watching on the spy network. I could hear a harsh Japanese voice in the corridor from beyond the sliding door leading out into the hall between rooms. I tucked my Demon phone away into my pocket, looking around the neat and tidy bedroom space housing minimal furniture and a floor level mattress.