The Crane stood on one foot ankle-deep in the water of fountain feature, her eyes closed, face tilting towards the sun. The bubbling water of the fountain wasn’t reaching her, and the little droplets flicking onto her clothes didn’t seem to bother her in the slightest. People who saw her were scooting past somewhat uncomfortably, trying not to pay too much attention to the strange woman communing with the sun in a fountain in the middle of the city. “Hey!” The voice didn’t register at first, and it was only until the policeman was leaning in front of her, scowling, that Yeon-Ah opened her eyes and seemed to notice the racket she was kicking up. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The policeman asked, staring at her like she was a crazy person. Probably because that was what he thought she was.
“Oh!” Yeon-Ah exclaimed back lightly, surprised. She put her other foot down and carefully brushed her hair out of her face, meeting the policeman’s eyes with an innocent smile. Her voice was light, as if carried on the cool breeze. “Who are you, sir?”
For a second, he actually seemed shaken, but then he shook his head roughly and the exasperation went back into his tone and expression. “What do you mean, ‘who are you,’ lady? You can’t stand in this fountain!” He shook a finger at the fountain.
“I can’t?” Her warm brown eyes grew wide. “Ah. I see. It was my mistake.” She hadn’t meant to offend. With an unrattled little chuckle, she stepped softly back out onto the concrete, almost seeming to float over the edge of the fountain. She pulled a cloth from the pocket of her jacket and leaned down to wipe her feet off, in no hurry. “I am very sorry, sir. Thank you for telling me.” As she stood up again, she gave him a slight but polite bow. “I will endeavor not to make the same mistake again.”
Leaving the policeman utterly stunned behind her, she folded her little cloth back up and tucked it snugly in her pocket before simply walking off, a pleasant smell wafting from her soft brown hair as she left. Not sure if he was stunned or impressed, he let her go, losing the will to report the strange encounter.