Happy Birthday, Airiko! I really appreciated the picture you drew for me for mine, yesterday. It made me smile. I know I couldn't draw something near as good, so I'm writing you a story!
I thought of the plot all day in school so I just need to write it. Happy, sixteenth! I hope it's a good one.
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING whatsoever in this story, except the plot of course.
If at First You Don't Succeed
Dedicated to "Airiko-the-Angel13"
"Oh, look!" Binka pointed to the brightly-colored flyer that had been taped inside a store window. "There's a party!"
The group had stopped in a bustling town to stay the night at an inn. They finally found an inn with vacancy after searching for what seemed like hours. It was hard enough just to get through the crowd without losing one another.
"Is that what all the commotion's about?" Mushra looked around to the crowded streets and stores as he spoke.
Skimming through the flyer, Yakumo read aloud
"Be there when the only daughter of the prestigious Ayumu family's only daughter moves to adulthood. Don't miss this once in a lifetime event that is being hosted by the Ayumu family.
It will be a huge dance, by request of the lady of the night. Be prepared to have fun. We hope to see you there!"
"It sounds like fun!" Esty jumped up and down excitedly.
"Do you think we should go?" Saago asked, with a questioning gaze toward Yakumo.
She considered this thought for a moment with a thoughtful expression, before answering with a smile, "Of course. I think it'd be good to have some fun."
Everyone but Mushra cheered with glee. He just watched them with a sad smile.
"Too bad," He thought to himself glumly, "Not so long ago, I'd be jumping with joy. I'd believe I could work up the nerve to ask Yakumo to the dance." With a small smile he added, "As if I could even dance with her without tripping over my feet."
He thought back to a few weeks ago.
The blade slashed through the last general, Kimylus, with ease. The dark shadow of flesh and cloth evaporated into an Encard. It spun slowly in the air for a moment before it began to drift toward the ground.
Mushrambo caught it between his fingers. He turned an about-face and headed toward where Yakumo and the children had taken shelter. Yakumo jumped up with a smile and ran toward him. She was caught in his embrace as she wrapped her own arms around him.
"You did it! The last general is finally gone! We can continue to Shinzo without their interference! Thank you!"
Inside Mushrambo's shared mind, Mushra grinned with glee. They were so much closer to Shinzo and he helped. She was so happy with him.
"No need to thank me, Yakumo. I only wanted to protect you, the one I love." For a moment, Mushra had a weird feeling for a moment that those weren't his words, but he pushed it aside.
"And you have, this entire time." She smiled and looked up into his eyes. Her blue eyes shone with love and happiness. "I love you, too."
Without warning, the realization hit Mushra like a ton of bricks. The man who shone in her eyes was only amethyst-haired swordsman. Not even a hint of his own self appeared in those crystal pools.
Without his consent, his body –No, Mushrambo's body- leaned down and kissed Yakumo gently on her lips. He stared out from his mind, shocked and stunned –an outsider, watching from the prison of his own rival's body.
That day Mushra finally accepted something her never wanted to think about. Yakumo loved Mushrambo. Not him. He wasn't -and would never be- Mushrambo, just a one of the medians for his body. The woman he loved, the woman he almost gave his life for multiple times just to see her smile, didn't love him back.
"Mushra? MUSHRA!"
Startled, Mushra snapped back to reality. Binka quit snapping her fingers in front of his face when he looked at her. Everyone was looking at him apprehensively.
"Eeh?" He had been completely wrapped up in his memory and was lost as too where the conversation had been. "Wh- I mean: Repeat the question."
"I said, Aren't you excited about the party?"
"Oh. Yeah, sounds like fun."
I'm doing this in chapters so at least part of it is read before tomorrow. This would have been a scene change if I put it all together. Next chapter