Home Sweet Home

I.

"Reis!"

My voice echoed throughout the forest, my throat straining against the volume I threw out. I felt sweat drip down the side of my face but didn't bother to reach up and wipe it away. I squinted only slightly when I saw the ball of dark matter being hurled right at our opponents.

I barely remember hearing the horrified screams of the opposing team, for the spell picked up wind. The deafening air rang within my ears and I covered my eyes momentarily, so to make sure no dust would irritate them.

"Did we do it?" I asked, trying to look through the cloud of dirt while still holding the black book wide open.

I heard an evil chuckle coming from beside me that I knew belonged to Brago, "Of course."

I was finally able to look across the field where I saw the Moon Mamodo and his hon no machinushi lay out cold. The purplish blue book lay unguarded beside them, seeming as though it knew it's destiny was about to happen.

Brago and I walked forward in our usual confident demeanor, stopping just short of the two losers. Just as we did, they began to come to. Propping themselves up slightly, they rubbed their heads in unison, probably trying to figure out what just happened. When their eyes met ours, however, I'm sure everything came flooding back to them.

"No!" The man yelled out suddenly, snatching up his book and holding it close to his chest. He glared up at us, but his fear and uncertainty was evident, "Y-you can't have the book! I won't let you take it!"

I rolled my eyes, "Why must everyone be so dramatic?" I rested my left hand on my hip, my right still holding the book to my side, "We won, you lost, get over it."

The man gritted his teeth and scooted himself back. The Moon Mamodo jumped in front of him, as if to protect him. However, he was so beat up and weak, it was a pathetic attempt.

"Move," Brago ordered, taking a step forward and pushing the other mamodo to the side easily.

Looking even more scared than before, the man shook his head violently, closing his eyes as tight as he could, "No, you can't do this! Maru is my friend; you can't take him away from me!" He opened his eyes, but looked past Brago and allowed his gaze to penetrate me. If I would have let my guard down, I know I would have flinched.

"How would you feel if you were in my position? If your mamodo was the one about to be destroyed? Would you just sit back and watch it happen?" His words were tight with emotion and I could see the tears forming. I hated it when they got like this. They asked these…hypothetical questions that shouldn't matter at all. I didn't like to think about it; therefore I never bothered to answer.

This time was no different.

"Let's finish this, Brago," I said in monotone, flipping the book open to a familiar page.

"No!" The man screamed again in a pitiful attempt to stop us.

Brago directly faced the book the man held close to him as though he and the book would be able to save each other.

"If you don't let go of the book, you're just going to get burnt, too." This was Maru speaking, the small and slightly chubby mamodo. He stood up on shaky legs, sorrowful orbs giving a goodbye stare to his bookkeeper.

"No, I can't just let you go like this!" The man cried, shifting to his knees to crawl over to his mamodo.

Brago looked back at me, and I could tell how annoyed he was at watching this scene go on. However, for some reason I paused to allow them a final and proper goodbye. Though I can be coldhearted, there are times when I will allow such things. After all, we knew we were going to destroy another mamodo and there was no big rush to do so.

Maru smiled gently at the man, "Hey, we lasted awhile, right? We knew it had to end sometime, no matter what."

"Y-yeah, but…" the man sobbed and reached out to hug Maru, dropping the book carelessly beside him. Or maybe it wasn't so carelessly. Perhaps he wanted us to simply get it over with before he did something he would regret.

I watched the human and mamodo have their last moment before I closed my eyes gently. I knew Brago had his eyes on the book the whole time.

"Reis!" I yelled once again, hearing the blast from the spell. I opened my eyes slightly to see the book ablaze with an odd blue fire before both the book and the momodo disappeared. The man continued to stay on his knees, his fingers digging into the soft earth. Tears fell from his eyes, his sobs causing me to turn around and walk away.

"You'll regret this!" I suddenly heard him yell. Brago and I didn't bother turning around, "What goes around comes around. Remember that!" And those were the last words we would ever hear from the man that had the Moon Mamodo.

"Some people simply aren't made out for this," Brago commented with his dark eyes straight ahead and his hands behind his back.

"Hm…" I glanced over to him quickly before looking straight ahead also, "I agree."

oooooooo

Later that night, Brago decided we should stop so I could get some rest. I told him I was fine, but he said he didn't want me passing out again. I wanted to fight against that. I haven't passed out from exhaustion in a long time and was now more accustomed to the schedule Brago set up.

Nonetheless, we stopped in a small clearing about one forth of a mile from a stream. I laid down a blanket that I could sit on, resting my back against a tree as I did so.

"I'm going to get supper," Brago said, not even bothering to stop. As he headed for the stream, I sighed. Looked like it was going to be some kind of fish again.

While he was gone, I allowed myself to take a breather. Only when I closed my eyes did I realize how tired I really was. I guess Brago was right when he said I was exhausted. Funny how he noticed it before I did.

I folded my legs up to get more comfortable, but when my left leg slid against the ground, I cringed when a sudden pain shot through my whole left side. I pulled my dress up to my knees, only to see a large gash right on the center of my shin. Just the perfect place for it. I wondered how I got it. It was definitely one of those scars that don't hurt until you happen to spot it on yourself.

I sighed lowly, "Damn…" Now I had to get up and walk to the stream so I could clean it out. I stood up and looked out past all the trees. From where I was, I wasn't even able to clearly see the water. I only heard it due to all the splashing Brago was making. I took a step forward, stopped, and then sat myself back down. I'm not sure if my lack of motivation to go the short distance to the stream was exhaustion or just laziness. Either way, I had to get my mind off the pain.

I allowed my mind to wander to the mamodo we fought earlier. It's been a long time battle with the mamodo's and it's kind of strange to still run into many weak ones. Or is it possible that they aren't exactly weak, we're just really strong? So far, hardly a battle's gone by where Brago and I have to break a nervous sweat.

We have somehow earned a reputation of being one of--if not thee strongest team. Although Brago lets on that he expected nothing less, I know he's happy inside that he's getting closer and closer to becoming the next Mamodo King. I wonder if I'll feel just as proud as he when we finally win. I wonder how many more we have to get through. I wonder how much longer we have together. I wonder how our parting will be…

"Sherry," his voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked to my right, only to come practically face to face with another large fish only he can find. He jumped over it so I was able to see him, "How much do you want?"

"Half," I responded. He had begun to turn around, but did a double take when I said this. He raised an eyebrow and I showed a small smile before shaking my head, "It was a joke. Same as last time."

He stared at me strangely for another long moment before turning to the fish, "Too bad you weren't serious. It'll do you some good."

I lowered my dress to cover my shin, though I shifted a lot. The material of my dress irritated my wound every time it even slightly rubbed against it.

"Eating half of that fish will do me more harm than good, I'm sure."

He said nothing else as he cut a very small portion off for me. I watched him as he threw sticks together and then started a fire so I could cook the fish. He put the chunk of fish onto a large stick before setting it above the fire with the support of two other sticks with a little U shape on each side of the fire.

While he sat in front of the whole rest of the fish to begin eating, I scooted just a little closer to the fire to get warmer. Even though it was late spring, the nights in the middle of the woods always got a bit chilly. It made me almost wish that we could search for mamodo's in the city where there are hotels. Almost.

But there was always something nice and interesting about "camping out" in the middle of nowhere with Brago. The food, service, and bedding were free…not that money really mattered to me anyway.

I have to laugh thinking back on all the bitter memories of my childhood. Although I was constantly yelled at and disciplined, I was still a little rich girl that was used to a big, soft bed that always made itself. If someone were to have told me that I would be sleeping outside more than inside when I grew older, I would call them crazy.

"I think it's done," Brago said, pointing to the fish over the fire. I looked from him to the fish, only to then notice that flames were coming from the fish, heating my body instantly.

"Oh!" I yelled, hoping my dinner wasn't too burnt. I reached forward with both hands to grab each side of the stick, but froze when only the red fire was before my eyes. I felt the intense heat enter my body through all my pores, traumatizing my mind. Ever since that terrible incident with Koko, fires have been one of my phobias.

My mind flashed back to that moment, seeing the deep emptiness in my best friend's eyes and how she tried to kill me for standing in her way. I saw her walking towards me, raising her book and forefinger in my direction, her mamodo stepping forward.

"Goodbye, Sherry," her voice echoed through my ears as I became blinded from her attack.

"Sherry!" I snapped out of my nightmare when Brago pushed me back way from the fire. My eyes widened when I saw him glaring at me, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I stared as he took the burning fish off the flames and blew on the fire. It didn't take him long to put it out, but I could see the many black burnt spots all over the fish. I blushed when I realized how long I must have zoned out, but Brago only handed the fish on a stick to me.

"I hope you like it well done."

I took the food slowly from him, my whole body still feeling extremely hot. Suddenly, I wish I had another pair of clothing that wasn't as consuming and large as my pink dress. I looked down as I waited for him to say something about my stupidity, but was surprised when I heard nothing.

I sighed inaudibly and blew on my fish to cool it off. I found it more than a little pathetic that my trips to the past are not an uncommon thing anymore. Not to me, nor to Brago. I'm sure he knew what I had been thinking and that was why he didn't even bother to ask. I'm not sure if I was happy that he left well enough alone or not.

I wish he would say something…

Alas, I knew I shouldn't expect any words out of him unless it was important or necessary. I took a bite into my dinner, surprised at how good burnt fish tasted.

"This is actually really good," I commented aloud, taking another nibble from it. Though it was good, I didn't wish to burn my tongue.

Brago just got done eating his dinner; the large fish skeleton was all that remained. He managed to break off a small, thin bone to use as a toothpick and get the excess fish out of his teeth.

"We'll just have to burn all your food from now on then," he said, moving his hands behind his head and leaning back against a tree to face me.

"That won't be necessary," I told him, allowing a small smile to play across my lips. Another thing that I was able to accomplish overtime was how to loosen up. I still had my awful flashbacks, but I also gave myself permission to have a good time around Brago. Or…as much of a good time as he'd allow.

"Right, we'll stick with burning more books," he remarked, frowning even though he probably wanted to laugh in all the faces of his enemies.

With the mention of the books, I again thought back to the fight earlier and looked down at the black book beside me. I never let that book out of my sight and I protected it as though it were my child. Was that how all the other bookkeepers thought of their books also? Was that why they embraced it closely to their chest when they knew they were about to lose it?

Subconsciously, I set down my fish on the other side of me and grasped Brago's book, holding it to my chest in the same fashion the man had done. If I knew there was a fighting chance, I would keep the book safe until I was able to find a way.

After all, I made a promise to Brago that I would help him become the Mamodo King. And he's my key in getting Koko back to normal. But not only that…

I looked up at him, seeing how he stared oddly at me. I don't blame him. I don't know why I was acting the way I was, thinking about…everything.

Maybe it was the fact that the end was getting nearer and nearer. Perhaps I was thinking too much into how I would let Brago go so easily. Ever since I lost Koko and all the time and space that separated us, Brago quickly filled the place of my best friend. He was now the one saving me and making me stronger. He was now the one that encouraged me to continue forward and who got to know me for me.

He's the only one that knows how deeply I hurt inside.

And he and I both know that we will eventually go our separate ways as well. He will go back to his home and I will stay in mine.

Home sweet home.

"What goes around comes around…"

Too bad a home isn't sweet when there isn't anyone there to enjoy the sweetness with you.

11111111111

This is my first Zatch Bell fanfic, and of course I have to make it a romance. Sherry/Brago caught my interest and it made me happy to see other people wrote about them too. I don't think this is gonna be a one-shot…it just depends on how well people like this. I'm planning on making more parts, but this'll also work for a one-parter, so it doesn't matter too much.

Tell me what you think!

Enula