Ok so if you read the update in my beast tamer story you kind of have some idea what this is about. this is sort of a cross over in the sense that I took an idea from the new game Beyond 2 souls but that's it. so as such when Soul is talking to Airi it will be in bold and when Airi is talking to Soul in her mind it will be in bold and underlined. Ok I'll stop talking and let you read now.
Prologue:
How did it come to this? In the bloody triangle…friends now turned enemy… they all look at me now with disappointment and rejection. I still remember the first time I met them back in the bar how I ended up on their ship in a barrel. For once things seemed to have been good in my life. I finally had something I had never had before…I had friends. Friends who accepted not only me but him as well. I couldn't keep him a secret for long…he likes to cause trouble…so I told them. I thought once they did accept him. Things would be fine. But things have been set into motion now…events that can't be changed. Now…I have no one to turn to…no one but him… and as my tears of regret mix with the rain all I feel from friendship now is sorrow and anguish...
Yes…how did things come to this? If I think back now… I would have to say it all started here…
Soul and Airi
I am cleaning classes at the bar I work part time at the moment. I wasn't supposed to work today but the person working today said they couldn't come in. so I'm standing in for her.
"Hey." I say to the empty room, "If I clean them will you put the glasses away for me; you should know where they go by now right?" Soon the other glasses that I already cleaned start floating as well and head to a shelf behind me. "Thank you." The bar doesn't open for another hour and the owner is out at the moment buying some more ingredients for the food we sell. Soon I finish all the glasses and take the time to sweep the floor. As I'm lost in my thoughts there's a thunk on the floor; turning I see the dustpan on the ground ready to pick up the dust on the ground. "Thank you." I sweep the dirt into the pan and it floats over to the trash can by itself. As I head to put to broom away things move behind me; when I turn the whole bar looks as if I closed it for the night. Chairs were stacked on the table and the lamps turned off. I can't help but let out a sigh, "Please not today…" I say as I start putting the chairs back down. "Ah?!" as soon as I look up the mirror that was supposed to be hanging on the wall is showing me my reflection. "Hey…oh…" it turns out that there was some dust on my face and I wipe it off. As I do so I'm able to see myself. Black hair as dark as the night sky long that reaches a little further down my shoulders and blue eyes. They're big and sad. Although I'm 19 I still seem a little younger in looks finally I take care of the dust on my face "Ok, now please put it back." The mirror floats back to where it was before and hangs on the wall again. He isn't a normal person…I'm not even sure if he's even a person from what he's told me. But I do know he's always around…he is my friend but at the same time because of him I have to stay away from others. Sometimes it's has to do with him but other times if has to do with me…I don't know if I can trust others.
Someone is coming.
Sure enough as he tells me the door opens and six people walk in. they're all pirates from the look of things, although that's all I pay attention to at the moment. I can make out his agitation as he doesn't seem to like them at first glance, although he never likes anyone at first glance.
Stop…! Don't start anything please. I pay no mind to the fact that they are pirates and give a small smile.
"Um…I'm sorry but we aren't open just yet." There's one wearing a hat with a feather and a red captain jacket that hangs on his shoulders. His hair seems to be about the same slightly dark brown of his eyes. There's a small patch of hair on his chin as well and he seems to be the oldest out of all of them. He speaks up,
"Aw come on this is on of the best bars here in Yamato. Can't you make an exception?" I shake my head no. "How come?"
Persistent-!
Stop…
"I'm sorry sir but the owner is actually out right now and I can't open when he's gone until the time says it's afternoon." I explain.
"Too bad…this place has the best Sake." He sighs disappointed by the news.
"Hey…" the one addressing me now has a man with an eye patch. He's a bit scary looking. His one brown eye seems to be studying me making me draw back a bit. His black hair seems to come out of place in front a bit. He continues to study me almost making me run away. Until finally, "Aren't you a bit young to be working at a bar kid."
"I…I'm not a kid. I'm 19 years old. So long as I don't drink any of the liquor I can work here." I retort in a shaky voice.
"Hmpf if you're going to try defending yourself at least have the spine to look me in the eye." I squeeze my eyes shut tight.
"Leave her alone; you're scaring her." he's scolded by someone else
"Doc if want me to scare her then I'll throw her into the ocean."
What?!
I don't think he meant that! Don't take everything so seriously.
"I'm sorry."
"Huh?" I look up at another member that has short black hair; he looks at me with kind eyes. I have to look away again because of his smile; I think any girl would fall for him and he wouldn't even have to try very hard either. "You shouldn't take him so seriously; he's just trying to pick on you is all." A look of concern comes over him, "Although I think even though you're 19 you shouldn't be working here. Why are you here."
"part time…"
"You work somewhere else? That's stupid why would you work two jobs?" a blonde haired man asks.
"Um…well…I don't make enough money from my other job…so this one sort of makes up for it." although he's not as scary as the guy with an eye patch this green eyes look at me as if he's judging me. I look away and catch a man with a bandana looking at the kitchen. His sandy brown hair peaks thought the back as he continues to stare. It kind of looks like his brown eyes look as though they're sparkling but I don't think I should say anything to him about it. Suddenly his eyes me mine as he narrows them,
"What are you staring at?"
"Sorry…"
"Excuse me but are you really sure that you can't open the bar?" I look over at the person who seems to be the youngest in the group. He still looks sort of like a boy with his big brown eyes and messy brown hair. "Captain's been really looking forward to coming here. Can't you please make an exception?" I'm almost tempted to say yes but I manage to furiously shake my head no again.
"I'm sorry but rules are rules. I can't change them or break them."
Annoying bugs… he's is starting to get really annoyed now.
Please don't…
They need to leave. You've said it twice now; they can't have anything yet.
That doesn't mean you can just-
"Are you ok?" I snap back to the others the captain looking at me a little unsure.
"I-I'm fine." the door opens and the owner comes in, "Um…I'm sorry I was just telling them that we weren't open yet."
"Haha! It's fine actually I'm in a good mood right now. Go ahead and open the store Airi."
"Ah…yes sir. I guess you can take your seats then." They take their pick of seats and choose a corner seat. The captain seems to be the most excited out of all them. As soon as I flip the close sign to open customers of various kinds pour into the bar. The owner stays behind the bar to cook the food and make drinks while I go around taking orders and sending orders to their right table.
Those people over at the table in the far right corner are getting impatient.
"Um…where is table 12's order?"
"Coming right up. In the mean time can you take this to table 6?" I take the tray full of drinks over to the pirate that came in before. "Here you go, sorry for the wait." I pass the drinks out to them. "Um…do you all need more time to decide what to eat?"
"What would you recommend?" the one with a bandana asks me.
"Oh…um…well I wouldn't-"
"Hey! What does a guy have to do in order to get so food around here?!" there are a few thugs that come into the bar rowdy and it looks as though they're already drunk. I look back at the owner hesitant about what to do. He only shrugs he shoulders and nods over to an empty table in the back.
"Excuse me I'll be right back." The pirates allow me to tend to the thugs and I quietly lead them back to their table. As they sit down I try to leave them so they can take a moment to order but one grabs hold of my arm making me tense.
"Aren't you going to take our order?"
"Well…yes but…in a minute…I um…I have to take care of the other guests too."
Grrrr…! I can sense his agitation rising with every second. I manage to pull my arm away but only a second too late; an empty glass on the table goes flying into the thugs face. Luckily it didn't shatter,
"Ouch! What the hell!" the whole place becomes silent with every one looking at us.
Look what you did! Everyone's staring!
"E-excuse me." leaving a very awkward silence in the main room I head into secluded hallway to catch my breath.
"What did you think you were doing out there?! You know you're not supposed to cause trouble Soul!"
He was scaring you. All I did was make him let go.
"You could have hurt him…! That's the last thing we need right now and you know it." my fingers rub a temple in a circular motion as I try to calm down, "Look…it's not that I don't appreciate the save but…I need this job Soul. We can't stay in our home if we don't make money to pay what we owe. I just really need for you to try and control your temper…please."
…
"Please Soul…just try."
Fine but no promises…
"Okay…" I take a deep breath and head back out; the noisy tavern is back to normal and it looks as though the thugs from before have left.
You scared them off from what it looks like.
Good, that means they got the message.
Ignoring Soul I start heading for other tables continuing on with the tasks of taking orders and delivering food. As time passes things seem to calm down and by the early evening there are only a few people left in the tavern including the first group that was here before. It seems like the captain keeps going on about stories about different treasures and what not. I can hear parts of their conversation about cursed treasures, different places… something called a field day they take part in every year. It all sounds so interesting that it sort of distracts me from my work.
You should be paying attention to what your doing.
I am…it's not my fault that they're loud…
Heh…that's a bit of a lame excuse but fine say what you want. He doesn't have to say it like that does he? Soul leaves me alone to continue working when the door bursts open with troops of the Yamato Navy. The whole tavern becomes silent even the group of six in the corner. What's more everyone in the tavern has a reason to be tense with Junpei here. A second division captain that abuses his power, Junpei does anything and everything to make our lives here miserable he's the reason my first job being an artist is making it so hard to keep up with taxes and what not. I sell my goods at decent prices and since I refuse to raise my prices I have to work here at this bar. I would rather avoid it but since Junpei runs this part of Yamato there's no way around it. Junpei takes a seat in the middle of the bar along with his men. The few customers we still had hurry to pay for their food and leave accept for the pirates from before. Something hits the back of my neck making me look this way and that until I find that the unnamed captain is beckoning me over. I hurry over and see what they want.
"Did you need something?"
"Who is that guy?"
"Um…someone you may not want to get involved with. His name is Junpei he's a captain in the Yamato Navy. But he's a real thug and bully; he's raised the taxes here and uses his power for his own purposes. Yet even the emperor doesn't find out about all of it."
"Has he given you all trouble here?" the one that looks like the doctor asks.
"Well other than raising taxes not really…it's the reason why I work here. What I do actually doesn't cover the costs of living so I had to take this job." They all seem to have serious looks on their faces, "you should…try avoiding Junpei." I warn, "He…doesn't like outsiders."
"Just do as you're told old man!" Junpei shouts at the top of his lungs before there's a bug thud. The owner picks himself up off the ground clutching his bad shoulder.
"Ah…! Uncle!" panicked I rush over to him and help to brush him off. "Are you alright?!"
"Yes, yes… I'm alright Airi."
Damn them!
Soul no don't! please don't!
What do you mean DON'T?! They just tried to injure him! Why shouldn't I snap their necks?!
You know what that will cause to happen…I know you want to help but think in the long run. If you hurt them. they'll blame us and shut down this place…uncle can't lose-
"Ack!" someone pulls me away from my uncle pulling me away from him.
"Just the person I wanted to see. Why don't you entertain us Airi?"
"No…! Please Junpei just order something and leave!" I try to pull out of his grip but he only makes it so that I can't escape by embracing me.
"Now that's not nice. We came all this way to see you and this is how you're going to treat us?" suddenly he pushes me away and I'm caught by his men.
"No! please Junpei take anything you want but please I'm begging you leave my niece alone!"
"I thought I told you to stay out old man! you want me to take your bar? Just let us have some fun with her and I'll let you go that's a fair trade isn't it?"
"Eek, No Stop!" the underlings start letting their hands wander over my body as I struggle against them.
LEAVE HER ALONE! Suddenly a window shatters stopping all activity. A tense silence fills the room.
"What the hell was that?" Junpei asks.
"I don't know did someone throw a rock at the window?"
"No you Idiot! Do you see any rocks in here?!" I look at uncle and he shares the same knowing fear that I do. Soul has officially lost his temper. I look at the group in the corner they seem just as curious about what happened. A few of them ask me silently what it was but I can't answer. Suddenly a hand grabs my face squeezing my cheeks as Junpei pays no mind to what happened. "Well then how about we get back to what we were doing before. I think you owe us a bit of fun Airi."
"No please!"
"Shut up old man!"
"Alright I think you've had enough fun." The unknown captain ad the others finally get up from their seats to fight but the candles all go out making everyone freeze.
KILL…
Glass begins to crack all around us,
KILL YOU ALL!
I'm releases as they try to cover themselves as the windows and drinking glasses along with the liquor bottles shatter. I can't stop him when he's like this. Soul will not listen. There's a scream in the darkness as I hear one of Junpei's men is dragged off. A second later the man goes flying into the front doors taking the doors with him outside.
"Who's doing that?!"
"What's going on?!" Soul Don't hurt the others! Stop it!
DIE! DIIIIIEEEE! I have to get out of her before anyone else gets hurt! I run out the front forcing Soul to be dragged along with me,
What the hell are you doing?!
"Making sure the others and uncle can't get hurt." I don't know how far or for how long but I keep running until I can't any more. Collapsing in an ally way I take a minute to catch my breath. My chest is on fire as my heart pounds fiercely. Soul has seemed to take the time to calm down now getting control of himself again.
I'm sorry about that…
"Yeah well you should be!" I shout, "I asked you not to lose your temper, and you do it any way! I mean- damn it Soul- uncle could have lost his bar because of that! Why? Just please tell me WHY can you never control yourself?!"
…
"And no doubt they blame uncle for all of this too…"
I made no promise that I would keep my temper in check…I'm sorry for causing you trouble but this is how I am. You should be used to it by now.
"Yeah well I'm not, OK?! This isn't just MY life we're talking about here Soul! You can't just go around killing people because they hurt me! It doesn't work like that!"
…I'm sorry…but when you're threatened…I have to act… I take a deep breath realizing he's right. It's in his nature to react to what threatens me. That's why I try to alienate myself. It's why I can't let myself be around anyone…why I am alone. Tears sting the corner of my eyes and I bend down trying to hold my tears back. Please don't cry…I don't know what to do when you cry…I can't do anything.
I know Soul…I know…just give me a minute…
…I'm really sorry…
I forgive you…
After calming down I stand up.
"You only killed that one soldier right…you didn't hurt anyone else?"
no just him you left before I could do anything else.
"Don't sound so disappointed…" without looking to see what was out beyond the ally way I walk out and end up bumping into someone. "Ah…sorry I wasn't-" my body freezes at the sight of seeing Junpei in front of me. His face is a bit cut up from the glass that went flying back in the bar. "AaaaAhhhHhh…" my body shakes at seeing him.
"Well this is an nice surprise. Found you Airi."
Run! I take Soul's command and turn to run for it. Keep running he's not alone!
Don't kill them!
They make it really hard not to!
Just do something to make them lose my tracks.
Grrr! Fine!
Heading down another ally way there are barrels that soul uses to knock my pursuers down. But it does nothing to stop them. I come to an intersection leading into different directions but I have no idea which way to take. I'm bad with directions for one thing and I haven't come this way at night before. Which way do I go?
Left! Go left! following his directions I go left and head to the harbor. Why here?
Find some place to hide. He's not going to quit unless he can't find you. Frantically I look in different directions trying to find a food hiding spot. I can't just jump onto a ship can I? They'll think I'm a sow away.
"Find her!" I don't have a choice…um…eeny meany miney….that one! Racing onto the ship I make sure no one is around and head straight for the lower storage areas. Thinking that Junpei will find me by just barging onto a ship I look for something I can hide in. surprisingly I find an empty barrel and jump inside placing the lid over it. seconds pass and then minutes and hours….but I don't move afraid of being caught in the open. Cramped in the wooden barrel I begin to feel drowsy and somehow manage to fall asleep.