Crossed Paths
a Soul Calibur fanfiction by Somenosuke.
A/N: Bad title, huh? ^^; Anyhoo, this fic was inspired by the City
of Water stage in Mission Battle and it's a continuation of my first fic,
Emerald Earrings (so, for a little background info, I suggest reading that
*shameless plugs are wonderful*).
Disclaimer: Namco owns all of these characters, 'cause Lord knows what I'd do if I owned them...
Part One
No matter how many times he tried, Kilik couldn't think of a city more beautiful than Venice, Italy, the City of Water. Though the water of the lagoon the city resided on was not as crystal clear as that of the Pure Training Grounds', it came very close. Not only that, Venice was full of magnificent architecture, art and wealth. And the people! Never had he came across such friendly and finely dressed folk in one place.
He almost considered making this his new home but laughed to himself at the impossibility. The customs were new to him, and at times, he could barely afford his meals and lodging, let alone a gorgeous mansion overlooking a lagoon. Besides, he preferred the tranquility of nature and solitude over a bustling city life, much like his Master, the hermit known as the Edge Master.
Since day one of his 'purific' training with the elderly man of much mystery, Kilik had learned not to fear poverty and loneliness but to instead embrace them. His friend Maxi could not understand or concur to that philosophy. As a flirtatious and carefree pirate, Maxi cherished the company of women---the times he neglected their charms were rare and far in between. Kilik wondered how the dandy was faring since their separation in Sicily.
Maxi had an agenda of his own and after hearing rumors leading to the whereabouts of the object of his vengeance, the demon-like Astaroth, he had to part from Kilik. He neglected his friend's wishes to assist him and promised the young man that they'd meet again, if Fate had so planned. Alone, Maxi headed further into the Holy Roman Empire.
Judging from the coquettish ganders and gestures from the numerous young women traipsing about the narrow streets and bridges of the city, Kilik would be his left arm that wherever he was, Maxi was cursing his luck. And Xianghua was praising hers.
Ever since her meeting with and deciding to join Kilik and Maxi in their journeys in India, Kilik had often found some of Xianghua's reactions to be rather eccentric. Whenever women from the countries they passed through flirted with him, the Chinese girl would often make remarks or her current mood would make a complete turnaround. Maxi would then joke and say that she was jealous, then Xianghua would sputter all sorts of insults towards him.
Kilik remembered their last days together in Rhodes, and that argument...
[FLASHBACK]
"What's the matter with you, Xianghua? Why were you so rude and mean to
her?" he asked as they headed back to their inn from the completed Gypsy
entertainment exhibition.
"ME? Mean to HER?" The Chinese girl's coffee browns enlarged with incredulity. "In case you didn't notice, SHE attacked ME, and accused me of stealing from her!"
"Maybe if you didn't give her a REASON to accuse you, she wouldn't have!" Kilik argued, recalling xianghua's dispute with the long-haired Asian girl at the bazaar earlier that day.
Xianghua's eyes then narrowed. "Why are you defending her, Kilik?"
He didn't answer her which only fueled her anger. "I can't believe you," she sputtered, "you complain about Maxi and I neglecting the purpose of our journey, yet here you are, doing just the same!"
"You wouldn't understand," Kilik sighed out, exasperated with debating.
"So just...go on. Leave me alone."
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Kilik cursed himself for saying those words to the sensitive Xianghua and had apologized to her. A few days later, Xianghua mentioned that the Chinese Opera Troupe she had travelled with earlier on in her own journey were awaiting her in Germany. Though she assured Kilik and Maxi that they would meet again, Kilik couldn't help but feel responsible for her departure.
Exhaling audibly, Kilik stretched his lean form over the raised boundary of a bridge that spanned the canals of the city. "This search is getting me nowhere. What am I supposed to do?" he asked his reflection on the cool surface of the water, half-expecting it to reply. I was doing a whole lot better with those two...
Before Kilik could mope any longer, something or someone stumbled into his back. Startled, he turned about face to apologize and check the condition of the clumsy stranger.
His eyes grew wide.
Fallen before him was a familiar face. A very beautiful face. The face of the girl Xianghua had bumped heads with back at Rhodes.
* * *
A/N: Sorry if this may have seemed too short. I'm trying to NOT cram
up too much stuff into one chapter (it's bad karma, I hear). As always, please
read and review!