I just finished Majora's Mask for what has to be the millionth time and
felt inspired to write this. It is a sappy piece featuring a much-loved
character-Cremia, paired with an unusual character. If you are totally
against odd pairings, then by all means, please turn around and walk away.
I don't want to hear your ranting in my reviews though okay? I'll delete
all flames because you've been warned. I hope the rest of you can keep an
open mind though; this idea has been swirling around my head for a long
time. That said, I hope you enjoy! ~_^
-Veledore
Wilting Willow
Disclaimer: Zelda: Major's Mask and all of its characters do not belong to me.
* Indicates thought
***
With a grunt, Cremia hefted the last of the gigantic milk barrels onto the small traveling wagon marked with a Romani Ranch sign on the side. Running a hand across a sweat-laden brow, she did a mental checklist of necessary items that were to be brought along. She absently wiped the dirt and grime built up on her arms with the sloppy yellow apron clinging around her waist. Finding no faults in her journey-ware she propelled herself up the driver's side and fiddled with the steering reigns haltered to a softly snickering steed.
"Wait for Romani! Wait for Romani!" A distant voice reached Cremia's ears. Looking up, she watched the rolling green fields as a nimble little redheaded girl scurried from her perch atop the wooden fence. Cremia sighed deeply getting a crisp waft of the morning fresh air as she waited for her sister to make her way to the side of the wagon. With one great stretch, she tucked her arms behind her head and looked to the crystal blue sky. A pair of cows grazed lazily in the background of the emerald green backdrop and Cremia had to sigh once again. She would miss this peaceful picture the most.
"Here, Romani is here!" a shout drove her back and she smiled sweetly into the face of her exact lookalike. "You wouldn't have left without Romani would you have sissy?" Romani asked clambering around the back to sit atop one of the milk jugs.
"Be careful, I don't want you breaking any of those," Cremia warned turning to face her sister. "Are you packed and ready to go?" she asked.
"Yep," Romani responded holding up a bag precariously dumped by her side.
"What do you have in there?" Cremia asked suspiciously eyeing the pack.
"Romani brought her clothes and her toothbrush, just like you said," the little girl answered angelically.
"Really?" Cremia responded disbelievingly. "Let me see it."
Hesitantly, Romani handed the bag to Cremia dropping her head slightly as Cremia's fingers clutched the coarse fabric of the satchel. Opening the leather drawstrings, she rummaged through the contents of spare clothes and a toothbrush-just like the little girl had promised. As she touched the inside corners of the bag, her hand grazed across something firm and hard. Pulling the object from the bag, Cremia clucked disapprovingly. "Didn't I tell you to leave your bow here?" she lectured the downcast girl.
"But sissy," the girl pleaded, "Uncle Kafei promised to buy me _real_ arrows the next time I visited him!"
"Even more reason," Cremia reproached, "You could put someone's eye out with those."
"Aww, but sissy," Romani protested whiningly.
"No buts," Cremia announced. "Go put this in the barn. Maybe if uncle Kafei buys you those arrows you can practice using them when you get back."
"But that will be such a long time!" Romani moaned.
"Go, otherwise I'll tell uncle Kafei to forget about buying you the arrows," Cremia warned. Grumbling, the girl took the bow from Cremia's outstretched hand and climbed down from the wagon. "Be quick about it!" Cremia called to the retreating figure. "I want to leave before noon!"
Across the field Grog, the cucco caretaker moved drunkenly toward his cucco shack. Cremia waved at him and his hand rose solemnly back. Cremia certainly was grateful that the depressed man had agreed to watch the ranch while she toured all of Termina selling her famous Chateau Romani. Mr. Barton had been awfully generous agreeing to vend the magical substance at his milk bar. But, the income had reached a slump as of late and Cremia found no other alternative solution to keeping the ranch out of debt than to try and find other places to sell the milk. She cast a worried glance over at the faltering man trying to open the door to his broken down shack. While Grog's intentions were noble, she still worried that he might not be able to handle the task of managing the ranch for the few months she planned on being gone. *Well, there is always Mamamu Yan,* Cremia thought grimacing at the mental mention of the bitter stuck up old woman who had quite clearly stated her dislike of doing anything that didn't relate to her own dogs.
A sulking Romani trudged back up the wagon hopping into the passenger's side, head hanging low. Cremia, not wanting to leave the little girl despising her, tried cheering her up. "Are you excited about playing with Little Kafei?" she asked and instantly Romani's ears perked.
"Yeah, Romani made a new game to play!" she enthusiastically told Cremia. Going into full detail about the game that eerily sounded like an altered version of cops and robbers, Cremia nodded only half listening as she started the horse into a nice trot and pulling onto the beaten down trail heading directly out from the ranch. Passing under the swinging sign, Cremia silently bid it farewell as she turned her thoughts to calculating the distance and time needed to make the trek across Termina field. At the speed they were currently traveling, Cremia judged that the duo could probably reach the city limits of Clock Town in a good hour and a half.
"Are you listening to Romani?" the girl interrupted her thoughts tugging on her sleeves impatiently.
Smiling over at her sister, Cremia responded, "Of course I am, keep going, I was getting really interested."
With new vigor, Romani once again delved into her game description while Cremia, half listening, warily watched the path fork to the right and enter the Gorman Brother's domain. From what she gathered, the two siblings were off in the west visiting their distant brother and his traveling troupe. Despite the fact, Cremia kept a careful eye trained on the entrance to their track should the information have been wrong and the two meddlesome men decided to ambush Cremia and her cart of Chateau Romani. Perhaps it would have been better for Romani to bring her bow after all.
They passed without trouble, and entered the field of Termina. Another hour passed and Cremia entered the city from the southern port. The city guards lowered a special ramp allowing Cremia's wagon an easy time wheeling over the boards into the South Clock Town. The hustle and bustle of the afternoon crowd reached Cremia's ears and swirled around her cart. Merchants scattered cleverly around the gigantic clock centerpiece called out tempting sales pitches making Romani plead with Cremia to stop the cart. "I can't," Cremia told the girl. "Perhaps aunt Anju will take you shopping later on. Do you have your rupees?" she asked Romani.
The girl nodded pointing to the leather bag fastened to her belt and continued gawking at the passing people.
Taking the first right, Cremia steered her wagon into East Clock Town where the crowd simmered to a low broil. Pulling over next to an overhang, she suggested that Romani run in and greet aunt Anju and uncle Kafei who now ran the Stock Pot Inn. Still bitter with Kafei, and never completely able to forgive the man for leaving the fiancée and future mother-in-law in such fretful state last year at the momentous Carnival of Time, Anju's mother had insisted on moving out of the inn leaving it to Anju's care and taking Anju's batty old grandmother with her to live more comfortably in West Clock Town where the post office used to be. Once the postman had quit, the small yet cozy room had been sold to her mother. Two separate rooms had been installed and a kitchen and toiletry had been as well. The old folk were living quite pleasantly. The Bomber Gang had taken the task of receiving and delivering mail in place of the now-free mailman.
"Excuse me miss," said a small boy with an orange hat to Cremia. "Would you like me to take your horse for you?"
She smiled grateful for the help. "I would very much appreciate it. What's your name?"
"Jim," the boy replied asking her a few questions as well and writing the information down in a small notebook.
With the horse taken care of, Cremia proceeded toward the entrance to the Stock Pot Inn. Before actually reaching it, the door swung open and Romani leapt out of it catapulting at Cremia. "Where is uncle Kafei and aunt Anju?" she questioned the girl giving her a hug as the girl squirmed to free herself of Cremia's grasp.
"Here we are," called a soft-spoken woman stepping gracefully out of the doorway followed by a tall lithe man with shoulder-length violet hair.
Cremia stood straight and greeted them properly. "Anju, I haven't seen you in quite some time," she commented to the other beaming woman.
"Yes, it's been too long," responded Anju patting the top of Romani's head.
"Guess what sissy!" Romani declared. "Uncle Kafei says that Little Kafei gets to stay with us while I'm here!"
Concern filled Cremia's features as she looked to Kafei for affirmation. "Are you sure you can deal with them both for so long?" she asked worriedly.
Anju laughed heartily. "Don't you worry, we'll deal just fine. Besides, with all the children around, it will help us decide." she paused and looked over at Kafei who returned the intensified look.
Cremia, confused asked, "Decide what?"
"Well, lately we've been trying to decide if we are ready to start a family," Anju answered, her gaze not wavering from Kafei's face.
Cremia was ecstatic with the news she just heard. "That's wonderful," she gushed.
"We were going to head over to receive the Great Fairy's blessing sometime today," Anju informed Cremia. "We were going to pick up Little Kafei and let him and Romani play at the playground."
Cremia nodded in assent. "I take it your mother is traveling again?"
Anju nodded in accord. "Yes, she and grandmother are taking a vacation over by the Great Bay. The Zora's have opened a cruise line for tourists, it's supposed to be great."
Cremia nodded and asked, "What about Mayor Dotour and his wife?"
Kafei grimaced answering for Anju, "Business as usual. Father has to host a campaign down at the swamp. He seemed excited about it though. It will be the first time the Deku King has made contact with people in ages."
Cremia nodded again. "How is Little Kafei doing?" she asked with concern.
"He's doing alright, considering," Anju answered. Cremia bowed thinking back to the year before-the year when Anju and Kafei united. Anju had later told Cremia about waking to find herself in the arms of the older Kafei whom she had known all of her life, and with another smaller Kafei like the one she had received on the night of the Carnival by the bed. Baffled, the two brought the boy to the Great Fairy. She told them that when the magic used to turn Kafei smaller tried to revert itself, it couldn't fully manifest into the older version, and so split onto two separate embodiments. 'Just a minor glitch,' the fairy had said. 'Happens to all spells.'
Mayor Dotour and his wife welcomed the younger Kafei (adopting the name of 'Little Kafei') with open arms saying that the first had grown too quickly. After Anju's mother left, she no longer had any source of income and therefore accepted the job proposal of becoming Little Kafei's caretaker when Mayor Dotour's wife presented the idea. Still angry with the older Kafei, she had no trouble falling in love with the younger version who was much more innocent to the ways of the world. In the end, everything had fallen right into place.
"Cremia," Romani whined tugging at the hem of her dress. "When are you going to go? Romani wants to see Little Kafei!"
Chuckling, Cremia ruffled Romani's hair and turned back to Anju. "I guess I should be on my way and let you two get to business." Enfolding the other woman in a hug, she whispered "Good luck," into Anju's ear before turning to Kafei. "I hear that you wanted to buy my little sister arrows," she said sternly.
Grinning, he looked over at the squirming girl before replying, "Aww, come on. What's the harm in it?"
Rolling her eyes, Cremia embraced the man saying, "Just don't come crawling to me when you have sticks poking out of your feet."
The good-byes said, Cremia left the trio heading next door to the Milk Bar in the process of serving lunch and drinks. Mr. Barton had decided to open the lounge as a diner during the day and a bar at night to increase the money flow-Chateau Romani simply wasn't holding him up like it used to.
She knocked three times on the door and waited as the old man opened it. At the sight of her face, he broke into a small grin and waved her in. "My load is out here," she said pointing over at the horseless wagon.
Shaking his head, he beckoned her in once again. No need to worry about that," he told her. "I'll get my boys to bring it in for you."
"Boys?" she asked in intrigue. She certainly hadn't imaged Mr. Barton the type willing to pay others any more than he absolutely had to. He was even sketchy when it came to paying her for the milk-and he was almost a father in her eyes.
"I made more through the diner," he explained following her down the steps into the lighter atmosphere. "In fact," he exclaimed halting at the bottom step, "Here," he said pushing a silk bag into her hands.
She gasped at the weight of the bag. A light tinkling of rupees clinking together filled her ears. "I can't accept this," she protested pushing the bag back toward Mr. Barton.
Pushing her hand back he said, "Consider it a tip for hauling the milk here." She nodded numbly and tied the bag around her waist. Looking across the bar, he raised a hand signaling two men, one of them a Zora. As he gave them their instructions, Cremia couldn't help looking around in amazement. Mr. Barton's complete character switch gave his home a totally new look. Indeed, the lights were a bit dimmer, and candlelight glowing softly from the counter gave the tavern a much more subdued atmosphere. She noted the band performing in the newly heightened stage and the amplified sound created from the domed shaped covering.
When Mr. Barton's 'boys' had gone off to do their task, Cremia asked him, "What's with all the changes? I haven't been here in over a month, but this place certainly has changed."
Mr. Barton smiled proudly. "I know," he responded, "Fixed her up myself."
Cremia looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Did something happen to you Mr. Barton? You seem different."
"I am," he agreed nodding and watching the band perform. "It happed one month ago, right after you left as a matter of fact. The sorriest soul you'll ever meet-some old grungy woman walked into my bar asking for something to eat. I told her I only served members who had proof of membership, which she clearly didn't have. I was about to make her leave when she told me that she was with child and feared that if she didn't get anything to eat soon, the child would perish. Call it crazy, but I believed her figuring that one meal wouldn't kill me. Besides, she didn't really look the type to lie. After she ate, she told me that I had been very generous and that she was the heir for an enormous fortune. She said that once a year she put on this guise to find someone worthy of her gift. She gave me a huge bag filled with rupees and then disappeared. I didn't know what to do at first; I thought of storing the money in the bank with all of my other savings. I eventually began to realize that the bar could really use new ice machines-my old ones were falling apart. After that, I discovered something else that needed redone until I had transformed the bar into this. I guess changing my home made my personality change too."
Cremia looked around the room again in awe. "I had no idea simply remodeling a room could inspire your character to change.
"Normally it can't," Mr. Barton admitted, "But I used to be so resistant to change that it gave me a new perspective to my life."
"UGOH!!" A roar ripped through the peaceful ambience making Cremia jump with surprise. *What was that?*
To her left, Mr. Barton was shaking his head disapprovingly and she looked to where his eyes were cast. Tucked away in a shadowed corner of the bar sat a lumbering giant clutching a tiny glass between two fingers and swaying slightly.
Mr. Barton humbly made his way over to where the giant sat tapping a different man on the shoulder this time. "Can I help you?" the man asked swerving to face Mr. Barton. At first, Cremia was taken away by the foreign man's appearance. His skin was pale, even in the glow of the candles. He wore an outlandish blue suit, which covered his legs and half of his torso before coming together in a smaller strip down the middle of his chest leaving the rippling muscles of his arms exposed. A tattoo decorated his upper right arm and a cleanly cut brown goatee accentuated his broad face. A white cap covered his head. His eyes were a startling ice blue cutting through Cremia and leaving her feeling uneasy.
"I'm terribly sorry, but that is the third time; you and your friend must leave," Mr. Barton told the strange man.
"Hey it's not his fault if this milk you're selling us has a little kick in it. Tell me, how in the world do you manage to get drunk on milk?" the man asked standing from his stool. "Come on big guy," he said patting the giant's finger. "We can take a hint."
The man breezed by Cremia while the giant followed swinging a little with each step. As he passed Cremia, a fit overtook him and he threw his hands into the air screaming, "UGOH UG UGOH!!!" One of his hands clipped Cremia across the cheek sending her sprawling to ground.
"See what you've done you big Deku Stick? What're you just standing there for? Help the lady up!" the man commanded over the railing of the stairs. Reaching down with one enormous paw, the giant offered Cremia help, which she gladly took. "Hey, sorry about that miss," the man called to Cremia.
She turned back locking eyes with his glacier orbs. "No problem," she managed as a bolt of electricity ran down her spine. She shuddered. The peculiar duo left and Cremia felt a lot better.
Mr. Barton shook his head, "I have to kick out more out-of-towners than I serve the in-town folk."
Cremia didn't reply, but instead followed Mr. Barton behind the counter to where three giant metal jugs stood against a wall. The two males returned carrying four canteens of Chateau Romani between them. Together, the four of them managed to pour the containers holding the milk into the dispensers. Thanking Mr. Barton again, Cremia bid the old man farewell and left the bar wrestling through the late-afternoon crowd of people. The boy named Jim met her at her wagon and helped her hitch her horse back up once again asking her questions and writing her answers down in that same notebook. Trotting forward, she exited the city to the right out the Eastern Gate towards Ikana Canyon.
She turned left following a path towards the north, where she wanted to start her tour. The sun sank lower over the outline of the city to her left making the shadows elongate uncannily. A soft twilight breeze brushed past her shoulders making her shiver. She wished she had thought to pull out her shawl before starting. *Oh well,* she decided, *I can wait until I reach the next inn.*
She rode on listening to the cricket chirps and birdcalls. Behind her, the glass canisters jingled noisily disturbing the quiet of the falling night. Cremia had a sudden uneasy feeling; she didn't like being out in the open so exhibited. She really didn't have much more of a choice though and kept a steady path winding around the perimeter of the town.
A thump and then a rustle sounded from behind her. Turning she yanked hard on the reigns when a shadow emerged from among the jars. The sudden jerk threw the mysterious figure forward, yet unfortunately did the same to her. Toppling ahead, she barely managed to grab to front plank before diving out of the wagon. Regaining her balance she swerved around again facing her adversary who was now armed with one of the jugs. With a mighty lunge, he hurled the bin at her head. A sickening crack was heard and Cremia felt the edges of her vision going black. Loosing consciousness, she barely registered the fact that she was falling back out of the wagon. The last image left to her before she completely lost awareness was that of a maliciously grinning pale-faced man.
***
-Veledore
Wilting Willow
Disclaimer: Zelda: Major's Mask and all of its characters do not belong to me.
* Indicates thought
***
With a grunt, Cremia hefted the last of the gigantic milk barrels onto the small traveling wagon marked with a Romani Ranch sign on the side. Running a hand across a sweat-laden brow, she did a mental checklist of necessary items that were to be brought along. She absently wiped the dirt and grime built up on her arms with the sloppy yellow apron clinging around her waist. Finding no faults in her journey-ware she propelled herself up the driver's side and fiddled with the steering reigns haltered to a softly snickering steed.
"Wait for Romani! Wait for Romani!" A distant voice reached Cremia's ears. Looking up, she watched the rolling green fields as a nimble little redheaded girl scurried from her perch atop the wooden fence. Cremia sighed deeply getting a crisp waft of the morning fresh air as she waited for her sister to make her way to the side of the wagon. With one great stretch, she tucked her arms behind her head and looked to the crystal blue sky. A pair of cows grazed lazily in the background of the emerald green backdrop and Cremia had to sigh once again. She would miss this peaceful picture the most.
"Here, Romani is here!" a shout drove her back and she smiled sweetly into the face of her exact lookalike. "You wouldn't have left without Romani would you have sissy?" Romani asked clambering around the back to sit atop one of the milk jugs.
"Be careful, I don't want you breaking any of those," Cremia warned turning to face her sister. "Are you packed and ready to go?" she asked.
"Yep," Romani responded holding up a bag precariously dumped by her side.
"What do you have in there?" Cremia asked suspiciously eyeing the pack.
"Romani brought her clothes and her toothbrush, just like you said," the little girl answered angelically.
"Really?" Cremia responded disbelievingly. "Let me see it."
Hesitantly, Romani handed the bag to Cremia dropping her head slightly as Cremia's fingers clutched the coarse fabric of the satchel. Opening the leather drawstrings, she rummaged through the contents of spare clothes and a toothbrush-just like the little girl had promised. As she touched the inside corners of the bag, her hand grazed across something firm and hard. Pulling the object from the bag, Cremia clucked disapprovingly. "Didn't I tell you to leave your bow here?" she lectured the downcast girl.
"But sissy," the girl pleaded, "Uncle Kafei promised to buy me _real_ arrows the next time I visited him!"
"Even more reason," Cremia reproached, "You could put someone's eye out with those."
"Aww, but sissy," Romani protested whiningly.
"No buts," Cremia announced. "Go put this in the barn. Maybe if uncle Kafei buys you those arrows you can practice using them when you get back."
"But that will be such a long time!" Romani moaned.
"Go, otherwise I'll tell uncle Kafei to forget about buying you the arrows," Cremia warned. Grumbling, the girl took the bow from Cremia's outstretched hand and climbed down from the wagon. "Be quick about it!" Cremia called to the retreating figure. "I want to leave before noon!"
Across the field Grog, the cucco caretaker moved drunkenly toward his cucco shack. Cremia waved at him and his hand rose solemnly back. Cremia certainly was grateful that the depressed man had agreed to watch the ranch while she toured all of Termina selling her famous Chateau Romani. Mr. Barton had been awfully generous agreeing to vend the magical substance at his milk bar. But, the income had reached a slump as of late and Cremia found no other alternative solution to keeping the ranch out of debt than to try and find other places to sell the milk. She cast a worried glance over at the faltering man trying to open the door to his broken down shack. While Grog's intentions were noble, she still worried that he might not be able to handle the task of managing the ranch for the few months she planned on being gone. *Well, there is always Mamamu Yan,* Cremia thought grimacing at the mental mention of the bitter stuck up old woman who had quite clearly stated her dislike of doing anything that didn't relate to her own dogs.
A sulking Romani trudged back up the wagon hopping into the passenger's side, head hanging low. Cremia, not wanting to leave the little girl despising her, tried cheering her up. "Are you excited about playing with Little Kafei?" she asked and instantly Romani's ears perked.
"Yeah, Romani made a new game to play!" she enthusiastically told Cremia. Going into full detail about the game that eerily sounded like an altered version of cops and robbers, Cremia nodded only half listening as she started the horse into a nice trot and pulling onto the beaten down trail heading directly out from the ranch. Passing under the swinging sign, Cremia silently bid it farewell as she turned her thoughts to calculating the distance and time needed to make the trek across Termina field. At the speed they were currently traveling, Cremia judged that the duo could probably reach the city limits of Clock Town in a good hour and a half.
"Are you listening to Romani?" the girl interrupted her thoughts tugging on her sleeves impatiently.
Smiling over at her sister, Cremia responded, "Of course I am, keep going, I was getting really interested."
With new vigor, Romani once again delved into her game description while Cremia, half listening, warily watched the path fork to the right and enter the Gorman Brother's domain. From what she gathered, the two siblings were off in the west visiting their distant brother and his traveling troupe. Despite the fact, Cremia kept a careful eye trained on the entrance to their track should the information have been wrong and the two meddlesome men decided to ambush Cremia and her cart of Chateau Romani. Perhaps it would have been better for Romani to bring her bow after all.
They passed without trouble, and entered the field of Termina. Another hour passed and Cremia entered the city from the southern port. The city guards lowered a special ramp allowing Cremia's wagon an easy time wheeling over the boards into the South Clock Town. The hustle and bustle of the afternoon crowd reached Cremia's ears and swirled around her cart. Merchants scattered cleverly around the gigantic clock centerpiece called out tempting sales pitches making Romani plead with Cremia to stop the cart. "I can't," Cremia told the girl. "Perhaps aunt Anju will take you shopping later on. Do you have your rupees?" she asked Romani.
The girl nodded pointing to the leather bag fastened to her belt and continued gawking at the passing people.
Taking the first right, Cremia steered her wagon into East Clock Town where the crowd simmered to a low broil. Pulling over next to an overhang, she suggested that Romani run in and greet aunt Anju and uncle Kafei who now ran the Stock Pot Inn. Still bitter with Kafei, and never completely able to forgive the man for leaving the fiancée and future mother-in-law in such fretful state last year at the momentous Carnival of Time, Anju's mother had insisted on moving out of the inn leaving it to Anju's care and taking Anju's batty old grandmother with her to live more comfortably in West Clock Town where the post office used to be. Once the postman had quit, the small yet cozy room had been sold to her mother. Two separate rooms had been installed and a kitchen and toiletry had been as well. The old folk were living quite pleasantly. The Bomber Gang had taken the task of receiving and delivering mail in place of the now-free mailman.
"Excuse me miss," said a small boy with an orange hat to Cremia. "Would you like me to take your horse for you?"
She smiled grateful for the help. "I would very much appreciate it. What's your name?"
"Jim," the boy replied asking her a few questions as well and writing the information down in a small notebook.
With the horse taken care of, Cremia proceeded toward the entrance to the Stock Pot Inn. Before actually reaching it, the door swung open and Romani leapt out of it catapulting at Cremia. "Where is uncle Kafei and aunt Anju?" she questioned the girl giving her a hug as the girl squirmed to free herself of Cremia's grasp.
"Here we are," called a soft-spoken woman stepping gracefully out of the doorway followed by a tall lithe man with shoulder-length violet hair.
Cremia stood straight and greeted them properly. "Anju, I haven't seen you in quite some time," she commented to the other beaming woman.
"Yes, it's been too long," responded Anju patting the top of Romani's head.
"Guess what sissy!" Romani declared. "Uncle Kafei says that Little Kafei gets to stay with us while I'm here!"
Concern filled Cremia's features as she looked to Kafei for affirmation. "Are you sure you can deal with them both for so long?" she asked worriedly.
Anju laughed heartily. "Don't you worry, we'll deal just fine. Besides, with all the children around, it will help us decide." she paused and looked over at Kafei who returned the intensified look.
Cremia, confused asked, "Decide what?"
"Well, lately we've been trying to decide if we are ready to start a family," Anju answered, her gaze not wavering from Kafei's face.
Cremia was ecstatic with the news she just heard. "That's wonderful," she gushed.
"We were going to head over to receive the Great Fairy's blessing sometime today," Anju informed Cremia. "We were going to pick up Little Kafei and let him and Romani play at the playground."
Cremia nodded in assent. "I take it your mother is traveling again?"
Anju nodded in accord. "Yes, she and grandmother are taking a vacation over by the Great Bay. The Zora's have opened a cruise line for tourists, it's supposed to be great."
Cremia nodded and asked, "What about Mayor Dotour and his wife?"
Kafei grimaced answering for Anju, "Business as usual. Father has to host a campaign down at the swamp. He seemed excited about it though. It will be the first time the Deku King has made contact with people in ages."
Cremia nodded again. "How is Little Kafei doing?" she asked with concern.
"He's doing alright, considering," Anju answered. Cremia bowed thinking back to the year before-the year when Anju and Kafei united. Anju had later told Cremia about waking to find herself in the arms of the older Kafei whom she had known all of her life, and with another smaller Kafei like the one she had received on the night of the Carnival by the bed. Baffled, the two brought the boy to the Great Fairy. She told them that when the magic used to turn Kafei smaller tried to revert itself, it couldn't fully manifest into the older version, and so split onto two separate embodiments. 'Just a minor glitch,' the fairy had said. 'Happens to all spells.'
Mayor Dotour and his wife welcomed the younger Kafei (adopting the name of 'Little Kafei') with open arms saying that the first had grown too quickly. After Anju's mother left, she no longer had any source of income and therefore accepted the job proposal of becoming Little Kafei's caretaker when Mayor Dotour's wife presented the idea. Still angry with the older Kafei, she had no trouble falling in love with the younger version who was much more innocent to the ways of the world. In the end, everything had fallen right into place.
"Cremia," Romani whined tugging at the hem of her dress. "When are you going to go? Romani wants to see Little Kafei!"
Chuckling, Cremia ruffled Romani's hair and turned back to Anju. "I guess I should be on my way and let you two get to business." Enfolding the other woman in a hug, she whispered "Good luck," into Anju's ear before turning to Kafei. "I hear that you wanted to buy my little sister arrows," she said sternly.
Grinning, he looked over at the squirming girl before replying, "Aww, come on. What's the harm in it?"
Rolling her eyes, Cremia embraced the man saying, "Just don't come crawling to me when you have sticks poking out of your feet."
The good-byes said, Cremia left the trio heading next door to the Milk Bar in the process of serving lunch and drinks. Mr. Barton had decided to open the lounge as a diner during the day and a bar at night to increase the money flow-Chateau Romani simply wasn't holding him up like it used to.
She knocked three times on the door and waited as the old man opened it. At the sight of her face, he broke into a small grin and waved her in. "My load is out here," she said pointing over at the horseless wagon.
Shaking his head, he beckoned her in once again. No need to worry about that," he told her. "I'll get my boys to bring it in for you."
"Boys?" she asked in intrigue. She certainly hadn't imaged Mr. Barton the type willing to pay others any more than he absolutely had to. He was even sketchy when it came to paying her for the milk-and he was almost a father in her eyes.
"I made more through the diner," he explained following her down the steps into the lighter atmosphere. "In fact," he exclaimed halting at the bottom step, "Here," he said pushing a silk bag into her hands.
She gasped at the weight of the bag. A light tinkling of rupees clinking together filled her ears. "I can't accept this," she protested pushing the bag back toward Mr. Barton.
Pushing her hand back he said, "Consider it a tip for hauling the milk here." She nodded numbly and tied the bag around her waist. Looking across the bar, he raised a hand signaling two men, one of them a Zora. As he gave them their instructions, Cremia couldn't help looking around in amazement. Mr. Barton's complete character switch gave his home a totally new look. Indeed, the lights were a bit dimmer, and candlelight glowing softly from the counter gave the tavern a much more subdued atmosphere. She noted the band performing in the newly heightened stage and the amplified sound created from the domed shaped covering.
When Mr. Barton's 'boys' had gone off to do their task, Cremia asked him, "What's with all the changes? I haven't been here in over a month, but this place certainly has changed."
Mr. Barton smiled proudly. "I know," he responded, "Fixed her up myself."
Cremia looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Did something happen to you Mr. Barton? You seem different."
"I am," he agreed nodding and watching the band perform. "It happed one month ago, right after you left as a matter of fact. The sorriest soul you'll ever meet-some old grungy woman walked into my bar asking for something to eat. I told her I only served members who had proof of membership, which she clearly didn't have. I was about to make her leave when she told me that she was with child and feared that if she didn't get anything to eat soon, the child would perish. Call it crazy, but I believed her figuring that one meal wouldn't kill me. Besides, she didn't really look the type to lie. After she ate, she told me that I had been very generous and that she was the heir for an enormous fortune. She said that once a year she put on this guise to find someone worthy of her gift. She gave me a huge bag filled with rupees and then disappeared. I didn't know what to do at first; I thought of storing the money in the bank with all of my other savings. I eventually began to realize that the bar could really use new ice machines-my old ones were falling apart. After that, I discovered something else that needed redone until I had transformed the bar into this. I guess changing my home made my personality change too."
Cremia looked around the room again in awe. "I had no idea simply remodeling a room could inspire your character to change.
"Normally it can't," Mr. Barton admitted, "But I used to be so resistant to change that it gave me a new perspective to my life."
"UGOH!!" A roar ripped through the peaceful ambience making Cremia jump with surprise. *What was that?*
To her left, Mr. Barton was shaking his head disapprovingly and she looked to where his eyes were cast. Tucked away in a shadowed corner of the bar sat a lumbering giant clutching a tiny glass between two fingers and swaying slightly.
Mr. Barton humbly made his way over to where the giant sat tapping a different man on the shoulder this time. "Can I help you?" the man asked swerving to face Mr. Barton. At first, Cremia was taken away by the foreign man's appearance. His skin was pale, even in the glow of the candles. He wore an outlandish blue suit, which covered his legs and half of his torso before coming together in a smaller strip down the middle of his chest leaving the rippling muscles of his arms exposed. A tattoo decorated his upper right arm and a cleanly cut brown goatee accentuated his broad face. A white cap covered his head. His eyes were a startling ice blue cutting through Cremia and leaving her feeling uneasy.
"I'm terribly sorry, but that is the third time; you and your friend must leave," Mr. Barton told the strange man.
"Hey it's not his fault if this milk you're selling us has a little kick in it. Tell me, how in the world do you manage to get drunk on milk?" the man asked standing from his stool. "Come on big guy," he said patting the giant's finger. "We can take a hint."
The man breezed by Cremia while the giant followed swinging a little with each step. As he passed Cremia, a fit overtook him and he threw his hands into the air screaming, "UGOH UG UGOH!!!" One of his hands clipped Cremia across the cheek sending her sprawling to ground.
"See what you've done you big Deku Stick? What're you just standing there for? Help the lady up!" the man commanded over the railing of the stairs. Reaching down with one enormous paw, the giant offered Cremia help, which she gladly took. "Hey, sorry about that miss," the man called to Cremia.
She turned back locking eyes with his glacier orbs. "No problem," she managed as a bolt of electricity ran down her spine. She shuddered. The peculiar duo left and Cremia felt a lot better.
Mr. Barton shook his head, "I have to kick out more out-of-towners than I serve the in-town folk."
Cremia didn't reply, but instead followed Mr. Barton behind the counter to where three giant metal jugs stood against a wall. The two males returned carrying four canteens of Chateau Romani between them. Together, the four of them managed to pour the containers holding the milk into the dispensers. Thanking Mr. Barton again, Cremia bid the old man farewell and left the bar wrestling through the late-afternoon crowd of people. The boy named Jim met her at her wagon and helped her hitch her horse back up once again asking her questions and writing her answers down in that same notebook. Trotting forward, she exited the city to the right out the Eastern Gate towards Ikana Canyon.
She turned left following a path towards the north, where she wanted to start her tour. The sun sank lower over the outline of the city to her left making the shadows elongate uncannily. A soft twilight breeze brushed past her shoulders making her shiver. She wished she had thought to pull out her shawl before starting. *Oh well,* she decided, *I can wait until I reach the next inn.*
She rode on listening to the cricket chirps and birdcalls. Behind her, the glass canisters jingled noisily disturbing the quiet of the falling night. Cremia had a sudden uneasy feeling; she didn't like being out in the open so exhibited. She really didn't have much more of a choice though and kept a steady path winding around the perimeter of the town.
A thump and then a rustle sounded from behind her. Turning she yanked hard on the reigns when a shadow emerged from among the jars. The sudden jerk threw the mysterious figure forward, yet unfortunately did the same to her. Toppling ahead, she barely managed to grab to front plank before diving out of the wagon. Regaining her balance she swerved around again facing her adversary who was now armed with one of the jugs. With a mighty lunge, he hurled the bin at her head. A sickening crack was heard and Cremia felt the edges of her vision going black. Loosing consciousness, she barely registered the fact that she was falling back out of the wagon. The last image left to her before she completely lost awareness was that of a maliciously grinning pale-faced man.
***