This was truly exhausting. Why Ryouta was still doing this, he had no idea. It's been a year for goodness sake! Just because he happened to be in the same class with the most annoying bird he knew didn't mean he still had to walk him to school. The other bird knew his way to school now, they both knew that. In fact, the one and only Sakuya Le Bel Shirogane often pointed that out. It's usually after they made it to the school.
This was all Mr. Nanaki's fault.
If he didn't start to cry when Ryouta said he would prefer walking a hungry lion back to its cave than walk this arrogant bird to school, then he wouldn't be in this mess! Hiyoko always said he was a soft touch and she was right. Like always…
Ryouta sighed lovingly when the thought of Hiyoko entered his mind. She didn't know it but Ryouta loves her, he really did.
While Ryouta was crushing over his female human friend again. Sakuya, or rather the snob as Ryouta likes to call him (in mind only) watched on. Why was he watching Kawara, you ask? Well, that's because the idiot was too busy in his own thoughts than pay attention to where he was going. If Sakuya didn't do anything the Rock Dove would walk straight into a lamppost. The very lamppost that was still wonky from his last crash. He knew that Ryouta disliked his way of thinking and his attitude. However, the other male already spent enough time in the infirmary. With that in mind, Sakuya gently moved him more to the side.
The two birds walked past the lamppost unhurt.
There, Sakuya was a better friend than both of them thought.
During lunch, Sakuya wanted to take back that thought. His "friend" was acting rather odd.
"Can you hear that?" Ryouta asked looking at Sakuya who was getting rather annoyed at stopping and starting. At this rate, it'll take an hour to walk down one corridor.
"Hear what?" Sakuya asked rolling his shoulders too loosen up his feathers. It was too hot inside and if Ryouta didn't hurry up he will go outside alone.
"I want to go to the Library" Ryouta suddenly announced making both birds look at each other in surprise. None of them knew why Ryouta said that. Not even Ryouta himself, it was like the words worked his mouth. To make things worse his legs were now moving on their own, making him walk to the library.
Ruffling his feathers again, Sakuya hurried along wondering why he wasn't leaving Ryouta alone, all ready.
Together, the two birds walked into the empty library. Wait, no, not empty. The Moaning Dove, Nageki Fujishiro, was sat in his usual corner, a book open on the desk in front of him.
Still following Ryouta, Sakuya ended up standing in front of the smaller bird. They hardly knew each other. Ryouta only knew Nageki because of Hiyoko and his habit of bending books to wide. While Sakuya, only knew him because of Ryouta. They have had conversations before the three of them. However, Nageki does a great impression of a wall most of the time so talking to him is an effort.
"Have you heard of a book called "The magical Book of a mysterious World's" Nageki?" Ryouta asked before snapping his mouth shut. Seriously, that was not him! His beak and voice are working on their own! Like if someone or something is controlling him...No, that's impossible.
"Yes" Nageki answered before flipping up book he was reading so the other two birds could see the cover.
"Why didn't you tell me you wanted to come here for a book? The last thing I knew, we were going to go outside. If I could sweat I would be drenched" Sakuya huffed in annoyance before he shook his whole body, he's been itchy all day but he dare not peck at himself. One of noble birth cannot peck their feathers like some of the older breeds.
Meanwhile, Ryouta was staring at the book in Nageki's wings. Suddenly, his wings moved on their own and he was trying to rip the book away from Nageki. The two birds looked like two chicks fighting over a toy.
"What are you doing, Ryouta?!" Nageki shouted in shock while he showed strength that no ill and weak bird should have.
"Enough!" Sakuya screamed before hitting both birds over the head and taking the book himself.
Now with the book in his wings, Sakuya looked down at it. The book was disgusting. Rotten with mold with the spine so torn it was a miracle that the book was still in one piece. The covers of it were dark green and the only thing on it was gold writing that spelled out the books name on both sides.
Slowly and carefully, Sakuya opened the book from the middle. Whatever the book was it had to be something special for Ryouta to turn aggressive.
However, what Sakuya saw just made him angry
"Could one of you please tell me why you're fighting over a blank book?" He angrily asked struggling to keep his temper. Honestly, the things he put up with is unbelievable.
"Blank? Maybe if your beak wasn't pointed upwards like a Show dog's nose you could read it?" Nageki sarcastically said his beak somehow in a smirk. And yes, before you ask. Sakuya and Nageki didn't get along. They got off the wrong foot and ever since then, there has been a challenge of who could think of a better insult between them. Sakuya usually wins.
However, for once, Sakuya didn't say anything back as he turned the book around for the other two males to see.
"WHAT?!" Nageki screamed in confusion flapping his wings so much it was a wonder that he wasn't flying. "But, but...I was just reading it! I swear!"
"What was it about?" Sakuya asked his voice carrying doubt while he slapped Ryouta's wings away from the book. No way was he letting the male have the book after he acted like a child.
"It was a non-fiction. It had magic, dragons, a kingdom and...and"
"And?" Sakuya asked being the only one who was listening. Ryouta was still trying to get the book off him.
"I...I can't remember" Nageki stuttered and that sentence seemed to snap Ryouta out of whatever trance he was in as he turned to look at the smaller bird.
"What do you mean you can't remember?!" He shouted, that was impossible! Nageki always remembers the book he reads! "I must want this book for a reason!" Ryouta shouted gesturing at the destroyed book still in Sakuya's wings. Because all he knew was that he wanted that book and if Sakuya didn't give him it to him soon...Well...That thought horrified Ryouta.
Meanwhile, Nageki was trying not to freak out. Why couldn't he remember?! His mind was blank as those pages Sakuya showed him. Every time he tried to remember all he was welcomed with was darkness. Like something had taken his memories away.
"Well, whatever the reason, we're not going to find out. Since the book is blank, I say we throw it in the b-" his sentence was stopped there by a body. Nageki jumped on his chair in shock as he watched the Sakuya and Ryouta roll around on the floor, fighting. The two males may not always see eye to eye but he thought they were friends! Not only that, but Ryouta was against violence!
He didn't know what to do. He was too weak from his illness to pull the two males apart. And his loving brother Hitori would smother him if he got hurt. Not to mention that he would give said brother more reason to see the cute doctor. (Hitori's words not his) It isn't like Nageki didn't like the doctor because he sorta did. The bird was a genius and was working tiredly to find a cure for his illness. Why? He says for research but Nageki says it was because he was trying to get in his brothers bed or nest or whatever you want to call it.
Shaking his head to get rid of these thoughts, Nageki was about to fly over to the book that was beside the two fighting birds. Before two white birds suddenly flew by. One parted the fighting birds looking like he was ready for murder. While the other flew to Nageki to give him the book. Now parted from Ryouta, Sakuya shook his body again hoping that his feathers weren't messy or worse. He then looked at the bird who stopped the fight, ready to thank him. Until he saw who it was...
Of course, whenever he's in trouble his personal white knight comes to rescue him.
Yuuya, Sakuya's older half brother was stood between him and his attacker looking very confused.
"Ryouta, what the hell are you doing?! If I didn't recognize you I would have beaten you up for attacking my little brother" at that moment Yuuya looked at Sakuya and to his bleeding scratch on the side of his face. Meanwhile, Sakuya who didn't bother about a little scratch (it wasn't the first) was watching Ryouta holding his head in his wings.
"What is wrong with me? This isn't me. Why do I want that stupid book so much?" The rock dove whispered, his voice was shaking now and it sounded so heartbroken. Before Sakuya could say anything, a window smashed and a small and rather round Luzon bleeding-heart was standing on the table in front of Nageki.
Oh great...
What does this over imaginative bird want now? Even Ryouta didn't look happy to see him.
"White Mage!" Anghel shouted loudly as he hopped around in a circle to look at everyone before looking straight at Sakuya.
Err, when did Sakuya become the White Mage? Did he miss the memo?
"It is a great success to you that The Seeker hasn't gotten the book. Only the hands of the helpers can touch the book. If the hands of the fated touch it, then the journey through the pages shall begin!" Anghel said but what followed after was a deadly silence. Nobody had a clue what he was talking about. Not even Nageki who often understands the mystery that is Anghel.
"Riiight...With that said, why don't we all calm down? Okosan can you please walk Ryouta home? I will take Sakuya to the infirmary to get patched up. Sound g-" "what about the book?! We cannot allow The Seeker to touch it! The Carrier is not strong enough to defeat any soul's power!"
"The Carrier really?" Nageki muttered, he didn't know how to feel about this new title. Sakuya's name sounded so awesome but his…Yeah, he better not think about it. No one heard his muttering though, as the others looked at Yuuya. He's always the one with the plan.
"Then stay with Nageki, I'm sure that Unzune will allow you to sleep over again. Then tomorrow, we'll meet here again and talk like adults about this" Yuuya smiled his famous flashing smile that could make any bird blush. If birds could blush that is.
"Okay~!" Yuuya said still pulling his winning smile that knocked Sakuya sick but made both Nageki and Ryouta blush a little. With a wing on Sakuya's shoulder Yuuya pushed him forward out of the library "Let's get you to the doctor"
" NO! Bringer of Justice you must not! The Wizard of-" "Tomorrow, Anghel" Yuuya interrupted hurrying out of the room and down the corridor.
"So…What really happened?" Yuuya asked once they reached the stairs "I know you, you would have attacked back-" "usually my attacker isn't suffering a metal breakdown. Tomorrow's talk better have some answers. Something possessed Kawara today and I'm going to find out what"
The next day, everyone was sat around a large table ready to have the promised discussion. Like Yuuya said, Hitori, Nageki's brother, allowed Anghel to sleep over at their house. Not like he has ever said no but this time it seems Nageki was losing his patience.
"Anghel, I swear, if you go on about how to protect this stupid book one more time, I will burn the damn thing!"
"You cannot! Destroying the book will kill the cursed hands!"
"Will you two stop it!" Sakuya snapped banging his wing onto the table shutting the two birds successfully. With silence now filling the air, Sakuya looked over to his Rock Dove Pigeon friend who was sat next to the strongest and biggest Fantail he has ever met. Not like he would ever admit that out loud to the bird that was called Okosan. Ryouta looked like if he was dragged through a bush by the human girl Hiyoko, shifting in his chair like a child on Christmas. "Please tell me you still want that stupid book"
At once Ryouta sighed and sunk down in his chair, that was a yes if there was one.
"Why on earth would you want a blank book that was once about Dragons, magic and murderous villains?"
"It is the books curse!" Anghel suddenly said very loudly making everyone on that table thankful that there was no scary teacher that could tell them off for just noise.
"If you're not going to help don't talk" Sakuya muttered giving Anghel a dagger glare
"Anghel, Sakuya's right" Yuuya said softly "I say we should go what Nageki said and just burn it. I've got marshmallows"
Everyone thought Yuuya was joking with that sentence until he actually pulled a large bag of marshmallows from under the table.
"COOOO! (Okosan likes that idea!)"
"You must not! The book cannot burn until the fated go on its journey but we cannot go on its journey. Our bond is not strong enough."
Before anyone could say anything back to that, the library doors burst open and Hiyoko walked in before taking the empty seat next to Ryouta. None of the boys were expecting her but they were all glad to see her. She brought them back to reality and forget this madness about books.
"What you guys up too? You having a group meeting and never invited me?!"
"Ryouta acted insane yesterday and we just agreed on a plan to stop it"
"It sounds bad when you put it like that" Ryouta muttered sinking in his chair even more. He's already feeling terrible about hurting Sakuya yesterday, feeling ashamed for his behavior but now he's embarrassed in front of the girl he liked. He would question if things could get worst if it wasn't for the fear of that question proving that yes, things could get worse.
"Does, you wanted a blank book, that's apparently magical in Anghel's fantasy world, so much that you attacked me for it yesterday. Sound any better?"
"No…"
"We're getting off topic, we sh-" "the book that's in Nageki's wing?" Hiyoko asked leaning over the desk to look at the old and damaged book closer.
"It's tacky…You should bur-" suddenly she stopped mid sentence as she stopped leaning over the desk and stood in front of it. Her stance changed from relaxed to tense and her eyes widened.
Then it happened…
Without any warning, Hiyoko, moved as fast as lighting, ripping the book out of Nageki's wings before throwing Anghel across the room and wrapped her strong hand around Ryouta's body before slamming him down onto the book on his bird butt.
"OW! Hiyoko!" Ryouta cried now stuck in a crushing hold
"Tosaka, what on earth are you doing?!" Sakuya shouted hopping onto the desk while Okosan flapped his wings in his chair cooing in shock. Meanwhile Yuuya and Nageki sat there frozen in shock. Hiyoko has just man handled her best friend…
Sakuya's voice must have snapped something, as the blank stare in the human girls eyes disappeared and she quickly let go of her small and fragile best friend.
"I…I don't know…I just…My body moved on it's own"
"Just like when I attacked you, Sakuya… Hiyoko and I must be drawn to this book, somehow"
"Don't say you believe Higure's story of the book being magical" Sakuya said with a snort "he said you couldn't touch it, well, you're sat on it and nothing has happened"
"Sakuya…You need to look again…" Yuuya said slowly so Sakuya did just to flap his wings in panic.
The book…
It was glowing!
Before anyone could do anything or say anything, the books glow became brighter and brighter until a bright blue light filled the entire room with a loud whoosh nose.
When the next group of students walked into the library, the table where the group sat was now empty…
To be continued…..
