Well hello again, dear readers! KuroShini13 is back!
Took me long enough eh?
I know I know: How dares she?! Uf, I don't know. Sometimes I can be quite cocky.
So for startes:
This story was inspired by the story with a lovely name The Clockmaker and the Air Pirate by SugarOtakuGang3 (Axis Power Hetalia - ArthurxAlfred). So the credits for the...hm, what should we call it... basis for what is here in front of you goes to them. (No, seriously. I mean it. It's thanks to them this story has even been created)
Here have a link to the story : s/8995973/1/The-Clockmaker-and-the-Air-Pirate
I think there is a sequel to this and I can tell you it is worth reading it. I absolutely love it!
Khm khm, let us continue.
I don't own -man (but, oh, how I wish I would T-T ) and just so that we make it clear right here at the beginning: it will probably take me AGES to upload this story (if I know I still have a two-shot to finish... get to work, damnit!) since it took me... I don't know, half a year to wrote just this ''grrrr'' first chapter and I got super lazy in the last year or so (final exams are a living nightmare, for cryingoutloud!)
But here I am again and I hope I will somehow make it to upload this story because honestly I think it has quite a potential *wink wink*
The next chapters most probably won't be this long (if they even see the day of light) so don't expect to much.
It was unbearable. It was so painful that she wanted to just close her eyes and never wake up again. Oh, God, what has this little poor lamb done to you to deserve this?
„Midnight, stop spacing out and help me with this boxes." He came walking through the open door in the back room where she was lying on the cold floor. She winced as he opened the window to let some air in. It was in the middle of summer and the heat was suffocating.
„But it's sooooo hooooot. I'm dying over here." Allen snorted and put the heavy box he was carrying in one hand on the table.
„So?" She fliped on her back and streched her arms up.
„And you throw you hands in the air like you just don't care." She looked at him.
„Or somethin' like that." He growled and smacked her hand.
„That's because I really don't care if you feel hot or not. Come on, we have to bring this inside before the afternoon shift." She mumbeled something about him being an asshole but still got up and helped him bring the remaining few boxes inside. She looked out the open window.
„Somethin' is in the air today." Her brother nodded and started opening the boxes.
„It's bound to rain soon. This heat is exausting."
„So you do feel the heat!"
„Midnight, I'm human. Of course I would feel it." She jumped up on the nearest chair and waved with her hands as if she was a bird. Idiot, he thought.
„But you don't act like that at all. I mean, look! You're not even sweating!"
„Would you shut up already?" She stopped waving with her hands and tilted her head.
„Are you on your period or somethin'?"
„Midnight..."
„Fine, I'll stop." Allen grumbled something and contiued unpacking. They spent the next half an hour organizing new books the two of them ordered for the shop. The petit bookstore on the outskirts of Alnwick, a small town near the sea, was popular with tourists that came here for their vacation and to see the famous moutain caves. They weren't exactly the richest persons in town but they made enough for normal life and savings for their holidays. Allen was the one to interact with customers while Midnight took care of the counter and money. She absolutely hated to deal with people she met for the first time. Plus, she was pretty good with numbers and organizing so Allen had no choice but to let her do what she wanted while he did the rest. But even though his twin sister disliked interraction with unknown people, she was the reason for the crowd to stop and double-check the store window. For most of the time anyway. What's true is true, Allen thought a lot of times. The two of them were quite an unusual couple. Twins, brother and sister, he with snow-white hair and a red scar on the left side of his face and she with night-black hair and a white lock intwited between the black mess. Both of them had silver gray eyes and according to town's people, they were also good-looking. Midnight denied that whenever somebody mentioned it while Allen just smiled. He sighed when he thought about that. Sometimes it was hard to keep the fake smile on but somebody had to at least try to keep the book store image up. And since Midnight had a quick temper, it all fell on his shoulders. He sighed once more and put another book on the shelf.
„What's gotten into you, bro?" She leaned with her back on the wall and tilted her head. „You've been sighing for last ten minutes." He looked at her. Then he furrowed his eyebrows.
„Just thinking what a pain in the ass you are."
„Wha-?!" The bell at the door rang and Midnight quickly shut her mouth to smile at the elderly couple that walked in. Before she went behind the counter to avoid contact, she shot an angry glare at her brother's direction. Allen just smiled innocently back and turned around to help the couple. It was so easy to annoy her.
„Can I help you with anything?" he asked and smiled brightly at the couple, a woman and a man. The woman smiled back and waved with her hand.
„Thank you, young man, but we are just looking if anything interesting picks our eyes. Right, honey?" The man, who was apparently her husband, nodded as quickly as he could when his wife turned her eyes at him. Midnight grimaced behind them at the counter. Allen send her a look, signaling her to stop and then looked back at the woman.
„As you wish, madam. If you need any help, please just ask. My sister would be delighted to help you." He held back a chuckle as he felt Midnight freezing on the spot. Oh, how he loved to so this to her. The woman almost squeeled when she heard the words ''my sister''.
„Oh, so the two of you ARE siblings? See, honey, didn't I tell you so?" Her husband just nodded again and then looked at Allen apologeticaly. Allen's smile froze on his face. The woman, who was apparently oblivious to her suroundings, contiued in an excited voice.
„You see, young man, this is our first visit to this town and we are staying with a couple of friends in that nice hotel next to beach. Oh, what is it called again?"
„Starry Resort?" Midnight thought out loud and immediately regretted that. The woman turned to her with gleaming eyes and a predator look.
„Exactly! Well, one of those friends, Mary, God bless her soul, was here last year and she absolutely loved it! The caves, the town, the people! And she also visited your book shop and was astonished how two youngsters marveolusly run the buisness. But she had a problem, you see. She couldn't made up her mind if the two of you were siblings or … well, you know."
„Lovers?" Allen suggested and the woman nodded. Midnight cursed under her breath:
„Oh, for the love of God..." The woman continued hurrily as if she was running out of time.
„That is exactly what I said to Mary. 'Dear, you don't actually believe the two of them are lovers? You said it yourself that they look like dependable and proper-mannerd young people. People like that don't live together unless they are married and it seems pretty obvious they are not. I saw the names on the front door of the shop last time I went pass it.'" She took a deep breath and launched again.
„But of course she wouldn't admit she was wrong. Mary, she is such a good and kind-hearted person but her logic has it's weak moments." God, does this woman intend to talk all day? Midnight glanced at Allen and as if he has read her thoughts from her face, he shruged. The woman didn't notice the small interaction between the siblings and just contiued on and on about how she was right and her friend Mary was wrong. And it became clear that the only reason for the two of them to stop at the book store was to get a friends disagreement cleared up. After half an hour of woman's constant talking, the husband finally quietly suggested they leave since the day was coming to an end. His wife glanced at the clock, hanging in the corner near the door.
„Oh my, is it really already that late? I'm so sorry, kids, it must've been tiring listening to my nagging."
„You don't say," Midnight muttered darkly. The woman smoothly overlooked that and Allen started to wonder if she ever listens to what others are saying. Most probably not, was his next thought as he waved the couple and locked the door. His sister sighed audibly behind the counter.
„Because of that woman we lost the whole evening. Seriously, she talks likes it's her job."
„Perhaps it is. But that was really over the top." He rolled the metal blinders down and turned the lights off as Midnight took the money and locked it in the safe behid the picture in the small room which was more of a short corridor, with a small table, a chair and the back door, which connected the shop and the first floor of the building they owned. Narrow stairs led upstairs to the second floor where there were a kitchen and dining room combined in one room and a small bathroom. Their bedroom was in the third floor and was a place where they spent their free time when they weren't outside either on the beach or having a stroll around the caves. Both second and third floor had all of the free walls filled with books they had no intention of selling, either because they had emotional value or they were so old it would be impossible to find them anywhere else and were very valuable as such.. Midnight called them a 'golden stock', pointing out that these books are actually quite useful in a way and could be sold for a lot of money. But both od them agreed that they will sell them only in a case of an emergency. Allen followed his sister up the stairs to the second floor and sat down at the table. Midnight got a prepared salad from the fridge and placed it on the table along with two forks.
„This month's earning is weak." Allen wrinkled his forhead.
„How weak?" Midnight took a bite and answered:
„At least 10% lower that last month's. If it goes like this for the next six months, we'll have to find some new ways of promoting the shop. Perhaps something like giving out flyers on the beach or hanging posters through out the main tourist locations. But printing costs..."
„Oh, it will probably go up again. The middle of the season is always a bit unstable."
„Don't think something like that. We have to be ready, just in case. You never know, something just may hit us. Like Cross, for example." Allen shuddered. Midnight clicked with her tounge and gave him a disapproving look.
„I can't believe you are still afraid of that asshole. You should be pissed at him, not shaking like a wet dog whenever I mention his name. Pitiable." Allen just shrugged his shoulders, saying nothing. His master was a topic rarely mentioned in the house since he was absolutely terrified of him while Midnight couldn't say master's name without the contempt pouring from her words. All in all, it was safer not to mention him at all.
„You coward." Midnight took another bite and shook her head. „Unbelivable." Allen frowned.
„Excuse me, but you don't know what is it like to be his apprentice. You wouldn't be talking like that if you were in my shoes."
„Oh, of course not. Because I would already kick his fucking ass to the point he wouldn't be able to move, less alone sit behind a desk and play poker."
„Such foul language ," Allen murmured and chewed on the last bite of the sallad. He then made a suprised face as he noticed the empty bowl.
„What, already gone? Is there nothing more?"
„We just ate a full bowl of it, and I believe it is necessary to mention it was a huge bowl."
„But I'm still hungry."
„Allen, we already spend the money we had for this week groceries. We can't afford more." Midnight took the bowl and forks and placed them into the sink. She then pulled out a small notebook from her sweater pocket, opened it and nodded after a few seconds.
„We definitly can't afford spending more money on food. Sorry, you'll be on a diet this week." Allen's face turned from desperate to horrofied. She sighed on the inside. Seriously, this idiot brother of hers...
„Listen, dear. You know the deal. We take 5% from every months earning for our holiday money, 10% for that fucking master of yours and10% for critical times. With the money we have left we need to pay the bills for electricity, water and wood for heating. Then there is the house loan we have to pay back to the bank and costs that come with the store. You know very well that if we have a bad month, I'll just cut down where I can."
„But why is it always food?," Allen complained like a little child.
„Because it is the easiest way. If you are that desperated you can still go work for a few weeks at that mexican place near by like you did the last time. I'm sure Jose will be happy to have you working there." Her brother grimaced.
„Are you kidding? This place almost fell apart last time I went to work there. You may be good with numbers, my beloved sister, but when it comes to customers... Well, let's just say you'd get the lowest score possible at that subject." Midnight groweled.
„I would be able to do that just fine if there weren't so many perverts among the tourtist. I swear to God, every third of the guys that came in the shop alone asked me if I would like to get fucked. I mean, do I look like a motherfucking whore?" She raised her voice at the last words and clenched her fists. Allen quickly shook his head. This is bad, he thought. If she gets even more upset... He touched her shoulder and squeezed it.
„Midnight, calm down. It won't help you if you get upset now."
„I can still go to the hotel and beat the living shit out of those guys."
„Middy..."
„FINE." The word was nothing than an irritated growl which was followed by loud footsteps as she made her way up to the third floor to their room. Allen sighed and followed her. When he got to the room he found his sister laying on her bed murmuring something into the pillow.
„Midnight, stop it. You know very well you can't cast a curse upon them."
„I can still try," came an mischievous answer. Allen chuckled.
„So what kind of a curse did you come up with?" Midnight lifted up her head and looked at him. Her eyes were gleaming. Oh, how she likes to do something she shouldn't, Allen thought to himself and sat down on his bed. He returned the look.
„So?" She jumped of the bed and started to walk around the room in circles, waving with her arms as she always did when she was excited.
„I made it so that they would be kidnapped." Allen raised one eyebrow.
„Kidnapped? Really? By who?"
„The air pirates." Allen raised one eyebrow in suprise.
„What, seriously? What made you come up with that idea?"
„I read about it in the newspapers last week. About a black pirate airship going around stealing everything and killing everybody." She turned on her hills towards him and her eyes seemed full of stars because they were shining so much from the excitement.
„Nobody knows what their main goal is but they are getting closer to us. Just yesterday I heard the Berkely sisters talking about it. They were shaking just like you when I mention Cross." Allen shuddered. Midnight laughed.
„Just like that, yes. Anyway, most of those guys is well loaded so they are perfect targets for the pirates, don't you think? Just imagine their screames when they would found out there is no way out of this. The swing of a sword, the bang of a gun. Oh, such fun..." The crooked smile on her face scared Allen way more that his master's name. She is going to the way she was before. He calmy got up and placed his hands on her shoulders, then shook her lightly.
„Midnight, come back to reality. There is no way you can cast a curse upon those guys and there is no way for those air pirates to come here, to our town. We have nothing worth mentioning here in Alnwick."
„What about our shop?" This time he shook her harder.
„Get real. It's just a small shop. We barely make it through the month, you know that better than I do. Snap out of it." Suddenly, the smile disappeared from her face and was replaced with horrified expresion. Her face turned pale and Allen had to support her when her legs gave up to the tension.
„Allen, I..."
„Shh, it's okay." He hugged her tightly when quiet sobs started to escape her lips. She shook her head.
„I was just so mad. I didn't even realize where my thoughts were going..."
„I already said it's okay." He pushed her away so that he could look into her eyes.
„That part of your personality won't disappear that quickly. I took years for it to build and it will most probably take even longer for it to vanish. You just have to remember who you are and besides," he smiled. „You have me. Look at this gorgeus face. It will snap you right out of it." She couldn't help herself and snickered at the statement.
„I like it when you joke like that." Allen pouted and faked that he was offended.
„How cruel can you be."
„And how funny you can be, dear brother." She hugged him tightly for a second and then let go.
„But now that I mentioned it; it does worry me a little."
„What, your personality?" Midnight shot him a glare before she sat down on her bed and hugged the pillow.
„No, the air pirates. They ARE coming closer. What if they decide to attack Alnwick?"
„Don't be ridiculous. What in the world would be they doing here? We are just a small city that happens to have really great caves and a beautiful beach. Nothing more than that."
„You forgot to mention a bunch of hotels and their loaded customers. It's perfect." Allen sighed.
„I keep telling you there is no way that this air pirates with a black ship would come here so stop thinking about..."
BOOM!
They stood frozen for a few seconds before Midnight looked at him and said with a sarcastic tone:
„No way, huh?"
Oh, and just for my own satisfaction : I got accepted to college I wanted so starting this october this little good for nothing will be a student of english and japanese