Disclaimer: I do not own the digimon series!
Author's notes: I thank you for supporting me! Especially to my kind reviewers. It seems that some action had stirred in now…initially I wanted to introduce the problem and the brothers in the third chapter but it would seem that I am a little draggy. I am currently experiencing the exam blues right now…-.- So please forgive me if I upload the next chapter a little later! Oh and thank you to all my reviewers! Please continue to support me!
Defination:
Mantarays- creatures that look like flyrays except much bigger and the ones that can be ride on. However they are more territorial and solitary as compared to flyrays. Usually marine blue and greyish colour.
Chapter 2: Problem arising
Kouji sighed in boredom. He had wasted all morning busy attending to things. Useless things in fact…. he thought in annoyance. He recalled that the morning was spent on meetings for the preparations if not having tailors taking his body measurements to make refined clothes for him. All because of tonight's event which he was very much not looking forward to. Now he was standing in the middle of his room and waiting for the tailor to take his measurement for the fourth time. He turned his head and looked at himself in the mirror. It reflected midnight hair colour and raven eyes, the skin fair and a muscular build which was probably due to all the fencing training he had done. He looked perfect in every manner.
"Alright Minamoto-sama, the clothes will be ready at five sharp." The tailor stood up from his original squatting position and wrapped the measuring tape in his hand, finally satisfied of his measurements. Like I care, Kouji thought in silence as he rubbed his sore arm, he had been holding it out for an hour at least. After the tailor bowed politely and swiftly left the room, he dressed himself up and head towards the room where the Royal Gala would be held.
"Finally done?" Kouji's eye slightly twitched in annoyance upon approaching the room. There was Koichi sitting there trying to stifle a laugh when he saw Kouji's face. "Sorry, even though the tailor is very slow, he is extremely skilled." Koichi blabbered when his brother shot daggers at him as he sat down. "I'm not even interested in tonight's event." Kouji mumbled as he played with his long hair. He turned to his brother who was looking at the side.
"But the rest are." Koichi replied, "The room is specifically created for this and is much more decorated than the previous Royal Gala."
Kouji surveyed the room. It had its walls neatly lined with the best wallpapers, vanilla white at the top and yellowish golden at the bottom, all dabbed with small flower imprints; intricate wooden carvings marked the corners and the middle of the room. The floor was neatly carpeted, the table and chairs all made with the best workmanship and covered with table clothes or cushions made out of silk. Fresh white roses all neatly trimmed lined the top of the wall and lilies in vases on table tops. It was like a magnificent painting gone real.
"Yeah, but it's still the same like every other year, only that the others are coming this time. Other than that, it is only about people bragging on their riches." Kouji sighed as he lowered his head on the table. There was a short silence after, something like a hesitation. Kouji was felt a little surprised, his brother would usually comment on whatever he said.
"Unfortunately, it's not the same." Kouji immediately turned to look at his brother; his face like his tone had suddenly gone serious. "Why?" Kouji questioned as he looked at his brother's solemn face, something was not right at all. The atmosphere suddenly became tensed.
"The coming together of the kingdoms only signifies one thing- trouble. I received a letter this morning and we have an urgent thing to discuss about." Koichi swallowed before continuing, "I do not wish I say this but I fear both our predictions have come through."
Kouji's eyes widen in shock upon hearing the sentence and stood up instantly, the chair almost falling back. "Is it about the Abyss? It couldn't possibly be…" he could not get the words out of his mouth.
The next sentence cut him sharply like shattered glass.
"Yes, the Abyss….is alive."
Mother's prophecy was right.
The steam was overwhelming. It spewed on Takuya's face once more. The pipes were all vibrating too much and they seemed to point of bursting. "Are they overworking the air conditioners again?" Takuya wondered aloud. He was alone in this place and it was as if hell itself was boiling beneath it. Wiping sweat off his forehead, he sighed as he screwed the ledge tightly. He had to manage the whole engine room by himself and it seemed like he was the only mechanic on board.
There were many reasons regarding this. Nobody wanted to be a mechanic, the job was considered to be for the lowest in society and no respect or rights were given to these people. It was also too dangerous and the wages were low. There was another reason, as everybody reckoned the airship was very well designed as it was meant for the royals, hence there was not a need for many mechanics and that they are almost not essential at all. They only offered a handful of spaces for them when they were recruiting workers for the airship. Obae-san was the head of the cleaning department. So as to follow her, Takuya took on the job of a mechanic or rather he only had that position. There was not much a choice back then.
Back then… Takuya could not help but started recalling when he first met her. How long has it been? Was it about two years ago? On that faithful day, she rescued him from the bitter cold. Memories of that day were as clear as spring waters.
It was a cold winter night. He was wrapped up in a thin blanket, uselessly trying to protect himself from the chilling frost. He was shivering beside a garbage dump, both of his legs were already frozen to the bone and one was hurting badly. He could barely move them despite his best efforts. The lights of the neighbouring houses were starting to flicker off, everybody wrapping in the warmth of their sweet dreams. He drew deep breaths only to cough violently and felt the ice lined up the walls of his painful lungs. His body was sore and tired, almost unable to function any longer. How long would he be in this entrapment? How long would the painful night last? He forced his eyes open once more and then…saw her. A lady with black hair and sharp grey eyes, dressed in a coat, towering above him. And then, a hand extended towards him. And when he gripped it, his small hand immediately felt warmth for the first time in the winter ordeal.
The loud wheezing pipes broke his thoughts and he rushed to lower the air pressure. Once the memories left his head, feelings towards the Royal Gala swarmed in almost immediately. "I hope the machines don't overwork or I might be here all night and I can't watch what would be going on." Takuya mumbled while putting his tools in place. "Hey mechanic! Turbine 4 has broken down, hurry go and repair it!" a shrill cry came from above.
"Yes!" Takuya answered and head out to the take-off platform. He was slightly hesitant about doing it but then again, he had not much of a choice. (So much for the 'no need of mechanics' idea, whoever influential came up with that theory would have no knowledge on airships.)
The wind speed was exceptionally high today; Takuya pulled his goggles and muffler into position as he faced the obstacle once more. The way towards the turbine which was at the back of the airship was two chains entangled together. There was no other way unfortunately unless at the top of the airship where he might get blown away the instant he crawled out. There were barely visible poles jutting out so it was not as bad, Takuya took a deep breath and walked towards the chains.
The chains were whipping at the side of the airship to the point that some paint had flaked off. Takuya gulped. Well at least its chains right if it were ropes it would flying all over the space right? Takuya thought and tried to comfort himself. He gripped the metal pole tightly as he took his first step. The chains wobbled beneath him and he gripped harder, one wrong move and he could die. He advanced another step and another; he was getting the pace of it when the airship suddenly jerked, probably trying to avoid a Mantaray. Takuya nearly fell off but secured himself by grapping the other pole. He quickly made his way through the last part and collapsed at the turbine edge; his body was trembling and he was panting. Grasping his small bit of energy left, he leaned his head on the metallic wall, thinking that even though he done it several times, he could never get the hang of it.
The sound of the melodious music drifted through the entire airship, it was almost half past five and the dining hall was getting ready for the event. The Royal Gala would commence at seven. Now the kitchen was more chaotic then it was in the morning. Takuya sat by the corner idling, with his hair all messed up and all over the place. It had been a tough day for him so far. Hopefully for the evening, he can finally relax.
"Takuya!" he looked up and saw Obae-san walking towards him in a swift pace. Takuya wondered what he did wrong as Obae hastily pulled him up by the arm and starting walking in another direction. "We are short of butlers! That stupid arse, how could not note of such an important factor?" She paused for a short moment as she huffed in anger. " Anyway,you are going to be the butler tonight and…for Minamoto Kouji-sama!" she announced as she dragged him towards the dressing room. Takuya was barely registering the news when she threw him into the room. "Get bathe and change well quick!" she ordered before slamming the metal door hard. Takuya blinked before he started changing and head towards the shower.
He dowsed cold water on himself and felt a slight chill on his naked skin as watch the soap drain away. There was no such thing like hot water or even warm water and every worker here had to bathe in freezing waters. But the thought of serving Kouji-sama as a butler just excited him more and negated the numbing feeling on his skin. Takuya dried himself and as he turned he somehow faced a mirror.
It reflected him. It showed the radiance of his umber hair colour and his chocolate brown eyes. There was something strange about them; they seemed to glimmer a slight golden colour at times. Takuya usually dismissed the fact that he was seeing things or maybe the mirror itself was too greased to see well. But even then, umber hair colour was a very strange natural hair colour too…
Takuya wore his vest as he thought silently. These should not be of concern now, Takuya tried to break away from the previous thought, it was strangely easy to do so, however he ignored it, I just have to focus on serving Kouji-sama well. He then turned his head towards the rounded window to enjoy a breath of the scenery, only to gasp when he looked outside. Who in the world was that person clinging on at the side? He could not deduce if the person or a creature was a he or a she and it was entirely black and almost invisible in the passing clouds. He squint his eyes and tried to see the figure more clearly.
"Takuya, out now!" Obae suddenly slammed open the metallic door. "Goodness, what are you daydreaming nearby the window for? It is almost a quarter past six!" she muttered as she adjusted his tie. Before Takuya could protest, she shooed him out of the dressing room and towards the evaluator. While she rushed down, Takuya grabbed the chance and dashed back to his room to see the figure once more. He wanted to know whatever that was. Only to find a startling result, at the side of the airship, there was no one. The figure had disappeared.
