"Is being illogical really that bad?"
"Well…"
"At the Empyrean's Throne, I remember Velvet standing, despite the horrible pain she felt. Rokurou is training with all his heart to defeat his brother Shigure. And Kurogane used his own head to forge a powerful blade."
"None of that… is very logical."
"Yeah. I don't know quite how to put it, but…" Laphicet gave a smile. "I think it's all amazing."
The boys gave a chuckle before Magilou waved her hands.
"Aren't you forgetting someone, hmmm?" She gave a waver thin smile.
The little boy scratched his head. What was it that Magilou does again? "Uhh… Magilou is… traveling with us, even though she doesn't… care?"
"Yup and go on..!"
"I don't really understand what that's about."
The witch groaned, tilting her head and hat in defeat. Bienfu stumbled his way over, hopping up and down. "Miss Magilou, hang in there!"
Eleanor cupped her face, laughing. "I suppose it's all amazing in that sense."
Even with one missing from their party, it still felt that everybody was together. The laughs they shared, the grudges they had, the pain they felt. If he asked Velvet, she'd say 'It just shows that you're alive'. He took in lessons from everybody. Velvet gave him a name and showed him a bigger world, Rokurou and Eizen took it to themselves to help guide him and Eleanor helped him live.
All these people, human, malakhim and daemon. They were here, together. Co-existing. Maybe… just maybe, if they could all get together. The hopeful thought gave Laphicet hope.
As they entered the fields outside the village, Laphicet stayed in the middle of the pack, thinking. Eizen follows his own creed, fighting back anybody that denies him that… Then, what would mine be?
The thought took a smaller turn.
What's Magilou's creed?
Perhaps the answer would come sooner than later.
"Eleanor… My feet are getting a little tired. Can I take a quick rest?" He asked. The rest of the team continued. Only Velvet pivoted her head just to keep an eye on both.
"Oh, sure. You go ahead Laphicet." The redhead smiled. Linked together, the little boy disappeared in a small flash of light and dissipated over the Exorcist's body.
The small Malakhim watched Eleanor catch up to the rest of them, almost at Velvet's side, flanked by Rokurou. For Laphicet, the feeling was still new. Of course, he had done this action with Lady Teresa, but to feel it was something else.
Imagine a film covering your eyes. No matter what you do, rub, blink or shake, this film could not be removed. The actions were not your own. It was watching from afar, and yet so close. You could not feel what was seen. But you could guess from the minor slants of view. You could not touch anything, yet you could feel the world as another person saw it.
This was the view that Laphicet saw. And for Eleanor, it was a beautiful world.
Ignoring the occasional daemon or monster wandering around, the group avoided fights as much as they could. But as Velvet said, Laphicet took notes of Eleanor's actions.
Her eyes usually stayed forward with the rest of them. Sometimes she'd turned to Rokurou, watching the daemon swordsman play with his knifes or stretch his arms. It seemed like he was getting bored.
But what caught his attention the most was Eleanor turned to Velvet, catching glances for a second then turning away. Sometimes it was her hair. Sometimes it was her shoulders. Other's were her coat, swaying back and forth.
What is she thinking? He wondered. I should tell Velvet about this later.
-.-.-
"Foul play is foul play, but you're talking to a daemon and a witch. Who's to judge?"
The girl crossed her arms in a huff. "I appreciate that you're trying to console me, but as an Exorcist, I cannot accept this."
Rokurou shrugged, grinning to himself as they ventured back to the Van Eltia. Bouncing comments like that pulled the best emotions out of her. According to his ancestral land, this was called 'Manzai'. As much as Eleanor played the Tsukkomi, the straight-man in comedy, everybody else was the Boke, the smartass or idiot.
Too bad Eleanor doesn't have any paperfans. That would've made it even better!
Still, the Yaksha daemon couldn't help but reflect the days between himself and Shigure. The constant jokes they played off each other, even during training. As much as he wanted that title, it wasn't his to get. Yet.
And now, he couldn't. Was this going to bother him?
Nah.
Is this what having a little sister is like? Rokurou thought. He had many siblings; hell his name literally meant 'Sixth Son'. But having a sister… He never had the pleasure of that. A small lady, perhaps bossy that watched and smothering her brother's in little childish glee. Later she'd be taught in the ways of steel-hidden silk, but not for those first days.
Lady friends was something he was familiar with. Shigure could say the same.
But never a sister.
She's young, she's naïve… She probably wants to kill us. He gave it some thought. Huh. Not much different between me and Shigure.
The thought sparked a little fire in him. She's still training, but she can make a good fighter later. If there's anybody that's gonna fight me after Shigure, it'll be her.
Just like Laphicet and everybody else, he too watched over her like a falcon observing its prey, just waiting for a slipup. But he never felt any hostile intent on her actions since her oath. Plus, he could have a little leeway here and there. Helps keep the mind sharp when it really needs it.
"If the hummingbird doesn't sing…" He hummed, looking at the distant cliffs and waterfalls.
If the mockingbird doesn't sing, kill it.
These were the words of the first Shigure. Ichirou and Rokurou's mother.
He could never say she was a kind woman. She was strict, lethal, and beautiful. Like the poisonous flowers they grew back home.
But that was enough of that.
With Eizen back, it was back to the right side of Velvet. As he saw it, Velvet and Eizen that gave the poor girl the most most suspicion. So he had to play the good-cop. Plus, it helped riling up Eizen. Keeps him on edge too. It was a silent agreement. Just like playing older brother to Laphicet.
If the mockingbird doesn't sing, make it
Ichirou's – No Shigure's modified words. As words came from his sect of the clan to assassinate his older brother. Many people tried attacking him. Many others had died. In the time since his imprisonment on Titania, there wasn't a doubt in his mind that the others tried killing him for the sake of his title.
And if still stands, they too likely perished.
Now it was down to the last of them.
Passed the Exorcist camp and over the bridge, Laphicet walked slower, hand in his chin.
"Hey Laphicet, mind if I ask you something?" Eleanor asked.
"What is it?" He asked back.
"The girl with the umbrella from Lord Melchior's illusion. What's her connection to Eizen?" Rokurou turned his head. That seemed personal. But he was curious too.
"I don't think he'd answer if I asked him?"
"I don't know. I was wondering about her as well… She was pretty, wasn't she?"
"Ooohoo? You like a girl who's cute, but with a bit of sophistication?" Magilou chirped in.
"Really?" The Yaksha chuckled. "I thought his type was more like Velv-"
"Shh! Shhhh!"
Velvet turned around with her usual frown. "What's going on?"
"We were discussing a dedication topic. Laphicet's first crush if you must know." The witch grinned.
Velvet raised an eyebrow. "Oh."
"It's not that!" Laphicet shook his hands. "We were just talking about the umbrella girl from the illusion!"
"The umbrella girl. The one that made Eizen hesitant. She must be really important to him."
"Indeed!" Magilou nodded. "Must be a deep, knotty relationship!"
"Come on now." Rokurou shook his head.
"Like a wife he wants to leave but he can never let go? Or a lover from whom he can't move on?" Eleanor added on.
Rokurou exasperatedly stared at the Exorcist. "No, that's too wild. And she's waay too young!"
"Yeeaaah, it's not that. What's more likely for a self-serving pirate is…" Magilou went to explaining. "A daughter from a woman who only knows him by a fake name! Perhaps one whom he cast aside… Or one who cast him aside!"
"And maybe she was somebody he couldn't marry for some reason. But when she died, he raised her daughter for her…" Velvet caught on.
"He had been friends with her since they were children, but they only realized their true feelings after they had been married to somebody else!"
Rokurou and Laphicet stood aside from the girls. They looked at one another as the three continuously built Eizen's imaginary backstory.
"Is this their idea of romance?" He sighed. "In any case, beware of girls, Laphicet."
"Right!"
As they walked, the girls bounced ideas off one another. Just like before Rokurou took note.
Looks like Velvet and Eleanor are on the same wavelength… He pondered, seeing a small blush on the Exorcist's face glow when Velvet agreed. It was a thought he watched with newly born anticipation. Had he been human.
When he bests Shigure, he would make his own senryu. For he was the last.
Just like those before him, a changed verse of their lives.
"If the mockingbird doesn't sing… wait for it."
-.-.-
First Mate Eizen overlooked the crew as they talked about each other. Van Aifread's pirates the fiercest, most wanted members of society, even before the Abbey. Having gone from one side of the known world to the other, the only places left was in the unexplored regions, or the far continent.
After all, the ship was supposed to be built for a journey like that.
As acting Captain, he solemnly watched over the crew and more importantly, the people they fared from one island to another. With Benwick and the strength of 200 men arming the cannons and boarding parties, there was a small window of things slipping through the cracks by simple word of mouth.
But even a smallest breach can take down the mightiest ships.
Southgand's port was just over the horizon and they'd arrive in just a few minutes. Benwick and the rest of them sailed on. They should be fine. Walking down from the ship's wheel, Rokurou and Magilou were up to their shenanigans again.
"Come-on… I'm sure you've seen it." The daemon ribbed.
"Mhmm, ooohh yes. But alas, love like that shall never work!" She shook her head, melodramatic as ever.
"What's going on you two?" The pirate questioned.
"We're having another bet. Fifteen gald for Eleanor admitting her feelings about Velvet." Magilou devilishly cackled. "Another fifteen gald for bedding her."
The Earth Malakhim pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Come on Eizen. What do you think?" Rokurou chuckled. "I mean, do you think a guy like me and girl like-"
"No."
"Hey, let me finish!"
"I've noticed Eleanor's movements, her manners and facial expressions. She's smitten. She doesn't deny this."
"And how would you know?" Magilou had her hands at her hips.
"This." He pulled out a small crumbled piece of parchment paper. "An elegantly detailed rundown of Velvet."
"Toned muscles that could break wood… Golden eyes that etch the supernatural… Red lips that are just…" Rokurou sputtered. A growing smirk ran from ear to ear. His bet seemed even more certain.
"Oooho! What were just holding on to these for Eizen? Thinking of lustful, naughty thoughts of some Eleanor on Velvet action?"
"No. Blackmail." He frowned, taking back the paper.
"Always the pirate eh?" The samurai sniggered.
"I know how this is works." He gave his sentiments. "Eventually Eleanor's gonna either deny it, or she'll embrace it and take command. And I know she's not the girl to just hold it in."
"See? Even Eizen's on to it."
"Absolutely, stupidiously not!" The witch barked. "This matter of forbidden love shall never cross! Thirty gald now!"
"Upping the stakes? Fine. Thirty gald." Rokurou held his hand. "And thirty gald for bedding."
"And thirty gald for me as well." Eizen held his hand too. "Count me out of the sex. If their arguments are anything like love, we'll be the one's cleaning up."
Magilou's shoulders shook, fired up. Bienfu giggled from afar, only hoping that his master fails such a delicious bet.
"Brilliant! Thirty gald for both of you and a thirty for Rokurou!"
They shook hands and bumped elbows together. A small pact sealed by all three of them.
"By the way…" Magilou smirked. "In the end, it won't matter. If the two get together, I get all the fun~"