Hi, guys. Here's Chapter 3. For a change, it wasn't my fault that this wasn't up sooner; I've had this chapter ready for several hours, but Chapter 2 didn't reach the 10 hit mark until now. Before we continue, let's do the review replies.
WindGoddess Rune: It might be. It shouldn't be too long before we find out. ;) He won't be seeing too much more stuff, but what he will be seeing will be pretty interesting. Sorry for the wait - here it is. :)
ultimashadow: Maybe. But if I said, it would spoil the surprise. ;) Thanks; this one is a little easier than Troubles on White Day, because I've been working on this for a long time (before I joined the site and even made Troubles on White Day) and I know where I want it to go. Hope you like the chapter. :)
Prince of Tennis' Shaman: Oh, really? That's too bad; I saw the preview and thought the same thing. No worries; you didn't spoil anything for me. I'm not planning on watching Episode 44 until it's translated. ;) The only reason I watched 43 was because of the artwork. I'm kind of a big fan of Miyako Tsuji's work on Blue Dragon - she's either the art director or character designer, I could never tell - since the episodes she does are so close to how it's really supposed to look. Yeah, I'm kind of picky like that. *blushes* That's also why at a certain point there's a gap between the episodes I've watched - eventually, I got tired of waiting for subs and just went to watching the episodes that Tsuji-san worked on. Oh, about the Investiture Beings; I translated the kanji of "Joui Seimeitai" as Superior Life Forms, though you can call them Investiture Beings if you want. :) As for certain unforgivable mistranslations (I'm looking at you, Viz)... If someone says/writes "Rosekstan" instead of "Rosenkreuz" one more time, I'm going to go out of my mind. How the heck did they ever translate it as that? It's not even a word! At least Rosenkreuz is - another Japanese thing I checked on the Japanese Wikipedia. :) Sorry for the rant, and thanks for saying that. *blushes again* I'm looking forward to replying to your next review when the next chapter is up. :D
Okay, there are the replies. This chapter might be a little longer than normal, but once you've read all of it, I think you'll agree with me that it's worth it. ;) So... After the pest - I mean, disclaimer - we'll get to the story. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Blue Dragon. But I am making up my minor characters that I own. :D
Chapter 3: Shinkyou (Progress)
"Marumaro... Marumaro, come on. Wake up." Kluke pushed on Marumaro's arm.
He mumbled in his sleep, something that sounded suspiciously like "Lady Zola", rolling over.
Maybe she wasn't sounding desperate enough... "Please, Marumaro! Shu needs us!"
"Kluke!" Jiro called from where he was working on the mechat, a small "ow" following.
"What?"
"Make him something to eat."
Kluke gaped at him. "Are... Are you kidding?"
"No."
"But-"
"Go ahead. It won't take you that long. It's not like we're going anywhere." He took it out on the mechat with a kick to emphasize his point.
Kluke looked from Jiro to Marumaro, then sighed. "Okay."
Bouquet had been showing him around Kolin more, mostly to unimportant things - namely, the fountain in the middle of the city.
Shu liked Bouquet a lot; she was a really cute kid. But he was seriously starting to worry about the others. After all, the last time he'd seen them they'd been in a sandstorm. He was enjoying the tour of the city, but he felt guilty having a good time while his friends might be hurt.
"Bouquet... Can you hang on a second?"
She could tell from his tone that he was upset. "What's wrong?"
"I... I've been having a good time going around the city with you, I really have. You're really nice, and I'd like to be your friend-"
"My friend?" Bouquet interrupted him, her eyes shining.
"Yeah, why?"
"It's just... I've never had a friend before. I mean, I've never had a friend like you before." She said the last part rather quickly.
"Oh... Well, I guess we're friends then." he took her hand, giving it a quick shake.
When he let go, Bouquet looked at her hand, smiling warmly and cradling it to her chest. "Thank you."
"No problem, but... Bouquet, I'm going to have to leave soon. If you're still wondering, I don't normally fall out of the sky; I got knocked out of my ship by a storm."
Bouquet gasped. "That's awful..."
"Yeah, it didn't feel good, either. Anyway, my friends were still in the ship when I fell out, and I'd like to make sure they're okay."
"I understand." Bouquet looked down at her feet.
"I'm sorry. I really wanted to spend more time with you."
She brightened slightly. "Would it be okay if I showed you one more place before you go?"
"As long as it doesn't take that long, sure."
"Okay, come on!" she pulled him by the wrist again, cheered considerably.
A few minutes later found them in front of an antique shop. "Is this the place?" Shu asked her, eyebrows arched.
"Yep!" Bouquet gave a vigorous nod, making her hair swing a little. "This is my favorite place. Come on, I'll show you inside."
Kluke had only been cooking over the newly-made fire for about five minutes when Marumaro woke up.
He sat straight up, sniffing the air wildly. "I smell Kluke's stew."
She dropped her spoon into the pot with a clang, standing and crossing her arms over her chest. "I can't believe you. Here we are, worried sick about you, and the only thing that you care about is food. Next time a monster knocks you out, I'll use a steak dinner instead of a Phoenix Talon."
"Too much money." Jiro said without looking up.
"Maro didn't know any better!" Marumaro jumped up. "Maro was asleep!"
"Yeah, I noticed." Kluke's voice trembled.
"Well... is the food done? Maro is hungry!"
Kluke sighed, giving up. "Yeah. It'll be done in a minute."
They were interrupted by a very familiar humming.
The following shriek resounded through the canyon, and could be heard from several miles away:
"Oh my God, I think I fixed it!!!"
"...and it was used by the Ancients almost everyday." Bouquet finished her explanation, setting the item down.
Shu was extremely relieved that she was finished, since he thought his brain might melt if she gave him anymore information. "Uh... Yeah." he nodded, trying to make it seem like he'd been listening.
"It's so cool!" Bouquet spun around the store. "This place is the best ever."
"How come you like it here so much?"
"Isn't it obvious?" She giggled. "All of the artifacts, silly!"
Shu blushed a little; it's never a good feeling to be teased by someone younger than you. "But you don't-" he cut off when a strange sound cut through the air. Shu got into a fighting stance, looking from left to right. "What was that?"
"Oh, that's just Mashu." Bouquet waved her hand dismissively. When Shu looked at her funny, she sighed and rolled her eyes. "Come on; I'll show you."
She pulled him along, once again, weaving through the high piles of antiques. When they reached the end, they were in front of a counter. Behind it was a little old man, asleep and snoring. "Mashu owns the artifact shop. I've always wanted to say hello to him, but he's always asleep whenever I get here..."
"Well, that's one mystery solved." Shu pinched his forehead between the eyebrows.
"Here, I still haven't shown-" Bouquet stopped talking abruptly. Something flickered in her eyes, possibly fear. Her face was as white as a sheet.
"Bouquet? Are you okay?" Shu reached toward her.
Just as quickly as the mood had come, it was gone, and she was her cheerful self again. "Never better! Like I was saying, I still haven't shown you the best part yet!" she raced off, but she didn't pull him along this time.
"Wait!" Shu chased after her.
Shu tried to follow her through another antique maze, but he was starting to lose her. Every once in a while, he would see a flash of blue and white. But those times were getting fewer and fewer.
"Bouquet! Where are you?" Shu was starting to understand how afraid Jiro had been when they were little - the feeling of not being able to find the younger person you were looking for was terrifying.
As he continued on, he thought he heard voices. It sounded like a high-pitched voice, maybe Bouquet or another girl, and a much deeper voice, definitely male. He couldn't make out exactly what their voices sounded like other than the pitches, and couldn't even begin to understand what they were saying. He did, however, try calling out. "Hello? Is someone there?"
The voices stopped immediately. He thought he heard some rustling, but then even that became quiet.
"Please, if someone's there, answer me. I'm looking for my friend. I think she's lost." He was starting to think of how silly he'd been; when he heard the voices, he'd been thinking something ominous was in the works. But it was probably just some people who had come to buy antiques from the store.
There was no answer. Not even a sound.
Shu sighed. Fine; if the people wouldn't help him, he'd find Bouquet himself. With that thought in mind, he continued through the maze.
He'd been going for several minutes when he heard a flute playing. It made him hopeful; if there was someone else in here, maybe they'd be more willing to help him than the people from before. It was good, too, because he was starting to feel dizzy.
"Excuse me? You, playing the flute - did you see a little girl with black pigtails run by?"
The music continued, like Shu had never been heard.
"What is it with the people in this place?" Shu whispered harshly to himself. "Are they all arrogant jerks with sticks up their- ow!" Shu caught himself as he tripped. Looking down on the floor, he saw that his assaulter was a jewelry box.
Pulling himself up, he continued, the flute-playing getting louder. "I hate this place. I don't care how much Bouquet likes it; it's a stinking death trap!"
Finally, like he was at the end of a tunnel, he saw some light poking through. "Finally..." Pushing through, he found himself in a cleared area, like everything had been pushed away from this one spot. In the center was a person in a pure white, hooded cloak, the one playing the flute.
"E-excuse me..." Shu had gotten more dizzy all of a sudden, more dizzy than he'd ever been in his entire life. What was happening to him?
The song increased in tempo, becoming faster and faster until it ended in one sharp and decisive note. Shu passed out, hitting the floor, the flute player standing over his unconscious body.
Cliffhanger time! Anyone else see that coming besides me? ;D Well, it certainly leaves a lot open for next chapter. Unfortunately, we won't be finding out what's happening with Shu and Bouquet; next chapter will focus on Jiro, Kluke and Marumaro. Possibly a quick cameo from Zola. ;) And when I say cameo, I just mean that we'll stopping by Zola's way to see how she's doing - it's not like she isn't going to be in this; she will be playing a big role in this story, especially later on. Zola isn't really supposed to show up yet, but I know that some of you are probably wondering what she's up to. I am, too, actually. :) So, review if you can... I understand if you can't. And I can get reviews if you're not a member of the site, so... Just wondering where I'm getting all these hits from, but no pressure; I won't die if I don't get any reviews. ;) Anyway, hope you liked this chapter, and I'll see you next time. :D
