Disclaimer: Touhou belongs to Zun, and the only things that belong to myself would be Usagi the Mimic, and Moegi the Japanese Beetle. Everything else belongs to their rightful owner.
U/N: Ahh~ That was a good, if surprising, bath! Squeaky clean~
Lunasa: I bet it was. I will have to admit that I had quite an enjoyable in the preceding evening, as well.
U/N: Really? How so?
Lunasa: One does enjoy the simple things of life. A nice bonfire, a warm cup of coffee, the screams of someone you hate. Although, I had none of the latter. But I certainly was able to imagine it.
U/N: I don't remember Begi screaming...
Lunasa: Remember, burned an effigy, not the real one. Such a pity. ...And Begi?
U/N: Well, it's a short version of his name! Such a long name, it is... Plus, it sounds like a dog! That begs! Who's a cute little Begi? It's you! So cute~
Lunasa: Hrm, so I see. I might like to use that the next time... But I don't think you'll be succeeding in leashing him. As entertaining as that might be.
U/N: Why? Have you tried putting a leash on him? How bold~
Lunasa: ...No, nothing of the sort. But how do you think my sister would react?
U/N: Of you putting a leash on him? I'd think she'd be fine with shareing with you! She's quite share-y!
Lunasa: The only bad thing about that idea is that it requires his presence about me. But enough about the cretin. Should we done with what we are paid to do before anything else interrupts us?
U/N: So! How are you, Loony? Been holding up okay? Yukari troubles, maybe?
Lunasa: Just because I have blonde hair, and am related to Merlin, does not mean I am also a Lovegood. And whenever does one not, in some form or fashion?
U/N: ...I guess you have a point.
Y/N: Does she, now?
Lunasa: Oh, the molester of instruments. I'd greet you, but I haven't the energy.
Y/N: Ohh, I molest other things, too~
U/N: ...Such as?
Y/N: Such as... here, and here~
U/N: Whaa! W-where do you think you're touching me through your gaps? !
Y/N: Aaaand... here!
U/N: Eep!
Lunasa: Oh, bother, I knew I never should have signed up for this job. How can this day get anyworse?
Y/N: Well, because you asked...
? ? ?: Wah! Who did, what just... Oh, Lunasa! What do you think you're doing?
Lunasa: Next time Yukari, if I ask a rhetorical question, just kill me instead. ...Hello sister.
Yukari: Noted~
? ? ?: Here you are! Have you any idea of where I've been looking for you and Merlin? Here you off trouncing about, when I've been busy...
Lunasa: Lyrica, we've been at home most of the time. More than what we used to be, for that matter. You could have found us at any time.
U/N: It's like a family get-together! It seems like it's missing some people, though...
Y/N: Ufufu... Should I, or should I not...?
Lunasa: No, Yukari. To be honest, we should not be having this discussion here, Lyrica. If you haven't noticed, we're live.
Lyrica: Live? Are you performing Lunasa? Without your sisters? We never do such a thing! We are one as a group! We do not simply go off and do whatever we want! That is not how a professional musician conducts herself!
Lunasa: Where is my coffee? I feel a headache coming on...
Y/N: Wasn't asking you~
U/N: Should you what...?
Y/N: Fetch the remaining sisters~ It would be quite easy, and be quite entertaining!
Lyrica: And this! I've heard about this coffee, but you've become an addict to it! I've heard what you're doing! Working these jobs for this man, just so you can have your own special blends!
Lunasa: Technically, it's the same as a gig, and I can buy whatever I want with it. All that I want, however, is coffee.
Lyrica: So, you're selling your image for a cup of joe? Next thing you know, he'll talk you into selling your heart and-
Lunasa: How did you know about the coffee? You haven't been around to know that.
Lyrica: -soul for a song! It is our job to sell songs, Lunasa! What he's having you doing is about as bad as making you go out like a common whore.
Lunasa: ...
Y/N: What's wrong with going out like a whore - common, or otherwise...?
Lunasa: Yukari?
Y/N: Yes~?
Lunasa: I'll answer your question later. But for now... Hold down the fort. Since little sister has decided to play in the big leagues, we're going to have a big girl... talk
Lyrica: Luna, I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean-
Lunasa: Come
Y/N: I suppose I'll just have to pass time by way of enjoying Usagi a bit...
U/N: Wait, wha- eep! Wh-what are you d-do- N-no, not... not there- Nhaa...! N-no...! Stop th-that!
Lunasa: -and remember that, or so help me... Oh, great. Yukari, if you're going to play bedtop sports for indoor types, go find a bed. And a willing partner...
Y/N: But the slowly easing up resistance is the best part~
U/N: Shtop...! Nmmm...
Lunasa: Fine... Be glad that I tolerate you this much, Usagi...
U/Y/N: Ehh?
Lunasa: Now, Yukari, be careful. Or I might do something worse than what my sister did...
U/N: Ehh? W-where did she... What did she...
Lunasa: Oh, I'm just in here. The gap hag.
U/N: ...Why are you... punching yourself in the face?
Lunasa: She's too old for me to kick her in the face, instead. Not limber enough, you see...
U/N: I see...
Lunasa: You know, this was supposed to be the point where you get away while I distract her. As I am wondering why she hasn't simply used her powers to get me out by now. Also... How does she manage to do anything with these things on her? Can barely keep myself balanced...
U/N: Maybe she... finds it entertaining? Somehow...?
Y/N: Bingo~
U/N: ...This is going to get confusing, I just know it...
Lunasa: Of course you would find being clobbered in your own face amusing.
Y/N: Well, I was a tad close with... Daiyousei for a time. Pain can be rather pleasant, really~
U/N: I'm not sure who's saying what...
Lunasa: Just remember who's talking about whom, and you'll have us well met. Could you imagine the Daiyousei I know to be friendly with anyone? Especially ones smart enough to see her game...
Y/N: Or strong enough to turn her human with but a thought~ Ohh, I do think I'd have fun straitening out that dimension you live in. Now, if only every single other alternate dimension wasn't warded against the various versions of myself! I'd have limitless ways to entertain myself if that were the case~
Lunasa: Eh, I'd just get the blank to set the maid on you, somehow. Be most amusing to see you being chased around to whack you in the head with a mop. But you're assuming everyone would enjoy a more... wild, version of Yukari. At least, wild comparing to the one in Begi's script... love that name.
U/N: I've only seen her like... twice, not including now.
Y/N: I do like to work behind the scenes~ I see all, and can be at any number of places at once. Or, if need be, even at any time. The joy of manipulating the existance of existance~ Took 1000 years to learn, but it pays off quite well~
Lunasa: Did you by any chance moonlight as a pyramid?
Y/N: Nnnnno, why do you ask...?
Lunasa: Because... Bah, that barb is too obvious. Why am I even bothering to feed the troll, anyways?
Y/N: And now I don't have to beat you a bit~ Anywho, don't you have something to say, Usagi?
U/N: Ehh?
Y/N: ...You forgot, didn't you...
Lunasa: Did she forget to even read the script? Bah. Better get out to get mine. ...Yukari, let me out.
Y/N: But you fill me up so well, Luna~
Lunasa: Just read the script so I can get out of here... The things that I do...
U/N: Let's see... there doesn't seem to be anything important to say...
Lunasa: Please, what are we paid to do? Sit here and talk to each other?
U/N: Ahh, and in the corner, in a rather mysterious handwriting is... japanese. I can't read this!
Y/N: Ahh, that's right... Forgot that the barrier of translation only covers verbal language~ Anywho, you should probably adress the lack of main characters!
U/N: ...But aren't you one...?
Y/N: Well, yes, but this isn't even the story. Long enought to be one, though.
U/N: Okaaay...? Umm, I guess there isn't enough Touhou in this story as of yet, so do bear with me...?
Lunasa: Indeed. The pixie was initially a throw-away character in their little game. Sadly, the whole deal spiraled out of control. You might say the whole situation was rather unfortunate.
Hina: Do not be bringink moi into zis!
Lunasa: ...Just, please, go away. I need a freaking drink... and my own body.
U/N: Well, as everything has been covered, and this section is... quite large, how about we get on with the show!
With wary eyes, the pixie eyed Earl, before moving her hand to steal away an apple that was resting in the pile of loot. "Just don't be doing… anything just because I accepted your offer." However, her rumbling stomach overrode any concern, and she bit down onto it, sharp teeth tearing into the flesh of the fruit.
With a relieved sigh, Earl looked down at his pixie friend and let out a sigh of relief. Glad to know that his attempt to divert the pixie from considering him to be her next meal was successful, his curiosity was piqued at what she had mentioned. Tilting his head, he asked, "What do you mean do anything? What would I do?"
Finishing the first apple, the pixie let out a delicate roar of a burp before picking out a second. Before she bit down once more, a frown marred her face. "That… poking thing, that the men do to me. With their fleshy meat gun thing."
After taking a moment to let what the pixie said sink in, the man blanched. "What… you mean…" Shaking his head, he tried to chase the mental image from his mind. "I'd never do such a thing. Just… go ahead, and eat all you want. I'll be fine."
A bright smile lit the pixie's face, as she yelled, "Yay! Thanks human! That thing they did hurt a lot. Made some red stuff come out of me. I felt as if I was going to respawn…" Shaking her head, she bit down on the second apple, before devouring it even more quickly than the first. "So good… Been so long since I ate."
Taking a deep breath, Earl closed his eyes as his fists clenched by his side. There was no target nearby to take out the sudden calls for annihilation in his brain on. So, instead, he focused on the pixie and not on the urge to destroy. "Are you feeling better now? You've seemed to have healed, at least compared to the state you were in last night."
Pausing in her current attempts to devour the entirety of the pile of food, she flashed a rather toothy smile at Earl. At least, toothy compared to the other ones that weren't suggesting dismemberment. "I am feeling better. Thanks, though. You're the nicest human I've ever met, mister!"
Smiling softly, he turned back away, facing towards the outside. "I'm trying to be, Miss Pixie." With a shrug, he motioned towards the outside. "Shall we be going, though?"
Wiping off her face quickly, the pixie left to her feet and into the air, so as to begin flying. However, her wings, one twitching and one fluttering, seemed to have trouble keeping her aloft. "Ghh…" With some reluctance, she let herself settle back down onto the ground with a frown on her face.
Raising a hand towards the pixie, he asked, "Are you in need of some… help, little one? If you need me to, I can help you along. Or carry you, if you'd like."
Blushing slightly at the attention she was given, the pixie glanced away. With a glum tone, as if she didn't care for a word the human said, she replied, "W-well, if you insist…" However, she took his hand all the same.
"I don't. But if it helps you, I don't mind all the same." Cautiously placing his hands on her side, he picked her up as smoothly as possible and placed her upon his back. Momentarily confused as to why she was so easy to pick up, he found himself asking, "Ye be alright on up there?"
However, the pixie had stiffened on his shoulders. Thinking that he had done something wrong, the man began to panic, before the pixie stated with eerie calmness, "…I sense rain coming." As she spoke, her eyes floated to a distant point, gazing at an unseen object.
Nodding slightly at her statement, the man tried to follow her eyes. Even as such, his mortal eyes were not nearly enough to see what hers sought, so he desisted. Even the almighty dice would not have been able to assist him in that regard. Looking up towards her, he asked, "Shall we chance the rain then? Or be we wanting to stay where the land remains dry, if dark?"
Pausing for a moment, he bites his tongue, realizing that he sounds rather odd. "Must have been something I ate… How odd."
Any further rumination, though, were cut off by the pixie. "It's not an if. It will rain. Though, if you need me to, I could always turn my dress into an umbrella." Before he could turn his head up to glance at her for that statement, she continued, speaking more to herself than anything. "It's not that I mind being seen without clothes. Although, it might be more useful to turn my dress into a sack to carry the food and stuff!"
Shaking his head in the negative, Earl began grabbing up all the loot and food he could and shoved it into his pockets. All the while, the pixie stayed balanced on his shoulders as if she was glued to them. "It's no problem at all, little one. Just lead me on from up there. I'll try to keep up." Grinning crookedly, even though she could not see him, he joked, "I might have to ask you to slow down once it does start raining, though.
As he had continued his work, the pixie kept nodding absently, not really paying any mind to what he had said. Before saying a word, she snapped her fingers, causing her dress to shimmer once more. It held its form for a few seconds before dissolving, particles fleeing the pixie before being reformed in front of the pixie. The flakes spun about each other, tightening into what first appeared to be a lump, which then transformed into the recognizable form of a drawstring bag.
"There! Now we can carry it all!" Snatching the new form out of the air, she held it forward, with an innocent little smile on her face.
Sighing in a bit of frustration, and attempting to ignore the fact that the fairy on top of his shoulders was now once again naked. Taking the sack from her hands, he couldn't help the amused snort that fell from him. "Alright, alright, you win…" Sardonically, he continued. "How did I ever survive without you before…"
Still, he filled up the sack not quite to the brim, before holding it in his arms. And so, with the bare pixie perched on his shoulders as a parrot might, he left the cave and began to stroll towards where he remembered the golden fields would be. Idly, he waved towards the direction of the tied up drow before focusing in on the direction of the field, its location not even needing a roll to discover where it was once again located.
Out of the corner of his eye, the drow began to struggle again once he caught sight of Earl. Clenching his fist, he opened his mouth to shout, "Damn you, and your little gi- Ohh, naked little girl!" Sighing, he turned towards the elf who was now making odd, lewd looks towards her. Although, given the particular drow, they merely looked constipated.
Leaning forward on Earl's head, the pixie gave the drow an odd look before asking, "Who's the weirdo?"
Fixing the elf with a hard stare, Earl shook his head, disrupting the pixie who had just made herself comfy. "He's the one who so kindly donated breakfast to us. But if he keeps looking at you in that particular… way, he might just become dinner, if you want him…"
"Bleh." Clinging to the side of his head, the pixie spat onto the ground. "He stinks of evil… What a horrible stench… even if I doubt it'd affect his taste." Calming down, she tapped her finger on her lip. "I've no idea, really. What do you think human? Should we gut him and toss him in the sack?" As she spoke, the drow tied to the tree cringed, face contorting into a rictus of distaste.
Shrugging his shoulders, momentarily launching the pixie into the air, he replied. "It's not my decision to make. He's been a creep in more ways than one, but he hasn't truly done anything worth ending his life over… yet." Pausing, he shrugged his shoulders, returning to a more practical argument. "Besides, he isn't human, so he might not be to your taste. Unless you'd like to branch out into more exotic dark elves…"
Gagging, the pixie nearly swallowed her tongue at the thought. "Elf? Bleh… I hear they taste like jealousy. Nasty taste, that…"
Eyes flashing red at the indignity, the drow begins to spout off about revenge. "I'll be back with an army to smite you, for these injustices you've visited upon me! I'll hunt you down to the ends of this very Earth!" Oddly enough, he seemed to have forgotten for a minute that Earl had quite explicitly spared him, because he hadn't done anything. Poor fool seemed to have a rather short attention span.
Chuckling slightly at her words, Earl shook his head. "Well, I do suppose they both live beneath the Earth's crust…" Still snorting, he kept his laughter mostly quiet as he turned to drow. Judging him as he hoped the Yama herself would judge him when he eventually returned, he stepped forward while removing one of the rusted daggers. Stabbing into the rope, he sawed through slowly, causing enough stress that the dagger split in twain down the middle. "Be off with you then! Just remember, if you come back to harm me, or especially to harm her, you'll be in for a world of hurt."
In a flash, the effeminate row leaps forward, and yanks away the odd paldrons that Earl possessed. With a rather uncatlike tread, the rogue sped away in a comical lope, shouting "Kiss my ass suckers!"
The pie stared at the man, watching as he sped away from the items that had allowed her to steady herself on the man's shoulders. Even if they had managed to be strapped on. Among other things. It was quite odd, no matter how one looks at it. "What a strange guy…"
Only able to blink in astonishment at the girly elf's actions, he shook his head and turned about. "…Indeed. So… let's be off, I suppose!" Glancing about, he realized that even though the field was still in sight, it was still a ways off. Joking only slightly, he asked the fairy, "…I don't suppose there's a yellow brick road around here anywhere, is there?"
As some sort of divine retribution for the paucity of humor within that joke, the drow reared back and threw the last and most heavy of his possessions at the man. A single, yellow brick flew out from the depths of the forest, missing Earl's head by such a small margin, he might have hit the broad side of a barn that was behind the man.
The broad side of a barn a football field to the left of the man perhaps, but it was a close miss for a drow of such caliber.
Ignoring the object tossed in the general direction of her ride, the pixie pointed over to the distant yellow field. "Well, that sunflower field over there is quite… yellow. Why don't we head there?" Seemingly wanting to describe the field with more than just a simple declaration that it is yellow, she continued. "It's full of flowers all year, even when there should be none. It's like a never ending spring."
With a breathy sigh, the pixie looked away with stars in her eyes. "And Miss Daiyousei lives there! She's nice to me, when nobody else is…" As she finished, the smile on her face tugged a bit down. Not that Earl could see it. No spot check in the world could allow him to see out of the back of his head.
As she spoke, Earl's eyes were caught on the glimmer of light emitting from the brick. Curious, he walked over to the brick and picked it up. Oddly enough, the brick felt as if it were covered with dust, even if it was clean to his eye. Not to mention that it sparked like the worst sort of vampire… Holding the brick up, he said, "Alright, that sounds perfectly fine with me! Although I thought that was a field of wheat, not sunflowers… But if you could, would you kindly hold onto this for me?"
Plucking it from his hands, the pixie placed in between his neck and her body, letting the metal cool her down. "Ahh… That feels so nice on such a hot day." Patting the human on the head, she asked, "So, why are we keeping this shiny brick made of shiny stuff?"
Earl took a few moments to answer as he pushed his way along the forests edge, staying out of the center of the open grassland. Partly because he wanted to stay somewhat near the shade while not descending near to the sleeping youkai. And partially because a voice in his head was yelling to stay out of the long grass.
Ignoring said voices, he replied to the pixie. " There's no real particular reason we're keeping it. But it would have been a waste if we'd left it to sit on the ground, wouldn't it? Perhaps it is magical… Can you perhaps tell if it is?"
As he spoke, he felt the die fall right as his eyes crossed the field once more. They continued to scan as they found a treasure chest. In the middle of an open field. With nobody around to defend our guard it. Under his breath, he muttered, "Surely such an opportunity isn't a trap…"
Not hearing his last statement, the pixie stares at the brick for a moment before shrugging. "No, it just feels real nice on my skin. Nice and cool, not heating up… It's keeping me really chill…" As she made a happy little sigh, Earl stiffened, trying his damnedest not to think about where exactly that brick was.
Continuing to walk along, he thawed enough to let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, that's good, then… As long as you are happy, I'm good."
During his attempts to block the images from his mind, Earl found himself standing outside of the suspicious chest. Glancing from it, before scanning the field, he sighed. He opened up the pack, digging through it in order to find some sort of tool to open the chest safely. Unable to find a ten-foot pole in a two foot long sack, he sighed and instead settled for the knife. Swiftly bending down, pixie clinging to his ears to stay steady, he used his cracked dagger to flip open the lock, and then the lid of the chest.
Before he could really react, a random, and extremely pale, fairy popped out of the chest, clutching at her own chest while gasping for air. "Thank… you…" Before she could say anymore, though, she flopped to the ground, continuing to gasp for air before she collapsed completely, fading from consciousness.
Eyes blinking in surprise, Earl glances at the fairy before kneeling down next to her. Turning his head to the pixie, he asked, "Do you know who she is? And what we can do?"
Instead of an immediate response, he received only the hurried breath of the pixie. "W-warn me if you're going to make such sudden, random movements! Idiot!" As punishment, she decided to muss up his hair with the most lethal of noggins. "A-anyways. I've never seen her before, but I-I think she has resurrection sickness…" At the look on Earl's face, she continued. "She looks a bit… see-through."
Shuddering to herself, her hand reached out and stroke the fairy's transparent hair. "I never want to die enough that I start to get like… like that. Poor fairy must have been in there for… months. At least…" Shivering at the thought, she gives a sad sigh as she hides behind Earl's head, almost afraid to even look at the fairy.
With a sigh, he patted the pixie's head, in an attempt to calm and comfort her. "There, you'll be fine, friend. I'm sorry for jostling you." Lowering his hand, he looked down at the fairy, trying to plan his next step. "Is there anything we can do to help her, or does she just need rest?"
Shaking her head, the pixie attempted to explain, peeking over his hair at the fairy. "It's not like that. Nothing can be done… at least by us. If she dies much more, she'll be returned to nature, permanently." Shaking, her grip tightened on her mount. "The thought that one mistake of resting in a box could do such a thing…" Her eyes peeked out at the box, narrowing in thought. "Although, I wonder…"
With a sudden, random movement, the pixie leapt from Earl's back and began to float over to the box. Peering inside, she bent over and looked inside. "Let's see, is there anything else in here…. Oh! The chest is full of fairy dust!"
Stunned by her actions, Earl couldn't help but get a perfect view of the pixie as she leaned over to peer into the box. Tearing his eyes away from the unnaturally perfect view, he felt the blush once again covering his face. Instead, he pointedly looked away as he stood up to make his way over to the chest. In doing so, he noticed that the cold feeling was still present on his neck, chilling him.
Reaching back to feel at the brick, he was surprised that he couldn't find any purchase between said brick and his neck. Perhaps it was some malleable metal, and had conformed during the pixie's ride on him. Ignoring the brick for now, he instead queried the pixie. "What's so special about all that fairy dust, anywho?"
"Well, you know that soul watchamacallit that you humans have?" At his nod, the pixie continued to speak, a pair of glasses seeming to shimmer onto her nose. "It might be easiest to say that's the closest thing that we, fae, have to one. Except, instead of losing it all at once when you die, we only lose a little sliver at a time." A stricken look on her face, she glanced back down at the dust in the chest. "But there's enough that it compromises the majority of the dust that would comprise her fairyheart, so I'd say at best, she'd have… about five deaths left.
Eyes knitting, the pixie continued to explain, voice becoming downcast. "Not to mention that said dust is quite high in demand, with those who are not capable of magic on their own using them as reagents. You might say that I learned this… learned it the hard way. Damned Black-White…" Shivering again, she unconsciously gestured her hand, gathering up a large the dust and having it swirl about her fingers. It spun about, speckle impacting speckle impacting pebble impacting pebble. Eventually, the entirety of the dust had coalesced into a single stone.
A single, yellow stone, glittering in the sun with a dusty texture.
Staring at the stone, Earl's mind clicked and his hand shot to the back of his neck. "Wait a second…" Peering closer at the rock, he spoke slowly in order to ensure what he suspected. "So, is that yet fairy dust, only concentrated?" At the pixie's nod, he paled. "Then this thing that is on my neck is part of a fairy's soul, too?"
As he spoke, his hands ran back over to where the brick was. However, he again had no success, as all he felt was a rounded lump, flush with the skin of his neck. Unable to yank it off, he closed his eyes and whispered something intelligible. Something that probably should have remained unspoken period. Looking at the pixie, he asked, "So, perhaps, what would one do with the remnants of a fairy's soul?
In response to his words, the pixie floated over towards her companion and leaned over his neck. Fingers tracing the lump of material, she let out a low whistle. "I guess it is, huh? That had to be… at least a thousand deaths worth of dust, now that I think of it. At least, I guess." A shadow crossed her eyes as she looked away. "I'd never have imagined it was that, it was so large… Is that what the witch was looking for? That much fairy dust?" Musing, she idly traced the embedded brick, sending small sparks flying off. "She did mention something to that effect… Along with needing the life essence of an Avatar, or one of the Heralds…"
As Earl cleared his throat, the pixie jumped slightly, a blush tingeing her ears. "Err, right, back onto topic. There's a method of becoming in tune with nature, as we fae are, by consuming the dust of enough fae. It involves some other steps in the process, plus a few other ingredients. Dai mentioned something like that…"
Shaking her head out, she turned towards the human and gave a wide grin. "Crazy, though, isn't it? I know that we use it sometimes to give birth to new fairies." As she realized what she said, she felt heat rise to her face. "N-not that I've ever done something like t-that myself…" Floating silently for a few moments, she eventually finished. "The only ones who can see the dust in its raw form are those born from it. Even if you searched for it, you would have found nothing in the chest."
Turning towards the sun, she suddenly leapt up. "But we can't wait any longer human! If we do, we'll never make the garden by today!" As she finished her shout, crocodile tears began to roll down her face, staring pitifully at Earl.
In response the man chucked and shook his head. "If you insist. Let me gather up our new friend, and we'll be on our way." With little effort on his part, the man scooped up the bag and the fairy in his arms, as the pixie settled onto his shoulders.
Without much effort, he continued on his way towards the massive garden lying in the sun.
The following journey proved to be incredibly boring, with no excitement to be found. Even if the dice rolled three natural twenties in the intervening hours. However, as he walked along, he nearly fell over after hearing the sounds of what appeared to be a wild animal. Instinct overtook thought, as he hid by a tree with his pixie friend for a while, listening to the creature roar.
Eventually, though, it was discovered by the two that the roar was actually being called by a more local source of sound. Namely, the belly of the human craving food. Sheepish grin on his face, he carefully set the fairy and the sack down before digging through said sack, searching for a meal as a reproachful pixie watched.
"You humans sure do eat a lot…" Letting out a sigh, she floated away, realizing that she didn't want to make him force-march. After all, if hunger rears its head, why bother to curb it if a ready meal is at hand. One that isn't like to object to being seen as a meal. Can't be helped, I suppose."
"No, it can't. I'm sorry." He blinked, and looked down, taking out another piece of fruit that was on the top of the pile. "I suppose my metabolism might be a lot faster than a pixie's, or whatnot. His eyes drifted over towards the lump of dust, and a crazy idea crossed his mind.
Not noticing his actions, the pixie shrugged, before floating down next to the unconscious fairy. "Not like it's your fault, human." With a nudge of her foot, she moved the fairy's body, checking something with her. "Hmm… By the feel of it, she probably has no more than five deaths in her. Unless we can convince Dai to help her…"
Ignored by the two fae, Earl let his curiosity win out, and picked up the rock like structure, before wiping off a bit of the dusty substance on it. Sprinkling it on his food, he took another surreptitious bite.
Stunned at the sudden move, the pixie blinked once before shouting. "Ewww, you ate it! You just ate it! Nasty human!" Shuddering, she turned away giving him the cold shoulder. "Many fairies died many, many times to give us that dust. So don't waste it! Even if you want to become one of us."
Glancing at the pixie, he raised a hand up to rub the back of his head as he chuckled awkwardly. "My apologies. I got a bit… Curious. Didn't know if something was going to happen. Sorry…" He glanced back at the little pixie before shrugging. "And I don't suppose that might be too terrible a thing, but I suppose I'd prefer to remain big. How else would I be able to carry you?"
Snorting in derision, the pixie glanced back over her shoulder. "Hmpf. Size isn't everything, you know… I have just as much strength as you, when I'm not starved! Plus I have magic! Granted, magic to make flowers bloom and stuff, but…" As she trailed off, she held her hand up towards the human.
As she did, Earl felt a blast of water hit him. Looking down, though, he saw no water trailing down his body. Instead, he felt himself become lighter, as if he'd be blown over by a stiff breeze. Not to mention a sense of calm that washed over him, causing an odd smile to cross his face.
Smirking somewhat at the effect on him, she continued. "And flight is a nice bonus, too. Even considering my current top-speed, it's so much better than walking about all the time. Much more fun, too…"
Odd feeling still in him, Earl jumped to his feet, barely noticing as his feet stayed off the ground a second too long. "I can imagine, as it'd certainly be better than walking in my opinion." Staring her in the eye, he suddenly glanced away, odd grin on his face. "Oh well, but if you want to fly instead of letting me carry you around, that's all that you should have told me."
Immediately, the pixie looked away and down, smirk vanishing from her face. The tips of her ears burned a she said, "My wing's broken, so I have to ride you. N-not like I particularly want to, or anything!" Blush covering her face, she waved her hand again, sending the man careening with another wave of magic. The man stood for a few minutes bracing himself before he emitted a small, childish giggle.
Eyes darting around, the man-not-quite-in-his-right-mind started to dance in place, eyes darting about. As he did, he found himself staying in the air for longer and longer periods of times. "This is fun. Also, that's too bad, 'cause I like carrying you, pretty Pixie. Such a fun word to say." Hopping over to the bag, he began to dig around in the bag, searching for something to catch his attention. With an excited shout, he pulled out a vial of liquid, constantly shifting in colors as he looked at it. "Hey, Miss Pixie, what do you think this is?"
She didn't bother to answer him immediately, instead content to gloat at what she did. "It's so fun to tease humans this way… Been too long since I've done it." She didn't bother to mention to herself that the reason she did it was because she was busy trying not to eat them. "It's such fun to see the big people acting like little children… I love teasing humans~"
Earl glanced back at the pixie, curiosity in his eyes. "Teasing? Are we playing a game, Miss Pixie?" When she continued to not answer him, he shrugged and turned back to the vial. "But you never told me what you think of it, Miss Pixie. Oh well, I'll just take it all for myself." Uncorking the stopper, he knocked back the vial, chugging its entire contents. He was so far gone as to not notice the sound of dice rolling in his head, or as the potion settled into a clear rose tint as it drained down his throat.
Wiping his mouth, he glanced over at the pixie, a big grin on his face. "Ok, Miss Pixie! What game do you have in-" The constant grin on his face suddenly faltered, before he looked around, sanity returning to his eyes. Confusion clouding his face, he asked, "Ehh? Why am I standing over here? Why was I-"
A sharp stab of pain lanced through his gut, causing him to double over and clutch at his stomach. As he did, he felt the glass bottle in his hand press against his stomach. Slowly, he held it up to his eyes as realization shot through him. "Oh no… That can't be good. Friend, what's going on here?" Another pain lanced through him causing him to twist in place as he fell to a knee.
The pixie stared at him before shouting, "Idiot, idiot, idiot! You… You're going to die now!" Running up to the human, she began to punch him in the shoulder as tears welled up from her eyes. "D-don't be leaving me now. Not alone again… idiot…"
Clutching at his stomach, Earl chuckled weakly as she pounded at him with pulled punches. "It's… it's alright. I'll be… alright." Sucking in a deep, labored breath, he felt his heart be pulled apart, as if it were coming undone at the seams. Another lurch nearly sent him tumbling, but he managed to fall to his knees and place a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be.. fine. I'm not g-going… to leave." At the very least, Eiki's promise shot through his mind. He knew that once he came back, he could hopefully find the fairy if anything did happen.
However, all of the sudden, he felt his heart snap back into place, along with the rest of his body. He stayed still for a moment as he felt nothing. Nothing, until a warm feeling began to well up within his ribcage. His other hand rose up to his chest, clutching at it.
After nearly allowing herself to breathe a sigh of relief, the pixie immediately descended back into worry. Grabbing his shoulders, she shook him in an attempt to make the human look at her. "W-what's wrong now? Human!"
He stayed silent for a few moments, breathing in and out as he tried to regain his composure. "I don't… know. Hopefully, it'll end… soon." As he spoke, he looked up, looking the pixie in the eye. As he did, he found his vision being covered by a mist of rose-red. And he began to notice things. The gently slope of her face. The pout of her lips. The short button nose. The crystal clear eyes. He felt his heart pound as he discovered just what he gazed upon.
Raising a hand to wipe away from the red sleep from his eyes, he gazed with clear vision at the beauty before him. With a soft smile coming to his face, he raised a hand to the soft face, rubbing away the tears from her eyes. "I'm okay. It's okay. Don't cry."
Gently, he wrapped his arms around her, bathing in her presence. Stroking the silky hair, enjoyed the experience for a few minutes before leaning back. Cupping her face, he stared at her with stars in his eyes. "You're beautiful…"
"E-ehh? Really?" Eyes widening, the pixie glances away, blushing furiously as she tried to avoid his eyes. For this time, she had rolled the dice with her magic. And she wasn't quite sure whether she liked the numbers they showed.
Lunasa: Dammit, Yukari, let me out of here already! Damned youkai...