A/N: Hi everyone! I'm glad to be back. Heading towards the end of the story… super excited! There's some fluff in this chapter (I got kinda carried away, haha) and more action is coming. ;D
Date: 5/19/11. What can I say? Still chugging along; that is all. ^_^
Disclaimers: Building off of Miyazaki's characters and falling in love with them myself.
Impenetrable patches of foreboding clouds hung across the dull gray sky. In his room, Asbel allowed his mind to wander as he shrugged on a jacket, made from a certain type of sheeps wool found only in the hills of outer Pejite. The style and warmth of the material was unique to the land - one of the many things his country was proud of.
Home. Asbel sighed to himself. How long had he been away from his mother? Two weeks now; he had no idea how she was faring, whether or not she was getting any better, if she was even still alive... He grimaced at the thought and tried not to think about it. She could not die yet; when he left the doctors said she still had one month to live. He was going to make it back in time; he would not allow it otherwise.
The feeling of uneasiness had stayed with him all night, and as a result he got only the minimal amount of sleep. Completely clueless on what to expect, his only consolation was to bravely press onwards, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.
"Come what may," he declared to himself, his tone completely void of emotion. With a grim expression he walked out of the room to join the rest of the crew as they approached their final destination.
The airship flew through a large fog cloud before emerging out over a vast stretch of land, marked by rolling hills and a healthy sized river that fed into the ocean. They stared in wonder at the number and variety of living establishments dispersed before them. From humble farms at the outskirts to wealthy complexes, to a giant reinforced palace at the heart of the territory, the kingdom of Merinth looked quite impressive.
They landed unobtrusively in a giant meadow reserved for travelers by air, next to a couple other airships. Despite its rural appearance at the outer edges of the kingdom, Merinth was still quite a center of commerce. Shortly after landing the entire crew assembled to discuss the final details of their plan.
"We need someone to watch over the ship while a small group of us goes into the city." Nausicaa directed. "Asbel and I are definitely going in… Lord Yupa you should probably come with us?"
"I agree." The man articulated.
"I'm coming too, Princess." Tersa declared. "Kitson as well since he's been inside before."
"Allright. That leaves Jack and the rest of the crew to watch over the ship. Jack will you be allright manning the ship on your own?"
"Absolutely," the pilot replied confidently.
"It would be wise to enter the city in groups; a large party might look suspicious." Someone remarked.
The suggestion resulted in more deliberation, and eventually the group decided that Yupa, being the world-renowned swordsman, ought to pass through the city gates alone later in the day, after the others had already entered Merinth.
"In that case we need a meeting place as well." Asbel considered for a moment. "Kitson what is the first inn you can think of? It should be a busy and relatively large place so we will blend in with the rest of the visitors passing through."
"There's Burditch's Inn, not very far from the gate. It's one of the most common stops for middle class travelers.
"Allright; we'll enter first, take a quick look around the city, then meet Lord Yupa at nightfall at the inn."
Fear began to mount in the pit of Asbel's stomach as they stood ready to exit the plane. Whatever would they encounter inside the kingdom? What if they were to enter, to never come back out again? Myriads of terrifying possibilities dragged his spirits down into despair, but his heart calmed when he felt a delicate hand - warm, smooth, and unyielding - carefully slip into his and give a gentle squeeze.
"Somewhere in there, a little mulsa plant awaits us." Nausicaa chimed hopefully. Asbel gave a strained imitation of a smile at her optimism. She guessed the root of his worries and attacked it as tenaciously as possible.
"Quit worrying," she chided him. "We'll survive. We've done it all our lives; it's the one thing we're good at."
Again she had read his mind, and he would never understand how she could do it so accurately. Appreciation mingled with concern poured out from his soul and he exchanged glances with her again.
"Just don't get into trouble." He sighed nervously at her.
Together the couple excited the airship, along with Tersa and Kitson. The entire distance from the airship to the city gates their hands remained clasped – a simple reminder that they would stay together, even if all hell were to break loose on them.
"Names please."
"Sorry?" Nausicaa replied. Asbel, Nausicaa, Tersa, and Kitson stood at the city gates, ready to finally enter their destination. Before them sat an official, with a pen in hand and what appeared to be a list, written on a terribly long sheet of paper.
"We keep records of everyone that enters Merinth. Names please."
"Oh, of course." She replied, before giving the names of the people with her.
"And what is your reason for visiting Merinth?"
"We're here to buy a plant – an herb, to be exact, that is sold only here." The man nodded and continued to scribble on the sheet of paper.
"How long do you intend to stay?"
"No more than a couple days," answered Nausicaa. At this point the man noticed Kitson and eyed him warily.
"And the boy… is he a relative?" Tersa caught the hostile glint in the man's expression and jumped in defensively.
"Yes. Younger brother." She barked with authority, placing a firm hand on Kitson's shoulder. Nausicaa smiled inwardly; at first glance they could most definitely pass as siblings. By sheer coincidence they had the same dark brown hair, similar expressions, and, as Kitson's character slowly came to light, a common sense of self-discipline and absolutes. It was very strange indeed…
"Allright. You may proceed." The man uttered mechanically.
"Not the warmest welcome… but not bad for a country as big as this." Asbel dryly remarked to his companions as soon as they had passed through. Nausicaa laughed gleefully, barely able to contain her excitement. The city had such a huge diversity of shops and people! Everyone and everything was bustling about their own business.
"The real fun begins now." She enthused, energetically absorbing information about her new surroundings.
"We're not here to enjoy the scenery, Naus…" Asbel growled, slightly annoyed.
"I know, but we might as well. What's the purpose of taking up a challenge if we don't appreciate it for all its worth?" She challenged him before strutting off.
"She's got a point." Kitson winked at Asbel before skipping ahead to join Nausicaa in wide eyed wonder at the new world around them. The Pejite let out another long suffering sigh and trailed behind them.
It was still early in the afternoon; the group decided to look around first before depositing their belongings at the inn. Upon entering the first medicinal herb shop, they gaped at the large inventory of products on display before them. The entire wall was covered with boxes containing every type of dried leaf and root imaginable, while live plants lined the window. Presently they were warmly greeted by the shop owner.
"Hello. How can I help you?"
"Hi. We're looking for a type of plant; called the mulsa plant. Do you sell it here?"
"What's it called again?"
"Mulsa." The man slightly cocked his head in unfamiliarity.
"Sorry, we don't sell such a plant. Is there another name for it?"
"Not that we know of…" Nausicaa trailed off uncertainly.
"Well, I know all the common and scientific names of the products here, and 'Mulsa' doesn't seem to ring a bell."
"Oh I see." The group politely thanked the man for his time before leaving.
"Let's check some of the other stores. It must be sold somewhere." Nausicaa assured once they exited the shop.
"Maybe we should try a plant nursery instead." Asbel suggested.
They stopped by three more stores before changing their direction to find the inn. In each place they asked, the plant was never heard of and understandably not sold. The group had found it somewhat peculiar, but chose not to worry about it quite yet; perhaps they were searching in all the wrong places…
The inn was easy to find, and before the sky had grown dark they paid for two rooms and deposited the few belongings they had brought along. They were now situated at the entrance to the inn, delighting in the fresh breeze of the oncoming night and watching the city wind down for the day.
"Woah! That looks cool!" Kitson exclaimed all of a sudden, startling even the strangers around him. Following the direction of his gaze, the others noticed an aged peddler, feebly pushing a cart covered with hundreds of random keepsakes and miscellaneous gadgets. No one had any idea knew which item he was pointing at, but whatever it was he obviously could not take his eyes off it. Tersa's interest had been piqued as well, though for an entirely different reason. She observed the boy for a moment, then extracted a couple coins from her pocket. She handed the money to Kitson.
"Go. Buy it if you like."
"Really? Thank you Tersa!" Without another word he darted after the white haired man and his cart. Nausicaa got up from her seat and came to stand next to Tersa.
"You're developing a soft spot for the little guy." She teased her close friend. The girl simply shrugged off the comment.
"You would have done the same." Tersa coolly remarked.
"You're spoiling him!" Nausicaa protested; Tersa continued to ignore her.
"It's my money… I can do whatever I want with it." She retorted.
He returned with a mini wooden airship that looked remarkably similar to one they flew in. The structure was even more intriguing in that the very center of the model had been altered. Where the captain's cabin should have been, there was a wide and thin piece of wood with a cylindrical hole bored into it. The size and shape of it implicated that it was meant to hold a candle, and directly above the shallow pit hung a fan of sorts, connected to gears that seemed to possibly help propel the ship through the air. Nausicaa was highly skeptical of the device; laws of aerodynamics told her that the heat of a single candle was not nearly good enough to lift the device off the ground. Nevertheless she marveled at Kitson's new possession just the same.
Lord Yupa strolled in as the group was finishing their dinner. They watched him check into a room, and after a couple minutes began to casually head back as well. Kitson led the way in ambling inconspicuously into Yupa's room; purposeful meander was his specialty anyway. The others were not so skilled, but luckily no one really cared who walked into who's room. Nausicaa was positive they would have looked less suspicious if they had simply invaded his room with guns and knives. Yupa warmly welcomed them when they entered.
"Have you eaten yet Lord Yupa?" Nausicaa inquired.
"Yes dear child, thank you." The man replied. "It's a busy city, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Did you try looking for the Mulsa plant?" Nausicaa asked him.
"Yes I did, but I couldn't find it anywhere. You?"
"We tried; no one has ever heard about or seen it." The swordsman nodded slowly; Asbel spoke up next.
"What should we do now?"
"Spread out tomorrow, and look farther." Yupa advised them; then he added, "Reconvene at a different location, in case people are looking for us."
After choosing a new rendezvous point, a little farther into the heart of the city, everyone sleepily retired for the night. It had been quite an eventful day; all were more than glad to flop onto bed and sleep.
Nausicaa threw on a jacket; the night was slightly chilly. Unlike the Valley, Merinth did not have unfailing winds to even out the temperatures between night and day. Consequently the nights were colder and the days were warmer. After trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep for the last half hour, she had hopped out of bed and was heading out to look at the stars. The events of the day still replayed through her mind; there was something suspicious regarding this Mulsa plant and she couldn't help feeling a tinge of worry in her gut. But deliberately she maintained her spirits for the sake of the group. Solving the issues before them did not necessarily entail worrying about them; Nausicaa wished to complete the mission with as little trauma to the group's mental health as possible.
She slipped into her familiar blue boots and silently padded down the hallway to the outdoors lounge. To her surprise Asbel was already sitting there, staring at the landscape and absorbed in solitude. The inn was situated high upon a hill and thus provided a breathtaking view of the valleys and distant farmlands, while the moon casted a soft tranquil glow over the countless houses and shops. His figure slouched slightly as he sat on a short bench, which was more like an elongated stool that could fit 2 or 3 people.
Quietly she approached him from behind; he heard her and continued to gaze thoughtfully out into the distance. Gently she placed her hands on his broad shoulders; he jolted from the initial contact. A stab of pain shot through her heart; she hated to see him so tense with burden. The boy willed himself to relax when she proceeded to slowly slip her arms around him. Her hands slid over his chest until they soundlessly stopped over his heart. For a moment she registered his heartbeat – calm, slow and steady. Time came to a standstill as they both listened to the silence enveloping them, save for the solid rhythm of his heart. She tenderly brought her lips to his neck, leaving the softest kiss on his skin. Her actions had an immediate effect upon him, and she watched the stress dissipate into the night air with his every breath. Still her arms refused to leave until she noted him fully relaxed beneath her touch.
"You're a night person, aren't you." She purred to him. Her hands, now moved to his shoulders, gradually began to massage the rigid muscles.
"I like evenings." He whispered. His eyes fluttered closed in gratitude, her hands magically pulling the tension out of his back.
"I've noticed; you always seem resigned to even be awake during the daytime." He answered with silence; he was weary from the long journey and sleep deprived from the troubles on his mind. She let the quiet reign for a moment, then noticed his shoulders still were not completely relaxed. She leaned in closer to him, as if to divulge a most important secret.
"Breathe; you're still tense." She whispered into his ear, her lips grazing his ear lobe. He obeyed her – frankly it was quite hard not to, seeing the girl was seductively breathing in his ear like a second conscience. She softly kissed his temple in reward. Eventually Asbel felt that his burdens had floated away, and his troubles could be tossed aside - for the moment at least.
"Thank you." He sighed.
"You're welcome." She was about to sit down when he turned to face her, ready to tell her something important. Nausicaa felt like rolling her eyes; would he just calm down?
"Nausicaa-"
She stopped him by stealing his breath away with another kiss. It was probably something about her safety, and she didn't want to hear it anyway.
"Don't worry about it. I'm not going anywhere." She reassured him. He frowned at her and looked a little torn. Before he could say anything more she changed the subject.
"Why do you dislike the daytime so much?"
"Days are hectic, nights are calm." He explained.
"What about the excitement at the start of a new day, enthusiasm for the adventures that await?"
"Then your days are obviously more interesting than mine." He drawled sarcastically.
"I don't believe that for a minute," She snorted. "You Pejites are never bored; it's like hyperactivity runs in your blood." A smile danced across his lips. Nausicaa noticed it was a real smile – not the half-hearted fake ones she had seen the last few days, but a real one that lit up his eyes. She encircled him in her arms a second time, gently rocking him from side to side.
"Please smile more often; I hate to see you like this." She told him sincerely; her sweet voice ringing with sympathy.
"And what if I don't?" he retorted rebelliously; his mood had lightened considerably into borderline playfulness. She giggled mischievously.
"I'll resort to more dramatic measures..." she hissed in a husky undertone.
"Oh? I'd like to see you try." He prodded, clearly enjoying the conversation. Nausicaa noticed the return of his usual liveliness and bounced off the bench.
"Come on, let's go for a walk." She suddenly piped up, gently tugging his arm.
"What?" It was his turn to be confused again.
"You said you were a night person; come on." She pulled more forcefully and Asbel rose from his seat with a grunt.
"Do you ever sleep?" was the only comeback he could think of as she dragged him off the porch onto the street.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading! Sorry this took me so much longer to write… I feel so rusty! Hopefully the chapter's not too boring. A big thank you to everyone that has subscribed, reviewed, or favorited… and of course everyone else that regularly checks up on me. Keep an eye out for the next chapter... it will not be as long of a time gap as last time I'm pretty sure. :)