Chapter 10: Some relaxing time ?

Hey guys Agithos here. I just wanted to warn you, there is a change in my writing style. I didn't put the flashback and the dream in italic because I thought it was difficult to make the difference between the dialogue and the thought of the characters.

After the group hug, Vanessa took her sister by the hand and they both went toward her room. During that time, Cupa walked up to me.

"So...this was..."

"Yes Cupa, it was Vanessa's big sister : Ari !" I said.

"I think they have a lot to talk about !" Ayumi continued.

"So what do we do now ?" I asked.

"We wait, the dinner is cooking and should be ready in thirty minutes at most !" Cupa answered.

"Nice, I have some time to take a bath then !" I said as I took off my armor and put it with my sword and my bag, next to the stairs.

"Alright, we will be waiting for you !"

I went outside the house and walked a few meters to the right. Behind some bushes, you know, for intimacy, there was our swimming pool. It was a pool of water of 5X5 block large and three blocks deep.

"Here we go !" I thought.

I put my clothes next to the pool and I dived into the water. After a few second, my head emerged from the surface.

"Aahhhh" I said, relaxed, "Nothing is like a nice bath after a long and hard day !"

I looked at the direction of our home.

"I hope they are gonna be alright !" I thought, thinking of the two weeks I spend with these girls "When I think about it, I have really grown quite attached to them during those two weeks, especially Ayumi. When we spend time together, I don't know...there is...something. But I can't explain what it is..."

My thought went darker when I thought about the one who sent me here in the first place.

"Notch may be training me and helping me, but he is still an ass...Who is the ''he'' he talked about ?...Well, I guess there is little I can do about him exept waiting !"

I stayed in the bath for 15 minutes until I decided to come out. I put my clothes on and started to walk back to the house. Strangely, I began to feel uneasy. There was someone, or something watching me in the darkness. Suddenly, I heard a bush moving behind me. I quickly turned around but saw no one.

"What the hell ?", "Who's there ? Show yourself !" I ordered but, obviously, no one answered

I got up into a fighting stance with my fist closed raised to my chin. Everything was silent. I could have heard a fly nearby. I stayed in this position for nearly 30 seconds before I calmed down.

"Damn, I need to relax a little. It was probably just a small animal wandering around !"

Just as I put my arms down and resumed my walking, I saw something moving on a branch. I didn't dare to move and tried to maintain my calm, even if, on the inside, my heart was running like crazy. I heard the the branch cracking behind as the shadow moved on it. I decided to turn around when...

"I'LL SCARE YOU TO D..."

The shadow tried to jump on just when the branch it was standing on gave away.

"AAAAAAAAAHHH"

The dark form arrived head first into the water and made a loud ''SPLASH''. As I approached the water to see my supposedly agressor, two arms, followed by a head with red eyes and purple hair, emerged from the water and grasped the edge of the pool.

"Ari ?" I asked, a little surprised

"Hum ? No ?" She responded with a sheepish smile

"What are you doing here, and more importantly, what were you trying to do ?"

"Hum...I tried to scare you a little. I love to scare people. It's one of my passions !"

"Ah ? Do you succeed most of the time ?" I asked

"Well, I didn't have the chance to try again since the incident but, when I was a little girl, no. Each time, luck was against me !"

"Better luck next time !" I said

"I guess !"

"Let's go get something to eat, you must be hungry after that long travel !" I suggested as I offered a hand to help her going out of the water.

Then, we both went back to the house.


20 minutes ago, Home, Unknow POV

Cupa and Ayumi watched as Mickaël left the house

"What is this strange feeling ? I never felt anything like that before. Maybe it will pass..." Ayumi thought

"Oh My Mickaël, my dream came true, it's true love. When will you finally notice it ?"Cupa thought as she hold her cheecks with both hand

"Are you alright Cupa ?" Ayumi asked

"Y-Yes !"

"You have been acting pretty weirdly lately !" Ayumi continued

"Oh it's nothing, you shouldn't worry about that !" Cupa responded

"Oh, ok !"

"So, how did you find her ?" Cupa asked

"Ari ? Well, to make it simple..." the archer began.

Ayumi told Cupa all she knew. From their entrance in the cave, the separation with Mickaël, the fight with Ari and the reunion.

"You left him ALONE in that cave ? He could have been injured or worse !" Cupa asked with a hint of anger in her voice

"I am sorry, I didn't know what I was thinking...I needed to make sure..."

"Humpf, anyway, I am so happy to see you three reunited !"

"I am too. I'll go upstairs to see what they are up to !" Ayumi said.

She climbed the stairs and walked toward Vanessa's room. She could hear them talking behind the door.

"...And then, we fleed our cave and we arrived here, where we built this house !" said a voice Ayumi recognized as Vanessa's.

"Oh my, you really went throught a lot, I am glad you are ok, little sis !" said another voice.

Ayumi opened the door to see the two sisters sitting on Vanessa's bed.

"Hm ? Is something wrong Ayumi ?" Ari asked.

"Oh, not at all ! I just wanted to know how you two were catching up !" Ayumi responded.

"Vanessa just told me about you little escape. I am relieved that you are alright too...She also said you were shot by an archer !" Ari said.

"Yes but your little sister managed to take it out !" Ayumi said while messing with Vanessa's hair.

Suddenly, a wild Cupa appeared from behind the door.

"Hey everyone, dinner is almost ready. Still five minutes I would say !"

"Yay, I am starving !" exclamed a little girl

Vanessa took her sister by the hand and went downstairs, followed by Ayumi and Cupa. Ari looked everywhere around her, searching for something, or someone.

"Where is Mikaël ?" she asked

"Don't worry, he just went to take a bath. I'll go get him, so he can eat while it's hot !"

An evil grin formed on Ari's face.

"Where is this bathroom ?"

Ayumi looked at her and smiled

"Don't tell me you want to do this...after all these years !" she said

"Want to bet ? It's still one of my passion !" Ari responded

"Fine, but it's not really a bathroom. It's a pool Mickaël created a few days ago. Before that we would go to the pond which was fithty meters from here. Now, it's just a few meters next to the house, behind some bushes !" Ayumi explained

That being said, Ari left the house in font of the eyes of the other

"I bet she won't be able to scare him !" Cupa said

"Oh yea ? She is my sister, she can do anything !" Vanessa exclamed as she accepted the bet


5 minutes ago, Near the house, Ari's POV

As soon as I left exited the house. I climbed the highest tree I could find. Then I searched for my sweet and delicious victim. I finally saw him putting his clothes back on.

"Hehehe, now's my chance !" I thought

I tried to move on the branch I was standing on but it cracked when I put my feet a little closer to the end of it. I saw Mickaël putting himself into a fighting stance for, what seemed like, an eternity. Then he resumed his walking. He was turning his back on me. It was the perfect moment.

"NOW !"

"I'LL SCARE YOU TO D..." I yelled as I tried to jump from the branch. Unfortunatly, for me, it collapsed under my weight. I screamed and made a loud "SPLASH" against the water. I gasped for air once I reached the surface.

"Oh, come on, I almost got him !"I thought

"Ari ?"

I looked up to see Mickaël staring at me.

"Oops, I am screwed !"


Present time, Home, Mickaël POV

After Ari's attempt to scare me, she and I went back to the house where we were greeted by Vanessa and Cupa.

"So, did she scare you ?" they both said at the same time.

"Let's just say...a little !" I stated, unsure of what to say.

"A little is not an acceptable answer ! Yes or no ?" asked Vanessa.

"Well, hum, sorry Ari but...it was anxiety, not fear !" I responded.

"No problem, I guess I need to try harder !" Ari said while smiling.

"HAH, I told you she couldn't scare him !" exclamed Cupa.

Vanessa looked at Cupa with a glare. Then she walked to Ayumi.

"Well, let's get dinner, I guess !" I suggested.

"Good idea !" Cupa said.

"Cool !" Ari said too.

We joined Vanessa and Ayumi in the kitchen.

"Is it ready yet ?" asked Ari.

"Yes !" answered Ayumi.

It was at this moment Ari asked this dreadful question.

"Hey Vanessa, do you still have the pendant I gave you ?"

Vanessa's face turned red. She tried to respond but nothing came out of her mouth exept a few word

"Hum...I...Well..."

Ayumi and I looked at each other and agreed it was better to tell the truth than to hide it from her

"It got destroyed, I am sorry Ari !" Ayumi finally said

"Really ? How ?" She asked

"An adventurer threw it in a bucked of lava. There was nothing we could do !" I continued

That being said, Ari's face darkened and she began to walk toward me.

"Mickaël, where does he live ?" She asked me.

"In the village, wh..." I said as I saw ,in mid sentence, Ari walking right past me to the front door "Oh no, you're not gonna do that !" I thought

I put my arm around her waist , preventing her from going further. I must say, she was pretty light.

"LET ME GO MICKAËL, I'LL CUT THIS BASTARD IN HALF, TAKE A BATH IN HIS BLOOD AND SKIN HIM WITH MY NAILS TO...

"Calm down Ari ! He already got what he deserved, plus, Vanessa is alright, see ?"

Ari looked at Vanessa who was staring at her with a worried look. I took a few second for Ari to calm down.

"You're right" She sighed "But if I see this asshole, he will be as good as dead !"

"You don't even know what he looks like !" I chuckled.

I finally let go my hold on her. We sat down and Ayumi put our bowl in front of us.

"Here is the dinner everyone, prepared by Vanessa !"

"Really ?" Ari asked "I thought my little sister hated cooking !"

"I was forced to, or else, Miss Creep-Creep over here would have blown up the house !" Vanessa explained

"Ouch ! That's mean !" Cupa said

I smelled the bowl in front of me.

"Smells good ! What's inside ?"

"Just look by yourself, you are not a baby !" Vanessa grumbled

I looked at the bowl to see bits of, what I guessed different kind of meat : Chicken, beef, porkshop...All of this floating in a mushroom soup. I put the bowl to my mouth and began to eat. It tasted...not bad actually. Sure, it was not as good as Ayumi's meals but, for a first time, it was...

"HOT HOT HOT !" Cupa screamed

I saw her quickly going up from her chair and searching for water. Finding nothing to drink immediately, she dived her head in the cauldron we used to store drinkable water. While Ayumi and Ari continued to stared at Cupa with a shocked look, I turned my head toward Vanessa. She was grinning like a crazy maniac.

"That's for making fun of my sister !" Vanessa said before looking at me "You should consider youself lucky. You could have suffered the same fate. Ari nearly ended up killed because of you !"

I gulped. Next to me, Ayumi was looking a Vanessa with a bit of anger and Ari bursted into laugher

"Vanessa ! I thought you were better than that !" blamed Ayumi

"Oh, she will be alright !" the little girl replied, completely unfazed

"Vanessa. You. Are. EVIL !" I said

"Yes, I know. It's my middle name !"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA !" Ari continued to laugh

"Stop laughing, that's not funny at all !" Cupa nearly yelled as she rejoined us, her hair was soaked and her face red from anger.

"So, what did you do Vanessa ?" Ayumi asked

"I just spiced up her meal a little, nothing wrong with that !"

While Ayumi and Vanessa were arguing. I asked to Cupa

"Are you okay ?"

"Y-Yes, I am fine !"

"Your meal is surely inedible now. Do you want to some from mine ?" I offered

Cupa blushed a little

"You don't mind ? Thanks Mickaël !"

"No problem !"

The rest of the dinner went without any other problem. Ayumi managed to force Vanessa to say sorry to Cupa. It took fithteen minutes for Ari to stop laughing and Cupa stayed with me during the dinner, holding my arm...After we all ate, it was getting dark outside so we decided it was time to go to sleep.

"We only have four beds, where will she sleeps ?" I asked to Ayumi

"Can't you just craft another one ?"

"I could but I didn't think we would have another person with us. We are out of wool and it's too late to hunt !"

"She could sleep with me !" Vanessa said as she heard our conversation.

"Well, I guess that could work, for tonight at least !" I agreed

That being said, everyone went to their respective room. I took off my clothes, exept for my boxer shorts. Then, I lied down on my bed and fell into sleep


Unknow time, Unknow place, Mickaël POV

I woke up in a strange, dark place. I looked around to see absolutly nothing. I was in a pure void. I tried to walk but my feet didn't respond. I called for the owner of this place.

"Notch ? Are you here ?"

"Notch isn't there, young man. You won't find him here. You are in my territory !" a unknow voice said. This voice seemed to be one of a man but it was slightly distorded, more...deep. The most surprising fact is that it was coming from all sides at once.

"Who are you ? Show yourself !" I ordered

"WHO ARE YOU, MORTAL, TO GIVE ME ORDERS ?" the voice yelled, hurting my head a little "Anyway, I am not here to make you my ennemy. I brang you here to offer you a choice !"

I didn't trust this thing at all but I decided to give it a try.

"Alright, I am listening !"

"This ''god'' called Notch took you from your home and your world. He sent you here against your will !"

"Yea...and ?" I asked, still unsure of what to say

"I have been watching you for quite some time now. Living a hard live aren't we ? Notch doesn't tell you the truth about anything. For that reason, you still don't know why you are here. That makes you his puppet. You are doing exactly what he wants you to do. Because of him, you have blood on your hands. Because of him, everyone wants you dead !" the voice continued.

"Yeah, that's true. What are you getting at ?"

"What if I tell you I have the power to send you back where you come from. You would return to your friends and family. You would get back to your home and forget everything that happened here. So, what do you say ?"

I thought about his proposition for a minute. Two side were clashing in my head. A part of me wants nothing more than to go home and the other wants to stay here, find why I was chosen by Notch.

"I refuse !" I finally said

"Why, young mortal ? Don't you want to go home ?"

"You know, you are right on certain points ! I never asked to here, to do the things I have done, to be what I am today. And then, yea, Notch is holding my destiny a secret and won't tell me anything about it. However, I have met such nice people here : Ayumi, Cupa, Gaëa...even Vanessa is nice in some ways. Also, yes, I have blood on my hands, but it is I who chose to have it. I chose to save Ayumi and Vanessa. I chose to kill Edun. I chose to help my friends escape from our cave. I won't let innocent people die, not if I can help it. Then, you say I would return to my family, let me surprise you, I have none, so don't expect me to cry because I want to see it again. Finally, if I was sent here, there has to be a reason, I spent more than two weeks here...might as well finish what I am supposed to do ! Does that explain your ''Why ?'' !" I said, full of confidence.

"I see, it's a shame !" the voice sighed "If you accepted, I might have spared your friends. I know you care about them, especially the female skeleton !"

"Don't you dare touch them ! You would regret it !" I replied, with anger and a bit of hatred

"Such foolishness...I still don't understand why Notch chose you. Now, I only have one thing to tell you. When the time comes, don't stay in my way !"

"You little piece of..."


Present time, Home, Mickaël POV

I woke up, sweating and shaking, from that meeting with that entity. I put my hand to my face and sat on my bed.

"God damnit...I really hope this was just some realistic weird dream and not some supernatural encounter !" I thought.

My eyes opened quickly as I heard a scream outside my room.

"AAAAAHHH !"

"Shit shit shit !" I yelled in my head

I didn't take the time to put my clothes on. I raced into the hallway to see Ayumi in front of Vanessa's room.

"VANESSA ! COME HERE ! NOW !" She yelled

"Ayumi ! What is happening ? Is everything alright ?" I asked, worried

"Oh, hi Mickaël, how..."

Ayumi blushed hard as she saw me. I was just in my trunks and it was the first time she saw me without my other clothes or armor on. She looked at my abs. I have to say, fithteen years of constant training really did me well.

"You...should put some clothes on !" Ayumi said

"Oh...right, I'll be right back !"

I returned to my room, picked up my other clothes lying on the floor next to my bed and put them on. Then, I quickly returned to Ayumi. While I was gone, the others joined her.

"So, what is the problem ?" I asked

"Look for yourself !" Ayumi answered as she made a sign of her hand, instructing me to look in Vanessa's room. I opened the door.

"Wow..."

It was a mess inside, there was bits of food everywhere, books were on the floor, but the worst part was that I couldn't look anywhere without seeing cobwebs that were HALF my size.

"As you see, lil' miss Vanessa here decided to ''customize'' her room during the night !"

"It's my room, I can decorate it how I want !" Vanessa replied, fustrated

"You are putting spiderwebs everywhere, you do not do the cleaning, you are not going out for sports !" Ayumi reproach "You are even getting fat !" She continued as she pinched Vanessa's little bulges.

"You have no permission to say that !" Vanessa nearly yelled "You are a skeleton and you can get this fat !"

Ayumi entered Vanessa's room and began to remove all the cobwebs. Needless to say Vanessa wasn't happy about it. I could almost see a little vein popping out of her forehead.

"WILL...YOU...STOP...IT ?"

"THIS IS TO MAKE YOU BETTER ! DOING A LITTLE BIT OF CLEANING ISN'T SO BAD, IS IT ?" Ayumi shouted, letting her anger going out

"DOES IT MATTER TO YOU ?" Vanessa replied

While they were arguing, Ari, Cupa and I looked at each other.

"I think we should leave them be, for now, at least !" Ari suggested

"Agree !" Cupa and I said at the same time.

We quietly went downstairs to escape from this agrument


3 hours later, Home, Mickaël POV

Ayumi and Vanessa argued for ten minutes before Ayumi managed to convince Vanessa to tidy up her things by telling her she would help. Ari joined them not long after. Downstairs, Cupa and I were organizing our next expedition. I couldn't help but think about the dream I had. What was it ?

"Mickaël, Mickaël ?" a voice called me

"Hm ? What ?" I said as my focus rejoined the real world. Cupa was in front of me.

"Is there something on your mind ?" she asked

"It's nothing..."

"Since this morning, you seem...off. Come on, if something is bothering you, you can tell me !"

"No, I am fine !" I replied

"Are you sure ? You sure don't look like it..." Cupa insisted

"I said I AM FINE !" I said, a little irritated

Cupa backed off, a hint a fear on her face. She must have been scared by my sudden outburst.

"I am sorry. I don't know what got over me !" I apologized

"It's-It's okay. I shouldn't have insisted !" Cupa blushed "So...we need to walk straight east to a huge lake. Then, we go north for a moment and we should arrive in front of it !"

"Works for me !" I said

At this moment, we heard someone walking downstairs. I turned around and saw Ayumi, followed by Ari and Vanessa.

"For the love of Notch, that was tiring !" Ayumi said

"Hmpf, still think it was better like this !" Vanessa grumbled

"Stop being grumpy Vanessa !"

The little girl just shrugged

"So, when do you leave ?" Ayumi asked

"In two or three days I think !" I answered "For now, I'll just go train outside, maybe hunt something if I have the time !"

"I'll go with you !" Ayumi said "It's has been a while since we had our little match. Want to try again ?"

"Sure. I am not a newbie anymore after all !"

I don't know why, but the fact Ayumi wanted to come with me made me happy. We took our respective bow and a quiver full of arrow each.

"Let's go, see you later girls !" I said

"See you, come back quickly !" Cupa waved at me

"We will !"

Ayumi and I left the house. It was almost noon outside. The sun was high in the sky and some sunbeams were passing between two leaves. I was anxious because, if Ayumi was touched by one of them, she could be seriously injured.

"Are you sure you will be alright ?" I asked

"hah, what do you think I do when you and Cupa are gone collecting ressources. I can't stay home all day !"

"If you say so !"

We went to the training ground where we placed a target.

"Ready to lose once again ?" She said, full of confidence.

"Just you wait. One day, you will bow before my skills !" I replied.

We took position about a few meters from the target and began our match.


Present time, The training ground, Ayumi POV

We were near the end of our little match and, I must say, in two weeks, Mickaël really got the hang of it. He was still doing some begginer's mistakes from time to time, like the position of his feets or the grip on his arrow. But a few more weeks of training should remedy to that. Now, the main thing he needed to focus on was judging the distance between him and his target. Especially if it was a moving one.
"Your turn !" Mickaël said as he fired his last arrow

I nodded and took position in front of the target. I turned my head to see him leaning against a nearby tree, looking at me with a smile. Then...I don't know what happened, I blushed and let go my arrow. The projectile missed the target and stuck itself in a tree exposed to the sun.

"Sorry !" I apologize

"I'll get it !" Mickaël said as he walked toward the tree. After a few second, he managed to take it out. As he walked toward me, he tripped on a root that was out of the ground.

"Watch out !" I called

Too late, he stumbled toward. I didn't have the time to react and he fell on me. When I opened my eyes, I saw his face really close to mine. We both blushed.

"Why is my heart beating so fast right now ? I never felt anything like it before..." I thought

"Hum...s-sorry Ayumi !" Mickaël said as he got of me

"N-No problem !" I said while I continued to blush.

He handed me my arrow.

"Next time, look where you shoot. It might help !" He chuckled

"Next time, look where you walk. It might help!" I gave tit for tat at his remark "Anyway, what is the score ?"

"You won by at least five points. I still have a long way to go !"

"But you are getting better and better each day !"

"Yes, but, like you said : You can train here everyday while I am collecting ressources !"

My face saddened. I knew Mickaël could take care of himself and all but...it pained me to see him go everyday without knowing if he would come back in one piece.

"You know, I am anxious each time you go. What if something happen ?"

Suddenly, Mickaël took my both hands in his and calmly said

"Hey, don't worry. I'll come back in one piece. Don't worry. Let's go, the others must be waiting for us !"

We both went back to the house. Despite all my effort, I couldn't help but have a bad feeling about this.


2 days later, Home, Ayumi's POV

"Don't worry, we will be back before sunset !" He said.

I was looking oustide to see the sun calmly disappear behind the horizon. Ari was playing with her strings and Vanessa was eating a piece of bread.

"Ayumi ? Is everything alright ?" The little girl asked me

"No Vanessa, they were supposed to come back before sunset but it's almost nighttime. I hope everything is alright for them !"

"Oh, you know Mike more than everyone in this house, Ayumi. You shouldn't worry, he will come back shortly !"

All of a sudden, we saw Cupa coming out of a bush, running toward the house.

"See, I told you they would be...Wait a moment, where is Mike ?" Vanessa said

"Oh no..."

Cupa burst in the house She was crying and gasping for air. She looked at us and tried to speak.

"We...Mickaël..."

"Calm down Cupa. Where is he ? Ari get her some water !" I said

"I am on it !" She replied

Ari came back with a bottle of water and gave it to Cupa who drank it all.

"Feeling better ? Now tell us what happened !" I asked

"Mickaël is in danger...We have to help him !"

TO BE CONTINUED, well, I must tell you something guys. This chapter was not supposed to exist in the first place. On the first version, Mickaël and Cupa were supposed to leave right after he and Ayumi went back to the house with Ari. But I thought it was too much, so I improvised Something in a week. Also, I would be happy to know if I did well with Cupa, Ayumi and Mickaël feelings. So as always PM or review to tell me what you think of the story : good or bad. See you next time ;-)