The new comrade
" And then, I was unable to tell him!" Duck finished her story to Rue, when they went into town for shopping. Uzura was walking between them end looked from one to the other.
"But you told him you wanted to stay with him, isn't that clear enough?" Asked Rue.
"Maybe." Replied Duck gloomy.
"Tell me, why do you chose Fakir above Mytho?"
"Huh?"
"You know, why do you love Fakir, you loved Mytho first, right? Why do you now love Fakir and not Mytho, apart from the fact that he has married me."
Duck thought. "I think it is because no one has ever accepted me more than Fakir has, he was the first one who knew that I was just a duck and he has always accepted that fact. He shows his sweetest smile only to me. He's still rude to people, but never to me. Of course, Mytho had lost he's heart and I don't blame him for that, but because Fakir's strong character I chose him above Mytho. And he is as handsome as Mytho-"
"That's not true!" Interrupted Rue.
"He is, actually I think he is even more handsome that Mytho, I think I love Fakir more than I ever loved Mytho." Concluded Duck determined.
"So, are you convinced of your own feelings, now? If you ask me, you two look like a married couple, why don't you two just marry?"
"Because I do not know if Fakir loves me as much as I love him, if he loves me at all, which I don't know for sure."
Rue began to laugh in a really Kraehe-like tone. "Are you that stupid?" She laughed. "After all you told me about his behavior to you, you still don't know if he loves you? He promised you to stay by your side forever; He gives only you his sweetest smile; he gets freaking angry when you tell him about that creep, who wanted to kiss you. How much must he do to assure you of his love?!" Duck remained silent, she was a little ashamed. "We know Fakir, right?" Went Rue on. "He is just shy."
"Shy?"Cried Duck surprised. "That sounds not all like the Fakir I know!"
"Yes, that sounds just like the Fakir you know. You see, he is only shy when it is obvious that he loves you. That's why he acts rude and tells people that you need to search for your own house, it's just so obvious!" Rue laughed.
"Well." Said Duck thoughtfully. "He did tell me once that he doesn't mean all the things he says. At that moment he told me too that he wanted me to stay with him."
"Well then." Said Rue. "He did tell you his feelings for you, after all."
"So what am I suppose to do now?" Asked Duc when they walked along the shops.
"Go out with him on a Date."
"H-huh, w-what?" Duck looked surprised at Rue, but she looked serious.
"That way you will absolutely find out if Fakir really loves you or not." She said. Duck thought for a moment, but then she nodded. It may be a good idea. She thought and became determined. 'I will do my best to find out his feelings for me, if I know that, I will confess my own to him!' They went into the Autor's bookstore. Autor just looked in their direction when they came in and walked up to them. He looked surprised to see Rue and spoke to her: "What a surprise, I hadn't expect you here. What brings you here?"
"Mytho and I have decided to live here from now on." Rue replied nicely. Duck saw that she still felt guilty about that time when she almost offered Autor's heart to the monster Raven as a sacrifice.
"I see, I have to congratulate you with your marriage then."
"Thank you, that's nice of you." Autor turned then to Duck. "I suppose you come here for the same paper as always?"
"Oh yes, please." Duck replied, she hadn't expected Rue and Autor's conversion to be that short. While Autor was looking for the right paper, he asked Duck: "How is Fakir doing?"
"Oh, he's doing well, I think." Autor looked at her with a interrogatively gaze and she continued: "He is working very hard lately and that's why I can't talk to him much, you see?" Autor nodded and walked with them to the counter.
"I see, here is your paper, that is then ¥ 300 (I have no idea of the Japanese way of pricing things)
"Excuse me-zura." Said Uzura suddenly and stood on her toes to look over the counter. "Do you have paper to draw on-zura?"
Autor looked surprised at first but then he smiled friendly at Uzura. "Of course." He replied. "But don't you have to ask that first, or do you have money yourself?" Uzura hadn't thought about that. "Mommy, may I buy drawing paper-zura?" She asked sweetly. Duck smiled, she liked it so much when Uzura called her 'mommy'.
"Of course, how much is that Mr. Autor?"
"It's the same price as the writing paper." He replied.
"Alright then." Duck said and she paid for it. When she wanted to go home with Rue and Uzura after that, the stranger just entered the shop. Duck froze.
The stranger began to talk to her and Uzura hid herself behind Duck. "How pleasant to meet you here today." he said. Duck pulled herself together, she was no longer afraid.
"I know what you've been trying to do." She said pissed. "You tried to kidnap Uzura."
"Please, you don't understand." Replied the stranger, but he didn't look like he felt guilty. "We tried to save her!"
"Is that so?" Cried Duck extremely mad and other people in the shop looked in their direction. "Try to calm down, Duck. Try not to be so loud." Rue hissed, but Duck ignored her.
"I can't see how that can be the case!" Went Duck on.
"It was to save her from her unfortunate fate to live with that worthless writer." He smiled and took a step forward. "After that, we wanted to save you too, our goddess." Duck couldn't take a hold of herself, who did this freak think he was?
"I don't care what insane reasons you have, but Uzura is my daughter and if you want to take her, you first have go through me and Fakir, understand?!"
The stranger laughed coldly. "With pleasure." He said. "But in the case of Fakir, it would be the last thing he'll ever do." Fear took a hold over Duck's body again and she couldn't say a word. Autor came shocked to them and took the stranger by his shoulder. "I must ask you friendly, to leave, sir." He said. "I tolerate no threatening actions in my shop."
The stranger turned to Autor with a mocking smile, but did him no harm. He walked out of the shop with a great smile on his face. When he was gone, Rue was the first one who could say anything. "I don't know how we can thank you Mr. Autor." She said smiling. "What a relieve you were here."
Autor was a little bit red, he turned to Uzura who finally appeared again from behind Duck. "Is everything alright, little girl?" He asked friendly. Uzura only nodded, she had been too afraid to say anything.
"Fakir and I suspect him from the failed kidnapping of Uzura, a couple of days ago." Explained Duck.
"Why does he want to kidnap Uzura?" Asked Autor surprised.
"We don't know that exactly."Duck replied. "But we do think he is behind the other thefts from a few weeks ago too."
"That is possible." Said Autor thoughtfully and after a slight pause he added: "May I ask what kind of hate he holds against Fakir?"
"A good question, I have really no idea."Replied Duck. "But Fakir suspects the man himself ever since we first met him."
"Mytho and I think that the stranger is simply jealous of Fakir." Said Rue out of the blue. "I mean, if you see how happily Duck and Fakir live together, you can easily understand that." Duck became very red. "Fakir and Mytho are busy to find the stranger's house." Rue went on. "They hope to end this drama quickly."
"Allow me to assist them." Said Autor. "I have admission to every address in town, I'm sure that will help them find him."
"If you want to do that for us. That would be great!" Replied Duck thankfully.
That evening Duck told Fakir about today and the offer from Autor to help them. Fakir was hesitating at first to work together with Autor again, but then he agreed. Autor had become a really nice person. Duck thought when she lay in her bed. I hope this mess can soon be over and then Uzura can walk free through the streets again. With half a satisfied heart she fell asleep.
