Little Fairy
On the small island of Satellite the kind owner of an orphanage has fallen onto hard times. To ensure that their funds wouldn't run dry she was forced to open her doors to the public by turning it into a small inn. The young orphans, bright and cheerful, have always been oblivious to their financial situation, which is what she wants even though it means they are of no assistance. Instead, she has the help of her godson who also is an orphan. His name is Yūsei and he is a kind-hearted young man who cares for her dearly.
仙女
The thundering cry of an engine explodes. The children scream and race for the shelter of the inn. Their small feet and legs are nothing more than blurs. As the last of them disappears the sound dies to a low growl. The ancient engine quakes as violently as an old cornered bull. A moment later a stream of black smoke bursts out from the back. It fills the make shift garage with the noxious scent of grease and paints the world a dull black.
"Yūsei," Martha calls. "Is it safe to come in?"
He sounded muffled. "I wouldn't,"
A bang echoes. He appears from the shadows. One hand is holding the end of his sleeve to his mouth and nose. His eyes are barely open.
Martha sighs, exasperated. "What is it that you're trying to do exactly? You could kill us all with those things,"
He steps out on to the grass. "It's a D-Wheel, Martha. I'm repairing it,"
She folds her arms in disapproval. The smoke drifts away. She can hear the neighbours crying out in fright. A few choice words are shouted by some, much to the discontent of many others.
"That's dangerous," she warns. "You've terrified the children. You're scaring the neighbours. Do you think this is a good idea?"
He looks at her seriously. "I have to reach Neo Domino. I promised her lǎolao that I would,"
She raises her hands in defeat. "I know, I know. I just don't understand why you don't go and find a nice boat or hire someone to take you,"
His eyes stray to the inn. "It's too long to go by boat. There aren't any that are good enough for that kind of journey on Satellite anyway. I can't just ask people to take us there. This isn't a safe place and I know I can fix this D-Wheel,"
Martha moves over to the buildings threshold. The smoke has almost cleared. The silhouette of the D-Wheel is beginning to become apparent.
"What about the sea?" she asks eventually. "How are you going to get this over to Neo Domino?"
He replies without pause. "I'm not. I'll get us as close as I can and I'll find someone who can buy it,"
"You have this all planned out," she sighs. "I'm relieved. I really am. You do know that I'm not going to help you get the parts that you need though, don't you? I can barely afford to feed the orphans never mind you, her and me. Well, as long as you understand that."
"I wouldn't ask you to," he responds kindly. "I'll help as much as I can until it's ready."
"You're too good for this place," she pats him on the back on her way back to the house.
He enters the garage slowly. His eyes scour the ground for any tools that could have been knocked from their rightful places. On his way, he pauses.
"Martha," he keeps his eyes to the floor. "How is she?"
She pauses. "She's scared. She's weak. From a physical standpoint she's perfectly healthy. I can't tell you what's going on in her head. The loss that she suffered is going to have some impact. I don't know what,"
He listens as Martha resumes her journey back to the inn. The wind picks up. A few tiles rattle, allowing a through draft. Yūsei glances up wearily. The structure isn't weak enough to come on top of him. He will have to repair it before he leaves, however. With a sigh he crouches down by the old D-Wheel and picks up an old spanner. His responsibilities – old and new - are all piling up atop one another.
It isn't enough to distract his darkening thoughts.
"Is that an order?"
The room fills with silence. The officials fall silent. Their wrinkled, sunken eyes dart about in search of equal displeasure.
The emperor smiles, rising. "Miss Nagisa, you made it,"
She nods. "Yes, now, please grant me an answer. Were your last words an order?"
He opens his mouth to respond. However, the soft chuckle from further in the room echoes in Carly's ears. Despite her continued weakness she stands taller in defiance. There are no weapons in her possession but she's more than prepared to go to war if necessary.
"That is rather insulting," the priest steps forward. "Do you not agree, emperor? Such impatience towards those of the monarchy is where the seeds of rebellion begin."
Carly seethes at the sound of his voice. Her eyes flicker with unhidden rage. Jack stiffens, noticing at once. She discerns Jack then. His eyes flicker from the priest to her. His loyalties are being tested. The three understand it well. It can't be helped. The priest notices also. He allows a triumphant smirk.
He turns back to the emperor. "My Lord, do you not see what this is? The poor girl has been corrupted by those she has been taken by. I do wonder if she can be trusted with such a sensitive task,"
The officials murmur, shuffling about suddenly. Their quiet feet and voices all croon in agreement.
"Come along, if you wish," she calls, defiant. "I am the only person here, priest, who can find her. Even your skills will fail in this specific area. I have an advantage that no one else possesses. It would be foolish to send me away. Surely you can sense that?"
He inclines his head as if to applaud her response. "I do understand that, Miss Nagisa. However, I must ensure that the emperor sees all that you could conspire to. As such, might I suggest that you send a small squadron of elite warriors with Miss Nagisa? I do not trust her with the boy. There is something that they share but will not speak of,"
"Yes," the emperor nods. "Spare me that expression, Miss Nagisa. If you truly wanted to be an ally of mine you would have been less difficult in the past. Priest, if I may, please accompany Miss Nagisa and select those that you deem appropriate. You, general's son, please return to your home. You are no longer required."
He bows. "Yes, as you will, my Lord,"
The length of his dark cloak flutters behind like the majestic raiment of a peacock. His eyes dart to Carly and his lips part for but a moment. A crease appears and vanishes from his brow in another instant. He departs without a backwards glance or protest.
Carly looks up. "Sir, would we be leaving at this moment? I have a better connection at the waning of noon. There is little time left in this day. I would not want to be lax in this matter,"
His eyes flash with something nefarious. He grins, baring his teeth as a predator would. His left hand sweeps out as he gestures to the door.
"I will attend to you in a moment," he speaks with a silken tongue. "There are other matters. Most are to do with the welfare of all in this land. Our emperor is the father to all of its people. He must attend to those who are obedient and deserving first of all."
She retreats without a word. Jack will have already descended in to the forest. For all of his reluctance he is a soldier. He won't disobey an order. Not even one from a snake. Carly pushes the doors open and steps out in to the sun. The maids scuttle away at the first moment they lay eyes on her.
"I have my task. I know my place," she glances up to the sky. "What more will you ask of me? How far must I flee before I can turn home?"
The tiles rattle in a cold wind. She looks up. There are thin cracks running along each one in a small square area. Her lips settle in to a grim line. The tiles are loose by a person's hand.
"You, serving girl," she calls. "Come here. Let us speak."
She trembles, unwilling to move. "Please, Miss Nagisa, I cannot. Please leave this place. Please leave me be,"
She shakes her head. "What does the emperor appreciate? Tell me,"
The girl's eyes dart. "Tea… He likes tea… He likes his wife's burial stone… He likes-"
"Where is it?" Carly enquires. "You must understand who I am."
She whimpers. "I do not know! No one knows!"
The girl scampers away before any further questions can be asked. The tray in her hands bounces.
Carly smiles up at the trap. "How long must I wait until this all ends?"
The rush of tiny feet thunder past the small room of dirty white walls and a window that has rusted shut. The pencil leaps from Lì Qiū's hand. She glances up in fright. The child's footfalls soon quieten, growing quickly distant. A thin veil of moisture takes to her eyes. She gulps down the cold air. Her hands are shaking already. The small books are sliding from her lap as her knees gradually begin to knock.
"Bù," she whimpers, shaking her head defiantly. "Bù."
The white walls blur. The stark corners - where dust gathers - fade in to nothing. She snatches her hands up to her chest. The books fall to the floor – thump, thump, thump. She buries her face in to her hands. The heat from her first few tears is the only warmth available in the diminutive room whose walls choke her ceaselessly.
It couldn't be further from the luxury of her cherished island home. For that reason her mind continues to draw comparisons to a beauty that has withered all too soon and all too cruelly. Lì Qiū falls to her side on the hard mattress. The springs poke at her ribcage and she lets them. She revels in the discomfort that she hopes in vain will eventually – somehow – equal the suffering of her companions.
"Lì Qiū,"
She dares to glance up. The silhouette is blurred. His voice and his shape are familiar. She shields her face again.
The bed creaks as he sits down at the opposite side. "You're safe here,"
He places his hand on her arm. She leans towards him.
He sighs, looking up at the small window. "I don't know what you're feeling. It's going to be much worse than what I feel. I can't say kind things to you. It wouldn't help and you wouldn't understand. I made a promise. I'm going to keep it. I hope you can understand that,"
She curls up further. The tears are slowly turning weariness. The descent of shadows mars the guilt that fills her heart.
He stands, preparing to leave her. However, in her fragile state of rest she utters once again.
Her face hides from view. "Gēge… Yūsei gēge… Miss… you… Miss… you…"
He whips around. She's soundly asleep. No act of disturbance would be welcomed. He sighs and retreats again. The strange murmurings echo in his mind. He tries to make sense of it.
Author's Note: Hello! How are you? I've been very busy lately. For one, I've finally managed to order that game! The GJ sequel has a couple that is beginning to rival my obsession with this one! Oh, what an unbelievable turn of events! I am absolutely delighted. It is most definitely worth the £150.00+ that I spent! Now, it won't be arriving until some time in November. You'll have to make do with me ranting on about that. I am so impatient! Also, my blog, ChinaSorrows, is starting to garner some interest. I'm very pleased with that. It does seem, however, that now my original blog is being neglected. That is a pity…
As for this... Akiza is going to make her début in about five chapters or so! It has been a long time coming, hasn't it?
*This is a 'spare' storyline. Ā Nú does not come in to the game until the last third. I was too impatient, as usual. So, here she is!