DISCLAMER:

I DON'T OWN ANY CHARACTERS OR REFRENCES TO THE GAME I MAKE. I AM JUST A SILLY LITTLE AUTHOR GIRL WHO LIKES NI NO KUNI AND WANTED TO WRITE A SWAINE/ESTHER (SWESTHER) FANFICTION.

Chapter Eleven; Packing, Priorities, and Backstories

Swaine and Esther cautiously checked Esther's house, and found that Oliver was nowhere to be found. They were safe. They went into Esther's room, and she started packing while Swaine checked his bag to make sure he had packed everything. He had his gun, many treats of all kinds for his familiars courtesy of Esther, tons of guilders in a green velvet coin pouch, food, coffee beans, and equipment. He had some extra clothes in there as well, but he'd mainly wear his normal outfit on the adventure, he decided.

He looked up, only to see Esther packing bunch upon bunch upon bunch of babanas. "Really, Esther? Is that it? Just babanas?" She sighed at his questions.

"No, I also have some swimwear, a change of clothes, some guilders, my harp, familiar treats, my winter coat, and some bug-spray, along with a sewing kit and some...toiletries."

"Like what? Marcassin said he'd bring some toothbrushes and toothpaste for us." Swaine questioned. Esther flushed pink. "Well..."

"Well, what?"

"You know..."

"I, uh, really don't."

"TAMPONS, IDIOT!" She said, facepalming. He flushed every shade of red. "...Should I pack extra chocolate?" He asked awkwardly. "I'd appreciate it. That's also why I have so many babanas. Comfort food goes a long way when YOUR BODY IS TRYING TO KILL YOU." She said, glaring at him. He wanted to lash out back, but decided he needed to get used to this.

After all, she had an excuse now.

"Okay, sorry I mentioned it." He said, holding his hands up in a surrendering manner. She nodded once, then got back to her work. Gogo and Cleopatra, her wayward sun, worked with her. Swaine walked over and helped with the task of stuffing the babanas into the bag, and as they worked, he had a random thought

"Hey, Esther? What's on the second floor of this house? You said it's a two-story house, but you've never mentioned what's up there." She froze, surprised at this sudden question. "Oh no, is it bad?" He asked. She soon came back to the present and deadpanned an answer, getting back to work.

"Everything my mother ever gave me. She abandoned me while I was heartbroken, and I never saw her again. She was a forest dweller on Bungler's Bay before she came to Al Mamoon, and I always imagined her as 'Queen of the Forest Dwellers' when I was a young girl. I used to look at that stuff up there all the time, but now I just want to forget my mother altogether. A lady who abandons me like that when I need her most doesn't deserve my time or forgiveness, so I will never again give her either."

She then looked around her, seeing that they were done, and spoke up. "Hey, we're done, so, shall we go meet up with the rest of the group?" She asked.

Swaine knew she was trying to change the subject, and so he played along...though this conversation wasn't over. "Yeah, I mean, it is getting kinda late, and we wanna leave before nightfall," Swaine agreed, getting up and extending his hand to Esther. "If you're good, of course." He added. She nodded yes, though he knew that was a lie, and she called Gogo and Cleopatra back. She then took his hand in one of hers, her bag in the other, and he hoisted her up.

Swaine took her bag so she wouldn't have to carry it, and they set off together to join the rest of the party, Swaine carrying both bags around him like a man-purse, and his hand interlinked in hers. They talked and walked until they reached Hamelin once more, and by then, she had almost forgotten her cruel mother. Swaine, however, hadn't...and wouldn't ever.

A/N; Credit to Mysterious Loser for the idea of what happened to Esther's mom! I made it my own, but 'Her Majesty, The Ice Queen' inspired the backstory part. So, thanks!