Parenthesis are Yuri's thoughts [have to constanly change this rule, due to multiple views, so this time it's just purely Yuri, so thus these () are Yuri's thoughts].
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Tales of Vesperia, Justin, or Caryn. I DO have permission to use Justin and Caryn though. I OWN myself, Kairi, and my work in this fic. That is all….
[Yuri's POV]
Fighting the Rhybgaro was like fighting a ratwigle one on one. It didn't put up a fight, nor did it seem like it was even trying. Also, Liana wasn't even budging, it wasn't even really worth much effort, but still, we need to take it back with us.
Well, that thought was all well and good, but just as Rita began to cast, our fiery troublemaker ran and threw herself over the fallen Rhybgaro's stomach. (JUST WHAT IS SHE DOING?!)
Lucky for her, what Rita casted was splash, so water simply poured on the two from above, still, it's not an arte you want to be hit with. Once the water was done pouring, Liana let out a gasp and began coughing for air.
"Just what the hell are you doing?!" I shouted angry at the girl… er… woman… I tend to forget she's older than all of us… though she sure doesn't act like it.
"Pulling a Kairi," was her simple response after she raised her hand in a pause to let us let her catch her breath. Rita began to argue with her, to which she just cheekily responded back.
Pulling a Kairi? That didn't make any sense at all, even Kairi was more sensible than that… then again, we don't know her as well as Liana does.
"That still doesn't answer, what you were doing," I said, she wasn't giving a sufficient answer to what I had asked earlier. She just dropped her head with a large sigh, "It's enough, right? She can't move, there's no need for fighting anymore, lets just take her horn, leave her alone, and go. The horn is what they want, right?"
The horn? Come to think of it, that's what that big shot guy told that couple. The others began to talk to her and even explain to her, but she wasn't having any of it.
"She's pregnant and injured you assholes; so no one is taking her back to that place, you hear me. No one takes her without fighting me first…" she said with irritation and anger in her tone, "So…we gonna do this the easy way… or the hard way?"
That fire in her eyes said she was dead serious as she got up and put up her fists, wobbling unsteadily. Giving the Rhybgaro behind her a look over, it seems she was telling the truth. I may not know what's the difference in a fat belly versus a pregnant belly in monsters… but I'd have to say, if there were ever a pregnant monster… this was it…
"I-It's covered in scars and bruises," Estelle spoke up sadly.
"I reckon it's been attacked by desperate townspeople quite a few times…" I replied, gazing at the numerous wounds this monster had, some of them looked pretty nasty, I'm surprised its lived this long… and pregnant to boot.
Estelle looked at me with a pout, "B-But it's not the people in town's fault!"
Liana's words began to sink in, and I replied, "No, I understand."
I waked up to Liana as she was staring daggers into me. I gave her a smile and patted her head, she may be a hard ass, foul mouthed, smart ass girl… but she at least had her heart in the right place. I walked past her to kneel by the unconscious Rhybgaro, placed may hands on it's horn, and with one forcefully downward jerk, I broke off its horn.
"Yuri…?" Estelle asked curiously, wondering what I was doing.
"The horn is what's so valuable, right?" I smirked as I turned to Liana, "This'll be enough to satisfy that money-grubbing magistrate."
Rita looked at us weirdly, "Wow, it's not like you both to show pity to a monster."
"If I was a mother-to-be, I'd be pretty scared to be attacked day after day," Liana began to say as the thoughts seemed to be in her head, "Of course I'd fight to give me and my baby a chance, though I'd be wondering, just what did I do to make so many people come after me? So it doesn't seem fair, and there's no way I'm gonna play by someone so evil's rules."
She had a good point, as weird as it was. She had placed herself in the mind of a pregnant monster, more so than that, she refused to be a part of the assigned role that the many villagers and towns folk took on when told of Rhybgaro. She wasn't going to be a puppet… that was one of her best qualities.
Karol looked freaked out and grabbed his weapon, "While you guys are busy talking, the monster's getting up!"
"Baby boy, I love you, but strike at her, and I'mma chop you and let Rita chop you all the way back to the inn," Liana replied with her hands on her hips, she looked like an angry mother, and Karol flinched back, I know I sure would have.
The Rhybgaro got up and stared around at us; It looked at Liana the most before running off into the forest.
"Wh-what? Why did it run away?" Karol said surprised.
Estelle clasped her hands in happiness, "It understood what we were thinking!"
"I wish Kairi was here…she might have been able to verify that…I think," Liana said curiously as her hands flew up to her chin to think.
I wondered about that too, it did seem like Kairi could speak to Repede and understand him… and then there was that incident with the 'ghost' that called her over to talk…Kairi was an odd girl…but (Just who is she thought…).
"The monster did? Seriously?" Karol looked skeptical.
Liana just pouted, "Well it has a brain and a heart. They have young and care and protect them. They breathe the air we breathe and walk the land we walk. Is it so much different that us in that case? We can't talk to them, they can't talk to us, but in each other's eyes, if we were to ask what we are to them, they'd say we're the monsters."
"I don't think monsters think at all though," Rita said plainly.
"I can't prove that they do, but they adapt and learn of new ways to catch prey and teach their young the new ways and old ways, so I'd believe that they do," Liana nodded knowingly, "It's just a stereotype people put to things. Because the only people who are 'people' to people, are the 'people' who look and think like them, any different and you're just an unwanted, unwelcome hindrance."
"That's….actually pretty philosophical," Rita said looking at the older girl in awe.
"Take me for example, I'm an alien, you all didn't know I was an alien until I felt it was okay to tell you. Though if I were to have told you off the bat or someone would have said so, what would you have thought?" Liana asked the two young team members.
The two didn't respond, so Liana spoke up again, "Rita wouldn't believe it without proof, so that wouldn't have changed, but to Karol…let me guess… kill on sight?"
(That's a bit extreme, isn't it?) I couldn't help but think as I listened in.
"H-Huh?! What? I wouldn't, I wasn't," Karol said with a surprised look on his face, but then he looked in thought, "Actually… I don't think I'd have killed you… attack maybe, but…you aren't…"
(… Seriously?) Well this conversation was getting interesting, just where was Liana trying to take this?
"That's what's called stereotype, you get the image in your head that 'monsters don't think', 'monsters don't care', 'aliens are usually green monsters with three fingers who need to be destroyed before they take over the planet', those kinda things," Liana pouted, "So rather than trying to find grounds for peace, it's easier to just get rid of or not pay attention to what's different. The reason you didn't attack me or Kairi was because you got to know us. Though, that's not to say that all monsters or aliens are good…just observe a bit more before jumping to conclusions."
(Pretty good point. Guess she's earned the right to call herself the group elder for a few more weeks) I thought with a cheeky grin on my face.
"Well, hey, we got the horn. The monster can go live with her baby in peace and quiet. Let's head back to check on Kairi and Flynn," I chuckled, trying to get her lecture and lesson over with for the day. We still had Kairi to get back to, and to see if Flynn managed to get into Ragou's Palace.
With everyone in agreement, we headed back, Liana continually humming that song she said was her favorite. She still wouldn't tell us what It was about… that kinda bothered me.
Rita crossed her arms and argued with me, "You do realize that you just gave away our gift for the magistrate, right? Now what'll we do?"
I had just given the horn to that couple we had seen earlier, the others weren't too happy with me just parting with it, except Liana, who seemed indifferent.
"No worries, we'll just find some other way to get into the magistrate's place," I smirked, giving off hints for what we'd have to do.
Liana smirked too, "Ooo, preferably something illegal! I was dying to beat those guards at the gate for being so damn cocky without a cock to back it up!"
My mouth dropped opened… (Seriously, this girl. I can never tell when I need to cover her mouth up!)
"W-Wh….What are you….s-saying, th-that's so dis…" Rita was trying to stutter out, but Estelle cut in.
"Uhm, I don't get what's going on, or why everyone seems so startled, but, shall we see how Flynn's doing first, then?" Estelle spoke normally, albeit a bit curiously.
I felt my mind draw a blank, Estelle had been the one I was more worried about with hearing that, but… (She's what? 18? Certainly she's had 'the talk' before… she can't seriously be that naïve… can she?)
"Yes, maybe he's even gotten into Ragou's palace already and set things straight!" Karol shouted, gaining my attention.
"Yeah, that would sure be nice…" I chimed up, the awkwardness of what just happened still lingering in my head.
"You fuddy duddies are no fun," Liana pouted and turned from us, crossing her arms to show her discontent.
"Let's go pay a visit to the inn," Estelle said happily.
Liana turned around to give Estelle a stupid look, "Uh…we're in front of the inn already…what do you mean pay a visit to it? We're technically here…"
Estelle blushed a dark red as she turned her head and realized it was true, "Oh, we are. Well, let's all go inside."
"Amen, I need to change out of these soaked soppy clothes too," Liana said merrily as she practically marched inside… although for saying she needed a change in clothes, she still went into Flynn's room completely sopping wet, that sight alone made me want to laugh at the thought of Flynn's reaction to a wet floor.
After hearing and conversing with Flynn to come up with a plan to help, we all were preparing to leave the room, until Kairi's murmurs reached my ears.
"Oh, right," I said as I turned around and walked over to Caryn, "We'll take her off your hands, thanks for watching her."
"O-Oh, it was nothing, but uhm…," the girl called Caryn was fidgeting nervously, making me curious as to what she was hiding. I reached down to pick up Kairi, my arm going around the bare back area of her dress, quickly I withdrew it as an intense burning pain shot through my hand and wrist. (What the hell was that?!)
Kairi murmured again before shuffling and turning to the other side, she wasn't this hot earlier… hell how does anyone get that hot?! "What the hell. Her skins so hot, I can't pick her up," I argued, mainly due to the fact that I wanted answers, because I couldn't think of any.
Rita walked over now and put her hand on Kairi's forehead and withdrew her hand at once, "Ah! Just what is going on?" She began to analyze her, the amount of numbers and stuff that was flowing through her screen was overwhelming, I had to wonder just how she could understand any of it.
"I can't say when it happened, but her temperature's been rising for a while now. We've tried just about everything to get it to go down, but…" Flynn said, his voice was just dripping with concern; I hadn't heard him this worried since Repede got ill that one time…
"It's amazing," Rita said in awe, "Her temperature is so high that her organs and brain should be liquified by now, but they're still solid and functioning perfectly."
That made me tense up, (…Liquified? Just what the hell is wrong with her?! How could she be that hot and still technically in some way be fine?!) The thoughts began to irritate me as I saw her breathing so heavy you'd think she couldn't breathe at all.
"L-Liquified!" Karol said with a squeak his face displaying utter fear.
Witcher stepped forward to see the data on the screens, curiosity in his eyes, "Whoa, you weren't kidding. That's beyond fatal, her bones, tissue, and organs should be melting, blood should be boiling, heck, her eyeballs should have popped a while ago, but their temperature is somehow staying at stable levels… so where's the heat being stored and what's keeping it from doing what it does? This is both bizarre and amazing."
(Amazing? She's probably dying right now… and they think it's amazing?!) I felt myself growing more impatient; there had to be something we could do…
Estelle asked the question I wanted to ask so badly, "I-Isn't there something we can do?"
"Estelle, can you try to heal her?" Rita asked curiously, probably wondering if Estelle's powers could heal her up. (Why not? If Estelle could cure my illness and restore a barrier, who's to say she can't fix this?).
She nodded, ran over and complied. With her hands clasped, a magical ring, a ching sound, she tried to heal up Kairi, but nothing seemed to change.
"Hm, nothing. Liana, do you know what's going on with her?" Rita asked giving her a strict look.
(Liana? Oh right, they're kinda sort of related, she's got to know something about this. They've been together since they were kids…)
"A fever," she replied normally, her expression never changing, "Don't ask me, that's a norm for her, she's just the biggest oddball on…in our house…,"
I realized she stopped after the word 'on', she must've almost let it slip that she was from another planet in front of Flynn's group, though… (How does she not know what's wrong? If it's normal, someone had to tell her it was normal. A doctor or her parents… why is it normal? If it's normal, for Earth people, wouldn't her fevers get this high? If that's the case she should have experience with lowering it… so why?)
"Oddball is an understatement," Rita said as she slumped over a bit.
"Mmmm," Kairi stirred and rubber her eyes, Witcher actually threw out his hands to want to stop her from rubbing them, but Rita stopped him from getting burned.
"Kairi?" I called her as I stared down at her, she just looked so weak, it made me worry.
She turned her head towards me and blinked a few times, her eyes were beyond foggy and hazy, her voice raspy and congested, "Mmm…Daddy?"
Liana just giggled, and I was wondering what was so funny, but Liana answered, "No, that's Yuri."
"…Yuri…" Kairi seemed to repeat after Liana, her voice hoarse and cracked. Tears began to come down her face, the water boiled and fizzled down her cheek, turning into steam before it could even drip off her face. Is this really for real?!
"Whoa! Calm down, it's okay, I'm here," I panicked as I backed up a bit to avoid getting burned.
She began to wail for her father, not sure why, though I guess she was homesick. Maybe her father knew how to cure her, though when Liana suggested it may be just her reverting to childhood, I felt myself sweat… if that was really happening, I wouldn't honestly know what to do… I am no good with kids.
"Is there anything we can do?" Flynn asked Rita and Witcher seriously. I knew he wanted to help, heck, I'd be grateful to at least have something to do to help.
"No, there's nothing I can think of, this is too weird," Witcher answered still looking at the data.
Rita still looked in thought, "I'll analyze her some more and try to see if I can find anything. We'll have to move her back to our room somehow though…"
I felt a bit of relief at those words.
"Why not Purrito her using the blanket?" Liana suggested as she started at Kairi in thought.
(Purrito? Using the blanket? But the blanket is probably-) My thoughts got cut off as I noticed the blankets under and around her weren't damaged at all… considering how hot she was, I thought they'd be turned to a crisp, odd that it wasn't so much as scorched at all.
"Purrito?" Estelle asked oddly.
"Like swaddling a baby, I just call it a Purrito, got a problem with it?" she argued with Estelle, who just shook her head in response.
"Alright then," I said as I cracked my knuckles. All I had to do was wrap her up in a comforter and carry her to the next room, easy! Though the comforter she was covered in was incredibly warm to grab, just wrapping her up and carrying her to the next room to lay in her own bed already had me sweating with the heat of the blanket alone.
"Anything, Rita?" Estelle asked after Rita had been examining her for quite a bit.
"Nothing. As tough as this is to say, I can't figure it out, you aliens sure are weird," Rita crossed her arms and pouted, seems even a famed mage can't handle other worldly cases.
"Amen…" Liana said with a yawn as she laid down in her bed.
"Huh? You're going to sleep? Aren't you worried about, Kairi?!" Karol asked with a huge pout on his face.
"Nope, she'll be fine, it happens from time to time, she's so much of an oddball that she might be 100% tomorrow," Liana replied with another yawn, her expression was completely relaxed as she fell asleep.
"Oddball, huh?" I said to no one in particular, I had begun to think as I watched Rita continue to check, analyze, and test things until we decided it was real late and we needed to head to bed, so after a good hour or two after returning from Flynn's room, it was lights out.
At least it was until Estelle's scream woke us up.
"What happened?!" I shouted as I practically jumped from bed grabbing my sword.
Estelle turned to me trembling, the look of utter fear in her face, she was trembling so bad her words almost came out in a jumble, "T-There was a man right next to Kairi! I saw him! He had such scary red eyes, and long black hair, and, and-"
(A man? In our room? Next to Kairi? I didn't even hear the door open, and Repede's fast asleep. Why is Repede fast asleep? He'd normally have been awake and more alert to the situation.)
"Lady Estellise! What's the matter?!" Flynn shouted as the door practically almost broke open, his sudden entrance almost had me toss an Azure Edge at him.
"There was a man in our room! And, and he was next to Kairi, and," Estelle began to rant in a panic, her words were almost being put together to be one word in a single breath.
"L-Lady Estellise, please, if you could calm down and describe him, slowly. I'll send a team to patrol around for this man," Flynn said seriously but with a gentle smile as usual as his lieutenant seemed about ready to take notes for this patrol.
"H-He had long pitch black hair," Estelle began slowly describing.
"Alright, anything else?" Flynn continued, coaxing her to continue.
"His eyes were so red, he looked at me so coldly I got the chills, he looked really scary, and his eyes were seemingly glowing in the dark," Estelle said as she shivered.
"Anything about his clothes?" Flynn asked curiously.
"Uhm, they were mainly black, with some red and gold, the gold looked so shiny, I'm not sure if it's real or not," Estelle said trying hard to recall any specific details, "I'm sorry… other than his large black wings, I don't recall specifically what he was wearing."
(Large black wings?) At that thought, my serious train of thought vanished, there wasn't any doubt to me that Estelle was probably just seeing things, and Repede was just incredibly tired, too tired to respond to her screaming at nothing.
Flynn looked at her oddly, "Uhm, large black wings?"
"Estelle, are you sure you weren't just half asleep seeing things?" I said a bit disappointed for being woken up so soon.
"No! I woke up to get some water and when I got up out of bed I saw him! He was next to Kairi, talking to her, then he looked at me, and then when I blinked, he was gone…" Estelle pouted loudly until she began to get more silent now at the thought that it could have been a dream.
"In a blink he was gone, Estelle, no one can come and go that fast. It must've been a dream," I said waving the situation off as I laid back down on my bed.
"Though if it'll help Lady Estellise, I'll send a team right now to patrol just to be sure," Flynn said with a bow and excused himself to get this patrol set to ease her mind.
Estelle just stood there watching the door and bowed, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause so much trouble… but I…"
I was about to tell her these things happen, that long trips can wear a person down and cause these things due to exhaustion and to just go back to bed, but my train of thought came back when Liana opened her mouth.
"Maybe you weren't seeing things," Liana said a bit too cheerfully. (Was she trying to make Estelle feel better or worse? I can't figure which it is.)
"Huh?" Estelle said turning to her with a curious look. Everyone did, this kinda got my attention as I paid attention to her expression.
"Maybe it was a ghost, that was once an angel, that fell from grace, and wanted to talk to someone. And Kairi is just about medium like material to do it, so it wanted to talk to her, but she's too sick to respond. I mean back at Ehmead Hill-," Liana began to drone on as a huge grin began to spread across her face as each word began to roll out of her mouth in excitement.
"No way! There's no way it was a ghost! Estellise was just half asleep! That's the only logical thing!" Rita shouted out, she obviously was no good with the paranormal.
"Geez, Rita. You don't have to be that scared," Karol said with a pout as he hopped back into bed and covered himself up. Rita looked at Liana once more and turned back to head to her own bed.
"Well, in any case, let's head back to bed, it's still way too early to go on with the plan. Okay?" I suggested, and Estelle slowly nodded and shakily returned to bed. New thoughts going through my mind as I kept my eyes on Liana.
(She seemed a bit 'too' excited at this. I know she liked to mess with Estelle and the others, but why did she suddenly suggest Estelle wasn't seeing things? She normally doesn't try to get along with Estelle at all on her own…)
The thoughts plagued my mind, 'I should've checked her expression when Estelle was describing this guy', but I was too focused on Estelle rather than Liana. Though, a person who can just come and go without a sound didn't seem possible, but Estelle seemed convinced. I decided to shrug it off for now in order to get some sleep.
I woke up first once again and began to wake everyone up to get set to break into the magistrate's palace. My focus was now turned to the sick girl in our group, she seemed to be sleeping peacefully, her face not really red anymore. I kept my hand on the comforter to find it wasn't so hot anymore, but I still didn't want a repeat, and gently shook her and called for her to try to wake her, "Kairi, hey. How're you feeling?"
She stretched out her arms with a yawn and I quickly stepped back to avoid contact, she licked her lips and blinked dozily, "Mmmm, what? I want some pancakes and eggs."
She slowly got up still stretching and yawning, practically wobbling side to side in drowsiness.
"Whoa, don't push yourself. How are you today?" I said, wanting to make her lie down, but not wanting to touch her just in case.
"Hmm? I'm good, but I'm hungry…" she seemed to pout. The red on her face was all gone, she even sounded better…
I decided to take the chance, and I put my hand out and touched her forehead, surprised at what was happening, "Huh, it's all gone. No fever or anything…"
(How did it just… vanish, just like that?) My brain tried turning to figure out what might've cured her, but nothing came to mind, which my thoughts were cut short as Rita practically shoved me out of the way, "You're kidding!"
She began to check and analyze Kairi pretty quickly, her expression was pricelessly astonished, "How?! Her temperature's back to normal and there's no damage dealt either."
A loud rumble of Kairi's stomach and Liana was giggling a bit, "I can go for some pancake and eggs, heck, just eggs will do, lets get this plan rolling~" she said as she practically began skipping out of the room to the dining area.
"This is amazing," Rita said as she looked in thought, "Though, just what was the trigger for stopping it though?"
"Well, glad to see you're okay," I said smiling down at the sick girl.
She just pouted up at me, "Can we eat now though, please?" Her tummy let out another loud rumble and I chuckled, the memory of the first time we all met in the castle and how loud her tummy was rumbling back then, she may be small, but she could EAT.
"Alright, alright, let's all go grab a bite to eat," I said as everyone now was gathering their belongings and heading for the diner; Kairi grabbing Liana's bag as well due to her forgetfulness.
After we ate, I left the table to go let Flynn know we were preparing to 'head on out'.
"So, we're all set, be ready for our 'signals'," I reminded him as I turned to leave his room.
"Yuri…." Flynn began, I knew he probably was going to tell me not to be reckless, so I kept walking, but his words stopped me before I could open the door, "And what about Miss Kairi?"
I turned around to look at him, "What about Kairi?"
"I realize she may be feeling better, but would it really be safe to take her along? She could accompany us by staying with Caryn," Flynn began suggesting seriously. I realized he was thinking about her, but she seemed better and raring to go with this plan.
"She can decide that on her own Flynn, if you want to ask her, be my guest," I replied as I headed back to the group, Flynn of course following behind me a bit after.
"Miss Kairi?" He asked, his tone was wavering with concern.
"Hm?" She said curiously as she stared up at him.
"I realize you've just recovered, but I implore that you please join us and stay beside Caryn for the duration of this operation for your own safety," Flynn began as he courteously got on one knee and bowed.
The whole scene kinda got on my nerves; I knew Flynn was a well-mannered knight, but by doing that, it was like he was begging her to do as he said, and Kairi being so nice would fall for it, hook, line, and sinker.
Kairi blinked a few times, but just replied pouted with a panic like I knew she would, "But… I want to go with the others though…"
Flynn looked up, "I realize you'd like to accompany Y-…" At that he seemed to stiffen up, but coughed and continued, that caught my attention, "accompany Yuri and company, but you may risk getting ill again. So, that's why I'm suggesting this temporary separation."
Though his expression seemed to say something else, I felt myself twitching in irritation for not knowing what it was. It was like he knew something I didn't and wasn't about to fill me in.
"I'll be fine!" Kairi pouted big time now, "I-I can handle myself… If you're worried about my health getting in the way of the mission, it won't! I won't get in the way, I promise."
"But, Miss Kairi," Flynn began to pout a bit as well as try to negotiate back with her.
"I promise I'll be good! I promise!" She flailed like an arguing child.
"Well, you got your answer there Flynn," I smirked at him, kinda glad she couldn't fall for Flynn's usual knightly charisma
"…Yuri," Flynn said cooly, catching my attention, his head was dropped, so I couldn't see his face even as he stood up.
"Hm?" I replied as I noticed him taking a deep breath.
"If she goes with you, you better take responsibility for her!" Flynn said turning to give me a really pissed off look. Geez, seriously, what got up his ass this time?!
"I promise I'll look after her, geez! You don't have to get that worked up about it," I replied calmly but clearly irritated also.
"Of course I'm going to get worked up about it! Miss Kairi's developing fe-!" Flynn began, then paused, his expression changing from his usual irritating angry face to that of pale shock.
"Care to let me in on the secret?" I asked, curious as to what happened while I was gone with the other's to get Rhybgaro's horn.
His hand slapped on his face pretty hard, covering his eyes, a heavy sigh but pout filled his tone, as I heard him mutter, "Why is it you of all people?"
"Why me? What?" I asked, and he stiffened up and stood up, his angry look back on his face.
"I was going to say, Miss Kairi's 'developing fever' was very severe! She was lucky this time, but what if she's not so lucky next time?! You need to take better care of your friends Yuri!" Flynn argued.
Oh, it was on! I wasn't about to let him get off with telling me that, "I can take care of them just fine! Besides they can also look after themselves, so don't you start with me Flynn!"
"And yet Miss Kairi ended up that badly sick! Lady Estellise was hallucinating in the middle of the night! You expect me to believe that's taking care of them?!" Flynn argued back.
"GAH! ENOUGH! ENOUGH!" Liana shouted as she jumped up, making her chair screech against the floor as it scooted backwards from the force of her sudden position change, "IF YOU TWO BEGIN ARGUING SERIOUSLY MY FOOD WONT GO DOWN PEACEFULLY!"
"Miss Liana, we're-" Flynn began to argue back, until Liana got up in our faces, she was steaming mad.
"DON'T YOU 'MISS LIANA' ME! IF YOU TWO DON'T SHUT UP AND JUST AGREE TO DISAGREE AND LET US GET ON WITH THE DAY, SO HELP ME I'LL…. I'LL… I'LL WRESTLE THE BOTH OF YOU INTO SUBMITION! TIE YOU UP! AND CAKE YOUR FACES WITH MY MOM'S MAKE UP SO BAD THAT IT WON'T COME OFF FOR MONTHS! FLYNN! YOUR SUBORIDANTS WONT EVER BE ABLE TO TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY EVER AGAIN AND YURI WILL BE LABELED A FEMALE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE! YOU HEAR ME?!" she shouted angrily, the fire in her eyes was nothing to laugh at.
I practically became a billboard with my hands at my sides, just nodding in understanding as Flynn did the same. If she couldn't find a way home, she certainly could make it as a drill sergeant for the knights, she could instill that much fear, seriously.
Everyone else just stared on, Kairi giggling quite a bit as we all headed out for Ragou's Palace, leaving Flynn completely stunned. What could I say… I was travelling with a very odd group.
"The scary black man was right, someone was going to rescue me," Pauly said smiling at all of us.
"Scary black man?" Liana asked, her expression and tone filled with surprise.
"Yeah, this scary man in black made the monsters leave me alone, he said someone was going to come soon to save me, so hide here," Pauly explained.
"What did he look like?" Estelle asked curiously, "Maybe we'll find him up ahead."
"He had black hair, black clothes, scary red eyes, and big black wings, and uhm, he was strong, and uh, uh," Pauly said while trying to think.
"That's the man that broke into our room and was by Kairi last night," Estelle exclaimed, "I wasn't dreaming!"
I took note of everyone's expressions, everyone was surprised… everyone… except Liana and Kairi.
"Where is he now?" I asked the small boy, hoping to find this guy up.
Pauly looked down, "He made the monsters go away all night and day, then told me to stay here cause it's safe, and then left a little while ago saying someone was going to save me soon and something about keeping contr…contra…dictionaries from the time line."
"I think you mean contradictions," Liana replied, though she then looked in thought. There wasn't any more doubt in my mind, Liana and Kairi know this guy… or at least Liana sure did.
(Contradictions? Time Line? What's going on? Just who is this mysterious guy in black? Was he from Earth too? Though what's the deal with having large wings? Was it an Earth thing? If it is, then do Liana and Kairi have wings? Glowing eyes too… though Kairi's eyes in the right lighting seem to glow nicely too… And the fact that they can telepathically talk to each other, was that an Earth thing? I probably should ask Caryn if she can talk to them telepathically too. And why was this guy beside Kairi last night? How was her fever so high? How did she suddenly become better just over night? How come she's the only one that seems to know magic? Liana must know, but won't tell me, after all, why would her parents just leave her with Kairi's parents and move together?)
So many thoughts that I've had and started to have began plaguing my mind, switching from the main thoughts of Earth to just surrounding Kairi, but the main one that circled about was a pretty simple one, 'Just who was Liana and Kairi?'
"Yeah, that word," Pauly said enthusiastically at Liana's correction.
"Well, lets get this plan going, and get you back home, okay?" Liana said with a smile, making Pauly smile and agree.
"Well, you heard the lady, lets keep going," I replied with a grin, I had so many thoughts, but right now wasn't the time to try to get to answering them.
"Get back here you sick fuck! I need to string you from you neck at the summit of whatever is the equivalent of Mt. Everest, then once you're good and dead, I'll stuff you full with rocks and tie you to a sack of bricks and dump you into the harbor!" Liana shouted angrily as she chased Ragou up the stairs.
The magistrates pitiful squeal could be heard, and I had to wonder if she caught him.
"That lady is crazy," Pauly said as he hid behind Estelle.
"P-P-Pauly! Please, just forget everything she said just now!" Kairi said flailing with panic at the small child hearing such foul talk.
I kinda grinned and felt silly for my earlier thoughts. If I had to sum who these two were…
"Gah, fuuuuudggee, Kairi shoot him!" I heard Liana shout as I saw a guy slash at the fluffy appendages on her hand, though a clang could be heard, just what were those gauntlets made of?
Kairi quickly sent a small jolt of fire at the guy and he flew across the room on the ground, "Yeow, that smarts. Next time, I need to move away, don't use the gauntlet to stop blades."
I then noticed a dark figure behind the two women, moving towards Kairi pretty fast as her attention was on healing Liana, who had taken off her gauntlets to show her bare hands to the small healer.
"KAIRI!" I shouted as I tried to run to intercept, but it was obvious, I wasn't going to make it. And I had promised Flynn I would look after her.
"Oh, shit! Kairi! Behind!" Liana shouted as she fiddled with trying to put back on the gauntlets, clearly she wasn't going to make it in time either.
Shoot!
One minute Kairi was standing there, both her hands going towards her back hip behind her hair, then the next minute, she was behind the guy, facing away from him, a dagger in each hand, and she sheathed hem in her hair on her back hip again.
Liana and I stared at the scene for a bit as the guy had suddenly paused in stupor on the now missing girl, then… his clothes just seemed to all peel off and fall to the floor like a pile of feathers. He was now buck naked and I had to worry about Estelle seeing this, but her attention was on her opponent as was everyone else. He just cupped his hands over 'the boys' as best he could and ran off squealing… if I was that well equipped, I would be more prideful about it… the world could be a bit unfair.
"Whoa, that was… unexpected, since when do you have daggers?" I said as I still ran towards the two women.
She turned pink, and I wondered if that made her overexert herself as she fidgeted and twiddled her thumbs, she tried to look at me but would look away, then back, it was kind of confusing but at least she was being more alert now, "H-Huh? M-Me? I've always had them… I-I just… can't use them for fighting so much..."
True, that guy didn't have a cut on him, his clothes were the damage taker for that, but still, "That was pretty fast though, I don't think I even saw when you moved, that was pretty neat. I'd sure like to learn that."
To know, in an instant where you need to move, how you need to move, and to have the speed to do it… that could come in handy some time in the future, I'd have to try practicing to learn something like that... if it can be learned, some things were just personal style or in ones genes, and that wasn't so derivable. I just smiled at her, it would be too much to ask her to teach me, so I'll figure it out some day.
"Like hell, I'mma be beat by some, fat, drug-addict, transvestite!"
That caught my attention, I knew Liana wasn't gonna take that happily. Sure enough , her expression became so dark I barely recognized her, but as fast as was possible for her she began climbing on him to stand on his shoulders, and I wondered just what she was going to do.
"OW! GET OFF ME YOU FAT SON OF A-," the guy shouted until his face was now acquainted with Liana's heeled shoe as his head crashed down into the deck. (Man that's gotta hurt! Remind me not to bring up any comments that may involve her weight.) I thought as I began to recall my earlier comment that she took the wrong way.
She hoped off the guy and without looking at the other two, her hair covering her bangs, she pointed at the two of them, making them flinch. I didn't have to do anything as they froze up in fear at the sight of her, when she looked up, she was so fumed her eyes looked like they could pop from her head as she shouted, "LISTEN UP! I AM FAT! BUT I AIN'T NO DRUG ADDICT OR A TRANSVESTITE! NOT EVEN FOR RELIGION! MY EYES HAVE DARK CIRCLES CAUSE I HAD STRES AND LACK OF SLEEP THROUGH HIGHSCHOOL AND COLLEGE! AND JUST CAUSE I GOT MORE GENES FROM MY DAD DOES NOT MAKE ME A MAN IN WOMAN'S CLOTHES!"
I didn't prepare for what happened next as she almost removed her shirt, showing A LOT of breast, squeezing them together and shaking them, the skin on the both of them jiggling and vibrating pretty lewdly, "SEE! THEY JIGGLE! THESE AREN'T PAID FOR SILICONE TOYS, THEY'RE REAL! I WOULDN'T PAY FOR THEM EVEN IF I DIDN'T HAVE THEM!"
Both men fainted due to a huge loss of blood from their noses; my jaw just hit the floor, my eyes fixated on her cleavage as she covered up a bit but still let them show. I know I was probably blushing and staring too intently, but hey, I was a man, it couldn't be helped.
"Good job, boys! You've died a very honorable death that most men never get to have in their lifetime!" Liana said with a devious smirk and a salute.
If I had to sum up who Liana is in a few words… she was a foul-mouthed, wise, perverted, crazy, odd, immature, prideful, kinda sadistic, very childish, girl-woman.
Despite Kairi sending this guy Zagi flying into the ocean, he just popped out and managed to hop onto the ship, "Ummnn, that's nice. You're good. Very good. So strong. You're name. What's your name?!"
Geez seriously, does logic not apply to this guy?
Liana turned to me and whined, "YOU JUST HAD TO JINX IT, YURI!"
I shrugged, but got set to fight this guy again. Rede got in front of Kairi because this guy was just fixated on her, he was getting impatient too, "I SAID WHAT'S YOUR NAME! TELL ME!"
Kairi stay silent, shaking a bit, but she took the opportunity to try to cast. As soon as she raised her staff to create another of those ice crystals that had encased him earlier, he went into Over Limit. I charged him to keep him from going forward and give her some time, but it didn't seem like enough as he hit me, knocking me back. Repede tried to stop him and ended up stabbed in the leg, and Kairi, who still wasn't done casting, got hit dead on.
It was like a demonstration of what Liana was getting at back in Ehmead Hill, about one second being a difference for Kairi, and her lack in defense. She looked unconscious as she flew across the deck, which was good; because, she hit the side of the deck head first, and at high speed too. A quick glimpse of her and some red could be seen going down her forehead hidden behind her bangs. I began to worry that she may have split her skull with that impact.
"KAIRI!" Estelle shouted in panic, she quickly ran to heal the small unconscious girl.
And here I had promised Flynn I'd look after her, I was going to be in pretty big trouble, "I'll blow you away!"
I went into Over Limit myself to keep this guy at bay with my Dragon Swarm, but we ended up in trouble once it wore off. Repede was limping but doing his best to help, as was Karol. Without Estelle or Kairi's healing, this was becoming dangerous.
"Oh wavering, OW!" Rita shouted as Zagi had interrupted her from casting with a jab, knocking her down. We all felt some relief on us, and realize Estelle was now back, but Kairi was still unconscious. Guess Liana talked her into helping us, I'd thank her if I didn't have my hands full with this guy.
Liana came charging and barely made this guy stumble a bit, but he lurched back and I already knew from our first fight with him, what he was going to do, "Liana, Heads up!"
She bent backwards to avoid getting hit dead in the face, she turned to me with a huge let out of air, "Gah, thanks. Ghhh."
We went back to fighting this guy, but I noticed Liana was now heading over to Kairi, wonder if they were talking despite her being unconscious, but my thoughts got interrupted when this guy opened his mouth, "Hey! What's wrong? How long do you intend to sleep for? Come on! Wake up and join the fun! You're strong, and strong people don't sleep while there's killing to be done!"
Shoot, he was focused on Kairi again!
"She's not as strong as you think, just leave her alone," Liana angrily shouted.
He charged at the two girls, I tried chasing him, but he sped himself up. Liana managed to intercept him, but he countered her punch with a cracking twist of her wrist, causing her to scream in pain. He then got behind her and stomped pretty hard on her back to force her to go face down into the deck, his hand still twisting her wrist, "You get in my way, and I'll kill you."
I had never seen Liana terrified before, but I was about to be on him and I was definitely mad now. His attention went back to Kairi, and I had the element of surprise, "Kairi! Liana! Stay down!"
I managed to catch his sword with mine before he could set it down on Kairi, "An idiot like this-," I headbutted him hard, making him stumble back, "You've got to beat it into their bodies," I quickly stepped back and pulled back my blade and drove it forward, driving it into his upper chest/shoulder, "Or they won't understand!"
I stood in front of Kairi as he stepped back, grabbing his shoulder in pain, "Don't let me see you again."
"I agree," I heard Estelle say as I noticed her healing Liana's back.
"Graaah! That hurts…," He said as he fell onto a single knee still holding his shoulder.
"You put up a good fight," I at least had to give him that much.
"Yuri… is complimenting the mad man ever a good thing?" Liana said giving me a peeved look; I just shrugged in response..
"…I-I retreated… Heh heh heh. Mwa hah hah hah hah! You're tough! Yes tough! You're definitely tough! I certainly won't forget that, Yuri!" He said in a crazy tone as he stood up, still holding his arm, "I'm going to kill you, Yuri, and that girl, Kairi! Gonna carve you both into little pieces! Don't move a muscle…! Mwa hah hah hah hah."
A cannon blast knocked him off board as we began to feel the ship tilting and going down. It wasn't slowly sinking either due to the cannon fire that was still bombarding the ship.
"What? …It's sinking!" Karol shouted in a panic.
The flames separated Kairi, Liana and I from the rest of the group. I quickly ran to the unconscious girl and lifted her in my arms, earning not so much as a groan. Flynn was going to be very angry indeed. I quickly turned to everyone, "Everyone into the water! Liana, Follow me!"
I looked to see the sides on our end were completely engulfed in flames, our only option was to follow around the back of the ship were the ship was sinking down. There'll be some suction from the ship going down, but it shouldn't be that bad yet since it's just barely going down.
With that plan in mind I began running to the back of the ship, grateful that it wasn't engulfed in flame either. I ran into the water and began to swim, holding the small girl tightly to my side chest, making sure her head stayed on my shoulder to keep above water.
Once I no longer felt any suction, I turned back to see Liana wasn't behind me at all. I slightly paled, (Did she sink? I never even bothered to ask If she could swim. Where is she?!)
I began to panic, until I saw some barrels with the guys we beat earlier draped over them floating in the water and the familiar silhouette of the chubby girl running through the flames.
"Just what is she doing?!" I shouted angrily that she didn't listen and follow me. I quickly noticed the others floating away from the side of the boat and began to head over to them.
"Yuri…! Thank goodness!" Estelle said with an ecstatic smile on her face.
"Rita! Take Kairi! I have to get Liana, she's still on the ship!" I shouted as I swam over to the mage, handing over Kairi to her.
"What?!" Everyone said in sync, surprised that she was still onboard, and I turned around to circle around to get on board to get her.
"But Yuri!" I heard Estelle shout after me, but I kept swimming and gazed at the boat that was now tipped over and going down. There was no sign of the cheeky girl, nor was she floating around nearby. The cabin was completely submerged, and there suddenly wasn't a doubt in my mind, she was in the cabin!
I swam down, trying to open my eyes to look around and find her, no luck. All I earned was two stinging eyes as I swam back up for air, "Damn it! Where is she?!"
I tried again, growing more irritated, my eyes kept shutting closed due to the pain, but once something green and red caught my eye, I made a bet to swim towards it. I knew Liana was wearing red… green I have no clue. I extended my arm as I peeped my eyes open briefly again to see the green and red coming towards me, and I grabbed onto the first thing my hand came into contact with, which felt like an arm.
I pulled up my haul to find it was indeed Liana, she gasped for air and lifted up some other person in her arms, coughing, gasping for air, and spitting up salt as I began to drag her back towards the others.
"Are you okay? What were you thinking? I said to follow me!" I asked with worry until my anger kicked back in.
She just coughed and raised a finger to pause me until she answered, "I heard this idiot calling for help, *cough* he was tied up in that room. Knots were hell…"
"Who's that?" Rita asked staring that the unconscious person in Liana's arms. Wow, they were very concerned about her…
"Ioder…!" Estelle shouted in surprise, that caught my attention. She knew this guy? Well… he did look like a noble of some sort.
"What, you know him?" Rita replied curiously.
"Look, a boat! We're saved! Heeey! Over heeere!" Karol shouted as he floated on his bag, indeed there was a boat heading our way, if I had to guess…
"It looks like everyone made it through unharmed," Flynn shouted out to us as he came into view on the starboard bow.
"SCREW YOU! ONE OF US IS UNCONSCIOUS, THIS GUY IS UNCONSCIOUS, AND I'VE BEEN EMOTIONALLY TRAUMATIZED! YOU OWE ME SOME HOT CHOCOLATE FROM A NICE CAFE!" Liana shouted angrily at Flynn.
Flynn just looked wide eyed, until he practically almost threw himself off deck, "…Master Ioder!"
She Flynn knows this guy too?
"Wait. I'll pull you out. Caryn, Sodia, give me a hand," Flynn said urgently as he ran back out of view.
One by one we all got pulled on deck and given a warm blanket and towels to wrap up in. Kairi was set to rest against the side of the ship. She was still unconscious, though the blood that had been on her forehead was now gone due to the salt wash in the sea.
I felt something hit me hard on the head, I grabbed the top of my head in pain, hunching over, "OW! What the hell?!"
I turned to see my perpetrator, only to stiffen up at the sight of Flynn's fiery gaze, "Yuuuurrriiiii…"
I gulped in response, I had never seen him so ticked off before, "What did I say back at the inn?! You promised to take care of Miss Kairi!"
I couldn't argue back, I did make a promise, and I couldn't keep it. Judging by how uptight Flynn was looking and acting, it was just in my best interest to just shut up for once, ignore him, and just let him vent.
The others were just fawning over Kairi, until she began to stir, "Mmm."
"Ah, she's waking up already," Flynn said with a sigh of relief, completely back to normal from his angry lecture.
"Hungry…" was all I heard her say as she rubbed her eyes. (Was she always hungry when she wakes up?)
Estelle and I knelt down beside her; Estelle checking her over while I tried getting her attention, "You okay? Can you see how many fingers I got up?"
I held up one finger, but she still didn't respond, so I put it closer, and-
She bit down on my finger, she looked like she was about to gag, but still didn't let it go, "Shhhhaaaallttiippbbhhh."
(Salty?) "Hey!" I said in surprise as I tried to yank my finger out of her mouth, she wasn't biting down so hard at first, but as I struggled she chomped down hard, but not hard enough to break skin, "Ow! Kairi! Let go!"
Estelle tried waking her up and talking to her to get her to let me go, but she was so out of it, she couldn't hear or understand. Though Liana and Caryn were enjoying a good laugh, "Ahahaha, We need to get some food once we reach land, or else Kairi'll eat Yuri whole hahaha!"
"Liana, help get her off!" I pouted at the laughing girl.
"Let her be, she's coming too, she'll figure out you're not food eventually," she smirked devilishly.
"Hmmmmm?" Kairi murmured, giving my finger a good sucking on… yeah, that doesn't sound right no matter how you phrase it.
"You awake now? Or would you prefer to eat the rest of my hand while you're at it?" I teased, still trying to get my finger out of her mouth. Flynn was giving us wide eyed looks but then he turned to give me a harsh stare, seriously, what is his deal?
"Hmmmm?" Kairi said sucking on my finger a tiny bit.
"Hmmmm?!" Kairi muffledly squealed before she spit up my finger, her entire body from ears to toe were going red, she was shaking violently, and she was just about to cry. Though that wasn't the alarm ringer, the alarm ringer was the steam coming from her, was her fever acting up again?!
"I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry! I was thinking about bacon strips and- -!"
"Bacon Strips?" I said as I rubbed my finger, looking down at the mark of her teeth around it. Guess if its that good, I shouldn't try it again, or next time she may take my finger…
The tears in her eyes finally streamed down, they practically sizzled as they fell and evaporated by the time they reached her chin, she covered herself up with her blanket to avoid any popping onto us, "I-I-I-I-I'm, I'm sooooorrrryyyyy!"
Estelle and I jumped back in shock despite that the blanket was shielding us from her tears and heat.
If I had to sum up Kairi in a few words… she was an odd, sweet, honest, caring, shy, kinda fragile, almost always hungry, good girl.
Good grief… I said I wouldn't do close to 10k word drabbles… but in order to avoid multiple drabbles, I just stuffed as much as I could without going over the 10k mark. But 9.5k words isn't anything to sneeze at.
Caryn: Geez Lian', people don't like long reads!
Don't I know it…. In fact… it's weird… most of my drabbles have only 1 visitor on the 7k and below chapters… but compared to the 15 visitor one that was 10k..… and that was the Caryn entry drabble… no one gives a damn about Kairi or Yuri's thoughts…
Caryn: What can I say? I'm the star bitch ;D I told you!
It makes me almost want to give up on the drabbles just to piss you off~
Caryn: You better not! The drabbles is where I get my Flynn time! And where people will get their dose of fluff and lemons! They will boycott and leave you if you stop DX!
But those really wont come until like close to end game and end game… plus… there's only 2 watchers for both the drabbles and the main story…
Caryn: Then finish up the damn story so I can have my Flynn lemons! Ignore the readers XD
But if I ignore them, doesn't that mean I can just do Kairi drabbles and scrap you?
Caryn: BITCH YOU BETTER GIVE ME SOME BED TIME WITH FLYNN!
Justin: Thirsty much?
Caryn: YOU BET!
….They seriously want to read more about you?… I've lost my faith in humanity now… and I still have 1 last drabble to go before I can get onto the main story.
Author note: The Crack will be on hiatus while I work on the main story. Some chapters may get posted when I have time to think of crack ways to write them (Which means… I need a sugar high…), but once the chapter is done, I can then look back at the chapters and figure how to nutshell them into the crack based on the meme's my friends had me do, and make them so quick, cringy, and painful to read (yes I said painful XD).