Note: Don't jump to conclusions yet. Please keep reading until the end of the arc.
Edited: Alicio's flirting with Shana.
Chapter 39: Indecisive Feelings
After dinner, the party scattered around the mountain resort. After wandering for a while, Yuji found himself on a balcony. From there, he could see the breathtaking view of the mountain and the surrounding white beauty.
"Brr, it's cold out here," said a voice behind him.
"Hey Ike," Yuji greeted his friend. He noticed that his friend wore a very thick jacket, then realized that he himself was wearing only a T-shirt.
"You must be really lucky to have a perpetual flame for innards," Ike said as he joined Yuji.
"It's useful at times, but most of the time, I wish I never had any of this," Yuji said. "Thanks for inviting us on this trip by the way."
"It's nothing," Ike replied. "It's the least I could do for you guys. I mean, even warriors need a break every now and then."
"You've got a point there."
"And if it helps, I think you were destined to be like that," Ike said, becoming more serious. "They may have said that you got the Reiji Maigo by chance, but I have a feeling that it was actually fate."
"Fate?"
"You may not know it, but even though I'm not directly involved with you guys, I've picked up a few things. Yoshida-san told me how, in the past, you helped defeat many enemies, even some which seemed impossible to defeat. And Shana-chan also mentioned how it was the first time in ages that more than one Flame Haze made their home in the same place for more than a year, and that you were probably the glue that bound them together. And Konoe-san told us how you were the first person to fill her emptiness."
"But I could probably have done all that even without the Reiji Maigo."
"Maybe, but think about this: what would have happened if someone else, someone who wasn't as pure hearted as you, got it instead. What do you think would have happened if someone corruptible possessed the equivalent of the Holy Grail?"
"They would use it for evil," Yuji realized. "Are you trying to say that everything that happened up to now was because of fate?"
"Yeah, you're probably going to do something pretty important in the near future, something that would change everything," Ike said, leaning on the rail and taking in the view."Do you remember when Fujita-san told you your fortune that time at the beach?"
"Shana, Konoe-san and I will face great hardships that will all end when I make a great choice," said Yuji. "Yeah, it's been bugging me every now and then."
"When she first told it, I didn't get it one bit, but since that fight with Gemini, I think I'm beginning to understand. I have a feeling that choice will be a major turning point in your war."
"I didn't get the second part of her fortunetelling though," said Yuji. "Either Konoe-san or Shana will take me down a path of peace and power or hardships and destruction."
"Hey, fortunetelling isn't exactly accurate," said Ike. "I don't think choosing a girlfriend would come to something as extreme as that."
Ike sighed. "You know, just a while ago, I asked Yoshida-san to be my partner at our hike tomorrow," he said.
"The one we discussed over dinner?"
"What else? Anyway, I got rejected," moaned Ike.
Yuji patted his best friend's back. "Well, if the legend is true, then choosing a partner for this hike is pretty much the same as proposing. And the hike involved kissing at once you reach the top, right?" he said. "I'm not sure if she's ready for that."
"You say that so casually," Ike said. "Could it be that you've already kissed someone?"
Yuji just looked away. But Ike noticed that he had blushed a bit, proving that he was right.
"But I think it's not just that," said Ike. "Maybe she doesn't really have feelings for me. After all, I'm not strong or brave, I even have a weak constitution. I must be pretty useless to you guys. I should probably give up on her." Yuji couldn't think of any way to respond well to that.
"Have you decided who to go up the mountain with?" he asked after a time of silence.
"Not yet," Yuji replied. "I haven't even chosen from the three girls yet."
"You know, a lot of boys would kill to be in the position you're in."
"But if they tried that, they wouldn't stand a chance against me in a fight," Yuji replied with a smirk.
"Don't be so conceited," said Ike. "You'll never know when someone stronger than you will chase after one of them. Remember that there will always be someone better than you."
Yuji suddenly remembered Alicio, the Colorful Papillion, who seemed dangerously obsessed about Shana.
"Hey Ike, I need some advice," said the Mystes.
SnSnSnS
Meanwhile, in their room, Konoe, Shana, Ogata and Kazumi were in the middle of a pillowfight. Konoe and Kazumi went down easily, but Shana and Ogata were still at it. Feathers from the pillows littered the place.
"Come on Shana-chan, hit me with your best shot," Ogata taunted. She thought for a moment then added, "without using your special abilities."
"Haha," Shana said smugly. She charged forward and swung her pillow, but Ogata ducked the attack and swiftly slammed her pillow into Shana's face, causing the Flame Haze to lose her balance and fall on her bottom.
"Victory!" Ogata said as she struck a pose. As soon as she did so, Shana paid her back with a pillow to the face.
"Never lower your guard, even if you've won," Shana said. A moment later, the four girls laughed.
"But I was surprised, you actually managed to hit me," Shana said. "I couldn't even sense your Killing Intent."
"Of course you couldn't, this isn't a real fight," said Ogata. "And if it comes to natural reflexes, I think I might almost be on par with you. I'm a star sportsman school after all."
The four lay down on the tatami floor. After a while, Ogata spoke again.
"Hey, has Sakai-kun asked either of you to be his partner tomorrow?"
Neither one of the girls replied.
"Geez, that guy can be so slow and indecisive," said Ogata. "Eita's already asked me to go with him as soon as dinner was over. And Kazumi-chan, why didn't you accept Ike's offer to go with him?"
"To tell you the truth, having him as a consolation would make me feel bad," Kazumi replied. "And I guess a part of me kept on insisting to wait for Yuji-kun's answer, even if I didn't have much of a chance."
"Yuji-kun? Come to think of it, you two have been calling each other by your given names for some time now. I wonder what happened."
"N-Nothing happened," said Kazumi. "We just became better friends, that's all."
"Better friends huh?" Ogata said. "As I see it, your chances just increased recently."
"Huh?!" Shana said in surprise.
"Sakai-kun gets a bit depressed every now and then from having to constantly fight, and Kazumi-chan seems to cheer him up pretty well," Ogata explained.
"Wait, what about us?" Shana said, referring to herself and Konoe.
"You two are pretty important to him too, but I don't see much improvement in your relationships yet," said Ogata.
"But I kissed Yuji, that should count for something!" Shana exclaimed. When she realized what she had just said, she blushed so deeply that her face became as red as a cherry. Those around her were also stricken with shock.
"You kissed Yuji?" Konoe said. "So that was the disturbance I felt when you two were on your date."
"And you kept this from us?" Kazumi said, taking up her pillow. Konoe did the same.
"W-wait a moment," Shana said, but the two rivals already began hitting her with their fluffy weapons.
Ogata lay back and watched the girls wrestle. "That Sakai-kun seems to have become quite the playboy," she said. "Boy am I glad that Eita's not like that."
SnSnSnS
When Margery went to the small bar on the edge of the resort, she found Keisaku sitting alone, holding a glass of beer. The boy seemed to be a little tipsy, but not too drunk yet.
"When are you going to realize that you're still young for this?" Margery said, taking away his drink.
"Like you care," said Keisaku snatching it back. "What are you doing here anyway? Did you run out of sake already?"
"Actually, I was looking for you," Margery said. Keisaku suddenly noticed that the Chanter of Elegies wasn't wearing her usual attire but a purple dress instead. She also didn't wear glasses nor had her hair tied. When she was like this, she actually appeared a lot younger.
"Looking for me huh? So, what do you want?" he said, trying to feign disinterest. He then drank his beverage.
"I want you to come with me on the hike tomorrow."
Keisaku spat out the alcohol in his mouth from shock. He looked back at Margery.
"My God, you must be really drunk," he said. Margery hit him.
SnSnSnS
On her way to the bathroom, Konoe heard voices coming from the balcony on the side of the corridor. It was Ike and Yuji. The girl closed her connection from Yuji and crept closer to hear their conversation. Since she was still wearing her Ember Case, the Mystes didn't sense her presence.
"So a male Flame Haze declared war against you earlier, huh?" Ike said after Yuji had explained to him.
"Yeah, he had a really perverted look in his eyes," said Yuji, "I'm afraid he might do something to Shana."
"Can't you just scare him off or beat him up then?"
"If I harm him while he's still innocent, Outlaw might put a bounty on me."
"If you're worried that he'd do something tomorrow, then why not take Shana-chan with you as your partner tomorrow?"
"But Ike, I still haven't--," Yuji tried to argue, but Ike interrupted him.
"Sakai, do you really care about her?"
"Huh?"
"You're worried about her, right, yet you wouldn't do something to protect her?"
"That's not it, it's just that, I'm also worried about Konoe-san and Kazumi-chan's feelings."
"They're already prepared for whatever you answer will be, so don't make that an excuse."
"But Ike--."
"Sakai, for who's sake did you decide to become stronger? What was the main reason you went through a lot of hard work to become as powerful as you are now?" he asked.
"What's this all of a sudden?"
Ike sighed. "I've known you for a long time, and honestly, I didn't really see you as much of a hard worker. That's why your grades at school are just at the average level," said Ike. "But what made you work hard to train all of a sudden? What made you change?"
"I trained so I can become powerful enough to protect everyone in this city," Yuji replied.
"Wrong," said Ike bluntly. "You couldn't have had that big a goal when you first began. I'm sure there has to be a smaller initial objective."
Yuji pondered over this for a while. The answer soon came.
"I trained to become strong enough to fight by Shana's side, so that she wouldn't have to fight alone," he said. Realizing where this was going, Konoe felt anxious, and the deep emptiness in her heart began to open again.
"There you have it," said Ike. "If you cared for her so much that you were willing to change, I don't see why you shouldn't take her."
"Thanks Ike, that helped a lot. Tomorrow, I'll ask her to be my partner," a refreshed Yuji said as he was about to go back inside. "By the way, you're not useless, you're decisive and knowledgeable when it comes to relationships, two things I'm not." Ike just smiled.
Konoe hid as the Mystes passed her, still oblivious to her presence. When she came out, she saw Fujita join Ike on the balcony.
"Ike-san, I want you to be my partner tomorrow," Fujita confessed.
Ike looked surprised. Konoe decided that she had better leave them alone and snuck away.
As she went inside, she heard the reply. "Sure," said Ike.
SnSnSnS
"In the end, that idiot accepted my invitation," said Margery as she was on her way back to her room. Keisaku remained at the bar. "But he could at least pretend to be happy."
"You've been showing that kid so much attention lately," said Marcosias. "I wonder why."
"He's pretty much lost everything," Margery said. "It's the least I could do."
"You've become a lot more friendly, like Shana," Marcosias noted.
"Well, if Kei could have a more human companion, then why shouldn't I be like that? Look at how that brat and the thousand year old loli turned out by just being with that Yuji. If I could be a little bit more gentle like him, more like a human, maybe I can stop Kei's hunger for revenge and even change his mind from becoming a full warrior."
Marcosias chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Margery asked.
"Nothing, it's just that, before, you tried to avoid getting too close to that kid because you thought he'd end up like Yuri, but ever since he went off to take on that band of Denizens on his own, you decided to do the opposite. But it's not just that, since that time you ran away from home for a while, you became lonely a lot more easily, that's why you've been tagging along on these trips of his."
"I get what you're trying to say," said Margery.
"Don't deny it, my smitten princess, Margery Daw. Whenever he's not around, you just lay down on a couch washing yourself down with booze. But you're a lot more lively when he's with you, whether you're drunk or not."
"Don't misunderstand, I'm just bored without him around."
"You care for him, don't you?" Marcosias said, becoming very serious. "And you're afraid of him leaving your side. Don't think I don't know that."
Margery punched the Grimoire half-heartedly. "Shut up, stupid Marco," she muttered. "He's still a child compared to me anyway."
"You still think age matters? Take a look at the millennia-old Hecate and the young Yuji. Come to think of it, you're still in your early twenties biologically."
"Shut up," Margery said with a low voice.
"Even a little while ago, you tried to change your appearance to match his," Marcosias continued.
"Shut up."
"And don't you think Keisaku's growing into a pretty strong young man? Admit it, you've developed feelings for him, my confused lily, Margery Daw."
"I said shut up!" Margery screamed as she rammed her fist into the Grimoire so hard that her knuckle bled. Her eyes also began to water, but not from the physical pain.
"You still think it won't work out between you two, huh?" Marcosias persisted.
"Hmph! Say whatever you want!" said Margery. "Dammit, I need a drink!"
She threw the Grimoire into a nearby trash can and stormed off in the direction of her room, where she kept the liquor she had packed.
A while later, Eita passed by the same way and found the vessel. He recovered it from the garbage.
"How'd you end up in there?" Eita asked.
"The wrath of confused woman is a dangerous, yet somehow amusing, thing," Marcosias said.
"Sometimes, I think you're just a masochist," said Eita, putting the book under his arm.
SnSnSnS
Shana was on her way back to her room after buying some melon bread from a convenience store. On the way, she felt a presence suddenly come up behind her. Dropping her load, she summoned her cape and took out the Nietono Shana.
"Wait! I'm not here to fight," said Alicio, putting up his hands.
"So you're the Flame Haze I felt earlier," Shana said as she put away her katana. "What do you want?"
"I just wanted to meet with a young, beautiful and bold Flame Haze with skin like porcelain, long hair like silk, eyes like the brightest gems and a cute face no matter the expression," Alicio said as he put on his most handsome smile.
Shana blushed. "Wh-what are you talking about?" she said, fidgeting in embarrassment.
"I want you to come away with me," Alicio said.
Suddenly, Yuji flashed through Shana's mind, and she replied.
"No way!" she said. "I already have Yuji."
"That indecisive Mystes?" Alicio said with a mocking and disbelieving tone. "That's quite the sense of humor you've got. But enough jokes. Be mine, and I will give you a future full of pleasure and happiness."
He advanced towards Shana, but as he did, she raised her blade.
"If you come any closer, I'll cut you up," she warned.
Alicio smiled. "You wouldn't," he said confidently.
Suddenly, the girl darted forward. A very surprised Alicio evaded it and stepped back.
"I would, so don't let me see you again," Shana said before turning her back on him. She picked up her melon bread and went her way.
Behind her, Alicio still looked at her with lustful eyes. "Very resilient, and feisty too, but no woman has ever escaped my ultimate playboy's weapon, the illusionary world of Aphrodite, the Wonderland Dream."
SnSnSnS
In the lobby, Johan and Okami Hebito sat across each other. The latter was, as usual, smoking a cigarette.
"Tomorrow's gonna be a rough day," Johan said.
"Indeed," Hebito replied.