Chapter 50
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::Hidden Machina Village (Junks)::
"Hey, Fiora! Can a big brother ask his little sister a question?"
" ... ... I'll try." Meyneth was surprised with Dunban's sudden appearance.
Dunban wanted to know if Fiora was feeling better. "Since you had that check-up you haven't said a word about it."
" ... Thank you for your concern, but it's not your issue."
Dunban disagreed, "It is. We are of the same kin, Fiora. You're like me. You'll put up with anything and keep silent, which I see hasn't changed. We all know you lost your ability to feel. Please be honest with me."
Meyneth appreciated his concern, but there was something about Dunban that constantly bothered her. Every time she had a "brother and sister" talk it always seem to go in one specific direction.
" ... ... I'm all right at the moment. But ..."
"But?"
... I can't stand it if you're all worrying about me. Half of this fiasco is my fault ...
(*Like quite literally.*)
Dunban understood Meyneth meant about worrying. When he came back from the Battle of Sword Valley, he felt helpless for always having to depend on others.
"You were out?"
"Right ... You don't remember. Sometimes I feel like you've returned, but maybe I'm just hallucinating ... You knew better than anyone what state I was in."
Seeing Dunban and the others constantly noticing Fiora's quirks made Meyneth feel bad for putting everyone in the dark about her.
"Dunban ... ... ... ... ... I'll explain one day, but please wait until then ... ... I'm not good with words, but I am glad you still watch and care for ... 'me'."
"Of course I'm looking out for you! If I failed in my brotherly duties, I wouldn't be much of a big brother!"
Dunban was sure an interesting older brother. It felt okay to talk to him like this.
"You're not okay talking to Shulk about matters like these? I suppose I can see why, but ... if you pluck up the courage and talk to him, I know he'll be OK. He's Shulk. He's generally quite predictable."
From Fiora's memories, Meyneth saw the warmth and love of this family of two and their two friends, but as a third party, there was a something strange. Yes, Meyneth saw the attraction between Shulk and Fiora but there was a guiding force who seemed very intent on keeping them together while Meyneth had been trying to keep her distance away from Shulk. Over the course of this journey, Meyneth had noticed that Dunban was that force ... and he seemed to have a very strange obsession about it too.
She had to get him off her back about the FioraxShulk relationship, but this was Fiora's brother. How was she even suppose to do so?
" ... What is your opinion about him anyways?"
"*cough*Husbando-material*cough*"
(〝▼皿▼) ...
(╯・`Д´・)╯︵/(。□ 。 \) CHUCK!
"Ow ... I'm willing to be your personal punching bag, but whatever was that FOR?"
So even the violent Fiora way didn't work ... Meyneth was at a lost. Dunban was a force to be reckoned with ... Is this how an obsessive doting older brother is like?
::
"Man ... that hurt. You're free to dish it out on me, since we're family ... but Fiora ... have I been too hard on you?"
" ... What do you mean?"
" ... Some of our friends feel like I'm pressuring you to be my sister. That I didn't want to accept reality ... Redundant question but do you remember anything about being ... whatever you were? So at least I know you did use to 'walk on the ground' as your own being."
Of course Meyneth knew, but in order to keep this act up, for 10 mins she "tried" to dig through her memories, but the "effort" it took made Dunban to tell her to stop.
"You are blank ... even till now. I'm sorry. With you losing your sensory perception, you are more Mechon than Homs now. It pains me to see you like this ... yet I should be grateful that your life was saved by the Machina and Mechon ..." Seeing Dunban so disheartened was sad.
"If anything goes wrong, tell me right away. But enough of this soppy chit-chat. You need to get your energy up and your confidence back. Now, let's go and find our friends." Dunban immediately lightens up with a half beaten up smile.
" ... I do have a lot to say ... but until then ... Thanks Dunban!"
(You honestly seemed like you had come back for a little moment ...)
