04—Incredulous
Sakura stands looking down with her eyes closed tight, pinching the bridge of her nose, frowning and sighing. Fear, anxiety, curiosity, confusion, and uncertainty mix into a powerful storm in her mind as she rapidly assesses what has led to this point. Initially, she had suspected he was some house guest. Discovering the sheathed blade strapped prominently to his waist quickly put that idea to rest and birthed something new in its place.
That he was a 'Servant', whatever that is.
Guarded because of her suspicions, she questioned him, but he denied her claims, then offered to leave. When he proved nothing like she'd heard Servants to be, her curiosity got the best of her, and she spoke out. Still, she struggles to get her thoughts in order.
Okay, so far he hasn't attacked me. He's been perfectly cordial. If he's a Servant, he's not dangerous. At least, not to me. Whatever he is, he doesn't seem threatening. What is going on here!?
"So do you?"
"Huh?"
Sakura looks up, letting her hands drop and forcing her eyes open. She waits for Taiasu, the small man in red, who stands staring up at her with his arms folded and holding his chin, to follow up his question with clarification.
He doesn't, so she does.
"Do I what?"
"Do you want me to leave? It seemed like I was upsetting you, so I thought I would." He makes a sweeping gesture at the yard and the surrounding wall. "But when I asked how, you told me to wait, so now I'm confused. I thought I was good at reading people, but now I'm doubting myself. So do you?"
He repeats his question, and she stares down at him, blinking.
"Ah… Yes. Er, no. I mean…" She takes in a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. "Maybe. I'm trying to decide if you're dangerous or not."
"Huh? Me? Dangerous?" Surprised, he looks himself over, his attention focusing on his sword. "Because of this?" His mouth wrinkles into a light grin, his surprise giving way to amusement, and he laughs. "I thought you were upset because I was here uninvited, but it was my sword? That's kind of—"
No sooner do the words pass through his lips, then he frowns, realizing the absurdity of them.
"Ah, er… No. Uninvited is one thing, but uninvited and carrying a sword… I can see it now. I'm sorry." He lets out an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
If she's worried about the sword, I could…
"Would you be more comfortable if I put it away?"
He winces as he asks the blatantly obvious question, and Sakura's eyes expand as her mouth forms into a narrow, utterly perplexed line. Despite herself, she slowly nods her head, and Taiasu returns her head nod, rubbing his face and sighing.
"Right, of course. Stupid question. Just give me a second…"
He reaches into his pack.
If she's not comfortable with the sword, I doubt she'd feel better about a lance, bow, or those great big ninja-knives.
When he brings his hand out, it's gripped around a smooth, flat, amber colored stone-like crystal. Etched in the center are three gold colored lines, each running parallel.
But this should be fine, right?
Smiling and closing his eyes, he reaches into it with his mind, attuning to it. Sakura raises her arms, shielding her eyes from the sudden, bright blue sphere of light which engulfs him. Along with the light, a swift wind whips up around his form.
In that brief, bright storm, the crystal opens to him, bestowing the knowledge, power, and abilities long practiced by the Monks of Ala Mhigo, all gathered by the generations through which the stone has passed.
Knowledge of their peerless fighting forms and styles. Power to move, strike, and react with swift and deadly precision. Ability to manipulate aether within and without, to enhance their durability, mobility, or the force of their unarmed strikes.
The light fades, and the sudden gust settles along with his cape, having been kicked up by it. Sakura lowers her arms and stares downward through eyes that cannot stop blinking.
What was that?
In his hand, he caresses the amber crystal between his thumb and forefinger, smiling fondly before returning it to his pack. He looks up at her, wearing a friendly smile.
"Really, I'm sorry about that," he says, again rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm no danger to you, I promise."
She looks him over again, her gaze gravitating toward his sword, now conspicuous for its absence.
It's gone? What?
The emotional storm within her mind loses some of its intensity. She breathes a light sigh, dulling the edge of her fear and concern, while that of her curiosity becomes keener.
What is going on? He's said he's no threat several times, and now even his sword is gone now! Is he a Servant, or isn't he? Is he dangerous or not? I have to lean toward 'not' based on everything, but is that really the safest conclusion? Even if it isn't…
She swallows against her dried mouth, finally acknowledging what she'd not wanted to since she realized it was true.
I'm just trying to find out if he did something here! He's a Servant, so he definitely could have done something, right?
Or not. She shakes her head, rationalizing her curiosity, her arms falling to her sides as she raises her stare from the ground.
"Okay, if you're no danger to me, can you answer a few of my questions, then?"
Taiasu leans his head, then smiles and nods.
"Sure, that's fine. If I can, I mean."
Her mouth falls open part way. Surprise at his willingness to indulge her enters the storm in her mind, adding its energy to the mix.
J-just like that? He's nothing like I've heard Servants to be!
A light smile warms her expression as her heart settles, her worry again losing some of its potency.
But if he's really willing to answer my questions, then let's start with the most obvious one.
"Okay. To start with, who are you?" she asks, her smile dipping. She holds her arms folded across her chest as she stares down at him.
He said he wasn't a Servant before, but if—
"Hm? Oh, I'm Taiasu. Taiasu Taruko. I'm an adventurer from Eorzea."
Her mind freezes, her light smile faltering as she struggles to keep her mouth from falling open, the edge of her surprise honing to the width of an atom.
—he just told me his name. Servants don't share their names. Grandfather told me that much. I thought maybe he'd slip and tell me about his class, but—wait, what did he say?
Her teeth click as she clips her mouth closed, holding her elbow and stroking her chin.
"Adventurer? I've never heard of that class of Servant," she mumbles under her breath. "And why would he share his name like that? Is there something wrong with him?"
"Can I ask yours?"
"Hm?"
His quiet request pulls her from her musings. She looks down, and her guard again falters as she sees him smiling up at her with his entire face.
"I suppose that's fair." She makes a shallow, yet polite bow. "My name is Matou Sakura."
She leaves out the 'pleased to meet you part.'
"Hm. Matou Sakura…" Taiasu leans his head, closing his eyes, and smiling as if sampling something sweet. "I like that. That's a really pretty name. I think it suits you well."
"H-huh?"
At his comment, her guard slips further, and she lets out a light exclamation. The sound she makes catches his notice, and he looks up to see her staring, eyes wide and head tilted.
"I just meant, you know, because you're really pretty, t—!"
Ah, you idiot!
He slams his mouth shut, his face growing red.
You just met! You don't go around saying that sort of stuff to people you just met!
"Ah, th-that is, I mean—I was just paying a compliment! It's not like I thought you were attractive!"
No, stupid! Now what's she going to think?!
"That's not to say you're not! What I meant was I wasn't attracted to you like that!"
His face burns, his unfocused eyes swirling, and his hands flail wildly with each word that tumbles from his mouth while she stares down at him, leaning her head and blinking her eyes at his display.
"But it's not like I couldn't be! But you have to get to know a person first and we just met, right?" He flaps his arms as if trying to generate lift, his words spilling faster and more frantically. "And I wasn't trying to get to know you for that reason!"
What the hells am I even saying right now!
His flailing arms blur at his sides, his face taking on new shades of red as his brain works furiously to salvage the situation.
"And I've thought lots of things were pretty! I mean, flowers, sunsets, and even lots of my lady friends too!" Suddenly, abruptly, his arms stop flailing as he folds them, holding his chin, speaking low, as if to himself. "I even liked a few of them, but it never went anywhere. How could it? I never could bring myself to say anything, and then I was always off doing something—!"
Again realizing his situation and company, his mind returns to the present. He resumes flailing his arms seamlessly, as if he'd never interjected into his own thoughts.
"But just because someone or something was pretty doesn't mean I liked them in that—!"
SHUT UP, SHUT UP! JUST STOP TALKING, STUPID!
Sakura's mouth wrinkles before pressing into a line, her eyes widening as Taiasu flops down, slamming his head into the ground.
GODS! DAMNED! EVERYTHING!
He punctuates each thought with another head-slam. Three in total.
WHY IN EVERY HELL DID I LET MYSELF BLATHER ON LIKE THAT!?
With his forehead firmly planted, the ground offers him a measure of cooling comfort, helping him to settle his thoughts and bring himself back under control.
"Ow."
He mutters a quiet complaint as he pulls himself upright, brushing the fresh dirt from his forehead and turning toward Sakura once more.
Damn it, she's gonna think I'm—?
Unsure of what he'd been expecting, it wasn't what he finds, and he's surprised to see her mouth wrinkling and her face turning red.
"Wait, I'm sorry! I just didn't want you thinking I thought badly about you, but I didn't want you thinking I thought, you know, something else! I'm sure you're a wonderful—"
She cracks. Her lips part, and…
Laughter. A delighted sound pours from her. Tears stream from her eyes as she doubles over, shaking and holding her stomach.
H-He's hilarious! Maybe he's a broken Servant?
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just… I think… Taruko-kun, I think you're reading too much into things! I didn't think you meant any of that!" She gasps her response between bouts of laughter, and Taiasu breathes a sigh of relief.
That's a relief—wait, what did she call me?
"Hey… Why're you calling me by my last name?"
She wipes the laugh-tracks from her eyes, and tries to stand upright, choking back another laugh.
"Huh? I was—!"
She freezes again. She hadn't even realized. She'd called him by his name. First or last, it doesn't matter. There's only one reason she'd have done that. The red immediately vanishes from her face, along with her mirthful smile, and she takes another quick step back.
He got me to lower my guard! Was that all just an act?! I—
Her foot slides back as she puts her weight on it, and it slips from under her. She tries to regain her balance, but to no effect, and she falls backward. Her eyes move toward Taiasu, toward his feet, which press into the ground. Her mouth goes dry, and whatever sounds there may have been, she hears only silence.
He sprints toward her.
This is it. He got me. I don't know why it was necessary for him to trick me like that. Maybe Servants derive some sort of perverse pleasure from deceiving their victims? It doesn't matter now. I'll die. He'll kill me before I've even hit the ground…
Her eyes slip closed as she falls.
Senpai… I'm sorry. I never got to tell him.
Taiasu watches as Sakura's complexion goes pale. He sees her take a sudden step back, then slip.
She stumbles backward.
Ah! Sh-she's gonna—!
Reflexively, he pushes from the ground, speeding forward and sliding around behind her. He holds his arms out, pressing his hands into the small of her back, slowing her descent to a stop. Feeling his hands pressing into her, she winces and breathes a sharp gasp. Not from pain, but from expectation. She forces her eyes to remain closed. Moments pass in silence, but the end she'd been expecting doesn't come. Instead…
"Are you alright? Can you stand?"
She peeks out from under one eyelid, looking around, and finding herself suspended awkwardly in a half-fall.
What? What just happened? I'm not dead? He didn't…?
She rolls her head, peering downward toward him as he stands under her, bracing her, trying to help her upright.
He… caught me?
She lets out an almost silent sigh of relief. The situation serves as a sort of catalyst, and in vivid detail, the past several minutes pass through her mind. His awkward introduction, the contrite apologies, his blade vanishing from sight, his repeatedly promising he wasn't there to cause problems, that he wasn't a threat, his silly over-reaction to his own words (at this, she can't help but laugh inwardly).
And now this, his moving under her to brace her mid-fall.
I still don't know what's going on here…
Finally, she rights herself, holding her head, and stumbles a few steps forward.
But at the very least, he doesn't seem like a bad person. Did I get it all wrong?
Her guard slips some as she turns around, facing him. Fear and anxiety wane, though she still clings to a small measure of doubt.
"Thank you, Taruko-kun."
She bows again, this time more deeply.
With his face still red, he looks up, blinking a few times as he lowers his hands from where he'd been helping her stay off the ground.
"Ah… Yeah, sure. I mean, I just didn't want you to get hurt."
She seems different now. Calmer, more relaxed, maybe?
He shrugs to himself.
Well, it's fine as long as she's fine, but…
"So why were you calling me by my last name?"
"Huh? Why was I—?"
She blinks a few times, looking down as he smiles a kind, relieved smile up at her.
Why did I call him by his last name? He's a Servant, right? Shouldn't he know? Grandfather didn't tell me much—he is just planning to use me to summon one, after all—but he said they're well familiar with whatever period they're summoned into. I guess I'll just—!
Before she can answer, her legs wobble, and her eyes lose their focus. She stumbles back another step, and Taiasu digs his feet into the ground, ready to move again.
"H-hey, are you okay? Maybe you should sit?"
"Ah… Right. Probably…" She surveys the house and yard, and finds a suitably smooth patch of ground.
It's not that I'm tired. Far from it, I've never felt more awake! But this is just a lot to take in. This guy…
He trots along at her back as she moves to where she'll be sitting, and she looks back at him.
Other than the sword, that light, and his strange clothing, he seems perfectly—well, okay, not PERFECTLY normal, but normal enough, if somewhat odd.
She brushes some loose dirt from the smooth spot on the ground, then sits down, breathing out an enormous sigh before taking a few more deep breaths. Some measure of doubt persists, but for now she allows her guard to remain lax as she puts on a simple, relaxed smile.
"So what you were asking about before, why I was calling you by your last name?"
He nods. "Yeah. It just seems kind of impersonal. I mean, I know we just met, but still…"
"It is. That's how we address each other here, unless people are close." She folds her legs to one side, tucking the hem of her skirt under her knees, as a proper lady should.
"Close?"
Sakura nods. "Family, close friends, and—" The young man's face flits through her mind, and she smiles, her countenance reddening. "—other things…"
I wonder if Senpai would ever act like that. I can hardly imagine.
Trying to picture it, she breathes out a soft laugh. Then she realizes something, and her face immediately burns red.
But that'd mean he'd have said he thought I was—
And impossibly redder. Oblivious for his gaze being elsewhere, up and away, Taiasu ponders her words.
"So only people who are close use each other's first names…"
Quickly, Sakura shakes her head, dismissing her silly thoughts and returning her complexion to normal. Just in time, as Taiasu turns his head down toward her, meeting her eyes with his.
"It happens on Eorzea too, but it's not as common. So I should call you—"
"Sakura," she says, a near edge to her voice. "Sakura is fine. Most people refer to me by my given name."
And I don't much care for that family's name.
It's the second time he's mentioned Eorzea. And though it catches in her ears, she pays it little mind for the moment as Taiasu continues voicing his thoughts.
"I see. If you're comfortable with it, it's fine with me," he says, smiling. "Like I said, I like your name." His face goes a subtle shade of red with his admission, but that's it. "And you can call me Taiasu. I'm comfortable with it. Or the other thing, if you prefer. But you said most people call you by your first name?"
She nods. "I think it's just the captain of the Archery Club who addresses me formally. There's probably…?"
She stops.
Wait. What's going on here? Why am I talking to him so casually? Like we're friends or something? That's ridiculous, he's a Servant and we just—
"So you must be close to many people," Taiasu says, cutting into her thoughts. "That's nice. I thought you seemed like a good person, but I didn't really have any reason for thinking that. I mean, besides you not having me hauled away in shackles after stumbling over me here in your yard. But if you're close to people, then you have to be a good person, right? I mean, unless the people you're close to aren't good people…"
He taps his chin, pondering the thought for a moment, then waves his hand, dismissing it.
"No, I don't think so. I have a pretty keen sense for these sorts of things. Like when wandering a field, it's pretty clear which beasts might get upset and attack if I get too close, and which ones are fine with me getting closer. I think you're like the latter—"
Sakura blinks, leaning her head as Taiasu diverges into tangent after tangent.
Did he just compare me to a docile beast…?
"—only pretty, and not actually a—"
For being so lost in thought, the words simply slip out and away, and he pays them no concern, though Sakura reddens again as they don't escape her notice.
How does he just say stuff like that? Wait, what's he even going on about? What did he say before? Eorzea? I've never heard of that place before. Even in history or geography. And beasts? Like in the outback of Australia or something?
"—especially after you were nice enough, even though you were so upset by my being here—"
"I think you're mistaken, Taruko-kun."
Finally, she interjects, ending his endless series of non-sequiturs. His gaze, which had been off in space, now returns, and their eyes meet again.
"Mistaken? About what?"
"A few things…" She sighs, but maintains a small, polite smile. "But one is that I wasn't acting out of kindness or politeness. I was acting out of a sense of self preservation."
"Self preserv—!"
His lips part as his eyes widen.
Right. She said she was trying to figure out if I was dangerous.
"… Of course. You thought I meant you harm." He frowns sadly, letting his gaze drop. "I remember now. I'm really sorry about that. Again."
She shakes her head. "It's fine. I'm just glad I was wrong. It seems like you were telling me the truth, at least."
Her words cause his smile to return, and he breathes a light sigh.
"I didn't want to cause trouble. But you've been nice since, right? I mean, you could still have the authorities come and take me away if you wanted, but you haven't, right?"
"Have the—Taruko-kun, that's ridiculous! You're a Servant! No police officer in the world could subdue you! It'd take an entire army!"
"Huh? Servant?" He tilts his head, blinking. "Wait, you said that before, right? What's a servant?"
"Ah—!"
Sakura gasps lightly. Her eyes widen, her hand coming to her mouth. The question, so ridiculous, makes her head swim with a thousand of her own. Taiasu notes her reaction and claps his hand over his face.
"Right, sorry. Dumb question. Of course I know what a servant is."
Her face relaxes as she breathes a light sigh.
I don't know if I should be relieved or—
"But I already said, I'm not a servant. Cooking, cleaning, I mean, I can—"
He continues, but she hears nothing, her ears ringing with his denial of her claim.
"—since I learned, but I mostly just do that stuff… huh? Sakura, are you okay?"
She stares forward blankly, face void of expression as she withdraws into her own mind, trying to figure out exactly what is going on.
"Sakura? Hey, is everything alright?" He leans forward, and she shakes her head, coming around.
"Ah… Sorry, I was just…"
That's the second time he said he wasn't a Servant. What is this? He has to be. What else could he be?! He's far too young…?
The thought, hanging just outside her mind, now moves to the fore. The brilliant flash of light, the wind shaking around him, the sword vanishing from sight. His strange clothing, his unusual, child-like appearance…
No… Perhaps he's not too young. Could he be a magus? And I still need to find out why he's here, and what he's done!
"Sorry, I just got distracted. I still had a few questions I wanted to ask, if it's okay?"
He shrugs, then smiles and nods. "Sure, I said it was. I mean, I'm here uninvited, so if you just want me to answer a few questions, it's fine with me."
"Thanks. Then for starters…?"
She hesitates.
Wait. He looks like a child, but he doesn't act like a child, or talk much like a child. And a sword? A child magus is one thing, but a child magus with a sword—oh forget it, this is getting me nowhere! I'll just—
"Are you a child?"
Finally, she blurts out her question. Taiasu bristles, frowning. Lalafell are known for their diminutive stature, child-like appearance and, as with some, their youthful sounding voice. It remains this way long after they've passed the age of maturity, and it's for this precise reason that her inquiry evokes this reaction.
"What are you saying? I'm not a child. I'm a Lalafell. I know we all look like this, but I don't like it when people…?"
His voice trails as he reads her expression, seeing her eyes widening and her brow rising partway, and his small, annoyed frown falls away.
Wait. She was being sincere? She really thought I was a—
Sakura remains distractedly centered on a particular word contained within his answer.
Lala… fell? What is that? A distinct class of—no, no, no! Again, I should just ask!
She shakes her head, trying to focus.
"Okay, I'm sorry. So you're not a child, but what's a Lalafell?"
"Ah—"
They exchange places in surprise, with him now emitting a small noise.
W-wait, what? Is she being—
"Are you being serious right now?" His tone is thick with doubt as he speaks, fully arching one eyebrow, the other pressing heavily downward. "You're asking me what a Lalafell is?"
All she can do is nod, and his sharp frown tugs against his entire expression.
If I didn't know better, I'd say she was screwing with me. Maybe she is? But I said she could ask her questions, right?
He kneads his forehead, forcing his frown into a light smile.
"Okay. Sorry, I'm just surprised someone would ask that. I didn't think there was a single country or continent on Hydaelyn where there weren't at least a few of us running around." He raises his gaze from the ground, once more meeting her eyes with his. "Well, me, I guess? I'm a Lalafell. I mean, not just me, but all of us. We're not exactly an endangered species, after all."
Time slows to a crawl in her mind as she finally pieces the puzzle together.
Taiasu has just described an entire race of people she's never seen, let alone heard of. Fair, fine, considering there are many places on the planet she's never been, so she could let that slide. Who's she to say there's not a place on Earth filled, or that had once been filled with a race of child-like adults?
And to say he's from Eorzea? Some place she's never heard of? Sure, why not? Again, she's never set foot outside Japan, so who's she to say there's not a place on Earth called Eorzea. A city or a country? But probably not a continent, unless it's something undiscovered like Atlantis.
Then the last piece falls into place.
… What did he just say? A single country… or continent… on…
Every drop of color falls away as her entire complexion pales. Her mouth goes bone dry, half turning in a disbelieving smile as she lets out an incredulous laugh despite herself, her mind wrestling with the impossible implications of the wholly assembled picture. That this person, this child-like adult man by his own declaration, who has randomly appeared in this yard, with a sword strapped to his waist. This crimson-clad creature, who denies being a Servant, and whose claims imply he's never even heard of a Servant (beyond the more mundane types, those of the maid- and man- variety), is something far more strange. Something absurd. Something unbelievable.
Something otherworldly.