Disclaimer: I do not own Magi, its story, or the characters. That right belongs to the amazing creator, Shinobu Ohtaka. I do own the idea(s) and OC's that are contained within this story. And hope that you as read respect that. Please don't use the OC's without my permission, as she has been with me since I was 6... On a different note, she and her other half are starring in another of my stories.
Author's Note: Also, I reply to all signed in reviews. Sorry to those who are guest reviewers, but do please continue to enjoy this story.
Acquire - /əˈkwī(ə)r/ (Verb) - buy or obtain (an asset or object) for oneself.
"I managed to acquire all the books I needed."
7 months after Ren Kouen arrives on samon island.
Year 1, Month 7 (December), Day 1
General POV
Silence filled the hut as all three of the boys looked at Lunaria, who just stood there staring back. But that was not what had them all staring. No, it was the small (large) black cat that sat by her side looking at them with gleaming yellow eyes. It's open mouth showing off inch-long canines. Though two of the three were familiar with the young jungle cat, which they now knew was a panther. Who had its body pressed up against Lunaria's leg, nuzzling her leg with its cheek as it stared them down.
"You… cannot be serious," Kouha exclaimed.
Lunaria tilted her head to the side as she spoke, "I am. Kida chose to stay with me, so I do not see why he cannot stay in the hut and sleep in my room?"
This had Kouha groaning in frustration. Koumei was looking horrified and amused at the same time, though the glint in his pink eyes said that he wanted to know how she knew the panther cub had chosen her. While Kouen just arched an eyebrow at her. Considering he had been back a full two days and this was the start of the third, and she just waltzed in with the damn thing.
"It is a wild beast, Lunaria! How can you want to say it is a pet? The damn thing is likely to eat you in your sleep!" Kouha hissed, smartly not yelling or going near Lunaria.
It already had its rounded ears perked forward. While they saw Lunaria's eyes narrowed and her face became stormy.
"If she wants to, let her. Her new acquisition will be her responsibility. We will not lift a finger to help her in raising or training him," Kouen said, bringing the room to half as everyone, giant cat included, staring at him.
"Kouen?" Koumei inquired.
Giving a small shake of his head, Kouen turned away and walked to his chair to sit down. With the weather getting steadily colder, even in the tropical atmosphere, it was causing him pain. Where the magoi infused prosthetic limbs attached was hurting. Something he knew he would have to live the rest of his life with.
"So, Lunaria, have you named… it?" Koumei asked, clearly attempting to put on a brave face and accept the whole situation.
"Oh, uh his name is Kida," she said, smiling as she walked further into the hut. "He told me!"
At that, all three men looked at the petite girl again wondering just what the hell she was. Because none of them could detect any lies or deceit. In fact, like always, she was far too open and honest. Leaving each of them to wonder how she even communicated with the damn thing, let alone got it tame enough that it would follow her.
Lunaria's POV
Lunaria was elated as she fixed up a small nest of spare thin blankets that were no longer used. Looking over at Kida, she smiled as he sat there in her doorway watching her. It was odd knowing on some baser level what he was thinking. It was strange. But she didn't question it. Because that would give her a significant headache. Once she finished, she looked at him and gave a sharp click sound using her tongue off the roof of her mouth — a hand patting the bundle of blankets. To have Kida stand up and pad over, sniffing the blankets before walking around her and flopping on her futon.
"Hey!" she cried out. "That is my bed. Bad Kida! This here is your bed, you silly boy!"
Her ears picked up distinctive male chuckling from out in the main room of the hut. Eyes narrowing she gave a soft growl of annoyance at the amusement that Koumei was getting out of her outburst. Though she was glad that Kouen had decreed she could keep Kida in the hut. Even if anything about her new friend was all on her own.
The way Kida laid his ears down at her growl, she frowned and wondered why he felt intimidated by her. Lifting her hand, she patted the bundle of blankets by her and meeting his eyes in a staring match. To see the giant cat take a deep breath and exhale just like a human before he stood and padded into the center of the blankets and flopped down dramatically. He was shooting her a look that told her that he was only humoring her. Making her smile, lean in and rub her face affectionately against his cheek, earning a deep rumbling purr. It was so cute, but she tempered herself from having a moment of idiocy.
"There see, you can sleep by me, not with me," she said. She was getting a flat, unamused look from him after she pulled back enough to look at him.
Satisfied, Lunaria stood up, because she now had a lot of cleaning to take care of. She hadn't been gone too long. But it had been long enough that the three men had made a terrible mess of the dishes and hut. And it was not a surprise that the Healers Gem, Nana, and Lady had not done a darn thing to help them. Those old ladies were rather persnickety and could hold a grudge when they wanted.
Koumei's POV
Kouemei watched from where he was sitting sharpening the edges of the skinning and gutting knives. Lunaria was attacking the dirty dishes with a vengeance that bordered on scary. The soft mumbles that were occasionally loud enough to be heard were rather funny. But he was a smart enough man not to say anything or laugh. Nope, he would reserve her anger and mood for his two brothers. Though, shooting a glance at Kouen who was dealing with a small dispute between two of the older villagers was smiling at what could be heard as was the two villagers.
The young woman had a bit of spunk to her that was refreshing to have back around the house. Though having her again and that male panther cub, Kida, was going to be interesting. It was apparent that the creature had taken to her. Somehow she had done something that tamed it, made it see her as the dominant in their odd little relationship. He would ask her when he got the next chance to give her either a history lesson.
Shaking his head, feeling his short hairs the nape of his neck, he felt a small pang of loss. He did miss his long hair; this was part of his self-imposed punishment for the sins of his country and his exile. It was small, but it hit his pride. A thing a lot of people assumed he didn't have. But like any child of the Ren Imperial Family, he had it in spades. Just was a lot better at masking it than anyone of his many siblings.
Glancing down at his knife, he took a deep breath and spoke, "Lunaria, would you like some help after I finish my task?"
He was doing this to be curious and shove an imaginary pointy stick into his eldest brother. He didn't have to look up to feel Kouens heavy gaze on his head. It made him smile a bit wider.
"NO! Just stay outta this area… I do not know which of you did it, or even how you burnt through a thick Iron Pot… let alone what was caked on over half of these dishes…." she said, panic in her voice. "But, I appreciate your offer of help."
He smothered a chuckle as he looked up and met Kouen's eyes, seeing them nothing but mere slits as the two villagers smartly looked away and chuckled to himself because it was evident that his brother was not just protective, though pig-headed about it, but possessive over her.
Kouha's POV
Kouha helped haul in the nets for the day. He saw the various fish in it. His keen eyes were picking out the fish he'd want to claim and take back to the hut for dinner. He was glad that Lunaria was home again where she belonged. Even if it meant he would have to deal with the obnoxious men and boys of the village and their need to try and get Lunaria's attention. It was bad enough he had to share it with his brothers, but that was something within his range of tolerating.
Though why he was so possessive of her, he was not sure. Kouha snorted as he looked at a group of teenage boys. He heard some of their commentary about Lunaria's return. Narrowing his pink eyes, he growled low in warning to them. Causing them to stop talking, look at him as he pulled the release for the net and opened it, purposefully spilling the fish across the dock. Giving a toothy grin, Kouha never took his eyes from the now frozen boys as he picked out his portion of the day's catch.
Taking these back after he gutted and cleaned them, he hoped that Lunaria's ire over the state of the kitchen and dishes had cooled. His instincts had him high tailing it from the hut that morning. She could be downright scary when she wanted to be. And having sparred with her, often, he knew she was quite capable of harming someone or causing some pain at least.
Kouen's POV
Kouen sat silently, his red gaze on the plate of seasoned and steamed fish in his lap. He had the pleasure, or rather displeasure, of being in the hut all day dealing with things. His limbs were flaring with pain. And he didn't want to snap from the pain on others. The few disputes that had been brought before him had been petty and minor — quickly resolved. He figured they just wanted to see Lunaria, making sure she was back.
A small smile curled the corners of his mouth at their reaction to the new 'pet' she had to acquire. Though if anyone asked him, Kouen would claim that it was the damn cat that had acquired her, not the other way around. And it was very possessive of her. It was barely being tolerant of either of his brothers trying to be physically close to her. It was rather funny. A good bit of comedy. Even if it did seem to be a bit problematic.
Then again, he had shared a pallet with the damn beast. It had not been too happy to have him anywhere near Lunari. Always moving and shouldering him to the point he almost fell off the woven sleeping mat.
"Kouen?"
At his name being called, he looked up to see both his brothers and Lunaria looking at him. Then realized he had just been staring at his food for a while now. Lifting an eyebrow at them, he deliberately lifted a fork full of fish to his mouth. Slowly chewing the bite as he just stared at the three of them. His brothers smiling while Lunaria just rolled her eyes and huffed before finishing her food.
"Well, we can attest that we no longer have to worry about poisoning each other," Koumei spoke up, before quickly shoving another bite of the fish into his mouth.
This had Kouha pulling a face and Lunaria frowning as she narrowed her eyes.
"That is true. I think… I should help each of you learn to cook the basics," she said stiffly.
Kouen about choked as he swallowed the bite of the tender fish. Eyes were going as wide as his brothers, who were looking at their housemate in horror. As the quick thought of whether he was glad she had returned or not. Because cooking was a woman's job, but being smart and exercising his wisdom by not saying it aloud. Though the way those odd concentric eyes narrowed, Kouen wondered if she knew what he had thought.
TBC!
