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.
Author's Note 2: I just realized that my dates are off (big time) for the last few chapters. And I want to clarify time wise, the 2nd chapter took place in July, thus the dance for Harvest was in September and the following chapter in november. The last chapter was supposed to be in March. I will be going back to fix these discrepancies. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you toturn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.
Bare /ber/ adjective - (of a person or part of the body) not clothed or covered.
"he was bare from the waist up"
Synonyms: with nothing on, naked, unclothed, undressed, uncovered, stripped, without a stitch on, in one's birthday suit, in the raw
1 yr after Ren Kouen arrives on samon island.
Year 1, Month 10 (April), Day 15
Koumei's POV
Koumei walked through the Village, enjoying the warmth of the mid-spring day. It had been almost a full three months since Lunaria had returned in December to the hut. And true to her word, she had taught all three of them the basics of cooking and cleaning. It was something that Koumei knew he wouldn't take for granted. In fact, he appreciated all the servants that kept the Kou Palace as clean as they did, on top of making sure the Royal family had clean laundry and were well fed.
They were smiling as he passed a few of the Village Elders sitting outside one of the small eateries smoking. The look in their dark eyes as they smoked their tobacco pipes was of contentment. It was rather lovely, and with the heat of the sun beating down on everyone, Koumei smiled and waved. Koumei was curious, though; it was oddly quiet for it being mid-day. Pausing as he looked around, Koumei realized he didn't see any kids.
Feeling concerned, Koumei made his way towards one of the women. The moment they saw him, they became silent, watching him approach. He didn't want to put them off, but he wanted to find out. Before he could speak after he came to a halt, something crashed into his legs. Looking down, Koumei saw a little girl he knew as Choma. Her gap-tooth smile as she looked up at him had him smiling back.
"Sorry, Mister Koumei," she babbled, stringing her words together. "I was going to join the other kids to see the pretty mermaid!"
A bit taken aback by what Choma said, Koumei tried to collect himself.
"Mermaid? Where would there be a mermaid?"
Stiffening and looking over his shoulder, Koumei saw Kouen and Kouha standing there behind him. And something told him he didn't want Choma to answer.
Lunaria's POV
Lunaria felt come with a sense of foreboding as she continued to swim into the depth of the sea. She didn't like the muggy heat that seemed to blanket the Island currently. It made her feel miserable and snappish, which led to her feeling like a horrible person for snapping at her friends and housemates. So, on a whim, she had taken a walk and ended up at the cove where she had first arrived. And every day for the past week had been in the water just as mid-day hit.
Twisting her body, so it laid on the sandy bottom, Lunaria looked up to the sunlight dancing on the water as it tried to break through to darker depths and illuminate the areas around her. She found it utterly beautiful, all the life that teemed under the water, both plant and animal. Well aware that over the last week, more and more people had come to the cove to see her swim, though she had no idea why. But because it was the children from the Village, she had started bringing up small things from the sandy bed to give to them.
Closing her eyes as she felt the familiar burn in her lungs, Lunaria wanted to prolong staying under the water. Because that strange foreboding feeling had her thinking that when she broke the surface, her swim time would be finished, it was aggravating to her, because since she had come back to the small hut, she shared Lunaria had a few memories return.
They left her feeling both happy and sad. Two states she was familiar with since her arrival to Samon Island. Those memories didn't show people, but there were faint words associated with the places. One was a beautiful lake in the forest, and Lunaria knew she learned to swim in it. Another was of a cabin that sat upon a hill that seemed to look out over the forest. And the last bit of memory had to do with her native tongue, it was called Latin, as well as a derivative of it that was almost a bastardized version of it.
When she talked with Kouen, Koumei, and Kouha about it, they'd asked her if she could recall who taught her the second language. When she had tried to think about it, the pain had made her fall to her knees, crying out before her world had gone black. After that, they left it alone. Lunaria knew they were glad her memories were starting to come back, even if they didn't seem important, except to her.
Shifting her body as the burn in her lungs started to become unbearable, Lunaria pushed off the bottom and swam back towards the surface and shallow end of the cove.
Kouen's POV
When the girl had said that she was off to the cove to watch a mermaid, he had a sinking feeling in his gut. And so far, his gut, or instincts, had never led him astray. So, as he followed the child, Choma, to the cove, Kouen held his brothers back, since Kouha had joined them as they left the Village. He listened in on what the older children, especially teenage boys, were saying.
Each descriptive word and phrase had his mood growing dark. There was no mistaking the person they were describing. And with a small wave of his hand, he sent Kouha to look around the rocks that line the one side of the cove. Already he knew his brother would find a pile of clothes, probably folded neatly, tucked away and unseen while he tried to temper himself as his eyes scanned the clear seawater for signs of movement.
Soon enough, a faint shadow appeared and became more distinct as it got closer. Deciding it was time, Kouen cleared his throat, gaining the attention of all the Villages youngster that didn't have responsibilities. The mixed looks of a surprise to horror had him giving a toothy smile as he lifted his free hand and pointed back towards the Village. Kouen didn't miss the looks of disappointment, embarrassment, or outright anger directed at him. But they obeyed just as a loud gasp of air was heard following a soft splash of water.
Turning his gaze back to the cove, he saw kneeling in the shallows only a few feet from him and his brothers, Lunaria looking at him with confusion on her face as her head tilted to the side. The only thing keeping her descent was her long black hair falling over her body and floating on the water around her like a dark halo. When she made to stand, Kouen heard a soft cough from Koumei as Kouha returned to his side. Giving Kouha a look, he saw him holding Lunaria's clothing.
"Yes?"
Kouen frowned at the simple, one-word question as he turned his gaze back to her. There before Lunaria stood as bare as the day she was born, no shame present at all as she stared at them, still confused. He couldn't help the heat he felt crawl up his neck and down to the pit of his stomach at the sight she made. Causing the anger he had been trying to suppress to boil over. More so, when a soft whistle of appreciation came from one of his two brothers.
"Have you no common sense?" He bit out.
When he saw her stiffen, he knew he had her undivided attention.
"I have plenty. What has your pants in a twist?" Lunaria hissed back at him, arms crossing under her breast and raising them.
Kouen fought back a groan as he tried to rein in his temper and need to protect her. But the urge to strangle even his brothers was strong. He knew Lunaria was well aware of sex, the attraction, and draw. And that she was rather blunt about it, as he found out at the Harvest Festival.
"You are butt naked, woman, and been showing every day hormonal, idiot boy in our Village what the Gods have graced you with," Kouen snapped. "How is that having common sense? You stated you were not interested in their advances, yet you show yourself... as you... Dammit, get over here and put on your clothes, now!"
He knew he was getting tongue-tied. That seeing her pale skin that never burned or tanned, glistening as the water dried on it, distracted him. Kouen made a quick mental note to take care of his own damn needs as soon as possible as Lunaria gave him a dark look before doing as he commanded her. And it seemed to make things worse as she moved with that odd grace through the water toward his little group.
"I think I might need to take some personal time tonight."
Kouen couldn't keep from twitching at Koumei's honest commentary or Kouha's grunt of agreement. He'd be having a long talk with Lunaria about why she had to wear clothing while swimming. Otherwise, she'd be leaving mixed messages to those she refuted advances from. As well as to not be called a harlot or some other derogatory term. All while trying not to hear that strange little voice in the back of his head, give appreciative comments about what Kouen was seeing.
Kouha's POV
He had no problem watching as Lunaria (now fully clothed) marched stiff back and angry before him and his brothers. Kouen had lectured her as she dressed in front of them all. He could say he was impressed, not an ounce of extra fat on her body. The way her muscles moved under her skin told him she was fit and ready for battle at a moment's notice (not that he didn't already know that).
Though he still had issues with the damn girl, he could always appreciate a good looking female body, even if it was in the category of "Don't touch unless you have a death wish." And to see his elder brother being affected just as much as he and Koumei were amusing.
"You can lose the grin, Kouha."
Pressing his lips into a thin line as he glanced up at Kouen, Kouha could see the way his brother was glaring daggers at the back of Lunaria's head. She was highly confused as to why people were so ashamed of their bodies; they always had to hide it. And why people had to wear clothing while swimming, as it made it difficult to move quickly in the water. It had him questioning what her world was like if she lived in a nudist colony. Kouen had told her that he recalled that the people of her home wore clothing.
Either way, Kouha knew with her mood as sour as it was he'd get an extra sparring match this evening after it cooled down. And if he was lucky, he could convince her to grapple instead of weapons. It would be fun to get a rise out of his brother, who seemed not to realize he was taken with Lunaria. Kouemei said Kouen was trying to deny what he felt, so he didn't get attached in case the day came that Lunaria had to leave.
That thought made Kouha frown. He respected the damn girl; they were the same age. She understood him, accepted him, and didn't ask much of him and stayed by him as a friend. A word he was coming not to like too much.
TBC!
