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-by SwordSkill |
| Author's Notes: There's a part of the story where Shiine longs to use his so-called Rekka Shein spell. Actually, those words come from Tasuki of Fushigi Yuugi. It's what he yells before sending off flames of fire. Just wanted to clarify that it ain't mine. |
Shiine burst into his room, his breathing ragged. He had run down the hallway from Chacha's room to his, not minding the queer looks the palace folks were giving, not caring of the sweat that bathed his back. The only thing he was thinking of was the betrayal of Chacha and Riya to him.
He hurled himself to bed, his chest heaving.
It wasn't fair, he screamed to himself. It just wasn't fair.
He tried to calm himself as he tossed and turned on his bed. But it wasn't helping. The softness of the bed was reminding him the feeling of holding Chacha: soft.
Instead, he jumped up and opened the window to his balcony. The clear, mountain air helped him take control of his shattered nerves as he took deep breaths.
He looked out to the scene, a beautiful view of the mountains and the plains, and the shimmering river that coursed through them. Maybe it wasn't so bad. Riya would probably make a good husband to her. Besides, they were best friends...
Who was he kidding? He, Shiine, was the only man fit to take care of Chacha till death did they part, and no one else. Only he had the wisdom, the talents, the courage, and not that mangy wolf.
But it was too late. Chacha had made her decision. She did not love him enough to change her mind. So he might as well forget it.
Thinking of these thoughts, he brushed the tear from his eye. It would be hard to forget them, but they had done him a great wrong.
And this, he thought distastefully as he looked at the streak of saltwater on the back of his palm. This is a sign of weakness.
He wiped it against his robe as he conjured his broom. After all that happened, he was in desparate need for a walk, and he wasn't going to suffer himself to answer questions from nosy people in the hallways.
With a puff of blue smoke, he was sailing down from the balcony to the castle's backyard garden. After safely landing on the green turf, he proceeded to walk briskly towards the part of the garden which housed a forest that led out of the castle. It was a dark, gloomy place that was rarely visited, and that was the exact reason why Shiine needed to go there. He needed to sort his thoughts and pacify the turmoil inside him alone.
"Hey Shiine!"
Speak of the devil.
Shiine stopped, not sure of what to do. That was Riya's voice. What he wanted to do was give him a good dose of that Rekka Shein spell he had just recently learned, which would enable him to reduce just about anything to ashes. But if he did, he would be in great trouble with the castle folk, and his parents.
Time to face the music.
He whirled himself to face the tall, dashing-looking, blue-haired young man who stood in front of him. "Oh, it's you, friend," spat out Shiine.
Riya had a very troubled expression on his face. "Shiine-"
"Well, for a person who's going to get married, you don't look too happy about it," said Shiine, unable to stop his sardonic tongue. "Want me to take your place?"
Riya did not look pleased but he kept his patience. "Chacha and I-"
"Oh, so it's Chacha and I treatment for me, isn't it?" lashed out Shiine.
"Shiine, shut up!" yelled Riya, who possessed a very short fuse.
"What right have you tell me that?!" flared out Shiine. "Just because you're going to be King someday soon?"
"You are really getting into my nerves, Shiine!" Riya said, struggling to keep his voice level.
"Well, you haven't been exactly my cup of tea either!" shot back Shiine.
Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, thought Riya furiously. This wasn't working very well.
"Shiine," he said, making sure his fangs weren't making any provoking appearances, "we understand why you're angry at us, but did you actually have to hurt Chacha's feelings?"
Shiine's anger was matchless. "Hurt!" he shouted. "Don't you think I hurt?! Let her wallow in her hurt; and you too! You traitors deserve it!"
That did it. Riya transformed into a handsome, full-sized white wolf, with fangs bared and claws portruding. "Calling me a traitor is fine; I understand," he growled, "but Chacha? You have crossed the line!"
Shiine lifted his index finger. "Careful, wolfboy," he sneered. "With this finger I can turn you into wolf roast, deep-fried!"
Riya paused. He knew of Shiine's tremendous power, but it wasn't because of that that he changed back to man form.
"We're being stupid, Shiine," he said quietly. "Look, I'm sorry that I won Chacha from you; I knew you really meant well for her ever since we met, but this is life. We have to move. You know this had to happen someday or another."
"Yes, I knew. I just didn't know that it would be unfair," said Shiine, glowering, but he lowered his finger.
Riya sighed. "I'm sorry."
Shiine didn't answer. He merely crossed his arms and looked away.
Riya took this opportunity. He said, "We decided that the wedding would be held tomorrow, and that you would be our best man."
Shiine glanced at him quickly. He gave an idiotic grin, then a malicious smile, then a sharp chuckle that quickly turned into maniacal laughter.
Riya's eyebrows shot up. Shiine must have really lost it!
"Me, best man?" gasped Shiine between breaths. "You're off your rocker!"
"Look who's talking," muttered Riya.
Shiine stopped laughing and a serious look came across his face. "Plain and simply, no," he said. "I'm not going to your so-called wedding, whenever it will be."
Riya looked as if he expected this. "But we're not going to have the wedding if you won't be there."
Shiine rolled his eyes. "Yeah, expect me to believe that."
"No really. You're part of us."
"Not anymore."
"Shiine-"
"No."
"But-"
"I said no, Riya." Shiine was very serious. "And I mean it."
Riya looked crestfallen. "Are you sure?"
"Never been more sure."
Riya didn't answer. Then he said, "I'm going to ask one more time. Would you please be our-"
"No!" Shiine was furious. "What part of no do you not understand?"
Riya looked at him piercingly. Then he shook his head, and said with a voice filled with sadness, "I thought you were better than that."
It hurt, but turning away, Shiine answered, "Well, you thought wrong. Now put a lid on it and leave. Please."
He heard Riya quietly walk away, and he exhumed a sigh he had been holding off. First Chacha, now Riya. What next?
He heard returning footsteps, and thinking it was Riya, he barked, "I said put a lid on it!"
"Unless you apologize to me, I'm going to turn you into a potato."
"Miss Dorothy!" yelped Shiine, quickly turning around. Indeed it was his pink-haired mentor Dorothy. Her arms were crossed and her face harbored a frown.
"I'm sorry, Miss Dorothy!" said Shiine hastily. "I thought you were-"
"Riya, I know. Everybody knows."
"How indulging." Shiine could not keep the sarcasm off his voice. "Looks like my life's an open book."
"How could everyone not know?" said Dorothy with a hint of anger. "You reduced Chacha into tears, insulted the groom, and now there won't be any wedding!"
"You actually believed that wolfboy?" said Shiine, his eyebrows arched.
"Where have I gone wrong in bringing you up, Shiine?" asked Dorothy, looking pained.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Miss Dorothy," said Shiine, groaning. "It's that Riya and Chacha that done this."
"Haven't I taught you enough of love?"
Shiine sniffed. "Don't ask me. Took you long enough to marry Seravi."
Dorothy reddened as she snapped, "Don't drag Seravi into this. Now seriously, Shiine, reconsider."
"Or else you're going to pound me, right?" said Shiine wearily.
"No. This is your decision. The only thing I'm going to pound is some sense into your addled brains."
"Well, it won't work," growled Shiine, turning his heels and stalking off. "Can't a guy get any privacy here?"
Dorothy couldn't help sighing. She knew something like this would happen, and it had just exploded in Shiine's face. She could only hope.