Early the next morning Carrot arrived at the huge iron gates that protected the Restoration Place. He chose to bypass the guarded main entrance and scaled the ivy covered walls. A few seconds later he was in, running through a grove of tall evergreen trees.
"HALT!" called an authoritative voice.
Good, thought Carrot to himself.
Simon Budh stood blocking the path further up and further into the compound. He seemed very confident and sure of his fighting abilities. "Why did you sneak in, boy?"
"Boy? I'm as much a man as you, you muscle bound oaf!" Carrot spoke testily.
"Whatever. You still haven't answered my question though."
"I'm looking for someone. I have to give them something." Carrot leaned over and pretended to hold something in his hands.
"What?"
"This!" Carrot's fist struck the larger man square in the chin. The latter did not bat an eye.
"Kid, you got exactly three seconds to tell me what's going on before I lay the smack down on your candy ass!"
"I think you should know that says 'stay away from Tira Misu'!"
"Tira?" Budh asked incredulous. "Who the hell are you?"
"The name's Carrot Glace. Maybe you've heard of me."
"You're Onion's son."
"Gold star for you. Now here's a word of warning. Stay away from her. You stinking Haz Knights are all the same."
Budh's eyes narrowed to slits. "First off, I don't respond well to threats. Second, where do you get off telling me who and who not to see? Especially Tira. Aren't you the one she says is so hormonally driven?"
"Sounds like you're thick headed. I should beat some sense into your skull." Carrot noticed the huge gold discus in Budh's grasp, so he tossed away his sword. Budh dropped his weapon and faced Carrot who had taken a boxing stance. The smaller male threw a few jabs and connected. Budh grabbed Carrot's wrist, spun him around and put him in a crossface chicken hold.
"C'mon Carrot. You don't want to do this."
Budh did not want to accidentally snap Carrot's neck, so he eased his grip. Carrot viciously sunk his teeth into the larger man's forearm.
"You little twerp!" he cried out in rage. Budh speared Carrot and mounted him, raining down furious blows to the smaller man's head. Carrot's own rage caused him to reverse their positions. Carrot sat atop the larger man's chest and threw an assortment of lefts and rights.
"Alright break it up!" Padre Bran and Sister Hope pulled the two combatants apart. Carrot kept lunging at Budh, swinging and missing.
"He said enough!" Hope yelled. Despite her frail size, Hope had an unearthly vigor. She restrained Carrot with a full nelson and held him.
"Mind telling me what this is about Sir Budh?" asked Padre Brown.
"Why don't you ask Mister Glace here, Padre?"
"Glace? Carrot Glace? I knew your mother," Bran said astounded.
"Pleased to meet you, Padre," Carrot said cordially. "Sorry about the fracas, but your guy Simon here has been putting the moves on my girl."
"Your girl?" repeated Bran.
"He means Tira. I sincerely doubt it, Padre. He's the reason she left the Sorcerer Hunters to join us. Plus even if she was your girl, she's too classy for the likes of you!" Budh sneered.
Carrot broke Hope's grasp and dove into the larger man. Budh kicked him off and Padre Bran grabbed ahold of Carrot. "Is this true?" the father asked, trying to talk instead of seeing them fight.
"Actually weren't not together, but I've come to try and get her back," Carrot admitted glumly.
"I see. Sister, where is Miss Misu now?"
"She went to the river with some of the children."
Count Shamrock stood atop some rocks near the water's edge. He closed his eyes and concentrated. A blow of terror would soon be struck to the Restoration Place even at the expense of many innocent children's lives. Shamrock turned an ordinary creature into a magical monster. "Come my pet, destroy those swimmers."
A huge serpentlike shape ascended from the muddy depths. It must have reached one hundred feet in length. Its slippery body swam quickly through the murky water, downstream towards a shallow place where kids laughed and played.
Tira sat on a blanket, reading a story to little Takeshi. He spotted the huge gray monstrosity first. "Look Tirachan!" he cried. The creature generated an electrical field, its skin cackled with black lightning, a deadly offensive magic.
She spung up immediately. "Everyone get out of the water!" she hollered.
The panic stricken kids hurriedly swam to the riverbank. A surge of power swept through the water, frying four slow kids. They floated facedown, devoid of all life.
"No!" cried Tira. She flung off her red cloak and revealed her skimpy yellow and white fighting attire. With a burning anger, she took her whip and prepared to meet the watery menace.
"Takeshi, go get help! Get Simon!"
The little boy nodded and took off running as fast as his little legs could carry him. Tira showed great courage in facing the huge electric eel. A few strokes from her whip cut deep into the monster's dark skin. Thick blood poured out and colored the water. It slithered onto the land, intent on killing the remaining kids and its lovely attacker. Tira's whip coiled around a kid who was almost struck by a wayward bolt of black lightning. Instead, she pulled him out of harm's way. Tira herded the kids into a grove of trees, encouraging them to keep running. Then, she faced the eel just in time to see a huge golden discus slam into the creature's head. The impact sent a shockwave that caused tons of dirt to fly into the air and river. Simon Budh ran down the hill, ready for action. He had managed to stun the huge fish.
"Simon," she smiled. "Just in the nick of time!"
He had never seen her in Sorcerer
Hunter mode. She looked dangerous and sexy.
"And I've brought company."
Budh pointed with both arms back to where he had first arrived on the scene.
Carrot Glace rounded the bend, sword drawn, determination on his handsome
face. He usually feared monsters. Not this time.
"Carrot," she breathed, mouth open in surprise.
His sheepish grin was only momentary. "Tira look out!" he practically screamed.
She turned to see a potent bolt of lightning headed at her. Instinctively, she swung her whip at it and rolled. She didn't have time to realize it was a bad choice. The dark eldritch electricity overloaded her nervous system. She felt like her entire body was on fire. Her gaze turned to Carrot, eyes full of shock, affection then sadness. A second later, she collapsed to the ground and lay motionless.
"Tira!" Simon and Carrot yelled in unison. Budh recalled his discus for another strike only to have a hail of lightning bolts sent his way. He did a series of acrobatic moves, trying to dodge the deadly attack. Carrot, horrified at seeing Tira struck down, ran at the creature sword raised over his head. He never got close enough as a swell of dark power struck him. Instead of having the desired effect, his Zoantrophy absorbed the magic attack and activated a beast gene. The eel would pay dearly. A huge dragon rose from where Carrot had been. It tore into the eel with razor sharp claws and teeth. Carrot continued to absorb the black lightning the thing generated, making him stronger. Within seconds, the eel had been reduced to a puddle of black slime. Budh watched the spectacle in awe, never having seen anything like that before. The dragon's yellow eyes focused on the Haz Knight. Budh warily thumbed his discus. Then something weird happened. Carrot reverted back to normal without Tira's direct assistance. His love for her, the sight of her injured body indirectly triggered the reversion. Carrot knelt over her prone body, desperately searching for vital signs. He found none.
"Tira," he groaned softly, cradling her head in his arms. She remained motionless. Carrot continued to feel for a pulse, a breath, anything. Nothing.
"Don't do this!" he whispered frantically. "Stay with me!"
He remembered when the pussy cat had revived him after he had drowned. He tried the same technique on Tira. He kept it for ten minutes even as Padre Bran and a crowd of onlookers had gathered around. Carrot listened for a breath, his head buried in her chest. He refused to stop no matter how futile his efforts seemed.
"God, please!" he looked up into the heavens.
Her chest started to rise and fall, just barely.
"She's breathing!" Carrot gasped, tears of joy streaming down his face.
"Let's get her to the infirmary! Stat!" yelled Bran.
A constant vigil was kept around her bedside. She remained in a coma, barely clinging to life. The discharge from the creature had fried her nervous system. No one wanted to give up hope. The children picked flowers and arranged them by her bedside. Everyone whose lives had been touched gathered in the chapel, with Tira's room just next door. They opened a bigger door, all wanting to be near her during her last few hours of life. Padre Bran felt the need to address those assembled.
"I think in her short time here, Tira Misu touched many lives, including mine. Her caring selfless attitude inspired us all," he said softly.
"She stayed up with me when I was afraid," little Takeshi spoke. "She told me stories so I could go to sleep."
"She was the nicest, gentlest soul I ever encountered," Hope said quietly. "Her compassion, the care in which she healed, her spirit was contagious. We all aspired to work as hard as she."
Simon Budh wasn't there. He had left to take revenge on Count Shamrock. The rest of the room remained silent, equally sad and refusing to give up hope.
"Most of you don't know who I am. I knew Tira better than all of you. We grew up together, shared many memorable moments, both good and bad. Tira was like my superego, she tried to keep me out of trouble for the most part. I resented it then, but now realize it was all for my own good." Carrot stared at the ground as he spoke. "I guess I was used to her being around, I kinda took her importance for granted. She left our team a few months ago. It made me realize several things. Mostly that I can't live without her." Carrot's eyes wandered to where Tira lay, bedridden and in a coma. "And now," he said hoarsely. "She lies there dying and it's all my fault."
"Don't blame yourself," Padre Bran consoled. He put a comforting hand on Carrot's shoulder. The young man pushed it away.
Tira could hear Carrot's words. She knew she was in a coma and wished with all her heart that she could wake up. He was showing the side she fell in love with, the caring, sensitive Carrot Glace. She could not believe that he had found her. She had tried to cover her path. It also pained her to know her friends were gathered, moping for her instead of caring for the other sick and injured.
Later that night, the doctor somberly took a seat next to Carrot in the chapel. The latter had been restricted from being near her, while she was in surgery. Carrot had worn a path in the rug, pacing back and forth for hours.
"I'm sorry Mister Glace, but we tried everything. Herbs, acupunture, potions, everything to try and jumpstart her system. She's in bad shape and may not make it through the night. It's a miracle you even revived her autonomic functions on the beach."
Carrot buried his face in his hands. "Can I stay by her tonight, doc?"
The medic nodded, then put a hand on Carrot's shoulder. Carrot went to Tira's room and closed the door behind him. He took a seat at the edge of her bed. She looked like an angel in the moonlight that shone through the bedroom window.
Carrot ran a damp cloth over her forehead. His fingers caressed her silky smooth wavy pink hair.
"Hey you," he whispered. "It's me. How're you making out?"
Of course she couldn't respond.
"Sorry, it takes getting used to, me doing the talking for both of us," he said nervously. "Anyway, I want you to hold this."
He placed the locket she had given him into her small hand, then squeezed his fingers hard around hers, so she could hold it. "It's the nicest present I've ever gotten. You know, when you get better we should make more of em. Maybe give them to our friends."
He gazed lovingly at her serene face, then took a minute trying to gather the right words to say.
"I never wanted things to end up like this, you running away from us and all. I know I acted like a total jerk. Tira, I didn't know that you loved me."
He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
"Maybe I was too damn blind or something. Now I can see it, how you were always there for me, looking out for me. It's not too late. Now I know and now I want you to know. I love you too, Tira Misu. Yeah, it took me long enough to say it directly to you and maybe it sounds corny given the circumstances. I tried to tell you before you left, but.."
The slightest indication of a smile came to her lips. She could hear his words perfectly and they brought joy.
"I hope you can here me, darling."
He saw her expression and laughed in relief. She could and he started to ramble excitedly.
"When you're better I'll make it up to you. This time I'll cook you dinner and we'll even go back to the Tea Garden in that city, whatsitsname?"
He took her hand and kissed it. "Don't worry. I'll be here, I'll remain here until you get well."
A single tear ran down her left cheek. Carrot's eyes followed it, his own tears forming again. Then she flatlined and Carrot Glace lost the love of his life. He threw himself over her, sobbing uncontrollably. Despite all he had done to make amends, the fact remained: "I Love You" came too late.
The End.
Epilogue.
Carrot Glace quickly sat up in bed, eyes watery, nose runny after weeping like a baby. He looked at the wall clock which read 5pm. Had he slept the entire day away? Standing up, he noticed a small note affixed to his dresser mirror. It read, "Don't forget. The Tea Garden. 7PM sharp!"
Carrot threw on his normal clothes
and quickly ran outside. It took him a while to locate the cozy eatery,
nestled in the heart of the city square. A huge banner had been set up.
It read, "Happy 18th birthday Carrot!" Balloons and other decorations
highlighted the already ritzy place. In the middle of it all, in the outdoor
garden area Tira Misu worked, carefully arranging every little detail.
Carrot leapt over a stone wall and landed in front of her.
"Is this for me, madamoiselle?
You shouldn't have!"
"Carrot, it was supposed to be a surprise," Tira chided. "You're two hours early for heaven's sake!"
"Better than two hours late," he said with a lopsided grin. He gazed at her with his deep brown eyes, unable to stop the tears from forming.
"What's wrong?" she asked meekly. Her hand touched his shoulder.
"Nothing. Everything's so right," he said with a whisper, carefully taking off her big glasses.
"What are you doing?" she asked softly, timidly.
Carrot took Tira into his arms and kissed her. To Tira, it felt warm, passionate, and emotionally overwhelming.
"What was that for?" she asked, shocked to say the least when he let her up.
"To tell you I love you."
Maybe "I Love You" came in time after all.
Fin.