Tenkuu no Ryuugekitai - Yubiwa
'No.'
'What? Why not? What do you mean 'no'?' he swallowed hard, wiping some sweat from his brow. The girl looked at him sternly enough to prevent further stammerings, so he instead looked at her with the most pleading expression he could muster.
'I said... no.'
'But.. but why?' he felt he was losing this battle. A battle he, personally, did NOT want to be losing.
'If we keep on going, we'll be able to reach the border by sunset. I really don't want to be sleeping on the ground tonight,' Mikyla cast a rather baleful eye at Migel's ever deepening frown. 'But if YOU want to use a rock for a pillow, by all means, do so,'
'Fine.' Migel replied shortly. A dark look on his face, he stomped down the trail, unthinking of how comfortable Dante was upon his back. If she wanted to be difficult, so be it. The only reason she wanted to get to the border was because there would be a church, not because of an inn.
Migel was tired. HE had to stay up all night keeping watch (She was more exhausted - I had to be a gentlemen about it), HE had to carry the wounded boy on his back (Why can't he just get better? He sleeps enough...), HE had to put up with Mikyla's whining (And how do you think I feel? I'm just as tired as you are!). They had been travelling all day with barely a stop for rest. She was being so selfish.
Mikyla tossed a stray dreadlock from her eye and glared at Migel's back. All day he had barely said a word to her, and she sensed he was doing all he could to not recoil from touching Dante. Didn't he understand how serious the Slayer's condition was? His blood was rotting in his very body. Didn't Migel care? All he wanted to do was stop and rest and take their time. As if she were magic, and could pull fresh bandages out of her hat every miet!
I shouldn't dwell on his bad mood, she thought. We should be there soon... then I can finally clean up. I wonder what mama would think when she finds out I'm getting married.
Because her mother wasn't dead. She had to be alive. If the three of them could escape, her mother could just as easily. This... fate of all who were born in Freid nonsense. Surely she didn't believe that! Just because you were born in Freid you had to die. THEY survived, didn't they?
Then again... Mikyla paused. Dante had been born in Basram before moving to Asturia. She was pretty sure Migel was born in Zaibach, and as for herself... Mikyla felt chilled as she recalled her mother mentioning that she had lived in the outskirts of Fanelia to the north until her father died.
That still doesn't mean some stupid phrase written in some book could really happen, she thought firmly. Why worry about it? After she and Dante were married, and he regained his strength and recovered (Because he's going to get better...), they would go looking for her mother.
Until then, she would have to glare at Migel's back as it began to rain.
*****
'So, em... what happens now?' Shanti asked, at last regaining possession of her lips. Gatti may not have to breathe, but she did, and she turned a cheek when he tried to kiss her for the hundredth time.
Like you don't enjoy it.
'We're going to be in Asturia early in the morning, so tomorrow night we'll go on a 'scouting mission' and find a church or something,' he said, stealing a quick kiss. Shanti humoured him, kissing him back, and looked down at the ring in her hand.
'But I don't have a ring for you. Don't we need two rings?' Gatti shrugged, an idiot-grin appearing, for the hundredth time, on his face.
'Dunno. Maybe we'll use something else. Maybe we'll use string!' he said with a childish giggle. 'With this string, I thee wed,' Shanti pushed his head away from her, rolling her eyes.
'You're insane. I'll figure something out,' she gave a secretive smile, and kissed him as he tried to object. Not minding at all, Gatti returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around her. In a fit of giddy spontaneity, he lifted her up and spun around, provoking a rather surprised squeak from his significant other.
The supper bell rang, putting the slightest dent in Gatti's giddiness. As he set the girl down, he gave an exaggerated pout to show his disapproval of the bell.
Shanti cocked a brow.
'Don't give me that look. I'm hungry.' Taking his hand she lead him to the door, where he pinned her against the wall, kissed her deeply, and continued on towards the kitchens.
It took all his will not to pin her against every wall they passed and kiss her again, and again, and again.
Soon, he randomly thought. What is a day compared to an eternity?
Even if that day lasted an eternity.
'Please don't grin like that, my dear. People could get ideas,' Shanti lowered her voice in a suggestive tone, squeezing his hand quickly while they walked together.
'I hope they damn well do!' Gatti crowed. 'I am the happiest guy in the world!'
***
Gatti's quiet sleep-breathing filled the air - a rather calming lullaby. At supper, Guimel's excitement about 'real food at last!' added with his own giddiness over tomorrow night had worn the Slayer out completely.
The girl watched his silhouette for a moment, captivated by the soft movements his chest made under the blanket as he breathed. She was wearing a long shirt she had found in a wardrobe drawer, and she took it partially off, leaving the sleeves on her arms. Tensing for the pain, she let her wings out.
OwwWWWww... ow, ow... ow.
The pain seemed to be getting worse. Or perhaps she wasn't doing it right. Like anyone had ever taught her.
It seemed like a waste to go through all that pain and not stretch her wings out, so the Highlander moved them around a few times, pulling at every muscle before folding them close to her body. Shanti personally thought she looked ridiculous with her wings folded, but Gatti told her that it looked very beautiful, so she left it at that. There was no arguing with him when he had made a decision.
She didn't feel like sleeping much, nor sheathing her wings. An idea randomly sauntered into her mind; an idea she was beginning to quite like. Walking over to the wardrobe, she pulled out the shrunken version of her uniform, a needle and thread, and a pair of scissors. Since she wanted to avoid waking him, Shanti sat down in a patch of moonlight from the window instead of lighting a torch.
Thus she set to work, cutting at the uniform, pausing critically, then cutting again; at one point deciding to sacrifice her dress uniform for parts. Once or twice Gatti woke and beckoned her to go to sleep. Each time she walked over, kissed him and gave the reassurance she was going to go to bed soon, truly. Then she would hold him until he fell asleep, and crept back to her work.
Shanti was determined to finish for tomorrow night, even as she shivered with cold and her eyelids weighted down upon her eyes.
Everything would be perfect tomorrow night.
*****
'Psst... are you asleep?' Migel stiffened. Surely she was talking to Dante. There was no reason for her to actually talk to him, especially since she hadn't spoken a word to him all day.
'Migel?' Right. So she was talking to him. With a short snort of annoyance, Migel gave a non-committal groan to signify he was, indeed, listening. Mikyla sat up, resting on her elbow, and looked across the room at his back.
'We're going to be in Gigas soon, right?'
'Hn.'
'Well.. how soon?' Migel shrugged.
'If we keep on stopping, it'll take longer,' Mikyla puffed up and had to bite her lip hard to keep from yelling at him. Dante was sleeping peacefully in the small bed, as he had been since they stopped in the inn. Without argument, Migel had set up on the floor, and Mikyla was forced to share it with him.
Infuriating boy!
'What is your problem?' she hissed with such vehemence Migel was surprised. 'Don't you want to see Guimel and the rest of them again? I'm not just trying to get there for me, ya know,' the girl's voice cracked. 'But if you want to take your time, then fine by me!' she flopped back down on the floor, purposely turning her back to him.
Migel exhaled sharply through his nose. Like she could ever understand! He was doing it all for her. And what if he returned to Master Dilandau? He'd be a disgrace to the Dragon Slayers for failing to capture the Dragon. He was as good as dead anyway - a poor excuse for a soldier and guymelef pilot.
So what are you going to do Migel? The voice in his head snided.
Protect Mikyla.
Protect? What for? You really think she wants you? Look at her ring, Migel. YOU didn't give it to her, did you? Idiot boy. Dante might die, but at least HE didn't fail Master Dilandau.
Migel's self-abuse continued on for quite some time until he became aware of a soft noise. He paused, and soon realized it was Mikyla trying to stop crying.
Great. Now he felt guilty. He didn't even know why, but he did.
'Mikyla...?' he whispered out before he realized it. There was a break in the sniffling, though it continued on more quietly. The chestnut-haired boy looked over his shoulder at her body. She was pretending to be asleep, and he knew it.
'I'm sorry.'
There. That should do. Migel nestled his head back onto the rolled up coat, convincing himself that since he'd apologized (for whatever he had done wrong) his concious was cleared. Attempting to drown out her sniffing, he dwelled more on his self-abuse and what he would do when they finally did reach Gigas. Mikyla would want to get married there... most likely try and find some work.
Work. There was a new novelty. Maybe he could train guymelef pilots. Or hard labour in the energist mines. He was leaning towards hard labour - his Zaibach accent would most likely be his worst enemy. Who would want to hire an ex-soldier of an army set on conquering the world?
Either way, he was going to have to try and build a life... a life away from Master Dilandau and the Dragon Slayers.
*****
'Unit 13 ready and awaiting orders, sir,' Yooi how the day had dragged on! Every single little exersize and training stance and study had begun to grate her nerves more and more, and it seemed the clock always read the exact same time no matter how many times she glared at it. She hadn't seen Gatti all day either - he said it was bad luck for a man to see his bride the day of their wedding.
And now Master Dilandau seemed to be taking his own sweet time in giving out the orders. There was the group that was to join Dilandau in making diplomatic niceties and demanding supplies and suchlike. Then there was the two triads being sent out on scouting duty to make sure dear Asturia stayed under the boot and didn't think of attacking high and mighty Zaibach. Of course, each individual Slayer had to be given orders, and those orders had to be set in ink, and copies were to be made of the orders, and copies were to be made of the copies of the orders and-
'Right, off you go.'
'Could that have taken any longer?' Shanti whined over the comm-link to Gatti and Dalet, both of whom, coincidentally, were in her triad.
'What's your hurry? You don't have anywhere important to go, do you?' Dalet grinned from the head of their 'melef formation.
'Oh, right. Ha ha. So... when do we split up with the other triad?'
'We're to stay together until sunset, whereas then we'll all split up. I'm pretty sure Guimel is going to try and chat up a few Asturian ladies, so we shouldn't be seeing him for awhile. Shesta and Viole will stay with him and try and follow their orders. Both triads'll meet up several miets before midnight, and we go home,' Gatti replied. He wished Shesta and Guimel could join him - it wasn't fair to keep his two best friends from being at his wedding. However, until the war was over, everything had to be kept secret.
Stupid war... he thought darkly. I'm sick of it getting in the way...
They did a circle of Palas, Asturia's capital, to keep themselves amused until the sun became a sliver behind the Chatal mountains. Guimel's voice came over the intercom, stating with a rather gleeful tone that he was going to 'patrol the streets' (just in case the Dragon happened to be down there, in Palas, at night).
'Right. We'll meet at these coordinates twenty miets before midnight. Don't be late!' Gatti said, allowing himself a small smile when a chorus of tired 'we won't's came back over the line.
Dalet led them a little distance away from the capital towards a cathedral in an open field. There they landed their Alseides, climbed out, and went up the stairs.
'I'll handle this,' Dalet knocked on the door, and a few moments later, a monk poked his head out, blinking tiredly out into the night.
'Hey! Are you guys open, or should I come back tommorrow?'
'Dalet!' the monk threw his arms around the Slayer, a grin on his face. 'How long has it been? I haven't seen you for ages!' the grin melted to a more serious look. 'You still attend mass in that army of yours?'
'Yeah... pray for my eternal soul everyday. Listen, can you do me a favour?' Dalet said quickly. 'We're sort of in a hurry...'
'Anything, my son. Please, come in!' The trio followed the man inside. Stroking her braid nervously, Shanti looked around in awe at the high, decorated ceiling, candles, and intricately coloured glass windows. Gatti looked at the floor, still steadfast in his desire not to see her yet. Up ahead Dalet was talking amicably with the monk.
'Marriage is it? It's a bit late at night... I wouldn't like to wake anyone up, as Zaibach isn't that popular. I could do it, if you like,' Dalet grinned, and thanked him profusely. The monk looked up at Shanti with a polite smile. 'Does my lady have anything she wishes to do before we start?'
'Er... yes, please... if I could change,' The monk - Brother Meinar, Dalet introduced him as then - nodded and bid her follow. As they walked away, Gatti blinked.
'Change? Into what?'
'Here,' Dalet threw a bundle at him, catching the ash-blond in the stomach. 'I brought this so you'll look at least a little decent,' Gatti looked at the bundle, recognizing it to be his dress uniform.
'How'd you meet Meinar?' he asked, stripping out of his jacket and putting the ankle-length, nicer-looking one on.
'I was going to be in the priesthood before joining the Dragon Slayers,' came the sheepish reply. 'Here, smooth it out a bit- there you go,' Dalet straightened the white over-coat on the jacket, the collar, and adjusted Gatti's sword. Gatti looked at his reflection in a large bowl of water and took some in his fingers to wet down his hair before beginning to pace. His boots clicked on the smooth tile floor, click.. click.. click...
'What taking so long?' he asked nervously. Dalet shrugged.
'Ladies always take a long time to get ready. It's just one of those female... things,' Gatti's pace quickened as he began to get more and more anxious. Was she reconsidering his proposal? Was she going to come out and tell him that she hadn't had time to think about it, and that it was all happening too fast and that-
'Gatti!' An elbow nudged him, hard. Beginning to retort, he caught Dalet's eye and followed it over towards a moonlit patch of floor nearby. His jaw dropped.
Shanti stood with a tiny smile, the light perfectly illuminating her soft features. Her long red hair was down - for the first time Gatti had ever seen it - pulled back at the temples into a tiny braid that connected at the back of her head, and fell down the scarlet waves and ringlets.
She was wearing a dress, a sight Gatti had also never seen before, and it took him a few moments to realize what it was - her uniform. The arms had been cut off at the base of the collar, creating a haltertop; the rest of the sleeves became long black gloves. Black leather clung snugly to curves Gatti had never imagined existed. The kilted part had been sewn together and lengthened to reach her ankles. Instead of the blue stripe that ran down the front, she had taken the white fabric of the dress-jacket and sewn it as a replacement, making the embroidered dragon motifs flow down the front of the skirt.
Dalet let out a low whistle, and Gatti could only stare as the girl walked over to him, her expression anxious.
'So... what do you think?' she asked timidly. The boy was staring at her with a stunned look in his grey eyes, his mouth slightly agape. He seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in, and his jaw worked as he tried to form words.
'You.. you look... you're beautiful,' he breathed, quite aware of the fact Dalet was shamelessly checking out his fiancée. She gave a relieved, giddy sort of smile, and it took all of Gatti's strength not to act very, very rashly.
Brother Meinar beckoned them over to the altar, and told them to kneel. He softly sang a prayer, and began to recite. Gatti's heart hadn't stopped beating like a caged bird since he had first lain eyes on Shanti, and as Meinar asked him to take out the ring, it quickened to a hard throbbing. With trembling hands he fumbled for the ring in his pocket, finally finding it and placing it on her finger.
'With... with this r-... ring, I th-thee wed,' he stuttered after the brother, looking into Shanti's eyes. When asked for the second ring, Shanti unexpectedly reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring made from a lock of her hair.
'It's not that pretty...' she said sheepishly, taking his hand and sliding the braided circle onto his finger. She repeated the words, more smoothly than Gatti, and Meinar began to say a few more words.
'Now,' he turned to Gatti. 'Do you take this woman to be your wife 'till death do you part?'
'I do,' Oh god I do!
'And do you,' he said to Shanti. 'Do you take this man to be your husband 'till death do you part?'
'Yes... I do,' she looked at him, and her smile melted his heart. Meinar intoned further,
'Then by the power of the Creator Spirit, I pronounce these two before me husband and wife.' Looking pleased with himself, the brother looked at Gatti with a twinkle in his eye. 'You may kiss the bride,'
The two looked at each other for a moment, both in a daze that this was actually happening.
'Well, go on then!' Dalet called out. With a grin, Gatti gathered the girl in his arms and leaned in close. Their lips met in the softest of kisses, strengthening slowly as they gained more confidence. At last they pulled apart, and Shanti embraced him tightly with a short giggle.
Dalet smiled, glanced at a clock, and blinked.
'I'm sorry, you two, but we have to go right now,' Shanti nodded, rushing off to the room to change into her uniform as Gatti did likewise. Dalet and Meinar patted each other on the back and exchanged a few words until the couple were ready. All three thanked the brother again and again until he bid them goodnight, and that if they should ever need a baptism performed, he was always available.
Thus they walked back to their guymelefs, the pair holding hands and staring at each other with dazed idiot-grins gracing both their faces.
***
'What's up with Gatti and Shanti? They've been quiet the whole trip,' Guimel commented. 'They talking about me?'
'Why would anyone in their right mind gonna talk 'bout you, 'Mellie?' Viole teased.
'I think they're just really tired. It'd probably be a good idea to not disturb them at all tonight,' Dalet advised cryptically. 'You know how Gatti is when he doesn't get enough sleep, and I bet Shanti's worse.
'Maa, you're right. Don't really want to have Gatti on my case,' Guimel yawned. 'Especially if he found out what I'd been doing...'
'Oh?'
'Don't make it sound like it's important,' Shesta piped up with a bored tone. 'You only got rejected by every female-esque thing in Palas...'
Dalet pretended to listen to the squabbling that ensued. Earlier that night he had felt a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Have I paid back what I owe? I nearly tore them apart... bringing them together like this... have I been forgiven?
He smiled to himself. So... this is what it felt like to be at peace.
***
Gatti closed the door behind him and, highly against the rules, locked it. He tossed the bundle of his dress-coat into the corner and fell upon Shanti like a cat on its prey; pulling her close to him and kissing her with fierce intensity. She dropped her own bundle, and they stood, holding each other in close embrace.
Shanti was still in a daze; they both were... hardly daring to believe that each had the other, and that the other was theirs forever.
She broke a kiss when the noticed the boy's hands moving to undo the belt her sword rested on.
'Ssh... it's alright,' he said with a short kiss. 'Just relax.' At her nod, he continued in his movements, unzipping her jacket and throwing it on the floor as well. He removed his own belt and jacket, then picked up his new wife and carried her over the threshold towards his bed where he lay her gently down. With more reassuring kisses, the rest of her clothes were thus removed and added to the ever-growing pile on the floor. Leaning back, the boy took in the sight of the Highlander, drinking it in to overflow. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, feeling his eyes on her various scars and cuts, and other places.
'What?' she asked nervously, his close scrutiny making her edgy.
'You're beautiful, love,' he breathed, rushing forward without warning and kissing her with a strange new passion. In surprise she parted her lips to talk, and was even more surprised when she felt a wet warmth in her mouth, on her own tongue. It was... strange. Strange, but not.
His lips found their way along her jaw, towards her ear, sending small shivers along her body.
'I'm cold,' she stated bluntly, unsure of what to do.
'Here... get under the sheets,' he said, and as she did so he rid himself of the rest of his clothing and joined her.
'Are you afraid...?' he asked when he had reached her ear again. Shanti tried to answer, but having him nibbling her earlobe was... more than a little distracting.
'I... I don't know...' she sighed, her breath shaky has she began to feel frustrated. This... whatever they were going to do. One of the other test subjects had been very crude, so she knew... but she didn't. It was frightening, almost. Gatti stopped, leaning over her with his hands along the sides of her face.
'I love you, and I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you,' Shanti's eyes widened.
'You mean it's going to hurt?' her voice squeaked in rising panic. The boy sighed and held her close.
'For a little bit, yeah... but not for that long. It'll go away, I promise, okay?'
'I-'
'It's alright, you'll be fine. Just relax, love...' he kissed her, slowly, and moved down her neck. Shanti breathed deeply, trying to relax. If he said it wouldn't hurt for long... She stiffened as she realized where he was at currently - where his lips were at. She had a thought that the particular action was something a more younger child would do... but she decided to bite her tongue.
Don't be analytical. He said to relax. So relax. Don't be analyti- what the-!
'Yes... I have a bellybutton,' she said in a guarded tone.
'You don't like that? Sorry,' his voice was muffled from being under the sheets.
'I never said I didn't...' she felt his hands on her legs - Relax... - from her knees, massaging upwards.
Relax... that feels kinda... nice, almost. Never really thought of it that way. No... don't be analytical. Don't be analytic-... ack!
A very, very strange feeling had erupted. The sensation of what he was doing... that aching sort of feeling that rose from her lower area, spreading across her entire body. Her hips involuntarily jerked.
Okay, okay... o...kay... oKAY this is... this is strange... but good. Good... good GOD this... is... strange and good...
Waves of the strange-and-good feeling were coursing through her body, and she became only dimly aware of her rapid breathing. Suddenly it stopped, and his upper torso reappeared, hovering over her.
...it's gonna hurt. She looked up at him fearfully, and he nuzzled at her neck in calm reassurance. He kissed her, again using his tongue, and she felt him move.
Alright alright... it's alright... it... SHITE... shiteshiteshiteshite... okay, okay... breathe... Shanti shook gingerly until the pain went away. She later learned that she had dug her nails into Gatti's back, so he could sympathize with her. Slightly.
There... wasn't so bad... but this. This is strange. This is... very... very... delirium. It's delirium... I can't... I can't think... What does it feel like? I've never... I don't know. I don't know... I don't... it's... good. It's good, definitely good... he's... we're connected... somehow, and it's... building... to something... building... building... build... ing...
There was no room. There was no war. There was no Gaea. There was a wave, crashing through her fragile body with violent force... a tsunami on a shore. All her senses simultaneously exploded.
There was nothing but darkness, and a sound... her breathing, and his breathing.
Not even the sorcerers and their science could have ever EVER come close to this. She was shaking. She opened her eyelids - they felt unnaturally heavy - as Gatti fell down beside her. They both lay there, catching their breath as the faint awareness of their surroundings - sheets, bed, room, the Vione - came back to them.
Gatti sluggishly moved and put his arms around her, holding her close. The girl rested her head in a perfectly shaped nook in his chest, hearing his heart beat gradually come down.
'I love you,' he whispered, kissing the top of her head.
'Love you too,' she snuggled ever closer, and the surroundings faded away again. She couldn't describe what she was feeling even if she tried. Euphoric, delirious, peace... Shanti closed her eyes, and fell asleep. For that night, that moment, there was only Gatti, and that was the only thing that mattered.
***
She couldn't sleep. There was something... something on her mind that was far more pressing than sleep. As if she could pinpoint exactly what it was. Slowly, she moved outside of the warm, protective arms into the cold air. On the most aimless whim, she dug around for parchment and a quill and began to write.
At first the words were mere characters put together without meaning, even a doodle randomly appeared. However, on a second piece of parchment, she began to write words that made sense. Words that she poured the something into, in hopes that it would get out of her mind.
'You ever get that feeling where you're sure you've met before, even though you haven't? And when you do meet this person, you feel as if you've known them for your whole life?
I think that's happened to me. I've known you for only a couple months... but I've known you for far longer than that. And even as every instinct tells me this is wrong, I can't love... I'm not human enough - a demon race- I can't help but feel that... I couldn't picture my life without you in it. It just doesn't work that way. It is so dangerous and so beautiful and wondrous to have you.. have someone close to me. Someone I can talk to, someone who'll let me hide. Hide away from the prying light and the cold tubes and liquid... Even though I'll hurt you again and again... I don't want to. I don't know why I'd ever want to. Yet...
I know I'm dying. The wings of a Draconian gradually turn from white to black as they begin to age. I don't know how long I'll live. I only pray it's long enough to spend as much time with you as I possibly can. To love as hard and as deep as I ever could... to trust someone. But I can't tell you. I can't tell you... it will only hurt you, and look at you, so happy! Is that selfish of me, do you think? To keep that little secret to myself for now?
You just cannot comprehend how much I love you! I am in such ecstasy just to have you speak to me... like I've struggled for so long just to have one kind word, and instead you gathered me in your arms and held me close, and I could hear your heart beating. Every touch, every glance, every kiss... just having you near gives me the will to live for one day longer.
I'm sorry that I'll hurt you. I know you'll be sad, but you shouldn't be. Even when I'm not here, I'm still with you. You've taken part of me to keep inside you, so that I'll always follow you wherever you go. Never forget you're not alone. One day we'll see each other again, ne? I will miss growing old with you, but I'll watch you from wherever the spirits go, so that I can see you when you're wrinkled and white-haired.
I love you.'
Shanti stopped writing and looked at the words, reading it over until the black ink dried.
I can't give him this... she thought, beginning to tear the page in half when Gatti stirred close by, murmuring at her to come back and sleep before turning over.
Brooding, she found a feather - a short black one, from a section close to her body - that hadn't disappeared the last time she stretched out her wings. She folded the letter carefully, weaving the feather through it to keep it closed.
With that, she hid the note away in her uniform, and walked back to the arms of her love.