"Judgement" By Luke's Dragon
A/N
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Chapter 3 Reunions
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"If you don't go fishing because you think it might rain you will never go fishing ... This applies to more than fishing." ~ George Hay
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Gremio always used to take me fishing, it used to be one of his favorite activities , I could never see the attraction of sitting around for a few hours with a better than not chance of catching absolutely zilch and probably giving yourself a severe case of hypothermia. Still I always used to tag along, despite my total ineptitude at the activity, I would sit and moan the whole trip, and yeah I know I was a sulky little kid not so long ago. Gremio would just sit there without a word and he would always catch something and turn it into a meal that would always be worth the entire trip for.
Huh I wonder how long it's been since I had a proper home cooked meal. Still this inn I'm staying in is nice enough, ran by an old couple and their two kids. Apparently the girl used to help the Liberation Army, but I can't remember her, awful really but there were so many people who fought for me back then. I feel guilty that there is only a handful that I remember. Mathieu, Pahn, Gremio, Flik and Viktor who I wish I had one last chance to tell how much they all meant to me… And… And of course Kasumi who I think about all the time, Kasumi who I left behind three years ago, Kasumi who… Huh…? What the hell I've got a fish…
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Up the river in Radatt Town a party were making their way to the docks, Lord Reo accompanied by his sister Nanami and 'the beautiful knife thrower Ellie' as he had been told repeatedly to call her. Despite the fact he had pleaded with both of them that he would be fine without them he had not been able to lose them. He was also joined by Flik and Viktor, Flik had been only to grateful to tag along to escape from Nina, Viktor had been only to grateful to tag along so he could taunt Flik pretty much none stop. They were also joined by Kasumi who had originally intended to take Reo to Rokkaku alone to try and enlist support for the Dragon Army.
It would have been a nice distraction, Kasumi reflected to have gone with just Reo rather than this lot. Much as she respected Viktor and Flik's combat prowess Viktor's booming laughter could really get to a girl after awhile, although not as much as it seemed to be getting to Flik.
As for the other two members of the group… Ellie was obviously so into Reo it was funny, funnier still was the fact he wasn't half as enamoured with her. Apparently people could indeed be enamoured without any plate mail at all. Strange how some words work when you come to think about it.
Words like 'Sorry' or 'Love' just little words that could mean so much and be so hard to say. Or when people say one thing but mean totally the other, or her favorite when there was nothing to say or some much to say that you just ended up saying "…" and hoping that the other person knew what you were thinking. It was just so… confusing.
"But you know Flik if she was a few years older…"
"Shut up Viktor"
"Anyway if you looked beyond the whole age and annoyance factor…"
"Viktor I'm warning you"
"And in a few years she'll have a great pair…"
"VIKTOR!"
"…"
Said Reo not because there was nothing to say but that his sister would have clobbered him for saying either of the things that came into his head.
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You would have thought that in a fishing village such as Banner someone actually catching one stupid fish wouldn't be such a momentous event, still it strikes me as being the sort of place nothing ever happens in. I don't even know what sort of fish it actually is the only two fish I could identify are a shark or a goldfish and it certainly isn't one of them. Still my hosts at the inn have kindly, or at least it think it was supposed to be a kind gesture, whatever. Anyway we are supposed to be having it for supper tonight.
I was talking to the son of the innkeeper, a kid called Kou, he had no idea who I was, apparently he gets star-struck or something, anyway he was telling me about his hero, some kid called Reo. This guy is apparently not much older than me and has a true rune and is leading something called the Dragon Army against the Highlanders.
Huh, it sounds as though history likes repeating itself, just with a few different players. I'd like to meet this Reo kid, maybe offer him some good advice, like stay well clear of sages and true runes and to always follow your heart…
Maybe I should have followed my own advice, still back then I never knew how all this would turn out…
If I had known would I have still done the same? Would I have taken Soul Eater from Ted and consigned myself to this eternity it brings with it? Gremio and Pahn, if I had another chance would I let them throw their lives away for me? And Kasumi, maybe I should have said something, but then again I've never really been all that good with words. But nonetheless if I could change just one thing, It would be her I'd tell her that…
"Lord Hazel?"
"Huh?"
"My Lord, supper is ready"
"Oh right"
"You looked like you were dreaming"
"Yeah, guess I was"
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The following morning Kasumi and her group boarded a ship heading south towards Banner Village. Kasumi had wondered why they didn't just ask Viki for teleportation like they usually did if they wanted to go anywhere; it was after all so much quicker. Her response was as resounding "…" from Reo and Viktor turning a bright shade of red. She could see that Flik was dying to burst into fits of laughter but despite all the quips about Nina managed to bite his tongue. Totally baffled she put it down to being a 'guy thing' and decided not to worry about it anymore.
Men in the Dragon Army seemed totally insane, Reo who had powers of silence matched only by Hazel Mcdohl, Flik who had matured over the past three years but still seemed, what was the word… melancholy. Still she sort of knew how he felt, there were just some people who you didn't forget about, no matter how much you might try. Those two however were practically normal compared to some of them, Hix, Viktor and Clive being three prime examples. True she had fought alongside them on numerous occasions, but she was fairly sure she would never understand them. As for some of the new guys, well the less said the better. Of course some of the female members of the group were just as unhinged.
Still it was nice to be back fighting for something important, rather than the sheer monotony that her days had been filled with since the end of the last war. Strange to think it but perhaps here place in life was fighting. Or maybe, and this was a though she didn't like, maybe she just needed to be with people. Maybe she wasn't as good at being alone as she would have liked to say she was.
Of course the battle with Luca Blight had taught her a few things, like she wasn't cut out to be a military commander and that there were still some things that scared her. Understandable really but she didn't want to die fighting for anyone, was that a cowardly thing to say, that she didn't mind fighting it was the dying she didn't want any part of. There were still so many things that she wanted to do with her life, maybe it would be for the best if she called it a day after this was all over, no more crazy adventures no more wandering around. Try as she might to tell herself that would be a wonderful thing, Kasumi couldn't shake the feeling that something inside her was telling her that she could never give it up, even if she wanted to.
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It looks like being another quiet day, which suits me fine, I'm going to see if I can catch something else today, and perhaps more importantly I'm going to go the whole day without thinking about the past. Today all I am going to concentrate on is today and tomorrow. Because tomorrow I'm going to leave Banner for good, I'm going to head somewhere where no one has ever heard of Hazel Mcdohl and see how it feels to be ordinary. Ha! That's a good one, the only thing I was ever scared of was being just like everyone else, where no one would know my face if they saw me in a crowd. I never wanted to be like that, always wanted to make my own way being myself, and now I find I'm doing just the opposite. Still maybe somewhere far away they might need me; I could be one of those mysterious traveling heroes I always liked to hear stories about, Gremio always told me the best stories when I was a kid. Huh, guess my not thinking about the past isn't working too well is it. Right, focus yourself. I have my fishing tackle and that girl from the inn is going to stop any little kids bugging me, so today should be a nice relaxing day before I start my new life well away from here.
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The party representing the Dragon Army arrived in the port around about mid morning, they were immediately greeted by a young boy, dressed exactly like Reo who ran up to his hero and started chatting enthusiastically to his idol. The rest of the group dispersed to look around for a while, Kasumi had no intention of going with any of the others. Instead she wandered towards the back of the village, where if her memory was correct was a small lake which she could relax by until the others had grown bored of whatever they were up to.
Her way was however blocked by a young woman who told her quite firmly that she could not pass, apparently some world famous angler was busy and couldn't be disturbed. Kasumi sighed and turned away, it was annoying but there was bound to be some other quiet spot to rest so there seemed no point in causing any trouble by doing anything to the locals.
She soon located a good-looking spot, shaded under a tree and well out of the way of anyone else. Ninjas like cats can sleep just about anywhere and Kasumi was just about dozing off enjoying the feel of the unusually warm sun on her back when she was rudely awakened by being shook and shouted at.
Momentary considering disemboweling whoever it was she glanced up to see Reo and the kid looking very pleased with themselves. After calming them down enough to understand what all the fuss was about she finally gathered that according to Kou's best friends' father Lord Hazel Mcdohl himself was in the village and Kou and Reo had formed a plan to meet him. Kasumi was torn between disbelief and jubilation at the news but some how managed to contain herself. The plan was sheer simplicity, Reo and the others would hide near the lake (world famous angler her foot!) and then Kou would cry out for help.
The girl, his sister apparently would then rush off to save him and they could all run up and see Hazel. Reo, Ellie and Nanami were all thrilled to have the chance to see a real life hero, because according to Nanami they were always gorgeous. Flik and Viktor were also keen on the idea. She simply shrugged when asked what she thought of the idea, trying desperately to keep her cool.
Kasumi was however immensely grateful that Flik gave Viktor a vicious jab with his elbow as Viktor was just about to say something. Surely there was no way someone who looked like a bear and could eat and drink practically anything could have worked it out. Surely not? Regardless her heart seemed to skip a beat as they crept as stealthily as they could to their hiding spot and waited for the plan to take off.
After what seemed like an eternity they heard a young male voice crying out for help, that kid was certainly a convincing actor. Seconds later the girl ran down from her post leaving the way open, using her ninja skills Kasumi leapt forwards and sprinted up the path. Moving with both speed and stealth she was behind him without being noticed. He looked just like she had remembered, wisps of dark hair sticking out from his bandanna, and lost in concentration staring out over at the water.
Now was her chance, she had waited so long to see him again, she had to say something.
"Umm…hi…"
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Hazel Mcdohl, bearer of the Soul Eater rune, former leader of the Liberation Army and hero to thousands span around, and not for the first time in his life could say anything apart from "…". He blushed ever so slightly as he looked straight into the eyes of someone he had only that morning swore he would forget forever. Time for him to act as cool and heroic as everyone always said he was, time to do what he had promised Gremio and follow his heart.
"…Hi"