FINAL FANTASY XI
CHAPTER XIII
Reunion
It only made sense for him to be on the road again, Osamu had begun a voyage on towards his homeland of Gustaberg. From being amidst too many Elvaan perhaps, he had grown to long the company of Humes again. It was not that the Elvaan themselves were not hospitable towards him, his proper manner had seemed to deem him an appropriate outsider to find conversation among other things with. The problem was that the Republic of Bastok was just that much more hospitable that he needed to return. There was one other reason; Osamu could not stand idly by in one place when he had to retrieve the Hikeshi. Even if Zathiel might reside elsewhere, it was nice to be out and about again.
Leaving behind the friends he had just met was a bit harder than he expected. They were just acquaintances, but he had felt a bond with Elarisa that was deeper than just that. Perhaps he should have stuck around the Taru Taru village of Lenna longer, but instincts told him to set out. And as far as he was from that very place, it was pointless to turn back. The progress he made was too much to ignore; he had left the previous evening bidding a last farewell to only Torukoishi and Elarisa.
The master Torukoishi was an interesting character, mainly that his name bore eastern origin. Perhaps Osamu's brethren would know of this scholarly Blue Mage, but he would always be unable to ask them since he was on such bad terms. He was a samurai amongst naught but a clan of shadowy thieves and ninjas. A knight among the weak of will, he could press on only alone in his seemingly valiant quest. Sometimes he would look back on his leaving his mother behind, the only one of the family he left behind that he cared for. It was no consolation, he had never heard her say good bye, but then again how could he? At his birth, the sick traditions of the Kuro-sei peoples had made Osamu's father pinch the throat of the just-born child in such a way that her voice would never be used again. "The voice had been passed on, may it never be used twice in the same place."
Thoughts that reflected his partly bleak childhood made him shudder; he never wanted to go home. Certainly there was a better place to go for a final resting-place other than the place he was raised; Osamu attempted to rid himself of the horrible thoughts and clear his mind. His main priority now was attaining the crystal of his ancestor who had attained it. He felt that he was the last of his bloodline that reflected a potential worthy possessor of the Hikeshi, and to add to that; Osamu felt that the size of the Hikeshi was about the same as one would guess the Wasser-Kristall to be. He never had the chance to ask Torukoishi if there was a connection, but he could do so once he got hold of it again.
For one supposed to be clear of mind, Osamu felt that he could be a bit more empty than he had made himself, in the sense that his mind was filled constantly with speculation. He gazed over the horizon to find nothing but open fields and lush forests. There would be a short time where he crossed over a small portion of Saruta Baruta, but that would be a while from now; also the only time of the trip spent in San D'orian land. Osamu just wanted to stay in a fresh territory he had not seen much of; Ronfaure was the perfect place.
Safety seemed sure, and he continued on through the high grasses. There wasn't another person in sight, of any race. Perhaps he would see guards or soldiers of one of the factions on one of the borders to show that he had reached the end of the forest people's country, but then again that would be some week or so away. Another day would be spent traveling across the Elvaan land, and three more after that to get to the nearest Hume city of Cain. He was lucky, as were the rest of his recent acquaintances that most business was conducted a portion of the world where the three countries of the massive continent met. Most people lived here, except the peoples of Jueno.
Jueno was a southern country of ingenuity, and technically a principality of the Republic of Bastok. However the principality did find itself stationed on Taru Taru land owned by the Mithra, so it was considered a place where all of the five races could coexist. Osamu had heard recently of a new take in leadership there, a youthful representative that took heed the needs of the people and did what he was supposed to do. It was a prime ambassador whose decision seemed final, but Osamu had never made it down to Jueno ever in his life. The country where ships flew threw the sky was irrelevant if Osamu never had to travel there, unless his journeys took him there because of Zathiel.
Osamu's clouded head would finally disperse, as he heard a slight crack out in the distance. It was a bit unnerving that something had managed by him without him knowing instantaneously what it was. His first notion was to draw his sword, but then of course what if it was just an innocent who had crossed his path. It wasn't as if Osamu owned these lands, and perhaps his travels had made him take too much haste to attacking whatever moved. The footsteps were a rather interesting set, placed just over the hill and too rapid to be just one person. It had to be no more than three, because it didn't sound like a military troop of some sort. Osamu crouched down under the safety of a rock.
"Come closer... Come on. " Osamu uttered words to himself to make a target clear, and the two figures finally came over the hill. The first was dressed in loose clothing, and it seemed too familiar to be someone who wasn't looking for Osamu. It dawned on him that the Ranger he had seen for the third time in his life was out and about again after that skirmish in the bar at Rydia, the two feathers on some kind of ornament fastened above the person's ear gave the final clue. The next he had not expected as much as he might have the designated Ranger.
It was a woman, dressed in a sleeveless tunic-like shirt of some sort of light color. She also wore another light colored skirt that was down to her knees with a slight slit on each side that reached her mid-thigh; Osamu could make it out as blue. Her hair was short in the front, bangs clearly visible; yet she still had two thin ponytails behind her. They were wrapped in beads, and Osamu was pleasantly surprised to see two large ornaments at the base of each extension of the girl's hair shaped like dragons. She wore a pair of gauntlets that were a lapis color, also wrapped in gold filigree; just as he remembered. Her boots were similar, and Osamu could see that she carried a single point lance unlike the one Aadia carried with its three sections.
"Hiroto!" It was a female voice, full of vigor and youthful life. She was calling out the blood name of Osamu, and he smiled and rose from behind his cover. In some of his travels a female dragoon had accompanied him, and she had returned to him. She was a good friend to him, and it had only been in recent weeks that they had separated. She was charged with finding an Elvaan thief who had committed a few too many minor crimes in the Bastok land, and he was after a possibly similar character in search of an artifact taken from his hometown. They were the perfect travelling pair, and they got along as well.
"Lourdes! This is a nice event." Osamu waved at the two figures coming over the hill. While he still didn't know why the Ranger had come along with her, he was sure that the Dragoon had her reasons. Lourdes was a strong woman, and seeing Aadia execute her offensive feats the previous day had strongly reminded him of his friend. Now he was treated with another meeting with her, even if there was no real pretense for it.
"Certainly is... Thanks Hollis." She would nod the Ranger aside her and Osamu could assess that she had used this Hollis as a guide. It was obvious that they had met before, the incidental fashion was a bit unexpected. However, why had Hollis cooperated? Osamu would have to ask Lourdes why, but there was also a lot of other catching up to do. Overall, he was just happy to see his companion again even if the circumstances were completely left up to the wind.
"So what brings you here?"
"I've been tracking you down for about a week."
"I guess you heard what happened to me in the café?"
"Yes, and then I heard this guy was involved."
"And I helped her find you for a small fee."
"I guess I owe you a little credit, I found you trying to kill Zathiel."
"That Elvaan guy?"
"Yes, and try it on us and you'll see the same treatment I tried on him."
***
CHAPTER XIII
Reunion
It only made sense for him to be on the road again, Osamu had begun a voyage on towards his homeland of Gustaberg. From being amidst too many Elvaan perhaps, he had grown to long the company of Humes again. It was not that the Elvaan themselves were not hospitable towards him, his proper manner had seemed to deem him an appropriate outsider to find conversation among other things with. The problem was that the Republic of Bastok was just that much more hospitable that he needed to return. There was one other reason; Osamu could not stand idly by in one place when he had to retrieve the Hikeshi. Even if Zathiel might reside elsewhere, it was nice to be out and about again.
Leaving behind the friends he had just met was a bit harder than he expected. They were just acquaintances, but he had felt a bond with Elarisa that was deeper than just that. Perhaps he should have stuck around the Taru Taru village of Lenna longer, but instincts told him to set out. And as far as he was from that very place, it was pointless to turn back. The progress he made was too much to ignore; he had left the previous evening bidding a last farewell to only Torukoishi and Elarisa.
The master Torukoishi was an interesting character, mainly that his name bore eastern origin. Perhaps Osamu's brethren would know of this scholarly Blue Mage, but he would always be unable to ask them since he was on such bad terms. He was a samurai amongst naught but a clan of shadowy thieves and ninjas. A knight among the weak of will, he could press on only alone in his seemingly valiant quest. Sometimes he would look back on his leaving his mother behind, the only one of the family he left behind that he cared for. It was no consolation, he had never heard her say good bye, but then again how could he? At his birth, the sick traditions of the Kuro-sei peoples had made Osamu's father pinch the throat of the just-born child in such a way that her voice would never be used again. "The voice had been passed on, may it never be used twice in the same place."
Thoughts that reflected his partly bleak childhood made him shudder; he never wanted to go home. Certainly there was a better place to go for a final resting-place other than the place he was raised; Osamu attempted to rid himself of the horrible thoughts and clear his mind. His main priority now was attaining the crystal of his ancestor who had attained it. He felt that he was the last of his bloodline that reflected a potential worthy possessor of the Hikeshi, and to add to that; Osamu felt that the size of the Hikeshi was about the same as one would guess the Wasser-Kristall to be. He never had the chance to ask Torukoishi if there was a connection, but he could do so once he got hold of it again.
For one supposed to be clear of mind, Osamu felt that he could be a bit more empty than he had made himself, in the sense that his mind was filled constantly with speculation. He gazed over the horizon to find nothing but open fields and lush forests. There would be a short time where he crossed over a small portion of Saruta Baruta, but that would be a while from now; also the only time of the trip spent in San D'orian land. Osamu just wanted to stay in a fresh territory he had not seen much of; Ronfaure was the perfect place.
Safety seemed sure, and he continued on through the high grasses. There wasn't another person in sight, of any race. Perhaps he would see guards or soldiers of one of the factions on one of the borders to show that he had reached the end of the forest people's country, but then again that would be some week or so away. Another day would be spent traveling across the Elvaan land, and three more after that to get to the nearest Hume city of Cain. He was lucky, as were the rest of his recent acquaintances that most business was conducted a portion of the world where the three countries of the massive continent met. Most people lived here, except the peoples of Jueno.
Jueno was a southern country of ingenuity, and technically a principality of the Republic of Bastok. However the principality did find itself stationed on Taru Taru land owned by the Mithra, so it was considered a place where all of the five races could coexist. Osamu had heard recently of a new take in leadership there, a youthful representative that took heed the needs of the people and did what he was supposed to do. It was a prime ambassador whose decision seemed final, but Osamu had never made it down to Jueno ever in his life. The country where ships flew threw the sky was irrelevant if Osamu never had to travel there, unless his journeys took him there because of Zathiel.
Osamu's clouded head would finally disperse, as he heard a slight crack out in the distance. It was a bit unnerving that something had managed by him without him knowing instantaneously what it was. His first notion was to draw his sword, but then of course what if it was just an innocent who had crossed his path. It wasn't as if Osamu owned these lands, and perhaps his travels had made him take too much haste to attacking whatever moved. The footsteps were a rather interesting set, placed just over the hill and too rapid to be just one person. It had to be no more than three, because it didn't sound like a military troop of some sort. Osamu crouched down under the safety of a rock.
"Come closer... Come on. " Osamu uttered words to himself to make a target clear, and the two figures finally came over the hill. The first was dressed in loose clothing, and it seemed too familiar to be someone who wasn't looking for Osamu. It dawned on him that the Ranger he had seen for the third time in his life was out and about again after that skirmish in the bar at Rydia, the two feathers on some kind of ornament fastened above the person's ear gave the final clue. The next he had not expected as much as he might have the designated Ranger.
It was a woman, dressed in a sleeveless tunic-like shirt of some sort of light color. She also wore another light colored skirt that was down to her knees with a slight slit on each side that reached her mid-thigh; Osamu could make it out as blue. Her hair was short in the front, bangs clearly visible; yet she still had two thin ponytails behind her. They were wrapped in beads, and Osamu was pleasantly surprised to see two large ornaments at the base of each extension of the girl's hair shaped like dragons. She wore a pair of gauntlets that were a lapis color, also wrapped in gold filigree; just as he remembered. Her boots were similar, and Osamu could see that she carried a single point lance unlike the one Aadia carried with its three sections.
"Hiroto!" It was a female voice, full of vigor and youthful life. She was calling out the blood name of Osamu, and he smiled and rose from behind his cover. In some of his travels a female dragoon had accompanied him, and she had returned to him. She was a good friend to him, and it had only been in recent weeks that they had separated. She was charged with finding an Elvaan thief who had committed a few too many minor crimes in the Bastok land, and he was after a possibly similar character in search of an artifact taken from his hometown. They were the perfect travelling pair, and they got along as well.
"Lourdes! This is a nice event." Osamu waved at the two figures coming over the hill. While he still didn't know why the Ranger had come along with her, he was sure that the Dragoon had her reasons. Lourdes was a strong woman, and seeing Aadia execute her offensive feats the previous day had strongly reminded him of his friend. Now he was treated with another meeting with her, even if there was no real pretense for it.
"Certainly is... Thanks Hollis." She would nod the Ranger aside her and Osamu could assess that she had used this Hollis as a guide. It was obvious that they had met before, the incidental fashion was a bit unexpected. However, why had Hollis cooperated? Osamu would have to ask Lourdes why, but there was also a lot of other catching up to do. Overall, he was just happy to see his companion again even if the circumstances were completely left up to the wind.
"So what brings you here?"
"I've been tracking you down for about a week."
"I guess you heard what happened to me in the café?"
"Yes, and then I heard this guy was involved."
"And I helped her find you for a small fee."
"I guess I owe you a little credit, I found you trying to kill Zathiel."
"That Elvaan guy?"
"Yes, and try it on us and you'll see the same treatment I tried on him."
***