Chapter 17: Belated Conversations
Bright light flashes shining forth,
Warmness circled around the sea,
Fleshes burning, creatures' death,
A scene of havoc that all will flee.
"Control your breathing, make eye contact with the target. No, don't just stare at it. Feel it. Try to see its texture and the way that it gives off this sense of unexplainable sensation. Try to see it with your mind. Relax a little."
Arm blades slashed forward with a whoosh. An ordinary attack, but nothing more.
"I am not finished yet! Seek the power within your body, and bring it out. Let it explode with fury, power. Japas, I said seek as in seeking with your mind, not with your eyes."
Two figures rearranged their poses with awkward movements in a vast deep ocean plain. A plain called Kataz, a training ground for all new recruits. A bare landscape, with little life. The only thing in the distance was this thick, white fog moving slowly across the land. A few waterweeds grew here and there in obscure areas. The place was bathed with bright, yellowish sunrays, which was filtered by the particles floating several thousand meters above. A third figure was standing to the side, giving his two apprentices room to practice their dexterity.
"How many times to do I have to say this, Mikau, Japas? Your breathing rate is all wrong, not to mention your stance. Bring out one of your arms more close to your chest, and use the reflex of your wrist to push forward your hand."
The teacher threw down the wrinkled, brownish book with dissatisfaction. "This is hopeless. I have said it over and over again that you two must converge with the vigor inside you. All you guys have been doing is using your brute strength."
"Well, if only you can show us the moves instead of reading out the scripts to us," one of the two children sulked. "We are just kids you know?"
Sighing, the Enforcer rubbed the area between his eyes. He lifted his arms up and let them fell down to his side. "I don't know how! That's the problem. The only thing that I can do is to read and try to follow the direction stated on this piece of old junk."
Mikau retracted his blades. He slumped against Japas' shoulder. "This is hard. Harder than what I have thought before."
"You are telling me," the kid mumbled.
"How about we take a break?" Ruan asked as he walked away from the field. A long rectangular shaped reef building slowly appeared from the hazy water. His golden rings on his body glittered within the soft radiance of light.
Japas' chest heaved in and out. He was exhausted. Six hours of training, and no significant improvement since the first minute. The Zoran Hero groaned. How were they supposed to learn the fighting technique when they were in a dead lock? They tried. They really did. And Mikau was certain that he could figure out the way to use the attack. After all, he had the potential.
"How about we just quit? Even if we spent a few dozen years, we still wouldn't be able to learn it," Japas side-glanced at his friend.
Mikau didn't say anything. He stared at his hands. They were dirty, covered with dusts, scrapes and bruises from the rocks that he had been practicing on.
The teen elbowed him in the arm. "Hello? Earth to Mikau?"
Out of the blue, Mikau screamed out loud with rage and frustration. "Why couldn't we learn or at least understand this idiot technique? WHY?" He stomped his feet angrily, making small sink holes in the sandy ground.
Far away, Ruan turned around, facing the children. Eyes ample with revelation, he froze in his spot while watching the scene.
"Why. Doesn't. Our. Moves. Work?" The child continued to yell across the area. Veins bulged out significantly from his muscles. "We tried for hours, trying to make electricity to appear. But NO! Nothing came out except bubbles from our mouths!"
The water around him slowly began to wobble. Sluggish at first, then became increasingly fast. Japas' eyes were gleaming with wonderment. His fins trembled with fear and excitement. Invisible to begin with, but gradually there were faint bluish lines flickering around Mikau's body. Thinking that by making any sudden noise might disturb the young Zora's concentration, Japas was determined to stay silent until his pal could bring forth the famous attack that no Zoras could do in the recent century.
Sand started to shift away from Mikau's feet as the unforeseen power maintained its strength. More bluish lines appeared, but now they were glowing. A slight hum began to drone.
Finally, after straining for so long, the boy gave the loudest shout that he could do. Closing his eyes, Mikau swung his right arm in a wide arc. Series of scorching blue colored lightening flashed out from his fingertips and blasted across the field. Rocks exploded upon contact with series of bang. The ground shook and was baked from light brown to pitch black. Debris flew and pummeled the Enforcer in the distance. Plants were instantly evaporated under the great heat and pressure.
"Whoa!" Japas ducked when the line of death nearly singed his head in half.
Half a minute of ferocity and mayhem had passed. Mikau slumped onto the floor, gasping for breath. He coughed as his own saliva choked him. His whole body shuddered with weakness. He fell onto his back, continued to gulp down air. His eyes remained closed the whole time.
Getting to his friend's side, Japas was now concerned about Mikau. The boy was pitifully feeble, after having to spend so much energy on that amazing offensive maneuver. Ruan swam to them as fast as he could.
"What happened to him, Ruan?"
Checking the child's pulse, the Enforcer smiled with relief. "He'll be fine. He is just weak that's all. This is the symptom that was being described within the book." He picked Mikau up in his arms. He started to leave.
Japas swam with him back to the headquarter. "So, that's the thing you are trying to teach us, huh?"
Nodding, the Enforcer didn't say anything. He was struck speechless by Mikau's presentation. He moved on looking at the Zoran child's face. "It's really amazing," he whispered. "I do not know how he does it, but he did it. He has actually learned the skills in the middle of his rage."
"But I still couldn't understand the scripts," Japas grumbled. He looked up at the adult. "I want to be like him, too. You know, burning those fish and cracking those boulders."
Grinning, Ruan glanced down with his giant Zoran eyes. He sighed. "Don't worry. Like what Mikau has told me, you also have the qualifications of learning this." Then his expression hardened. "But don't you dare abusing your power once you've learned it. Otherwise..."
"I was just JOKING!"
"You and Mikau are two amazing children. If not with your obvious differences, many people would have thought that you two are twins."
One of Mikau's arms slid away from the Enforcer's grasp. Japas hurriedly grabbed it and replaced it back onto his companion's chest. The skin was cold. Somehow, Japas didn't believe that Mikau would be all right. After all, the shot of the lightening looked as if it had drained all of the teen's strength, seemingly killing him.
"You sure that this new talent is safe to use?" Japas asked with uncertainty.
Stepping onto the marble steps with lightness, Ruan headed into the building through the hole in front of him with Japas following closely behind.
"Yes," he replied after giving it some thoughts. "At least, I think so. I don't see any harm coming to Mikau, do you?"
Maybe because you are dumb and blind, Japas thought.
After instructing another Zora to help the Zoran Hero into a room to rest for the remainder of the day, Ruan and Japas sat in the main hall, eating a snack. It was four in the afternoon. There was still plenty of time. Japas didn't have to worry about his dad, considering that he could have all the free time and freedom in the world. Besides, his gullible father was out somewhere far away from Termina, doing some pointless businesses with other employers for the whole week.
"So what do you think about Mikau?" The officer tried to make a conversation after a few moments of intense stillness. A few Zoras swam passed them, but that was all.
"I think he is a very interesting and very reliable friend. He treats me as if I am his younger brother, and in return, I treat him as if he is my older brother."
Ruan gave a laugh. "Too bad that you two are not true siblings. Such a shame."
Japas lifted his legs and placed them on top of a small gray stone table. He snuggled with placate into his soft, bubbles with shark lipid guest chair. He grabbed and popped in Shell Blade meat into his mouth from a plate in front of his feet. "Yeah. I know. Sometimes," he sighed. "Sometimes I wish that he IS my brother."
The Enforcer's eyes deepened with thoughts. "But still, your behavior is different than his. Have you noticed that?"
Looking at him, the boy smiled. "Of course. But that's the way it goes. He is more of a serious type. Me, I see everything as a joke. I mean, why limit yourself like that? Won't it be more fun if you can see the world as a giant buttock that you can kick at?"
"I am sorry, what did you say?"
Dismissing the question with a wave of his hand, Japas continued, "Mikau is cool and is certainly strange. But what really makes me wonder is why do I have some of Mikau's features? Silver colored body, similar physique, some type of uniqueness such as the fins and the tails..."
"Coincidence?" Ruan suggested. It was worth a try.
Shaking his head, Japas disagreed. "Nah. Couldn't be. Still, I wonder..."
"Don't you ever consider trimming your fins? It is covering your eyes the whole time."
"No. I like it the way it is. Besides, don't you think having these fins covering most of my face, kinda makes me look more sophisticated?"
A female Zora came. She was naked, but that was expected for the older generation of the Zoran Culture. Her beautiful, rich in color fins moved with grace along with her swings of the arms, body and all. "Hello, Ruan," her voice was like the melody of the music, thus, bringing warmness into the officer's heart.
Grabbing her hand, he pulled her onto his lap. "Hello, Lynisana my dear."
Japas groaned as he rolled and closed his eyes (no one could see that anyway), and tried to have a short nap. He still kept an ear open though.
"I heard that Mikau and Japas was training with you, am I correct?" She asked as she shifted her position on her male friend's laps. "How is he? Is he all right?"
"Yes. Too bad that his body could not handle the stress. If only I can inherit some Zoran Hero characteristics, I might be able to show these two young children how to use their power appropriately," he gestured to Japas, who was trying to snore to fake his sleep.
Lynisana looked at Ruan with her eyes. The eyes were filled with love, yet, with little sadness. Ruan didn't notice it. Not at all. In fact, all of his attention was directed to her voice, her scent, her beauty, and her gentleness.
"You are beautiful," he whispered in her ears.
She tittered. Clearing his throat to indicate that he was awake, Japas yawned as he stretched.
Smacking his lips, he looked at the two Zoras in front of him. "Well, that was a nice nap. I think I'll go check on Mikau now."
"I'll go with you," Ruan volunteered hurriedly. He tried to get up from his chair.
"No, no. You can stay just right where you are with Mikau's mom," laughing, he swam away into the hallway on the right.
"Some day, I am going to choke that kid."
Lynisana propped herself in his chest. Both of them stayed in that position for a long time without moving at all.
* * *
Waking up with a severe headache and total drowsiness, Mikau swore in Ira Language (something that he had picked up at school, though he didn't dare to speak it out loud in front of other people). Why did he always have to pass out and wake up with prickly feelings on his body? He found himself lying on a cushioned seaweed bed, with squishy jellyfish skin cover over his naked body. He rolled to one side, looking out the window. The sunlight had begun to diminish. The afternoon was almost over.
Japas burst into the room and flopped himself onto the bed beside Mikau.
"Yo! How are you feeling' man?" he asked as he roughly rubbed his friend's head.
Pushing the overly active Zora away with little energy, Mikau grinned. "Better. Though I am still tired."
"Ha! Need any entertainment?"
"No, thank you. Any effort that you might try to entertain me will result in disaster."
Looking hurt, Japas groused. "Just because I have accidentally destroyed one of your most treasured artifacts in your room, but that don?t mean I will fail in other category as well."
"Believe me, I know," Mikau covered his face with his hands as he leaned onto his back, sighing with comfort.
"How in the world did you learn the attack anyway?"
Mikau shrugged. "I am not sure."
"Do you still remember how to do it?" Japas asked further on. He was interested in how Mikau would respond to his queries.
"Yeah. Isn't that weird? Somehow, it's like a very blurry cloud that is wedged in my brain being blown away by some force. When it happened, I could see clearly. I could sense clearly. I could think clearly."
"So that means you are like, dumb, stupid, before you met the Enforcer guy?"
"I wouldn't put it that way if I were you. I am not dumb and certainly NOT stupid," Mikau snarled playfully. He brought up his short arm blades in front of Japas.
"Hey, did you know that Ruan is with you mom talking in a very sweet tone?" Japas leered.
"WHAT?"
"Shhhhhh!" The boy hushed the bewildered kid. He placed a finger on his mouth. "You want them to hear you?"
Mikau grabbed his pliable pillow and threw it at Japas. The teen yelped as he fell down the side of the bed when the pillow hit him squarely in the face. A group of bubbles in all shapes and sizes appeared and floated away.
"I am so going to get out of this bed. My dad... My dad is still alive and well. She can't do this! At least, not until I get some prove that my father is dead!"
Japas crawled back onto the beddings. He leaned beside Mikau, blowing bubbles from his mouth for pure fun. "Well, I think they are okay as a couple. I mean, even your mother has to move on, you know? She can't always stay in that gruesome shadow forever. You don't even know if your father is still alive."
"Like you understand anything about how adults feel."
"Believe me, I know. I have been living in a lifestyle that you cannot possibly comprehend."
Mikau groaned. This was certainly a stupid way to end the day. After being silent for a few minutes, he flung aside his cover and got out of the bed. He stumbled a little, or rather, unable to keep upright very well in the water.
"You should rest more. We got a hell of another day of training tomorrow," Japas advised cautiously. He got up as well and helped his friend by supporting the child with his shoulder.
"I don't need anymore rest. I am fine right now."
Japas snorted. "Sure. Whatever you say man."
They swam slowly out of the room. Along the way to the main hall, a Zora said hello to them.
"Hey Japas. If you have lost someone that you love, you know, like a friend or a family member, what would you do?" The Zoran Hero looked at his pal.
"Well. I would try to see the world in a different way. Instead of grieving for the rest of your life, I would go on. I would still remember the good old times that I have had with that person. Wouldn't you agree?"
Mikau didn't say anything to that reply. When they saw Lynisana was talking with Ruan, both of them stopped to wait for the end of the Zoras' love talk. Mikau's mom was not on the Enforcer's legs anymore. She sat on a chair beside him. When she saw Mikau was there waiting for them to finish up their chat, she smiled. She waved at her son, telling him to join them. Japas gave a weird look at Mikau, who was currently moving forward with stiffness. Both children sat down on the other two chairs, directly across from the two adults.
"How are you feeling?" Ruan asked. His eyes were filled with anxiety. His right hand was over Lynisana's. Mikau paid particular attention to that.
"Fine. Just fine. You have just asked the same question that Japas had asked not too long ago," he answered with a weak voice. He stared at the officer for a minute. "So you like my mom?"
Ruan was eating another piece of Shell Blade snack when he heard the question. It was too sudden. The reaction was too big. He choked. Lynisana quickly patted his whitish, muscular back. Looking up with face all red, Ruan cleared his throat many times before answering. Japas snickered.
"Uh, well... I uh..."
Mikau gave the officer his undivided attention by staring like a statue.
"I..." Ruan breathed in a deep breath. "Yes. I like your mom, Mikau. I really do."
Lynisana blushed. Her face turned pinkish-red. She looked away with shyness.
"Uh huh. So you love my mom?"
Ruan coughed again. "You could say that." He moved restlessly in his seat. His fins were slightly erect with nervousness.
Shaking his head, Mikau was not satisfied. "That won't do. You have to tell me if you truly love her or not. Don't give me an answer that is in between."
"Mikau..." his mother started.
Mikau silenced her with his gaze. Turning his attention back to the Enforcer again, he grinned grimly. "Do you love her?" he asked a second time.
"Go on, big guy. Tell him that you really love her!" Japas whispered loudly.
The Enforcer grumbled. "Yes. I love her. Is there a point to this? I feel like as if I am on trial." Two kids at the age of ten and eleven interrogating him was more than humiliating. Then again, those two were not ordinary Zoran kids. They were far more mature than the other children at their age.
The Zoran Hero smiled. "Because I want to know if you will really take care of my mother. You know that I care for her even if I have been through all these events that had happened in these three months."
Ruan got up. He went to the boy's side. Placing his huge right hand on top of the Zoran kid's soft head, his expression was serious. "Don't worry. I love your mom, and I like you too. I'll swear to the Goddess if I have to, that I will take care of you guys."
"Including me?" Japas asked hopefully and jokingly at the same time.
"That, I have to give some thoughts." Then Ruan yelled, "What in the world am I talking about? Japas, you already have your dad to take care of you!"
"Yeah, I know. But my dad usually is not at home! I always cook for myself, alone," the teen whined.
"But that doesn't mean you have to come and stay with us! You still have your house!"
"Japas, if you like, you can come over to our home once every two weeks. I can cook your share of the food along with Mikau's if you want," Lynisana said gently.
Japas sniffed. No one except Tobieas and Mikau had been so nice to him. "Thank you. God, you are making me cry."
"Crying Tadpole," Mikau teased.
"What did you say?" Japas threatened. Mikau shunned his buddy's death glare by putting his hands in front of his face.
All four of them laughed at the same time.
~End Chapter 17~
Author's Note: Wow! This is unbelievable! A story that has seventeen chapters! Sometimes, I amazed even myself. I can't believe that I actually have the patience and the interest to continue writing this story. Do you know how many times I have considered of dropping this story? As in, stop writing because I think my plot is bad? More than fifteen times I assure you. Still, all thanks to my fellow fans (god, I love you guys!) that gave me supports.
So anywhoo, Mikau had learned the new Electric Attack (play the game if you don't understand what I am talking about). But what about Japas? Why couldn't he learn the new move also? And what's up with the similarities between the two Zoran kids anyway? It gets more exciting as the plot continues to unfold. I know that this chapter is not that exciting, but that's life I guess. :D
Oh, and for people who are interested in the development of my title page for this story, I am happy to say that I am doing the outlining of the picture right now using black ink. And after that, I think I will color it. And then I will post it on my website, which people can check at their own convenience.
Bright light flashes shining forth,
Warmness circled around the sea,
Fleshes burning, creatures' death,
A scene of havoc that all will flee.
"Control your breathing, make eye contact with the target. No, don't just stare at it. Feel it. Try to see its texture and the way that it gives off this sense of unexplainable sensation. Try to see it with your mind. Relax a little."
Arm blades slashed forward with a whoosh. An ordinary attack, but nothing more.
"I am not finished yet! Seek the power within your body, and bring it out. Let it explode with fury, power. Japas, I said seek as in seeking with your mind, not with your eyes."
Two figures rearranged their poses with awkward movements in a vast deep ocean plain. A plain called Kataz, a training ground for all new recruits. A bare landscape, with little life. The only thing in the distance was this thick, white fog moving slowly across the land. A few waterweeds grew here and there in obscure areas. The place was bathed with bright, yellowish sunrays, which was filtered by the particles floating several thousand meters above. A third figure was standing to the side, giving his two apprentices room to practice their dexterity.
"How many times to do I have to say this, Mikau, Japas? Your breathing rate is all wrong, not to mention your stance. Bring out one of your arms more close to your chest, and use the reflex of your wrist to push forward your hand."
The teacher threw down the wrinkled, brownish book with dissatisfaction. "This is hopeless. I have said it over and over again that you two must converge with the vigor inside you. All you guys have been doing is using your brute strength."
"Well, if only you can show us the moves instead of reading out the scripts to us," one of the two children sulked. "We are just kids you know?"
Sighing, the Enforcer rubbed the area between his eyes. He lifted his arms up and let them fell down to his side. "I don't know how! That's the problem. The only thing that I can do is to read and try to follow the direction stated on this piece of old junk."
Mikau retracted his blades. He slumped against Japas' shoulder. "This is hard. Harder than what I have thought before."
"You are telling me," the kid mumbled.
"How about we take a break?" Ruan asked as he walked away from the field. A long rectangular shaped reef building slowly appeared from the hazy water. His golden rings on his body glittered within the soft radiance of light.
Japas' chest heaved in and out. He was exhausted. Six hours of training, and no significant improvement since the first minute. The Zoran Hero groaned. How were they supposed to learn the fighting technique when they were in a dead lock? They tried. They really did. And Mikau was certain that he could figure out the way to use the attack. After all, he had the potential.
"How about we just quit? Even if we spent a few dozen years, we still wouldn't be able to learn it," Japas side-glanced at his friend.
Mikau didn't say anything. He stared at his hands. They were dirty, covered with dusts, scrapes and bruises from the rocks that he had been practicing on.
The teen elbowed him in the arm. "Hello? Earth to Mikau?"
Out of the blue, Mikau screamed out loud with rage and frustration. "Why couldn't we learn or at least understand this idiot technique? WHY?" He stomped his feet angrily, making small sink holes in the sandy ground.
Far away, Ruan turned around, facing the children. Eyes ample with revelation, he froze in his spot while watching the scene.
"Why. Doesn't. Our. Moves. Work?" The child continued to yell across the area. Veins bulged out significantly from his muscles. "We tried for hours, trying to make electricity to appear. But NO! Nothing came out except bubbles from our mouths!"
The water around him slowly began to wobble. Sluggish at first, then became increasingly fast. Japas' eyes were gleaming with wonderment. His fins trembled with fear and excitement. Invisible to begin with, but gradually there were faint bluish lines flickering around Mikau's body. Thinking that by making any sudden noise might disturb the young Zora's concentration, Japas was determined to stay silent until his pal could bring forth the famous attack that no Zoras could do in the recent century.
Sand started to shift away from Mikau's feet as the unforeseen power maintained its strength. More bluish lines appeared, but now they were glowing. A slight hum began to drone.
Finally, after straining for so long, the boy gave the loudest shout that he could do. Closing his eyes, Mikau swung his right arm in a wide arc. Series of scorching blue colored lightening flashed out from his fingertips and blasted across the field. Rocks exploded upon contact with series of bang. The ground shook and was baked from light brown to pitch black. Debris flew and pummeled the Enforcer in the distance. Plants were instantly evaporated under the great heat and pressure.
"Whoa!" Japas ducked when the line of death nearly singed his head in half.
Half a minute of ferocity and mayhem had passed. Mikau slumped onto the floor, gasping for breath. He coughed as his own saliva choked him. His whole body shuddered with weakness. He fell onto his back, continued to gulp down air. His eyes remained closed the whole time.
Getting to his friend's side, Japas was now concerned about Mikau. The boy was pitifully feeble, after having to spend so much energy on that amazing offensive maneuver. Ruan swam to them as fast as he could.
"What happened to him, Ruan?"
Checking the child's pulse, the Enforcer smiled with relief. "He'll be fine. He is just weak that's all. This is the symptom that was being described within the book." He picked Mikau up in his arms. He started to leave.
Japas swam with him back to the headquarter. "So, that's the thing you are trying to teach us, huh?"
Nodding, the Enforcer didn't say anything. He was struck speechless by Mikau's presentation. He moved on looking at the Zoran child's face. "It's really amazing," he whispered. "I do not know how he does it, but he did it. He has actually learned the skills in the middle of his rage."
"But I still couldn't understand the scripts," Japas grumbled. He looked up at the adult. "I want to be like him, too. You know, burning those fish and cracking those boulders."
Grinning, Ruan glanced down with his giant Zoran eyes. He sighed. "Don't worry. Like what Mikau has told me, you also have the qualifications of learning this." Then his expression hardened. "But don't you dare abusing your power once you've learned it. Otherwise..."
"I was just JOKING!"
"You and Mikau are two amazing children. If not with your obvious differences, many people would have thought that you two are twins."
One of Mikau's arms slid away from the Enforcer's grasp. Japas hurriedly grabbed it and replaced it back onto his companion's chest. The skin was cold. Somehow, Japas didn't believe that Mikau would be all right. After all, the shot of the lightening looked as if it had drained all of the teen's strength, seemingly killing him.
"You sure that this new talent is safe to use?" Japas asked with uncertainty.
Stepping onto the marble steps with lightness, Ruan headed into the building through the hole in front of him with Japas following closely behind.
"Yes," he replied after giving it some thoughts. "At least, I think so. I don't see any harm coming to Mikau, do you?"
Maybe because you are dumb and blind, Japas thought.
After instructing another Zora to help the Zoran Hero into a room to rest for the remainder of the day, Ruan and Japas sat in the main hall, eating a snack. It was four in the afternoon. There was still plenty of time. Japas didn't have to worry about his dad, considering that he could have all the free time and freedom in the world. Besides, his gullible father was out somewhere far away from Termina, doing some pointless businesses with other employers for the whole week.
"So what do you think about Mikau?" The officer tried to make a conversation after a few moments of intense stillness. A few Zoras swam passed them, but that was all.
"I think he is a very interesting and very reliable friend. He treats me as if I am his younger brother, and in return, I treat him as if he is my older brother."
Ruan gave a laugh. "Too bad that you two are not true siblings. Such a shame."
Japas lifted his legs and placed them on top of a small gray stone table. He snuggled with placate into his soft, bubbles with shark lipid guest chair. He grabbed and popped in Shell Blade meat into his mouth from a plate in front of his feet. "Yeah. I know. Sometimes," he sighed. "Sometimes I wish that he IS my brother."
The Enforcer's eyes deepened with thoughts. "But still, your behavior is different than his. Have you noticed that?"
Looking at him, the boy smiled. "Of course. But that's the way it goes. He is more of a serious type. Me, I see everything as a joke. I mean, why limit yourself like that? Won't it be more fun if you can see the world as a giant buttock that you can kick at?"
"I am sorry, what did you say?"
Dismissing the question with a wave of his hand, Japas continued, "Mikau is cool and is certainly strange. But what really makes me wonder is why do I have some of Mikau's features? Silver colored body, similar physique, some type of uniqueness such as the fins and the tails..."
"Coincidence?" Ruan suggested. It was worth a try.
Shaking his head, Japas disagreed. "Nah. Couldn't be. Still, I wonder..."
"Don't you ever consider trimming your fins? It is covering your eyes the whole time."
"No. I like it the way it is. Besides, don't you think having these fins covering most of my face, kinda makes me look more sophisticated?"
A female Zora came. She was naked, but that was expected for the older generation of the Zoran Culture. Her beautiful, rich in color fins moved with grace along with her swings of the arms, body and all. "Hello, Ruan," her voice was like the melody of the music, thus, bringing warmness into the officer's heart.
Grabbing her hand, he pulled her onto his lap. "Hello, Lynisana my dear."
Japas groaned as he rolled and closed his eyes (no one could see that anyway), and tried to have a short nap. He still kept an ear open though.
"I heard that Mikau and Japas was training with you, am I correct?" She asked as she shifted her position on her male friend's laps. "How is he? Is he all right?"
"Yes. Too bad that his body could not handle the stress. If only I can inherit some Zoran Hero characteristics, I might be able to show these two young children how to use their power appropriately," he gestured to Japas, who was trying to snore to fake his sleep.
Lynisana looked at Ruan with her eyes. The eyes were filled with love, yet, with little sadness. Ruan didn't notice it. Not at all. In fact, all of his attention was directed to her voice, her scent, her beauty, and her gentleness.
"You are beautiful," he whispered in her ears.
She tittered. Clearing his throat to indicate that he was awake, Japas yawned as he stretched.
Smacking his lips, he looked at the two Zoras in front of him. "Well, that was a nice nap. I think I'll go check on Mikau now."
"I'll go with you," Ruan volunteered hurriedly. He tried to get up from his chair.
"No, no. You can stay just right where you are with Mikau's mom," laughing, he swam away into the hallway on the right.
"Some day, I am going to choke that kid."
Lynisana propped herself in his chest. Both of them stayed in that position for a long time without moving at all.
* * *
Waking up with a severe headache and total drowsiness, Mikau swore in Ira Language (something that he had picked up at school, though he didn't dare to speak it out loud in front of other people). Why did he always have to pass out and wake up with prickly feelings on his body? He found himself lying on a cushioned seaweed bed, with squishy jellyfish skin cover over his naked body. He rolled to one side, looking out the window. The sunlight had begun to diminish. The afternoon was almost over.
Japas burst into the room and flopped himself onto the bed beside Mikau.
"Yo! How are you feeling' man?" he asked as he roughly rubbed his friend's head.
Pushing the overly active Zora away with little energy, Mikau grinned. "Better. Though I am still tired."
"Ha! Need any entertainment?"
"No, thank you. Any effort that you might try to entertain me will result in disaster."
Looking hurt, Japas groused. "Just because I have accidentally destroyed one of your most treasured artifacts in your room, but that don?t mean I will fail in other category as well."
"Believe me, I know," Mikau covered his face with his hands as he leaned onto his back, sighing with comfort.
"How in the world did you learn the attack anyway?"
Mikau shrugged. "I am not sure."
"Do you still remember how to do it?" Japas asked further on. He was interested in how Mikau would respond to his queries.
"Yeah. Isn't that weird? Somehow, it's like a very blurry cloud that is wedged in my brain being blown away by some force. When it happened, I could see clearly. I could sense clearly. I could think clearly."
"So that means you are like, dumb, stupid, before you met the Enforcer guy?"
"I wouldn't put it that way if I were you. I am not dumb and certainly NOT stupid," Mikau snarled playfully. He brought up his short arm blades in front of Japas.
"Hey, did you know that Ruan is with you mom talking in a very sweet tone?" Japas leered.
"WHAT?"
"Shhhhhh!" The boy hushed the bewildered kid. He placed a finger on his mouth. "You want them to hear you?"
Mikau grabbed his pliable pillow and threw it at Japas. The teen yelped as he fell down the side of the bed when the pillow hit him squarely in the face. A group of bubbles in all shapes and sizes appeared and floated away.
"I am so going to get out of this bed. My dad... My dad is still alive and well. She can't do this! At least, not until I get some prove that my father is dead!"
Japas crawled back onto the beddings. He leaned beside Mikau, blowing bubbles from his mouth for pure fun. "Well, I think they are okay as a couple. I mean, even your mother has to move on, you know? She can't always stay in that gruesome shadow forever. You don't even know if your father is still alive."
"Like you understand anything about how adults feel."
"Believe me, I know. I have been living in a lifestyle that you cannot possibly comprehend."
Mikau groaned. This was certainly a stupid way to end the day. After being silent for a few minutes, he flung aside his cover and got out of the bed. He stumbled a little, or rather, unable to keep upright very well in the water.
"You should rest more. We got a hell of another day of training tomorrow," Japas advised cautiously. He got up as well and helped his friend by supporting the child with his shoulder.
"I don't need anymore rest. I am fine right now."
Japas snorted. "Sure. Whatever you say man."
They swam slowly out of the room. Along the way to the main hall, a Zora said hello to them.
"Hey Japas. If you have lost someone that you love, you know, like a friend or a family member, what would you do?" The Zoran Hero looked at his pal.
"Well. I would try to see the world in a different way. Instead of grieving for the rest of your life, I would go on. I would still remember the good old times that I have had with that person. Wouldn't you agree?"
Mikau didn't say anything to that reply. When they saw Lynisana was talking with Ruan, both of them stopped to wait for the end of the Zoras' love talk. Mikau's mom was not on the Enforcer's legs anymore. She sat on a chair beside him. When she saw Mikau was there waiting for them to finish up their chat, she smiled. She waved at her son, telling him to join them. Japas gave a weird look at Mikau, who was currently moving forward with stiffness. Both children sat down on the other two chairs, directly across from the two adults.
"How are you feeling?" Ruan asked. His eyes were filled with anxiety. His right hand was over Lynisana's. Mikau paid particular attention to that.
"Fine. Just fine. You have just asked the same question that Japas had asked not too long ago," he answered with a weak voice. He stared at the officer for a minute. "So you like my mom?"
Ruan was eating another piece of Shell Blade snack when he heard the question. It was too sudden. The reaction was too big. He choked. Lynisana quickly patted his whitish, muscular back. Looking up with face all red, Ruan cleared his throat many times before answering. Japas snickered.
"Uh, well... I uh..."
Mikau gave the officer his undivided attention by staring like a statue.
"I..." Ruan breathed in a deep breath. "Yes. I like your mom, Mikau. I really do."
Lynisana blushed. Her face turned pinkish-red. She looked away with shyness.
"Uh huh. So you love my mom?"
Ruan coughed again. "You could say that." He moved restlessly in his seat. His fins were slightly erect with nervousness.
Shaking his head, Mikau was not satisfied. "That won't do. You have to tell me if you truly love her or not. Don't give me an answer that is in between."
"Mikau..." his mother started.
Mikau silenced her with his gaze. Turning his attention back to the Enforcer again, he grinned grimly. "Do you love her?" he asked a second time.
"Go on, big guy. Tell him that you really love her!" Japas whispered loudly.
The Enforcer grumbled. "Yes. I love her. Is there a point to this? I feel like as if I am on trial." Two kids at the age of ten and eleven interrogating him was more than humiliating. Then again, those two were not ordinary Zoran kids. They were far more mature than the other children at their age.
The Zoran Hero smiled. "Because I want to know if you will really take care of my mother. You know that I care for her even if I have been through all these events that had happened in these three months."
Ruan got up. He went to the boy's side. Placing his huge right hand on top of the Zoran kid's soft head, his expression was serious. "Don't worry. I love your mom, and I like you too. I'll swear to the Goddess if I have to, that I will take care of you guys."
"Including me?" Japas asked hopefully and jokingly at the same time.
"That, I have to give some thoughts." Then Ruan yelled, "What in the world am I talking about? Japas, you already have your dad to take care of you!"
"Yeah, I know. But my dad usually is not at home! I always cook for myself, alone," the teen whined.
"But that doesn't mean you have to come and stay with us! You still have your house!"
"Japas, if you like, you can come over to our home once every two weeks. I can cook your share of the food along with Mikau's if you want," Lynisana said gently.
Japas sniffed. No one except Tobieas and Mikau had been so nice to him. "Thank you. God, you are making me cry."
"Crying Tadpole," Mikau teased.
"What did you say?" Japas threatened. Mikau shunned his buddy's death glare by putting his hands in front of his face.
All four of them laughed at the same time.
~End Chapter 17~
Author's Note: Wow! This is unbelievable! A story that has seventeen chapters! Sometimes, I amazed even myself. I can't believe that I actually have the patience and the interest to continue writing this story. Do you know how many times I have considered of dropping this story? As in, stop writing because I think my plot is bad? More than fifteen times I assure you. Still, all thanks to my fellow fans (god, I love you guys!) that gave me supports.
So anywhoo, Mikau had learned the new Electric Attack (play the game if you don't understand what I am talking about). But what about Japas? Why couldn't he learn the new move also? And what's up with the similarities between the two Zoran kids anyway? It gets more exciting as the plot continues to unfold. I know that this chapter is not that exciting, but that's life I guess. :D
Oh, and for people who are interested in the development of my title page for this story, I am happy to say that I am doing the outlining of the picture right now using black ink. And after that, I think I will color it. And then I will post it on my website, which people can check at their own convenience.