Chapter 25: Unfolding of The Plot
The morning started off with an overcast sky and a slight drizzle. For Zoras outside the water, the sensation of tiny water droplets pelting off their rubbery skins was exhilarating. Occasional blowing of the cold wind made sure that no students were going to stay outside the dorm for a long period of time. The school began as usual though there was some paranormal aura drifting around the place. Of course, no one had noticed it as students hurriedly grabbed their books and headed to class. Mikau and Japas were different. When they both bumped into each other, their eyes said it all...
"You have the same dream again?" Mikau whispered in their Band Class. Zoras were tuning their instruments when the teacher left the room to get something to eat.
Evan, Lulu, and Tijo all sat in a row behind Mikau and Japas. They were busily talking to each other, paying no heed to their friends' private conversations.
Nodding, Japas rubbed his guitar with a thick slice of ocean leaf, Wilfgra. The large green leaf contained a substance that when squeezed, it could produce a smooth liquid that gives things it drips on a shiny look. "This dream is starting to freak me out."
"YOU are freaking me out," Mikau joked as he tried to lighten a mood.
"Bah!"
"You want me to play a section of the music that I am working on? You know, to loosen up the uncomfortable feelings?"
Japas gave a side-glance. His eyes rested on Mikau's shimmering golden arm bracelets and necklace. "Heh, I think with your jewelries, you can light up anything in this classroom."
Mikau didn't say anything as he slowly tapped the first string, then, a horribly sounding tune floated out, giving everyone around him a cold shiver. It sounded like... It sounded like a chicken shrieking while its stomach was being squeezed.
Evan reached over Mikau's shoulders and grabbed the guitar forcefully. "Stop it! You are giving me goose bumps!"
"You called this 'loosen up'?" Japas scolded as he pounded the Zoran Hero's head with his fists.
"Ow! Sorry if you guys don't like cool music!"
"Cool? You called this COOL?" Japas and Evan yelled together. Lulu giggled as her eyes rested upon Mikau's face. Tijo just shook his head as he sighed helplessly and drummed.
"What's going on here?" Their teacher, Professor Harmonic, came into view as she glared at the chaos before her. "Stop it! All of you! Get back to your work!"
"Sorry..." they all muttered as they sheepishly refocusing their attentions back to the papers.
Standing before the class, the teacher cleared her throat before continuing her lesson. The classroom quieted down with infrequent banging of instruments. Harmonic narrowed her large black eyes a little before she began.
"As we've been talking about before, every single type of musical object produces different types of sounds-"
"And I love you dearly, and I wish that you can be my mate," Japas muttered through his breath mockingly. Mikau frowned at him curtly.
"Now. Please pick up your instruments once again, and we will practice different types of notes-"
"Oh and don't you think my voice is lovely, and I am so hot right now that-"
Mikau snagged Japas' arm suddenly and dug his fingers deep into the flesh.
"OW!"
The whole class turned around and looked at him.
Japas could feel his face turning red. Evan stared at him dumbly while Tijo sighed with lethargy. Mikau coughed a little before turning to the other way, acting innocent. Lulu's eyes said otherwise.
"Japas, just what are you doing?" the Professor demanded an explanation for the disruption.
"I uh, just... testing out my voice. You know, owwww oooohhh aaahhh? yeah."
"In case you don't know, we don't need 'voices' in this place. We need you to listen. Do. You. Understand?"
Japas gulped as he nodded obediently. Mikau stifled a snicker.
"All right. Let's start with a B-Flat. Ready? And one, and two..." Harmonic resumed.
"You are so dead after class," Japas murmured to his best friend. He plucked at the strings with the tempo.
Looking at his pal, the Zoran Hero only gave a smile.
* * *
"Just because I am bored and wanted to have some fun, but that doesn't mean you can do this to me!"
Mikau laughed hard as he patted Japas' back. "Hey, what are friends for? I could just leave you there, talking like an idiot and Ms. Harmonic can have you stay after school cleaning off the barnacles on the rock seats for hours."
"She saw and heard what I've said?"
"Em hm. Yup."
Japas ran his fingers through the fins in front of his face. "God."
Moving through the students, they continued down the hall.
"Don't forget to come over to my room at ten tonight. We need to meet that guy," Mikau said.
"Yeah, yeah. Why does he have to act so mysteriously? That Mask Man gives me the creeps."
"Lack of self-confident?" Mikau said.
"Ptff. Yeah, sure."
They turned another corner into the Locker Hall. Two long lines of metal lockers were stationed in their designated spots. Zoras were either talking in front of their cabinets or they were stuffing and taking out new items. Mikau motioned Japas to follow him.
"You know, once I've gotten used to your rings, I find them quite nice."
"Gee, thanks. I am glad that you and I can finally agree on something," Japas gushed. He touched the gems with his fingers lovingly.
"We are always agreeing with each other. But nooooo. You just have to act totally different than I do. We are brothers, man. We should be alike."
Japas lifted on finger and placed it in front of Mikau's face. "That. Has no prove, yet. The Salesman could have made that up, just for his own amusement."
Mikau sighed as he ran his left hand over the surface of the other lockers. He accidentally ran over a female student's rear. She yelped in surprise and then glared with rage at Mikau. Her short fins on her pink neck bristled with fury. It was also a good thing that she was wearing an orange gown otherwise Japas would have drooled. Still, her well-developed breasts behind the clothes were a sight to see. For Japas anyway.
"Oops. Sorry. Didn't mean to do that,? Mikau blushed as he quickly asked for forgiveness.
She angrily tried to slap the teenager, but he dodged it and continued to swim down the corridor, leaving her fuming in the water behind.
"You did that on purpose," Japas leered as he glanced back. "You are just as horny as I do."
"Japas. Now you are using a word that is uncalled for."
"What's the matter? Don't tell me you are attracted to the same sex?"
Mikau placed his hands over Japas' mouth. "Shut. Up. I am perfectly normal, and I love girls just as much as you do." He struggled with his friend's erratic movements. Students dodged the flying legs and arms.
"Bufff yofff donfff acph locfph latfph!" came a series of muffled words.
"Whatever," Mikau let go of the hold.
Japas breathed hard. "Whew. I am almost suffocated there." He jumped to the side as a huge Bottom-feeder bounced passed him on two thin legs. "He could be a Water-Sumo."
"At least HE has more meat than you do."
"Mikau. Remind me to pound you again when the school is over. I will CREAMMM you."
Suddenly, the Zoran Hero felt a strong push of water pressure against his neck. Twisting to the right at the last second, he evaded a fist. It harmlessly flew pass his face and slammed deep into the metal door of the locker. The water muffled the sound of the impact. A dent was made. Turning his eyes, he saw Randtas standing tall with two of his gang members behind him. The menacing Zora sneered evilly.
"So, Shifel can dodge after all."
Mikau's eyes narrowed significantly when he heard the Ira Language. Japas groaned as he moved to the side and leaned against the wall between the cubbyholes. Just to be safe, he grabbed a kid from the side and placed the innocuous Zora in front of him and held him there. A shield.
"What do you want, you slime?"
Randtas bared his sharp teeth. His shark-like features were petrifying to see. A medium sized fin was exposed at the top of his skull. "Call me that one more time, and you will be skinned alive!" His long, pointy nose puffed out a series of bubbles.
Mikau yawned. He gazed dreamily at his opponent. "Let me ask you this: do you have a brain in that thick skull of yours, or do you have Like Like waste products instead?"
Japas couldn't help snickering out loud. Randtas used his bloodshot eyes to stare at the Zora on his right. The ill-fated student shook his head nervously as he stammered out that it was the kid behind him. Yanking the guy away, the bully was prepared to choke the teenager that was laughing at him. But Randtas froze in his spot as he looked at Japas.
"Japas? What are you doing here?" At first, Randtas was surprised. But then, anger returned. "Are you deriding me? Are you now with this eel? Are you betraying our friendship?"
Japas stopped his laughter as he held out his hand to pause the actions. "Stop, stop just for a sec." Then he looked up. For the first time, Mikau realized that he could see Japas' eyes clearly. Somehow, his fins in front of his face had parted. A look of death appeared. "You don't want to fight my friend. You will get decked so badly that you'll need serious medical care," though he gave a friendly advice, his voice was lethal.
Randtas laughed at that. He glanced back and motioned his two followers to join him. Mikau continued observing Japas. The roguish Zora only gave a wide smile.
"Look, little guy, I don't wanna fight you. It is only between me and your eel friend here. So just stay outta the way!"
Unexpectedly, Japas' face flashed an incensed red. Mikau felt a terrible power flowing into the water. "Uh, Japas?"
"Oh? So you want to fight me?" Randtas the fool still didn't detect the change of atmosphere. He only saw the expression on his ex-friend. He flexed his muscles on his body. "Come on then, you traitor. Unfortunately for you-"
Japas swung a hook punch into the burly Zora. With a yell of pain, Randtas flew backward and crashed into his companions. Millions of bubbles drifted everywhere, making a transparent cloud. A livid bruise appeared on his face. Everyone backed off to form a circle, for they didn't want to get involved in this battle. Mikau was horrified. How did his friend possess such strength?
"Japas, that's enough," he said urgently as he glanced down the hallway for the teachers.
"You stay out of this, Mikau," Japas wheeled around and said with a voice that was not his. Deep and threatening. "I've putted up with this far too Fanca long!"
The Zoran Hero was shocked.
"You are going to pay!" Randtas got up and ran toward his antagonist.
Ducking a slow yet powerful punch, Japas slammed his elbow into the face of the student once again. His face still had that smile all that time.
"Ah!"
Evan and Lulu were around when the havoc began. When they saw what had happened, they were shocked.
"Oh my god," Lulu placed her hands on her mouth. Evan only grimaced as he saw the brute was being attacked savagely.
Japas grabbed the wrist of Randtas' and he gave a sharp twist. Snapping sound could be heard as the Zora screamed out loud in pain. Students moaned with sickness. Some swam away at that. Mikau yelled, trying to stop the fight. Pulling the arm with such force, it was dislodged off from the shoulder. Now, it hanged limp on Randtas' right side.
"God! Oh god! Help me!" he cried with agony as he slumped on the floor. Purplish blood spewed out from his broken nose and cut lips.
"What's the matter, you stupid egoistic moron?" Japas teased. He made a crying face. "Boohoo. Cry my friend. CRY!"
Mikau couldn't stand it any longer. He rushed forward and grabbed Japas' around the chest, holding the arms in place. "STOP IT RIGHT NOW!"
Chuckling, the Zora was led away by his friend. "Randtas! I'll see ya later man! Hahaha!"
* * *
"What's with you?" Mikau yelled as he sat on his bed in his room. "You are in a serious trouble right now. The principal has been alerted about your foolish acts!"
Japas was cooling off in the water pool by Mikau's bed. His shook his head as he closed his eyes. "I don't know. I... I really don't know."
Mikau groaned out loud as he pounded the wall. "What do you MEAN you don't know? You could have killed Randtas there! Think about what will happen if the Enforcers come and take you away to jail? You are only lucky that the damages you?ve dealt to Randtas aren?t severe."
Japas sighed. "You know. What had happened back there wasn't my doing."
"What?"
"I didn't do it. I mean, it wasn't my conscious that did it. It was someone else's."
Mikau jumped down from the upper deck and landed on the floor with a thud. "This is crazy. You are crazy."
"I am not! I am telling you that it wasn't me!" Japas gave a pleading look. "You know that I wouldn't do that!" He splashed out of the water. "You trust me, right?"
Mikau sprawled flat on his bed bunk. He closed his eyes as he tried to assess the problem at hand. He was sure that Japas wouldn't act like so, yet, who was responsible for it? Who? And why?
At eleven o'clock that night, both of them sneaked out of the dorm and embraced into the freezing night. Striding across the bare ground and into the forest, Mikau and Japas had to stay close to each other. Who knows what kind of monsters or hidden obstacles would they encounter? Around six hundred steps, a shadow appeared in front of them. It laughed manically.
"Would you STOP laughing?" Japas exploded. All the dire events happened on that day had made him extremely grouchy.
"I can't. I am the Happy Mask Salesman," the mysterious person answered. Slowly, a small fireball erupted along side of him, giving light to the surrounding darkness. It was even more frightening when the light was reflecting off his face. "Welcome. I am happy that you two can attend this 'secret' meeting. Hahah."
"So what's the news?"
Suddenly, the Salesman's face was sad and gloomy. "Please. I need your help."
"What?" Both Mikau and Japas said together.
"You see the masks behind me? They are not just ordinary masks. They have special powers that are devastating should evil rests its hands on them."
"So? That has nothing to do with us," Mikau replied. He gave an unsure glance to his friend.
"Yes it does. Today, the sudden amplifying of evil was influencing Japas. Didn't you see how he had reacted at school? Among those masks, there is one that is the most powerful mask ever being made, the Majora's Mask. I got it off from a merchant somewhere along Hyrule. It costs me quite a large sum of money," the Happy Mask Salesman explained. "About two days ago, a kid called 'Skull Kid' played a prank on me. He knocked me out and stole that mask!"
"Er..."
"Please! You have to help me!" he bowed a few times really fast at the Zoras. Then he stopped and his face was smiling once again. "That mask wields such power that can destroy the entire world!"
"We can't help you. We are just students. Sorry. We thank you for telling us that we are brothers, but before you leave, tell us this: is there any proof that Japas and I are truly siblings?" Mikau said with an apology.
Sighing, the man shook his head in dismay. "Very well. I shall give you this one evidence that you two are related. Japas, though there are no arm blades on your forearms right now, but you do have them."
Japas pointed at himself with his thumb. His mouth was wide open with disbelief.
"Try to activate the muscles on your arms. Don't worry, at first it may feel painful, letting the blades penetrating through your skin, but you will get use to it."
Mikau gave an encouraging look. Breathing in a deep breath, the Zora followed the instructions. Focusing all of his energies into the muscles on his forearms, Japas felt a slight prick coming from the inside of his bones.
"Don't be afraid. Mikau has to go through the same process as well when he was little," the Salesman grinned. ?Of course, no one has told you about this.?
Pain had contorted his face. Finally, with a yell, two sharp, yet smaller fins prodded out of the skin. Japas examined them carefully. "Oh my god." They glittered with purplish blood and sticky substances.
Mikau compared his with Japas'.
"There you go. You, Mikau, are a Zoran Hero. You, Japas, are a Semi- Zoran Hero," the Mask Man clapped his hands with glee. Then his face darkened a little. "Too bad that you two won't help me. I guess I'll have to find someone else. I wonder if that child is still around..."
As he mumbled to himself, the Happy Mask Salesman slowly disappeared into the thin night air.
"Wait! Can you help Japas? He got into trouble at school today because of that evil mask thingy you've just said!" Mikau yelled before the man vanished completely.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it..." a small voice drifted out from nowhere.
"Ooooookay," Japas said while slicing the air with his new weapons. "This is cool. I get to have the same weapons as you do."
Mikau laughed. "Yet it is shorter than mine. Don?t touch the area of the wounds yet. They will get infected. I?ll apply some medicine."
"So what are we going to do now?"
"Head back to the dorm and sleep?"
They both leisurely walked out of the woodland.
"Hey, you know what's cool?" Japas started after a while. "I heard that King Zora is going to bring some of the Zoran Eggs to our University."
Mikau's eyes widened at the news. "Really? Awesome!"
"I wonder if we can see those eggs hatch. I want to see the Zoran Tadpoles. They are funny to watch," Japas flexed his arms. His arm blades were still a nauseating sight to see. "I wonder how do you contract these babies..."
"Come on over to my room. I'll show you. Then, perhaps we can go hunting again together," Mikau chuckled. ?When we have time of course. Speaking of which, I still have another test to study for tomorrow.?
~End Chapter 25~
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:::[NOTE]:::
(GLOSSARY)
a) Fanca: F-word in Ira Lanuage.
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Author's Note: Well. It is chapter twenty-five now. A few more to go and this story will finally be completed. I've noticed that I hardly describe Evan, Lulu, Tijo, and the surrounding characters. That is expected because I did not plan to make this story into a super long one (like Eyes5's). I can't possibly describe everything in specific details. That would take much too long to do. Overall, I am quite happy about this fanfic.
Now that this tale is around eighty percent complete, and the birth of Japas has been explained thoroughly, I think, isn't it surprising to see that our Japas is a Zoran Hero also? With the appearance of the Happy Mask Salesman, the plot advances at a much quicker pace. The Skull Kid is first mentioned in this chapter, and so does the Zoran Eggs and King Zora. Soon, others in the game will appear, and that's when the story shall end.
*Update: 2002-12-23* I've changed a little for this chapter today. I found out that there were something wrong with the texts, so I made some changes. Also, I will futher describe Mikau and Lulu's relationship soon, as well as the Indigo-Gos Band.
The morning started off with an overcast sky and a slight drizzle. For Zoras outside the water, the sensation of tiny water droplets pelting off their rubbery skins was exhilarating. Occasional blowing of the cold wind made sure that no students were going to stay outside the dorm for a long period of time. The school began as usual though there was some paranormal aura drifting around the place. Of course, no one had noticed it as students hurriedly grabbed their books and headed to class. Mikau and Japas were different. When they both bumped into each other, their eyes said it all...
"You have the same dream again?" Mikau whispered in their Band Class. Zoras were tuning their instruments when the teacher left the room to get something to eat.
Evan, Lulu, and Tijo all sat in a row behind Mikau and Japas. They were busily talking to each other, paying no heed to their friends' private conversations.
Nodding, Japas rubbed his guitar with a thick slice of ocean leaf, Wilfgra. The large green leaf contained a substance that when squeezed, it could produce a smooth liquid that gives things it drips on a shiny look. "This dream is starting to freak me out."
"YOU are freaking me out," Mikau joked as he tried to lighten a mood.
"Bah!"
"You want me to play a section of the music that I am working on? You know, to loosen up the uncomfortable feelings?"
Japas gave a side-glance. His eyes rested on Mikau's shimmering golden arm bracelets and necklace. "Heh, I think with your jewelries, you can light up anything in this classroom."
Mikau didn't say anything as he slowly tapped the first string, then, a horribly sounding tune floated out, giving everyone around him a cold shiver. It sounded like... It sounded like a chicken shrieking while its stomach was being squeezed.
Evan reached over Mikau's shoulders and grabbed the guitar forcefully. "Stop it! You are giving me goose bumps!"
"You called this 'loosen up'?" Japas scolded as he pounded the Zoran Hero's head with his fists.
"Ow! Sorry if you guys don't like cool music!"
"Cool? You called this COOL?" Japas and Evan yelled together. Lulu giggled as her eyes rested upon Mikau's face. Tijo just shook his head as he sighed helplessly and drummed.
"What's going on here?" Their teacher, Professor Harmonic, came into view as she glared at the chaos before her. "Stop it! All of you! Get back to your work!"
"Sorry..." they all muttered as they sheepishly refocusing their attentions back to the papers.
Standing before the class, the teacher cleared her throat before continuing her lesson. The classroom quieted down with infrequent banging of instruments. Harmonic narrowed her large black eyes a little before she began.
"As we've been talking about before, every single type of musical object produces different types of sounds-"
"And I love you dearly, and I wish that you can be my mate," Japas muttered through his breath mockingly. Mikau frowned at him curtly.
"Now. Please pick up your instruments once again, and we will practice different types of notes-"
"Oh and don't you think my voice is lovely, and I am so hot right now that-"
Mikau snagged Japas' arm suddenly and dug his fingers deep into the flesh.
"OW!"
The whole class turned around and looked at him.
Japas could feel his face turning red. Evan stared at him dumbly while Tijo sighed with lethargy. Mikau coughed a little before turning to the other way, acting innocent. Lulu's eyes said otherwise.
"Japas, just what are you doing?" the Professor demanded an explanation for the disruption.
"I uh, just... testing out my voice. You know, owwww oooohhh aaahhh? yeah."
"In case you don't know, we don't need 'voices' in this place. We need you to listen. Do. You. Understand?"
Japas gulped as he nodded obediently. Mikau stifled a snicker.
"All right. Let's start with a B-Flat. Ready? And one, and two..." Harmonic resumed.
"You are so dead after class," Japas murmured to his best friend. He plucked at the strings with the tempo.
Looking at his pal, the Zoran Hero only gave a smile.
* * *
"Just because I am bored and wanted to have some fun, but that doesn't mean you can do this to me!"
Mikau laughed hard as he patted Japas' back. "Hey, what are friends for? I could just leave you there, talking like an idiot and Ms. Harmonic can have you stay after school cleaning off the barnacles on the rock seats for hours."
"She saw and heard what I've said?"
"Em hm. Yup."
Japas ran his fingers through the fins in front of his face. "God."
Moving through the students, they continued down the hall.
"Don't forget to come over to my room at ten tonight. We need to meet that guy," Mikau said.
"Yeah, yeah. Why does he have to act so mysteriously? That Mask Man gives me the creeps."
"Lack of self-confident?" Mikau said.
"Ptff. Yeah, sure."
They turned another corner into the Locker Hall. Two long lines of metal lockers were stationed in their designated spots. Zoras were either talking in front of their cabinets or they were stuffing and taking out new items. Mikau motioned Japas to follow him.
"You know, once I've gotten used to your rings, I find them quite nice."
"Gee, thanks. I am glad that you and I can finally agree on something," Japas gushed. He touched the gems with his fingers lovingly.
"We are always agreeing with each other. But nooooo. You just have to act totally different than I do. We are brothers, man. We should be alike."
Japas lifted on finger and placed it in front of Mikau's face. "That. Has no prove, yet. The Salesman could have made that up, just for his own amusement."
Mikau sighed as he ran his left hand over the surface of the other lockers. He accidentally ran over a female student's rear. She yelped in surprise and then glared with rage at Mikau. Her short fins on her pink neck bristled with fury. It was also a good thing that she was wearing an orange gown otherwise Japas would have drooled. Still, her well-developed breasts behind the clothes were a sight to see. For Japas anyway.
"Oops. Sorry. Didn't mean to do that,? Mikau blushed as he quickly asked for forgiveness.
She angrily tried to slap the teenager, but he dodged it and continued to swim down the corridor, leaving her fuming in the water behind.
"You did that on purpose," Japas leered as he glanced back. "You are just as horny as I do."
"Japas. Now you are using a word that is uncalled for."
"What's the matter? Don't tell me you are attracted to the same sex?"
Mikau placed his hands over Japas' mouth. "Shut. Up. I am perfectly normal, and I love girls just as much as you do." He struggled with his friend's erratic movements. Students dodged the flying legs and arms.
"Bufff yofff donfff acph locfph latfph!" came a series of muffled words.
"Whatever," Mikau let go of the hold.
Japas breathed hard. "Whew. I am almost suffocated there." He jumped to the side as a huge Bottom-feeder bounced passed him on two thin legs. "He could be a Water-Sumo."
"At least HE has more meat than you do."
"Mikau. Remind me to pound you again when the school is over. I will CREAMMM you."
Suddenly, the Zoran Hero felt a strong push of water pressure against his neck. Twisting to the right at the last second, he evaded a fist. It harmlessly flew pass his face and slammed deep into the metal door of the locker. The water muffled the sound of the impact. A dent was made. Turning his eyes, he saw Randtas standing tall with two of his gang members behind him. The menacing Zora sneered evilly.
"So, Shifel can dodge after all."
Mikau's eyes narrowed significantly when he heard the Ira Language. Japas groaned as he moved to the side and leaned against the wall between the cubbyholes. Just to be safe, he grabbed a kid from the side and placed the innocuous Zora in front of him and held him there. A shield.
"What do you want, you slime?"
Randtas bared his sharp teeth. His shark-like features were petrifying to see. A medium sized fin was exposed at the top of his skull. "Call me that one more time, and you will be skinned alive!" His long, pointy nose puffed out a series of bubbles.
Mikau yawned. He gazed dreamily at his opponent. "Let me ask you this: do you have a brain in that thick skull of yours, or do you have Like Like waste products instead?"
Japas couldn't help snickering out loud. Randtas used his bloodshot eyes to stare at the Zora on his right. The ill-fated student shook his head nervously as he stammered out that it was the kid behind him. Yanking the guy away, the bully was prepared to choke the teenager that was laughing at him. But Randtas froze in his spot as he looked at Japas.
"Japas? What are you doing here?" At first, Randtas was surprised. But then, anger returned. "Are you deriding me? Are you now with this eel? Are you betraying our friendship?"
Japas stopped his laughter as he held out his hand to pause the actions. "Stop, stop just for a sec." Then he looked up. For the first time, Mikau realized that he could see Japas' eyes clearly. Somehow, his fins in front of his face had parted. A look of death appeared. "You don't want to fight my friend. You will get decked so badly that you'll need serious medical care," though he gave a friendly advice, his voice was lethal.
Randtas laughed at that. He glanced back and motioned his two followers to join him. Mikau continued observing Japas. The roguish Zora only gave a wide smile.
"Look, little guy, I don't wanna fight you. It is only between me and your eel friend here. So just stay outta the way!"
Unexpectedly, Japas' face flashed an incensed red. Mikau felt a terrible power flowing into the water. "Uh, Japas?"
"Oh? So you want to fight me?" Randtas the fool still didn't detect the change of atmosphere. He only saw the expression on his ex-friend. He flexed his muscles on his body. "Come on then, you traitor. Unfortunately for you-"
Japas swung a hook punch into the burly Zora. With a yell of pain, Randtas flew backward and crashed into his companions. Millions of bubbles drifted everywhere, making a transparent cloud. A livid bruise appeared on his face. Everyone backed off to form a circle, for they didn't want to get involved in this battle. Mikau was horrified. How did his friend possess such strength?
"Japas, that's enough," he said urgently as he glanced down the hallway for the teachers.
"You stay out of this, Mikau," Japas wheeled around and said with a voice that was not his. Deep and threatening. "I've putted up with this far too Fanca long!"
The Zoran Hero was shocked.
"You are going to pay!" Randtas got up and ran toward his antagonist.
Ducking a slow yet powerful punch, Japas slammed his elbow into the face of the student once again. His face still had that smile all that time.
"Ah!"
Evan and Lulu were around when the havoc began. When they saw what had happened, they were shocked.
"Oh my god," Lulu placed her hands on her mouth. Evan only grimaced as he saw the brute was being attacked savagely.
Japas grabbed the wrist of Randtas' and he gave a sharp twist. Snapping sound could be heard as the Zora screamed out loud in pain. Students moaned with sickness. Some swam away at that. Mikau yelled, trying to stop the fight. Pulling the arm with such force, it was dislodged off from the shoulder. Now, it hanged limp on Randtas' right side.
"God! Oh god! Help me!" he cried with agony as he slumped on the floor. Purplish blood spewed out from his broken nose and cut lips.
"What's the matter, you stupid egoistic moron?" Japas teased. He made a crying face. "Boohoo. Cry my friend. CRY!"
Mikau couldn't stand it any longer. He rushed forward and grabbed Japas' around the chest, holding the arms in place. "STOP IT RIGHT NOW!"
Chuckling, the Zora was led away by his friend. "Randtas! I'll see ya later man! Hahaha!"
* * *
"What's with you?" Mikau yelled as he sat on his bed in his room. "You are in a serious trouble right now. The principal has been alerted about your foolish acts!"
Japas was cooling off in the water pool by Mikau's bed. His shook his head as he closed his eyes. "I don't know. I... I really don't know."
Mikau groaned out loud as he pounded the wall. "What do you MEAN you don't know? You could have killed Randtas there! Think about what will happen if the Enforcers come and take you away to jail? You are only lucky that the damages you?ve dealt to Randtas aren?t severe."
Japas sighed. "You know. What had happened back there wasn't my doing."
"What?"
"I didn't do it. I mean, it wasn't my conscious that did it. It was someone else's."
Mikau jumped down from the upper deck and landed on the floor with a thud. "This is crazy. You are crazy."
"I am not! I am telling you that it wasn't me!" Japas gave a pleading look. "You know that I wouldn't do that!" He splashed out of the water. "You trust me, right?"
Mikau sprawled flat on his bed bunk. He closed his eyes as he tried to assess the problem at hand. He was sure that Japas wouldn't act like so, yet, who was responsible for it? Who? And why?
At eleven o'clock that night, both of them sneaked out of the dorm and embraced into the freezing night. Striding across the bare ground and into the forest, Mikau and Japas had to stay close to each other. Who knows what kind of monsters or hidden obstacles would they encounter? Around six hundred steps, a shadow appeared in front of them. It laughed manically.
"Would you STOP laughing?" Japas exploded. All the dire events happened on that day had made him extremely grouchy.
"I can't. I am the Happy Mask Salesman," the mysterious person answered. Slowly, a small fireball erupted along side of him, giving light to the surrounding darkness. It was even more frightening when the light was reflecting off his face. "Welcome. I am happy that you two can attend this 'secret' meeting. Hahah."
"So what's the news?"
Suddenly, the Salesman's face was sad and gloomy. "Please. I need your help."
"What?" Both Mikau and Japas said together.
"You see the masks behind me? They are not just ordinary masks. They have special powers that are devastating should evil rests its hands on them."
"So? That has nothing to do with us," Mikau replied. He gave an unsure glance to his friend.
"Yes it does. Today, the sudden amplifying of evil was influencing Japas. Didn't you see how he had reacted at school? Among those masks, there is one that is the most powerful mask ever being made, the Majora's Mask. I got it off from a merchant somewhere along Hyrule. It costs me quite a large sum of money," the Happy Mask Salesman explained. "About two days ago, a kid called 'Skull Kid' played a prank on me. He knocked me out and stole that mask!"
"Er..."
"Please! You have to help me!" he bowed a few times really fast at the Zoras. Then he stopped and his face was smiling once again. "That mask wields such power that can destroy the entire world!"
"We can't help you. We are just students. Sorry. We thank you for telling us that we are brothers, but before you leave, tell us this: is there any proof that Japas and I are truly siblings?" Mikau said with an apology.
Sighing, the man shook his head in dismay. "Very well. I shall give you this one evidence that you two are related. Japas, though there are no arm blades on your forearms right now, but you do have them."
Japas pointed at himself with his thumb. His mouth was wide open with disbelief.
"Try to activate the muscles on your arms. Don't worry, at first it may feel painful, letting the blades penetrating through your skin, but you will get use to it."
Mikau gave an encouraging look. Breathing in a deep breath, the Zora followed the instructions. Focusing all of his energies into the muscles on his forearms, Japas felt a slight prick coming from the inside of his bones.
"Don't be afraid. Mikau has to go through the same process as well when he was little," the Salesman grinned. ?Of course, no one has told you about this.?
Pain had contorted his face. Finally, with a yell, two sharp, yet smaller fins prodded out of the skin. Japas examined them carefully. "Oh my god." They glittered with purplish blood and sticky substances.
Mikau compared his with Japas'.
"There you go. You, Mikau, are a Zoran Hero. You, Japas, are a Semi- Zoran Hero," the Mask Man clapped his hands with glee. Then his face darkened a little. "Too bad that you two won't help me. I guess I'll have to find someone else. I wonder if that child is still around..."
As he mumbled to himself, the Happy Mask Salesman slowly disappeared into the thin night air.
"Wait! Can you help Japas? He got into trouble at school today because of that evil mask thingy you've just said!" Mikau yelled before the man vanished completely.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it..." a small voice drifted out from nowhere.
"Ooooookay," Japas said while slicing the air with his new weapons. "This is cool. I get to have the same weapons as you do."
Mikau laughed. "Yet it is shorter than mine. Don?t touch the area of the wounds yet. They will get infected. I?ll apply some medicine."
"So what are we going to do now?"
"Head back to the dorm and sleep?"
They both leisurely walked out of the woodland.
"Hey, you know what's cool?" Japas started after a while. "I heard that King Zora is going to bring some of the Zoran Eggs to our University."
Mikau's eyes widened at the news. "Really? Awesome!"
"I wonder if we can see those eggs hatch. I want to see the Zoran Tadpoles. They are funny to watch," Japas flexed his arms. His arm blades were still a nauseating sight to see. "I wonder how do you contract these babies..."
"Come on over to my room. I'll show you. Then, perhaps we can go hunting again together," Mikau chuckled. ?When we have time of course. Speaking of which, I still have another test to study for tomorrow.?
~End Chapter 25~
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:::[NOTE]:::
(GLOSSARY)
a) Fanca: F-word in Ira Lanuage.
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Author's Note: Well. It is chapter twenty-five now. A few more to go and this story will finally be completed. I've noticed that I hardly describe Evan, Lulu, Tijo, and the surrounding characters. That is expected because I did not plan to make this story into a super long one (like Eyes5's). I can't possibly describe everything in specific details. That would take much too long to do. Overall, I am quite happy about this fanfic.
Now that this tale is around eighty percent complete, and the birth of Japas has been explained thoroughly, I think, isn't it surprising to see that our Japas is a Zoran Hero also? With the appearance of the Happy Mask Salesman, the plot advances at a much quicker pace. The Skull Kid is first mentioned in this chapter, and so does the Zoran Eggs and King Zora. Soon, others in the game will appear, and that's when the story shall end.
*Update: 2002-12-23* I've changed a little for this chapter today. I found out that there were something wrong with the texts, so I made some changes. Also, I will futher describe Mikau and Lulu's relationship soon, as well as the Indigo-Gos Band.