Chapter 5: The first signs
Terry walked through his house, a towel wrapped around his midsection. He used another towel to dry his blond hair. It had been a couple of days since Kyo had brought in Athena and her mother. The house was small enough, but with the four of them, it became even more difficult, though Athena's mother had been getting better over time. Terry didn't want to know in what kind of ruin she used to live. He had also noticed a change in Kyo's behaviour and Terry had figured Athena was the cause of it all. Athena's mother slept in Kyo's room and Athena herself in Terry's. Terry thought Kyo had been up early, since he wasn't on the couch anymore. Terry stretched his back. A couch wasn't really comfortable to lie on, but his young back was able to handle it. He figured Kyo had exited their house to take a walk. It was something Kyo liked to do in the early morning, though Terry thought he was nuts. When he passed the door of his room, he heard giggling. His eyes spread wide open as he focussed on the sound. It indeed came from his room. Suddenly, there was just one thought in his mind. Kyo hadn't taken a walk. No, he had... Terry didn't know how fast he had to open the door and he nearly walked right through it. Confirming his suspicion, he saw Kyo. He lay in Terry's bed and Athena rested her head on his chest. They were covered with the sheets, but Terry could see that they were naked. "Okay! What the hell are you two doing in my bed!? Did you fuck in my bed!?" Terry yelled furious. Kyo was surprised to see Terry, but remained calm. "Easy, Terry..." he started. "Easy!? Could you please do your filthy business somewhere else? One day, I'll be sleeping there! Get out of my bed!" Terry's comment met with two stupid looks from his friends. "Okay, okay. Then don't get out of it."
"She was lonely, Terry." Kyo explained. "Well, obviously not anymore." Terry said. Kyo wrapped his arms around Athena and closed his eyes. "And what if we'll have little Kyo's in a couple of months, running around the place?"
"Don't worry. We did it safe." Kyo murmered, not opening his eyes. "I hope you had a good time." Terry said sarcastic. "We certainly had." Athena said, running her hand across Kyo's chest. Terry sighed and left the room before he closed the door. He was angry. It hadn't been the bed, though he didn't really knew that. Kyo was three years younger then he was. And Terry had never had a girlfriend in his life. In his subconscious, he was just jealous. He walked to the living-room and got dressed. He had to get out of the house. He put on his cap and excited the building. It was small, but it was better than an apartment. He entered the busy streets of New York. He was used to see the Twin Towers, but they were gone. He sighed. He wasn't sentimental, but he sure missed them. The sun shone warmly and people were running about, doing their daily thing. Terry always wondered why people always were in such a rush. He was sometimes glad that his life was simple. No family to visit, no children to take care for, no wife whining at your head when you've drunk too much. No, his life was simple. Lonely, but simple. And simplicity meant happiness. Although, that was what some people thought. Terry knew there was something wrong with those people, but what had he to say to it all? Apparantly Kyo and Athena had found their happiness. Terry's time had yet to come. When or where or... how... That didn't matter. It would come. Sooner or later. He decided to just walk through the streets. He put the flap of his cap in front of his eyes and put his hands in his pockets as he slowly started to walk in a random direction. He felt a child running against his arm. When he looked up, the child had ran away again. He felt slow today, but it could have been the weather. He passed a large building. It was the bank. It was busy there as always. Customers, bankmanagers, masked men with guns, the helpfull ladies behind their desks... Terry stopped and looked at the bank. Masked men with guns? "Jesus, the bank is being raided..." he murmered as he saw one of the masked men hitting a hostage. Terry could call the police, but at that moment, he didn't thought of that. He started to walk to the bank, hoping he wouldn't get killed or something. At least that would bring an end to a simple life...
"Hurry up with that money!" one of the raiders yelled. All the hostages were lying flat down on the floor. "I'm busy, I'm busy." the bankmanager said., tinkering with the lock on the vault. One of the bankemployees moved her hand under the desk, searching for a button. "I wouldn't do that, sweetie." a tall, red-haired man said. He had a faint greenish skin and his face was burned at some places, making him look even meaner. His eyes were burning like fire. He pointed a submachinegun at the employee. He was obviously the leader, since the rest of the robbers had masks on. "Ganondorf." one of the robbers said. "There's someone coming." Right after the robber had said that, the door to the bank got opened and Terry walked in, whistling a happy tune. "Goodmorning, fella's." he said. "I see we're having a party here. Could you please tell me what time it is?" The robber closest to Terry pointed his submachinegun at him. "Come in, shut up, and drop to the ground!" he said aggresively. "No, but seriously! If you look at my watch..." Terry said, holding his hand on the place where a watch is supposed to be and moving that arm forward. The robber instinctly took a closer look at Terry's arm. Terry then suddenly punched the man in his face with the hand which he had used to cover his arm. It was a hard blow and the robber got knocked to the ground. Terry ran to a desk as the men started to fire at him. He dropped himself on the floor and his body shove neatly behind the desk as bullets and pieces of wood flew around him. He searched the back-pockets of his jeans and was happy to find his gloves. He shove them on his hands and tightened them. He had a feeling he would be punching a lot of people. The bank employee made use of all the commotion and pressed the button which sent a warning to the NYPD. "Get that kid!" Ganondorf yelled. None of the robbers felt like getting closer to the spot where Terry hid, so they just emptied their magazines on the table, hoping to kill Terry by penetrating the wood. As Terry covered his head with his arms and wood flew about him, he knew he would not hold out much longer. He then noticed the robber he had knocked down standing up and he decided to move. He quickly ran to the man and grabbed him, turning the man's arm on his back and holding the man in front of him. The robber groaned and his collegues ceased fire. "Okay, guys. Now get the hell out of here or I break his neck!" Terry ordered. Ganondorf sighed. He aimed his gun in the direction of Terry. "There is no time for incompetence." He pulled the trigger and Terry felt the man he held shaking under the impact of the lead and the robber's screams were short-lived. In complete surprise and shock, Terry dropped the dead, bleeding man on the ground, exposing himself to the guns aimed at them. The men didn't seem to care for their fallen comrade. Terry raised his index finger. "Ehm... Can't we talk about this like the serious adults we are?" he asked. "No." Ganondorf said. "Kill him." he ordered. One of the men walked to Terry and put his gun against Terry's forehead. Terry just grinned. "Boy, are you stupid." In a swift move, he grabbed the man's gun with one hand and punched him in the face with the other. "God, I'm tough." Terry said, shooting a nearby robber three times in his chest. He had never used a gun before, so he just did what seemed logical. Pulling the trigger. He was surprised by the recoil. Nonetheless, he aimed his gun at the next man and shot him down as well. Ganondorf didn't reply. Someone was speaking to him out of nowhere. He was listening. "Okay. Will do." he said to someone who wasn't there. "We're out of here." he ordered the remaining men. Terry hadn't expected this. Ganondorf turned around and started to walk away from Terry. Suddenly, a purple, shimmering portal appeared from nowhere, right in front of Ganondorf. He simply walked in and his goons followed him. When the last one had left, the portal closed, leaving the former hostages and a surprised Terry alone in the bank.
Somewhere in Japan, a young man was waiting for his boat to arrive. He wasn't wearing his armor anymore, but a simple dark-blue tunic and black trousers. He sat with his feet in the water, staring out in the sea. His dog Poppy lay next to him, together with a few sacks filled with his belongings. The sun stood low on the horizon and cast strange shadows over the landscape. Behind Galford lay the town. People were still celibrating. He had nothing to celibrate. He already thought it was a pretty big step for him to leave Nakoruru. "You know, Poppy. It's been so long since I've been in America. There just have to be some babes out there. Some normal ones." Another negative thought about Nakoruru had just escaped his mouth. He was getting used to them. And it was just all the better. Then he would forget about her. And besides, everyone knew Nakoruru was weird, so what the heck? "I've got a feeling I'm setting myself free, Poppy. Away with my fascination for her. I don't have to bind myself to anyone who doesn't even see me standing." She would loose a friend, but so what? If she couldn't love anyone, what would she had to do with friends? She preferred to spend her time between the flowers and the trees, so who was Galford to deny that to her? "Yep, let her be alone with her flowers and her squirels. If she's pathetic enough to..." There. Another bad comment about her. Though he figured he had been thinking nothing but bad things about her. Oh, well. If you were acting like that, you would deserve it. Galford sat there for a while when he heard a voice: "Leaving?" Galford recognised the voice as Nakoruru's. He turned around and saw her standing. Her hands folded in front of herself. She didn't seem very happy. She wore her usual garb. "Shouldn't you be between the trees and ants?" There wasn't anything polite or respectful about Galford's comment. "Are you leaving?" Nakoruru asked again. "No, I'm sitting here for my pleasure. Jeez, what do you think? That I'm like you? No one is like you." It was out before he knew it. Nakoruru stayed calm under it. "Are you angry?" she asked. "Now what would make you think that?" Galford asked mocking. "Nature has told me."
"Sure. The little yellow bunny, right?" Poppy looked up as soon as Galford had spoken these words. He wondered what had gotten into his friend. He was usually so respectful and careful towards Nakoruru. The dog figured the coldness of the Ainu girl had gotten too much for Galford. Nakoruru didn't answer Galford. "No, I'm going back to the States. Where my home is and where the gals are normal." Nakoruru swallowed away some tears, something which Galford couldn't see. "I don't expect you to say good-bye, since I know you don't mean it. Your social skills are a bit behind, aren't they? Oh, but you don't need them. You prefer the cosy animals above your fellow humans." Galford lay down on his back and folded his hands behind his head. "Now go away. I want to catch some sleep before my ship comes. It's been a real pain in the back to know you." Nakoruru remained standing. She swallowed again. "Would you take me and my sister with you?" she asked suddenly, surprising Galford. "Right. And have you spoil my trip? I don't think so. Scram it." he said after a while. This was too much for Nakoruru. She turned around and started to walk away. When she reached the forest, she sat down against a tree and started to cry. She let herself and her tears go. She didn't care if anyone would see her. She wanted to let it all out. She didn't see Mamahaha flying over the tree, heading to Galford. The hawk landed next to Galford and started to flap her wings, disturbing him. "Why, you little..." Galford said, jumping up his feet and trying to grab the hawk. Mamahaha was faster than he was and flew up into the air. "I'll get you. Whatever it takes!" Galford yelled and started to chase Mamahaha, who flew in the direction where Nakoruru sat. As soon as Galford arrived at the spot where Nakoruru was crying, he stopped. "What's up, Nako? Did someone step on some flowers?" he asked sarcasticly. He started to laugh as Nakoruru looked up at him with salty tears on her cheeks. Suddenly, Galford made a strange gorgling sound and collapsed forward on the ground. A strange mist seemed to rise from his head and all of the sudden, Zankurou stood next to the motionless Galford. "Zankurou!" Nakoruru yelled. "Indeed." the demon said. "You had posessed him!" Nakoruru said, scared and happy at the same time. "Not really. I just... lightened his hatred."
"What do you mean?" Nakoruru asked, slowly standing up and reaching for her sword on her back. "You know, deep in his heart, he hates you. He hates you for everything you've done to him. I don't really blame him. You've hurt him so many times by ignoring him." Nakoruru tried to hide her tears. "Well, that's all I wanted to say. I'm off. Have fun in ruining his life." Zankurou said before he started to laugh. When Nakoruru blinked her eyes, the demon was gone, but his laughing echoed through the forest for some time. When it was gone, Galford slowly stood up with a low groan. Poppy, who had witnessed the scene from a distance barked happily. "What happened?" Galford groaned as he felt the back of his head with his hand. When he noticed Nakoruru, he looked at her with a vague expression on his face. "You were possessed by Zankurou." Nakoruru simply said. "I what...?" Galford asked, not able to fully comprehend it all. He noticed the tears on Nakoruru's cheeks. "Have I done anything? Have I hurt you?" he asked worried. Nakoruru shook her head. "Good." he said, smiling. He turned around and started to walk back to the shore. He remembered sitting there and waiting for his boat. Then everything had gotten black. He figured he would be wasting time saying good-bye to Nakoruru. She was sweet, but not really good in good-byes. Nakoruru opened her mouth. She wanted to call him back. To tell him her feelings. To be in love with him, but she knew she couldn't. It was bad that Galford had to suffer like this, but if she would give in to her feelings, if she would let herself go and fall in love, she would loose her ability to talk with Nature. And she would loose her ability to protect it. No, she had to keep him away from her. That would be best. Her own feelings didn't matter, though she felt sorry for Galford. "Good-bye, Galford." she said, just loud enough for the American to hear it. He looked over his shoulder. Nakoruru noticed he was sad, but there wasn't a thing she was supposed to do about it. And that made her even more sad. "Will you... miss me?" Galford asked in a last attempt. Nakoruru turned her back to him. "Go." she said, stabbing Galford and herself through their hearts. "I will miss you." Galford said in another attempt. "Just go, Galford. Don't miss the boat." Nakoruru said, knowing it sounded very inpolite. Galford swallowed an incoming wave of anger. He couldn't be angry with her. She meant too much for him. He started to walk back to the sea, wondering if Nakoruru would someday get someone to love. He just hoped that man would be able to take care for her perfectly. Poppy hung his head as he followed his master. And his friend.
Terry walked through his house, a towel wrapped around his midsection. He used another towel to dry his blond hair. It had been a couple of days since Kyo had brought in Athena and her mother. The house was small enough, but with the four of them, it became even more difficult, though Athena's mother had been getting better over time. Terry didn't want to know in what kind of ruin she used to live. He had also noticed a change in Kyo's behaviour and Terry had figured Athena was the cause of it all. Athena's mother slept in Kyo's room and Athena herself in Terry's. Terry thought Kyo had been up early, since he wasn't on the couch anymore. Terry stretched his back. A couch wasn't really comfortable to lie on, but his young back was able to handle it. He figured Kyo had exited their house to take a walk. It was something Kyo liked to do in the early morning, though Terry thought he was nuts. When he passed the door of his room, he heard giggling. His eyes spread wide open as he focussed on the sound. It indeed came from his room. Suddenly, there was just one thought in his mind. Kyo hadn't taken a walk. No, he had... Terry didn't know how fast he had to open the door and he nearly walked right through it. Confirming his suspicion, he saw Kyo. He lay in Terry's bed and Athena rested her head on his chest. They were covered with the sheets, but Terry could see that they were naked. "Okay! What the hell are you two doing in my bed!? Did you fuck in my bed!?" Terry yelled furious. Kyo was surprised to see Terry, but remained calm. "Easy, Terry..." he started. "Easy!? Could you please do your filthy business somewhere else? One day, I'll be sleeping there! Get out of my bed!" Terry's comment met with two stupid looks from his friends. "Okay, okay. Then don't get out of it."
"She was lonely, Terry." Kyo explained. "Well, obviously not anymore." Terry said. Kyo wrapped his arms around Athena and closed his eyes. "And what if we'll have little Kyo's in a couple of months, running around the place?"
"Don't worry. We did it safe." Kyo murmered, not opening his eyes. "I hope you had a good time." Terry said sarcastic. "We certainly had." Athena said, running her hand across Kyo's chest. Terry sighed and left the room before he closed the door. He was angry. It hadn't been the bed, though he didn't really knew that. Kyo was three years younger then he was. And Terry had never had a girlfriend in his life. In his subconscious, he was just jealous. He walked to the living-room and got dressed. He had to get out of the house. He put on his cap and excited the building. It was small, but it was better than an apartment. He entered the busy streets of New York. He was used to see the Twin Towers, but they were gone. He sighed. He wasn't sentimental, but he sure missed them. The sun shone warmly and people were running about, doing their daily thing. Terry always wondered why people always were in such a rush. He was sometimes glad that his life was simple. No family to visit, no children to take care for, no wife whining at your head when you've drunk too much. No, his life was simple. Lonely, but simple. And simplicity meant happiness. Although, that was what some people thought. Terry knew there was something wrong with those people, but what had he to say to it all? Apparantly Kyo and Athena had found their happiness. Terry's time had yet to come. When or where or... how... That didn't matter. It would come. Sooner or later. He decided to just walk through the streets. He put the flap of his cap in front of his eyes and put his hands in his pockets as he slowly started to walk in a random direction. He felt a child running against his arm. When he looked up, the child had ran away again. He felt slow today, but it could have been the weather. He passed a large building. It was the bank. It was busy there as always. Customers, bankmanagers, masked men with guns, the helpfull ladies behind their desks... Terry stopped and looked at the bank. Masked men with guns? "Jesus, the bank is being raided..." he murmered as he saw one of the masked men hitting a hostage. Terry could call the police, but at that moment, he didn't thought of that. He started to walk to the bank, hoping he wouldn't get killed or something. At least that would bring an end to a simple life...
"Hurry up with that money!" one of the raiders yelled. All the hostages were lying flat down on the floor. "I'm busy, I'm busy." the bankmanager said., tinkering with the lock on the vault. One of the bankemployees moved her hand under the desk, searching for a button. "I wouldn't do that, sweetie." a tall, red-haired man said. He had a faint greenish skin and his face was burned at some places, making him look even meaner. His eyes were burning like fire. He pointed a submachinegun at the employee. He was obviously the leader, since the rest of the robbers had masks on. "Ganondorf." one of the robbers said. "There's someone coming." Right after the robber had said that, the door to the bank got opened and Terry walked in, whistling a happy tune. "Goodmorning, fella's." he said. "I see we're having a party here. Could you please tell me what time it is?" The robber closest to Terry pointed his submachinegun at him. "Come in, shut up, and drop to the ground!" he said aggresively. "No, but seriously! If you look at my watch..." Terry said, holding his hand on the place where a watch is supposed to be and moving that arm forward. The robber instinctly took a closer look at Terry's arm. Terry then suddenly punched the man in his face with the hand which he had used to cover his arm. It was a hard blow and the robber got knocked to the ground. Terry ran to a desk as the men started to fire at him. He dropped himself on the floor and his body shove neatly behind the desk as bullets and pieces of wood flew around him. He searched the back-pockets of his jeans and was happy to find his gloves. He shove them on his hands and tightened them. He had a feeling he would be punching a lot of people. The bank employee made use of all the commotion and pressed the button which sent a warning to the NYPD. "Get that kid!" Ganondorf yelled. None of the robbers felt like getting closer to the spot where Terry hid, so they just emptied their magazines on the table, hoping to kill Terry by penetrating the wood. As Terry covered his head with his arms and wood flew about him, he knew he would not hold out much longer. He then noticed the robber he had knocked down standing up and he decided to move. He quickly ran to the man and grabbed him, turning the man's arm on his back and holding the man in front of him. The robber groaned and his collegues ceased fire. "Okay, guys. Now get the hell out of here or I break his neck!" Terry ordered. Ganondorf sighed. He aimed his gun in the direction of Terry. "There is no time for incompetence." He pulled the trigger and Terry felt the man he held shaking under the impact of the lead and the robber's screams were short-lived. In complete surprise and shock, Terry dropped the dead, bleeding man on the ground, exposing himself to the guns aimed at them. The men didn't seem to care for their fallen comrade. Terry raised his index finger. "Ehm... Can't we talk about this like the serious adults we are?" he asked. "No." Ganondorf said. "Kill him." he ordered. One of the men walked to Terry and put his gun against Terry's forehead. Terry just grinned. "Boy, are you stupid." In a swift move, he grabbed the man's gun with one hand and punched him in the face with the other. "God, I'm tough." Terry said, shooting a nearby robber three times in his chest. He had never used a gun before, so he just did what seemed logical. Pulling the trigger. He was surprised by the recoil. Nonetheless, he aimed his gun at the next man and shot him down as well. Ganondorf didn't reply. Someone was speaking to him out of nowhere. He was listening. "Okay. Will do." he said to someone who wasn't there. "We're out of here." he ordered the remaining men. Terry hadn't expected this. Ganondorf turned around and started to walk away from Terry. Suddenly, a purple, shimmering portal appeared from nowhere, right in front of Ganondorf. He simply walked in and his goons followed him. When the last one had left, the portal closed, leaving the former hostages and a surprised Terry alone in the bank.
Somewhere in Japan, a young man was waiting for his boat to arrive. He wasn't wearing his armor anymore, but a simple dark-blue tunic and black trousers. He sat with his feet in the water, staring out in the sea. His dog Poppy lay next to him, together with a few sacks filled with his belongings. The sun stood low on the horizon and cast strange shadows over the landscape. Behind Galford lay the town. People were still celibrating. He had nothing to celibrate. He already thought it was a pretty big step for him to leave Nakoruru. "You know, Poppy. It's been so long since I've been in America. There just have to be some babes out there. Some normal ones." Another negative thought about Nakoruru had just escaped his mouth. He was getting used to them. And it was just all the better. Then he would forget about her. And besides, everyone knew Nakoruru was weird, so what the heck? "I've got a feeling I'm setting myself free, Poppy. Away with my fascination for her. I don't have to bind myself to anyone who doesn't even see me standing." She would loose a friend, but so what? If she couldn't love anyone, what would she had to do with friends? She preferred to spend her time between the flowers and the trees, so who was Galford to deny that to her? "Yep, let her be alone with her flowers and her squirels. If she's pathetic enough to..." There. Another bad comment about her. Though he figured he had been thinking nothing but bad things about her. Oh, well. If you were acting like that, you would deserve it. Galford sat there for a while when he heard a voice: "Leaving?" Galford recognised the voice as Nakoruru's. He turned around and saw her standing. Her hands folded in front of herself. She didn't seem very happy. She wore her usual garb. "Shouldn't you be between the trees and ants?" There wasn't anything polite or respectful about Galford's comment. "Are you leaving?" Nakoruru asked again. "No, I'm sitting here for my pleasure. Jeez, what do you think? That I'm like you? No one is like you." It was out before he knew it. Nakoruru stayed calm under it. "Are you angry?" she asked. "Now what would make you think that?" Galford asked mocking. "Nature has told me."
"Sure. The little yellow bunny, right?" Poppy looked up as soon as Galford had spoken these words. He wondered what had gotten into his friend. He was usually so respectful and careful towards Nakoruru. The dog figured the coldness of the Ainu girl had gotten too much for Galford. Nakoruru didn't answer Galford. "No, I'm going back to the States. Where my home is and where the gals are normal." Nakoruru swallowed away some tears, something which Galford couldn't see. "I don't expect you to say good-bye, since I know you don't mean it. Your social skills are a bit behind, aren't they? Oh, but you don't need them. You prefer the cosy animals above your fellow humans." Galford lay down on his back and folded his hands behind his head. "Now go away. I want to catch some sleep before my ship comes. It's been a real pain in the back to know you." Nakoruru remained standing. She swallowed again. "Would you take me and my sister with you?" she asked suddenly, surprising Galford. "Right. And have you spoil my trip? I don't think so. Scram it." he said after a while. This was too much for Nakoruru. She turned around and started to walk away. When she reached the forest, she sat down against a tree and started to cry. She let herself and her tears go. She didn't care if anyone would see her. She wanted to let it all out. She didn't see Mamahaha flying over the tree, heading to Galford. The hawk landed next to Galford and started to flap her wings, disturbing him. "Why, you little..." Galford said, jumping up his feet and trying to grab the hawk. Mamahaha was faster than he was and flew up into the air. "I'll get you. Whatever it takes!" Galford yelled and started to chase Mamahaha, who flew in the direction where Nakoruru sat. As soon as Galford arrived at the spot where Nakoruru was crying, he stopped. "What's up, Nako? Did someone step on some flowers?" he asked sarcasticly. He started to laugh as Nakoruru looked up at him with salty tears on her cheeks. Suddenly, Galford made a strange gorgling sound and collapsed forward on the ground. A strange mist seemed to rise from his head and all of the sudden, Zankurou stood next to the motionless Galford. "Zankurou!" Nakoruru yelled. "Indeed." the demon said. "You had posessed him!" Nakoruru said, scared and happy at the same time. "Not really. I just... lightened his hatred."
"What do you mean?" Nakoruru asked, slowly standing up and reaching for her sword on her back. "You know, deep in his heart, he hates you. He hates you for everything you've done to him. I don't really blame him. You've hurt him so many times by ignoring him." Nakoruru tried to hide her tears. "Well, that's all I wanted to say. I'm off. Have fun in ruining his life." Zankurou said before he started to laugh. When Nakoruru blinked her eyes, the demon was gone, but his laughing echoed through the forest for some time. When it was gone, Galford slowly stood up with a low groan. Poppy, who had witnessed the scene from a distance barked happily. "What happened?" Galford groaned as he felt the back of his head with his hand. When he noticed Nakoruru, he looked at her with a vague expression on his face. "You were possessed by Zankurou." Nakoruru simply said. "I what...?" Galford asked, not able to fully comprehend it all. He noticed the tears on Nakoruru's cheeks. "Have I done anything? Have I hurt you?" he asked worried. Nakoruru shook her head. "Good." he said, smiling. He turned around and started to walk back to the shore. He remembered sitting there and waiting for his boat. Then everything had gotten black. He figured he would be wasting time saying good-bye to Nakoruru. She was sweet, but not really good in good-byes. Nakoruru opened her mouth. She wanted to call him back. To tell him her feelings. To be in love with him, but she knew she couldn't. It was bad that Galford had to suffer like this, but if she would give in to her feelings, if she would let herself go and fall in love, she would loose her ability to talk with Nature. And she would loose her ability to protect it. No, she had to keep him away from her. That would be best. Her own feelings didn't matter, though she felt sorry for Galford. "Good-bye, Galford." she said, just loud enough for the American to hear it. He looked over his shoulder. Nakoruru noticed he was sad, but there wasn't a thing she was supposed to do about it. And that made her even more sad. "Will you... miss me?" Galford asked in a last attempt. Nakoruru turned her back to him. "Go." she said, stabbing Galford and herself through their hearts. "I will miss you." Galford said in another attempt. "Just go, Galford. Don't miss the boat." Nakoruru said, knowing it sounded very inpolite. Galford swallowed an incoming wave of anger. He couldn't be angry with her. She meant too much for him. He started to walk back to the sea, wondering if Nakoruru would someday get someone to love. He just hoped that man would be able to take care for her perfectly. Poppy hung his head as he followed his master. And his friend.