From: makoto_chan83@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I don't own the El Hazard series or its characters. I am merely writing a fic of the series so please, don't sue me.
El Hazard: Unforseen consequences
By: -=|+|Makoto_chan|+|=-
-=|+|Chapter 2: Nightmares|+|=-
A dark shroud surrounded Makoto as he drifted away to wherever he faced before him. Hours passed by as he continued on floating out into space. "Where am I?" He asked himself as he overshadowed endless oceans of pitch-black matter. Then and there, a bright light that seemed to be a gateway opened up before Makoto and showed him what was in store for him. He shielded his eyes as a blinding light flashed once more before him. Blinking to clear his eyes Makoto saw a familiar image that was somehow unclear yet.
"Ifurita!!!" He shouted as he saw her lifeless body lying with her back on the ground. The portal admitted him in and Makoto attended unto her defunct body. "Ifurita! Ifurita!" Makoto cried as he called onto her as he cradled her head on his lap. Makoto wrapped his arms around the deceased Ifurita and then feeling something wrong with her back. He quickly turned around as he saw a terrible wound, which severed her ability to connect with the spring once more.
"Who could've done this? Why… Why?" Makoto shouted up into the heavens as torment and guilt tore his heart apart. He breathed deeply and trembled as he brushed out Ifurita's hair from her face and unto the side. Makoto kissed Ifurita on her forehead as he hugged her body from behind so ever tightly once more while it rested on Makoto's frame.
He then felt a sharp object enter through his back and drawn out after. Makoto then found it difficult to breathe as darkness began to weaken his sight. He soon fell down on his back together with Ifurita's lifeless body with him. He looked up and saw the face of his attacker standing and looking down before him. Another known figure appeared before Makoto as fear cringed up into his mind. "Kalia! You're… you're still alive?" Makoto asked as he struggled to sit up with hatred and anger in his eyes.
"Yup, and back with a vengeance!" Kalia replied with a menacing look on her face as she pointed her dagger like Gauntlets unto Makoto's face. "You know Makoto, you shouldn't have left her." She grinned as she looked at Ifurita.
"Did you kill her Kalia?" He snapped at her, weakening his state even more feeling his wound take its toll on him.
"Wow Makoto! How did you ever figure that one out? Duh! You should have seen how I played with her! Hahaha!" The girl's voice seemingly coming in from all directions. Makoto's face was filled with guilt as his heart began to crumble. "No… Ifurita, gomen…" He whispered to his love as Kalia cackled before his misery. Makoto cried at the loss of Ifurita and wept over her head embracing her once more, brushing his palm along her smooth face. The deed was done and Kalia was ready to finish the job she started. She stepped back and raised her forearm into the air.
"Bye-bye… Makoto" Once more, Kalia plunged her accursed spike into Makoto's back as darkness wrapped around his eyesight completely and Makoto faltered onto the ground lifeless beside his Ifurita.
-=|+|=-
"NOOOO!!!" Makoto sat up from his bed extending his arm upwards as if trying to reach something. Gasping for air as he came back to reality with his clothes wet from the sweat and his pulse beating wildly, now steadily starting to go back down. He held his hand onto his face musing about what he just saw. He looked out the window, and it was already morning. "It was only a nightmare… C'mon Makoto! Snap out of it!" He held his face with his hands trying to convince himself it was only a nightmare. "But it felt so real…" As if on cue Shayla with Nanami opened the doors, seeing the trembling Makoto tucked unto himself and crying.
They both approached him slowly to assess the situation and saw the immediate grief and confusion filled in his eyes. "Makoto… Daijobou? Are you all right?" Shayla and Nanami asked gently as both of them sat on his bed waiting intently for a reply.
"Shayla, Nanami… she's dead!" Makoto blurted out starting to tremble once more.
"Who? Who's dead?" Nanami asked placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I saw her… dead. Ifurita was murdered! Then I picked her up and cradled her in my arms…and… Kalia's alive…"
"What?" Both girls replied in Unison gaping at him from his response. "Makoto it was just a dream! Snap out of it! Kalia's a pool of greasy shit right now! Didn't you tell us?" Shayla voiced out as she shook some sense into him.
"But it was so real. I could feel it in myself. She's gone…" Makoto once more cried as tears streaked down his face.
"Stop it Makoto! A dream's a dream! Haven't you heard of the saying that; what happens in dreams are opposite if what's really going to happen?" Shayla spoke once more as they both tried to calm down Makoto.
"Then why do I still have this feeling in my gut?" He asked still hugging his knees while trying to get himself calmed down.
Both girls looked at him with deep concerns in their eyes, both wanting to do something to comfort him but decided to hold back on their feelings. "Maybe you're just hungry." Nanami tried to avert Makoto's attention into something else as their ideas started to decrease. "Yeah she's right! That's probably it." Shayla played along with Nanami's intention as she smiled gleefully on the worried lad. "C'mon, let's catch some breakfast, then we'll talk it over after. Okay?" Nanami asked once more.
Makoto reluctantly nodded in reply following them outside his room and into the dining hall where the three of them sat to eat. "Look's like Fuji and Mizu already went on to their honeymoon." Shayla said trying to start a conversation other than the dream Makoto just had looking at him hoping that she would get a reply. But to no avail, no answer was received from Makoto. He just sat there and ate his food but never tried in finishing it either. Both girls with worried faces looked upon both of their love interest as he then excused himself and stood up leaving the girls in the dining hall.
"Makoto… what's happening to you?" Shayla thought as she watched him walk away to reflect and think again of his nightmare.
"Makoto-chan…" Nanami whispered with her fist held close to her chest.
"What do you think Nanami?" Shayla asked her companion breaking the silence between the two of them.
"I think the thought of Ifurita's presence in a World not of hers is getting into him. He's starting to worry a lot and it's driving him nuts!" She replied folding her arms.
"Well if you love somebody, you're bound to do something crazy for him too." Shayla spoke out making Nanami nod in agreement at her comment.
"You're right Shayla, let's just be there for him when he needs us." The red haired maiden simply nodded a reply as they both finished up so that they may be able to look back on helping their friend in need.
"Nanami, where could he be?" Shayla asked the girl beside her as both walked briskly around the palace looking for Makoto.
"I guess its best we split up Shayla, we'll cover more space that way, I'll head for the garden you go for the library. Okay? See ya later." Nanami said as she hurried down into the garden.
"Great… just great." Shayla-Shayla grumbled, walking around the corridors still with a worried look on her face. She walked onwards in the library's direction, when she started musing about the night they spent together during the party. Thinking how she was in her Makoto's arms and how warm she felt with him. With a burning sensation and tingles up Shayla's back she melted in Makoto's embrace because of her burning passion for him "Makoto-chan…" She whispered his name stopping for a moment, closed her eyes and crossed her arms to touch her shoulders. Recalling the way her lips crushed his, sending her senses in a swirl. She Flashed back also on the way she caressed his cheek with her hand and felt his smooth skin passing through her palms. "Makoto, I… maybe I'm at fault…" Realizing what the effects of what she has done, the dance, and the kiss she shared with Makoto; those might be the acts that triggered the nightmares of Ifurita getting murdered and the problems he had in sleeping, she hurried into the library in the hope of finding him there. She gently opened the door and to her luck, Shayla saw Makoto, although down with books right in front of his face studying at the articles frantically in the hope of finding an answer for the riddle in his life: "How would I know if she's dead or alive?" Seeing her love's state once more in his dream, Shayla decided to approach him slowly. "Makoto-chan…" She decided to start slowly. Whispering his name before inching closer and closer.
"Shayla-chan, please not today. I had a rough night. I… I have to think… Could I have this day alone? Please?" He asked pleadingly at her, stopping Shayla in her tracks.
A long piece of silence shrouded the two. "I guess I better leave him then." She thought nodding her head in reply and once more she drew closer whispering something in his ear,
"Okay but, take care of yourself. You're making me and Nanami very worried." Shayla said ruffling Makoto's hair with her hands.
"Don't worry I will." Makoto replied forcing out a smile on his face.
Shayla walked out of the door still trying to look back at him and wondering if he's going to be okay. With one last look at her Makoto, Shayla shut the door and walked out. Walking in he direction away of the library Nanami found herself almost colliding with the Priestess across one of the halls in the palace. "Any luck?" Nanami asked immediately upon spotting her friend walking away from the library. "Yup… I found him in the library and No, I couldn't budge him from the books." Shayla said with a lopsided smile. "Really? Well I'm going there and give him a piece of my mind!" The blond haired girl replied brushing up her sleeves and starting trampling towards Makoto. She was about to open the door when a hand grasped her from the shoulder and turned her look away from the handle and towards Shayla. Shaking her head, Shayla motioned Nanami to the let the lad be and let Makoto work in peace. "What we could give him is our support and not a lecture to walk his life." Amazed Nanami gaped at the priestess. "Shayla? Since when have you been sensitive?" She asked with a very surprised tone.
"Shaddap!" She replied as Shayla walked away from the spot and went about her own way and so did the latter pacing her way away from the door.
With her out of the library, Makoto then stood up from his chair and started walking along the lone aisles of books and tomes. He started searching for articles that might be able to help him. From that start he worked at it until nightfall without even having meals in between. He forgot to eat after breakfast and also, becoming very tired from all the sleuthing he was conducting. He fell asleep on the palace library with his head on the table in between the pages of a book. "Ifurita…" were his last words before surrendering to fatigue. His love for her never faded and his display of dedication for her in this manner is proof enough.
The library doors, which haven't opened since late this morning, greeted Shayla-Shayla as she investigated what had happened since she left. "Makoto-chan…" She thought with pity in her eyes looking at the tired boy. She sat first on another chair that was next to him and for once in this day she saw peace in his face with a small smile left in him. Shayla brushed Makoto's hair to the side, as she perceived his tranquility during his sleep. "Come on Makoto, I'm taking you to bed." She whispered as she slung his arms around her shoulders and tried to bear his weight and lead him to his room.
"Arigatou… Shayla-chan." He said as he woke up for a second and dropped back to sleep.
Shayla then in reaching Makoto's room knelt down on the floor as to give leverage to drop Makoto softly on his bed. With the wind blowing coldly from the window she pulled Makoto's blanket up and tucked him to bed. For one last time, she looked at him lovingly and brushed her hand across his face. "Good night Makoto…" She said to him as she kissed him on the cheek bidding him farewell for the night.
Days had gone by and the same things happened from breakfast till nightfall. Makoto skips meals and manages to sleep on the library, Nanami and Shayla prowling on him trying to persuade him to try and take a break and Shayla-Shayla ending up carrying Makoto back to his room and tucking him to bed. "Why do I keep doing this?" Shayla asked herself but eventually answered herself "Its because you care for him and you love him you dummy! " Looking at him peacefully resting on his bed was a reward enough for her with one last look she kissed him once more and shut the door behind her.
More days passed by and the patient and clear-minded Makoto was getting non- productive results making him now hot tempered and getting more and more frustrated by the day as he knew Ifurita's status is very well unknown to him. The research never stopped, weeks passing by and a new season has already arrived.
Until on a summer night he woke up again shouting his love's name, "Ifurita!!!" Rising up from his bed extending his arm up to reach for her only to wake up once more. "Damn! What's going on?" Makoto asked himself placing his hand on his face. After a few moments of meditation, "I have to get back to work." Without another thought, he then got up and walked towards his place of sanctuary; the Library.
Makoto quickly went back into doing his research on getting back to Earth, working like a Flash of light darting from place to place in a hope of finding an answer.
Stirred by not only his presence moving about the palace before but also his external appearance, which was pale. Shayla went after him in an effort to get him back to take some rest. She went inside the library once more seeing Makoto flipping pages of books faster that you can imagine possible. Upon seeing him, Shayla approached Makoto to try in talking him out of it and continuing it tomorrow morning. "Makoto-chan… Ano…" Shayla said gently from across the hall.
A brief pause came next and then, "I'm busy." Makoto replied coldly while going through the pages. "But…Makoto-chan…" Shayla tried once more closing in on Makoto, only to be told to mind her own business.
"I told you I'm busy. Please leave me alone…" He replied as frustration clouded his better judgment and took over temper.
"Makoto-chan…Onegai…" Shayla pleaded, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Only to be turned down by Makoto. "What do you want with me anyway? I've done nothing wrong to you? Why don't you just leave me alone?!" He blurted out slamming his fists in the table and then turning around to glare at her.
"I just wanted you to relax a little bit…look at you. Your so thin and pale nowadays, Makoto I'm getting worried." Shayla tried explaining putting her hand on her heart.
"Maybe what you want is for me to never see Ifurita again!" Makoto raised his voice once more and silence filled the room as Shayla's eyes stared at Makoto awestricken. Shayla's palm flew on his face leaving a stinging sensation on Makoto's cheek as he soon found out Shayla slapped him. "Don't flatter yourself!" She scolded him pointing her finger at him.
Tears streaked down Shayla's cheeks as she stared blankly at Makoto, awestricken and blinded by his sharp response. Silence filled the room before Makoto saw her face in tears, and guilt began surging through his mind. His face turned to remorse for what he has done and tried to apologize to Shayla. "Shayla-chan, gomen…I didn't mean to…" "Makoto no- baka!" She cried out as more tears streaked down her cheeks. Shayla ran out of the library crying her heart out from the kind of thanks Makoto has given her for her undying concern of him.
"Shayla… wait! Damn…" Makoto cursed under his breath as he tried to call back Shayla. He closed the book he was scanning for information and chased after her.
"Shayla wait… I'm sorry…" Makoto thought once more as he cursed himself for lashing out like that, especially at somebody he knew cared for him dearly.
Shayla ran towards her room still weeping because of the incident that just occurred. His words once more rang across her mind. "Damn it Makoto! I just want to help you! What's wrong with you?" She cried closing the door behind her and throwing herself on her bed burying her face on the pillows.
A few moments passed and footsteps were heard outside followed then a knock came from the door but Shayla bluntly ignored it and sobbed on her bed.
The door opened gently letting Makoto inside her room. "Shayla- chan…" Makoto tried in calling her.
Realizing someone was in her room she sat up but with her back facing Makoto. "Go away…", was Shayla's reply. Trembling, she shed more tears down her cheeks and threw a large sum of guilt at Makoto. She knew she doesn't want him to go, but his actions against her were too painful to bear. His rejection of Shayla's help hurt her so much that the pain sank right deep in her heart where her feelings for Makoto was.
Makoto still went inside to try to apologize to her. "Shayla… I didn't mean to…"
"How dare you enter my room anyway!?" Shayla cut him off as she sat up from her bed and stared sharply at Makoto.
"Shayla-chan…" Makoto tried to explain but to no avail, "Makoto, please get out…"
"Shayla…" He said, as he made another effort to straighten matters up between them.
"I said get out! Do I have to go there and tell it right in your face!?" She yelled and cried even more as she realized she's starting to hurt her own feelings too.
Hesitantly Makoto started walking outside the door leaving Shayla; still having a thorn in her chest given by the one man she only knew how to love. Makoto cursed himself for doing such a thing. He gave one last look at Shayla from behind him and shut the door behind him. As soon as the doors closed Shayla once more buried her face on the sheets and wept over the thought of what Makoto and she have done to each other. "Makoto…what did I do to you? What? I just wanted to help you..." She again cried hitting the bed with her fist. Wiping the tear off her cheek, "Why… Why did you do this to me? When all I ever did was…was…" She cleared her throat once more as she continued on with her words. "When all I ever did was love you... I never asked you to give back the love I gave. I just want you to feel it." With those words, tears fell for one last time and Shayla succumbed to the exhaustion and fell asleep as her feelings pierced her forever-lonely heart.
"I'm such an idiot!" Makoto pounded his fist on the fall behind him as he leaned his back on it. Recalling what he did to Shayla; his friend, he harbored so much guilt inside him that he felt his chest growing heavier. Closing his eyes he then slid his back along the wall making him sit down on his bottom. Brushing his hair with his hands, he reflected on the wrong he did. "I was wrong Shayla-chan… I never considered your feelings for me. I could not reciprocate them because Ifurita already owns my heart… All you did was cheer me up right? Well, what did I do?" A long pause followed with Makoto closing his eyes as his eyelid begin to drop. "Gomenasai…Sorry…" With that Makoto slumped his head on his knees and fell asleep on the corner of his room.
-=|+|=-
Morning came and the light rays of the sun darted inside Makoto Mizuhara's room where slept a lumbering lad. He grouched as a continuous knock on the door woke him up. Hesitantly he stood up, still picking up from his sleep he opened the door. Seeing that it was Londs he tried his best to stand upright but leaned on the door for extra support.
"Master Makoto? Are you all right? Maybe what you need is a drink. So what do you say Young Master? Want to grab a few drinks and get some girls around town or would you prefer the Princess' chambermaids? I know you've been eyeing them. Bwahahaha! Everybody does!" Londs stood there and laughed.
"No I'm not all right, hey! What do you mean by that?" Makoto suddenly snapped out from his sleepy state and pointed at Londs. "I don't want a drink and I don't want a girl! Getting back to our topic, so in what way could I help you?" He changed the subject in an effort to divert the Chamberlain's attention away from him.
"Well Master, Mizu is now officially married right? So I'm here to remind you that today's the day that Princess Rune has told you to expect the new priestess will arrive.
"Oh… okay." Makoto simply nodded.
"Uh, Master Makoto there's one problem."
"And that is?" The lad asked
"The Priestess is here!" Londs exclaimed looking down on Makoto who dropped instantly on the floor.
His eyes quickly widened as he stood up and argued with the other, "You've been talking there for minutes about you and me getting drunk and going out for a night out with a girl when you could've told me that the priestess is already downstairs!? Tell them I'll be right down!" He stood up and shut the door as he ran for the shower to get a quick bath.
"Oh, and good luck young master!" Londs shouted opening the door and closing it once more. He shook his head with a chuckle and then headed downstairs.
Out came Makoto from the shower towards his closet, pulling out the usual white clothes that seem to be a uniform for him. One good look at the mirror he straightened his cap up and dashed for the throne room where the new Priestess was.
Makoto came crashing through the door as he slipped outside on the hallway and slid straight for the throne room.
A hand extended down to him as he stood up wiping the dust from his clothes.
"Arigatou for helping me up. Gomenasai…for being late." Makoto bowed down to the new priestess in giving a negative impression of him.
"You were right your highness, he's also cute." The girl smiled at him and then turned for the Princess.
Makoto blushed at the comment given to him… by someone he completely doesn't know. Eyeing the new priestess he promptly stood up and faced the princess.
"Good morning Makoto, how nice of you to join us. But not the type of entrance I've expected." With that the Princess and her guest giggled as they recalled how Makoto slid inside the room. He blushed in embarrassment realizing how foolish he looked.
"Makoto, I would like you to meet Qawool Towles, the new Priestess of Water. Qawool the lad in front of you is none other that Makoto Mizuhara, the hero of El Hazard."
"Makoto-sama, I've been dreaming of meeting you for the first time. Ohayo." Qawool bowed down in respect for the hero.
"Please, Makoto would just be fine." He waved his hands in front of him then putting his hands on Qawool's shoulders and standing her upright.
"I've been hearing these stories of your adventures, the way you tamed the demon Goddess Ifurita, the Fall of the Bugrom and…" Qawool stopped for a while as her eyes started to glisten.
"And… that you were a gentleman, kind hearted, compassionate, and most of all…" She paused once more as Makoto blushed wildly hearing these things about him specially that it's coming from a girl. Qawool mustered up all her courage,
"That you were so handsome that a lot of girls tend to fall in love with you. Now I see that it's true." She stopped and turned around shaking her head in excitement.
"Ehe…" Makoto stood there so surprised of Qawool's reaction on their first meeting giving out a confused look."
"Are you sure that was me? Maybe you got the thing about being handsome and all wrong. Ehe…" He tried denying her accounts of him.
"Oh, and he's modest too your highness." Qawool once more smiled at Rune who was all the time giggling to herself seeing the type of situation Mizuhara is in for.
Standing up from her seat Rune asked her audience, "Let us proceed to the garden shall we? Your sisters would meet us there Qawool."
Qawool and Makoto nodded both as they followed rune outside.
The sleeping redhead, knowing nothing of the events downstairs shifted in her sleep and from great discomfort woke up. "Unnnhhh… it's morning already?" She says as she buries her head once more under the sheets. "Why am I so tired all of the… oh…yeah…" She pauses, recalling the night before. Scenes from last night flashed back before her mind. "But Shayla…" He said, as he made another effort to straighten matters up between them.
"I said get out! Do I have to go there and tell it right in your face!?…" Shayla held her knees closer as the words rang out from her mind. She slammed her right fist repeatedly on the mattress "Baka! Baka! Baka!" as her breathing grew faster in her angst. Tears dropped once more from her eyes as Shayla struggled to control her feelings from overwhelming her. "Makoto…" She whispered his name, the name that always brighten up even her darkest days, as she held her knees closer once more embracing her knees and rocking herself back and forth.
"Shayla-Shayla! C'mon we're going to be late!" A knock came from the door; it was Afura-mahn trying to call her sister out from her chambers.
"What? What do you want?" She bluntly asked.
"Shayla! Are you all right?" Not expecting a reply like that, Afura asked nervously as she slowly opened the door perceiving her sister. What she saw completely surprised her. The Fire Priestess Shayla-Shayla, the one usually the most energetic amongst the three of them, was stressed out with tear streaks on her face. "Shayla, you look terrible! What happened?" She said trembling and hurried by her bedside.
"It's nothing…" Shayla shrugged the question off her, looking down once more on her bed's sheets, pride doing most of her actions.
"Shayla, I want to help. What are sisters for?" Afura spoke, putting her hand on Shayla's, which was resting on her lap.
"You wouldn't understand anyway." She pulled her arm from under Afura's, turning her back at her.
"Shayla…" She tried in calling her back and decides to just talk to her later. She just walks out of Shayla's room, and stood still for a moment. "Shayla, were both late for the ceremony, you'd better dress up and go…" Afura paused and looked back at Shayla, "I'll talk to you later sis." She said once more, leaving the girl still dazed and feeling sorry for herself.
Composing herself Shayla stood up and changed in to her normal clothes. During all that time her mind was clear about one thing, what just happened last night? Mixed emotions went through her head but the pain in her heart was the one that stood out the most. "Makoto…" Shayla left her room and hurriedly ran towards the palace gardens.
In the Garden stood Princess Rune, Afura-mahn and Makoto were greeting a new face in the palace. They were conversing with the girl. Apparently she was a shy type of person. From the looks of her face she's the type of girl that's scared to death of anything. Shayla carefully walked towards the trio calmly, trying not to make eye contact with Makoto because of a negative incident last night. Makoto on the other hand was trying to make one so that they could talk once more about what happened. "Shayla, Gomenasai…" Makoto said in his mind while looking at her, still determined to talk and fix matters between him and Shayla.
"Shayla-Shayla, I would like you to meet Miss Qawool, the next great priestess of Water. She's Mizu-san's replacement." Rune Venus smiled cheerfully as she introduced Qawool to her new sister. "Ohayo… I'm Qawool, nice to meet you at last Shayla-sama."
Prompting her to reply, Shayla stood in attention averting her from her dazed state. "Oh… right. Hahahaha! I'm Shayla-Shayla nice to meet you!" Shayla blurted out in a ditzy manner trying to hide her distress as she laughed and scratched her head as she acknowledged the former's greeting.
Afura-mahn and Rune Venus were both very much surprised at her reaction they both jumped to the side and looked at Shayla with a questioning look.
Makoto on the other hand was getting more and more guilty each passing moment as he saw the effects of last night's fight taking its toll on Shayla's behavior. Yet he was still very confused. "The fight we had… it was over myself and Ifurita?" His mind snapped back into reality when he heard Shayla laugh once more.
"Wow, everybody's so friendly today! I guess I'm going to have no problem here m'lady." Qawool simply beamed at them. "Right... Hahahaha!" Shayla laughed once more cocking her head backwards. On cue Afura and Rune jumped backwards once more looking at her in a manner that asks, "What the heck is with her?"
"Well since everybody's well acquainted now, does m'lady Rune and her guests want to catch some breakfast?" Chief Londs asked from behind them opening the door back inside.
"Ah, yes excellent, Qawool please do join us." Rune Venus invited the new priestess.
"Why, thank you very much. I would love too." Qawool spoke and smiled in response.
"Londs please lead the way." Rune asked her manservant into doing so, accompanying the five of them towards the dining hall.
While they were headed back Makoto held back behind the group and grabbed Shayla's hand and motioned her to stay. With pleading eyes he asked her once again, "Shayla… Gomen, please talk to me."
Looking at her hand being held like that, Shayla pulled it back from Makoto's grasp and walked inside with one last look of anger at him.
"Man…" He sighed as he bowed his head in failure and asked himself once more "What am I going to do? I'm worrying over two women in my life now, Ifurita and Shayla!" He clenched his fist and breathed out once more. Finally figuring he can do pretty much nothing at the moment, he went back inside and ate breakfast with the group shutting the door behind him.
"I have to admit, you're pretty smart Shayla. Makoto the one being chased is now the one chasing after you. A very nice plan I do say so myself." Fatora said with a smirk standing up from beyond the bushes.
"Oneesama (Shayla) never acted like that before? I wonder why?" Alielle whispered to herself beside Fatora.
"What do you think Alielle?" Fatora asked the imp-sized girl beside her.
"As long as you're here Fatora I'm just as happy!" Alielle grabbed Fatora from behind her in response, rubbing her hand across her curves.
"Hey! Wait a minute… Wait till we get to my room first." Fatora said with a sly grin in her face, as they both started walking back into Fatora's room going about what we think they are doing.
"Oneesama…" Alielle thought to herself as she stepped inside the shade of the door while being still attached to Fatora.
During their early meal Afura, Qawool and Rune started a conversation but the other two simply ate and kept their peace. Makoto and Shayla never spoke out their views and opinions, pointed out by the discussions between the five of them. Only when they were asked was when they replied with a simple nod or a fake smile.
During Qawool's ceremony both were unusually apart as they almost always found Shayla brushing up to Makoto. Seeing the repulsion between the two, Afura was determined to set things right. Seeing how the crowd cheered when she was proclaimed the new priestess of water, it was assured that she did a great job in her ordination. Congratulations followed Qawool but both Makoto and Shayla never approached her at the same time, nor had the mood to do so. Seeing this Afura made a conclusion that the recurring disagreement was a very delicate and serious matter.
The same events repeated itself during lunch and at last dinner as silence wrapped both Shayla and Makoto. Making all their companions very worried, they still kept their peace, negating the urge to tell someone of their troubles.
"I'm done." Shayla said standing up and walking out of her place, back to her room.
"I'm done too." Makoto did the same but he walked towards the place he had peace the most; he went to the garden once more to do what he usually does... Thinking. Eyes watched them both as they shut the door behind them one at a time.
At the last sight of Makoto, "What is wrong with those two? Why the cold shoulder?" Rune Venus asked Afura with a tone of concern.
"I don't know your highness but I'm was trying to find out earlier with Shayla but, she simply shrugs me off." Afura replied, staring blankly back at her plate.
"Maybe I could help…" Qawool said in a small voice. As both ladies looked back at her.
"Maybe she can…" Rune Venus whispered at Afura.
"Yeah, she can talk to Makoto, I'll take care of my sister." Afura murmured back.
"I could hear you!" Qawool exclaimed at them making the two look back at her with surprised looks on their faces.
"Errr…right." The older pair gaped in response at her as they still continued in talking about their friend's anxieties. After a few more minutes to finish their meal Rune stood up. "All right, ladies you may do as you please now. Qawool you'll be like living here so before we show you to your room please feel free to walk around the palace. Okay?"
"Thank you your Highness." Qawool smiled in response and standing up walking to wards the door.
"I guess I'll be on my way now your highness, I'll talk to Shayla." Afura- mahn once more spoke looking back at the situation of Shayla and Makoto.
"Good luck!" Rune told her as Afura stepped before exiting the hall, stopping in front of it and gave Rune a raised brow.
"You're going to need it." The princess folded her arms in response. Afura seemed to have just shrugged it of and went on her way. Behind her followed Qawool who seems to have a lot on her mind concerning her sister and Makoto.
-=|+|=-
Along a straight walkway, Afura and Qawool conversed about Shayla and Makoto. The Two were really getting along well, sharing both insights and proper mannerisms of a Priestess of Mt. Muldoon. The younger one was really acting how a proper lady should be. "Afura, is Makoto-cha… I mean Makoto-sama a nice guy?" She asked her older sister.
"Why do you ask?" Afura looked at her with a questioning look.
"Well… if he is a nice guy, then why is Sister Shayla mad at him?"
Afura rolled her eyes up and murmured something about her companion. "Qawool's still like a child" She whispered to herself.
"What was that sis?" The blue haired girl asked upon hearing something.
"Uh… It's nothing." Afura covered her mouth in surprise. "Wow, for some girl she sure got strong ears." She thought to herself, "To tell you frankly that's what we're trying to get at." She paused as both stopped in a hallway where one way leads upstairs to the quarters and the other leads outside. "Well Qawool, good luck. I must have a talk with our sis. Oh… and congratulations; sister." As she motioned her friend that she'll be along her way, Afura gave Qawool a sister's embrace, welcoming her to their guild; the priestesses of Mt. Muldoon. The newest priestess had a feeling of acceptance; she now indeed has friends. The elder among the two gave one more reminder and she then headed upstairs for Shayla's room.
"Hmm… now what am I supposed to do now? Maybe I'll just go back in the place where we all met earlier, they have such lovely flowers there." Qawool smiled at the sight of the pretty plants around her. Without thinking twice she took off for the Palace Garden where unknown to her a lonely figure sat on a bench reminiscing his faults on a certain girl that never did anything to him except being there for him.
Makoto sat alone on a bench, with his chin resting on his hand, he continued on kicking himself for what happened. "Why am I feeling this way, it's not like I'm romantically involved with her…or am I?" He asked himself that as thoughts poured into his mind. Feeling that someone was at his backside, Makoto quickly spun around and saw Qawool smiling at him.
"Oh… Hi Qawool." He forced out a small smile at her and tried to start a conversation but just wasn't in the mood so he slumped himself once more on his hand and then looking up into the dark skies of El Hazard.
Qawool simply walked in front and sat beside her new friend. "Makoto-sama, you know you should try to cheer up a bit!" She looked at him and smiled.
"Funny… That's what Shayla said too." Makoto thought remembering the words that usually kept him up during his work in the library. "What do you suggest I do?" He replied in a not too friendly manner.
"Well, you could tell me everything or… you I could just leave you here and keep that thing in you eat you away. You know Makoto-sama, when you keep difficulties inside you like that you'd grow older faster." The priestess replied trying not to giggle at her comment.
"Okay, I'll tell you." He paused for a while surrendering to her convincing chatter. "It all started with a dream…" Makoto at last, smiled at her for a moment and started discussing the matter with her. Qawool was so happy to be actually helping someone, she dreamed of fighting and protecting others with the powers of the elements but right now, she was well contented with just helping by absorbing the pain from someone's heart.
Up in another part of the palace Afura-mahn is seen gently knocking on somebody's door. "Shayla-Shayla, it's me sis, Afura. Can we talk?" The door gently opened with Shayla there to greet her. Her eyes were all red and Shayla's anguish can be clearly seen on her face. She was an image of a girl with a tormented heart.
Both ladies sat on Shayla's bed as Afura started the conversation. "By the Gods, what happened to you Shayla?" Afura brushed her sis' hair covering her eyes. She looked at Shayla with deep concern, just by seeing her eyes; Afura knew that she was crying. "That Makoto Mizuhara better hide now!" The Wind swirled around Afura as she stood up and started channeling her element's powers but was drawn to a halt as Shayla put her hand on her sister's shoulders figuratively trying to tell her to calm down and listen. Instinctively, Afura sat down; readily listening to whatever Shayla has to say.
"It all started with a dream." She started telling Afura the incident's roots and how everything linked up. Soon, Shayla's eyes were becoming watery and her light green eyes started to darken, she couldn't take it anymore and laid her head on Afura's lap and started trembling. "Don't worry sis, everything will turn out right." Afura said with a smile on her face assuring Shayla of what she said.
"I hope so too, I can't take anymore of this. I… I shouldn't have shared that kiss with him… It gave me too much hope… hope that he can be mine and I can be his. That was my mistake. Then this dreams came popping about Ifurita… He still loves her, but I still love him though…" Shayla said staring into her sister's eyes.
"I know you do. Now get some rest and stop crying, fate will fix everything." With that Shayla sat up once more and embraced Afura with all her might.
"Thanks sis, thanks for cheering me up." She said with a smile.
"What are sisters for? Now don't let that smile wipe away." Afura replied with a smile, standing up and started walking out the door. She felt proud of herself that she partially removed Shayla from the dilemma she was in. Afura opened the door and with one last look at her sis, "You take care of yourself you hear?"
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Afura." Shayla smiled once more, seeing her sister came once more to her rescue. Seeing the door close, she shut her eyes, catching up from the sleep she never had last night. She was thinking of Makoto; as soon as she closed down her eyelids, she was already in deep slumber. Her face now with a look of inner peace and silence, she was now in serene fields; which made her feel that everything will be all right.
Down once more in palace grounds two new friends talk about the other's troubles. "So this thing started because of another girl?" Qawool exclaimed, "I thought sister Shayla was his girlfriend!" she thought, getting somewhat confused but gets it anyway. "So who's Ifurita?" She asked trying to get to the main point in the story.
"Ifurita's the one who sent us into El Hazard; we're people from earth…" Makoto continued on his story about how they where transported through space and time and reached El Hazard. The listener took special attention on the matter, as he wanted to know more about the Great Makoto Mizuhara. His story about their exploits and adventures ended with the wedding and until the time they both met. "So that's almost about it." Makoto said with a smile, averting his gaze to the stars this time. Never seeming to choose the time to think of other things.
"One thing puzzles me Makoto-sama…"
"What is it?"
"If Shayla-sama and you are not yet romantically involved, then why are you fighting like this? What are both your problems?"
"Arigatou for asking… Qawool, we have been through a lot together, believe me, not only Shayla, and me but also Afura and Mizu-san. Even Princess Rune took part in our adventures. So as we fought our way through a lot of trials, we became very close friends with each other. For Shayla… I knew she loved me, heck who wouldn't? With her giving me so many hints about marriage and going out on a date." Makoto narrated with a lopsided grin on, but soon faded when the subject matter came at hand. "I never tried to return those feelings because I only loved Ifurita. Now we fought because I never understood her and shot up at her when she offered her help and concern for me. She's my friend Qawool, and I never want to see my friends in pain or in tears. Do you understand why we're feeling this way?" The lad asked with teary eyes, in which the priestess just nodded a reply.
"Thanks Qawool, for talking to me. It really helped! Really!" Makoto said with an appraising smile, the burden he was carrying, he carried not alone anymore. Makoto stood up and extended his hand to the maiden.
"Shall we go now? It's getting…"
"Makoto-chan!" A shrill voice cut Makoto off; it came from a well-known person standing before the garden.
"Nanami-chan." Makoto waved back at his friend motioning her to come over. Nanami then ran over to his side with a smile on her face only to be surprised that there was another girl with him.
"Eek! Whose that new girl?" She thought nervously, jealousy started forming inside her, hoping she was just there by mistake she slowly walked towards the two.
"Nanami, meet the newly ordained priestess of Water. Her name's Qawool, she just arrived in Floristica earlier this morning." Makoto smiled as he introduced both of them to each other. "Qawool, Nanami's a friend from Earth, she came here with me."
"Hi Nanami-san, it is nice to finally meet you." Qawool shook hands with her and exchanged smiles with each other.
"It's nice to meet you too!" Nanami replied with a smile, "At least she's not a lesbian." She said underneath her breath. Skulking every time she recalled how Alielle would grab her and feel her curves. "Ugh…" She groaned once more.
"What did you say Nanami-san?"
"What? Nothing Qawool, Hahahaha!" She cocked her head back and laughed hysterically.
"I think I know what she means, ehe." Makoto sighed, as he looked at Nanami with a funny face.
Getting herself back to composure, "Well nice meeting you Qawool, sorry but I gotta go now, my restaurant needs attention right now. It's closing time and I wouldn't want anybody stealing from the counter right? Besides I just dropped by to check on you Makoto-chan." Nanami seeing her chance, suddenly cupped Makoto's cheeks with both hands and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Seeya!" Nanami gave Qawool a quick hug and then ran off for her obligation. "Yata!" Nanami screamed inside herself and jumped up in the air as she ran off for her duty as the Owner of a dive in Floristica.
"What was that for?" Makoto asked out aloud while scratching his head through his white cap. Touching his lips once he then looked at his fingers with amazement in his eyes. "Why don't these guys tell me when they're going to kiss me!" He stood on the bench and shook his fists in the air at the fleeing Nanami.
"So was she umm… one of the girls you and sister Shayla were fighting about?" Qawool interrupted his going amok but now with a frown in her face as if jealousy took over her.
"What? Oh… no. But I think she will be! Ugghhh!!! Shayla would never speak to me again if she found out!"
"Hahaha Makoto!" Qawool giggled with a mischievous grin on her face.
"Hey Qawool don't joke around like that! Stop kidding around! You wouldn't tell anyone right?"
Qawool simply gave him a grin making the lad nervous as ever. Makoto pleaded with all the reasoning he had as she held Qawool on the shoulders and shook her up.
"Relax Makoto, I won't tell anyone. But…"
"But what?" He asked nervously.
"But you have to promise to show me around Floristica!" Qawool exclaimed.
"Wha?! But why?" Makoto asked once more this time looking at her straight in the eye.
"Because, I'm new around here and I need someone to show me around."
"Why don't you ask Nanami? She's always in town and girls usually have fun together." He tried to differ as fear of getting into more trouble with the girls formed at the back of his mind.
"Okay I could try that, but… I guess sister Shayla would never speak to you again." She said once more with sly smile written on her face.
"Argg… That's black mail!"
"Nope… Its called bargaining!" The priestess held both her hands behind her and gave the lad a convincing look.
"Okay, okay, and maybe its time I took a break. All this worrying is really getting to me." Makoto forced himself to agree making Qawool smile once more.
"Yata!" The priestess cried out, jumping on him forcing him to tumble onto the grass with Qawool on top of him.
"Ouch! Hey don't get too excited!" Makoto held his head due to the unexpected course of action taken by Qawool. He slightly leaned up still with her on top of him, and he tried looking around is someone saw them.
"Well, what do we have here?" A figure spoke as it slowly hovered down onto the grass.
"Oh no, not again…" Makoto said worriedly.
"Hi Makoto!" Afura-mahn greeted the Earthling with a crafty smile, standing and looking down at him.
"Afura quiet down! It's not what you think!"
"Really? Then why aren't you getting her off you?" The wind priestess interrogated his friend raising her brow.
"I said not so loud! What? Qawool please get off me." Makoto picked himself and Qawool, both dusting themselves up and fixing their hair.
"You know Mizuhara, I've gone through a lot of trouble trying to cheer up your girlfriend upstairs, but I think it's gone to waste when I get here and you're already getting down with her!"
"Afura, I'm begging you! Please don't tell Shayla! Qawool would explain. Right Qawool?" Makoto once more pleaded and looked at Qawool for support, but none came as she stared blankly into the horizon as she blushed about what just occurred.
Makoto looked at her with distress, "Gaah! Qawool come on speak to her." He turned her around and shook the priestess from her ditzy state.
Getting her mind back to her body, "Uhh…. I mean, He's right sister Afura, I dove on him because… because I was just so happy!"
"Happy about what?" Afura gave Makoto a questioning stare raising her brow once more.
"Well… He's taking me around town tomorrow. Ehe." Qawool gave a sheepish smile.
"And why would he do that for you?" Afura then grabbed Makoto by the collar and looked at him with a menacing grin. Her vein was clearly shown on her temple as her teeth bared before him.
"Because Nanami…" Qawool continued, but Makoto cut her off.
"No Qawool, don't tell her!" Makoto once more pleaded as he hung by a thread from being strangled by Afura who held him fast by the collar.
"Nanami gave him a kiss."
"Gyah! Afura I didn't kiss her! It was more like Nanami kissing me!" He begged Afura.
"Mizuhara! What have you been thinking?! You know what would happen if it was Shayla that saw that! MAKOTO you moron!" The wind priestess shook him some more before pushing him down on the grass. Upon calming down, Afura fixed her dress that got a bit shabby from the scuffle.
"Knowing Shayla I won't tell her."
"Thank you, thank you!" Makoto upon hearing this groveled before the wind priestess' feet.
"If…" She smiled with a sly grin.
"Oh no! If what?" Makoto stood up and glared at her.
"Heehee You'll find out. First of all follow me." Afura lead the way as Makoto followed behind grumbling, leaving Qawool awestruck and dazed of what just happened.
Getting herself back from the clouds, "Makoto-sama! Don't forget! I'll see you tomorrow! Okay?" She shouted at the unsettled lad. He replied, waving his hand above his head.
"Man! What a long day this is!" He complained under his breath.
"You better stop complaining Mizuhara, you better save your breath! It's going to be a long night!" Afura turned around and smiled at him.
"Afura! Don't smile at me like that!" He waved his hands in front of him.
She shrugged the comment off and continued on up the steps.
Afura pulled him inside her room and shut the door behind them.
"Argh! Don't let me do that! I need my rest too you know?"
"Quit whining and get over here!" She commanded Makoto as he dragged himself to where Afura was.
"Man, I think I won't be having dinner either." He groaned once more as he did what Afura has directed him to do.
-=|+|End of Chapter 2|+|=-
Author's notes: I like the readers so much!!! They give so much and detailed comments I get chances for improving! More comments please!
Disclaimer: I don't own the El Hazard series or its characters. I am merely writing a fic of the series so please, don't sue me.
El Hazard: Unforseen consequences
By: -=|+|Makoto_chan|+|=-
-=|+|Chapter 2: Nightmares|+|=-
A dark shroud surrounded Makoto as he drifted away to wherever he faced before him. Hours passed by as he continued on floating out into space. "Where am I?" He asked himself as he overshadowed endless oceans of pitch-black matter. Then and there, a bright light that seemed to be a gateway opened up before Makoto and showed him what was in store for him. He shielded his eyes as a blinding light flashed once more before him. Blinking to clear his eyes Makoto saw a familiar image that was somehow unclear yet.
"Ifurita!!!" He shouted as he saw her lifeless body lying with her back on the ground. The portal admitted him in and Makoto attended unto her defunct body. "Ifurita! Ifurita!" Makoto cried as he called onto her as he cradled her head on his lap. Makoto wrapped his arms around the deceased Ifurita and then feeling something wrong with her back. He quickly turned around as he saw a terrible wound, which severed her ability to connect with the spring once more.
"Who could've done this? Why… Why?" Makoto shouted up into the heavens as torment and guilt tore his heart apart. He breathed deeply and trembled as he brushed out Ifurita's hair from her face and unto the side. Makoto kissed Ifurita on her forehead as he hugged her body from behind so ever tightly once more while it rested on Makoto's frame.
He then felt a sharp object enter through his back and drawn out after. Makoto then found it difficult to breathe as darkness began to weaken his sight. He soon fell down on his back together with Ifurita's lifeless body with him. He looked up and saw the face of his attacker standing and looking down before him. Another known figure appeared before Makoto as fear cringed up into his mind. "Kalia! You're… you're still alive?" Makoto asked as he struggled to sit up with hatred and anger in his eyes.
"Yup, and back with a vengeance!" Kalia replied with a menacing look on her face as she pointed her dagger like Gauntlets unto Makoto's face. "You know Makoto, you shouldn't have left her." She grinned as she looked at Ifurita.
"Did you kill her Kalia?" He snapped at her, weakening his state even more feeling his wound take its toll on him.
"Wow Makoto! How did you ever figure that one out? Duh! You should have seen how I played with her! Hahaha!" The girl's voice seemingly coming in from all directions. Makoto's face was filled with guilt as his heart began to crumble. "No… Ifurita, gomen…" He whispered to his love as Kalia cackled before his misery. Makoto cried at the loss of Ifurita and wept over her head embracing her once more, brushing his palm along her smooth face. The deed was done and Kalia was ready to finish the job she started. She stepped back and raised her forearm into the air.
"Bye-bye… Makoto" Once more, Kalia plunged her accursed spike into Makoto's back as darkness wrapped around his eyesight completely and Makoto faltered onto the ground lifeless beside his Ifurita.
-=|+|=-
"NOOOO!!!" Makoto sat up from his bed extending his arm upwards as if trying to reach something. Gasping for air as he came back to reality with his clothes wet from the sweat and his pulse beating wildly, now steadily starting to go back down. He held his hand onto his face musing about what he just saw. He looked out the window, and it was already morning. "It was only a nightmare… C'mon Makoto! Snap out of it!" He held his face with his hands trying to convince himself it was only a nightmare. "But it felt so real…" As if on cue Shayla with Nanami opened the doors, seeing the trembling Makoto tucked unto himself and crying.
They both approached him slowly to assess the situation and saw the immediate grief and confusion filled in his eyes. "Makoto… Daijobou? Are you all right?" Shayla and Nanami asked gently as both of them sat on his bed waiting intently for a reply.
"Shayla, Nanami… she's dead!" Makoto blurted out starting to tremble once more.
"Who? Who's dead?" Nanami asked placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I saw her… dead. Ifurita was murdered! Then I picked her up and cradled her in my arms…and… Kalia's alive…"
"What?" Both girls replied in Unison gaping at him from his response. "Makoto it was just a dream! Snap out of it! Kalia's a pool of greasy shit right now! Didn't you tell us?" Shayla voiced out as she shook some sense into him.
"But it was so real. I could feel it in myself. She's gone…" Makoto once more cried as tears streaked down his face.
"Stop it Makoto! A dream's a dream! Haven't you heard of the saying that; what happens in dreams are opposite if what's really going to happen?" Shayla spoke once more as they both tried to calm down Makoto.
"Then why do I still have this feeling in my gut?" He asked still hugging his knees while trying to get himself calmed down.
Both girls looked at him with deep concerns in their eyes, both wanting to do something to comfort him but decided to hold back on their feelings. "Maybe you're just hungry." Nanami tried to avert Makoto's attention into something else as their ideas started to decrease. "Yeah she's right! That's probably it." Shayla played along with Nanami's intention as she smiled gleefully on the worried lad. "C'mon, let's catch some breakfast, then we'll talk it over after. Okay?" Nanami asked once more.
Makoto reluctantly nodded in reply following them outside his room and into the dining hall where the three of them sat to eat. "Look's like Fuji and Mizu already went on to their honeymoon." Shayla said trying to start a conversation other than the dream Makoto just had looking at him hoping that she would get a reply. But to no avail, no answer was received from Makoto. He just sat there and ate his food but never tried in finishing it either. Both girls with worried faces looked upon both of their love interest as he then excused himself and stood up leaving the girls in the dining hall.
"Makoto… what's happening to you?" Shayla thought as she watched him walk away to reflect and think again of his nightmare.
"Makoto-chan…" Nanami whispered with her fist held close to her chest.
"What do you think Nanami?" Shayla asked her companion breaking the silence between the two of them.
"I think the thought of Ifurita's presence in a World not of hers is getting into him. He's starting to worry a lot and it's driving him nuts!" She replied folding her arms.
"Well if you love somebody, you're bound to do something crazy for him too." Shayla spoke out making Nanami nod in agreement at her comment.
"You're right Shayla, let's just be there for him when he needs us." The red haired maiden simply nodded a reply as they both finished up so that they may be able to look back on helping their friend in need.
"Nanami, where could he be?" Shayla asked the girl beside her as both walked briskly around the palace looking for Makoto.
"I guess its best we split up Shayla, we'll cover more space that way, I'll head for the garden you go for the library. Okay? See ya later." Nanami said as she hurried down into the garden.
"Great… just great." Shayla-Shayla grumbled, walking around the corridors still with a worried look on her face. She walked onwards in the library's direction, when she started musing about the night they spent together during the party. Thinking how she was in her Makoto's arms and how warm she felt with him. With a burning sensation and tingles up Shayla's back she melted in Makoto's embrace because of her burning passion for him "Makoto-chan…" She whispered his name stopping for a moment, closed her eyes and crossed her arms to touch her shoulders. Recalling the way her lips crushed his, sending her senses in a swirl. She Flashed back also on the way she caressed his cheek with her hand and felt his smooth skin passing through her palms. "Makoto, I… maybe I'm at fault…" Realizing what the effects of what she has done, the dance, and the kiss she shared with Makoto; those might be the acts that triggered the nightmares of Ifurita getting murdered and the problems he had in sleeping, she hurried into the library in the hope of finding him there. She gently opened the door and to her luck, Shayla saw Makoto, although down with books right in front of his face studying at the articles frantically in the hope of finding an answer for the riddle in his life: "How would I know if she's dead or alive?" Seeing her love's state once more in his dream, Shayla decided to approach him slowly. "Makoto-chan…" She decided to start slowly. Whispering his name before inching closer and closer.
"Shayla-chan, please not today. I had a rough night. I… I have to think… Could I have this day alone? Please?" He asked pleadingly at her, stopping Shayla in her tracks.
A long piece of silence shrouded the two. "I guess I better leave him then." She thought nodding her head in reply and once more she drew closer whispering something in his ear,
"Okay but, take care of yourself. You're making me and Nanami very worried." Shayla said ruffling Makoto's hair with her hands.
"Don't worry I will." Makoto replied forcing out a smile on his face.
Shayla walked out of the door still trying to look back at him and wondering if he's going to be okay. With one last look at her Makoto, Shayla shut the door and walked out. Walking in he direction away of the library Nanami found herself almost colliding with the Priestess across one of the halls in the palace. "Any luck?" Nanami asked immediately upon spotting her friend walking away from the library. "Yup… I found him in the library and No, I couldn't budge him from the books." Shayla said with a lopsided smile. "Really? Well I'm going there and give him a piece of my mind!" The blond haired girl replied brushing up her sleeves and starting trampling towards Makoto. She was about to open the door when a hand grasped her from the shoulder and turned her look away from the handle and towards Shayla. Shaking her head, Shayla motioned Nanami to the let the lad be and let Makoto work in peace. "What we could give him is our support and not a lecture to walk his life." Amazed Nanami gaped at the priestess. "Shayla? Since when have you been sensitive?" She asked with a very surprised tone.
"Shaddap!" She replied as Shayla walked away from the spot and went about her own way and so did the latter pacing her way away from the door.
With her out of the library, Makoto then stood up from his chair and started walking along the lone aisles of books and tomes. He started searching for articles that might be able to help him. From that start he worked at it until nightfall without even having meals in between. He forgot to eat after breakfast and also, becoming very tired from all the sleuthing he was conducting. He fell asleep on the palace library with his head on the table in between the pages of a book. "Ifurita…" were his last words before surrendering to fatigue. His love for her never faded and his display of dedication for her in this manner is proof enough.
The library doors, which haven't opened since late this morning, greeted Shayla-Shayla as she investigated what had happened since she left. "Makoto-chan…" She thought with pity in her eyes looking at the tired boy. She sat first on another chair that was next to him and for once in this day she saw peace in his face with a small smile left in him. Shayla brushed Makoto's hair to the side, as she perceived his tranquility during his sleep. "Come on Makoto, I'm taking you to bed." She whispered as she slung his arms around her shoulders and tried to bear his weight and lead him to his room.
"Arigatou… Shayla-chan." He said as he woke up for a second and dropped back to sleep.
Shayla then in reaching Makoto's room knelt down on the floor as to give leverage to drop Makoto softly on his bed. With the wind blowing coldly from the window she pulled Makoto's blanket up and tucked him to bed. For one last time, she looked at him lovingly and brushed her hand across his face. "Good night Makoto…" She said to him as she kissed him on the cheek bidding him farewell for the night.
Days had gone by and the same things happened from breakfast till nightfall. Makoto skips meals and manages to sleep on the library, Nanami and Shayla prowling on him trying to persuade him to try and take a break and Shayla-Shayla ending up carrying Makoto back to his room and tucking him to bed. "Why do I keep doing this?" Shayla asked herself but eventually answered herself "Its because you care for him and you love him you dummy! " Looking at him peacefully resting on his bed was a reward enough for her with one last look she kissed him once more and shut the door behind her.
More days passed by and the patient and clear-minded Makoto was getting non- productive results making him now hot tempered and getting more and more frustrated by the day as he knew Ifurita's status is very well unknown to him. The research never stopped, weeks passing by and a new season has already arrived.
Until on a summer night he woke up again shouting his love's name, "Ifurita!!!" Rising up from his bed extending his arm up to reach for her only to wake up once more. "Damn! What's going on?" Makoto asked himself placing his hand on his face. After a few moments of meditation, "I have to get back to work." Without another thought, he then got up and walked towards his place of sanctuary; the Library.
Makoto quickly went back into doing his research on getting back to Earth, working like a Flash of light darting from place to place in a hope of finding an answer.
Stirred by not only his presence moving about the palace before but also his external appearance, which was pale. Shayla went after him in an effort to get him back to take some rest. She went inside the library once more seeing Makoto flipping pages of books faster that you can imagine possible. Upon seeing him, Shayla approached Makoto to try in talking him out of it and continuing it tomorrow morning. "Makoto-chan… Ano…" Shayla said gently from across the hall.
A brief pause came next and then, "I'm busy." Makoto replied coldly while going through the pages. "But…Makoto-chan…" Shayla tried once more closing in on Makoto, only to be told to mind her own business.
"I told you I'm busy. Please leave me alone…" He replied as frustration clouded his better judgment and took over temper.
"Makoto-chan…Onegai…" Shayla pleaded, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Only to be turned down by Makoto. "What do you want with me anyway? I've done nothing wrong to you? Why don't you just leave me alone?!" He blurted out slamming his fists in the table and then turning around to glare at her.
"I just wanted you to relax a little bit…look at you. Your so thin and pale nowadays, Makoto I'm getting worried." Shayla tried explaining putting her hand on her heart.
"Maybe what you want is for me to never see Ifurita again!" Makoto raised his voice once more and silence filled the room as Shayla's eyes stared at Makoto awestricken. Shayla's palm flew on his face leaving a stinging sensation on Makoto's cheek as he soon found out Shayla slapped him. "Don't flatter yourself!" She scolded him pointing her finger at him.
Tears streaked down Shayla's cheeks as she stared blankly at Makoto, awestricken and blinded by his sharp response. Silence filled the room before Makoto saw her face in tears, and guilt began surging through his mind. His face turned to remorse for what he has done and tried to apologize to Shayla. "Shayla-chan, gomen…I didn't mean to…" "Makoto no- baka!" She cried out as more tears streaked down her cheeks. Shayla ran out of the library crying her heart out from the kind of thanks Makoto has given her for her undying concern of him.
"Shayla… wait! Damn…" Makoto cursed under his breath as he tried to call back Shayla. He closed the book he was scanning for information and chased after her.
"Shayla wait… I'm sorry…" Makoto thought once more as he cursed himself for lashing out like that, especially at somebody he knew cared for him dearly.
Shayla ran towards her room still weeping because of the incident that just occurred. His words once more rang across her mind. "Damn it Makoto! I just want to help you! What's wrong with you?" She cried closing the door behind her and throwing herself on her bed burying her face on the pillows.
A few moments passed and footsteps were heard outside followed then a knock came from the door but Shayla bluntly ignored it and sobbed on her bed.
The door opened gently letting Makoto inside her room. "Shayla- chan…" Makoto tried in calling her.
Realizing someone was in her room she sat up but with her back facing Makoto. "Go away…", was Shayla's reply. Trembling, she shed more tears down her cheeks and threw a large sum of guilt at Makoto. She knew she doesn't want him to go, but his actions against her were too painful to bear. His rejection of Shayla's help hurt her so much that the pain sank right deep in her heart where her feelings for Makoto was.
Makoto still went inside to try to apologize to her. "Shayla… I didn't mean to…"
"How dare you enter my room anyway!?" Shayla cut him off as she sat up from her bed and stared sharply at Makoto.
"Shayla-chan…" Makoto tried to explain but to no avail, "Makoto, please get out…"
"Shayla…" He said, as he made another effort to straighten matters up between them.
"I said get out! Do I have to go there and tell it right in your face!?" She yelled and cried even more as she realized she's starting to hurt her own feelings too.
Hesitantly Makoto started walking outside the door leaving Shayla; still having a thorn in her chest given by the one man she only knew how to love. Makoto cursed himself for doing such a thing. He gave one last look at Shayla from behind him and shut the door behind him. As soon as the doors closed Shayla once more buried her face on the sheets and wept over the thought of what Makoto and she have done to each other. "Makoto…what did I do to you? What? I just wanted to help you..." She again cried hitting the bed with her fist. Wiping the tear off her cheek, "Why… Why did you do this to me? When all I ever did was…was…" She cleared her throat once more as she continued on with her words. "When all I ever did was love you... I never asked you to give back the love I gave. I just want you to feel it." With those words, tears fell for one last time and Shayla succumbed to the exhaustion and fell asleep as her feelings pierced her forever-lonely heart.
"I'm such an idiot!" Makoto pounded his fist on the fall behind him as he leaned his back on it. Recalling what he did to Shayla; his friend, he harbored so much guilt inside him that he felt his chest growing heavier. Closing his eyes he then slid his back along the wall making him sit down on his bottom. Brushing his hair with his hands, he reflected on the wrong he did. "I was wrong Shayla-chan… I never considered your feelings for me. I could not reciprocate them because Ifurita already owns my heart… All you did was cheer me up right? Well, what did I do?" A long pause followed with Makoto closing his eyes as his eyelid begin to drop. "Gomenasai…Sorry…" With that Makoto slumped his head on his knees and fell asleep on the corner of his room.
-=|+|=-
Morning came and the light rays of the sun darted inside Makoto Mizuhara's room where slept a lumbering lad. He grouched as a continuous knock on the door woke him up. Hesitantly he stood up, still picking up from his sleep he opened the door. Seeing that it was Londs he tried his best to stand upright but leaned on the door for extra support.
"Master Makoto? Are you all right? Maybe what you need is a drink. So what do you say Young Master? Want to grab a few drinks and get some girls around town or would you prefer the Princess' chambermaids? I know you've been eyeing them. Bwahahaha! Everybody does!" Londs stood there and laughed.
"No I'm not all right, hey! What do you mean by that?" Makoto suddenly snapped out from his sleepy state and pointed at Londs. "I don't want a drink and I don't want a girl! Getting back to our topic, so in what way could I help you?" He changed the subject in an effort to divert the Chamberlain's attention away from him.
"Well Master, Mizu is now officially married right? So I'm here to remind you that today's the day that Princess Rune has told you to expect the new priestess will arrive.
"Oh… okay." Makoto simply nodded.
"Uh, Master Makoto there's one problem."
"And that is?" The lad asked
"The Priestess is here!" Londs exclaimed looking down on Makoto who dropped instantly on the floor.
His eyes quickly widened as he stood up and argued with the other, "You've been talking there for minutes about you and me getting drunk and going out for a night out with a girl when you could've told me that the priestess is already downstairs!? Tell them I'll be right down!" He stood up and shut the door as he ran for the shower to get a quick bath.
"Oh, and good luck young master!" Londs shouted opening the door and closing it once more. He shook his head with a chuckle and then headed downstairs.
Out came Makoto from the shower towards his closet, pulling out the usual white clothes that seem to be a uniform for him. One good look at the mirror he straightened his cap up and dashed for the throne room where the new Priestess was.
Makoto came crashing through the door as he slipped outside on the hallway and slid straight for the throne room.
A hand extended down to him as he stood up wiping the dust from his clothes.
"Arigatou for helping me up. Gomenasai…for being late." Makoto bowed down to the new priestess in giving a negative impression of him.
"You were right your highness, he's also cute." The girl smiled at him and then turned for the Princess.
Makoto blushed at the comment given to him… by someone he completely doesn't know. Eyeing the new priestess he promptly stood up and faced the princess.
"Good morning Makoto, how nice of you to join us. But not the type of entrance I've expected." With that the Princess and her guest giggled as they recalled how Makoto slid inside the room. He blushed in embarrassment realizing how foolish he looked.
"Makoto, I would like you to meet Qawool Towles, the new Priestess of Water. Qawool the lad in front of you is none other that Makoto Mizuhara, the hero of El Hazard."
"Makoto-sama, I've been dreaming of meeting you for the first time. Ohayo." Qawool bowed down in respect for the hero.
"Please, Makoto would just be fine." He waved his hands in front of him then putting his hands on Qawool's shoulders and standing her upright.
"I've been hearing these stories of your adventures, the way you tamed the demon Goddess Ifurita, the Fall of the Bugrom and…" Qawool stopped for a while as her eyes started to glisten.
"And… that you were a gentleman, kind hearted, compassionate, and most of all…" She paused once more as Makoto blushed wildly hearing these things about him specially that it's coming from a girl. Qawool mustered up all her courage,
"That you were so handsome that a lot of girls tend to fall in love with you. Now I see that it's true." She stopped and turned around shaking her head in excitement.
"Ehe…" Makoto stood there so surprised of Qawool's reaction on their first meeting giving out a confused look."
"Are you sure that was me? Maybe you got the thing about being handsome and all wrong. Ehe…" He tried denying her accounts of him.
"Oh, and he's modest too your highness." Qawool once more smiled at Rune who was all the time giggling to herself seeing the type of situation Mizuhara is in for.
Standing up from her seat Rune asked her audience, "Let us proceed to the garden shall we? Your sisters would meet us there Qawool."
Qawool and Makoto nodded both as they followed rune outside.
The sleeping redhead, knowing nothing of the events downstairs shifted in her sleep and from great discomfort woke up. "Unnnhhh… it's morning already?" She says as she buries her head once more under the sheets. "Why am I so tired all of the… oh…yeah…" She pauses, recalling the night before. Scenes from last night flashed back before her mind. "But Shayla…" He said, as he made another effort to straighten matters up between them.
"I said get out! Do I have to go there and tell it right in your face!?…" Shayla held her knees closer as the words rang out from her mind. She slammed her right fist repeatedly on the mattress "Baka! Baka! Baka!" as her breathing grew faster in her angst. Tears dropped once more from her eyes as Shayla struggled to control her feelings from overwhelming her. "Makoto…" She whispered his name, the name that always brighten up even her darkest days, as she held her knees closer once more embracing her knees and rocking herself back and forth.
"Shayla-Shayla! C'mon we're going to be late!" A knock came from the door; it was Afura-mahn trying to call her sister out from her chambers.
"What? What do you want?" She bluntly asked.
"Shayla! Are you all right?" Not expecting a reply like that, Afura asked nervously as she slowly opened the door perceiving her sister. What she saw completely surprised her. The Fire Priestess Shayla-Shayla, the one usually the most energetic amongst the three of them, was stressed out with tear streaks on her face. "Shayla, you look terrible! What happened?" She said trembling and hurried by her bedside.
"It's nothing…" Shayla shrugged the question off her, looking down once more on her bed's sheets, pride doing most of her actions.
"Shayla, I want to help. What are sisters for?" Afura spoke, putting her hand on Shayla's, which was resting on her lap.
"You wouldn't understand anyway." She pulled her arm from under Afura's, turning her back at her.
"Shayla…" She tried in calling her back and decides to just talk to her later. She just walks out of Shayla's room, and stood still for a moment. "Shayla, were both late for the ceremony, you'd better dress up and go…" Afura paused and looked back at Shayla, "I'll talk to you later sis." She said once more, leaving the girl still dazed and feeling sorry for herself.
Composing herself Shayla stood up and changed in to her normal clothes. During all that time her mind was clear about one thing, what just happened last night? Mixed emotions went through her head but the pain in her heart was the one that stood out the most. "Makoto…" Shayla left her room and hurriedly ran towards the palace gardens.
In the Garden stood Princess Rune, Afura-mahn and Makoto were greeting a new face in the palace. They were conversing with the girl. Apparently she was a shy type of person. From the looks of her face she's the type of girl that's scared to death of anything. Shayla carefully walked towards the trio calmly, trying not to make eye contact with Makoto because of a negative incident last night. Makoto on the other hand was trying to make one so that they could talk once more about what happened. "Shayla, Gomenasai…" Makoto said in his mind while looking at her, still determined to talk and fix matters between him and Shayla.
"Shayla-Shayla, I would like you to meet Miss Qawool, the next great priestess of Water. She's Mizu-san's replacement." Rune Venus smiled cheerfully as she introduced Qawool to her new sister. "Ohayo… I'm Qawool, nice to meet you at last Shayla-sama."
Prompting her to reply, Shayla stood in attention averting her from her dazed state. "Oh… right. Hahahaha! I'm Shayla-Shayla nice to meet you!" Shayla blurted out in a ditzy manner trying to hide her distress as she laughed and scratched her head as she acknowledged the former's greeting.
Afura-mahn and Rune Venus were both very much surprised at her reaction they both jumped to the side and looked at Shayla with a questioning look.
Makoto on the other hand was getting more and more guilty each passing moment as he saw the effects of last night's fight taking its toll on Shayla's behavior. Yet he was still very confused. "The fight we had… it was over myself and Ifurita?" His mind snapped back into reality when he heard Shayla laugh once more.
"Wow, everybody's so friendly today! I guess I'm going to have no problem here m'lady." Qawool simply beamed at them. "Right... Hahahaha!" Shayla laughed once more cocking her head backwards. On cue Afura and Rune jumped backwards once more looking at her in a manner that asks, "What the heck is with her?"
"Well since everybody's well acquainted now, does m'lady Rune and her guests want to catch some breakfast?" Chief Londs asked from behind them opening the door back inside.
"Ah, yes excellent, Qawool please do join us." Rune Venus invited the new priestess.
"Why, thank you very much. I would love too." Qawool spoke and smiled in response.
"Londs please lead the way." Rune asked her manservant into doing so, accompanying the five of them towards the dining hall.
While they were headed back Makoto held back behind the group and grabbed Shayla's hand and motioned her to stay. With pleading eyes he asked her once again, "Shayla… Gomen, please talk to me."
Looking at her hand being held like that, Shayla pulled it back from Makoto's grasp and walked inside with one last look of anger at him.
"Man…" He sighed as he bowed his head in failure and asked himself once more "What am I going to do? I'm worrying over two women in my life now, Ifurita and Shayla!" He clenched his fist and breathed out once more. Finally figuring he can do pretty much nothing at the moment, he went back inside and ate breakfast with the group shutting the door behind him.
"I have to admit, you're pretty smart Shayla. Makoto the one being chased is now the one chasing after you. A very nice plan I do say so myself." Fatora said with a smirk standing up from beyond the bushes.
"Oneesama (Shayla) never acted like that before? I wonder why?" Alielle whispered to herself beside Fatora.
"What do you think Alielle?" Fatora asked the imp-sized girl beside her.
"As long as you're here Fatora I'm just as happy!" Alielle grabbed Fatora from behind her in response, rubbing her hand across her curves.
"Hey! Wait a minute… Wait till we get to my room first." Fatora said with a sly grin in her face, as they both started walking back into Fatora's room going about what we think they are doing.
"Oneesama…" Alielle thought to herself as she stepped inside the shade of the door while being still attached to Fatora.
During their early meal Afura, Qawool and Rune started a conversation but the other two simply ate and kept their peace. Makoto and Shayla never spoke out their views and opinions, pointed out by the discussions between the five of them. Only when they were asked was when they replied with a simple nod or a fake smile.
During Qawool's ceremony both were unusually apart as they almost always found Shayla brushing up to Makoto. Seeing the repulsion between the two, Afura was determined to set things right. Seeing how the crowd cheered when she was proclaimed the new priestess of water, it was assured that she did a great job in her ordination. Congratulations followed Qawool but both Makoto and Shayla never approached her at the same time, nor had the mood to do so. Seeing this Afura made a conclusion that the recurring disagreement was a very delicate and serious matter.
The same events repeated itself during lunch and at last dinner as silence wrapped both Shayla and Makoto. Making all their companions very worried, they still kept their peace, negating the urge to tell someone of their troubles.
"I'm done." Shayla said standing up and walking out of her place, back to her room.
"I'm done too." Makoto did the same but he walked towards the place he had peace the most; he went to the garden once more to do what he usually does... Thinking. Eyes watched them both as they shut the door behind them one at a time.
At the last sight of Makoto, "What is wrong with those two? Why the cold shoulder?" Rune Venus asked Afura with a tone of concern.
"I don't know your highness but I'm was trying to find out earlier with Shayla but, she simply shrugs me off." Afura replied, staring blankly back at her plate.
"Maybe I could help…" Qawool said in a small voice. As both ladies looked back at her.
"Maybe she can…" Rune Venus whispered at Afura.
"Yeah, she can talk to Makoto, I'll take care of my sister." Afura murmured back.
"I could hear you!" Qawool exclaimed at them making the two look back at her with surprised looks on their faces.
"Errr…right." The older pair gaped in response at her as they still continued in talking about their friend's anxieties. After a few more minutes to finish their meal Rune stood up. "All right, ladies you may do as you please now. Qawool you'll be like living here so before we show you to your room please feel free to walk around the palace. Okay?"
"Thank you your Highness." Qawool smiled in response and standing up walking to wards the door.
"I guess I'll be on my way now your highness, I'll talk to Shayla." Afura- mahn once more spoke looking back at the situation of Shayla and Makoto.
"Good luck!" Rune told her as Afura stepped before exiting the hall, stopping in front of it and gave Rune a raised brow.
"You're going to need it." The princess folded her arms in response. Afura seemed to have just shrugged it of and went on her way. Behind her followed Qawool who seems to have a lot on her mind concerning her sister and Makoto.
-=|+|=-
Along a straight walkway, Afura and Qawool conversed about Shayla and Makoto. The Two were really getting along well, sharing both insights and proper mannerisms of a Priestess of Mt. Muldoon. The younger one was really acting how a proper lady should be. "Afura, is Makoto-cha… I mean Makoto-sama a nice guy?" She asked her older sister.
"Why do you ask?" Afura looked at her with a questioning look.
"Well… if he is a nice guy, then why is Sister Shayla mad at him?"
Afura rolled her eyes up and murmured something about her companion. "Qawool's still like a child" She whispered to herself.
"What was that sis?" The blue haired girl asked upon hearing something.
"Uh… It's nothing." Afura covered her mouth in surprise. "Wow, for some girl she sure got strong ears." She thought to herself, "To tell you frankly that's what we're trying to get at." She paused as both stopped in a hallway where one way leads upstairs to the quarters and the other leads outside. "Well Qawool, good luck. I must have a talk with our sis. Oh… and congratulations; sister." As she motioned her friend that she'll be along her way, Afura gave Qawool a sister's embrace, welcoming her to their guild; the priestesses of Mt. Muldoon. The newest priestess had a feeling of acceptance; she now indeed has friends. The elder among the two gave one more reminder and she then headed upstairs for Shayla's room.
"Hmm… now what am I supposed to do now? Maybe I'll just go back in the place where we all met earlier, they have such lovely flowers there." Qawool smiled at the sight of the pretty plants around her. Without thinking twice she took off for the Palace Garden where unknown to her a lonely figure sat on a bench reminiscing his faults on a certain girl that never did anything to him except being there for him.
Makoto sat alone on a bench, with his chin resting on his hand, he continued on kicking himself for what happened. "Why am I feeling this way, it's not like I'm romantically involved with her…or am I?" He asked himself that as thoughts poured into his mind. Feeling that someone was at his backside, Makoto quickly spun around and saw Qawool smiling at him.
"Oh… Hi Qawool." He forced out a small smile at her and tried to start a conversation but just wasn't in the mood so he slumped himself once more on his hand and then looking up into the dark skies of El Hazard.
Qawool simply walked in front and sat beside her new friend. "Makoto-sama, you know you should try to cheer up a bit!" She looked at him and smiled.
"Funny… That's what Shayla said too." Makoto thought remembering the words that usually kept him up during his work in the library. "What do you suggest I do?" He replied in a not too friendly manner.
"Well, you could tell me everything or… you I could just leave you here and keep that thing in you eat you away. You know Makoto-sama, when you keep difficulties inside you like that you'd grow older faster." The priestess replied trying not to giggle at her comment.
"Okay, I'll tell you." He paused for a while surrendering to her convincing chatter. "It all started with a dream…" Makoto at last, smiled at her for a moment and started discussing the matter with her. Qawool was so happy to be actually helping someone, she dreamed of fighting and protecting others with the powers of the elements but right now, she was well contented with just helping by absorbing the pain from someone's heart.
Up in another part of the palace Afura-mahn is seen gently knocking on somebody's door. "Shayla-Shayla, it's me sis, Afura. Can we talk?" The door gently opened with Shayla there to greet her. Her eyes were all red and Shayla's anguish can be clearly seen on her face. She was an image of a girl with a tormented heart.
Both ladies sat on Shayla's bed as Afura started the conversation. "By the Gods, what happened to you Shayla?" Afura brushed her sis' hair covering her eyes. She looked at Shayla with deep concern, just by seeing her eyes; Afura knew that she was crying. "That Makoto Mizuhara better hide now!" The Wind swirled around Afura as she stood up and started channeling her element's powers but was drawn to a halt as Shayla put her hand on her sister's shoulders figuratively trying to tell her to calm down and listen. Instinctively, Afura sat down; readily listening to whatever Shayla has to say.
"It all started with a dream." She started telling Afura the incident's roots and how everything linked up. Soon, Shayla's eyes were becoming watery and her light green eyes started to darken, she couldn't take it anymore and laid her head on Afura's lap and started trembling. "Don't worry sis, everything will turn out right." Afura said with a smile on her face assuring Shayla of what she said.
"I hope so too, I can't take anymore of this. I… I shouldn't have shared that kiss with him… It gave me too much hope… hope that he can be mine and I can be his. That was my mistake. Then this dreams came popping about Ifurita… He still loves her, but I still love him though…" Shayla said staring into her sister's eyes.
"I know you do. Now get some rest and stop crying, fate will fix everything." With that Shayla sat up once more and embraced Afura with all her might.
"Thanks sis, thanks for cheering me up." She said with a smile.
"What are sisters for? Now don't let that smile wipe away." Afura replied with a smile, standing up and started walking out the door. She felt proud of herself that she partially removed Shayla from the dilemma she was in. Afura opened the door and with one last look at her sis, "You take care of yourself you hear?"
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Afura." Shayla smiled once more, seeing her sister came once more to her rescue. Seeing the door close, she shut her eyes, catching up from the sleep she never had last night. She was thinking of Makoto; as soon as she closed down her eyelids, she was already in deep slumber. Her face now with a look of inner peace and silence, she was now in serene fields; which made her feel that everything will be all right.
Down once more in palace grounds two new friends talk about the other's troubles. "So this thing started because of another girl?" Qawool exclaimed, "I thought sister Shayla was his girlfriend!" she thought, getting somewhat confused but gets it anyway. "So who's Ifurita?" She asked trying to get to the main point in the story.
"Ifurita's the one who sent us into El Hazard; we're people from earth…" Makoto continued on his story about how they where transported through space and time and reached El Hazard. The listener took special attention on the matter, as he wanted to know more about the Great Makoto Mizuhara. His story about their exploits and adventures ended with the wedding and until the time they both met. "So that's almost about it." Makoto said with a smile, averting his gaze to the stars this time. Never seeming to choose the time to think of other things.
"One thing puzzles me Makoto-sama…"
"What is it?"
"If Shayla-sama and you are not yet romantically involved, then why are you fighting like this? What are both your problems?"
"Arigatou for asking… Qawool, we have been through a lot together, believe me, not only Shayla, and me but also Afura and Mizu-san. Even Princess Rune took part in our adventures. So as we fought our way through a lot of trials, we became very close friends with each other. For Shayla… I knew she loved me, heck who wouldn't? With her giving me so many hints about marriage and going out on a date." Makoto narrated with a lopsided grin on, but soon faded when the subject matter came at hand. "I never tried to return those feelings because I only loved Ifurita. Now we fought because I never understood her and shot up at her when she offered her help and concern for me. She's my friend Qawool, and I never want to see my friends in pain or in tears. Do you understand why we're feeling this way?" The lad asked with teary eyes, in which the priestess just nodded a reply.
"Thanks Qawool, for talking to me. It really helped! Really!" Makoto said with an appraising smile, the burden he was carrying, he carried not alone anymore. Makoto stood up and extended his hand to the maiden.
"Shall we go now? It's getting…"
"Makoto-chan!" A shrill voice cut Makoto off; it came from a well-known person standing before the garden.
"Nanami-chan." Makoto waved back at his friend motioning her to come over. Nanami then ran over to his side with a smile on her face only to be surprised that there was another girl with him.
"Eek! Whose that new girl?" She thought nervously, jealousy started forming inside her, hoping she was just there by mistake she slowly walked towards the two.
"Nanami, meet the newly ordained priestess of Water. Her name's Qawool, she just arrived in Floristica earlier this morning." Makoto smiled as he introduced both of them to each other. "Qawool, Nanami's a friend from Earth, she came here with me."
"Hi Nanami-san, it is nice to finally meet you." Qawool shook hands with her and exchanged smiles with each other.
"It's nice to meet you too!" Nanami replied with a smile, "At least she's not a lesbian." She said underneath her breath. Skulking every time she recalled how Alielle would grab her and feel her curves. "Ugh…" She groaned once more.
"What did you say Nanami-san?"
"What? Nothing Qawool, Hahahaha!" She cocked her head back and laughed hysterically.
"I think I know what she means, ehe." Makoto sighed, as he looked at Nanami with a funny face.
Getting herself back to composure, "Well nice meeting you Qawool, sorry but I gotta go now, my restaurant needs attention right now. It's closing time and I wouldn't want anybody stealing from the counter right? Besides I just dropped by to check on you Makoto-chan." Nanami seeing her chance, suddenly cupped Makoto's cheeks with both hands and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Seeya!" Nanami gave Qawool a quick hug and then ran off for her obligation. "Yata!" Nanami screamed inside herself and jumped up in the air as she ran off for her duty as the Owner of a dive in Floristica.
"What was that for?" Makoto asked out aloud while scratching his head through his white cap. Touching his lips once he then looked at his fingers with amazement in his eyes. "Why don't these guys tell me when they're going to kiss me!" He stood on the bench and shook his fists in the air at the fleeing Nanami.
"So was she umm… one of the girls you and sister Shayla were fighting about?" Qawool interrupted his going amok but now with a frown in her face as if jealousy took over her.
"What? Oh… no. But I think she will be! Ugghhh!!! Shayla would never speak to me again if she found out!"
"Hahaha Makoto!" Qawool giggled with a mischievous grin on her face.
"Hey Qawool don't joke around like that! Stop kidding around! You wouldn't tell anyone right?"
Qawool simply gave him a grin making the lad nervous as ever. Makoto pleaded with all the reasoning he had as she held Qawool on the shoulders and shook her up.
"Relax Makoto, I won't tell anyone. But…"
"But what?" He asked nervously.
"But you have to promise to show me around Floristica!" Qawool exclaimed.
"Wha?! But why?" Makoto asked once more this time looking at her straight in the eye.
"Because, I'm new around here and I need someone to show me around."
"Why don't you ask Nanami? She's always in town and girls usually have fun together." He tried to differ as fear of getting into more trouble with the girls formed at the back of his mind.
"Okay I could try that, but… I guess sister Shayla would never speak to you again." She said once more with sly smile written on her face.
"Argg… That's black mail!"
"Nope… Its called bargaining!" The priestess held both her hands behind her and gave the lad a convincing look.
"Okay, okay, and maybe its time I took a break. All this worrying is really getting to me." Makoto forced himself to agree making Qawool smile once more.
"Yata!" The priestess cried out, jumping on him forcing him to tumble onto the grass with Qawool on top of him.
"Ouch! Hey don't get too excited!" Makoto held his head due to the unexpected course of action taken by Qawool. He slightly leaned up still with her on top of him, and he tried looking around is someone saw them.
"Well, what do we have here?" A figure spoke as it slowly hovered down onto the grass.
"Oh no, not again…" Makoto said worriedly.
"Hi Makoto!" Afura-mahn greeted the Earthling with a crafty smile, standing and looking down at him.
"Afura quiet down! It's not what you think!"
"Really? Then why aren't you getting her off you?" The wind priestess interrogated his friend raising her brow.
"I said not so loud! What? Qawool please get off me." Makoto picked himself and Qawool, both dusting themselves up and fixing their hair.
"You know Mizuhara, I've gone through a lot of trouble trying to cheer up your girlfriend upstairs, but I think it's gone to waste when I get here and you're already getting down with her!"
"Afura, I'm begging you! Please don't tell Shayla! Qawool would explain. Right Qawool?" Makoto once more pleaded and looked at Qawool for support, but none came as she stared blankly into the horizon as she blushed about what just occurred.
Makoto looked at her with distress, "Gaah! Qawool come on speak to her." He turned her around and shook the priestess from her ditzy state.
Getting her mind back to her body, "Uhh…. I mean, He's right sister Afura, I dove on him because… because I was just so happy!"
"Happy about what?" Afura gave Makoto a questioning stare raising her brow once more.
"Well… He's taking me around town tomorrow. Ehe." Qawool gave a sheepish smile.
"And why would he do that for you?" Afura then grabbed Makoto by the collar and looked at him with a menacing grin. Her vein was clearly shown on her temple as her teeth bared before him.
"Because Nanami…" Qawool continued, but Makoto cut her off.
"No Qawool, don't tell her!" Makoto once more pleaded as he hung by a thread from being strangled by Afura who held him fast by the collar.
"Nanami gave him a kiss."
"Gyah! Afura I didn't kiss her! It was more like Nanami kissing me!" He begged Afura.
"Mizuhara! What have you been thinking?! You know what would happen if it was Shayla that saw that! MAKOTO you moron!" The wind priestess shook him some more before pushing him down on the grass. Upon calming down, Afura fixed her dress that got a bit shabby from the scuffle.
"Knowing Shayla I won't tell her."
"Thank you, thank you!" Makoto upon hearing this groveled before the wind priestess' feet.
"If…" She smiled with a sly grin.
"Oh no! If what?" Makoto stood up and glared at her.
"Heehee You'll find out. First of all follow me." Afura lead the way as Makoto followed behind grumbling, leaving Qawool awestruck and dazed of what just happened.
Getting herself back from the clouds, "Makoto-sama! Don't forget! I'll see you tomorrow! Okay?" She shouted at the unsettled lad. He replied, waving his hand above his head.
"Man! What a long day this is!" He complained under his breath.
"You better stop complaining Mizuhara, you better save your breath! It's going to be a long night!" Afura turned around and smiled at him.
"Afura! Don't smile at me like that!" He waved his hands in front of him.
She shrugged the comment off and continued on up the steps.
Afura pulled him inside her room and shut the door behind them.
"Argh! Don't let me do that! I need my rest too you know?"
"Quit whining and get over here!" She commanded Makoto as he dragged himself to where Afura was.
"Man, I think I won't be having dinner either." He groaned once more as he did what Afura has directed him to do.
-=|+|End of Chapter 2|+|=-
Author's notes: I like the readers so much!!! They give so much and detailed comments I get chances for improving! More comments please!
