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.
Notice: This is a Makoto/Shayla fic.
El Hazard: Unforseen consequences
By: -=|+|Makoto_chan|+|=-
-=|+|Chapter 3: Apologies|+|=-
"Argh! I never want to see books for the whole week!" Makoto declared as he shuffled out of Afura's room. "Why does she have that so many books? And to think that she was the most snug of the trio?" He complained once more as he stared at a paper cut on his right thumb. Grumbling, Makoto continued on down the stairs as he walked towards his room; which was on the other end of the building. "Man, am I bushed! I better get some rest." He paused for a while and rubbed his aching eyes. "Qawool better keep her end of the deal. Another fight with Shayla is the last thing I…" While walking and struggling to stay awake, the lad stopped in front of a familiar room, and looked at the door blankly as if it was transparent. He gave it a thought once more and then bowed his head; his eyes were now looking at nothing, staring at the floor. Makoto approached the door and brushed his palm across its surface, feeling it was the room... where his lady used to stay in before. He shut his eyes slowly and whispered her name. "Ifurita…" Makoto's eyes were getting watery; sorrow was in his heart asking himself. "How could I bring you back?" He asked out, facing the window and recalled the nightmares he had. It took a while before he convinced himself that what happened were just dreams, and bad terms with a friend was the cost of taking his nightmare too seriously into account. Recalling how the events followed, the cause and effect of every occurrence, he knew at once that he was at fault. Makoto picked his feet up and shuffled out the door.
Three more rooms before his, Makoto stopped in front of another familiar entrance. "I… I have to try…" Knowing it was really late; he took a deep breath and wrapped his hands on the door's knob. Twisting it, he opened the entrance to the room but only as a means to look inside. Slipping one side of Makoto's face within, he saw the sleeping maiden wrapped in the sheets of her bed.
With guilt driving him Makoto crept slowly and stood on the foot of the bunk. Watching how much at peace the girl was, he at last made out a smile, but then his fists tightened as his thoughts betrayed him. He again recalled the argument they had; the way he treated her and the feelings of fighting with a close friend surged through his mind. Makoto stood there for a few more minutes just gazing at his subject. He then whispered as if directing his words at the girl. "I guess this is not the right time to tell you this but…" He began talking, looking intently at her. "I should've told you this earlier… I'm sorry Shayla." Makoto paused, directing his gaze down on the floor then back at her. "I never considered your feelings for me, I think I've been hurting you ever since. You never did anything wrong to me… except maybe that incident in the springs. Ehe." He chuckled a bit recalling the episode on both their lives. "All you did was love me…I'm sorry I couldn't reciprocate those feelings Shayla." Looking away again, he felt the word's impact on the would-be listener as if it was addressed to him. Averting his attention back to Shayla, "I'm admitting it. I'm at fault. Gomenasai Shayla-chan." He averted his look onto the floor upon saying this, feeling every word he said. "I guess… I better go now…" He bowed down, humbling himself before walking for the exit. Opening the door, Makoto heard a faint whisper from behind him. He looked back and saw Shayla crying in her sleep, whispering his name. "Makoto…" Upon hearing this, guilt was all that he felt. His mind froze at the idea of how much torment he caused. Anguish to a person who loved him so dearly, yet he scorned the care offered to him on that night. Continuing his walk, he simply shut the door after looking at Shayla one last time for the night. Makoto walked towards his room still staring at the air in front of him. "How could I make things up with Shayla?" Makoto asked himself, thinking of how to truly express or show his remorse for his actions. He kept on pondering yet none came through his poll. Once in his domain, he fell flat on his bed, but later on he kept on changing his orientation in his bed, his body craved for sleep yet his mind disagrees the notion. Makoto's mind never ceased to speak to him. "What should I do?" He simply lied on his belly thinking of his situation. Upon realizing he really should be resting for tomorrow he forced his eyelids down. He fell asleep yet was actually twisting and turning in his sleep. In the middle of the night he would wake up suddenly opening his eyes as if something bit his arm, but as quickly as he woke up he would succumb to slumber once more. "Gomenasai Shayla-chan…" Were the words he spoke off before going back to sleep.
-=|+|=-
"Unhh… What the devil is that racket?" Makoto woke up to the loud knocking on his door.
"Makoto-sama wake up! Come on now! You promised!" Qawool continued on with the tapping on the door.
Our hero stood up and walked slowly towards the door continuously being rapped at. With an almost annoyed face he twisted its knob and opened it to the side. "Just give me sec, okay Qawool? What? What's wrong?" He asked as he saw the shocked face of the girl, backing away from the door and pointing at him.
"Aaaaahhhh!" She screeched as she pointed at the partially naked boy. "Makoto-sama! Hentai!" Qawool shouted once more making the lad look at himself.
"Shit!" He quickly slammed the door as he realized he only has his briefs on. "Now how did my clothes disappear like that!?" He scratched his head as he rushed to the shower for a quick bath. "Damn, I must've been pretty uneasy last night that I took my clothes off." He stepped out and hurriedly put on some decent clothes, rushing as to get the matter over with. Makoto walked towards the door, now clean and proper. He opened the door once more and stepped out.
"Aaaaaahhhmphhh!!!" Qawool shrieked thinking he was still naked but was quickly ceased by Makoto's hand. Her gaze now averted to him as she saw that her escort for the day was ready. "Oh, you're already set." She said with a small grin across her face.
"Shall we go now?" The lad asked.
She simply nodded her response as both started walking down the stairs. They walked around the palace for a while talking about how things were for both of them, how their matters where. Activity around the palace everyday were somewhat a highway, people worked here and there. Every time they pass a servant, these people would bow to them in honor of the hero and the priestess, they simply acknowledged the greeting by smiling at them and exchanged greetings with them. Walking past the dozens of hallways Qawool spoke to Makoto, "By the way Makoto-sama, that's one side of you I'd never imagine seeing." She giggled, the thought making her blush as she pictured once more how he looked. She shook her head from side to side, as she held her dome with both hands.
"Ehe, shall we forget about it now?" Makoto, now totally embarrassed was also blushing at the thought. They continued on walking Qawool never ceased her giggling. Makoto just kept his peace and hoped she would forget the matter somehow.
Arriving at the counsel hall, they both approached Rune who was, as usual sitting there listening to Lond's dictation of her obligations for the day.
"Ohayo, Makoto, Qawool." She greeted the two of them with a smile, which in turn they gave back. "Ohayo your highness," Makoto started, standing in front of her. "I… Qawool and I would be going out for today, so…"
Rune sputtered while taking a sip from her tea. "You're going out with her already?" She eyed him with a look of surprise.
"Yes we're… Haha… It's not like that your highness! What we mean by going out is that we're just going out to town!"
"Yes lady Rune, Makoto's going to show me around town." Qawool seconded while latching on to Makoto's arm. His eyes fixed at the girl then at lady Rune with a very surprised look and shook his head, "Why does these things keep happening to me?"
Rune upon seeing her actions, gave Makoto a mischievous smile, which in turn he just gave her a look saying, "Cut it out already." Rune stood up and walked towards them and whispered unto Makoto's ear, "You sly devil you!" Rune once more gave a funny look at the earthling.
"I said it's not like that!" He said in retaliation, which made Rune giggle a bit more.
"Okay, okay Mizuhara I shall tell everyone in case they look for you." She said controlling her laughter.
"Thank you your highness… Wait! Not everyone!" Makoto took his arm from Qawool's grip and ran to where Rune seated. "You know what I mean don't you? Princess?" He asked nervously.
"Yes I know about it, and if you would want to go, you'd better go now, before somebody else sees you with her." She replied in a whisper.
"Why are you worried the I might be seen with Makoto-sama?" Qawool asked who stood several feet away.
Both Makoto and Rune looked at her with astonished eyes.
"She heard that?"
"I guess so." Rune concluded. "Ehem…Well? Get going! Have fun!"
"Arigatou. Oh… and would you please remove the idea in your mind in telling Shayla?!" With that Makoto walked back down the steps and went back beside Qawool, "Ready?"
"Hai!" She simply nodded back smiling at him.
Makoto and Qawool proceeded on with their way out of the throne room. Quite the energetic one the water priestess seemed to be light on her feet and pranced softly before the lad. The boy however was walking impeccably calm as usual, sweat dropping as soon as he noticed the girl going about her own world in her mind.
He acknowledged the salutes the guards at the gate made at him as they walked out the gates. "So where do you want to go first mam?" Makoto asked with a smile as he led both of them outside the palace entrance. They stood there for a brief moment as the view flashed before their eyes as the whole Capital city of Floristica was clearly seen atop the hill the palace rose from.
She scouted around the vast area and finally pinpointed a small market. Her eyes widened as she saw merchants selling different items from clothes to anything you could imagine. "I guess we better start somewhere. Let's start over there, Makoto-sama!" Qawool gave a sharp tug on Makoto's arm as she excitedly rushed down the side of the hill for the city Market.
"Hey slow down! We might faaall!" With him being towed Makoto exclaimed as they both tripped on each other's feet. Qawool stumbled on a thick patch of grass; which forced Makoto to topple over her. The lad didn't want his companion to get hurt so he twisted to the side and aligned himself parallel to the maiden's frame. "Qawool! Hang on!" Makoto instinctively wrapped his friend around his protective arms as they rolled about down the rise of land. The water priestess just shut her eyes, holding herself much closer to Makoto and letting the force carry them down. They took about a hundred rolls before they reached the bottom of the hill. Groaning with sore bodies Makoto and Qawool laid down there for a few moments trying to catch their breath. Qawool opened her sights and were met immediately by Makoto's brown orbs. She blushed as she realized she was actually in his embrace. "Makoto-sama… Arigatou." She thanked him, staring once more in his eyes. Embarrassed, Makoto looked away as he blushed violently.
"Really Qawool, its nothing. I was just…" He stopped as he saw the priestess nestled on his chest. "I've said it before and I'm saying it again. Why does this things keep happening to me?" Makoto thought, averting his gaze to his surroundings looking around if somebody else knew about the incident except themselves. Minutes have already passed and he finally decided to break up his current position. "Qawool, we better get going now."
"Are you sure Makoto-sama?"
"I'm sure." He replied.
"Then why are your arms still around me?" Qawool asked, looking away once more as she flushed again.
"Gomen! I didn't mean to hold you like that…" Makoto quickly said as he stood up and looked away.
"Its okay Makoto. But you sure know how to show a girl a good time!" Giggling she took his arm in hers.
"Well? Let's go." She said tugging on to him, pulling Makoto into the Market's midst. Her eyes kept darting from each side, looking at all the stands for things for sale.
Makoto struggled to keep up as Qawool went through the crowd pulling his arm with her. In one shop they came in, she quickly tried out different clothes and had Makoto speak his opinion about it. She posed and turned in front of him. Seeing she was having a good time, he just played along and smiled at her choice of clothes. Making out his approval from Makoto's smile, Qawool bought the clothes and took them with her. Out they came and the view of a crowd appeared again in front of them.
"Here we go again…" Makoto sighed as he ran after Qawool, constantly searching for something.
"Makoto-sama! Clothes for men! Come on!" She pulled on to her date and dragged him inside.
"Qawool! Hey! C'mon my clothes are just fine." He tried resisting as he pulled back.
"Just come on silly!" She pulled once more and with superhuman strength threw him inside.
Makoto flew inside the booth with a shocked face. "Gyaah! Ouch, you didn't have to throw me in you know?"
"Gomen!" She giggled as she smiled at him for what just happened.
Qawool quickly picked out some clothes for Makoto to try on, bright colored shirts and some plain ones to be exact.
"Here try this first." She handed dozens of garments as she pushed him inside a fitting room. He couldn't do much to resist so he just blindly followed her orders.
Makoto first tried out a shirt that fit perfectly showing off his now mature body. He walked out and pretended to pose as a model. His companion smiled at the sight, seeing Makoto was now trying to enjoy himself. One by one the lad fitted the clothes and went out for the lady to see. Qawool gazed at him, day dreaming at that time also, about him, about Makoto. Her eyes focused once more into reality as Makoto walked out of the fitting room carrying the bundle of clothes along with him to the counter. Qawool was so surprised he decided to buy them all too.
They walked out of the store carrying all that mass of new garb.
"Wow, I didn't know you had that much money."
"Ehe, Me too." He replied scratching his head, while lugging all the clothes they bought on one hand.
"Makoto-sama, do you want me to help you with that?" Qawool offered, as she tried to grasp the packages from Makoto's hand.
"It's okay, I can handle it. Besides it wouldn't be right for a beautiful priestess like you to carry much stuff around." He smiled at her ignoring the fact of what he just said.
"Err… right…" She blushed as his words rang out on her mind, looking away for a moment.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes, pretty much." The priestess beamed at Makoto
"Then lets go, I know a pretty good place here." It was the wanderer's turn to pull as he did so. He held her hand and crossed the large group of people before them. They came across a lot of alleys and roads, taking shortcuts as to avoid the rush of people. Makoto stopped and came in front of a new restaurant with Qawool this time out of breath. The place had a sign with a familiar name on it.
"Nanami's? This is her place?"
"Yup, she just opened it last week before Mizu's wedding." He explained, "So, you hungry?" Makoto smiled at Qawool, walking up the steps with the priestess behind.
"Hai…" She politely replied as she followed Makoto who was leading her by the hand.
The couple went in and to their surprise Nanami was the one to greet them personally.
"Ohayo Gozaimasu!" She bowed down not being able to recognize them immediately. She quickly looked back up and "Makoto-chan!" Nanami quickly gave her friend a quick hug.
"Ohayo, Nanami-chan." The recipient smiled back, cross-eyed as Nanami was so close to his face. "So… are you open today?" He asked as Nanami released her tight embrace on him.
"Ofcourse silly, we're always open! You just got in time before rush hour. I guess palace food got to you!" Both laughed out as they continued on with their conversation.
"By the way, I'm with someone." Makoto paused as he moved to the side.
"Morning Nanami!" Qawool greeted with a smile, as she appeared behind Makoto.
"O…Ohayo Qa…Qawool!" She stuttered like crazy as she fell for the surprise.
"Excuse us for a minute Qawool. Hehehe" She said tugging onto Makoto. Both of them went around the back. Slamming the door behind her Nanami quickly pulled Makoto closer to her face by the collar.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She screamed at his face.
"What? What'd I do?" Makoto tried to comprehend.
"You dummy!" Nanami loosened her grip on Makoto and turned her back at him. "Are you going out with her?" Holding her hand with the other she asked.
"Wha? No its not like that, we're not dating or anything. I'm just showing her around, that's all." The boy replied waving his hands in front of him trying to avoid more arguments.
Mixed feelings went through the lady's mind. Jealousy was half of it but understanding still prevailed. "He never took me on a date." Nanami whispered to herself, seeing how Makoto treated the new comer differently.
A few seconds passed before Nanami asked him.
The entrepreneur just sighed out. "So, what do you want to eat?" She asked while turning to face her friend.
"The usual, but make it a double. I sure miss your lunches Nanami- chan." He smiled at her, remembering the boxed lunches she used to prepare.
"Hai…" She blushed upon hearing Makoto's comment. Both stood facing each other for moments until one broke the silence.
"Well? Get going! You're never supposed to keep a lady in waiting you know?" Nanami pushed the lad up the stairs and into the back door. He smiled at her leaving Nanami with her thoughts at the moment.
"Makoto-chan…Aishiteru…" She whispered and followed her loved one's movement with her eyes. "What am I saying?" She shook her head and followed inside.
The two were dining but Nanami eyed the couple carefully. She saw how much fun Qawool was having, being around Makoto that is. She was laughing with him like a little girl playing with her puppy. They were joshing each other and having polite conversation. The boy was indeed a gentleman, as how he usually was seen around women. Nanami saw how Qawool looked like and remembered when she herself was always around the lad. She sighed while reminiscing, then looked at Makoto this time. He was at his usual composure, always smiling, ever so friendly, heartwarming and surely attractive. Nanami thought, as she gaped at him. "No wonder… all of us are after him." She grumbled resting her elbow on the counter and leaning her head on her hand. She looked back at the times she and Shayla fussed over him, the way they always competed for his affections, times they fought why the other is getting so close and this and that. Seeing they have new competition she simply breathed out. She fell back from the clouds as her orbs focused back and met Makoto's, his eyes looking back at her with a questioning look. The shop owner quickly looked away as if her actions where just coincidental and she continued on counting the money she earned through the week.
"Makoto-sama." Qawool called to him, which brought him back to attention.
"Yes Qawool?"
"Ano… what's going to happen after this?"
"What do you mean?" was the lad's reply.
"Well… It's nothing." She said blankly as she looked away.
"If you want to talk about it…" Makoto tried to revive the conversation,
"Can we talk about it later?" The girl cut her off looking at him straight, with pleading looks in her eyes.
"Hai. Gomen…" He bowed down in apology.
"Makoto-sama, it's nothing, really…" She put her gentle hands on top of his as to not make him worry over something. Makoto gaped at her hand over his.
"Why are they doing this?" The lad thought about most women got his attention, the different and sometimes crazy stunts to catch his sight.
"I guess so… So do you want to go now?" Makoto asked as he kept his hand under hers as to not bring about negative reactions from both of them. Qawool nodded and both stood up from the booth and proceeded towards the counter to pay for their meal.
"Nanami-chan, we're done now. Arigatou!" Makoto smiled as he laid down the money on Nanami's palm.
What she saw was a huge sum of money that rested on her hands.
"Makoto-chan…the money you handed me is way over your bill!"
"Don't worry about it, its just money. Besides, the food was so good! I missed it a lot too you know?" He beamed at her, complimenting her culinary creations.
"Thank you Makoto-chan!" She thanked him as he stood by next to Qawool.
"Thank you too Nanami-san, the food was so good! I hope to come back again real soon!"
"I guess we'll be going now. Arigatou, Nanami-chan." The lad thanked her once more as he and Qawool took off again for the city. The shopkeeper's eyes followed the lad with bliss in them.
"Anything for you Makoto-chan…" She smiled at the boy before the door closed shut behind him.
"Oh well… Back to real world again." Nanami sighed as she continued in doing her chores and duties as shop owner of the restaurant that she named after herself.
The alley was still full of life, as to how the couple observed their bearings. "Where to now Qawool?"
"Anywhere you want to go Makoto!" She replied, grappling unto her companion. "You already showed me such a good time, I don't know where we should go."
"Do you know what I would want to do right now Makoto-sama?" Qawool asked, looking straight into his brown orbs.
"W…What?" He replied nervously, perspiring underneath his cap.
"Oh nothing…I just want to walk around Floristica…with you, like this." She blushed upon expressing her true feelings at the moment.
"Qawool…" Makoto looked with surprise and gawked at her for a moment.
"Or I'll tell…" The water priestess grinned mischievously at him, but with guilt in her heart.
"All right already!" He shook his fists in the air with an irritated face.
"Yata!" She gleefully smiled tightening her hold onto Makoto's left arm.
"I guess its okay. Well? Shall we?" He motioned her to walk alongside him, smiling at her.
"Oh my God… that smile…" The priestess thought, melting inside just by a smile from the hero, forcing her to mellow right beside him. She nodded her response, which set them off to walk around the capital until nightfall eventually came. She never removed herself from Makoto's side, savoring the moment she was in until they headed back for origin.
-=|+|=-
Earlier that morning a known red haired priestess walked the hallways of the palace of the Royal family of Roshtaria, looking everywhere and around the great structure. Everywhere she searched for him. "Where the hell is Makoto?" Shayla grumbled, crossing her arms in exasperation. Not having the thought of giving up, she gave another tour of the place after lunch. "Makoto?" She spoke inside the library, hoping he was there. "Makoto-chan?" The priestess tried to find him inside his room but nobody was found there either. "Darn it, where is he!? It's already past dinner time and I haven't seen him?" Shayla shouted inside her head. Getting a bit worried that the past events might have driven him to his limits of emotional tolerance. She jogged a bit in frantic search of him, stopping as she saw Afura reading a book below in the palace garden.
"Afura!" Shayla spoke aloud, calling the attention of her sister who was now looking up at her bounding from a floor higher from the garden and landing in front of her.
"Afura, have you seen Makoto?" Her voice trembling in distress due to failed attempts to locate him.
"Hmm…should I tell her? I promised Makoto anyway." The lady of the wind processed through her thoughts as to how to deal with the situation.
"No, I haven't seen him. Is something wrong sis?" Lying in her statement, Afura closed the novel and focused on her sister's predicament.
"Ano... I just wanted to talk to him." Shayla replied, looking away from Afura's eyes.
"Aha!" Uncrossing her legs Afura gave a questioning look at her.
"What do you mean 'Aha'? Since we're not talking to each other doesn't mean I'm not worried about him!" Taken aback by her comment, Shayla stepped back and snapped at her.
"Fine!" She giggled, unfolding her book and burying her eyes in it.
"Whatever… I'll just look for him on my own." Shayla crossed her arms and started walking away. "Geez… to think she was the most sophisticated among us three. I change my mind!" The red head thought, while on her temple a vein was clearly seen.
"Shayla!" Afura-mahn tried to call her back.
"What now?"
"So have you forgiven him yet?" Afura asked with a raised brow, which stopped Shayla in her tracks while she was walking away. She clenched her fists tightly and loosened it after a few moments. She spun around with tears trailing down from her eyes.
"That jerk…" The lady of fire whispered through, yet her eyes spoke to differ. "You'll find him, I'm sure of it." Her sister found befitting to say.
"Arigatou…Afura." Shayla flashed at her friend, smiling at her in a way that says thanks by itself. She continued on walking around the palace grounds asking each and everyone she comes across about Makoto's whereabouts but to no avail, all gave the answer the fire priestess was not looking for. "Gomen Shayla-sama, we haven't seen Makoto-sama since this morning."
Shayla walked here and there without any idea where she's going and coincidentally wanders off in front of Makoto's lab. She knocked on the door for some time trying to find out if anybody would be there. She strode in examining each corner, eyeing things inside the lab. Being worn out, Shayla sat on Makoto's bed as she gave a deep sigh expressing her tiredness and disappointment.
"I'm supposed to talk to him…" Shayla twiddled her fingers together, trying to control herself from making another emotional outburst. Waiting for Makoto to come home her eyelids then began to drop, surrendering to her fatigued state.
"I hope you don't mind Makoto-chan…that I…zzzz…." She made one more whisper and finally dropped down completely on the scientist's bunk. Her eyelids closed without hesitation. Slumber inhibited Shayla, as an effort to wait for Makoto with a reason to fix things between them was postponed due to tiredness. She lay on Makoto's bed, sleeping peacefully hoping that one way or the other, he might be there when she wakes up.
-=|+|=-
Right outside the gates, a couple was walking for home. Recently getting tired of dancing in the town square, Qawool and Makoto decided it was time to call it a night. They were chatting away at the things they did during the day. After Ifurita's passage into her journey to Earth, Makoto was rarely seen to be smiling but right now he was in good terms again with himself he was actually having fun. Even for just a brief moment he forgot all about the guilt and regret he shouldered for almost a year.
"Did you enjoy yourself Qawool?"
"I enjoyed the day very much Makoto-sama, Arigatou!" She smiled, brushing herself up on Makoto's side.
Then for a few moments, Makoto became silent. Seeing the change of mood, the priestess decided to query her companion.
"Makoto-sama… daijobou?"
Still, he kept walking across the gates of the palace with his eyes watching his path.
"Makoto-sama, what's wrong?" She asked for the second time, stepping in front of the lad and shook the boy's shoulders. The lad abruptly stopped as his eyes met the lady's
"Hai… It's nothing… It's just that for almost a year, I never felt happy like this. I've been locked away in my lab, or sometimes in the library. I guess I'm being too shallow right now huh?" He replied, awakening from his dazed state and looking away from the priestess' gaze.
"Makoto…I… We all understand what happened."
"I know that, but I was wrong treating everyone like that."
"You know what the problem is with you Makoto? You don't care for yourself at all! You always think about everybody around you, but what you haven't thought is, what if you were the next one that would disappear because of your shenanigans? Huh? What do you think they would feel?" She said, driving those words into Makoto's head.
"Arigatou, Qawool-chan" Makoto smiled at her, thanking the priestess for the crash course wake up call.
"You better promise me you'll take care of yourself!" She pointed her finger straight at him.
"Don't worry, I will." He replied placing his hand on her shoulder, urging her to trust him.
"Makoto-sama…" She whispered, blushing as she held the hand on her shoulder with hers and brushed her fingers on Makoto's hand lightly.
The lad saw what was happening and slowly took his hand off the girl's shoulders.
Taking the long walk up the staircase, they came up in front of Qawool's room. The two stood in front of it for a few minutes facing each other, not knowing what's next to do.
"I guess this is good night." Makoto decided to speak, giving a lopsided smile to his companion.
"Hai." One word and quietness enveloped the two again.
"Well, good night Qawool." With one last smile, he started walking away from her.
"Makoto-sama!" The water maiden called out stopping the lad in his tracks.
"Yes?" He turned back to face her.
"Arigatou… Makoto."
"My pleasure." His smile seen through the moonlight, flashed at Qawool who also beamed at him.
Makoto casually walked away again towards his room feeling much better than the days before, as he realized his drive to make people happy has been welcomed again.
Eyeing the lad, who faded in plane view, Qawool stepped into her quarters. Yawning, she headed for her closet to change her clothes for sleep.
"So how did the date go?" A familiar voice spoke with a curious voice from behind her as she was beginning to take her upper garment off.
"Oh, sister Afura, it's you." Qawool spun around to see who her mysterious guest was. Seeing her to be Afura-mahn, she smiled at the eavesdropping priestess showing that all went well during the day. Not being able to control herself, the younger of the two came closer to the other.
"Afura-sama, I had the most wonderful day!" She exclaimed, telling how the events of the day went by.
"Her voice… It's different. Oh God!" Afura screamed in her mind as the voice coming out of Qawool's lips are beginning to form the story on its own. Listening to her fellow priestess' words she has learned the unexpected.
"Then we went to this shop and Makoto bought all these and…" Qawool continued on, never leaving a single detail. The tale stood from the time they went down the steep end of the hill and their dance in the town square. Trying to be a good sister Afura just nodded on and on. "Look's like she's fallen for him too! Argh! The problem with that guy is that he's too charming!" Afura grumbled, foreseeing not only Shayla in tears but also Qawool as well, after an all out war for her friend's feelings. "Qawool! Haven't you realized what you've just been doing?" The senior priestess blurted out.
"What I… Oh… I'm that obvious huh?" She replied, as the glee in her eyes slowly faded away. She looked down on the floor, waiting for Afura's response.
"I thought the deal thing was just about trying to be friendly with him, I guess I know now that it's a cover up." Afura crossed her arms while her eye's slits lowered.
"No, Afura-sama you have to believe me! Yesterday morning was really a crazy stunt but the things I felt today are different. Please believe me!" The water maiden pleaded with tears forming below her eyes.
"Qawool… I do trust you, heck; even the demon lord Ifurita fell for Makoto! How in the world couldn't you fall for him too?"
"Arigatou, Senpai."
"The only problem is that… there's already four of you. Poor guy." Afura shook her head, predicting the events that might happen.
"Four?"
Afura shrugged the reply and started rising above the floor. "Good night Qawool, I sure hope everything work out fine." With one more farewell, she flew out the window and up to her quarters above.
"I sure hope so." The lady held her hands together and held it up beneath her chin, praying that everything will turn up for the betterment of all.
-=|+|=-
Makoto walked down the hallways thinking as usual. His heart had a pain in it; that he was again beginning to enjoy his life in El Hazard, even in the absence of one.
"Ifurita, I'm so sorry I couldn't share my brief happiness with you right now. Gomen… You deserve better…" He looked outside a window as he walked down the stairs. "I wish I could talk to you. Even just for a brief moment." He stopped in his tracks, clenching his fist, as thoughts of what could be happening around Ifurita and lastly, what was his nightmare all about. Makoto stood for a few more seconds closing his eyes in uneasiness about his loved one. He recalled the time they first met as how he delved into her mind by touching her power staff. His eyes widened as he recalled the thing Ifurita always held. "The power staff!" Makoto blurted out, driving him down the stairs faster and dashing for his room. His heart pounded faster by the second as he ran for his room. He quickly opened the door dashed inside. Makoto screeched into a halt as he saw someone on his bed.
Shayla slept peacefully on her love's bed as she tried waiting for him to patch things up between them. "Shayla…" He whispered as he gazed upon the priestess lying on his bed. He again recalled the fight they had the other night, which they haven't resolved yet. Though he indeed cares for her, he isn't sure why his guilt is over extending its welcome to him. He approached the sleeping figure and sat beside her head. Makoto saw how tranquil she was at the moment and wished he were too, but matters regarding not the girl beyond his lap but the lady waiting for him across the dimensions started haunting him again. He gently stroked the hair from her forehead to the side. Shayla stirred a bit at his touch but was still sound asleep. A clue of a dream sequence she spoke of him during he sleep; "Makoto… I love… you…" The priestess whispered making the lad's eyes widen and his skin flush. Now he knows how much he means to her.
"I'm so sorry Shayla…" He placed his lips on Shayla's forehead once and sat there for a few more moments stroking her hair then covering her body with the blanket on his bed.
Breathing out Makoto stood up and got down on all fours. He crept below eyelevel as he tried to grab Ifurita's power staff from underneath his bed. "There it is." He murmured, pulling the object from under and raising it to his level with its other end touching the ground. "Makoto, guide me… with the use of my spring, she's a part of me. I would deactivate the Eye myself…. Keep it… for my sake…" The memory flashed back in Makoto's mind on the faithful day that he lost his love. "Ifurita… Talk to me Ifurita…" Makoto thought as he placed his hands on the staffs shaft and placed it closer onto his head as if praying on it.
He closed his eyes, focusing his mind on the matter. He kept trying for minutes and hours into the night, hoping to find just one spark of light or loophole that he may pass through to reach Ifurita through the dimensions. "What the hell is wrong with this thing?!" He screamed inside his head. "Ifurita…talk to me! Onegai…" Makoto said once more burying the staff around his embrace as he focused once more his efforts on communicating with Ifurita. To no avail he became awfully tired concentrating, the mental strain was getting to him floating him away to sleep. Fatigue started to carry him down on the floor. "Ifurita, please be alive." Makoto whispered, as his eyelids grew heavier then surrendered and fell flat on the floor with the key still around his arms.
-=|+|=-
Dawn broke in and all was at peace inside the royal palace of Roshtaria. Inside a room two people slept together, on separate places but on the same room nevertheless. The priestess stirred, the bed she slept on was quite unfamiliar giving her the account of waking a bit earlier as usual. She sat up from the bed and rubbed her eyes as she forced herself to wake. She tied her red hair with the usual ponytail she wore. She looked around and found no one to be present in the room but herself. "I guess he never came back here…" She sighed but then noticed the sheets that were covering her. "Then again, maybe I'm wrong." A smile began to show on her smooth skin. The priestess twisted her lower torso to the side of the bed, dropping her legs; not on the floor but on something else that felt familiar. A startled look shone on her face as she saw the sleeping boy beneath her feet. A concerned look replaced the expression as she watched Makoto. Shayla affixed herself on the bed in a manner that her head stuck out of the edge, looking down on Makoto's face. "Makoto…" She said in a whisper, with her hand this time brushing his locks down the sides of his head. Shayla smiled at him lovingly, seeing the peace he was in. Then at an instant her smile turned into a disappointed frown. "Ifurita…hang on… I'm coming to get you…" These were the words that changed the priestess' mood in a second. Makoto stirred in his sleep as his nightmares struck again. Tears started forming around Shayla's eyes, taken aback by what she heard, she let the tears fall down from her jade orbs.
The tears fell down on the sleeping lad, which triggered him to wake. He opened his eyes gently at the same time clearing his sight. His eyes met teary emerald eyes, seeing the sadness in her eyes again; he felt his heart melt away. Guilt has taken his feelings again, inner peace was once again walking along a thin line.
Realizing the man he loved was now conscious; she stood up from the bed and walked out towards the door.
Makoto picked himself up from the floor and pursued the priestess. Swinging the door to the side, he saw her standing outside simply gazing at the sky. "Shayla…"
"Stop… I don't want to hear anything that I'd regret hearing." Shayla cut him off, wrapping her arms around herself.
The wind blew around the two as silence broke in.
"But I…" Makoto paused in the middle of his statement as he heard a large crash of thunder in the sky. As quick as the thunder that erupted in the air, darkness spread all over El Hazard.
Makoto looked at the large mass behind him, not at the Palace but the thing that was above it, above all of El Hazard; the Eye of God.
Above the eye was a dark shroud that was shaped like a disk. Makoto noticed this and his eyes widened at what it could be. "A portal…" He said to himself as he gazed at the awesome display of time and space manipulation with the power of the Eye of God. "Are the Roshtarian's responsible for this?" Questions immediately formed inside the lad's head and couldn't find answers for all of them. "Could it be?…Ifurita…" The thought of her pushed Makoto, running inside grabbing the power staff and dashing out and towards the stairway to heaven.
"Makoto! Wait!" Shayla shouted as she followed him into the stairway.
The excited lad ran as fast as he can with the priestess tagging along. Along the way Ura ran up to him and wrapped around him as she usually does when she feels trouble is on the spree. "Thanks Ura." Makoto smiled at his pet. "Ura never leave Makoto, besides, Ura's bored!" It replied.
"Glad to hear that! Lets go!" He smiles once more, picking up the pace and switching the hands that held the power staff. He reached the stairway and stood on the elevator waiting for the priestess. With Shayla and both of them on the lift, it started to move on its own for the quick ride up.
Meanwhile in the palace, two more ladies watch the disturbance in the atmosphere and quickly sprung up to their feet and headed towards the top of the stairway. Afura jumped down from the balcony and flew up towards her friends. The other; Qawool also jumped down but summoned a gush of water spurting from the ground to catch her on her feet. With what she started she commanded more to appear which acted like floating platforms to aid her in rushing to the scene. Once below the stairway, a geyser blew her upwards with extreme force carrying her up the structure. The four then met on top all surprised to meet one another on the top. "Afura, Qawool, you saw it too?" Makoto asked the newly arrived priestesses. "Yeah, who wouldn't?" Afura replied. "So what do you think Mizuhara-san?" The wind priestess asked this time.
"I don't know, I guess all we could do is wait." Ending his words, lightning struck down on the ground as rain started pouring on the group.
"What the hell is going on?" Shayla questioned the effects of nature, eyeing Qawool giving her the hint that she should at least now something about the rain pouring down on them.
As if on cue, Qawool explained to them "I don't know, the rain's is crying as if she's being forced into it. It's saying that something bad is coming our way." Dropping her hand down to her side after focusing her mind on the ring of water.
"It's as if… nature has no control over this…" Makoto said, shielding his eyes as he looked up at the sky.
"Ura doesn't like this." The armor cat spoke amidst their confusion.
Afura on the other hand, was quiet and calm.
A dark mist surrounded the group, enveloping them in vapor, which spewed out of the portal from above the eye. Another lightning bolt darted down, but dangerously in the middle of the group. All of them staggered back with their arms shielding their eyes.
"Makoto? Please show me you're all right!" Shayla screamed inside her mind struggling to catch even a small glimpse of Makoto, but the dark mist hindered her sight, it blocked everyone's vision.
Makoto stood up dazed and light-headed, rubbing his eyes as the flash almost caused permanent damage on his eyes. The rest of the group staggered onto their feet as they prepared for whatever upcoming consequences.
With one stroke of her arm Afura summoned a swift gale to blow the mist away from the platform. "Is everyone all right?" The wind maiden asked her companions. "We're okay Afura." Makoto replied from across her.
"I'm okay too… But you won't be after a few minutes!" A figure appeared before them as the wind blew away her cover.
Makoto gaped in horror as a familiar individual smiled at him with rock drawn menace in it.
"Did you miss me Makoto? You know, you were all I thought about during those past years." The person stated, smiling at him seductively but with a hidden darker meaning in it.
The group was awestruck, as they prepared themselves for a fight. Qawool was really puzzled; she was staring blankly at their subject and surveying her friends. Why are sisters Afura and Shayla's lamps glowing like fire? Guessing the meaning of the words chosen by their unexpected guest Qawool prepared herself for combat too, touching the ring's stone with her lips and raising it in the air to call on water to hasten itself for duty. She was ready now and she was staring at the person with one thing in mind. "What would happen to us now?"
-=|+|End of Chapter 3|+|=-
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.
Notice: This is a Makoto/Shayla fic.
El Hazard: Unforseen consequences
By: -=|+|Makoto_chan|+|=-
-=|+|Chapter 3: Apologies|+|=-
"Argh! I never want to see books for the whole week!" Makoto declared as he shuffled out of Afura's room. "Why does she have that so many books? And to think that she was the most snug of the trio?" He complained once more as he stared at a paper cut on his right thumb. Grumbling, Makoto continued on down the stairs as he walked towards his room; which was on the other end of the building. "Man, am I bushed! I better get some rest." He paused for a while and rubbed his aching eyes. "Qawool better keep her end of the deal. Another fight with Shayla is the last thing I…" While walking and struggling to stay awake, the lad stopped in front of a familiar room, and looked at the door blankly as if it was transparent. He gave it a thought once more and then bowed his head; his eyes were now looking at nothing, staring at the floor. Makoto approached the door and brushed his palm across its surface, feeling it was the room... where his lady used to stay in before. He shut his eyes slowly and whispered her name. "Ifurita…" Makoto's eyes were getting watery; sorrow was in his heart asking himself. "How could I bring you back?" He asked out, facing the window and recalled the nightmares he had. It took a while before he convinced himself that what happened were just dreams, and bad terms with a friend was the cost of taking his nightmare too seriously into account. Recalling how the events followed, the cause and effect of every occurrence, he knew at once that he was at fault. Makoto picked his feet up and shuffled out the door.
Three more rooms before his, Makoto stopped in front of another familiar entrance. "I… I have to try…" Knowing it was really late; he took a deep breath and wrapped his hands on the door's knob. Twisting it, he opened the entrance to the room but only as a means to look inside. Slipping one side of Makoto's face within, he saw the sleeping maiden wrapped in the sheets of her bed.
With guilt driving him Makoto crept slowly and stood on the foot of the bunk. Watching how much at peace the girl was, he at last made out a smile, but then his fists tightened as his thoughts betrayed him. He again recalled the argument they had; the way he treated her and the feelings of fighting with a close friend surged through his mind. Makoto stood there for a few more minutes just gazing at his subject. He then whispered as if directing his words at the girl. "I guess this is not the right time to tell you this but…" He began talking, looking intently at her. "I should've told you this earlier… I'm sorry Shayla." Makoto paused, directing his gaze down on the floor then back at her. "I never considered your feelings for me, I think I've been hurting you ever since. You never did anything wrong to me… except maybe that incident in the springs. Ehe." He chuckled a bit recalling the episode on both their lives. "All you did was love me…I'm sorry I couldn't reciprocate those feelings Shayla." Looking away again, he felt the word's impact on the would-be listener as if it was addressed to him. Averting his attention back to Shayla, "I'm admitting it. I'm at fault. Gomenasai Shayla-chan." He averted his look onto the floor upon saying this, feeling every word he said. "I guess… I better go now…" He bowed down, humbling himself before walking for the exit. Opening the door, Makoto heard a faint whisper from behind him. He looked back and saw Shayla crying in her sleep, whispering his name. "Makoto…" Upon hearing this, guilt was all that he felt. His mind froze at the idea of how much torment he caused. Anguish to a person who loved him so dearly, yet he scorned the care offered to him on that night. Continuing his walk, he simply shut the door after looking at Shayla one last time for the night. Makoto walked towards his room still staring at the air in front of him. "How could I make things up with Shayla?" Makoto asked himself, thinking of how to truly express or show his remorse for his actions. He kept on pondering yet none came through his poll. Once in his domain, he fell flat on his bed, but later on he kept on changing his orientation in his bed, his body craved for sleep yet his mind disagrees the notion. Makoto's mind never ceased to speak to him. "What should I do?" He simply lied on his belly thinking of his situation. Upon realizing he really should be resting for tomorrow he forced his eyelids down. He fell asleep yet was actually twisting and turning in his sleep. In the middle of the night he would wake up suddenly opening his eyes as if something bit his arm, but as quickly as he woke up he would succumb to slumber once more. "Gomenasai Shayla-chan…" Were the words he spoke off before going back to sleep.
-=|+|=-
"Unhh… What the devil is that racket?" Makoto woke up to the loud knocking on his door.
"Makoto-sama wake up! Come on now! You promised!" Qawool continued on with the tapping on the door.
Our hero stood up and walked slowly towards the door continuously being rapped at. With an almost annoyed face he twisted its knob and opened it to the side. "Just give me sec, okay Qawool? What? What's wrong?" He asked as he saw the shocked face of the girl, backing away from the door and pointing at him.
"Aaaaahhhh!" She screeched as she pointed at the partially naked boy. "Makoto-sama! Hentai!" Qawool shouted once more making the lad look at himself.
"Shit!" He quickly slammed the door as he realized he only has his briefs on. "Now how did my clothes disappear like that!?" He scratched his head as he rushed to the shower for a quick bath. "Damn, I must've been pretty uneasy last night that I took my clothes off." He stepped out and hurriedly put on some decent clothes, rushing as to get the matter over with. Makoto walked towards the door, now clean and proper. He opened the door once more and stepped out.
"Aaaaaahhhmphhh!!!" Qawool shrieked thinking he was still naked but was quickly ceased by Makoto's hand. Her gaze now averted to him as she saw that her escort for the day was ready. "Oh, you're already set." She said with a small grin across her face.
"Shall we go now?" The lad asked.
She simply nodded her response as both started walking down the stairs. They walked around the palace for a while talking about how things were for both of them, how their matters where. Activity around the palace everyday were somewhat a highway, people worked here and there. Every time they pass a servant, these people would bow to them in honor of the hero and the priestess, they simply acknowledged the greeting by smiling at them and exchanged greetings with them. Walking past the dozens of hallways Qawool spoke to Makoto, "By the way Makoto-sama, that's one side of you I'd never imagine seeing." She giggled, the thought making her blush as she pictured once more how he looked. She shook her head from side to side, as she held her dome with both hands.
"Ehe, shall we forget about it now?" Makoto, now totally embarrassed was also blushing at the thought. They continued on walking Qawool never ceased her giggling. Makoto just kept his peace and hoped she would forget the matter somehow.
Arriving at the counsel hall, they both approached Rune who was, as usual sitting there listening to Lond's dictation of her obligations for the day.
"Ohayo, Makoto, Qawool." She greeted the two of them with a smile, which in turn they gave back. "Ohayo your highness," Makoto started, standing in front of her. "I… Qawool and I would be going out for today, so…"
Rune sputtered while taking a sip from her tea. "You're going out with her already?" She eyed him with a look of surprise.
"Yes we're… Haha… It's not like that your highness! What we mean by going out is that we're just going out to town!"
"Yes lady Rune, Makoto's going to show me around town." Qawool seconded while latching on to Makoto's arm. His eyes fixed at the girl then at lady Rune with a very surprised look and shook his head, "Why does these things keep happening to me?"
Rune upon seeing her actions, gave Makoto a mischievous smile, which in turn he just gave her a look saying, "Cut it out already." Rune stood up and walked towards them and whispered unto Makoto's ear, "You sly devil you!" Rune once more gave a funny look at the earthling.
"I said it's not like that!" He said in retaliation, which made Rune giggle a bit more.
"Okay, okay Mizuhara I shall tell everyone in case they look for you." She said controlling her laughter.
"Thank you your highness… Wait! Not everyone!" Makoto took his arm from Qawool's grip and ran to where Rune seated. "You know what I mean don't you? Princess?" He asked nervously.
"Yes I know about it, and if you would want to go, you'd better go now, before somebody else sees you with her." She replied in a whisper.
"Why are you worried the I might be seen with Makoto-sama?" Qawool asked who stood several feet away.
Both Makoto and Rune looked at her with astonished eyes.
"She heard that?"
"I guess so." Rune concluded. "Ehem…Well? Get going! Have fun!"
"Arigatou. Oh… and would you please remove the idea in your mind in telling Shayla?!" With that Makoto walked back down the steps and went back beside Qawool, "Ready?"
"Hai!" She simply nodded back smiling at him.
Makoto and Qawool proceeded on with their way out of the throne room. Quite the energetic one the water priestess seemed to be light on her feet and pranced softly before the lad. The boy however was walking impeccably calm as usual, sweat dropping as soon as he noticed the girl going about her own world in her mind.
He acknowledged the salutes the guards at the gate made at him as they walked out the gates. "So where do you want to go first mam?" Makoto asked with a smile as he led both of them outside the palace entrance. They stood there for a brief moment as the view flashed before their eyes as the whole Capital city of Floristica was clearly seen atop the hill the palace rose from.
She scouted around the vast area and finally pinpointed a small market. Her eyes widened as she saw merchants selling different items from clothes to anything you could imagine. "I guess we better start somewhere. Let's start over there, Makoto-sama!" Qawool gave a sharp tug on Makoto's arm as she excitedly rushed down the side of the hill for the city Market.
"Hey slow down! We might faaall!" With him being towed Makoto exclaimed as they both tripped on each other's feet. Qawool stumbled on a thick patch of grass; which forced Makoto to topple over her. The lad didn't want his companion to get hurt so he twisted to the side and aligned himself parallel to the maiden's frame. "Qawool! Hang on!" Makoto instinctively wrapped his friend around his protective arms as they rolled about down the rise of land. The water priestess just shut her eyes, holding herself much closer to Makoto and letting the force carry them down. They took about a hundred rolls before they reached the bottom of the hill. Groaning with sore bodies Makoto and Qawool laid down there for a few moments trying to catch their breath. Qawool opened her sights and were met immediately by Makoto's brown orbs. She blushed as she realized she was actually in his embrace. "Makoto-sama… Arigatou." She thanked him, staring once more in his eyes. Embarrassed, Makoto looked away as he blushed violently.
"Really Qawool, its nothing. I was just…" He stopped as he saw the priestess nestled on his chest. "I've said it before and I'm saying it again. Why does this things keep happening to me?" Makoto thought, averting his gaze to his surroundings looking around if somebody else knew about the incident except themselves. Minutes have already passed and he finally decided to break up his current position. "Qawool, we better get going now."
"Are you sure Makoto-sama?"
"I'm sure." He replied.
"Then why are your arms still around me?" Qawool asked, looking away once more as she flushed again.
"Gomen! I didn't mean to hold you like that…" Makoto quickly said as he stood up and looked away.
"Its okay Makoto. But you sure know how to show a girl a good time!" Giggling she took his arm in hers.
"Well? Let's go." She said tugging on to him, pulling Makoto into the Market's midst. Her eyes kept darting from each side, looking at all the stands for things for sale.
Makoto struggled to keep up as Qawool went through the crowd pulling his arm with her. In one shop they came in, she quickly tried out different clothes and had Makoto speak his opinion about it. She posed and turned in front of him. Seeing she was having a good time, he just played along and smiled at her choice of clothes. Making out his approval from Makoto's smile, Qawool bought the clothes and took them with her. Out they came and the view of a crowd appeared again in front of them.
"Here we go again…" Makoto sighed as he ran after Qawool, constantly searching for something.
"Makoto-sama! Clothes for men! Come on!" She pulled on to her date and dragged him inside.
"Qawool! Hey! C'mon my clothes are just fine." He tried resisting as he pulled back.
"Just come on silly!" She pulled once more and with superhuman strength threw him inside.
Makoto flew inside the booth with a shocked face. "Gyaah! Ouch, you didn't have to throw me in you know?"
"Gomen!" She giggled as she smiled at him for what just happened.
Qawool quickly picked out some clothes for Makoto to try on, bright colored shirts and some plain ones to be exact.
"Here try this first." She handed dozens of garments as she pushed him inside a fitting room. He couldn't do much to resist so he just blindly followed her orders.
Makoto first tried out a shirt that fit perfectly showing off his now mature body. He walked out and pretended to pose as a model. His companion smiled at the sight, seeing Makoto was now trying to enjoy himself. One by one the lad fitted the clothes and went out for the lady to see. Qawool gazed at him, day dreaming at that time also, about him, about Makoto. Her eyes focused once more into reality as Makoto walked out of the fitting room carrying the bundle of clothes along with him to the counter. Qawool was so surprised he decided to buy them all too.
They walked out of the store carrying all that mass of new garb.
"Wow, I didn't know you had that much money."
"Ehe, Me too." He replied scratching his head, while lugging all the clothes they bought on one hand.
"Makoto-sama, do you want me to help you with that?" Qawool offered, as she tried to grasp the packages from Makoto's hand.
"It's okay, I can handle it. Besides it wouldn't be right for a beautiful priestess like you to carry much stuff around." He smiled at her ignoring the fact of what he just said.
"Err… right…" She blushed as his words rang out on her mind, looking away for a moment.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes, pretty much." The priestess beamed at Makoto
"Then lets go, I know a pretty good place here." It was the wanderer's turn to pull as he did so. He held her hand and crossed the large group of people before them. They came across a lot of alleys and roads, taking shortcuts as to avoid the rush of people. Makoto stopped and came in front of a new restaurant with Qawool this time out of breath. The place had a sign with a familiar name on it.
"Nanami's? This is her place?"
"Yup, she just opened it last week before Mizu's wedding." He explained, "So, you hungry?" Makoto smiled at Qawool, walking up the steps with the priestess behind.
"Hai…" She politely replied as she followed Makoto who was leading her by the hand.
The couple went in and to their surprise Nanami was the one to greet them personally.
"Ohayo Gozaimasu!" She bowed down not being able to recognize them immediately. She quickly looked back up and "Makoto-chan!" Nanami quickly gave her friend a quick hug.
"Ohayo, Nanami-chan." The recipient smiled back, cross-eyed as Nanami was so close to his face. "So… are you open today?" He asked as Nanami released her tight embrace on him.
"Ofcourse silly, we're always open! You just got in time before rush hour. I guess palace food got to you!" Both laughed out as they continued on with their conversation.
"By the way, I'm with someone." Makoto paused as he moved to the side.
"Morning Nanami!" Qawool greeted with a smile, as she appeared behind Makoto.
"O…Ohayo Qa…Qawool!" She stuttered like crazy as she fell for the surprise.
"Excuse us for a minute Qawool. Hehehe" She said tugging onto Makoto. Both of them went around the back. Slamming the door behind her Nanami quickly pulled Makoto closer to her face by the collar.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She screamed at his face.
"What? What'd I do?" Makoto tried to comprehend.
"You dummy!" Nanami loosened her grip on Makoto and turned her back at him. "Are you going out with her?" Holding her hand with the other she asked.
"Wha? No its not like that, we're not dating or anything. I'm just showing her around, that's all." The boy replied waving his hands in front of him trying to avoid more arguments.
Mixed feelings went through the lady's mind. Jealousy was half of it but understanding still prevailed. "He never took me on a date." Nanami whispered to herself, seeing how Makoto treated the new comer differently.
A few seconds passed before Nanami asked him.
The entrepreneur just sighed out. "So, what do you want to eat?" She asked while turning to face her friend.
"The usual, but make it a double. I sure miss your lunches Nanami- chan." He smiled at her, remembering the boxed lunches she used to prepare.
"Hai…" She blushed upon hearing Makoto's comment. Both stood facing each other for moments until one broke the silence.
"Well? Get going! You're never supposed to keep a lady in waiting you know?" Nanami pushed the lad up the stairs and into the back door. He smiled at her leaving Nanami with her thoughts at the moment.
"Makoto-chan…Aishiteru…" She whispered and followed her loved one's movement with her eyes. "What am I saying?" She shook her head and followed inside.
The two were dining but Nanami eyed the couple carefully. She saw how much fun Qawool was having, being around Makoto that is. She was laughing with him like a little girl playing with her puppy. They were joshing each other and having polite conversation. The boy was indeed a gentleman, as how he usually was seen around women. Nanami saw how Qawool looked like and remembered when she herself was always around the lad. She sighed while reminiscing, then looked at Makoto this time. He was at his usual composure, always smiling, ever so friendly, heartwarming and surely attractive. Nanami thought, as she gaped at him. "No wonder… all of us are after him." She grumbled resting her elbow on the counter and leaning her head on her hand. She looked back at the times she and Shayla fussed over him, the way they always competed for his affections, times they fought why the other is getting so close and this and that. Seeing they have new competition she simply breathed out. She fell back from the clouds as her orbs focused back and met Makoto's, his eyes looking back at her with a questioning look. The shop owner quickly looked away as if her actions where just coincidental and she continued on counting the money she earned through the week.
"Makoto-sama." Qawool called to him, which brought him back to attention.
"Yes Qawool?"
"Ano… what's going to happen after this?"
"What do you mean?" was the lad's reply.
"Well… It's nothing." She said blankly as she looked away.
"If you want to talk about it…" Makoto tried to revive the conversation,
"Can we talk about it later?" The girl cut her off looking at him straight, with pleading looks in her eyes.
"Hai. Gomen…" He bowed down in apology.
"Makoto-sama, it's nothing, really…" She put her gentle hands on top of his as to not make him worry over something. Makoto gaped at her hand over his.
"Why are they doing this?" The lad thought about most women got his attention, the different and sometimes crazy stunts to catch his sight.
"I guess so… So do you want to go now?" Makoto asked as he kept his hand under hers as to not bring about negative reactions from both of them. Qawool nodded and both stood up from the booth and proceeded towards the counter to pay for their meal.
"Nanami-chan, we're done now. Arigatou!" Makoto smiled as he laid down the money on Nanami's palm.
What she saw was a huge sum of money that rested on her hands.
"Makoto-chan…the money you handed me is way over your bill!"
"Don't worry about it, its just money. Besides, the food was so good! I missed it a lot too you know?" He beamed at her, complimenting her culinary creations.
"Thank you Makoto-chan!" She thanked him as he stood by next to Qawool.
"Thank you too Nanami-san, the food was so good! I hope to come back again real soon!"
"I guess we'll be going now. Arigatou, Nanami-chan." The lad thanked her once more as he and Qawool took off again for the city. The shopkeeper's eyes followed the lad with bliss in them.
"Anything for you Makoto-chan…" She smiled at the boy before the door closed shut behind him.
"Oh well… Back to real world again." Nanami sighed as she continued in doing her chores and duties as shop owner of the restaurant that she named after herself.
The alley was still full of life, as to how the couple observed their bearings. "Where to now Qawool?"
"Anywhere you want to go Makoto!" She replied, grappling unto her companion. "You already showed me such a good time, I don't know where we should go."
"Do you know what I would want to do right now Makoto-sama?" Qawool asked, looking straight into his brown orbs.
"W…What?" He replied nervously, perspiring underneath his cap.
"Oh nothing…I just want to walk around Floristica…with you, like this." She blushed upon expressing her true feelings at the moment.
"Qawool…" Makoto looked with surprise and gawked at her for a moment.
"Or I'll tell…" The water priestess grinned mischievously at him, but with guilt in her heart.
"All right already!" He shook his fists in the air with an irritated face.
"Yata!" She gleefully smiled tightening her hold onto Makoto's left arm.
"I guess its okay. Well? Shall we?" He motioned her to walk alongside him, smiling at her.
"Oh my God… that smile…" The priestess thought, melting inside just by a smile from the hero, forcing her to mellow right beside him. She nodded her response, which set them off to walk around the capital until nightfall eventually came. She never removed herself from Makoto's side, savoring the moment she was in until they headed back for origin.
-=|+|=-
Earlier that morning a known red haired priestess walked the hallways of the palace of the Royal family of Roshtaria, looking everywhere and around the great structure. Everywhere she searched for him. "Where the hell is Makoto?" Shayla grumbled, crossing her arms in exasperation. Not having the thought of giving up, she gave another tour of the place after lunch. "Makoto?" She spoke inside the library, hoping he was there. "Makoto-chan?" The priestess tried to find him inside his room but nobody was found there either. "Darn it, where is he!? It's already past dinner time and I haven't seen him?" Shayla shouted inside her head. Getting a bit worried that the past events might have driven him to his limits of emotional tolerance. She jogged a bit in frantic search of him, stopping as she saw Afura reading a book below in the palace garden.
"Afura!" Shayla spoke aloud, calling the attention of her sister who was now looking up at her bounding from a floor higher from the garden and landing in front of her.
"Afura, have you seen Makoto?" Her voice trembling in distress due to failed attempts to locate him.
"Hmm…should I tell her? I promised Makoto anyway." The lady of the wind processed through her thoughts as to how to deal with the situation.
"No, I haven't seen him. Is something wrong sis?" Lying in her statement, Afura closed the novel and focused on her sister's predicament.
"Ano... I just wanted to talk to him." Shayla replied, looking away from Afura's eyes.
"Aha!" Uncrossing her legs Afura gave a questioning look at her.
"What do you mean 'Aha'? Since we're not talking to each other doesn't mean I'm not worried about him!" Taken aback by her comment, Shayla stepped back and snapped at her.
"Fine!" She giggled, unfolding her book and burying her eyes in it.
"Whatever… I'll just look for him on my own." Shayla crossed her arms and started walking away. "Geez… to think she was the most sophisticated among us three. I change my mind!" The red head thought, while on her temple a vein was clearly seen.
"Shayla!" Afura-mahn tried to call her back.
"What now?"
"So have you forgiven him yet?" Afura asked with a raised brow, which stopped Shayla in her tracks while she was walking away. She clenched her fists tightly and loosened it after a few moments. She spun around with tears trailing down from her eyes.
"That jerk…" The lady of fire whispered through, yet her eyes spoke to differ. "You'll find him, I'm sure of it." Her sister found befitting to say.
"Arigatou…Afura." Shayla flashed at her friend, smiling at her in a way that says thanks by itself. She continued on walking around the palace grounds asking each and everyone she comes across about Makoto's whereabouts but to no avail, all gave the answer the fire priestess was not looking for. "Gomen Shayla-sama, we haven't seen Makoto-sama since this morning."
Shayla walked here and there without any idea where she's going and coincidentally wanders off in front of Makoto's lab. She knocked on the door for some time trying to find out if anybody would be there. She strode in examining each corner, eyeing things inside the lab. Being worn out, Shayla sat on Makoto's bed as she gave a deep sigh expressing her tiredness and disappointment.
"I'm supposed to talk to him…" Shayla twiddled her fingers together, trying to control herself from making another emotional outburst. Waiting for Makoto to come home her eyelids then began to drop, surrendering to her fatigued state.
"I hope you don't mind Makoto-chan…that I…zzzz…." She made one more whisper and finally dropped down completely on the scientist's bunk. Her eyelids closed without hesitation. Slumber inhibited Shayla, as an effort to wait for Makoto with a reason to fix things between them was postponed due to tiredness. She lay on Makoto's bed, sleeping peacefully hoping that one way or the other, he might be there when she wakes up.
-=|+|=-
Right outside the gates, a couple was walking for home. Recently getting tired of dancing in the town square, Qawool and Makoto decided it was time to call it a night. They were chatting away at the things they did during the day. After Ifurita's passage into her journey to Earth, Makoto was rarely seen to be smiling but right now he was in good terms again with himself he was actually having fun. Even for just a brief moment he forgot all about the guilt and regret he shouldered for almost a year.
"Did you enjoy yourself Qawool?"
"I enjoyed the day very much Makoto-sama, Arigatou!" She smiled, brushing herself up on Makoto's side.
Then for a few moments, Makoto became silent. Seeing the change of mood, the priestess decided to query her companion.
"Makoto-sama… daijobou?"
Still, he kept walking across the gates of the palace with his eyes watching his path.
"Makoto-sama, what's wrong?" She asked for the second time, stepping in front of the lad and shook the boy's shoulders. The lad abruptly stopped as his eyes met the lady's
"Hai… It's nothing… It's just that for almost a year, I never felt happy like this. I've been locked away in my lab, or sometimes in the library. I guess I'm being too shallow right now huh?" He replied, awakening from his dazed state and looking away from the priestess' gaze.
"Makoto…I… We all understand what happened."
"I know that, but I was wrong treating everyone like that."
"You know what the problem is with you Makoto? You don't care for yourself at all! You always think about everybody around you, but what you haven't thought is, what if you were the next one that would disappear because of your shenanigans? Huh? What do you think they would feel?" She said, driving those words into Makoto's head.
"Arigatou, Qawool-chan" Makoto smiled at her, thanking the priestess for the crash course wake up call.
"You better promise me you'll take care of yourself!" She pointed her finger straight at him.
"Don't worry, I will." He replied placing his hand on her shoulder, urging her to trust him.
"Makoto-sama…" She whispered, blushing as she held the hand on her shoulder with hers and brushed her fingers on Makoto's hand lightly.
The lad saw what was happening and slowly took his hand off the girl's shoulders.
Taking the long walk up the staircase, they came up in front of Qawool's room. The two stood in front of it for a few minutes facing each other, not knowing what's next to do.
"I guess this is good night." Makoto decided to speak, giving a lopsided smile to his companion.
"Hai." One word and quietness enveloped the two again.
"Well, good night Qawool." With one last smile, he started walking away from her.
"Makoto-sama!" The water maiden called out stopping the lad in his tracks.
"Yes?" He turned back to face her.
"Arigatou… Makoto."
"My pleasure." His smile seen through the moonlight, flashed at Qawool who also beamed at him.
Makoto casually walked away again towards his room feeling much better than the days before, as he realized his drive to make people happy has been welcomed again.
Eyeing the lad, who faded in plane view, Qawool stepped into her quarters. Yawning, she headed for her closet to change her clothes for sleep.
"So how did the date go?" A familiar voice spoke with a curious voice from behind her as she was beginning to take her upper garment off.
"Oh, sister Afura, it's you." Qawool spun around to see who her mysterious guest was. Seeing her to be Afura-mahn, she smiled at the eavesdropping priestess showing that all went well during the day. Not being able to control herself, the younger of the two came closer to the other.
"Afura-sama, I had the most wonderful day!" She exclaimed, telling how the events of the day went by.
"Her voice… It's different. Oh God!" Afura screamed in her mind as the voice coming out of Qawool's lips are beginning to form the story on its own. Listening to her fellow priestess' words she has learned the unexpected.
"Then we went to this shop and Makoto bought all these and…" Qawool continued on, never leaving a single detail. The tale stood from the time they went down the steep end of the hill and their dance in the town square. Trying to be a good sister Afura just nodded on and on. "Look's like she's fallen for him too! Argh! The problem with that guy is that he's too charming!" Afura grumbled, foreseeing not only Shayla in tears but also Qawool as well, after an all out war for her friend's feelings. "Qawool! Haven't you realized what you've just been doing?" The senior priestess blurted out.
"What I… Oh… I'm that obvious huh?" She replied, as the glee in her eyes slowly faded away. She looked down on the floor, waiting for Afura's response.
"I thought the deal thing was just about trying to be friendly with him, I guess I know now that it's a cover up." Afura crossed her arms while her eye's slits lowered.
"No, Afura-sama you have to believe me! Yesterday morning was really a crazy stunt but the things I felt today are different. Please believe me!" The water maiden pleaded with tears forming below her eyes.
"Qawool… I do trust you, heck; even the demon lord Ifurita fell for Makoto! How in the world couldn't you fall for him too?"
"Arigatou, Senpai."
"The only problem is that… there's already four of you. Poor guy." Afura shook her head, predicting the events that might happen.
"Four?"
Afura shrugged the reply and started rising above the floor. "Good night Qawool, I sure hope everything work out fine." With one more farewell, she flew out the window and up to her quarters above.
"I sure hope so." The lady held her hands together and held it up beneath her chin, praying that everything will turn up for the betterment of all.
-=|+|=-
Makoto walked down the hallways thinking as usual. His heart had a pain in it; that he was again beginning to enjoy his life in El Hazard, even in the absence of one.
"Ifurita, I'm so sorry I couldn't share my brief happiness with you right now. Gomen… You deserve better…" He looked outside a window as he walked down the stairs. "I wish I could talk to you. Even just for a brief moment." He stopped in his tracks, clenching his fist, as thoughts of what could be happening around Ifurita and lastly, what was his nightmare all about. Makoto stood for a few more seconds closing his eyes in uneasiness about his loved one. He recalled the time they first met as how he delved into her mind by touching her power staff. His eyes widened as he recalled the thing Ifurita always held. "The power staff!" Makoto blurted out, driving him down the stairs faster and dashing for his room. His heart pounded faster by the second as he ran for his room. He quickly opened the door dashed inside. Makoto screeched into a halt as he saw someone on his bed.
Shayla slept peacefully on her love's bed as she tried waiting for him to patch things up between them. "Shayla…" He whispered as he gazed upon the priestess lying on his bed. He again recalled the fight they had the other night, which they haven't resolved yet. Though he indeed cares for her, he isn't sure why his guilt is over extending its welcome to him. He approached the sleeping figure and sat beside her head. Makoto saw how tranquil she was at the moment and wished he were too, but matters regarding not the girl beyond his lap but the lady waiting for him across the dimensions started haunting him again. He gently stroked the hair from her forehead to the side. Shayla stirred a bit at his touch but was still sound asleep. A clue of a dream sequence she spoke of him during he sleep; "Makoto… I love… you…" The priestess whispered making the lad's eyes widen and his skin flush. Now he knows how much he means to her.
"I'm so sorry Shayla…" He placed his lips on Shayla's forehead once and sat there for a few more moments stroking her hair then covering her body with the blanket on his bed.
Breathing out Makoto stood up and got down on all fours. He crept below eyelevel as he tried to grab Ifurita's power staff from underneath his bed. "There it is." He murmured, pulling the object from under and raising it to his level with its other end touching the ground. "Makoto, guide me… with the use of my spring, she's a part of me. I would deactivate the Eye myself…. Keep it… for my sake…" The memory flashed back in Makoto's mind on the faithful day that he lost his love. "Ifurita… Talk to me Ifurita…" Makoto thought as he placed his hands on the staffs shaft and placed it closer onto his head as if praying on it.
He closed his eyes, focusing his mind on the matter. He kept trying for minutes and hours into the night, hoping to find just one spark of light or loophole that he may pass through to reach Ifurita through the dimensions. "What the hell is wrong with this thing?!" He screamed inside his head. "Ifurita…talk to me! Onegai…" Makoto said once more burying the staff around his embrace as he focused once more his efforts on communicating with Ifurita. To no avail he became awfully tired concentrating, the mental strain was getting to him floating him away to sleep. Fatigue started to carry him down on the floor. "Ifurita, please be alive." Makoto whispered, as his eyelids grew heavier then surrendered and fell flat on the floor with the key still around his arms.
-=|+|=-
Dawn broke in and all was at peace inside the royal palace of Roshtaria. Inside a room two people slept together, on separate places but on the same room nevertheless. The priestess stirred, the bed she slept on was quite unfamiliar giving her the account of waking a bit earlier as usual. She sat up from the bed and rubbed her eyes as she forced herself to wake. She tied her red hair with the usual ponytail she wore. She looked around and found no one to be present in the room but herself. "I guess he never came back here…" She sighed but then noticed the sheets that were covering her. "Then again, maybe I'm wrong." A smile began to show on her smooth skin. The priestess twisted her lower torso to the side of the bed, dropping her legs; not on the floor but on something else that felt familiar. A startled look shone on her face as she saw the sleeping boy beneath her feet. A concerned look replaced the expression as she watched Makoto. Shayla affixed herself on the bed in a manner that her head stuck out of the edge, looking down on Makoto's face. "Makoto…" She said in a whisper, with her hand this time brushing his locks down the sides of his head. Shayla smiled at him lovingly, seeing the peace he was in. Then at an instant her smile turned into a disappointed frown. "Ifurita…hang on… I'm coming to get you…" These were the words that changed the priestess' mood in a second. Makoto stirred in his sleep as his nightmares struck again. Tears started forming around Shayla's eyes, taken aback by what she heard, she let the tears fall down from her jade orbs.
The tears fell down on the sleeping lad, which triggered him to wake. He opened his eyes gently at the same time clearing his sight. His eyes met teary emerald eyes, seeing the sadness in her eyes again; he felt his heart melt away. Guilt has taken his feelings again, inner peace was once again walking along a thin line.
Realizing the man he loved was now conscious; she stood up from the bed and walked out towards the door.
Makoto picked himself up from the floor and pursued the priestess. Swinging the door to the side, he saw her standing outside simply gazing at the sky. "Shayla…"
"Stop… I don't want to hear anything that I'd regret hearing." Shayla cut him off, wrapping her arms around herself.
The wind blew around the two as silence broke in.
"But I…" Makoto paused in the middle of his statement as he heard a large crash of thunder in the sky. As quick as the thunder that erupted in the air, darkness spread all over El Hazard.
Makoto looked at the large mass behind him, not at the Palace but the thing that was above it, above all of El Hazard; the Eye of God.
Above the eye was a dark shroud that was shaped like a disk. Makoto noticed this and his eyes widened at what it could be. "A portal…" He said to himself as he gazed at the awesome display of time and space manipulation with the power of the Eye of God. "Are the Roshtarian's responsible for this?" Questions immediately formed inside the lad's head and couldn't find answers for all of them. "Could it be?…Ifurita…" The thought of her pushed Makoto, running inside grabbing the power staff and dashing out and towards the stairway to heaven.
"Makoto! Wait!" Shayla shouted as she followed him into the stairway.
The excited lad ran as fast as he can with the priestess tagging along. Along the way Ura ran up to him and wrapped around him as she usually does when she feels trouble is on the spree. "Thanks Ura." Makoto smiled at his pet. "Ura never leave Makoto, besides, Ura's bored!" It replied.
"Glad to hear that! Lets go!" He smiles once more, picking up the pace and switching the hands that held the power staff. He reached the stairway and stood on the elevator waiting for the priestess. With Shayla and both of them on the lift, it started to move on its own for the quick ride up.
Meanwhile in the palace, two more ladies watch the disturbance in the atmosphere and quickly sprung up to their feet and headed towards the top of the stairway. Afura jumped down from the balcony and flew up towards her friends. The other; Qawool also jumped down but summoned a gush of water spurting from the ground to catch her on her feet. With what she started she commanded more to appear which acted like floating platforms to aid her in rushing to the scene. Once below the stairway, a geyser blew her upwards with extreme force carrying her up the structure. The four then met on top all surprised to meet one another on the top. "Afura, Qawool, you saw it too?" Makoto asked the newly arrived priestesses. "Yeah, who wouldn't?" Afura replied. "So what do you think Mizuhara-san?" The wind priestess asked this time.
"I don't know, I guess all we could do is wait." Ending his words, lightning struck down on the ground as rain started pouring on the group.
"What the hell is going on?" Shayla questioned the effects of nature, eyeing Qawool giving her the hint that she should at least now something about the rain pouring down on them.
As if on cue, Qawool explained to them "I don't know, the rain's is crying as if she's being forced into it. It's saying that something bad is coming our way." Dropping her hand down to her side after focusing her mind on the ring of water.
"It's as if… nature has no control over this…" Makoto said, shielding his eyes as he looked up at the sky.
"Ura doesn't like this." The armor cat spoke amidst their confusion.
Afura on the other hand, was quiet and calm.
A dark mist surrounded the group, enveloping them in vapor, which spewed out of the portal from above the eye. Another lightning bolt darted down, but dangerously in the middle of the group. All of them staggered back with their arms shielding their eyes.
"Makoto? Please show me you're all right!" Shayla screamed inside her mind struggling to catch even a small glimpse of Makoto, but the dark mist hindered her sight, it blocked everyone's vision.
Makoto stood up dazed and light-headed, rubbing his eyes as the flash almost caused permanent damage on his eyes. The rest of the group staggered onto their feet as they prepared for whatever upcoming consequences.
With one stroke of her arm Afura summoned a swift gale to blow the mist away from the platform. "Is everyone all right?" The wind maiden asked her companions. "We're okay Afura." Makoto replied from across her.
"I'm okay too… But you won't be after a few minutes!" A figure appeared before them as the wind blew away her cover.
Makoto gaped in horror as a familiar individual smiled at him with rock drawn menace in it.
"Did you miss me Makoto? You know, you were all I thought about during those past years." The person stated, smiling at him seductively but with a hidden darker meaning in it.
The group was awestruck, as they prepared themselves for a fight. Qawool was really puzzled; she was staring blankly at their subject and surveying her friends. Why are sisters Afura and Shayla's lamps glowing like fire? Guessing the meaning of the words chosen by their unexpected guest Qawool prepared herself for combat too, touching the ring's stone with her lips and raising it in the air to call on water to hasten itself for duty. She was ready now and she was staring at the person with one thing in mind. "What would happen to us now?"
-=|+|End of Chapter 3|+|=-
