(Author's Note: I know, I know.. Toma gets a bum deal. I really quite
adore the Explorer and my gaming expirience was NEVER complete without drifting off toward him and shooting the wind. *A shame they didn't have more of him in the game..* He doesn't go alone forever though for all you Toma Fangirls! in Setzer and Violetta's story he does have a part to
play and he finds the woman of his dreams. ))

Chapter Six

~"And I don't want the world to see me,
Because I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am."
-Goo Goo Dolls, Iris ~

Corrine had her nose pressed against the pane of glass that separated the entire outside from Corrine's delicate health. Scenery passed by in a whirlwind celebration of winter and her eyes followed it with little hidden admiration that was schooled upon having never left the boundaries of Domino Village her entire life. To be certain it was a new experience and one which she had been giddy anticipating if she would ever live it. True to form she was living it and that kept her wide awake when by all accounts she should of been asleep against the purple velvet seats of the carriage. Not to mention the cold weather did not want to touch her thanks due to the heavy fur blanket of undisclosed origin that lay across her lap and the hot water bottle resting underneath her feet.

Toma had come by to pick her up as soon as the grandfather clock in her living room had struck four am and she had been outside soon after with her small cloth suitcase, a picnic basket, her doll Lisbette held under her arm and a cloak wrapped warmly about her shoulders. It was a beautiful carriage and her jaw had dropped in surprise, sure black crepe covered Magus's infamous crest but the entire thing was wood gilded silver and it delicately blended in with the fragile flakes of snow that danced down from the heavens. For a moment of unreality she couldn't believe that this coach was actually going to take her far from here. It couldn't possibly be meant for her but someone else, maybe a fairy princess. To see it coming through the snow with stealth like ease had been both a shock and a delight to her.

Now here she was with not a care in the world. Completely trusting of the man above driving the carriage, what was there not to trust about Toma? He was the most frank and outspoken person that she knew and perhaps the most caring friend a girl could have. When she was a younger, Corrine had imagined herself infatuated enough to want to marry Toma and point in fact she still harbored in her heart a tiny little crush. She knew that it was impossible, better to leave Toma to a woman that still had a full healthy life ahead of her. All the while she could content herself with admiring from an emotional distance. It was safer that way.

They had been traveling for the past 4 hours and had only recently traversed over the heavily guarded Truce Bridge that led onto the main continent. It was a good thing that the guards didn't take too much notice of the black crepe for if they had, it would of meant ill for Toma. However that obstacle was cleared with minimum effort and they were free to go on their merry way toward the destination that loomed in the future, a future that Corrine found it hard to comprehend.

She settled underneath the blankets comfortably while looking out the window with wistful longing, realizing that this is all that she would remember from her last days on this earth. It was such cold crystalline snow that covered the ground liberally. How she would of loved to seen flowers push through to the earth again, struggling to overcome the winter.. And succeeding. If only she could emulate them, if only she had the strength.

~* "Only the good die young? More apt would be the weak."*~ Corrine thought and while she didn't want to believe in the survival of the fittest she knew deep down inside that it was the truth. She had been sick all her life with no chance at a proper recovery, this road had been inevitable since the day she threw herself on her father's grave and stayed there. Her mother had been right; she brought it on herself in a masochistic act of self pity and melodramatic loss.

The flatlands soon gave way to the craggy edges of the Truce Coastline, which Corrine had never seen before, and she was quite honestly amazed at how different the scenery was. Nothing like the area surrounding Domino Village and for that she was glad. She vaguely wondered what terrain would meet her on the Medina Continent, would it be dark and gloomy to mirror the man that she had heard so many stories about? Only time would tell and that time was drawing closer.

They turned off from the main road and the carriage bumped across the rocks in the path. Corrine grabbed the armrest and steadied herself so that she wouldn't be sent flying to the other side. The only reason why she didn't complain was because she knew that Toma was doing his best at driving though she wasn't quite certain that he was the most proficient at driving a carriage.

"Have a care, Toma!" She exclaimed even though she knew that Toma couldn't hear her. The picnic basket rattled with all the bottles, jars and containers of food that she had packed, hopefully none of them would break with the rapid jarring. This was the first time that she had ridden in a carriage with Toma driving. Hopefully it would be the last, at least if she had any say in it.

The sea and the cliffs almost seemed to rise up closer as the speed overtook the carriage and gave it a will of its own. A smile floated over Corrine's petal shaped lips for even though the ride was bumpy, she didn't mind too much. In fact she was enjoying it with every fiber of life that was ensconced in her. Life was a journey and she was moving at a rapid pace toward the final destination, her final destination.

The sea looked grayish calm and expansive despite the storm clouds that brewed over the surface. A few terns glided out through the air, letting their desolate shriek known to everyone. The melancholy beauty didn't leave the girl's heart untouched and she felt it keenly flow through her. Looking further out the window she spied the beginnings of a ship.. It wasn't overly large like some of the merchant ships that glided into Domino Bay during the spring and summer. Neither could it be likened to a simple fishing boat.

The sails were a silver color that almost acted as a mirror to the hue of the sky. If it were not for the purple trim then the ship would of appeared as a solitary frame of oaken origin. Corrine gazed upon it with interest, trying to espy life on the vessel; there was no sign though. Was it a ghost ship cast to shore by the rough seas of winter? Corrine could only speculate that perhaps it was. As more of the ship panned into view, Corrine gasped at the detailed figurehead that graced the bow: A beautiful woman carved from oak, her eyes closed in a closed aura of serene repose. Her hair streamed out across the front, replacing shining locks were the fanged heads of vipers. Underneath her sylphish form a silver nameplate decorated the wood.

~* "The Schala.. What a beautiful name." *~ Corrine thought even while her heart took a diving turn downward at the cruel beauty of such ornamentation. It was there that her eyes were rivited to. The ship loomed closer and closer and the horses neighed as if in subtle recognition; they started to slow down considerably until at last they reached a complete stop.

This was it, this was the next phase in her journey. Corrine peeked her head out of the window and saw Toma jump down from his perch atop the carriage. Being lazy, she didn't make a move to get out, in fact she was the tiniest bit apprehensive.

Toma strode over to the side door of the carriage and immediately came in nose to nose contact with Corrine, a situation that sent a chuckle of delight from him despite the sheer and utter coldness that he felt at the long drive. It didn't matter that he had been bundled up in voluminous furs the entire time. True cold had a way of bypassing such items of comfort.

"Are you impressed, poppet?"

"Shouldn't you ask me if I am alright first." Corrine reprimanded

"I was driving fast, wasn't I?" Came the sheepish reply, the edges of Toma's eyes crinkled up with little repressed laughter.

"Do you normally drive that fast? Of course it isn't like I mind overmuch."

"That isn't -too- fast. I ride horses thrice faster then I drove that carriage."

"Always my Toma." Corrine smiled as a pleasant flush swept across her cheeks and over the bridge of her nose. It didn't fool Toma for that he knew that the cold put that lying flush on her face. He wanted to believe otherwise, that it was feelings of a warmer nature that possessed her to slip that endearment with his name.

"We really should get you inside where it is warmer." Toma opened the carriage door and then offered his hands to help Corrine alight. Gratefully she took them and jumped down. She lost her balance once her feet made contact with the ground and instinctively Toma reached out to clasp her to his chest, it was his only means of protecting her from taking a spill to the snowy ground.

This was torture for Toma, to have his arms linger around her slim waist. Certainly it was only an attempt to steady her but with her this close he could percieve the faint lilac scent that wafted from her platinum locks. It teased his senses unbearably and there was nothing that he wanted better then to stand there and hold her.. forever.

Corrine laughed it off with her characteristic good nature and moved out of his arms once her legs were more sure of themselves. It would of been easy to stay there but that would of made the whole situation harder in the long run. She dispelled the growing tension by reaching for her bags and pulling them toward the door, Toma however shoo'd her off to the side and took the job upon himself.

"Perhaps I should go inside. It is getting a tad bit chilly out here." Corrine watched Toma take the suitcase out and then smiled when he drew out platinum-haired Lisbette and presented her with the doll with a flourishing and delightfully dramatic bow, the kind that gave her warm shivers.

"Your court, M'lady Corrine. Now if you would carry the picnic basket, we will make our way to the deck." Toma promised as he walked a ways up the wooden pier and stood in front of the ship. Quickly he dropped the bag and cupped his hands around his mouth to create a make- shift megaphone.

"Ahoy! Let down the plank!"

"Corrine merely stood off toward the side and watched with avid curiousity, wondering who would be up there to greet there.. perhaps it was Magus.

The voice that answered was in no way how she envisioned Magus's voice to be, it couldn't be him. Right?

"Wonder if I don't -want- to, Mr. Levin." Came a hoarse voice. It was so gravelly that it left Corrine to wonder if the bearer of that voice took to eating sandpaper, certainly it was as grating.

"That can't be Magus, right?" Corrine inquired as she tugged on Toma's sleeve.

"Nah, that is Ozzie. He is a pest and constantly attempts to rile me up but it never works. Watch me! I have it all under control." Toma whispered back before continuing. "Let the plank down, Ozzie. Magus is expecting us.. You know this."

"So you say.. are you really Toma Levin is what I am wanting to know. Sure you -look- like him but appearances can be decieving." A small green blobby head peeked over the railing of the ship and Corrine's eyes widened. It was a monster, an honest to goodness monster. She thought they only existed in the tales that Toma told but now she realized that there was indeed some truth to it. The eyes that set in the face were a striking golden topaz, the color of the forgotten sun and then gazed unblinkingly at first Toma and then they rested on her. She felt vaugely unsettled.

"The master is going to Dark Matter you again if you are not careful. I suggest you let him board." A more sedated and monotone voice suggested as it cut into Ozzie's spiel.

"Do you think I am afraid of Magus? Pshaw! No chance in hell." Ozzie smirked and rested his chubby elbows on the railing and continued to peer down at the two. He leered somewhat at the girl that stood at Toma's side. She was a trifle thin and pallid but she was a female and a lovely one at that, he could smell them a mile off. Any female was a viable target for Ozzie's lecherous behavior. "Hey Toma! Whose your friend? Can I play with her?"

"Do you want me to slice your throat open Ozzie?" Toma called back conversationally. "Touch her and if Magus doesn't get to you first, then -I- will." His normally charming and animated voice was edged in a threat that -everyone- could sense, it was a warning so to speak. Ozzie's eyes widened just a fraction and his pupil's dilated into shining cat's eyes. That didn't daunt Toma, he took it all in stride and maintained his ground.

Corrine could recall the only other time that she had heard Toma's voice reach that distinctive timbre and that was when she had been at the summer market last year and a few men accosted her, Toma intervened and asked them to meet him at the old Delagado Farmhouse. Needless to say she didn't have to worry about their improper advances ever again.

"Lower the gangplank Ozzie. Toma doesn't look too receptive to your taunting today."

"Errh." The little green Ozzie man growled as he disappeared from view. A squeaky cranking sound was heard as a wooden plank lowered slowly toward the pier. It was definitely rickety and in need of oil; but made of Dendoro pine it looked sturdy enough to walk on. Soon it touched down and Toma halted her from boarding by raising his hand to stop her.

"Wait here while I take your bags and the picnic basket up there. Getting up to the ship is a balancing act within itself and the -last- thing I want you to do is trip head first into the South Sea." Toma cautioned before he set off in a light run up the plank, his arms were laden with the bag and the picnic basket.

"Don't drop my belongings in the South Sea, Toma else I will toss you over the ship after them!" Corrine called out after Toma though secretly she was impressed at his agility.

Ozzie's voice carried down toward the dock where Corrine stood. It was laden with amusement and humor, a comical chuckling accompanied by a snort shattered through the peace and quiet of the winter afternoon.

"Now that's a girl after me own heart. Better keep a watch on her Toma, I might steal her away from you!" Ozzie har'd from out of nowhere.

"Cori doesn't belong to anyone, most definitely not you. Why if I even see you approaching her.. " Toma threatened as he set down his burden on the deck. Corrine covered her smile with her mouth, it was amusing to hear Toma's protectiveness, as if she was a princess and he was her knight.

"The girl is still waiting." The voice admonished, once again cutting into the conversation and trying to avoid any conflict between Ozzie and Toma. That voice Corrine could kind of see belonging to Magus, at least more so then Ozzie's scratchy drawl.

"I haven't forgotten." Toma chuckled as he walked down the plank and back toward Corrine. "I would never forget you.." Toma said as he stood at the edge of the plank and offered his hand out for Corrine to clasp. In those warm chocolate brown depths, Corrine saw security and safety. There was no doubt about taking his hand for if she fell, he would be there to catch her or at the very least fall with her into the churning seas.

*~ "Oh why does it have to be this way? Why do I have to pretend to ignore Toma's little endearments and my own feelings for him." Corrine thought to herself bitterly even though a serene smile still graced her petal soft lips. "It is better this way. Better to think of him as a brother then as a potential lover. The Elementals know that were I to acknowledge anything else, we would hurt more in the end." ~*

"It -is- safe, right?" Corrine said as she placed her hand in his and coupled it with a comforting squeeze that transfered all her trust onto his shoulders. "I am also trusting that you won't do anything hare-brained in order to show off. I know how wonderful you are without you having to show me all the time." Corrine teased softly. It amused her to see the blush that heightened the color of his cheeks.

"Make me gag!" Ozzie said and made some mock wretching noises. Human sentiment more often then not made Ozzie sick to his stomach. It was compounded with the girl's regard for Toma, making the nausea hit twice fold.

"I promise you, it is perfectly safe. Not once have I dropped any maiden into the sea and I don't intend to start." Toma said, taking the walk up the gangplank slower for Corrine's benefit. After all there was no hurry, Magus had mentioned something about not wanting to leave out til later in the evening. If anything they would sail to a safer cove and wait there til dusk then sail on their merry way to the Medina Continent.

"I have a feeling that I am the only maiden that you have been on this particular gangplank with." Corrine laughed softly and tried to ignore the precarious wobble of the gangplank or the subtle shivering of her limbs, a combination of the wintery cold and her sheer nervousness over being so high with the sea below. The prospect of falling in was not the first impression that she relished of this particular adventure.

"Trust me, Corrine." Toma cajoled her up the plank, taking little steps and pondering asking Magus to put hand rails on the plank for such situations as these. If worse came to worse, he would take on the manual labor himself. Surely Magus couldn't say no to that, right?

"I trust you Toma, I just don't trust my own legs." Corrine murmured, showing her fear just a little bit. Toma couldn't resist that nearly inaudible kittenish plea that tore through her voice and turned around, drawing one arm around her waist and the other around her knees. In one smooth motion her feet got knocked out from under her and she was held securely in Toma's arms.

"Hold tight and close your eyes. Don't open then until I tell you to."

That is exactly what Corrine did. Relaxing herself completely, she settled back into Toma's arms and languished in the security that his arms offered. For now with her eyes closed she didn't have to think about leaving Toma, she didn't have to think about the hazy future. There was just her, Toma's arms and darkness. A feeling much like one would expirience in the womb. It lent her no end of comfort.

"Oh my goodness, the heroic -masculine- Toma Levin saves the day. Aren't we all impressed." Ozzie's sarcastic voice intercepted her silence. Corrine was tempted to open her eyes but just to be safe she waited for Toma to give the go ahead.

"You can open your eyes now." Toma murmured against Corrine's ear before smirking over at Ozzie. "Didn't the lady say that I was wonderful without having to prove it?" This nonchalant reply was aimed straight for Ozzie's ire. There was no doubt that the animosity between both man and monster was testosterone driven. An inexplicable desire to one-up the other. Corrine looked between Ozzie and Toma and bit her lower lip somewhat nervously. She tugged at Toma's collar and he gently lowered her to the ground in response.

Once her feet touched the ground, she breathed a sigh of steady relief and kept her hold around Toma's shoulders long enough so that she wouldn't spontaneously crumple toward the ground. It was a lucky thing that Toma let her linger there for as long as she needed it, most definitely she needed that strength to cling to in her weakest moments.

Finally Corrine drew in a bit of strength that had been hovering just inside and smiled serenely toward Ozzie. It was an unspoken plea that she was only good at effecting, coupled with her limpid purple eyes it could be quite devastating. Very tentatively she released her embrace on Toma and revealed in her haste to grasp the wooden railing that she was in no way strong enough to hold herself up however her loathing to be reliant on someone else kept her hold from remaining on Toma. Ozzie thought nothing of Corrine's weakness and continued to leer at her with gold slitted eyes. He vaugely wondered why she didn't run but he didn't dwell on it too much.

"Please don't argue. I know you two don't get along too well, and I know you are jealous of Toma but you have no reason to be. You are probably wonderful in your own special way, someone just has yet to discover it." Corrine said. Warmth lurked in her eyes though her visage was the very picture of solemnity.

Ozzie puzzled over how the comment could of bowled him over like that when it only came from the mouth of a simple village maiden. In all Ozzie's life he had been treated with revulsion and a mediocrum of fear that was expected because of his heritage. Men either tried to hurt him physically or emotionally while women ran screaming or fainted dead away. Those were reactions that he was used to however those were absent in Corrine's quietly accepting perusal.

A few feet away Slash also stood watching the group but his eyes were fastened solely on Corrine. As usual there was no emotion that perceptibly crossed over Slash's thin blue tinged face and his tall dark clothed stature blended in against whatever darkness he could find. His arms were crossed over his chest in a unconscious form of defense though just from scanning the girl's energy with his keen eyesight, he realized that there was no need to put up guards where she was concerned. Slash spoke little and let his actions do the talking, after all he was the observer of the monster trio and thereby gained himself a reputation as being an excellent judge of character. What he read in Corrine's energy was a purity that far surpassed that of any mortal that he had come across in his lifetime.. not even the most well-intentioned of them could boast of it. A cold wind passed over his snowy heart for he knew what was in store for the girl. Previously he had been completely apathetic toward it, now he was a mixture of varying degrees of emotion. Not all of them rested well with his conscience.

Both of Magus's men were charmed whether they wanted it or not, though they certainly did.

They were hungry for any acceptance or small gesture of love and to date had sated their hunger with the less gratifying morsels of tyranny and fear. The look of natural kindness in the girl's eyes was their heart's undoing and each's own way they lapped it up.

All the while Toma noticed the considerable change in the tension on the deck and looked at Corrine. He knew instinctively where that change came from and he knew he couldn't keep Corrine's specialness to himself. That was more then apparent judging from the admiration that Magus's two most feared minions openly displayed. Sighing, Toma knew that he couldn't keep her hidden away though he certainly wanted to. Corrine was a treasure and he was her discoverer, at least where everyone on this ship was concerned. He was reluctant to give up Corrine's attentions after having recieved it nearly all of her life and most of his.

"Well I suppose I can -try- to get along with Toma." Ozzie relented grudgingly and scuffed one foot against the polished surface of the deck.

This drew a gasp of shock from Toma at Ozzie's sudden docility. Ozzie never reacted this way though it was evident that he was trying to play off any such mis-alignment of his initial character.

"I suppose she will be wanting her bags taken to her quarters. I will be more then happy to do that." Slash offered quietly and took a few steps toward the small satchel that held all the girl's belongings. Ozzie's ear perked up as he watched Slash walk toward the bag. He toddled over, trying to get to the bag before Slash did. The clatter against the plankboards in the rush to get there felt like a herd of wild elephants. However right before Slash got to the bags, he stopped abruptly and watched as Ozzie tripped and skidded against the floor toward the bag.

"You go ahead and get the bag. I will escort the girl." Slash said quietly as he turned and walked to Corrine's side, proving that Ozzie wasn't the brightest light in the house. With a smal l obedient bow he offered his arm, it was more then apparent his growing esteem for her.

"Why thank you.. Slash is it?" Corrine inquired with a smile, wondering if perhaps she got the name right. Slash's skin around the cheeks turned a bright purple, the only indication that he was blushing. He nodded slightly, ever the taciturn and introspective creature. It was impossible for him to say much at all, just as soon would be remain silent until something came along that he thought worthy enough to mention.

"Actually Slash. I would like to see Corrine to her room privately if I may. I promise I will give you the honors next time." Toma gritted his teeth with jealousy and masked it with a fairly affable smile. "There is a basket of goodies that you may take to the kitchen. Corrine packed them early this morning."

Slash's face fell in disappointment for a fleeting second before it returned to consumate stocisim. Something that was not unusual for him. Lowering his arm, he stepped back and picked up the wicker picnic basket.

"Harharhar! Thought you'd get the best of -me-, Slash! At least I get to touch her bags and even go to her room!" Ozzie lost no time in taunting his friend, in fact it was quite a habit of Ozzie's to laugh at anyone's misfortune. Well anyone -save- Magus. That would just as soon get him dark mattered as anything else.

A man of little or no words, Slash bowed his head and then just as silently slipped away. Corrine and Toma didn't notice hims exit, only the fact that he was gone. Toma had to deflate Ozzie's dreams of granduer now the guilt of having taking way Slash's opportunity to escort Corrine set in. So Toma took the bag from Ozzie and grinned.

"I am a strong man. I can get her bag. Why don't you, my little green friend, go and tell Magus that we have arrived safely and I will be in to see him after I help get Corrine situated. You would be such a dear sweet thing to do that for me." Toma chuckled and slung the bag over his shoulder. There was a mocking light that appeared in Toma's eyes, making it known that it was only a question of masculine ego. Clearly this was a battle between two male forces and Corrine could only stand aside and watch while they clashed. It was obvious that Toma had the upper hand.

"So be it, Master Toma." Ozzie spat out with as much respect that he could muster which coincidentally wasn't very much respect at all. "I will see that Master Magus is made known of your presence." He then turned on his heels and walked toward an aboveboard cabin that overlooked the hull, he knocked a few times and then barged in, leaving Corrine to stare and Toma to laugh.

"Was that really necessary?" Corrine looked up at Toma chastisingly and was slightly disappointed at Toma's treatment of Ozzie. "And what harm could it of done to have let Slash escort me to my room?"

"I don't want to get you hurt."

"This is my adventure. I want to live it like a woman and not an invalid. God knows I will die with both of those marks on my soul. Besides that, Slash didn't look like he would harm me."

"What kind of judge of character are you? You haven't even seen outside of Domino Village much less half the people in it."

"Clearly a better judge of character then you if you didn't see the hurt in Slash's eyes when you pushed him away." Corrine commented indignantly and folded her arms across her chest.

Toma opened the door leading below deck and sighed at Corrine's accusations for they hit their mark quite aptly. She had always been the one with empathy, a quality that he knew would take years to develop in himself. Wasn't Corrine the one that could sense hurt and pain in others, who could inspire the trust and devotion of most animals with her maternal instincts. Yet he let jealousy get in the way of that, it tore at his soul and he found it hard to glance over his shoulder and look at her. They went below deck and he flicked on the light switch of the hallway so that the oaken floors and walls were illuminated.

"Look, I am sorry. If it makes you feel better, I will leave myself out of your affairs from here on out." Toma said quietly as he moved toward the door at the end of the hallway and tried the gilded knob. It opened easily.

"You know I don't want that, Toma. Can you not see that the only thing I want is for you to get along with Ozzie and Slash. They mean well, I can see it in their eyes." Corrine said with unyeilding patience. For she sensed that even while Toma was acting as her protector, there lay an underscored animosity between them that stemmed beyond her and into some unknown arena.

Toma pretended not to hear Corrine as he opened the door to the cabin. Very gently he set the bags in the cabin and then flicked on the light. It was a simple room yet large and clean. Warm air was radiating from the stove heater in the corner, the bed was dressed with fresh linens and a comforter of snow white while there was a little rocking chair in the corner and on the wood table beside it sat a small stack of books.

"I told Magus that you liked to read so he put some books in there for you." Toma said softly, acting like the repentant little puppy, thouroughly chastised. "This is the master suite of the cabin, Magus gave it to you because he doesn't use it.. he prefers the captain's cabin up top."

Corrine turned around in the cabin a few times before stopping to face Toma, a wistful smile on her face. "Thank you Toma. I didn't mean to get at you. Will you come get me later so that I may explore the ship?" Corrine smiled softly and then moved to perch on the edge of the bed, pondering a nap.

"Of course!" Toma couldn't help but grin, his guilt all but forgotten.

"And perhaps Sir Slash and Sir Ozzie may come with us?"

"After I get done speaking with Magus I will go down and talk to Slash about it." Toma decided to take the side of the 'better' creature. There was no way in hell that he was bowing down to Ozzie's whims, no matter what Corrine said.

"Thank you."

Once Toma shut the door, Corrine settled back against the bed and looked around. The heater lent warmth to the room after such a biting cold that she had expirienced once she stepped out of the carriage. Closing her eyes almost instantly caused her to drift off into some surreal sub- dreamland in which she floated, carried on the wings of anticipation and expectation.