Chapter Seven
"So, Yuffie, who's this special friend of yours?"
"Oh. It's Merlin. He taught Sora, Riku, and me how to use spells and
magic."
"Hey, isn't Merlin the one who trained King Arthur and gave him the
excalibor?"
"Hu?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
"Come on. I'll take you to him. Hey, why don't we bring our toys with us?"
"Both of them?"
"No, silly. Just the chibi ones. Get it?"
"Yeah. I get it. Actually, no. I don't."
"Simple. We bring them so that they'll be the audience."
"Ha, ha! I get it now!"
"Good. Get your Keyblade and plushie. Then, meet me outside in five
minutes. Don't forget to wear something comfortable."
"Don't worry. I'll take a quick shower."
The girls split up, going into their own rooms. Yuffie was ready in five
and she waited outside for ten minutes until Sakura finally decided to show
up.
"What took you?"
"Had to take a shower and get ready. Do you know how hard it is to find
something to fight in?"
"Um, black pants, white top. Girl, do you ever not wear something
fashionable?"
"I guess you can say that."
"Well, come on. Let's go."
They walked out of the front yard and headed towards the third district
doors. Heading through the door, straight ahead of them was a large door
with a flame on it and some strange inscription.
"That's Merlin's place, I'm guessing. Right?"
"Yep. Come on."
The two of them walked through the red door and into a damp cavern with
moving stones across the water.
"Come on. We have to jump across."
"Okay."
"This way through the hole in the wall."
Entering the wall, they saw a bunch of books -- they were most likely spell
books; a bed, a table, an old lady in blue; and wand. Then, where the table
was, an old man in blue with a sloppy hat on his gray head sat quietly in
meditation.
"Ahh, young Yuffie, what can I do for you?"
"Merlin! I am here 'cause my new friend is this Keyblade's master and wants
to learn new spells and magic. So can you help?"
"But of course. Now child, come forth and state your name."
Sakura stepped from behind Yuffie and did as Merlin commanded, "My name is
Sakura. And may I say I am honored to meet you, Merlin? I've heard many
things about you."
"I am flattered, Sakura, but it's time to get to work. Are you ready?"
"Yep! Let's get going!"
"Very well."
Stephiroth yawned and then said in a tired, annoyed voice, "Aren't you guys
going to do something besides sitting down working on a quilt!"
"This is very fun to Mimiru and myself."
"I think you need a better definition of fun, Aeris," Cloud said.
"I agree with Cloud and Stephiroth."
"Why don't you three go see what Matt is doing?" Mimiru answered the boys
whining.
"Fine. We will," Stephiroth said, getting up from the couch. "Come on, you
two."
The three men exited the room.
"Oh, hey, Aeris, have you seen the girls new toys?"
"No. Are they cute?"
"Adorable! They look almost exactly like the boys."
"Maybe I should get one of Stephiroth."
"Yeah. Sure."
"Why don't you get one of Riku?"
Mimiru slightly blushed, "Umm... I don't know."
"Come on. What's the harm?" Aeris told Mimiru as she got up from her place
at the quilt and signaled Mimiru to get up. "Let's go."
"Fine. I'll come," sighed Mimiru.
"So do you know this person?"
"Nope. I only know her name."
"That won't help us now."
The girls stopped at Eboshi's shop and hesitated to enter.
"Come on, Mimiru."
"Right."
"Excuse me? Hello? Is anyone here?"
"Ahh, Sakura, Yuffie, you're back!" exclaimed Eboshi as she ran out from
the back, hugging both Aeris and Mimiru.
"Umm... Miss, we're not Sakura or Yuffie," Mimiru said politely.
"Oh. I am very sorry. So who are you?"
"We are those two girls friends. This is Mimiru and I am Aeris."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Eboshi," added Mimiru, truly pleased.
"Hmm. You two are much more polite than the other two. Let me guess, you
want customized plushies too."
"Yes, please. We do want one."
"Do you have a picture of the guys?"
"That indeed we do," Mimiru said, handing Eboshi a picture of Riku and
blushing at the way she used Kenshin's talk.
"Me too," Aeris replied, handing Eboshi a picture of Stephiroth.
"Well then, let's go to the back so I can start."
They started to the back of the store and went into a small room with a
small kitchen, two little doors, and a small work area.
"Is this where you live?"
"No, Aeris. I stay here sometimes. I have another house."
"Miss Eboshi, why don't you come over tonight for dinner? Sakura is making
a special meal."
"If that's okay?" Eboshi asked with her head down, working on the stuffed
dolls.
"Sure! Come on, Eboshi!" pleaded Mimiru.
"Okay. Sure. Why not?"
"Hey, Matt, what's up?" Leon greeted.
"Nothing much. I am just drawing," Matt said from on top of his bed.
"What ya drawing?" asked Cloud.
"Nothing much."
"Let's see why don't we?" Stephiroth commented, picking up the notepad from
Matt.
"Not bad. How long have you been drawing?"
"Not long. A few years."
Leon and Cloud got curious and decided to look.
"Interesting. But the movement is a bit off."
"I am not that good with motion in pictures."
"No one is. Are you the only one who draws?"
"Nope. Sakura is good and Mimiru draws also. I would show you if I knew
where their drawing were."
"Well, come on. Let's look. We'll go in Sakura's room first," Cloud said.
"No way! That's invading someone's privacy! How 'bout I look in my sister's
room. Going into Sakura's room might be suicidal!"
"Fine. But I'd rather go to Sakura's; see what the girl keeps."
"No we will not!" yelled Matt.
"Oh yes you will!" all of them screamed, dragging Matt off his bed and out
the door.
"Let go!"
The three walked down the hall with Matt dragging behind until they reached
a dark mahogany door.
"Well? Let's go in," Stephiroth whispered.
"No, no, no, no!" Matt whined.
They entered the light blue room finding the bed made, nothing on the floor
and the bathroom door open. The boys looked in the bathroom, the closet,
and ran their fingers across the drawer to look for dust.
"Her room is spotless! I don't get it. She's more of a neat freak that my
sister! Scary!"
"You wouldn't expect someone like her to have a neat room -- especially one
this clean!" Cloud said, walking up to the bed and picking up the stuffed
yellow chocobo. "Wonder why she has a chocobo toy."
"Don't know, but here's the pictures."
The four gathered and stared at the pictures. Their mouths dropped to see
how good they were.
"I don't believe it! She's a very good artist. Better than you, Matt," Leon
said in amazement and surprise.
"She's always been better than me and Mimiru."
"I am getting depressed. I've always tried to draw, but nothing good ever
comes out!" Cloud cried.
"Yeah!" Stephiroth and Leon cried after Cloud.
"Let's go you three cry babies," sighed Matt as he led the guys out of
Sakura's room, trying to comfort them. "Hey, what do you know? It's almost
ten. Why don't you stay here while I go get Sakura and Yuffie so that they
can go to the market."
"No! I'll go!" yelled Cloud.
"Hu! But you hate shopping, Cloud."
"I don't care! If I go, maybe some of that skill will rub off on me!"
Everyone's face was frozen from Cloud's comment.
"Do you know how stupid you sound, Cloud?"
"Yes, I do, Stephiroth! And I don't care!"
Cloud stormed down the stairs and out the front door.
"How sad," sighed Leon.
"Yeah," the other two agreed.
"Very good, Sakura. You have done extremely well for a first time. Learning
the basic spells like fire, ice, wind, and lightning are quite hard, but
learning the earth spell Eruption Array, the Freeze Arrow, and Fireball? I
must say you are quite skilled and that must be why this Keyblade chose
you."
"So, Merlin, have you figured out what this Keyblade's purpose is?"
"Umm. My, young Yuffie, you must be patient."
"Come on, Merlin! Just tell us!"
"Yeah. Tell us!"
"All right, young ones. Here's how it goes: This Keyblade is the Keyblade
of Time, meaning you can travel to the past, present, and future, and it
can also tell time!"
"Eh! Well, that's cool. Gimme, gimmie, gimme!"
"Hey, why don't you check what time it is?"
"'Kay. Umm, it's nearly eleven o'clock. We gotta go, Yuffie!"
"What? Wait!"
"Bye, Merlin! Thanks! Gotta go!" yelled Sakura as she ran out the door with
Yuffie behind her.
"What's the rush, Sakura?"
"We gotta go to the market before everything is gone and we end up eating
at midnight!"
"All right! Ahh! Stop dragging me behind!"
"Run, run, run, run, run!"
Sakura ran faster and faster till she ran into something.
"Oomph! Ouch! Hey! Watch where your going ya big jerk!"
"Who you calling a jerk you idiot?"
"Ahh, Cloud!"
"Hey, what you doing out, Cloud?"
"Getting you guys, Yuffie."
"Well, come on, Cloud. You're coming to the market with me!"
"Wha!"
Before Cloud could finish, Sakura had her hand with his and had started to
run again.
"Hey! What about me?"
"Hurry up, Yuffie!"
While running, Cloud started to blush like crazy and Yuffie was having
trouble keeping up.
"Look! There it is, Sakura!"
"Good eye, Yuffie. Let's go!"
"I am tired," Cloud panted.
"Yeah. Me too!"
"Fine. We'll stop," Sakura said, slowing down and finally coming to a stop.
"I think we made it, Sakura."
"Yeah, Yuffie. Come on, let's go."
Yuffie and Sakura started to walk, but Cloud just remembered that Sakura
was still holding his hand, so he stopped dead in his track and pulled
Sakura back.
"Hey, Sakura, do you mind letting go of my hand?" he asked, lifting his and
Sakura's hands.
"Umm... Sure," Sakura blushed.
"Thanks," Cloud said as a blush grazed his face.
"Come on. Let's go inside."
"!Hola! Welcome. What can I get you? We have everything!" a man from behind
a counter said.
"!Hola! We need a lot of things. Do you have all of it?"
"Si, we have mucho!"
"Good. Now we need..."
Sakura started saying a long list of items until everyone's arms were
packed with food.
"Will that be all?"
"Yes. That is all."
"One hundred monney."
"'Kay. Cloud, monney please."
Sakura went over to Cloud and took the money out from his pocket.
"Thanks. Here you go, sir."
"Thank you. Come again!" waved the man at the counter.
"Well, let's go home and start cooking. Come on you two."
"Bye, Lady Eboshi! We'll see you tonight at eight PM."
"Okay, girls. I'll be there. Oh! I almost forgot! Do you want me to dress
formally?"
"Sure."
They made their good-byes to Eboshi and left.
"Let's go get Cid, Mimiru."
"Cid?"
"Yes -- another friend. Come on."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~~*~*
Cloud: ouch! You damn thing!
Sakura: now what
Cloud: I burned myself.
Sakura: you poor thing.
Matt: and I thought I was bad.
Mimiru: at baking cookies, how sad.
Ed: Ed wants to know what you people think so far of story.
Ein: woof!
"So, Yuffie, who's this special friend of yours?"
"Oh. It's Merlin. He taught Sora, Riku, and me how to use spells and
magic."
"Hey, isn't Merlin the one who trained King Arthur and gave him the
excalibor?"
"Hu?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
"Come on. I'll take you to him. Hey, why don't we bring our toys with us?"
"Both of them?"
"No, silly. Just the chibi ones. Get it?"
"Yeah. I get it. Actually, no. I don't."
"Simple. We bring them so that they'll be the audience."
"Ha, ha! I get it now!"
"Good. Get your Keyblade and plushie. Then, meet me outside in five
minutes. Don't forget to wear something comfortable."
"Don't worry. I'll take a quick shower."
The girls split up, going into their own rooms. Yuffie was ready in five
and she waited outside for ten minutes until Sakura finally decided to show
up.
"What took you?"
"Had to take a shower and get ready. Do you know how hard it is to find
something to fight in?"
"Um, black pants, white top. Girl, do you ever not wear something
fashionable?"
"I guess you can say that."
"Well, come on. Let's go."
They walked out of the front yard and headed towards the third district
doors. Heading through the door, straight ahead of them was a large door
with a flame on it and some strange inscription.
"That's Merlin's place, I'm guessing. Right?"
"Yep. Come on."
The two of them walked through the red door and into a damp cavern with
moving stones across the water.
"Come on. We have to jump across."
"Okay."
"This way through the hole in the wall."
Entering the wall, they saw a bunch of books -- they were most likely spell
books; a bed, a table, an old lady in blue; and wand. Then, where the table
was, an old man in blue with a sloppy hat on his gray head sat quietly in
meditation.
"Ahh, young Yuffie, what can I do for you?"
"Merlin! I am here 'cause my new friend is this Keyblade's master and wants
to learn new spells and magic. So can you help?"
"But of course. Now child, come forth and state your name."
Sakura stepped from behind Yuffie and did as Merlin commanded, "My name is
Sakura. And may I say I am honored to meet you, Merlin? I've heard many
things about you."
"I am flattered, Sakura, but it's time to get to work. Are you ready?"
"Yep! Let's get going!"
"Very well."
Stephiroth yawned and then said in a tired, annoyed voice, "Aren't you guys
going to do something besides sitting down working on a quilt!"
"This is very fun to Mimiru and myself."
"I think you need a better definition of fun, Aeris," Cloud said.
"I agree with Cloud and Stephiroth."
"Why don't you three go see what Matt is doing?" Mimiru answered the boys
whining.
"Fine. We will," Stephiroth said, getting up from the couch. "Come on, you
two."
The three men exited the room.
"Oh, hey, Aeris, have you seen the girls new toys?"
"No. Are they cute?"
"Adorable! They look almost exactly like the boys."
"Maybe I should get one of Stephiroth."
"Yeah. Sure."
"Why don't you get one of Riku?"
Mimiru slightly blushed, "Umm... I don't know."
"Come on. What's the harm?" Aeris told Mimiru as she got up from her place
at the quilt and signaled Mimiru to get up. "Let's go."
"Fine. I'll come," sighed Mimiru.
"So do you know this person?"
"Nope. I only know her name."
"That won't help us now."
The girls stopped at Eboshi's shop and hesitated to enter.
"Come on, Mimiru."
"Right."
"Excuse me? Hello? Is anyone here?"
"Ahh, Sakura, Yuffie, you're back!" exclaimed Eboshi as she ran out from
the back, hugging both Aeris and Mimiru.
"Umm... Miss, we're not Sakura or Yuffie," Mimiru said politely.
"Oh. I am very sorry. So who are you?"
"We are those two girls friends. This is Mimiru and I am Aeris."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Eboshi," added Mimiru, truly pleased.
"Hmm. You two are much more polite than the other two. Let me guess, you
want customized plushies too."
"Yes, please. We do want one."
"Do you have a picture of the guys?"
"That indeed we do," Mimiru said, handing Eboshi a picture of Riku and
blushing at the way she used Kenshin's talk.
"Me too," Aeris replied, handing Eboshi a picture of Stephiroth.
"Well then, let's go to the back so I can start."
They started to the back of the store and went into a small room with a
small kitchen, two little doors, and a small work area.
"Is this where you live?"
"No, Aeris. I stay here sometimes. I have another house."
"Miss Eboshi, why don't you come over tonight for dinner? Sakura is making
a special meal."
"If that's okay?" Eboshi asked with her head down, working on the stuffed
dolls.
"Sure! Come on, Eboshi!" pleaded Mimiru.
"Okay. Sure. Why not?"
"Hey, Matt, what's up?" Leon greeted.
"Nothing much. I am just drawing," Matt said from on top of his bed.
"What ya drawing?" asked Cloud.
"Nothing much."
"Let's see why don't we?" Stephiroth commented, picking up the notepad from
Matt.
"Not bad. How long have you been drawing?"
"Not long. A few years."
Leon and Cloud got curious and decided to look.
"Interesting. But the movement is a bit off."
"I am not that good with motion in pictures."
"No one is. Are you the only one who draws?"
"Nope. Sakura is good and Mimiru draws also. I would show you if I knew
where their drawing were."
"Well, come on. Let's look. We'll go in Sakura's room first," Cloud said.
"No way! That's invading someone's privacy! How 'bout I look in my sister's
room. Going into Sakura's room might be suicidal!"
"Fine. But I'd rather go to Sakura's; see what the girl keeps."
"No we will not!" yelled Matt.
"Oh yes you will!" all of them screamed, dragging Matt off his bed and out
the door.
"Let go!"
The three walked down the hall with Matt dragging behind until they reached
a dark mahogany door.
"Well? Let's go in," Stephiroth whispered.
"No, no, no, no!" Matt whined.
They entered the light blue room finding the bed made, nothing on the floor
and the bathroom door open. The boys looked in the bathroom, the closet,
and ran their fingers across the drawer to look for dust.
"Her room is spotless! I don't get it. She's more of a neat freak that my
sister! Scary!"
"You wouldn't expect someone like her to have a neat room -- especially one
this clean!" Cloud said, walking up to the bed and picking up the stuffed
yellow chocobo. "Wonder why she has a chocobo toy."
"Don't know, but here's the pictures."
The four gathered and stared at the pictures. Their mouths dropped to see
how good they were.
"I don't believe it! She's a very good artist. Better than you, Matt," Leon
said in amazement and surprise.
"She's always been better than me and Mimiru."
"I am getting depressed. I've always tried to draw, but nothing good ever
comes out!" Cloud cried.
"Yeah!" Stephiroth and Leon cried after Cloud.
"Let's go you three cry babies," sighed Matt as he led the guys out of
Sakura's room, trying to comfort them. "Hey, what do you know? It's almost
ten. Why don't you stay here while I go get Sakura and Yuffie so that they
can go to the market."
"No! I'll go!" yelled Cloud.
"Hu! But you hate shopping, Cloud."
"I don't care! If I go, maybe some of that skill will rub off on me!"
Everyone's face was frozen from Cloud's comment.
"Do you know how stupid you sound, Cloud?"
"Yes, I do, Stephiroth! And I don't care!"
Cloud stormed down the stairs and out the front door.
"How sad," sighed Leon.
"Yeah," the other two agreed.
"Very good, Sakura. You have done extremely well for a first time. Learning
the basic spells like fire, ice, wind, and lightning are quite hard, but
learning the earth spell Eruption Array, the Freeze Arrow, and Fireball? I
must say you are quite skilled and that must be why this Keyblade chose
you."
"So, Merlin, have you figured out what this Keyblade's purpose is?"
"Umm. My, young Yuffie, you must be patient."
"Come on, Merlin! Just tell us!"
"Yeah. Tell us!"
"All right, young ones. Here's how it goes: This Keyblade is the Keyblade
of Time, meaning you can travel to the past, present, and future, and it
can also tell time!"
"Eh! Well, that's cool. Gimme, gimmie, gimme!"
"Hey, why don't you check what time it is?"
"'Kay. Umm, it's nearly eleven o'clock. We gotta go, Yuffie!"
"What? Wait!"
"Bye, Merlin! Thanks! Gotta go!" yelled Sakura as she ran out the door with
Yuffie behind her.
"What's the rush, Sakura?"
"We gotta go to the market before everything is gone and we end up eating
at midnight!"
"All right! Ahh! Stop dragging me behind!"
"Run, run, run, run, run!"
Sakura ran faster and faster till she ran into something.
"Oomph! Ouch! Hey! Watch where your going ya big jerk!"
"Who you calling a jerk you idiot?"
"Ahh, Cloud!"
"Hey, what you doing out, Cloud?"
"Getting you guys, Yuffie."
"Well, come on, Cloud. You're coming to the market with me!"
"Wha!"
Before Cloud could finish, Sakura had her hand with his and had started to
run again.
"Hey! What about me?"
"Hurry up, Yuffie!"
While running, Cloud started to blush like crazy and Yuffie was having
trouble keeping up.
"Look! There it is, Sakura!"
"Good eye, Yuffie. Let's go!"
"I am tired," Cloud panted.
"Yeah. Me too!"
"Fine. We'll stop," Sakura said, slowing down and finally coming to a stop.
"I think we made it, Sakura."
"Yeah, Yuffie. Come on, let's go."
Yuffie and Sakura started to walk, but Cloud just remembered that Sakura
was still holding his hand, so he stopped dead in his track and pulled
Sakura back.
"Hey, Sakura, do you mind letting go of my hand?" he asked, lifting his and
Sakura's hands.
"Umm... Sure," Sakura blushed.
"Thanks," Cloud said as a blush grazed his face.
"Come on. Let's go inside."
"!Hola! Welcome. What can I get you? We have everything!" a man from behind
a counter said.
"!Hola! We need a lot of things. Do you have all of it?"
"Si, we have mucho!"
"Good. Now we need..."
Sakura started saying a long list of items until everyone's arms were
packed with food.
"Will that be all?"
"Yes. That is all."
"One hundred monney."
"'Kay. Cloud, monney please."
Sakura went over to Cloud and took the money out from his pocket.
"Thanks. Here you go, sir."
"Thank you. Come again!" waved the man at the counter.
"Well, let's go home and start cooking. Come on you two."
"Bye, Lady Eboshi! We'll see you tonight at eight PM."
"Okay, girls. I'll be there. Oh! I almost forgot! Do you want me to dress
formally?"
"Sure."
They made their good-byes to Eboshi and left.
"Let's go get Cid, Mimiru."
"Cid?"
"Yes -- another friend. Come on."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~~*~*
Cloud: ouch! You damn thing!
Sakura: now what
Cloud: I burned myself.
Sakura: you poor thing.
Matt: and I thought I was bad.
Mimiru: at baking cookies, how sad.
Ed: Ed wants to know what you people think so far of story.
Ein: woof!
