- Stirring Earth -
.~.
^__^ I'm... er... well...
[Felix] You appear to be happy.
The raining veggies have stopped! ^^ Aaaaaanyhoo, here are the warnings... More (But very light) AlexxFelix, the normal amount of PicardxFelix...
[Felix] Why am I always the uke?
.....o.o
[Stephanie] I didn't know he had the guts to ask something like that! 0_o
D'you really wanna know what happens when I write something like a... say.. FelixxSaturos? Felix...xAgatio?
[Felix] Meep. 0o...
::Cough:: Um. . . . So, yeah. Angst, a bit of sap, Jenna OOC-ness, and slight Garet bashing, but's it's all in good fun! ^_^ Right? Right. So, onwards, fellow yaoi luvers!
.~.
Chapter six: Intertwining Vines
- More pep-talking, Alex-kicking and Felix-angst -
.~.
--Picard introspective--
I swear. Felix is an idiot sometimes. A very lovable idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. How did he take the Lapis? Ivan had it... Well, never mind, I guess I answered my own question. So where in Weyard would he go? Come on, Picard, think like a depressed Earth adept that scares easily...
.~.
"Where would he go?"
"Jenna, you're not making my thinking any easier!"
"I'm sorry, but..."
"She has to speak the obvious."
"Shut up! You're the reason why my brother is gone!"
"Me?!"
"Yes, you!"
"Now, now, children, do stop fighting. We have to help uncle Picard, remember?"
"Isaac, why don't YOU try shutting up?"
Picard sighed and shook his head to clear it of its clutter. Note to self: Never ask Jenna, Ivan, and Isaac for their help and leave them in a room with yourself.
Jenna sighed and slumped back down in her chair, eyebrows furrowed in thought and chin in hand. Ivan poked at the carpet as he stared at it. Isaac appeared to be sleeping.
"Would he go to Izumo?" Ivan asked finally, breaking the thoughtful silence. Jenna blinked.
"Perhaps... Gaia Rock is there, and he IS an Earth adept...."
"But..." Isaac said. There was a collective sigh and a shake of heads.
"Definitely not Prox... Yallam, perhaps?"
"He hates Sunshine. He wouldn't go there." Jenna said, frowning. "Damn, this is hard! And I thought I knew my brother inside out!"
Picard stared at the ceiling, racking his mind. Not Prox, not Izumo, not Yallam, certainly not Alhafra, or Champa...
...Lemuria...
"Lemuria. He must have gone to Lemuria."
Pairs of auburn, amethyst, and azure eyes stared at him.
"Lemuria?" Jenna repeated. "Why would he -- "
"I don't know why, but now that I think of it, it seems extraordinarily obvious..." Picard muttered, standing and heading out of the room. Jenna, Ivan and Isaac stood and scrambled after him.
"Lemuria just seems impossible..." Ivan said, quietly.
"Then you don't know Felix." Picard couldn't hold back the sharp edge to his voice as he looked through his assortment of weapons.
"Picard, it was an accident! Things can't be changed now, we can only work towards the future! Ivan wants Felix returned to Vale as badly as the rest of us!" Jenna said exasperatedly, handing him some light blankets.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried... Felix can be such an idiot when he's depressed..." Picard stopped his packing. He felt something hot at the corner of his eyes, and wiped at it hastily. He couldn't appear weak now... He had to get Felix back...
"Are you taking the ship?"
"No other way to get to Lemuria, right?"
"And you're going by yourself?" Isaac asked, surprised. "You.... Do you even remember how to work the whirlpools? They're still there, you know!"
"That's why you people are coming with me, right?" Picard said, smiling slightly.
Isaac stared at him in shock. Jenna squealed and hugged him.
"Mia has to stay here. Who'll take care of her?"
"You can stay here, Isaac... Or Sheba.... We can't risk your unborn child on account of another stupid Venus adept." Picard shook his head. He still couldn't believe how stupid that Felix was...!
"Oh, I'll feel guilty... If I leave Mia to see Felix, she won't mind, but I'll still feel bad, and if I stay here..."
"Isaac, just stay if you want to! We want to keep everyone safe." Jenna said, patting his arm.
Isaac hesitated before nodding. He would stay.
"Sheba and Garet will want to go, then. We have to leave as soon as possible..."
"The ship's at Kalay. Jenna, go tell Garet, and Ivan, go tell Sheba, and get packed!"
"Gotcha." Jenna left, Ivan and Isaac following soon aftewards.
.~.
Meanwhile...
"Who's there?"
"Show yourself!"
"...."
"Felix? What are you doing here... sir?"
"I need a bit of time to myself, and I chose to come here. Is that alright?"
"Y-you're always welcome here, Felix! Would you like to speak to King Hydros?"
"No, no thank you. I'll... I'll stay with Lunpa."
"Are you sure?"
"Would you like us to escort you there?"
"I'll be fine, thanks."
The two guards watched the brunet disappear into the misty land of Lemuria. Then, something occured to one of them.
"Hey..."
"Huh?"
"Where's everyone else? Why... is he here by himself?"
"Yeah! Picard could've visited while he had the chance!"
The two guards puzzled over this, not knowing Picard was actually planning a visit sometime soon...
.~.
Two days had passed. They were out on the ocean now, skimming the southeastern shore of Angara as they headed towards Lemuria. They had brought -- besides the normal traveling gear -- Psynergy stones, as flying would be the quickest route once they got out of the rivers.
"Ready? One, two -- up!"
Wind whistled past their ears as the boat lifted into the air. Jenna saw some children standing on the beach and waved to them. She saw their shocked faces as they disappeared into the low-hanging clouds.
"Can you steer in these clouds, Picard?"
"I'm fine!" The Lemurian called.
"Are you sure? It's chilly..." Ivan sneezed.
"Ivan, you're such a whiner!" Garet snorted.
"And you complain too much, Garet!"
So far, two days had been spent going down to Kalay. It would take about two to three days to get to Lemuria, and probably a day or two to get through the whirlpools. Which, in all actuality, they would -- could -- get Felix back and return by the end of the month.
.~.
"Why, Felix! What are you doing here?"
"I need a bit of time to myself... to... think. Can I stay here, Lunpa?"
"Of course you can. Come on in!"
Felix nodded as Lunpa opened the door all the way, allowing him passage into the warmly lit room.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Lunpa asked, noticing the certain lack of other people.
"Not really..."
"You didn't get evicted from Vale, did you?" He said jokingly.
Lunpa realized his mistake as Felix seemed to freeze.
"I'm sorry... Did I... say something wrong?"
"No... I... I just came close to, and I'd rather not dwell on it..."
"I'm still sorry. I'll go prepare a room for you, alright?"
"Thank you, Lunpa."
.~.
Please don't come for me...
....yet....
.~.
Jenna swung her Tisiphone Edge at a particularly persistent possessed seagull, and with a garbled squawk, it froze, turned gray, and blew off into the wind as dust. Just as soon as she had sheathed her sword, a mist settled over their ship.
"We're nearing the whirlpools! Sheba, up at the bow!"
"Coming! Jenna, watch Garet!"
"Will do." She replied, glancing around for said Mars adept. She was glad Garet didn't have to experience the whirlpools the first time... Or it would've been a disaster.
Grimacing as she heard a dry hacking noise from the back of the ship, she wondered briefly why she had married such an oaf...
"Straight ahead! To the left! Left! Find an opening! Ready? Go through! Around the volcano! ...Two more... Alright, one more!"
Garet was feeling dizzy. Scratch that, he was pretty sure he had dropped his equilibrium somewhere down in the (*Coff*evil*Coff*) whirlpools. Jenna rubbed circles into his back. Just Sheba's directions was making him feel sick...
"You okay, hun?" She asked worriedly.
"Perfectly fine..." Garet said woozily.
"I think we'll make it! Yeah, we will -- "
"Sheba, the river's coming back!"
With a loud, roaring splash, the ship was washed back outside, to the two red rocks protruding out of the sea. Sheba sighed.
"I guess I'm a little rusty at this... Ivan, get up here with me! Four eyes are better than two!"
Jenna was starting to feel worried. Was Garet trying to feed *all* the fishes in the Eastern Sea or something? (XD Narf!)
.~.
It was midnight, or so Felix assumed. None of the lights were lit in any of the small homes, giving Lemuria the appearance of a graveyard. Shivering despite the jacket he wore, he regretted leaving his scarf a moment -- then reminded himself that what he did was for the best. He missed Picard dearly... Their intimate nights spent in secrecy, the cuddling sessions, the pointless arguments...
([Felix: You did not have to write that! That was completely uncalled for! INTIMATE? What the --] ::Hits him over the head with a chair::)
He wished then for Picard to come for him, to take him in his arms, kiss the wounds away... But that was a fantasy that would hopefully never come true. With a sigh, he settled himself down on a chunk of rock, listening to the gurgle of the fountain and the winds drifting past.
"Why are you here, Felix? I thought you would stay in Vale, with Picard..."
Felix stood quickly and whirled, hand on his belt, groping for his sword, only to remember that he left it in his room at Lunpa's.
"Who's there?"
"I didn't think you'd forget me just yet, Felix... I left only a little while ago."
He had been gathering a ball of energy in his hand to launch an attack, but when he heard the voice again, bridging on teasing, he relaxed, the potential Ragnarok in his hand disappearing.
"Alex... What are you doing here?"
"The same reasons you are." The Mercury adept said, stepping out of the shadow of the pillars nearby. "To think, to dwell on memories..."
A silence settled over them as Alex sat down next to Felix, leaving them to their own thoughts. Felix had too many problems to deal with -- Picard, Jenna, the laws, Vale, Alex, what to do... Why did the gods want to punish him further?
"Felix, is Picard still your lover?" Alex asked softly.
He didn't hesitate to answer.
"Yes, he is, but it's better off for us if we weren't."
The Venus adept wasn't aware of the tears trickling down his cheeks as he said those determined words. Alex grasped his chin with one hand, forcing him stare into Alex's sapphire eyes. Alex brushed his tears away gently, a small smile on his lips.
"Are you sure of that?"
Felix was reminded of Alex's previous words -- "Don't deprive yourself of love."
"I... I don't know... How can I choose?"
"I can help you decide." Alex said demurely, his hand moving back to entagle its fingers in Felix's hair. Felix squeaked. Alex kissed him.
.~.
Alex is... kissing me...
...Uck...
It seems so long ago that I was kissed by Picard... He seems so tough, but he's just a teddy bear... So soft, so sweet, so caring...
Maybe it's not Alex that's kissing me... Maybe it's.. it's Picard...
...That's his hand roaming through my hair, another of his hands tickling my neck...
I haven't left Vale... yet...
.~.
-Crunch.-
Felix's eyes jolted open at the new sensation on his ear. Ow...! Alex? No...
GEODE!! -- His mind screamed.
...And Alex was still kissing him.
With a grunt, he kicked Alex off of him, jumping up and spitting viciously at the ground. Panting, rubbing his sore ear, and shaking his head, he saw Alex smile, despite the fact Felix had kicked him hard across the chest.
"That helped you decide, didn't it?" Alex said chuckling, dusting off his clothes. Felix blinked.
"...What?"
"I helped you decide whether you wanted to remain with Picard or not... And not only that, I got a free kiss off of you." Alex grinned. Felix's eyes widened, and with a snarl of rage, he leaped at the Mercury adept, but he had vanished.
"Damn you, Alex... Damn you..." Felix grumbled as he lay on the damp ground. "And Geode... What the hell was that for?"
/You and Alex... That's just nasty./ Geode said with disgust. /You were having little fantasies about Picard -- I don't need to know 'bout those, thanks -- while you were kissing Alex... ALEX... Not Picard. So I bit you. Don't need you exchanging saliva with some freaky jerk that nearly destroyed the world a few years ago!/
"Don't remind me..." Felix sighed, getting up and walking back towards Lunpa's house.
/You never wash behind your ears, do you?/ Geode asked, appearing on his shoulder, some sort of cleaning instrument in his mouth. Felix chose not to ask how the Djinni could wash its teeth without arms, much less hands. /Yuck./
"Geode..."
/You know you like havin' me around! Ptooie./
Felix rolled his eyes. At least he had some sort of company... Though it was rather unwanted.
/Hey, I heard that./ Geode said sourly as he (Possibly she? Felix wondered, shivering further) disappeared back into the crevices of Felix's mind.
.~.
"We'll have to stay here tonight."
"But Sheba -- "
"We'll just get swept back in this darkness. We'll make better time in the morning." The Jupiter adept said tiredly, gazing at the rock that had been formed into a star. "And I'm sure Garet will appreciate it."
Jenna grimaced, knowing she was right about both things. Her poor Garet!
"How's he doing, Picard?"
"He'll be fine in the morning. Of course, he'll probably just be sick all over again."
Jenna sighed. She didn't want to clean the deck again after the mess Garet made this afternoon...
"We'll get there by tomorrow, and after I persuade Felix to come back with us, we can use the Lapis to get back to Vale."
"Who said it's just you?" Jenna questioned, hands on her hips. "I'm his sister!"
"Alright, alright, *we.*" Picard corrected. Such a protective sister Felix had... "You should all get some sleep. We still have a way to go tomorrow."
Ivan and Sheba said their good nights and went down into the cabin area, but Jenna lingered at the door.
"You do love him, don't you?" She smiled faintly, brushing a few strands of dark red hair out of her pretty face.
"Of course I do. That's why I'm here." Picard answered, staring at the stars still partially covered with clouds.
"I'm glad he's found someone... He would be an emotional wreck otherwise. Someone to care for him when he's sick, to drown him in happiness, to raise children with..." She stood next to him, staring at the dark water. "...Or not."
"You don't mind, do you?"
Jenna suddenly felt shy and withdrawn. She hadn't taken into account of the strangeness of Felix and Picard's intricate relationship since about four days previous. Here was her brother's lover -- Picard, the Lemurian. The fact he was a man was too blatantly obvious for her to forget about the laws Vale clung to so tightly. She knew, before any of them (Except perhaps said Lemurian) were born, anyone who disregarded a rule was put to death, until the scarcity of adepts forced them to stop.
When Jenna did not answer him, Picard sighed. He expected as much...
"Even if you disapprove, I am afraid I cannot do anything to change your views. I do love Felix with everything in me. The fact you might hate me does not stop me from loving him."
"I'm sorry...." Jenna whispered. "You must think I'm selfish... I'm just worried about him. I don't want him to be hated by Vale, like he was when he had to take the Elemental Stars so many years ago..."
"I understand." Picard said. "I love him nonetheless."
"Thank you, Picard. Anybody else would leave him as soon as they found out their lives were on the line. You've... done so much for him..." The Mars adept murmured, tears of gratitude spilling down her cheeks. Picard found himself blushing as she hugged him tightly in one of her patented Death- Squeeze Jenna hugs. Once he caught his breath again and she had went down to bed, he sighed, shook his head, and smiled.
"Such a protective sister. . ."
.~.
End VII
.~.
GAH! SCREW THIS! #_#!! Okay, okay, I'm lengthening it _ONE MORE CHAPTER!_ Yeesh!
[Felix: Gaah! More scary images! *Hides*]
::Sighs:: Next chapter will actually be considered "The end." I promise. It's because of all you review peoples... I think... So... yeah! Next chapter... All fluff. Yeek. And the epilogue... Yep. I luv you reviewers waaay too much, methinks. ^^;
[Felix: *Shuddering under bed*]
Y'know, my yaoi doujinshi is under there. -_-
[Felix: YEEEEK!]
[Taylor: My word, he screams like a girl!]
[Stephanie: ....*Lightbulb!* Maybe he IS a girl!]
*Long pause*
[Stephanie: ...Nah. Otherwise, this wouldn't be a yaoi fic...]
[Felix: Save... me...!!]
Right, like anyone is. Then, we wouldn't have a star of this fic! ...Besides Picard-kun. Yeah. Review responses....
Gay Witch: Of course it'll work out! I mean, cuz, if it didn't, I'd have all of you trying to kill me and have my head put up on a pike! ^^;
Shiro: Really. Why do you seem so... so...
[Stephanie: Conceited!]
...Er, yeah, all of a sudden? ::Pokes flamethrower with a stick::
Bladegryphon: Thankies!
Piro Flare: Okay, okay, I'll work on updating s'more...
Dragoness: Yes! He should go back! Except for the fact Picard and co are coming for him! XD
Phishykiss: I'm not that good with angst, really... I stink at the dialogue between characters. (I run out of synonyms for 'said.' -.-;;) I'm glad you find it sad... er... sorta... It means my angst is improving! ^o^;
Akiko-san: (Yes, I revere you that much to put a 'san' after your name! ^_^) Yay! Akiko-san read my stuff! Akiko-san read my stuff! ::Blows horn::
Taidigimon: ...Y'know, I have no idea what's gonna happen in the future. 0_o... ::Shrugs:: I dunno. Happy ending is enough for Azu-chan. -o-;
Riyn: ::Hugz:: I luv your story! ^_^ Torture Felix! Torture Felix! And Garet! GARET! BUWAHAHAHAHAHA! ::Ahem:: Yeah, it's all for the sake of plot lines. Fluffiness later.
Saturos: Yea! Er, no Felix! ^^; No eating the cookies!
Jellybee22: Yes, it is from the combination of dirt and water. ^^ You got some of the shippings right... Most shippings have a name for only the hetero couples... But I suppose, like for the EarthxFire shipping, the Valeshipping name would work, as Isaac, Garet, Felix and Jenna are all from Vale... Yeesh, this is complicated!
Kairi: Kill... Jenna? 0_o.. In one of my fics, Mia dies... But... I luv Jenna! I'm not going to kill her anytime soon! I will update, tho! ^^;
Karalen the Wood Elf: ::Edges away:: Of... of... COURSE fluffiness will ensue! ^_^;;
Thanx for the reviews! I will update soon... And don't give me those dubious looks! I WILL! -o-;;;
[Felix: Save me. Now.]
[Stephanie: *Pokes Felix with a stick*]
[Felix: Ow!]
Hee. ^^;
-life is like a beautiful song, only the lyrics are messed up.-
How so very true. -_-
.~.
^__^ I'm... er... well...
[Felix] You appear to be happy.
The raining veggies have stopped! ^^ Aaaaaanyhoo, here are the warnings... More (But very light) AlexxFelix, the normal amount of PicardxFelix...
[Felix] Why am I always the uke?
.....o.o
[Stephanie] I didn't know he had the guts to ask something like that! 0_o
D'you really wanna know what happens when I write something like a... say.. FelixxSaturos? Felix...xAgatio?
[Felix] Meep. 0o...
::Cough:: Um. . . . So, yeah. Angst, a bit of sap, Jenna OOC-ness, and slight Garet bashing, but's it's all in good fun! ^_^ Right? Right. So, onwards, fellow yaoi luvers!
.~.
Chapter six: Intertwining Vines
- More pep-talking, Alex-kicking and Felix-angst -
.~.
--Picard introspective--
I swear. Felix is an idiot sometimes. A very lovable idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. How did he take the Lapis? Ivan had it... Well, never mind, I guess I answered my own question. So where in Weyard would he go? Come on, Picard, think like a depressed Earth adept that scares easily...
.~.
"Where would he go?"
"Jenna, you're not making my thinking any easier!"
"I'm sorry, but..."
"She has to speak the obvious."
"Shut up! You're the reason why my brother is gone!"
"Me?!"
"Yes, you!"
"Now, now, children, do stop fighting. We have to help uncle Picard, remember?"
"Isaac, why don't YOU try shutting up?"
Picard sighed and shook his head to clear it of its clutter. Note to self: Never ask Jenna, Ivan, and Isaac for their help and leave them in a room with yourself.
Jenna sighed and slumped back down in her chair, eyebrows furrowed in thought and chin in hand. Ivan poked at the carpet as he stared at it. Isaac appeared to be sleeping.
"Would he go to Izumo?" Ivan asked finally, breaking the thoughtful silence. Jenna blinked.
"Perhaps... Gaia Rock is there, and he IS an Earth adept...."
"But..." Isaac said. There was a collective sigh and a shake of heads.
"Definitely not Prox... Yallam, perhaps?"
"He hates Sunshine. He wouldn't go there." Jenna said, frowning. "Damn, this is hard! And I thought I knew my brother inside out!"
Picard stared at the ceiling, racking his mind. Not Prox, not Izumo, not Yallam, certainly not Alhafra, or Champa...
...Lemuria...
"Lemuria. He must have gone to Lemuria."
Pairs of auburn, amethyst, and azure eyes stared at him.
"Lemuria?" Jenna repeated. "Why would he -- "
"I don't know why, but now that I think of it, it seems extraordinarily obvious..." Picard muttered, standing and heading out of the room. Jenna, Ivan and Isaac stood and scrambled after him.
"Lemuria just seems impossible..." Ivan said, quietly.
"Then you don't know Felix." Picard couldn't hold back the sharp edge to his voice as he looked through his assortment of weapons.
"Picard, it was an accident! Things can't be changed now, we can only work towards the future! Ivan wants Felix returned to Vale as badly as the rest of us!" Jenna said exasperatedly, handing him some light blankets.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried... Felix can be such an idiot when he's depressed..." Picard stopped his packing. He felt something hot at the corner of his eyes, and wiped at it hastily. He couldn't appear weak now... He had to get Felix back...
"Are you taking the ship?"
"No other way to get to Lemuria, right?"
"And you're going by yourself?" Isaac asked, surprised. "You.... Do you even remember how to work the whirlpools? They're still there, you know!"
"That's why you people are coming with me, right?" Picard said, smiling slightly.
Isaac stared at him in shock. Jenna squealed and hugged him.
"Mia has to stay here. Who'll take care of her?"
"You can stay here, Isaac... Or Sheba.... We can't risk your unborn child on account of another stupid Venus adept." Picard shook his head. He still couldn't believe how stupid that Felix was...!
"Oh, I'll feel guilty... If I leave Mia to see Felix, she won't mind, but I'll still feel bad, and if I stay here..."
"Isaac, just stay if you want to! We want to keep everyone safe." Jenna said, patting his arm.
Isaac hesitated before nodding. He would stay.
"Sheba and Garet will want to go, then. We have to leave as soon as possible..."
"The ship's at Kalay. Jenna, go tell Garet, and Ivan, go tell Sheba, and get packed!"
"Gotcha." Jenna left, Ivan and Isaac following soon aftewards.
.~.
Meanwhile...
"Who's there?"
"Show yourself!"
"...."
"Felix? What are you doing here... sir?"
"I need a bit of time to myself, and I chose to come here. Is that alright?"
"Y-you're always welcome here, Felix! Would you like to speak to King Hydros?"
"No, no thank you. I'll... I'll stay with Lunpa."
"Are you sure?"
"Would you like us to escort you there?"
"I'll be fine, thanks."
The two guards watched the brunet disappear into the misty land of Lemuria. Then, something occured to one of them.
"Hey..."
"Huh?"
"Where's everyone else? Why... is he here by himself?"
"Yeah! Picard could've visited while he had the chance!"
The two guards puzzled over this, not knowing Picard was actually planning a visit sometime soon...
.~.
Two days had passed. They were out on the ocean now, skimming the southeastern shore of Angara as they headed towards Lemuria. They had brought -- besides the normal traveling gear -- Psynergy stones, as flying would be the quickest route once they got out of the rivers.
"Ready? One, two -- up!"
Wind whistled past their ears as the boat lifted into the air. Jenna saw some children standing on the beach and waved to them. She saw their shocked faces as they disappeared into the low-hanging clouds.
"Can you steer in these clouds, Picard?"
"I'm fine!" The Lemurian called.
"Are you sure? It's chilly..." Ivan sneezed.
"Ivan, you're such a whiner!" Garet snorted.
"And you complain too much, Garet!"
So far, two days had been spent going down to Kalay. It would take about two to three days to get to Lemuria, and probably a day or two to get through the whirlpools. Which, in all actuality, they would -- could -- get Felix back and return by the end of the month.
.~.
"Why, Felix! What are you doing here?"
"I need a bit of time to myself... to... think. Can I stay here, Lunpa?"
"Of course you can. Come on in!"
Felix nodded as Lunpa opened the door all the way, allowing him passage into the warmly lit room.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Lunpa asked, noticing the certain lack of other people.
"Not really..."
"You didn't get evicted from Vale, did you?" He said jokingly.
Lunpa realized his mistake as Felix seemed to freeze.
"I'm sorry... Did I... say something wrong?"
"No... I... I just came close to, and I'd rather not dwell on it..."
"I'm still sorry. I'll go prepare a room for you, alright?"
"Thank you, Lunpa."
.~.
Please don't come for me...
....yet....
.~.
Jenna swung her Tisiphone Edge at a particularly persistent possessed seagull, and with a garbled squawk, it froze, turned gray, and blew off into the wind as dust. Just as soon as she had sheathed her sword, a mist settled over their ship.
"We're nearing the whirlpools! Sheba, up at the bow!"
"Coming! Jenna, watch Garet!"
"Will do." She replied, glancing around for said Mars adept. She was glad Garet didn't have to experience the whirlpools the first time... Or it would've been a disaster.
Grimacing as she heard a dry hacking noise from the back of the ship, she wondered briefly why she had married such an oaf...
"Straight ahead! To the left! Left! Find an opening! Ready? Go through! Around the volcano! ...Two more... Alright, one more!"
Garet was feeling dizzy. Scratch that, he was pretty sure he had dropped his equilibrium somewhere down in the (*Coff*evil*Coff*) whirlpools. Jenna rubbed circles into his back. Just Sheba's directions was making him feel sick...
"You okay, hun?" She asked worriedly.
"Perfectly fine..." Garet said woozily.
"I think we'll make it! Yeah, we will -- "
"Sheba, the river's coming back!"
With a loud, roaring splash, the ship was washed back outside, to the two red rocks protruding out of the sea. Sheba sighed.
"I guess I'm a little rusty at this... Ivan, get up here with me! Four eyes are better than two!"
Jenna was starting to feel worried. Was Garet trying to feed *all* the fishes in the Eastern Sea or something? (XD Narf!)
.~.
It was midnight, or so Felix assumed. None of the lights were lit in any of the small homes, giving Lemuria the appearance of a graveyard. Shivering despite the jacket he wore, he regretted leaving his scarf a moment -- then reminded himself that what he did was for the best. He missed Picard dearly... Their intimate nights spent in secrecy, the cuddling sessions, the pointless arguments...
([Felix: You did not have to write that! That was completely uncalled for! INTIMATE? What the --] ::Hits him over the head with a chair::)
He wished then for Picard to come for him, to take him in his arms, kiss the wounds away... But that was a fantasy that would hopefully never come true. With a sigh, he settled himself down on a chunk of rock, listening to the gurgle of the fountain and the winds drifting past.
"Why are you here, Felix? I thought you would stay in Vale, with Picard..."
Felix stood quickly and whirled, hand on his belt, groping for his sword, only to remember that he left it in his room at Lunpa's.
"Who's there?"
"I didn't think you'd forget me just yet, Felix... I left only a little while ago."
He had been gathering a ball of energy in his hand to launch an attack, but when he heard the voice again, bridging on teasing, he relaxed, the potential Ragnarok in his hand disappearing.
"Alex... What are you doing here?"
"The same reasons you are." The Mercury adept said, stepping out of the shadow of the pillars nearby. "To think, to dwell on memories..."
A silence settled over them as Alex sat down next to Felix, leaving them to their own thoughts. Felix had too many problems to deal with -- Picard, Jenna, the laws, Vale, Alex, what to do... Why did the gods want to punish him further?
"Felix, is Picard still your lover?" Alex asked softly.
He didn't hesitate to answer.
"Yes, he is, but it's better off for us if we weren't."
The Venus adept wasn't aware of the tears trickling down his cheeks as he said those determined words. Alex grasped his chin with one hand, forcing him stare into Alex's sapphire eyes. Alex brushed his tears away gently, a small smile on his lips.
"Are you sure of that?"
Felix was reminded of Alex's previous words -- "Don't deprive yourself of love."
"I... I don't know... How can I choose?"
"I can help you decide." Alex said demurely, his hand moving back to entagle its fingers in Felix's hair. Felix squeaked. Alex kissed him.
.~.
Alex is... kissing me...
...Uck...
It seems so long ago that I was kissed by Picard... He seems so tough, but he's just a teddy bear... So soft, so sweet, so caring...
Maybe it's not Alex that's kissing me... Maybe it's.. it's Picard...
...That's his hand roaming through my hair, another of his hands tickling my neck...
I haven't left Vale... yet...
.~.
-Crunch.-
Felix's eyes jolted open at the new sensation on his ear. Ow...! Alex? No...
GEODE!! -- His mind screamed.
...And Alex was still kissing him.
With a grunt, he kicked Alex off of him, jumping up and spitting viciously at the ground. Panting, rubbing his sore ear, and shaking his head, he saw Alex smile, despite the fact Felix had kicked him hard across the chest.
"That helped you decide, didn't it?" Alex said chuckling, dusting off his clothes. Felix blinked.
"...What?"
"I helped you decide whether you wanted to remain with Picard or not... And not only that, I got a free kiss off of you." Alex grinned. Felix's eyes widened, and with a snarl of rage, he leaped at the Mercury adept, but he had vanished.
"Damn you, Alex... Damn you..." Felix grumbled as he lay on the damp ground. "And Geode... What the hell was that for?"
/You and Alex... That's just nasty./ Geode said with disgust. /You were having little fantasies about Picard -- I don't need to know 'bout those, thanks -- while you were kissing Alex... ALEX... Not Picard. So I bit you. Don't need you exchanging saliva with some freaky jerk that nearly destroyed the world a few years ago!/
"Don't remind me..." Felix sighed, getting up and walking back towards Lunpa's house.
/You never wash behind your ears, do you?/ Geode asked, appearing on his shoulder, some sort of cleaning instrument in his mouth. Felix chose not to ask how the Djinni could wash its teeth without arms, much less hands. /Yuck./
"Geode..."
/You know you like havin' me around! Ptooie./
Felix rolled his eyes. At least he had some sort of company... Though it was rather unwanted.
/Hey, I heard that./ Geode said sourly as he (Possibly she? Felix wondered, shivering further) disappeared back into the crevices of Felix's mind.
.~.
"We'll have to stay here tonight."
"But Sheba -- "
"We'll just get swept back in this darkness. We'll make better time in the morning." The Jupiter adept said tiredly, gazing at the rock that had been formed into a star. "And I'm sure Garet will appreciate it."
Jenna grimaced, knowing she was right about both things. Her poor Garet!
"How's he doing, Picard?"
"He'll be fine in the morning. Of course, he'll probably just be sick all over again."
Jenna sighed. She didn't want to clean the deck again after the mess Garet made this afternoon...
"We'll get there by tomorrow, and after I persuade Felix to come back with us, we can use the Lapis to get back to Vale."
"Who said it's just you?" Jenna questioned, hands on her hips. "I'm his sister!"
"Alright, alright, *we.*" Picard corrected. Such a protective sister Felix had... "You should all get some sleep. We still have a way to go tomorrow."
Ivan and Sheba said their good nights and went down into the cabin area, but Jenna lingered at the door.
"You do love him, don't you?" She smiled faintly, brushing a few strands of dark red hair out of her pretty face.
"Of course I do. That's why I'm here." Picard answered, staring at the stars still partially covered with clouds.
"I'm glad he's found someone... He would be an emotional wreck otherwise. Someone to care for him when he's sick, to drown him in happiness, to raise children with..." She stood next to him, staring at the dark water. "...Or not."
"You don't mind, do you?"
Jenna suddenly felt shy and withdrawn. She hadn't taken into account of the strangeness of Felix and Picard's intricate relationship since about four days previous. Here was her brother's lover -- Picard, the Lemurian. The fact he was a man was too blatantly obvious for her to forget about the laws Vale clung to so tightly. She knew, before any of them (Except perhaps said Lemurian) were born, anyone who disregarded a rule was put to death, until the scarcity of adepts forced them to stop.
When Jenna did not answer him, Picard sighed. He expected as much...
"Even if you disapprove, I am afraid I cannot do anything to change your views. I do love Felix with everything in me. The fact you might hate me does not stop me from loving him."
"I'm sorry...." Jenna whispered. "You must think I'm selfish... I'm just worried about him. I don't want him to be hated by Vale, like he was when he had to take the Elemental Stars so many years ago..."
"I understand." Picard said. "I love him nonetheless."
"Thank you, Picard. Anybody else would leave him as soon as they found out their lives were on the line. You've... done so much for him..." The Mars adept murmured, tears of gratitude spilling down her cheeks. Picard found himself blushing as she hugged him tightly in one of her patented Death- Squeeze Jenna hugs. Once he caught his breath again and she had went down to bed, he sighed, shook his head, and smiled.
"Such a protective sister. . ."
.~.
End VII
.~.
GAH! SCREW THIS! #_#!! Okay, okay, I'm lengthening it _ONE MORE CHAPTER!_ Yeesh!
[Felix: Gaah! More scary images! *Hides*]
::Sighs:: Next chapter will actually be considered "The end." I promise. It's because of all you review peoples... I think... So... yeah! Next chapter... All fluff. Yeek. And the epilogue... Yep. I luv you reviewers waaay too much, methinks. ^^;
[Felix: *Shuddering under bed*]
Y'know, my yaoi doujinshi is under there. -_-
[Felix: YEEEEK!]
[Taylor: My word, he screams like a girl!]
[Stephanie: ....*Lightbulb!* Maybe he IS a girl!]
*Long pause*
[Stephanie: ...Nah. Otherwise, this wouldn't be a yaoi fic...]
[Felix: Save... me...!!]
Right, like anyone is. Then, we wouldn't have a star of this fic! ...Besides Picard-kun. Yeah. Review responses....
Gay Witch: Of course it'll work out! I mean, cuz, if it didn't, I'd have all of you trying to kill me and have my head put up on a pike! ^^;
Shiro: Really. Why do you seem so... so...
[Stephanie: Conceited!]
...Er, yeah, all of a sudden? ::Pokes flamethrower with a stick::
Bladegryphon: Thankies!
Piro Flare: Okay, okay, I'll work on updating s'more...
Dragoness: Yes! He should go back! Except for the fact Picard and co are coming for him! XD
Phishykiss: I'm not that good with angst, really... I stink at the dialogue between characters. (I run out of synonyms for 'said.' -.-;;) I'm glad you find it sad... er... sorta... It means my angst is improving! ^o^;
Akiko-san: (Yes, I revere you that much to put a 'san' after your name! ^_^) Yay! Akiko-san read my stuff! Akiko-san read my stuff! ::Blows horn::
Taidigimon: ...Y'know, I have no idea what's gonna happen in the future. 0_o... ::Shrugs:: I dunno. Happy ending is enough for Azu-chan. -o-;
Riyn: ::Hugz:: I luv your story! ^_^ Torture Felix! Torture Felix! And Garet! GARET! BUWAHAHAHAHAHA! ::Ahem:: Yeah, it's all for the sake of plot lines. Fluffiness later.
Saturos: Yea! Er, no Felix! ^^; No eating the cookies!
Jellybee22: Yes, it is from the combination of dirt and water. ^^ You got some of the shippings right... Most shippings have a name for only the hetero couples... But I suppose, like for the EarthxFire shipping, the Valeshipping name would work, as Isaac, Garet, Felix and Jenna are all from Vale... Yeesh, this is complicated!
Kairi: Kill... Jenna? 0_o.. In one of my fics, Mia dies... But... I luv Jenna! I'm not going to kill her anytime soon! I will update, tho! ^^;
Karalen the Wood Elf: ::Edges away:: Of... of... COURSE fluffiness will ensue! ^_^;;
Thanx for the reviews! I will update soon... And don't give me those dubious looks! I WILL! -o-;;;
[Felix: Save me. Now.]
[Stephanie: *Pokes Felix with a stick*]
[Felix: Ow!]
Hee. ^^;
-life is like a beautiful song, only the lyrics are messed up.-
How so very true. -_-
