Shadows Crimes
Chapter 8-
Return to Black Mage Village (Part 1)
Storm At Sea
(A.N. Okay first off. There is going to be a new character here and as annoying as I found this character will be pretty much as referred to as the 'Stranger' almost the entire chapter but worry not, this character does have a name. So just bare with me for a while.)
Mikoto left a letter on her bed and left right after the Ball had ended to catch the fist boat out to the Outer Continent. As she arrived at the docks there were already people waiting for the ship to arrive and went to purchase her ticket. The Ship had arrived and the line up of passengers had begun, but thankful there weren't that many people boarding. Mikoto went to her cabin below the deck to put her belongings away then she headed back to the deck to take in the view of the star lit sky. The water vessel had just pulled away from the docks, out into the ocean and into the remainder of the night.
After only being out to sea for less than an hour the wind had started to pick up and the water went to being calm then became violently choppy, the waves were becoming high and was rocking the boat in an unstable rhythm that was making Mikoto very uncomfortable. Mikoto sat down on the wooden planks of the deck with her knees to her chin with her eyes shut tightly as to ignore the now violent rocking and a now protesting stomach. *BANG * The sound of thunder and a flash of lightning made her open her eyes and look up at the now starless pitch black sky as it had now dripped droplets of rain, then began to pour. "mmm….Now what!?" Mikoto groaned to herself. The Boat dipped into the wave and continued to rock, but then something caught her attention and saw someone holding on to the railing as the boat was pushed out of the dip by another wave. This caused the figure to stumble back wildly as he lost his grip of the railing, and was heading straight toward Mikoto. Mikoto just barely seen the person come straight towards her and attempted to scramble to her feet and move away from the now human projectile coming straight toward her but was to late, the man had had already bumped into her and stepped on her tail.
"AAHHHH…GET OFF MY TAIL!!!!!!!" Mikoto screeched loudly that she had startled the man and made him jump, Mikoto took that quick opportunity to retract her tail from his feet and move a few steps away from the man. "Sorry Miss…I…" The man apologized then trailed off. "ummm…Are you okay?" The Stranger asked and looked at her holding her tail then releasing hold of it, then nodded her head in response. Just then the boat had then dipped into another wave and brought water splashing on the deck making the two fall and water slide to the straight to the starboard bow railing and back to where they were when the ship came back up. "HEY MISS LETS GET TO THE DECK BELOW BEFORE THE NEXT BIG WAVE!" The Stranger shouted to her against the noise of crashing wave and the thunder. The Stranger took her by the hand and headed over to the stern of the ship to lead them to the deck below. The boat continues to rock back and forth violently as they had seen another wave threaten to engulf the ship, them Mikoto saw the mast and had an idea. "OVER THERE. WE WILL USE IT TO HOLD ON TO UNTILL WE GET PAST IT" Mikoto shouted as loud as she could. Mikoto motioned to the Stranger as she pointed to the mast and quickly glanced at the oncoming wave and used the dip of the increasingly large wave to their advantage to run faster and dragged the Stranger right behind her.
The couple had barley just made it to the mast that then the wave had hurtled down upon the water vessel and the sound of thunder made its self known again. As the water had started to clear from the deck, it was only for a moment that they could take advantage of to get to the lower deck. The Stranger checked and looked around to see if it was safe to enough to make another attempt to run for the lower deck, seeing that that its was for the moment the Stranger took Mikoto's shaking hand and pulled her en-tow in a mad dash to safety.
Just as they were about to reach the door to the lower deck another wave came making the two fall and slide a short distance from where they were, once they stopped they scrambled back up again and dashed for the door to the lower deck again. *CRASH….crack…crack…crack* Again the thunder followed by the sound of wood cracking, they turned around quickly just to see the mast crack in two with little glowing embers. "NEVER MIND THAT, LET'S GO!" The stranger yelled and this time they got inside this time safely and without incident. The two walked down the short but steep wooden stairs that led below, some of waves made it somewhat hard to go down them especially the last couple of steps a wave hit the boat and they both fell and toppled on top of each other. "OWWW…Uhh miss. Could you kindly get off of my back, Please…" The Stranger asked in a low awkward voice, he was on his stomach and Mikoto landed across his back. "My apologies" Mikoto apologized as quickly as she got up. "Don't worry about, it wasn't your fault. WOW… that storm came all of a sudden, I would have figured that the ship would stay at dock with this kind of weather." He added in with a hint of exaggeration.
A couple of other passengers that were passing by gave the two odd looks and walked past them both without giving them a second look, The Stranger looked for a place to sit awhile. He found an empty bench to sit at and to his dismay she followed and sat down with him bringing her tail to the opposite side of the Stranger, with this he stifled a near escaping chuckle. It had only been a few minuets since they both sat down that they realized that the boat was rocking a little more intensely than before signifying that the storm was pretty horrendous. Mikoto sighed inwardly and with uneasiness realizing a new discomfort that she was quickly beginning to dislike, she slouched over and took her right arm and hugged it across protesting stomach and her right hand cradling her forehead having her elbow resting on her knee.
The Stranger took a quick glance at his new companion and took a mental note of her discomfort just as he did his when he unconsciously clasped his hands together, he looked down at his hands and noticed that they were covered in wooden splinters. (OUCH!!…I wonder when that happened!?) The Stranger winced at the fact that he would have to take each and every one out by hand. The Stranger got out a small pocketknife and got to work getting the larger ones first. For a moment Mikoto's uneasiness had abated then heard a hissing sound that came from the man who helped her out, was digging at his hand carefully with a knife. "What are you doing?" Mikoto asked in a low voice. "…Getting out these damn…spli…OWWW…inters…'cause…mmm…hurt…like freaking…mmm…HELL! AHA! Got one! Now just a lot more to go *sigh*" He answered back as he was digging at the wooden menaces. "How did you do that?" Mikoto queried, also finding some amusement in his not so pleasant activity. The Stranger looked up from his menial task to think about it then shrugged. "I'm not sure…Probably done it when we fell…" Mikoto looked at him then to the floor and shivered "…You know you should go change your soaked. I suppose you don't want to catch a cold or something of the sort do you?"
The Stranger suggested. Mikoto looked at her arms and shivered again, but then another wave had hit the ship and it started rocking again. Again Mikoto felt that awful feeling with the boat rocking. "umm…You have any warm cloths with you?" He asked warily and got a nod in response, then felt her stomach complain again. "Then come on, we'll get your stuff so you can change, okay?" The Stranger go up but Mikoto stayed sitting down where she was, so being the gentleman that he was he held out his splintered filled right hand for her to take. She sensed what he was doing but first she wanted to re-gain control of her uneasiness, Mikoto then took his hand that he offered then grabbed hold of his other hand carefully then placed them between both of her hands and closed her eyes. At this the Stranger seemed a little confused until he heard her chant something silently in unintelligible words that he couldn't understand, he looked down to see that her hands were glowing along with his in an unearthly blue green glow. After Mikoto had finished the spell she used his hands for support to pull her self up and then noticing the change in temperature as she got up the cold air going straight through her cloths making her shiver more often and that unwanted feeling come back. "Hey how did you do that…I mean I've seen many curative magic's in my life but that was different…uhhh any way 'thank you'. Come on we shou…AHHH!!... "
The Stranger was interrupted as they felt the boat dip a little bit but then heard something snap, it was the door to the lower deck broke off its hinges and sent down gallons upon gallons of freezing cold sea water in the small sitting area. Just then the ship felt as if it were air born, because there was a huge splash along with the of wood shuddering in defiance as it landed. The impact itself had nearly knocked everyone onto the floor, but Mikoto had wrapped her tail around the bolted down bench and stiffened her body to absorb the shock awhile managing to stay on her two feet. "WHOA…That was wild…WOW, your still standing. You know that tai-…" He stopped trailing off as he noticed that she got a lot of weird looks from other passengers, but that wasn't it so he quickly got up from the cold wet wooden floor. Mikoto let her tail unwind from the metal and let it lash about behind her wildly also adding a very pale flush to her face, her breathing now becoming labored then replaced with heaves. "Miss…ummm…Your not…uhhh…your not gonna…you know…" The Stranger trailed off embarrassingly at what he was about to say. Mikoto looked at him wearily for a second then looked down to try and calm herself, even though it wasn't working that well "What do…you…mean by…(Ugh) 'You…know what'?" Mikoto asked while struggling to get her words out. "ummm…get sick…?" He answered back sheepishly, Mikoto looked up again and gave him a puzzled look "I…have ne…ver got…en…si…" Her words were abruptly replaced by heaves. The Stranger looked around franticly for something for her to lose her stomach in know that she wouldn't make it to the nearest restroom, but wasn't having any luck. Until he saw a wealthy looking man, wearing a very gaudy feathered hat, than smiled inwardly and ran to him. "Ummm.Sorry,butIgottaborrowthis…Bye" The Stranger said very quickly without taking a breath, he took the hat and ran back to Mikoto chuckling as he heard the string a curses directed at him from the now enraged man. Just as the Stranger gotten to her just as another wave had rocked the boat, that was just enough for the worst thing to happen on this entire hell trip.
Just as the waves and Mikoto's heaving had ebbed, the owner of the hat came up to the owner of the hat came up to the couple stark raving mad and giving the two every curse in the book. Attracting some attention from other passengers as well but the better of it was, the Stranger laughing at him making the wealthy man angrier. "ARRRRGH…WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? TAKING MY HAT AND….AND USING IT FOR A …." The angry man ranted and then gave Mikoto the dirtiest look ever seen by anyone. Mikoto Stopped heaving entirely and annoyed at the loud man, she took a few slow and shaky steps towards him and handed him the bile filled hat "…so..r…ry…" was all that she was able to choke out at the moment, this time the man was red faced and furious. ("This is ridiculous, first I get sick then I encounter a man that is louder than The Queens Captain Steiner. I wonder what is next, or maybe I don't. I just want to go home!") This was her easiest way out of ignoring the loud man by thinking then left, this time the angry man as well stormed off.
"Heh… the nerve. Rich guys these days there worse than babies, always throwing temper tantrums when they want to. Any way, How are you feeling now?" he asked gently. "…cold…" was all that Mikoto could muster. The Stranger motioned her to follow him to the cabin hall. Mikoto walked into her small cabin while the Stranger stayed outside the door, first Mikoto got her bag out of the small closet that was beside her berth and set it down. Noticing that it was wet she opened it up to make sure everything didn't get entirely saturated with water. She took everything out and thankfully only a few articles got wet ever her dress that Aiyana had given her only had a small spot of water on the bottom of the skirt. Mikoto set aside some dry clothes and then got her self cleaned up.
Meanwhile the Stranger was leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and smirked. ("Well this boat ride has been fun… 'NOT!' At least I got to meet her this time. Hmm feels like the storm has slowed down, hopefully it's over and not just the eye of the storm. *Sigh* I wonder where she is going, please let it not be the Outer Continent.") Noticing that he was thinking too much he shook his head and then chuckled to himself. …Keld… The Stranger thought he was hearing things when he thought he had heard his name being called. He knew that he had not yet told Mikoto his name and there were no other people around in the hall, so he knew it wasn't her calling his name. The voice kept repeating his name like a broken record and it kept going faster. He ignored it until Keld's head started ringing. …Keld…Are you trying to ignore me? The Shadow spoke to him in a menacing voice through telepathy. (Shut up…Just leave me the hell alone, I think you have hurt me enough. Now just get the FUCK LOST! I also suggest that you leave her alone she has nothing to do with this, I don't want to see her hurt.") Keld replied back the same way that he was contacted. Silence was followed only for a second. The ringing in his head had returned and unnoticeably his eyes had flashed a deep crimson red then stumbled to his knees holding his face with his hands. Once the pain had subsided he sat there with his back against the wall with looks of pain still etched on his face.
Mikoto quietly walked out of her cabin room, she saw the man that had helped her out sitting on the damp floor with the looks of pain racked upon his features. "Are you…alright?" She asked in an unusual gentle voice unbeknown of her. Keld looked up at Mikoto then widened his eyes as he nodded. Keld looked at Mikoto oddly he had never seen anyone with such strange cloths in his life. Mikoto was wearing an odd shade of pink and ivory white skirt and top, a black bodysuit underneath then she also wore ivory white knee high boots that were slightly scuffed over time. This to Keld was strange and otherworldly, but was beautiful.
"I am sorry I should have gotten around to asking you earlier but, can I ask what you name is?" Keld asked politely. Mikoto hesitated for a moment then answered obligingly. "My name is Mikoto. My I now ask what yours is?" Mikoto asked as her curiosity was now getting the best of her. "My name is Keld…This has been a great pleasure to meet you." Keld smiled at her then took her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it softly. Mikoto felt herself fluster at his touch and the sense of a heated flush ran through her face, then backed away slowly letting go of his hand. "I…I…should go and ask if the ship will be nearing my destination." Mikoto found and stated her words, then turned around to leave. Mikoto made about five steps before a hand had grabbed hers once more and she turned around only to find herself staring into bright Smokey gray eyes. Keld starred back into her spectral blue eyes for what seemed to him a fleeting eternity, even though the time that had passed was only a simple minute then he had to shake off his tempting thoughts and asked "Where are you heading to?"
"The Outer Continent"
(Well readers how was that? This is one of my personal best 'cause I never knew I could write so much. That is why this chapter has to be split in to two parts. Well that was at least the good note the bad note is that writing the second part has been much harder than I thought and am running into a lot of I guess writers block *SIGH*. Even then this part took me a long time to get up. But I shall try my best to get it up as soon as I can. If any one may have any questions about this chapter I will answer them in the next chapter. For now BYE-BYE! ^_^!!
