Chapter 3
Gaignun sighed, his adopted "son" sitting across from his desk in one of the chairs that decorated the room. He wasn't exactly sure as HOW to present this to him, and felt an odd sense of discomfort about him being the one giving him such a speech. In all truth Rubedo was, after all, two years his senior. "Where to begin?" he said quietly, more to himself than anything else.
In truth though, that didn't stop Junior from picking up on it. "How about you don't begin anywhere?" he said casually and, this part quite obvious, in irritation. "I really don't need to go throw a talk about this."
"I think you do, and you will get it." He replied in a commanding voice. He supposed looking older (and being higher up in position) did have quite a few perks. He felt a bit of satisfaction (and, oddly enough, guilt) when the red-haired URTV remained seated, though obviously having to force himself to do so. "Junior, you know just as well as I why we can't really allow this to happen."
"No, I don't." he stated simply and coldly. "Tell me, why CAN'T we? Don't I deserve the same kind of attention as you do?"
He sighed once more. "Junior, please. We all ready have enough curiousity and speculation around you being my 'son'. The last thing we need is for you to start a relationship with someone, as THAT would provide the media a feeding frenzy."
"So what?" Junior said indignantly, though he was able to keep at least a bit of his civility. "We OWN the media, Gaignun. You know that just as well as I do."
"We do. But we can't CONTROL everything they report. You know what people would say about that." He was clutching his hands together hard now, the knuckles turning white. God, why did he have to be so stubborn. "Not only that, but the girl you wish to go out with is a Realian...a prototype 100 series that's modeled after Sakura Mizrahi..."
Junior's eyes bulged slightly, and his mouth contorted into a semi-snarl. "Oh, I see where this is going!"
He knew it would be painful, but Gaignun kept himself on his original course, "who was the daughter of the scientist Joachim Mizrahi."
"You aren't proving anything Gaignun! Not a damn thing!" he shouted in fury. "Why do you seem to think the public will even know who she is?"
'NOW here comes the tricky part..' He thought to himself before replying, "The Miltian Government has already made the announcement that she's with us, as well as having shown a picture provided by Juli Mizrahi."
The 'boy's' mouth hung open for a moment, a slightly comic sight. That was, until his jaw began to quiver with rage. "They..what!"
"Please, Junior, let me finish." He said in exasperation. It was quite obvious that Junior planned to try to get his way by using the childish side of his personality to its full extent. "They announced this to help give evidence to the Federation..."
"WHO ALREADY KNEW WE HAD.."
"Junior!"
Junior, who had gotten out of his chair while he was yelling, grudgingly sat back down. "They gave it as evidence to the Federation to PROVE we were not a threat but were, in fact, AIDING there cause by having secured an object that was acquired by the U-TIC. This testimony, as well as one provided by Vector Industries who was present at the time, has given us safe guard from the Federation and caused them to drop all charges."
"Why'd you call her that?"
"Why'd I call who what?"
"An object." He said flatly. While he seemed impassive, Gaignun could tell by his thoughts (which Junior was, once again, being careless not to safe guard against him) he was near the verge of going on a verbal rampage. "You addressed MOMO as an object." He clenched his hands just as hard as Gaignun had clenched his. "I take the greatest offense to that."
Gaignun had found that he'd been sighing quite a bit recently, and thought nothing of adding another to the list. "You know what I mean, Junior."
He paused for a moment, and than Gaignun saw with great relief that he was loosening up. He was surprised, however, by the amount of sadness that came with what Junior said next. "It's not fair..."
His eyes softened just a bit as he looked at the 'boy' that was actually his senior, at least age wise. "No...it's not fair."
Gaignun began to grow increasingly alarmed as Junior's chest heaved gently, trying to keep himself from sobbing. It was, in all truth, one of the few moments were he had seen the URTV in a position that could be described as vulnerability. "You..you're attractive to girls. I'm not." The red-haired boy stated, his voice cracking under the stress of keeping himself from crying. "When they see me, they don't see the real me...you see? All they see is a cute little boy, and that's ALL they ever see me as. But..that's NOT what I want to be seen as. I want to be seen as who I really am, and most the people here refuse to acknowledge me for what I am. But than I find someone who does, and I can't be with her." He managed a small snicker as a few tears gently rolled down his cheeks. "This kind of situation hurts like a bitch, I can tell you."
"Rubedo..." he said gently. It was only in very precarious situations that Gaignun would find himself referring to his friend by his given name. He slowly approached him and put his arm on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes. While he loved his friend (who, was in truth, could be considered a brother), he knew that he could, when he wanted to, be manipulative and sly. This could be a trick to merely get his way, and to even read Rubedo's mind at this time could be quite tricky. However, his eyes were a different story. He had found that he could almost see the boy's spirit within his very eyes.
And he, to his relief, found honesty in them at this time, the playful light that could be commonly found there dub-downed some by the moistness that had come. He gave off another sigh (and decided it could, perhaps, become his trademark) and told his friend "Listen...I'm willing to make a deal with you." Rubedo looked at him gently, obviously ready to listen. "Here's what I'll do: you CAN pursue this relationship....but you have to PROMISE me you'll be responsible about it. Can you promise me that?"
Rubedo wiped his eyes with his sleeve and gave off one last sniff, a gesture that would be considered quite common of a child who's mentality was similar to that of his physical appearance. He nodded slightly before stating "Yeah...yeah, I can do that easy."
"And I have your utmost trust on this?"
"Yes. I'll give you my word right here and now, and that's something I don't give lightly."
Gaignun pondered this over for a minute before finally stating "Then you have my blessing."
(The Elsa-Shion's Room)
"It's sort of hard to explain, and I don't expect you to understand..." Shion started off, sitting on her bed crossed legged.
"That's a nice way to start off." Allen replied, sitting on a chair across from her. He had always wanted to be in a bedroom alone with Shion, though granted, under different circumstances. He had his arms propped up on the head of the chair, sitting on it backwards.
Shion smiled, quite a bit nervous to tell the truth. "Well...it's not everyday I have to tell someone my feelings about another girl and her crush on someone."
It had only been a few minutes ago when MOMO, happy as could be, went and found Shion to tell her of everything that had happened. Within the short time they had been together, the young Realian had looked towards the female scientist as an older sister. To her, it had made perfect sense that she (after Ziggy) should be the first one to find out how well everything had gone.
And, surprisingly, that was the problem for Shion.
"I never had a sister." She began. "Not even a younger sibling. Of course, I had an older brother, but he was...well...let's just say he didn't fit the mold of the regular older brother very well." She proclaimed with a short, slight chuckle. "I mean, he took care of me and was loving, of course...but.." she sighed; like so many other things from her past, she hated to think of this. "Both my parents died during the Miltian Conflict." She stated flatly.
"Chief, I'm..." he began, apologeticly, before she stopped him.
"Please, let me continue." She said. "My brother was determined to keep us together...and he forced himself to grow up rapidly. He worked several odd jobs, so I barely ever saw him. When I reached fifteen, I started working too, though he told me he didn't want me to." She told him this with a gentle, wry smile crossing her lips, holding both a warm sense of nostalgia and, to a minor extent, sibling rivalry. "In fact, he wouldn't let me use my OWN money, that I had EARNED, to go to college. He paid for it himself."
He smiled, thinking he understood. "He took the role of both parent and brother upon himself."
She nodded. "Exactly..and it irritated me to no end." She sighed, and her eyes gained a bit of unhappiness. "When I left...he became more distant to the world, as if he was trying to totally forsake it. He'd live within the world of the books he read, usually only going out when he found it necessary. He immersed himself in a world of fantasy, chivalry, and sword- play, studying kendo as often as possible when he had free time."
"Chief, I know this means a lot to you.." Allen stated. He knew this was going to run the gauntlet of possibly sounding cruel, but he thought it would possibly be best for him to get Shion back on track. "But where exactly is this going with the situation with MOMO?"
Shion scratched the back of her head gently as she continued. "Well, I know how a sibling is to act, per se, but not exactly an older sibling because my own was so.."
"Unnatural?"
She nodded. "That may be one of the best ways to put it, yes." The scientist replied. "I want to try to teach her everything about growing up. I know it sounds stupid, considering she can't grow up physically, but mentally...I think THAT'S where she'll continue to grow. I want to get her to know everything she needs to; proper manners, schooling, necessities, plain growing up..including boys." She told him this last part looking down at her feet, as if the mention of it even made her nervous.
He tilted his head quizzically slightly. The Chief was, more often than not, usually well spoken and unnervous. But this topic... "What's wrong, Chief? You've had a boyfriend before.."
"Well, that can be put with the over-used phrase 'yes' and 'no'." the Chief told him, still looking at her feet and a bit nervous. "I loved Kevin....well, maybe 'had a crush on' would be more well-put..., but it was sort of one sided. And when I was a kid, boys generally didn't like me." She began to smile wryly again. "And those who did usually got chased off."
"By your brother?"
"He took the idea of the over-protective brother and also mixed it with the paternal instincts of the over-protective father. This was....not a pretty sight." She began to giggle lightly, as if she had fond memories of this as well, and than stopped and sighed. "But no, I've never had a real boyfriend. I doubt I ever will."
He was shocked. How could the Chief say that about herself? She was, easily, the most wonderful person he had ever met. He got up from the chair he had been sitting on and sat down beside her. "C'mon Chief, don't be like that. You're a wonderful person, much better than a lot of other girls there are. You're smart, attractive, funny, eager....a little over eager, but still....and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot and can burn in hell for all you or anyone else should care!"
Shion looked over her shoulder at him, and he was surprised what he saw. The usually strong expression she wore was now replaced with a look of utter vulnerability. She had, reminiscing on the past, gotten herself upset. "You think so?" she said in a voice he had only heard one time before, that being when Junior had taken them to the beach and showed them the weather simulation, and her ending up cowering due to the sound of thunder.
"I know so." He said, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder. He found himself, instead, falling face-first onto the place where Shion had been sitting just a moment before, due to the fact that she was no longer there. Allen's attempt at chivalry had, unfortunately for him, been dashed when the e-mail function of the UMN screen next to the bed rang. Shion immediately going towards it and her previous vulnerability seemingly having disappeared quickly, the prospect of getting a new e-mail more comforting than what he had been able to do.
Originally excited, Shion's mood began to change back as she continued to read the e-mail. After she finished, she sighed and placed one of her hands on her forehead.
"Chief, what's wrong?" Allen asked, a little perturbed with what had just happened, but still wanting to make sure everything was all right.
"Wilhelm." she said in exasperation. While she admired her employer for his intelligence and cunning that had led to his position, he was a bit...eccentric, especially when it came to many of his people skills. "He wants to see us."
Allen shuddered slightly. "Oh God...do you remember the last meeting between him and employees?"
"Yes." She said, partially in a sigh. "They were picking bits of flesh and cloth out of the walls for days."
(Miltia-Jin Uzuki's Residence)
"WHERE THE HELL IS IT?!?" the white-haired URTV shouted in fury before throwing one of the folding chairs out a window, the sound of smashing glass and splitting wood accompanying it.
Jin Uzuki sighed in frustration. His current...guests weren't especially well mannered, tempered...or even that good at taking care of THEMSELVES. "Care to explain why you just did that, Albedo?" he asked, trying to hide his irritation.
"You know why I had to do that!"
"No, why DID you have to do that?" his second guest, the man in the blue robes, said. This one, however, had just finished showering and currently only had a towel around his waist, as well as a cup of coffee that Jin could only assumed he had stolen from his pantry.
"My guitar is missing." Albedo said in snorting wheezes of anger. "And if I don't find it, oh, well there'll be hell to pay!"
"Have you looked in the waste disposal unit?" Virgil asked.
"Why would I look there?"
He smirked as he brought the coffee cup to his lips. "That's where things that usually annoy me end up."
"You didn't..." Jin said, jaw agape. Surely his guests weren't so stupid as to go and ruin such an oddity (That was, to him, precious) by shoving an instrument down it.
"YOU BASTARD!!!" Albedo screamed in fury. His hands went up to his head and began to tug viciously on it, as if he was trying to unscrew it.
"..............What is he doing?" Jin asked, his surprised anger having turned to odd amusement and puzzlement.
Virgil just sighed. "You're acting like a child." He stated in an almost parent-like tone, obviously not amused with this display of self- punishment. "Do you think that ripping your head off is going to really bring the guitar back?"
"Ripping his head oooooooooooOH sweet merciful god!" The elder Uzuki screamed in horror as the URTV did, indeed, succeed in detaching his head from his body. His head had begun to swim as he fought the temptation to faint. This battle wasn't made any easier when the white-haired guest proceeded to throw his head at his other guest, who nimbly dodged it. This caused the head to land with a hard thump, and the man in the towel quickly crushed it under his foot. "Ex..excuse m.....me....." he struggled to say, attempting to sound polite as he got ready to make a dash to the restroom to throw up.
Instead, he looked in puzzlement as Albedo's head begun to grow back. While it truly didn't do much to calm it down, it was enough to interest him in what was now happening. "How could you have possibly done that?" he stated simply, more to himself than to the guest he currently had.
"I'm God." He told him simply and flatly, not really seeing anything wrong with the statement.
"Huh..okay." Jin replied to the answer he was given. He quickly took Virgil by the arm and, leading him around the corner, pinned him against the side of the other wall. "Okay, enough of this...this BULLSHIT." He told him quietly and, in what he hoped, was a commanding and threatening voice. "I want to know what's going on, and I want to know it right now! I let you two in here last night, being gracious by not really asking any questions, so I think I DO deserve a few answers."
"Well, Albedo is a URTV, a special government weapon made during the Miltian Conflict, and I'm a man who was once killed and was brought back to life as a creature that's half-gnosis and works, basically, as a nullifier if Albedo does something insanely, insanely stupid. Mind letting me down now?" the blond-haired man told him simply.
Jin did such, though grudgingly. The answers themselves really didn't help much at all. "So, you mean to tell me that THAT is a government weapon?" he said, pointing around the corner to Albedo who had seemingly just now discovered the wonders of Jin's fire place and the logs there within. That doesn't mean, of course, he knew yet how to USE the fire place; having tried several other things, including yelling at the logs, he had resorted to slamming a log against another and shouting 'Start, stupid, start!'
"Yeah, he's dumb as hell, isn't he?" Virgil asked, in a way agreeing with their host. "Still....it's the truth."
"Okay then, just one last question." He said, scratching the back of his head. He knew this was pushing it, but he had to know. "Are you two....y'know.....gay?"
"Hell no." Virgil uttered in a low, angry tone.
"Hey, I'm not trying to be crude. In fact, there's nothing wrong with being gay."
"Good. But I'm not."
"So why do you stay with him.......other than the whole making sure he doesn't make a complete and utter ass out of himself thing? Truthfully, there has to be something else there that's kept you with him."
He had to think on that one. What in God's name WAS it that kept him from going and killing that white-haired idiot? True, he was a useful combatant, but his lack of common sense and plain sociopathy and insanity ruled that out.
"Aw, screw it." Albedo cursed to himself and, using his will, set the log ablaze in his hand as the green energy rolled over it. "Success!" he shouted in triumph, lifting it up to the sky.
Still, he had to admit there was some spark there within him that seemed appealing. He really couldn't put his finger on it, but it seemed as if there was a need for.........
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! IT BURNS LIKE.......LIKE FIRE!!!" the URTV screamed out in terror and pain as his hand was engulfed in flames. He began to immediately try to put it out by bashing it against the couch, to which Jin immediately ran in to help him, though it was more out of concern for the couch.
Virgil sighed as he went to help. He knew what it was; he always seemed to need someone there to make sure he didn't get killed.
(The Elsa-Cafeteria)
Junior smiled happily as MOMO giggled, glad that he could make her laugh. He had decided that it would be easier to ask her this in an environment that she was completely comfortable with. He had also asked that he be allowed to be left alone with her when he asked her, and chaos had agreed to help keep people out of the room. Ziggy had as well, though only after a bit of prodding from chaos that everything would be alright. "MOMO?" he asked, his usual overconfidence uncharacteristically diminished, and that showed in his voice.
"Yes Junior?" she said, tilting her head quizzically to the left.
"I was wondering...." He began, tracing his finger along the surface of the table they were sitting at, "well...........I was wondering......would you like to go out on a date with me tomorrow?" he finally got the words out, though he struggled and, at the end, hung his head a little low to hide that his was blushing and the fact that he himself was still a bit shy.
MOMO followed suit, her cheeks brightly ablaze with a gentle blush and her heart beating rapidly. She had expected this, eventually, but not yet. Was she ready for this? Could she do this without seeming like a little child and being able to act in a situation that would seem properly matched with Junior's mature side when it showed up?
While doubt gnawed at her, she found them being counteracted by her usual optimism. While they had, only yesterday, admitted to each other how they felt about each other, perhaps that WOULD be a good time to begin, to show each other they really, seriously, wanted this to work. Her cheeks blushed even brighter at her next thought; maybe they'd get to kiss sooner than she thought.
She lifted her head up, ready to give her response.
(The Elsa-Outside the Cafeteria)
Ziggy, his arms crossed over his chest, tapped his foot in irritation and, in all truth, nervousness. chaos, sensing his distress, smiled slightly. "There's nothing to worry about. Junior would never do anything to hurt her."
"I'm afraid that, this itself, goes against my programming to leave her completely alone with another individual." He replied to the teen simply, not raising his head, which had seemingly become fascinated with looking down at his foot.
"That's a lie, and you know it. You allowed MOMO to go alone to the park and allowed her to be alone with Shion and KOS-MOS." He prodded gently, though not enough to offend his friend.
"A bodyguard always feels more nervous when he's afraid it's the one he's looking after to be the one to actually make the first move." He told him in a dull, plain voice.
chaos was, at first, taken aback, though he didn't show it. In his mind, the last statement came off to him as a joke. While there was the possibility that the cyborg was actually deadly serious, and he'd treat it like that, he decided that deep down he'd treat it like a joke.
(The Elsa-Cafeteria)
"And we'll go to a restaurant together?" the strawberry-haired Realian asked excitedly, smiling, her hands held gently in her loved one's.
The two's original apprehension had turned into enthusiasm and, to some extent, childish excitement. He gave her his usual smile nodding. "Of course! Anything you want to do MOMO, we'll go and do!"
He ment it to. More than anything, he wanted to see the little Realian happy. He himself had been afraid that, at one point, his feelings were totally self-serving, merely a form of want looking to hold on to and latch upon the first thing of interest that came along, wanting to love because that's the way it 'should' be. But something became clear to him now: he didn't matter, SHE did. Just to see her smile was, to him, a gentle kiss.
"Even dancing?" she said more enthusiastically than the rest. That had been something she always had found interest in. It had seemed like something that marked the pinnacle of romance, and she was eager to participate in that herself.
"Sure!" he told her, still grinning though inside his mind was working furiously. He himself had never been dancing, and as to how he'd learn to by whenever they decided to go on a date was beyond him. But one thing was for certain: he WOULD learn. He'd be damned before he came out looking like an idiot, especially in front of her and embarrassing her.
Her smile stayed on her face, though it began to change in a way. Junior himself couldn't quite put his finger on it, though he understood when she closed her eyes and gently stuck out her lips.
She wanted him to kiss her.
Now it was his turn to freeze. He had always considered himself a ladies' man, but he had never once kissed, not even on the cheek. Did he dare take this plunge? He knew that, if he wanted this to last, this moment would be inevitable. But.....now? Right here and now? What if he somehow did it wrong?
'Don't leave her waiting, you idiot!' a voice shouted out in his head.
He knew he shouldn't, other wise she'd get discouraged. And, looking at her, he knew that HE couldn't resist any longer. He gently placed his against hers, surprised by her little gasp though not breaking it. He squeezed her hands a bit tighter, and she did the same, relishing the feeling of their first kiss together. After a moment, they broke the kiss off and, both blushing, smiled.
"I liked that." MOMO said in a gentle voice, shyly though content.
Junior smiled back, not letting her hands go. "I did too."
(The Elsa-Outside the Cafeteria)
chaos was the first to hear the footsteps coming down towards the corridor, though Ziggy was quick to follow suit. Looking at them, you'd think they were both ready for trouble other than just asking someone not to come into the room.
Both relaxed considerably when they remembered where they were due to the fact that the one coming around the corner was KOS-MOS. "Shion said that I would be able to locate you within this area." KOS-MOS stated simply to chaos.
"Yeah." chaos said. He gave her a smile and scratched the back of his head. "We're....well, we're...."
"Shion explained. She has told me of the current situation between Junior and MOMO and the wish for privacy. I acknowledge such a human need as a necessity and, thus, have no desire to alienate such a thing. However, I believe that these are of interest to you." She told chaos in her monotone voice, walking towards him and eventually holding two slender pieces of what appeared to be paper.
"Oh, why thank you." chaos said as he took them from her. His original look of interest turned to one of shock as he saw what they were. "KOS- MOS....." He tried to tell her, unable to believe what was before him. "KOS-MOS, these are-"
"They are what you asked for, are they not?"
He nodded his head lightly. "They......they are, or at least they're some of them. KOS-MOS.........thank you so much."
"You are welcome. I am glad that I could be of service. May I ask one question of them though?"
"You may." He said. He chuckled slightly. "I'd be amazingly ungrateful if I said you couldn't."
"Who is the other boy with you in those photos?" she inquired. While her voice didn't change, she truly WAS interested. She had a feeling that she somehow knew the other boy as well.
She regretted she had asked. When she did, she could see chaos stiffen considerably. Ziggy took notice of well, having looked at the photos over the boy's shoulder. "He's........my brother." The silver-haired young man told her, the usual cheerfulness replaced with a dull, almost monotonous sound, as if telling them of his brother was more of an automatic reaction than one he really cared to think of.
"Affirmative. Thank you." She replied, an odd sensation sweeping over her. She was content to have let her question be asked and answered, but she also felt..........an odd unhappiness. By asking, she had caused chaos some form of pain. If this was a reaction, perhaps it was best if he DIDN'T get the rest of his pictures back. Feeling more uncomfortable by the minute, she left.
(Vector HQ-Outside Wilhelm's Office)
"Well........ready?" Shion asked her companion.
"Might as well get it over with." Allen answered in a sigh.
She nodded and slowly began to outstretch her hand, eventually grabbing ahold of the knob. She began to turn it as if it was a laborious task, the click of the mechanism eventually resounding. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
"Allen, Shion, come in." their boss invited, smiling, an odd feature for him to currently be wearing upon his face.
Looking at each other nervously, the two entered and took a seat. "You wanted to see us sir?" Shion asked first.
"Yes. I'd appreciate it if you two could stay her for awhile. But first, I have a few questions." He told her, handing them both a form. The form looked like this:
QUESTIONNARE FOR VECTOR INDUSTRIES' "THING WHERE I HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOUR ASS" EVENT
1) If you were shot between the eyes at close range with a shotgun, you would: Laugh and retaliate with some sort of super attack Run around screaming Alert the authorities Die
2) If you were stepped on by an elephant, you would: Rip the elephant's leg off Push the elephant's leg off of you Call it bad names and make it cry Die
3) If you were to fall into a pit of spikes, how long would it take for you to lose all your blood?: 5 Seconds 10 Seconds 15 Seconds Long enough to have been able to first alert the authorities
4) Have you told everyone you know about the wonderful products made by VECTOR INDUSTRIES?: Yes No
5) If no, why not?: I'm mentally-retarded (AKA, I work for the creativity, marketing, and managing department(s)) and am thus unaccountable for my actions It slipped my mind and I would repent and do so if given the chance What the hell is Vector? Is it foodable? I wish for a slow painful death at the hands of the god-in-man-form known as Wilhelm
SEE NEXT FORM
"Uh, excuse me sir, but how many forms are there?" Allen asked carefully, hoping he wouldn't be killed right here, right now.
"Twelve." Wilhelm stated simply. "Now, lets talk about your insurance, how many people know you're here, and any surviving family you may have."
(Second Miltia-Jin's Residence)
"Goddamn elements, screwin' with me all the time..." Albedo muttered to himself angrily. He massaged the currently bandaged, severely burnt hand carefully. He'd see that the fireplace would get his in good time. Oh, he'd make sure of that.
"Yes, we all know how that could've happened to anyone." Virgil replied to him bitingly. How stupid could his partner be?
"I've only known you two for a day, and your fighting has already worn my nerves." Jin said unhappily. And he was telling the truth. By now, he didn't care if he sounded rude or not; he wanted them out.
"Hey.......shut your mouth, dingus." The white-haired URTV told his host. "Can YOU play 'C is for Cookie' on an electric guitar?" he sneered. "I thought not!"
"Neither can you."
"SHUT UP VIRGIL!"
"I don't know about 'C is for Cookie'," he said dryly, "but I CAN play a guitar."
"Oh, is that so?" Albedo stated in a mocking tone. "Well then, by all means little Mister McFuckin'Saint, play us a cord! Virgil, give him your guitar!"
Shrugging, knowing his accomplice had nothing better to do than make an ass of himself, Virgil lightly tossed Jin the guitar. He caught it with ease and began to play a few simple cords.
"Oh, well gee, thanks for that amazing display of skill!" he spat out angrily towards his host, still massaging his fire-scared hand.
Jin glared at him. He knew he shouldn't let him get to him, that he shouldn't give in to his mere primal instincts..
But this time he thought it would be fine.
The simple cords began to form into a song, one he had heard long ago but usually replayed in his mind. He knew the name, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", though he couldn't remember the name of the band. Supposed that, if he didn't, they really weren't worth remembering anyway. His fingers sang as they went along the strings of the guitar, the sound filling the room.
"Oh, well that's not to-" the ungrateful guest began.
He was soon cut off, however, as Jin launched into a completely different song. This one was famous among the few guitar players left, it's simple name, "Stairway to Heaven", masking a complex song. The song was played at a perfect pace, the notes coming one after another. That was, until Albedo snatched the guitar with his good hand and bashed it to pieces against the ground.
"Who's got the talent now?!?" he shouted out in anger. "Huh? Who's got it now?!?"
(The Elsa-chaos' Quarters)
"You know that you're always welcome to come to me, Junior." chaos said to his young friend who was sitting across from him on his bed. The boy had already told him that he and MOMO had planned to go on a date (tomorrow, of course, due to their excitement) and that they had shared their first kiss in the cafeteria. He was, in all truth, excited for the two; there was nothing the young man enjoyed more than to see love sprout and then grow.
Junior dangled his legs over the bed nervously, hoping this wouldn't be pushing it too far. "Well, this is going to sound really weird, but......" he began, crossing his fingers that he'd take this well, "well, I already ordered MOMO a dress for the date."
"Within two hours?" chaos said, more surprised than anything. Whatever he did, Junior seemed to usually take it seriously.......well, as seriously as you could while doing it in the least required amount of time.
"Heh, yeah....." Junior said, a little abashed. "Anyways, I had forgot that I have to attend a stockholder's meeting that afternoon, so I won't be able to pick it up when its ready. So, I was wondering-"
"Would I mind picking it up for you?" the teen said, smiling gentle. "No problem at all. I'd be glad to."
"Thanks." Junior sighed out in relief. "I was sort of afraid you'd take offense to me asking."
"Not really." He said, shrugging. "It was a simple enough request and it doesn't really take anything out of my schedule; I had been meaning to take a walk around and get out of the ship for awhile anyway. Still, I'd appreciate it if you'd take more consideration into something before you do it."
Without expecting it, the door to the room opened. "If it would help, I would be glad to accompany you." KOS-MOS said, standing in the doorway.
For a moment, bot the boys were speechless. Finally, chaos said, with a bit of confusion "KOS-MOS?"
"Yes?" she replied to him in her usual monotone voice.
"Were you listening in on us?" he inquired in puzzlement, his brow furrowing. Could she even DO that? He'd have thought that something like that would have violated one of her directives, the one she had stated earlier about privacy.
"I had come to tell you that my continued search for your photographs has, unfortunately, so far proven unsuccessful. I had come to request more possible descriptions of them and, upon getting near the door, my sensors that emulate hearing picked up on your voices. Me hearing your discussion was merely an error due to my programming. I did not leave because I had decided the most polite and logical thing to do would be to wait patiently for you two to finish your discussion."
"'kay......" the red-haired URTV began, irritated that he had been overheard trying to give what he considered a personal request to a friend, "So the reason you just opened the door out of nowhere was because.....?"
"Due to the current pitch and wave of your voices, I had decided that the discussion had come to its end. If I was mistaken, then I apologize and I will have this glitch in my system fixed once Shion returns."
"Eh, it's fine." Junior stated, deciding he might as well let it go. He didn't see any advantage he could possibly possess in an argument against an android. "We're done."
She nodded, showing she understood that she hadn't done anything wrong. "Understood." She turned to chaos. "Do you request me to accompany you?" she asked again.
"Sure." chaos said. He smiled at her, "And..........well, thanks KOS-MOS. I really appreciate this kind of assistance."
"You're welcome." She told him simply. "I will see you when we are ready to go tomorrow then." She stated, her voice unchanging as she left.
"There's been something odd going on in her recently, hasn't there?" Rubedo asked his friend, leaning forward a little on the bed.
The silver-haired youth, though he didn't move, agreed. "Yes, it's become especially obvious. She's beginning to reject some of her programming and progressively becoming more human, though slowly."
"But why? What could cause that?" the red-haired child inquired. While he considered himself a semi-intellectual, he wouldn't pretend to know things he really didn't.
"I think I may know," he began, smiling gently, "but I'm not one to jump to conclusions."
"Unlike me?" he said, smirking playfully.
He chuckled, "Yes, unlike you, I suppose." He turned to him, he's smile the common gentle one, though one that also seemed to contain an odd sense of contentment, as if thinking on something he had wanted awhile. And that said to Junior all he really need to know.
Author's Note: Before you all scream out "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!?", let me explain things. First, school TRULY is a bitch for the most part. One thing that is an especially good example of this is Geometry, which I had to take a lot of time (and tutoring) to really get. Secondly, I do have a life beyond writing fanfics, that being playing videogames. Still, that's inexcusable for how long this took and due to how this didn't live up to the standards (at least in my mind) of the first two chapters. But keep in mind that I AM relatively new to writing romance, and thus, this will (hopefully) get better as it goes on. And it will go on for quite a bit: I have the story planned out for the most part, the current total chapter amount being nine chapters (so there'll be six more chapters). That's another thing that was somewhat a boundary. I had written a whole outline of what I had planned upon completing chapter two. While this seemed like a good idea (and was), more ideas came into my head for things that I wanted to include that I HADN'T put in the outline. Thus, some scenes from my initial outline have been cut, and I plan to incorporate some of the new ideas. More than likely, when I finish this fanfic, I will make a 'special' last chapter that contains the scenes that were cut. Like a DVD special feature for a fanfic that I incorporated to help my self- esteem. As always, I would appreciate reviews. While I'll continue to work on this fanfic regardless of whether or not I get reviews, a kind word always helps for encouragement, as well as being able to see what people actually think (including flames and creative criticism). Finally, under this author's note you will find a Dedication. Perhaps it seems odd to place such a thing at the end of a fanfic, especially a romantic comedy, but I would truly appreciate it if you would read it. I told a friend of mine I planned to do this, and I think it would mean a lot to him (and the person this is for) if I put it here. I had planned to do a dedication in some form, and to me, this seemed the easiest way to do it: writing my feelings at the end of a chapter of my work, and the work I've come to hold most dear and want to finish. As I promised you Kage, this is for Mia.
DEDICATION: I won't claim my memory to be perfect, but I (believe) I joined the Xenosaga Forums in late August, early-mid September. I myself had been a member at other boards before hand, but had never really found much welcome or a place there. It was when I got to the XS Forum that I found myself truly beginning to enjoy a board and its community and feel for it. A big reason for this was of the several friends I had made (especially Miyuki, Bahamut, yoshimitsu, Pyro Kitty, and jessip as the first) who had helped me along. These people began to really touch me, and I found myself caring and thinking about them a good deal of the time. A notable acquaintance was MiaMercury, who was a friend of Miyuki's who I, unfortunately, was never able to really get to know that well. This aside, from what I saw of her, Mia was a kind, compassionate young woman who wasn't afraid to show love, a trait that (I, at least, think) needs to be more predominant among people. She was a sweet, sensitive girl who had several friends and a boyfriend, KageFuuinVugtis, both of whom loved each other dearly. I don't know all the details of what happened, so I can't claim to know what happened to the exact fine points. Because of this, I believe it would be easiest to say this next part bluntly and simply. If this seems cruel, I don't mean it to be, and I ask forgiveness if it is, but it is the easiest way without me trying to make up details and stretching the truth to the point of it being nonsense. When walking home, Mia was abducted and murdered. Was there any real reason other than the obvious fact that the man who did such suffered from some form or another of psychopathy? I don't know, nor do I truly want to. What I do know is the result of this senseless, animalistic action: a sweet girl, who had nothing but love to give, was killed for absolutely no reason or purpose other than for a disillusioned monster who used murder to get his jollies. It is these kinds of people who have helped reverse the flow of society and given into animal-like instincts that ruin the world, and that's a reason I support the death penalty for the most part. But I'm going off onto a subject that doesn't need to be discussed, and I shall return to the true matter at hand. Talking with her friends, seeing the love that was for her at the XS Forum, I regret that I never got to know her. I've become friends with Kage, to whom I apologize this taking so long to be put up and written and, more than likely, being inadequate to honor a wonderful girl like Mia. And why should I honor her? I didn't know her, didn't even really talk to her over the internet. What right do I have to even attempt to honor her? Because she deserves to be honored. Though I've only looked upon a few of her posts and heard of her, her actions of kindness and love speak louder to me than those of many people I have met in real life. To think that such a person, such a pure soul and innocent to be murdered in her young age, is a travesty. Such a thing must be heard, that good people have existed, will continue to exist. And it must be pointed out that that good can be taken from us without any real reason other than plain, crude acts of maliciousness. Since they cannot stay with us forever, we must remember them in any way we can: our hearts, our minds, our memories, and, in my case, through writing. While I know this is nowhere near worthy of being considered an honor to Mia, I tried. I did my best, and quite possibly I failed. But I HAD to talk about her, about this person that I just barely missed meeting, this wonderful person. Some may think it foolishness, but I believe in a Paradise after death. I believe that Mia is there. Even though we didn't share the same religious beliefs, I believe Mia is there. When I get there, should I get there, I want to meet her. I want to talk to her, to get the chance to make up for the fact I was unable to meet such a wonderful person in the primal plain. I want to shake her hand. Though such an honor be far above me and far more than I deserve, I want to get to shake her hand and tell her of the lives she's touched.
And that she continued to touch them after she was gone.
[i]In loving memory of MiaMercury[/i]
Gaignun sighed, his adopted "son" sitting across from his desk in one of the chairs that decorated the room. He wasn't exactly sure as HOW to present this to him, and felt an odd sense of discomfort about him being the one giving him such a speech. In all truth Rubedo was, after all, two years his senior. "Where to begin?" he said quietly, more to himself than anything else.
In truth though, that didn't stop Junior from picking up on it. "How about you don't begin anywhere?" he said casually and, this part quite obvious, in irritation. "I really don't need to go throw a talk about this."
"I think you do, and you will get it." He replied in a commanding voice. He supposed looking older (and being higher up in position) did have quite a few perks. He felt a bit of satisfaction (and, oddly enough, guilt) when the red-haired URTV remained seated, though obviously having to force himself to do so. "Junior, you know just as well as I why we can't really allow this to happen."
"No, I don't." he stated simply and coldly. "Tell me, why CAN'T we? Don't I deserve the same kind of attention as you do?"
He sighed once more. "Junior, please. We all ready have enough curiousity and speculation around you being my 'son'. The last thing we need is for you to start a relationship with someone, as THAT would provide the media a feeding frenzy."
"So what?" Junior said indignantly, though he was able to keep at least a bit of his civility. "We OWN the media, Gaignun. You know that just as well as I do."
"We do. But we can't CONTROL everything they report. You know what people would say about that." He was clutching his hands together hard now, the knuckles turning white. God, why did he have to be so stubborn. "Not only that, but the girl you wish to go out with is a Realian...a prototype 100 series that's modeled after Sakura Mizrahi..."
Junior's eyes bulged slightly, and his mouth contorted into a semi-snarl. "Oh, I see where this is going!"
He knew it would be painful, but Gaignun kept himself on his original course, "who was the daughter of the scientist Joachim Mizrahi."
"You aren't proving anything Gaignun! Not a damn thing!" he shouted in fury. "Why do you seem to think the public will even know who she is?"
'NOW here comes the tricky part..' He thought to himself before replying, "The Miltian Government has already made the announcement that she's with us, as well as having shown a picture provided by Juli Mizrahi."
The 'boy's' mouth hung open for a moment, a slightly comic sight. That was, until his jaw began to quiver with rage. "They..what!"
"Please, Junior, let me finish." He said in exasperation. It was quite obvious that Junior planned to try to get his way by using the childish side of his personality to its full extent. "They announced this to help give evidence to the Federation..."
"WHO ALREADY KNEW WE HAD.."
"Junior!"
Junior, who had gotten out of his chair while he was yelling, grudgingly sat back down. "They gave it as evidence to the Federation to PROVE we were not a threat but were, in fact, AIDING there cause by having secured an object that was acquired by the U-TIC. This testimony, as well as one provided by Vector Industries who was present at the time, has given us safe guard from the Federation and caused them to drop all charges."
"Why'd you call her that?"
"Why'd I call who what?"
"An object." He said flatly. While he seemed impassive, Gaignun could tell by his thoughts (which Junior was, once again, being careless not to safe guard against him) he was near the verge of going on a verbal rampage. "You addressed MOMO as an object." He clenched his hands just as hard as Gaignun had clenched his. "I take the greatest offense to that."
Gaignun had found that he'd been sighing quite a bit recently, and thought nothing of adding another to the list. "You know what I mean, Junior."
He paused for a moment, and than Gaignun saw with great relief that he was loosening up. He was surprised, however, by the amount of sadness that came with what Junior said next. "It's not fair..."
His eyes softened just a bit as he looked at the 'boy' that was actually his senior, at least age wise. "No...it's not fair."
Gaignun began to grow increasingly alarmed as Junior's chest heaved gently, trying to keep himself from sobbing. It was, in all truth, one of the few moments were he had seen the URTV in a position that could be described as vulnerability. "You..you're attractive to girls. I'm not." The red-haired boy stated, his voice cracking under the stress of keeping himself from crying. "When they see me, they don't see the real me...you see? All they see is a cute little boy, and that's ALL they ever see me as. But..that's NOT what I want to be seen as. I want to be seen as who I really am, and most the people here refuse to acknowledge me for what I am. But than I find someone who does, and I can't be with her." He managed a small snicker as a few tears gently rolled down his cheeks. "This kind of situation hurts like a bitch, I can tell you."
"Rubedo..." he said gently. It was only in very precarious situations that Gaignun would find himself referring to his friend by his given name. He slowly approached him and put his arm on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes. While he loved his friend (who, was in truth, could be considered a brother), he knew that he could, when he wanted to, be manipulative and sly. This could be a trick to merely get his way, and to even read Rubedo's mind at this time could be quite tricky. However, his eyes were a different story. He had found that he could almost see the boy's spirit within his very eyes.
And he, to his relief, found honesty in them at this time, the playful light that could be commonly found there dub-downed some by the moistness that had come. He gave off another sigh (and decided it could, perhaps, become his trademark) and told his friend "Listen...I'm willing to make a deal with you." Rubedo looked at him gently, obviously ready to listen. "Here's what I'll do: you CAN pursue this relationship....but you have to PROMISE me you'll be responsible about it. Can you promise me that?"
Rubedo wiped his eyes with his sleeve and gave off one last sniff, a gesture that would be considered quite common of a child who's mentality was similar to that of his physical appearance. He nodded slightly before stating "Yeah...yeah, I can do that easy."
"And I have your utmost trust on this?"
"Yes. I'll give you my word right here and now, and that's something I don't give lightly."
Gaignun pondered this over for a minute before finally stating "Then you have my blessing."
(The Elsa-Shion's Room)
"It's sort of hard to explain, and I don't expect you to understand..." Shion started off, sitting on her bed crossed legged.
"That's a nice way to start off." Allen replied, sitting on a chair across from her. He had always wanted to be in a bedroom alone with Shion, though granted, under different circumstances. He had his arms propped up on the head of the chair, sitting on it backwards.
Shion smiled, quite a bit nervous to tell the truth. "Well...it's not everyday I have to tell someone my feelings about another girl and her crush on someone."
It had only been a few minutes ago when MOMO, happy as could be, went and found Shion to tell her of everything that had happened. Within the short time they had been together, the young Realian had looked towards the female scientist as an older sister. To her, it had made perfect sense that she (after Ziggy) should be the first one to find out how well everything had gone.
And, surprisingly, that was the problem for Shion.
"I never had a sister." She began. "Not even a younger sibling. Of course, I had an older brother, but he was...well...let's just say he didn't fit the mold of the regular older brother very well." She proclaimed with a short, slight chuckle. "I mean, he took care of me and was loving, of course...but.." she sighed; like so many other things from her past, she hated to think of this. "Both my parents died during the Miltian Conflict." She stated flatly.
"Chief, I'm..." he began, apologeticly, before she stopped him.
"Please, let me continue." She said. "My brother was determined to keep us together...and he forced himself to grow up rapidly. He worked several odd jobs, so I barely ever saw him. When I reached fifteen, I started working too, though he told me he didn't want me to." She told him this with a gentle, wry smile crossing her lips, holding both a warm sense of nostalgia and, to a minor extent, sibling rivalry. "In fact, he wouldn't let me use my OWN money, that I had EARNED, to go to college. He paid for it himself."
He smiled, thinking he understood. "He took the role of both parent and brother upon himself."
She nodded. "Exactly..and it irritated me to no end." She sighed, and her eyes gained a bit of unhappiness. "When I left...he became more distant to the world, as if he was trying to totally forsake it. He'd live within the world of the books he read, usually only going out when he found it necessary. He immersed himself in a world of fantasy, chivalry, and sword- play, studying kendo as often as possible when he had free time."
"Chief, I know this means a lot to you.." Allen stated. He knew this was going to run the gauntlet of possibly sounding cruel, but he thought it would possibly be best for him to get Shion back on track. "But where exactly is this going with the situation with MOMO?"
Shion scratched the back of her head gently as she continued. "Well, I know how a sibling is to act, per se, but not exactly an older sibling because my own was so.."
"Unnatural?"
She nodded. "That may be one of the best ways to put it, yes." The scientist replied. "I want to try to teach her everything about growing up. I know it sounds stupid, considering she can't grow up physically, but mentally...I think THAT'S where she'll continue to grow. I want to get her to know everything she needs to; proper manners, schooling, necessities, plain growing up..including boys." She told him this last part looking down at her feet, as if the mention of it even made her nervous.
He tilted his head quizzically slightly. The Chief was, more often than not, usually well spoken and unnervous. But this topic... "What's wrong, Chief? You've had a boyfriend before.."
"Well, that can be put with the over-used phrase 'yes' and 'no'." the Chief told him, still looking at her feet and a bit nervous. "I loved Kevin....well, maybe 'had a crush on' would be more well-put..., but it was sort of one sided. And when I was a kid, boys generally didn't like me." She began to smile wryly again. "And those who did usually got chased off."
"By your brother?"
"He took the idea of the over-protective brother and also mixed it with the paternal instincts of the over-protective father. This was....not a pretty sight." She began to giggle lightly, as if she had fond memories of this as well, and than stopped and sighed. "But no, I've never had a real boyfriend. I doubt I ever will."
He was shocked. How could the Chief say that about herself? She was, easily, the most wonderful person he had ever met. He got up from the chair he had been sitting on and sat down beside her. "C'mon Chief, don't be like that. You're a wonderful person, much better than a lot of other girls there are. You're smart, attractive, funny, eager....a little over eager, but still....and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot and can burn in hell for all you or anyone else should care!"
Shion looked over her shoulder at him, and he was surprised what he saw. The usually strong expression she wore was now replaced with a look of utter vulnerability. She had, reminiscing on the past, gotten herself upset. "You think so?" she said in a voice he had only heard one time before, that being when Junior had taken them to the beach and showed them the weather simulation, and her ending up cowering due to the sound of thunder.
"I know so." He said, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder. He found himself, instead, falling face-first onto the place where Shion had been sitting just a moment before, due to the fact that she was no longer there. Allen's attempt at chivalry had, unfortunately for him, been dashed when the e-mail function of the UMN screen next to the bed rang. Shion immediately going towards it and her previous vulnerability seemingly having disappeared quickly, the prospect of getting a new e-mail more comforting than what he had been able to do.
Originally excited, Shion's mood began to change back as she continued to read the e-mail. After she finished, she sighed and placed one of her hands on her forehead.
"Chief, what's wrong?" Allen asked, a little perturbed with what had just happened, but still wanting to make sure everything was all right.
"Wilhelm." she said in exasperation. While she admired her employer for his intelligence and cunning that had led to his position, he was a bit...eccentric, especially when it came to many of his people skills. "He wants to see us."
Allen shuddered slightly. "Oh God...do you remember the last meeting between him and employees?"
"Yes." She said, partially in a sigh. "They were picking bits of flesh and cloth out of the walls for days."
(Miltia-Jin Uzuki's Residence)
"WHERE THE HELL IS IT?!?" the white-haired URTV shouted in fury before throwing one of the folding chairs out a window, the sound of smashing glass and splitting wood accompanying it.
Jin Uzuki sighed in frustration. His current...guests weren't especially well mannered, tempered...or even that good at taking care of THEMSELVES. "Care to explain why you just did that, Albedo?" he asked, trying to hide his irritation.
"You know why I had to do that!"
"No, why DID you have to do that?" his second guest, the man in the blue robes, said. This one, however, had just finished showering and currently only had a towel around his waist, as well as a cup of coffee that Jin could only assumed he had stolen from his pantry.
"My guitar is missing." Albedo said in snorting wheezes of anger. "And if I don't find it, oh, well there'll be hell to pay!"
"Have you looked in the waste disposal unit?" Virgil asked.
"Why would I look there?"
He smirked as he brought the coffee cup to his lips. "That's where things that usually annoy me end up."
"You didn't..." Jin said, jaw agape. Surely his guests weren't so stupid as to go and ruin such an oddity (That was, to him, precious) by shoving an instrument down it.
"YOU BASTARD!!!" Albedo screamed in fury. His hands went up to his head and began to tug viciously on it, as if he was trying to unscrew it.
"..............What is he doing?" Jin asked, his surprised anger having turned to odd amusement and puzzlement.
Virgil just sighed. "You're acting like a child." He stated in an almost parent-like tone, obviously not amused with this display of self- punishment. "Do you think that ripping your head off is going to really bring the guitar back?"
"Ripping his head oooooooooooOH sweet merciful god!" The elder Uzuki screamed in horror as the URTV did, indeed, succeed in detaching his head from his body. His head had begun to swim as he fought the temptation to faint. This battle wasn't made any easier when the white-haired guest proceeded to throw his head at his other guest, who nimbly dodged it. This caused the head to land with a hard thump, and the man in the towel quickly crushed it under his foot. "Ex..excuse m.....me....." he struggled to say, attempting to sound polite as he got ready to make a dash to the restroom to throw up.
Instead, he looked in puzzlement as Albedo's head begun to grow back. While it truly didn't do much to calm it down, it was enough to interest him in what was now happening. "How could you have possibly done that?" he stated simply, more to himself than to the guest he currently had.
"I'm God." He told him simply and flatly, not really seeing anything wrong with the statement.
"Huh..okay." Jin replied to the answer he was given. He quickly took Virgil by the arm and, leading him around the corner, pinned him against the side of the other wall. "Okay, enough of this...this BULLSHIT." He told him quietly and, in what he hoped, was a commanding and threatening voice. "I want to know what's going on, and I want to know it right now! I let you two in here last night, being gracious by not really asking any questions, so I think I DO deserve a few answers."
"Well, Albedo is a URTV, a special government weapon made during the Miltian Conflict, and I'm a man who was once killed and was brought back to life as a creature that's half-gnosis and works, basically, as a nullifier if Albedo does something insanely, insanely stupid. Mind letting me down now?" the blond-haired man told him simply.
Jin did such, though grudgingly. The answers themselves really didn't help much at all. "So, you mean to tell me that THAT is a government weapon?" he said, pointing around the corner to Albedo who had seemingly just now discovered the wonders of Jin's fire place and the logs there within. That doesn't mean, of course, he knew yet how to USE the fire place; having tried several other things, including yelling at the logs, he had resorted to slamming a log against another and shouting 'Start, stupid, start!'
"Yeah, he's dumb as hell, isn't he?" Virgil asked, in a way agreeing with their host. "Still....it's the truth."
"Okay then, just one last question." He said, scratching the back of his head. He knew this was pushing it, but he had to know. "Are you two....y'know.....gay?"
"Hell no." Virgil uttered in a low, angry tone.
"Hey, I'm not trying to be crude. In fact, there's nothing wrong with being gay."
"Good. But I'm not."
"So why do you stay with him.......other than the whole making sure he doesn't make a complete and utter ass out of himself thing? Truthfully, there has to be something else there that's kept you with him."
He had to think on that one. What in God's name WAS it that kept him from going and killing that white-haired idiot? True, he was a useful combatant, but his lack of common sense and plain sociopathy and insanity ruled that out.
"Aw, screw it." Albedo cursed to himself and, using his will, set the log ablaze in his hand as the green energy rolled over it. "Success!" he shouted in triumph, lifting it up to the sky.
Still, he had to admit there was some spark there within him that seemed appealing. He really couldn't put his finger on it, but it seemed as if there was a need for.........
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! IT BURNS LIKE.......LIKE FIRE!!!" the URTV screamed out in terror and pain as his hand was engulfed in flames. He began to immediately try to put it out by bashing it against the couch, to which Jin immediately ran in to help him, though it was more out of concern for the couch.
Virgil sighed as he went to help. He knew what it was; he always seemed to need someone there to make sure he didn't get killed.
(The Elsa-Cafeteria)
Junior smiled happily as MOMO giggled, glad that he could make her laugh. He had decided that it would be easier to ask her this in an environment that she was completely comfortable with. He had also asked that he be allowed to be left alone with her when he asked her, and chaos had agreed to help keep people out of the room. Ziggy had as well, though only after a bit of prodding from chaos that everything would be alright. "MOMO?" he asked, his usual overconfidence uncharacteristically diminished, and that showed in his voice.
"Yes Junior?" she said, tilting her head quizzically to the left.
"I was wondering...." He began, tracing his finger along the surface of the table they were sitting at, "well...........I was wondering......would you like to go out on a date with me tomorrow?" he finally got the words out, though he struggled and, at the end, hung his head a little low to hide that his was blushing and the fact that he himself was still a bit shy.
MOMO followed suit, her cheeks brightly ablaze with a gentle blush and her heart beating rapidly. She had expected this, eventually, but not yet. Was she ready for this? Could she do this without seeming like a little child and being able to act in a situation that would seem properly matched with Junior's mature side when it showed up?
While doubt gnawed at her, she found them being counteracted by her usual optimism. While they had, only yesterday, admitted to each other how they felt about each other, perhaps that WOULD be a good time to begin, to show each other they really, seriously, wanted this to work. Her cheeks blushed even brighter at her next thought; maybe they'd get to kiss sooner than she thought.
She lifted her head up, ready to give her response.
(The Elsa-Outside the Cafeteria)
Ziggy, his arms crossed over his chest, tapped his foot in irritation and, in all truth, nervousness. chaos, sensing his distress, smiled slightly. "There's nothing to worry about. Junior would never do anything to hurt her."
"I'm afraid that, this itself, goes against my programming to leave her completely alone with another individual." He replied to the teen simply, not raising his head, which had seemingly become fascinated with looking down at his foot.
"That's a lie, and you know it. You allowed MOMO to go alone to the park and allowed her to be alone with Shion and KOS-MOS." He prodded gently, though not enough to offend his friend.
"A bodyguard always feels more nervous when he's afraid it's the one he's looking after to be the one to actually make the first move." He told him in a dull, plain voice.
chaos was, at first, taken aback, though he didn't show it. In his mind, the last statement came off to him as a joke. While there was the possibility that the cyborg was actually deadly serious, and he'd treat it like that, he decided that deep down he'd treat it like a joke.
(The Elsa-Cafeteria)
"And we'll go to a restaurant together?" the strawberry-haired Realian asked excitedly, smiling, her hands held gently in her loved one's.
The two's original apprehension had turned into enthusiasm and, to some extent, childish excitement. He gave her his usual smile nodding. "Of course! Anything you want to do MOMO, we'll go and do!"
He ment it to. More than anything, he wanted to see the little Realian happy. He himself had been afraid that, at one point, his feelings were totally self-serving, merely a form of want looking to hold on to and latch upon the first thing of interest that came along, wanting to love because that's the way it 'should' be. But something became clear to him now: he didn't matter, SHE did. Just to see her smile was, to him, a gentle kiss.
"Even dancing?" she said more enthusiastically than the rest. That had been something she always had found interest in. It had seemed like something that marked the pinnacle of romance, and she was eager to participate in that herself.
"Sure!" he told her, still grinning though inside his mind was working furiously. He himself had never been dancing, and as to how he'd learn to by whenever they decided to go on a date was beyond him. But one thing was for certain: he WOULD learn. He'd be damned before he came out looking like an idiot, especially in front of her and embarrassing her.
Her smile stayed on her face, though it began to change in a way. Junior himself couldn't quite put his finger on it, though he understood when she closed her eyes and gently stuck out her lips.
She wanted him to kiss her.
Now it was his turn to freeze. He had always considered himself a ladies' man, but he had never once kissed, not even on the cheek. Did he dare take this plunge? He knew that, if he wanted this to last, this moment would be inevitable. But.....now? Right here and now? What if he somehow did it wrong?
'Don't leave her waiting, you idiot!' a voice shouted out in his head.
He knew he shouldn't, other wise she'd get discouraged. And, looking at her, he knew that HE couldn't resist any longer. He gently placed his against hers, surprised by her little gasp though not breaking it. He squeezed her hands a bit tighter, and she did the same, relishing the feeling of their first kiss together. After a moment, they broke the kiss off and, both blushing, smiled.
"I liked that." MOMO said in a gentle voice, shyly though content.
Junior smiled back, not letting her hands go. "I did too."
(The Elsa-Outside the Cafeteria)
chaos was the first to hear the footsteps coming down towards the corridor, though Ziggy was quick to follow suit. Looking at them, you'd think they were both ready for trouble other than just asking someone not to come into the room.
Both relaxed considerably when they remembered where they were due to the fact that the one coming around the corner was KOS-MOS. "Shion said that I would be able to locate you within this area." KOS-MOS stated simply to chaos.
"Yeah." chaos said. He gave her a smile and scratched the back of his head. "We're....well, we're...."
"Shion explained. She has told me of the current situation between Junior and MOMO and the wish for privacy. I acknowledge such a human need as a necessity and, thus, have no desire to alienate such a thing. However, I believe that these are of interest to you." She told chaos in her monotone voice, walking towards him and eventually holding two slender pieces of what appeared to be paper.
"Oh, why thank you." chaos said as he took them from her. His original look of interest turned to one of shock as he saw what they were. "KOS- MOS....." He tried to tell her, unable to believe what was before him. "KOS-MOS, these are-"
"They are what you asked for, are they not?"
He nodded his head lightly. "They......they are, or at least they're some of them. KOS-MOS.........thank you so much."
"You are welcome. I am glad that I could be of service. May I ask one question of them though?"
"You may." He said. He chuckled slightly. "I'd be amazingly ungrateful if I said you couldn't."
"Who is the other boy with you in those photos?" she inquired. While her voice didn't change, she truly WAS interested. She had a feeling that she somehow knew the other boy as well.
She regretted she had asked. When she did, she could see chaos stiffen considerably. Ziggy took notice of well, having looked at the photos over the boy's shoulder. "He's........my brother." The silver-haired young man told her, the usual cheerfulness replaced with a dull, almost monotonous sound, as if telling them of his brother was more of an automatic reaction than one he really cared to think of.
"Affirmative. Thank you." She replied, an odd sensation sweeping over her. She was content to have let her question be asked and answered, but she also felt..........an odd unhappiness. By asking, she had caused chaos some form of pain. If this was a reaction, perhaps it was best if he DIDN'T get the rest of his pictures back. Feeling more uncomfortable by the minute, she left.
(Vector HQ-Outside Wilhelm's Office)
"Well........ready?" Shion asked her companion.
"Might as well get it over with." Allen answered in a sigh.
She nodded and slowly began to outstretch her hand, eventually grabbing ahold of the knob. She began to turn it as if it was a laborious task, the click of the mechanism eventually resounding. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
"Allen, Shion, come in." their boss invited, smiling, an odd feature for him to currently be wearing upon his face.
Looking at each other nervously, the two entered and took a seat. "You wanted to see us sir?" Shion asked first.
"Yes. I'd appreciate it if you two could stay her for awhile. But first, I have a few questions." He told her, handing them both a form. The form looked like this:
QUESTIONNARE FOR VECTOR INDUSTRIES' "THING WHERE I HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOUR ASS" EVENT
1) If you were shot between the eyes at close range with a shotgun, you would: Laugh and retaliate with some sort of super attack Run around screaming Alert the authorities Die
2) If you were stepped on by an elephant, you would: Rip the elephant's leg off Push the elephant's leg off of you Call it bad names and make it cry Die
3) If you were to fall into a pit of spikes, how long would it take for you to lose all your blood?: 5 Seconds 10 Seconds 15 Seconds Long enough to have been able to first alert the authorities
4) Have you told everyone you know about the wonderful products made by VECTOR INDUSTRIES?: Yes No
5) If no, why not?: I'm mentally-retarded (AKA, I work for the creativity, marketing, and managing department(s)) and am thus unaccountable for my actions It slipped my mind and I would repent and do so if given the chance What the hell is Vector? Is it foodable? I wish for a slow painful death at the hands of the god-in-man-form known as Wilhelm
SEE NEXT FORM
"Uh, excuse me sir, but how many forms are there?" Allen asked carefully, hoping he wouldn't be killed right here, right now.
"Twelve." Wilhelm stated simply. "Now, lets talk about your insurance, how many people know you're here, and any surviving family you may have."
(Second Miltia-Jin's Residence)
"Goddamn elements, screwin' with me all the time..." Albedo muttered to himself angrily. He massaged the currently bandaged, severely burnt hand carefully. He'd see that the fireplace would get his in good time. Oh, he'd make sure of that.
"Yes, we all know how that could've happened to anyone." Virgil replied to him bitingly. How stupid could his partner be?
"I've only known you two for a day, and your fighting has already worn my nerves." Jin said unhappily. And he was telling the truth. By now, he didn't care if he sounded rude or not; he wanted them out.
"Hey.......shut your mouth, dingus." The white-haired URTV told his host. "Can YOU play 'C is for Cookie' on an electric guitar?" he sneered. "I thought not!"
"Neither can you."
"SHUT UP VIRGIL!"
"I don't know about 'C is for Cookie'," he said dryly, "but I CAN play a guitar."
"Oh, is that so?" Albedo stated in a mocking tone. "Well then, by all means little Mister McFuckin'Saint, play us a cord! Virgil, give him your guitar!"
Shrugging, knowing his accomplice had nothing better to do than make an ass of himself, Virgil lightly tossed Jin the guitar. He caught it with ease and began to play a few simple cords.
"Oh, well gee, thanks for that amazing display of skill!" he spat out angrily towards his host, still massaging his fire-scared hand.
Jin glared at him. He knew he shouldn't let him get to him, that he shouldn't give in to his mere primal instincts..
But this time he thought it would be fine.
The simple cords began to form into a song, one he had heard long ago but usually replayed in his mind. He knew the name, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", though he couldn't remember the name of the band. Supposed that, if he didn't, they really weren't worth remembering anyway. His fingers sang as they went along the strings of the guitar, the sound filling the room.
"Oh, well that's not to-" the ungrateful guest began.
He was soon cut off, however, as Jin launched into a completely different song. This one was famous among the few guitar players left, it's simple name, "Stairway to Heaven", masking a complex song. The song was played at a perfect pace, the notes coming one after another. That was, until Albedo snatched the guitar with his good hand and bashed it to pieces against the ground.
"Who's got the talent now?!?" he shouted out in anger. "Huh? Who's got it now?!?"
(The Elsa-chaos' Quarters)
"You know that you're always welcome to come to me, Junior." chaos said to his young friend who was sitting across from him on his bed. The boy had already told him that he and MOMO had planned to go on a date (tomorrow, of course, due to their excitement) and that they had shared their first kiss in the cafeteria. He was, in all truth, excited for the two; there was nothing the young man enjoyed more than to see love sprout and then grow.
Junior dangled his legs over the bed nervously, hoping this wouldn't be pushing it too far. "Well, this is going to sound really weird, but......" he began, crossing his fingers that he'd take this well, "well, I already ordered MOMO a dress for the date."
"Within two hours?" chaos said, more surprised than anything. Whatever he did, Junior seemed to usually take it seriously.......well, as seriously as you could while doing it in the least required amount of time.
"Heh, yeah....." Junior said, a little abashed. "Anyways, I had forgot that I have to attend a stockholder's meeting that afternoon, so I won't be able to pick it up when its ready. So, I was wondering-"
"Would I mind picking it up for you?" the teen said, smiling gentle. "No problem at all. I'd be glad to."
"Thanks." Junior sighed out in relief. "I was sort of afraid you'd take offense to me asking."
"Not really." He said, shrugging. "It was a simple enough request and it doesn't really take anything out of my schedule; I had been meaning to take a walk around and get out of the ship for awhile anyway. Still, I'd appreciate it if you'd take more consideration into something before you do it."
Without expecting it, the door to the room opened. "If it would help, I would be glad to accompany you." KOS-MOS said, standing in the doorway.
For a moment, bot the boys were speechless. Finally, chaos said, with a bit of confusion "KOS-MOS?"
"Yes?" she replied to him in her usual monotone voice.
"Were you listening in on us?" he inquired in puzzlement, his brow furrowing. Could she even DO that? He'd have thought that something like that would have violated one of her directives, the one she had stated earlier about privacy.
"I had come to tell you that my continued search for your photographs has, unfortunately, so far proven unsuccessful. I had come to request more possible descriptions of them and, upon getting near the door, my sensors that emulate hearing picked up on your voices. Me hearing your discussion was merely an error due to my programming. I did not leave because I had decided the most polite and logical thing to do would be to wait patiently for you two to finish your discussion."
"'kay......" the red-haired URTV began, irritated that he had been overheard trying to give what he considered a personal request to a friend, "So the reason you just opened the door out of nowhere was because.....?"
"Due to the current pitch and wave of your voices, I had decided that the discussion had come to its end. If I was mistaken, then I apologize and I will have this glitch in my system fixed once Shion returns."
"Eh, it's fine." Junior stated, deciding he might as well let it go. He didn't see any advantage he could possibly possess in an argument against an android. "We're done."
She nodded, showing she understood that she hadn't done anything wrong. "Understood." She turned to chaos. "Do you request me to accompany you?" she asked again.
"Sure." chaos said. He smiled at her, "And..........well, thanks KOS-MOS. I really appreciate this kind of assistance."
"You're welcome." She told him simply. "I will see you when we are ready to go tomorrow then." She stated, her voice unchanging as she left.
"There's been something odd going on in her recently, hasn't there?" Rubedo asked his friend, leaning forward a little on the bed.
The silver-haired youth, though he didn't move, agreed. "Yes, it's become especially obvious. She's beginning to reject some of her programming and progressively becoming more human, though slowly."
"But why? What could cause that?" the red-haired child inquired. While he considered himself a semi-intellectual, he wouldn't pretend to know things he really didn't.
"I think I may know," he began, smiling gently, "but I'm not one to jump to conclusions."
"Unlike me?" he said, smirking playfully.
He chuckled, "Yes, unlike you, I suppose." He turned to him, he's smile the common gentle one, though one that also seemed to contain an odd sense of contentment, as if thinking on something he had wanted awhile. And that said to Junior all he really need to know.
Author's Note: Before you all scream out "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!?", let me explain things. First, school TRULY is a bitch for the most part. One thing that is an especially good example of this is Geometry, which I had to take a lot of time (and tutoring) to really get. Secondly, I do have a life beyond writing fanfics, that being playing videogames. Still, that's inexcusable for how long this took and due to how this didn't live up to the standards (at least in my mind) of the first two chapters. But keep in mind that I AM relatively new to writing romance, and thus, this will (hopefully) get better as it goes on. And it will go on for quite a bit: I have the story planned out for the most part, the current total chapter amount being nine chapters (so there'll be six more chapters). That's another thing that was somewhat a boundary. I had written a whole outline of what I had planned upon completing chapter two. While this seemed like a good idea (and was), more ideas came into my head for things that I wanted to include that I HADN'T put in the outline. Thus, some scenes from my initial outline have been cut, and I plan to incorporate some of the new ideas. More than likely, when I finish this fanfic, I will make a 'special' last chapter that contains the scenes that were cut. Like a DVD special feature for a fanfic that I incorporated to help my self- esteem. As always, I would appreciate reviews. While I'll continue to work on this fanfic regardless of whether or not I get reviews, a kind word always helps for encouragement, as well as being able to see what people actually think (including flames and creative criticism). Finally, under this author's note you will find a Dedication. Perhaps it seems odd to place such a thing at the end of a fanfic, especially a romantic comedy, but I would truly appreciate it if you would read it. I told a friend of mine I planned to do this, and I think it would mean a lot to him (and the person this is for) if I put it here. I had planned to do a dedication in some form, and to me, this seemed the easiest way to do it: writing my feelings at the end of a chapter of my work, and the work I've come to hold most dear and want to finish. As I promised you Kage, this is for Mia.
DEDICATION: I won't claim my memory to be perfect, but I (believe) I joined the Xenosaga Forums in late August, early-mid September. I myself had been a member at other boards before hand, but had never really found much welcome or a place there. It was when I got to the XS Forum that I found myself truly beginning to enjoy a board and its community and feel for it. A big reason for this was of the several friends I had made (especially Miyuki, Bahamut, yoshimitsu, Pyro Kitty, and jessip as the first) who had helped me along. These people began to really touch me, and I found myself caring and thinking about them a good deal of the time. A notable acquaintance was MiaMercury, who was a friend of Miyuki's who I, unfortunately, was never able to really get to know that well. This aside, from what I saw of her, Mia was a kind, compassionate young woman who wasn't afraid to show love, a trait that (I, at least, think) needs to be more predominant among people. She was a sweet, sensitive girl who had several friends and a boyfriend, KageFuuinVugtis, both of whom loved each other dearly. I don't know all the details of what happened, so I can't claim to know what happened to the exact fine points. Because of this, I believe it would be easiest to say this next part bluntly and simply. If this seems cruel, I don't mean it to be, and I ask forgiveness if it is, but it is the easiest way without me trying to make up details and stretching the truth to the point of it being nonsense. When walking home, Mia was abducted and murdered. Was there any real reason other than the obvious fact that the man who did such suffered from some form or another of psychopathy? I don't know, nor do I truly want to. What I do know is the result of this senseless, animalistic action: a sweet girl, who had nothing but love to give, was killed for absolutely no reason or purpose other than for a disillusioned monster who used murder to get his jollies. It is these kinds of people who have helped reverse the flow of society and given into animal-like instincts that ruin the world, and that's a reason I support the death penalty for the most part. But I'm going off onto a subject that doesn't need to be discussed, and I shall return to the true matter at hand. Talking with her friends, seeing the love that was for her at the XS Forum, I regret that I never got to know her. I've become friends with Kage, to whom I apologize this taking so long to be put up and written and, more than likely, being inadequate to honor a wonderful girl like Mia. And why should I honor her? I didn't know her, didn't even really talk to her over the internet. What right do I have to even attempt to honor her? Because she deserves to be honored. Though I've only looked upon a few of her posts and heard of her, her actions of kindness and love speak louder to me than those of many people I have met in real life. To think that such a person, such a pure soul and innocent to be murdered in her young age, is a travesty. Such a thing must be heard, that good people have existed, will continue to exist. And it must be pointed out that that good can be taken from us without any real reason other than plain, crude acts of maliciousness. Since they cannot stay with us forever, we must remember them in any way we can: our hearts, our minds, our memories, and, in my case, through writing. While I know this is nowhere near worthy of being considered an honor to Mia, I tried. I did my best, and quite possibly I failed. But I HAD to talk about her, about this person that I just barely missed meeting, this wonderful person. Some may think it foolishness, but I believe in a Paradise after death. I believe that Mia is there. Even though we didn't share the same religious beliefs, I believe Mia is there. When I get there, should I get there, I want to meet her. I want to talk to her, to get the chance to make up for the fact I was unable to meet such a wonderful person in the primal plain. I want to shake her hand. Though such an honor be far above me and far more than I deserve, I want to get to shake her hand and tell her of the lives she's touched.
And that she continued to touch them after she was gone.
[i]In loving memory of MiaMercury[/i]