Chapter 15
Swathed in heaven's misty clouds
Awashed in hell-borne fires
A mountain wrapped within a shroud
Of mystery, dark and dire
As usual during this time of day, the cylindrical building that served as a cafeteria was packed with students from the university and the occational passerby who was suckered into thinking that here was actually a favorable place to dine. The crashing of waves on the outside was muted by the strong granite walls and further masked by numerous laughing conversations. Some people talked about what guy/girl they were currently seeing, some talked about how they plan to fail which course, and others actually used this time for eating.
"There's Rotan." Japas mentioned casually when he and Mikau were searching for a place to sit. Mikau grimaced for a moment, but didn't let Japas see. Rotan was in the same place as he was yesterday, chewing away at a bone of some sort. Perhaps three other Zoras sat near him who looked like they were in the same crowd. No one else sat near them; the way they look and the way they act repelled people more effectively than water repells fire.
"Yo, Rotan!" Japas called out. Mikau hissed slightly. He had wanted a quiet spot to talk to Japas for a while, but as Japas drew up a seat beside the punk Zora, Mikau had no choice but to sit alongside his friend.
"Japas." Rotan said, looking up. The Zoras sitting around him also looked up with interest. One of them smiled, revealing a chipped tooth. "This is Famis, Marr, and Crazon." Rotan pointed to a Zora each time he mentioned a name, and they all nodded in acknowledgement. Then they all went back to talking to each other again. Mikau only heard snatches of their hushed conversation, but he didn't like what he heard.
Mikau noticed that all of Rotan's friends had injury marks on their body. On closer examination, the scars on the Zora's left arms resembled each other, although some of them were distorted by newer wounds. Mikau swallowed his food without tasting it. Rotan and his friends were a gang. Those markings their arms are some sort of symbol indicating that they belong to the same group. Mikau's parents had warned him on the presence of gangs in university, but seeing a real one made buried fears emerge. Japas, on the other hand, didn't seem the least disturbed by Rotan, and was even beginning to warm up to them. Mikau itched to get away.
His chance came when he caught sight of Tijo in the cafeteria with Evans in tow. "Hey Japas, do you mind if I go with Evans and Tijo?" Mikau asked discreetly. "There's not enough empty seats here. You can come with us if you like..." Mikau was never very good at manipulation but he wanted his friend away from these hoodlums.
"Nah." Came the reply. "I'll be able to see you guys at Singing and after classes. I only get to see Rotan now." Japas never even turned around as he said that. Mikau walked away, rejected.
Tijo spotted his roommate and waved. Evans found a trio of seats in preperation for Mikau's arrival. But when the Zorian Hero sat down between his friends, he suddenly found himself in the midst of a heated debate.
"How can you not see the relationship between hyperboles and ellipses??" Tijo fumed, striking his hand against against the table for emphasis. Lunch items bounced from the shock. "All you have to do is picture it in you head!"
"Oh, I can picture it, all right." Evans said hautily. He had his arms crossed and chin raised, staring down his non-existant nose at Tijo. "It's just that the concept of hyperboles being flipped ellipses is, though theoretically possible, impossible."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Mikau held up his hands in self defence. "Just what is going on here? Guys, break it up! What the heck are you talking about anyways?"
Evans pointed an accusing finger at Tijo. "Tijo insists that it's possible for hyperboles to be flipped and return to their orgin. No one said anything about this in Calculations class but superior Bottom-feeder here has a deeper comprehention than a lowly Sleek like me..."
"I never said that!" Tijo rebutted. "And don't bring your race into this!"
"Stop it, both of you!" Mikau shouted, surprising Evans and Tijo into silence. He put his hands over his ears and glared at the arguing Zoras. "The two of you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. How can you say stuff like this to each other?" Both Evans and Tijo looked down meekly. "I mean, it's lunchtime, for crying out loud! You're not supposed to talk about classes now; it's making my mind bleed! Look, it's even written here on the 'Unspoken Protocol of the University Student'." Mikau dug out a small, official-looking booklet from his bubble and read an excerpt from it. "Ahem. Rule number 27b: "Thou shall not discuss class subjects outside of class and/or time allocated for completion of class expectations.""
Mikau shut his book. It looks like Evans' and Tijo's jaws could also use some shutting, because their mouths were gaping holes in their faces. Tijo figured out first how to rescrew his facial features back into their proper positions.
"And I thought you were upset because didn't like me and Evans arguing. So. Where's Japas?" The Bottom-feeder chirped happily, effectively changing the topic.
There was a small moment of awkward silence. Mikau had hoped that talking to his other friends would make him forget about Japas' situation but apparently, that didn't work out too well. He turned his head to the side and Evans and Tijo followed his gaze. At a distant table, Japas was among his new comrades, looking as if he's never spent a day elsewhere. He put his elbow on the table, one of the others took his hand, and an armwrestling match ensued. Raucous cheers erupted between the four of them when Japas slammed his opponent's arm down, signaling his victory.
It hit Mikau like a physical blow how much Japas blended in with Rotan's gang. What happened in those six years to make Japas like this? Mikau thought.
Tijo blinked uncomprehensively at the spectacle, but Evans sucked air through his teeth in anger. "What is Japas doing with THEM?!" The eel-Zora grated.
"What do you mean?" Tijo asked, totally clueless.
Evans glanced once more at Japas' table, then shifted himself so that his back was to them. He hunched down and whispered so that Mikau and Tijo had to lean in to listen. "I was talking to some older guys back before school started and the subject of gangs popped up. The resident gang in our school is called the CryBax and their rivals, the Black Nulia, are situated in the small fishing village on the southeast coast, near the woman's dorms. Y'know yesterday? When I was taking Lulu back home, two Zoras were following me. They had the same symbol on their arm as those guys with Japas have on their left arms." Evans drew on his arm with a finger. "...Like this. The symbol of the CryBax. On the way back to the men's dorms, I swam along the ocean floor so they wouldn't see my brown skin against the rocks."
Tijo looked skeptical. "You don't know if they're looking for trouble. And if they're so bad, why is Japas hanging around them?"
Evans' expression darkened. The truth is, his opinion of Japas was not incredibly impressive, but in front of Japas' friends, he said something other than what he wanted to say. "Sure, the CryBax seem harmless right now, but they aren't acting up because of all the people around." Evans clicked his tongue. "This might turn out to be a problem."
The bell rang, momentarily releasing everyone from their anxious thoughts. Tijo jumped up, startled by the sudden alarm. "Scared by the bell?" Evans laughed.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to it." Tijo smiled sheepishly as he picked up his lunch tray. Still grinning, Evans followed suit. "Y'coming, Mikau?" Tijo asked, seeing that the Zorian Hero wasn't behind him.
For a second, Mikau was unreasonably enraged at Tijo and Evans, though he quickly surpressed the stray emotion. How could they shrug off Japas like that? True, this isn't their problem, but they don't even have the decency to act concerned. Mikau gave them a tight-lipped smile. "In a moment."
Evans and Tijo walked ahead, leaving Mikau behind. The Zorian Hero let his gaze settle on his best friend. Japas slapped the tail of one of the CryBax with his own in friendly farewell before running off in Mikau's direction.
"Hey, Mikau! See you at Singing!" Japas said cheerfully as he rushed past. Mikau grabbed his arm.
Japas turned around immediatly and Mikau nearly let go in shock. Only a moment ago, there was his best friend the happy-go-lucky Japas, but Mikau could barely recognize the Zora he was holding now. Japas snarled as he turned, tail posed, and the hand Mikau was holding dug into his oppressor's flesh. The movement was so sudden and so fluid without hesitation, that it seemed like a natural reaction. It looked like it happened very often. The moment of tension lasted only an instant, until Japas realized who was holding him and relaxed. Still, he didn't seem too thrilled by the interruption.
"What?" Japas snapped, annoyed. Annoyed at Mikau for grabbing him, and to cover up his unthinking reaction.
Mikau was tempted to just forget the whole issue. But he pressed. "Do you think Rotan and his friends are really worth hanging out with?" Mikau scratched his ear, seriously uncomfortable. He's never had a heart-to-heart with anybody other than his parents.
Japas pulled back his lips, half smiling, half sneering. "Didn't we already talk about this yesterday? C'mon, you can't really judge these guys by appearance..."
"They're part of the CryBax gang." Mikau interrupted.
"What? Who told you that?" Japas was taken aback but quickly recomposed himself. "And what does that have to do with anything?"
"There has been rumors of gang activity around here. Why are you getting yourself mixed up with this? You ought to know better."
"Yes, mom." Japas practically spat. He kept his eyes steady on Mikau, defying him. But his gaze travelled downwards, where a pale mark on Mikau's collarbone spoke of something which once rested there, blocking out the sun. Perhaps an Empress crab spine.
Mikau's own temper was beginning to flare. He doesn't need to take attitude from anyone, especially not his childhood friend. Something must be seriously wrong with Japas. The memory of his friend hunched over last night, an image of helplessness and dispair, was etched in Mikau's mind. He tightened his grip. "You've been acting strangely today. What happened to you last night? When you left my dorm."
Japas' face was suddenly a mask of panic, like a moth caught in a jar. Damn it, Mikau saw him last night! Did Mikau know about the nightmares? Would he ask what the nightmares were about? If he did, Japas would not tell. He tried to yank his hand away from Mikau's firm hold on his wrist but was helpless against the Zorian Hero. He opened his mouth to say something, anything.
"Hey!" A Bottom-feeder lunch lady cried, waving her serving spoon. Both Zoras looked up. "You two! Get to class already!"
With Mikau's attention temporarily diverted, Japas pulled his hand free from the iron grip holding him. He made a show of rubbing his wrist and stood arms-length away from the Zorian Hero. Then he smiled. Mikau knew that it could only be a fake smile, but it looked incredibly genuine. That's when he realized that behind all the facades, behind the fin veil over the eyes, Mikau could never tell what Japas' true emotion was. And that fact scared him. The Zorian Hero wondered how much of his childhood friend was left. He wondered who this new Zora was.
"I'll see you at Singing." Japas said through clentched teeth. Lips still frozen in that smile, he walked away.
End of Chapter 15
This was a rather short chapter compared to all my other ones, but I couldn't continue it without changing the mood completely. Well, after 14 chapters of mundane Zora life, I felt it was time to add in some conflict to the mix. Please don't kill me for making Japas and Mikau against each other!
Swathed in heaven's misty clouds
Awashed in hell-borne fires
A mountain wrapped within a shroud
Of mystery, dark and dire
As usual during this time of day, the cylindrical building that served as a cafeteria was packed with students from the university and the occational passerby who was suckered into thinking that here was actually a favorable place to dine. The crashing of waves on the outside was muted by the strong granite walls and further masked by numerous laughing conversations. Some people talked about what guy/girl they were currently seeing, some talked about how they plan to fail which course, and others actually used this time for eating.
"There's Rotan." Japas mentioned casually when he and Mikau were searching for a place to sit. Mikau grimaced for a moment, but didn't let Japas see. Rotan was in the same place as he was yesterday, chewing away at a bone of some sort. Perhaps three other Zoras sat near him who looked like they were in the same crowd. No one else sat near them; the way they look and the way they act repelled people more effectively than water repells fire.
"Yo, Rotan!" Japas called out. Mikau hissed slightly. He had wanted a quiet spot to talk to Japas for a while, but as Japas drew up a seat beside the punk Zora, Mikau had no choice but to sit alongside his friend.
"Japas." Rotan said, looking up. The Zoras sitting around him also looked up with interest. One of them smiled, revealing a chipped tooth. "This is Famis, Marr, and Crazon." Rotan pointed to a Zora each time he mentioned a name, and they all nodded in acknowledgement. Then they all went back to talking to each other again. Mikau only heard snatches of their hushed conversation, but he didn't like what he heard.
Mikau noticed that all of Rotan's friends had injury marks on their body. On closer examination, the scars on the Zora's left arms resembled each other, although some of them were distorted by newer wounds. Mikau swallowed his food without tasting it. Rotan and his friends were a gang. Those markings their arms are some sort of symbol indicating that they belong to the same group. Mikau's parents had warned him on the presence of gangs in university, but seeing a real one made buried fears emerge. Japas, on the other hand, didn't seem the least disturbed by Rotan, and was even beginning to warm up to them. Mikau itched to get away.
His chance came when he caught sight of Tijo in the cafeteria with Evans in tow. "Hey Japas, do you mind if I go with Evans and Tijo?" Mikau asked discreetly. "There's not enough empty seats here. You can come with us if you like..." Mikau was never very good at manipulation but he wanted his friend away from these hoodlums.
"Nah." Came the reply. "I'll be able to see you guys at Singing and after classes. I only get to see Rotan now." Japas never even turned around as he said that. Mikau walked away, rejected.
Tijo spotted his roommate and waved. Evans found a trio of seats in preperation for Mikau's arrival. But when the Zorian Hero sat down between his friends, he suddenly found himself in the midst of a heated debate.
"How can you not see the relationship between hyperboles and ellipses??" Tijo fumed, striking his hand against against the table for emphasis. Lunch items bounced from the shock. "All you have to do is picture it in you head!"
"Oh, I can picture it, all right." Evans said hautily. He had his arms crossed and chin raised, staring down his non-existant nose at Tijo. "It's just that the concept of hyperboles being flipped ellipses is, though theoretically possible, impossible."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Mikau held up his hands in self defence. "Just what is going on here? Guys, break it up! What the heck are you talking about anyways?"
Evans pointed an accusing finger at Tijo. "Tijo insists that it's possible for hyperboles to be flipped and return to their orgin. No one said anything about this in Calculations class but superior Bottom-feeder here has a deeper comprehention than a lowly Sleek like me..."
"I never said that!" Tijo rebutted. "And don't bring your race into this!"
"Stop it, both of you!" Mikau shouted, surprising Evans and Tijo into silence. He put his hands over his ears and glared at the arguing Zoras. "The two of you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. How can you say stuff like this to each other?" Both Evans and Tijo looked down meekly. "I mean, it's lunchtime, for crying out loud! You're not supposed to talk about classes now; it's making my mind bleed! Look, it's even written here on the 'Unspoken Protocol of the University Student'." Mikau dug out a small, official-looking booklet from his bubble and read an excerpt from it. "Ahem. Rule number 27b: "Thou shall not discuss class subjects outside of class and/or time allocated for completion of class expectations.""
Mikau shut his book. It looks like Evans' and Tijo's jaws could also use some shutting, because their mouths were gaping holes in their faces. Tijo figured out first how to rescrew his facial features back into their proper positions.
"And I thought you were upset because didn't like me and Evans arguing. So. Where's Japas?" The Bottom-feeder chirped happily, effectively changing the topic.
There was a small moment of awkward silence. Mikau had hoped that talking to his other friends would make him forget about Japas' situation but apparently, that didn't work out too well. He turned his head to the side and Evans and Tijo followed his gaze. At a distant table, Japas was among his new comrades, looking as if he's never spent a day elsewhere. He put his elbow on the table, one of the others took his hand, and an armwrestling match ensued. Raucous cheers erupted between the four of them when Japas slammed his opponent's arm down, signaling his victory.
It hit Mikau like a physical blow how much Japas blended in with Rotan's gang. What happened in those six years to make Japas like this? Mikau thought.
Tijo blinked uncomprehensively at the spectacle, but Evans sucked air through his teeth in anger. "What is Japas doing with THEM?!" The eel-Zora grated.
"What do you mean?" Tijo asked, totally clueless.
Evans glanced once more at Japas' table, then shifted himself so that his back was to them. He hunched down and whispered so that Mikau and Tijo had to lean in to listen. "I was talking to some older guys back before school started and the subject of gangs popped up. The resident gang in our school is called the CryBax and their rivals, the Black Nulia, are situated in the small fishing village on the southeast coast, near the woman's dorms. Y'know yesterday? When I was taking Lulu back home, two Zoras were following me. They had the same symbol on their arm as those guys with Japas have on their left arms." Evans drew on his arm with a finger. "...Like this. The symbol of the CryBax. On the way back to the men's dorms, I swam along the ocean floor so they wouldn't see my brown skin against the rocks."
Tijo looked skeptical. "You don't know if they're looking for trouble. And if they're so bad, why is Japas hanging around them?"
Evans' expression darkened. The truth is, his opinion of Japas was not incredibly impressive, but in front of Japas' friends, he said something other than what he wanted to say. "Sure, the CryBax seem harmless right now, but they aren't acting up because of all the people around." Evans clicked his tongue. "This might turn out to be a problem."
The bell rang, momentarily releasing everyone from their anxious thoughts. Tijo jumped up, startled by the sudden alarm. "Scared by the bell?" Evans laughed.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to it." Tijo smiled sheepishly as he picked up his lunch tray. Still grinning, Evans followed suit. "Y'coming, Mikau?" Tijo asked, seeing that the Zorian Hero wasn't behind him.
For a second, Mikau was unreasonably enraged at Tijo and Evans, though he quickly surpressed the stray emotion. How could they shrug off Japas like that? True, this isn't their problem, but they don't even have the decency to act concerned. Mikau gave them a tight-lipped smile. "In a moment."
Evans and Tijo walked ahead, leaving Mikau behind. The Zorian Hero let his gaze settle on his best friend. Japas slapped the tail of one of the CryBax with his own in friendly farewell before running off in Mikau's direction.
"Hey, Mikau! See you at Singing!" Japas said cheerfully as he rushed past. Mikau grabbed his arm.
Japas turned around immediatly and Mikau nearly let go in shock. Only a moment ago, there was his best friend the happy-go-lucky Japas, but Mikau could barely recognize the Zora he was holding now. Japas snarled as he turned, tail posed, and the hand Mikau was holding dug into his oppressor's flesh. The movement was so sudden and so fluid without hesitation, that it seemed like a natural reaction. It looked like it happened very often. The moment of tension lasted only an instant, until Japas realized who was holding him and relaxed. Still, he didn't seem too thrilled by the interruption.
"What?" Japas snapped, annoyed. Annoyed at Mikau for grabbing him, and to cover up his unthinking reaction.
Mikau was tempted to just forget the whole issue. But he pressed. "Do you think Rotan and his friends are really worth hanging out with?" Mikau scratched his ear, seriously uncomfortable. He's never had a heart-to-heart with anybody other than his parents.
Japas pulled back his lips, half smiling, half sneering. "Didn't we already talk about this yesterday? C'mon, you can't really judge these guys by appearance..."
"They're part of the CryBax gang." Mikau interrupted.
"What? Who told you that?" Japas was taken aback but quickly recomposed himself. "And what does that have to do with anything?"
"There has been rumors of gang activity around here. Why are you getting yourself mixed up with this? You ought to know better."
"Yes, mom." Japas practically spat. He kept his eyes steady on Mikau, defying him. But his gaze travelled downwards, where a pale mark on Mikau's collarbone spoke of something which once rested there, blocking out the sun. Perhaps an Empress crab spine.
Mikau's own temper was beginning to flare. He doesn't need to take attitude from anyone, especially not his childhood friend. Something must be seriously wrong with Japas. The memory of his friend hunched over last night, an image of helplessness and dispair, was etched in Mikau's mind. He tightened his grip. "You've been acting strangely today. What happened to you last night? When you left my dorm."
Japas' face was suddenly a mask of panic, like a moth caught in a jar. Damn it, Mikau saw him last night! Did Mikau know about the nightmares? Would he ask what the nightmares were about? If he did, Japas would not tell. He tried to yank his hand away from Mikau's firm hold on his wrist but was helpless against the Zorian Hero. He opened his mouth to say something, anything.
"Hey!" A Bottom-feeder lunch lady cried, waving her serving spoon. Both Zoras looked up. "You two! Get to class already!"
With Mikau's attention temporarily diverted, Japas pulled his hand free from the iron grip holding him. He made a show of rubbing his wrist and stood arms-length away from the Zorian Hero. Then he smiled. Mikau knew that it could only be a fake smile, but it looked incredibly genuine. That's when he realized that behind all the facades, behind the fin veil over the eyes, Mikau could never tell what Japas' true emotion was. And that fact scared him. The Zorian Hero wondered how much of his childhood friend was left. He wondered who this new Zora was.
"I'll see you at Singing." Japas said through clentched teeth. Lips still frozen in that smile, he walked away.
End of Chapter 15
This was a rather short chapter compared to all my other ones, but I couldn't continue it without changing the mood completely. Well, after 14 chapters of mundane Zora life, I felt it was time to add in some conflict to the mix. Please don't kill me for making Japas and Mikau against each other!