The Day the Moon Shines
By: deep.Indigo
Chapter 12: Ai-shite Mite yo, Kizuato wo Nokoshite yo
(Try to Love Me, Leave Behind Your Scars)
The installation of the Delphinus' new engine took a week and required the combined efforts of all of Vyse's crew. Even Ramirez participated, doing as he was asked and never complaining, and with everyone's help, the operation went completely smoothly. There were incidents during it, though, such as on the third day, when Aika had convinced Fina to finally implement the plan they had devised on the way back from the Lands of Ice.
It had begun after the day's work had ended and everyone was heading to their respective rooms and beds to rest for the night. As they were heading for the metal stairs to the railway leading out of the dock for the Delphinus, Ramirez and Vyse were conversing, many of their words centering on the next day's work. As they walked, Vyse's crewmates all made it a point to hail him and bid him goodnight, with a smile and words in return for their troubles.
"You certainly are popular, Vyse," Ramirez had noted when they were climbing the stairs. "Everyone loves you, it seems."
Vyse laughed. "I don't know about that," he replied. "I think it's just everyone being friendly, especially since I'm their captain."
"They like you, though," the Silvite swordsman insisted, "and I don't think it's just friendliness. Or did you not notice how they would greet you first and then me as an afterthought, if at all?"
"What, are you jealous?" Vyse grinned. "You just intimidate them, what with your reputation and all. I bet most of them figure you'd just scowl at them if they tried to say hello, so they try to stay out of your way. See, that's what you've wanted up 'til now, isn't it? For people to leave you alone, I mean. But if you want people to treat you well, you have to be nice to them too. After all, who'd want to be friends with someone who'd be more likely to beat them up than to smile at them?"
"You would, apparently," Ramirez countered dryly. "Even when I continued my hostilities, you kept trying to win my amity. Even in Yafutoma, you weren't angered for more than a couple of days before you forgave me. Most people would have simply continued to hate me."
The young captain laughed again. "Well, that's 'cause you gave me a reason to believe in you!" he replied, waving a hand to punctuate his statement. "You didn't want to go back with the Valuans, and that says a lot. It's our choices that make who we are, and you chose to stay with us. So when you did that, I realized if you were willing to take that kind of gamble, I had to, too—and it reminded me that I never give up. Ever! Not on anything or anybody, and not on you. Especially not on you!"
Ramirez stopped and stared at Vyse then with soft eyes, rendered temporarily speechless. The Blue Rogue stopped a few steps later, looking back from the mouth of the cave, the night sky spread out in front of him.
"What?" Vyse asked when several silent seconds had passed.
"...Why...why am I that important to you?" Ramirez queried quietly, his gaze on the young pirate.
The brown-haired rogue grinned and shrugged a bit. "You're my friend," he replied. "All my friends are important to me."
"But why do you ever consider me to be a friend in the first place?" Ramirez insisted, taking a step closer to Vyse.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks beginning to redden. "Heh, I guess to you, it wouldn't make sense, huh?" Vyse laughed, eyes shut. "Well...it's 'cause I like you."
Speechless, Ramirez continued to stare at Vyse, nearly unable to believe what he had just heard. He crossed his arms, if only to focus on an action rather than the warm feeling growing in his chest. It wasn't a fluttering or quickening heartbeat, no nervous reaction from when he was confused; just a warmth he couldn't name, a warmth he hadn't felt in years—so many years...
/This warm feeling... Please, what names do people call it?/
"Sorry for saying such weird things," Vyse added then, glancing out at the night sky, his face blocked from Ramirez's sight. "But...well, you did ask."
"Haha... You shouldn't worry about it," Ramirez said. Fondly smiling then at Vyse, he resumed, "Because I like you, too."
"Huh...?" Vyse uttered, swinging his head around to stare at Ramirez, stunned.
The Silvite swordsman chuckled, though the sound was not derisive, and walked up a few steps to join Vyse. "You're reckless..." he began, gazing out at the blinking stars, "unrefined and hopeless. You have the common sense of a Looper...always getting into fights that should be impossible to win. You're a complete idiot, and a pirate besides. By all rights, I should loathe you."
"Gee, thanks," the rogue interjected, but Ramirez ignored the comment.
"But..." He turned to meet Vyse's gaze, and with a small smile, finished, "Somehow, I like you anyway."
"...Ramirez..." Vyse murmured, the breeze swaying his bangs across his face. The two stood there quietly for nearly a minute longer, regarding each other with gentle eyes. How long they would have remained that way remained unknown, since Aika spoke up then.
"Hmmmmm..." she smirked amusedly, having been watching them from several feet behind for the past several seconds. The two men, startled, stared at her as she inquired, her left arm akimbo and her right arm hanging at her side, "Are you two having a moment? Should I come back later?"
"Wh-wh-what are you talking about, Aika?" Vyse stammered, waving a hand, his expression somewhere between embarrassed and alarmed. "We weren't doing anything, really—"
"Oh, is THAT why you look so guilty, then?" she grinned.
"Idiot," Ramirez muttered.
"Aikaaaa!" Vyse protested, turning to face her. "That's not funny!!"
Aika just laughed at the two. "Relax, I'm just kidding," she reassured him before turning to Ramirez. "I came to give this guy a message."
"...What is it?" the silver-haired man inquired, slightly annoyed by her use of 'this guy'.
"Fina asked me to tell you to go to the balcony outside the meeting room," Aika replied cheerfully. "She said she's gonna be waiting for you there, and that she has something to talk to you about alone. Don't make her wait, okay?"
Looking first at Aika, then at Vyse, Ramirez merely shrugged; he could do little else. "All right. Thank you," he said before leaving for the lift that would take him where Fina was said to be waiting.
When he was gone, Vyse turned to his friend. "Aika, did Fina really tell you that? You're acting...kind of weird."
"Heh. Yeah, sort of. Don't worry, Fina'll be there," Aika replied smugly. "I made sure of that."
Vyse gave her a Look. "Aika, what are you plotting?" he demanded.
"Plotting? Me?" the orange-haired girl repeated, feigning injury. "Vyse, I'm hurt that you would think I'm plotting something."
Making a disgusted face, Vyse just shook his head. "I'm not gonna ask," he muttered. "I'm just gonna go to bed."
"That's the spirit!" Aika cheered. "Get a good night's rest before we start working again tomorrow, all right? If we can keep up with the schedule, just four more days 'til we're done!"
Vyse grinned at that. "Yeah; it'll be great when we get that engine installed," he submitted. "Don't 'cause too much mischief, all right, Aika?" Waving and walking on ahead, he said, "G'night."
"Where do you think you're going without me?" Aika inquired playfully, following him. "I'm heading to bed too, you know."
The two laughed together and passed by the balcony leading to the meeting room without thinking of it, certainly not realizing that Ramirez was watching them.
The green-eyed Silvite glowered at them sullenly as Fina gazed at his back, her hands clasped before her. Why had Aika had to come then, anyway? He had gotten into such a good mood from talking to Vyse, and he definitely didn't want to talk to his childhood friend... Telling himself that, Ramirez ignored the pangs of jealousy.
"Ramirez...?" Fina spoke up then.
"Ah...right," he replied, turning to her, changing his face into an inexpressive mask. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about, Fina?"
She walked over to the bench and sat down, then smiled up at her old friend expectantly, who suppressed a sigh and joined her. Pushing one of her bangs out of her face, Fina then turned her green eyes out to the expanse of night. "It's just...I wanted to be with you," she murmured, her cheeks growing pink. "You know, it's been a long time since you joined us," she commented.
He shrugged. "It can't be much more than a lunar cycle or thereabouts."
"Really?" she smiled. "It feels like much longer than that. We've seen so many different things together already, though... And we have Vyse to thank for it, too." Looking over at him, Fina continued, "I'm really glad I met him...and Aika, and everyone, too. I don't know what happened to you down here, Ramirez, but if there's anyone you can trust...it's definitely them."
He simply sighed and gazed at her. "Somehow I get the feeling we've had this conversation before," he remarked. "Don't you have anything new to say? It can't just be about them," he added at her crestfallen expression. "What did you really want?"
"Er...yes," she murmured, blushing at the ease with which he saw through her. "Ramirez, do...do you remember when Hahaue died?"
His eyebrows twitched slightly as sorrow from that memory flitted across his face. Looking away at the Red half-Moon, he quietly stated, "...I remember."
She looks so peaceful... That's what young Ramirez had thought, his emotions strangely suspended, as he had looked down upon her in her crystalline coffin, child Fina sobbing into his side, clutching at his right hand as if afraid he too would die if she did not. He knew he should feel sad, should be upset, should be crying...should be doing something, but he wasn't. He merely stood there, his eyes on Hahaue's tranquil face. Had he not known much better, he might have thought she were simply asleep.
The Elders had always said that death was not a thing to be feared, that it was a natural process of life. Having well studied biology along with cartography and ship anatomy, Ramirez did not doubt this. But...if it wasn't a big deal...if it was natural...why was Fina crying? Why did he feel so empty? Why did he want to see Hahaue open her eyes, smile at him again, tell him it would be all right, let him rest his head on her lap, stroke his hair, sing to him? Why...why did he want her to be alive so badly?
Grief came to him in one giant wave, and he barely choked back his anguish.
"Fina..." he whispered, turning to kneel down and hug the younger girl. "Fina, don't cry." Pushing her away to look her in the face, trying to assuage his own misery by comforting her, he pleaded, "Don't cry, Fina..."
"B-but, Ramirez," she cried, her mint green eyes wavering with huge drops of tears, "Hahaue...Hahaue's..."
"Don't cry, Fina!" he repeated fiercely, though in truth he wanted to cry too. "You'll make her sad! See?" Pointing at her body and making sure Fina was looking, he continued, "Does she look sad?"
Sniffling and wiping at her eyes, Fina shook her head. "No..." she said in a tiny voice.
"Do you want to make her sad?"
"No!" she yelled. "I absolutely don't wanna make her sad!!"
"Then don't cry," Ramirez told her in the best soothing voice he could muster under the circumstances. "Hahaue's free! She's been sick for a long, long time, and now she's free. She's happy! She's not suffering anymore! But if you're sad, then she'll get sad...so wipe away your tears, all right?" Brushing away some of them for her, he repeated, "All right?"
Fina screwed up her face, then threw herself onto Ramirez, hugging him desperately. "I don't want her to go!!" she sobbed, clutching at his clothes. "No, no, no, nooo!!"
"Fina, STOP IT!!" Ramirez yelled, embracing her, fighting back tears of his own. "Stop it!! She's already gone!! There's nothing you can do but accept it!"
"But it's not fair!!" she cried. "Why did she have to leave us?! We were happy!! Wasn't she happy being with us?!"
He held her more tightly, now unable to stop wetness from overflowing and spilling down his cheeks. "You're the one not being fair!" he shouted. "She was in a lot of pain! Now she's not! Did you want her to suffer on our account?!"
"NO!" she cried, beating her small fists against Ramirez's back. "But I didn't want her to die! I wanted her to get bette-e-e-er......"
"Fina, it'll be okay," he desperately reassured her as she wailed. "It'll be okay! I'm here, aren't I? We have each other, right? You're not alone! I'm with you! I'll protect you, all right? So don't cry! We'll always be together!!"
She continued to sob, but Fina heard him, and nodded, swiping futilely at her face. Ramirez, relieved at that at least, hugged her again, but when he looked again at Hahaue, his tears flowed again. Fina didn't speak for the rest of the day; she only wept bitterly until she couldn't weep any longer, even when Hahaue's coffin was sealed away by the Elders, who had merely allowed the two to look at her body, now forever silenced, one last time, to remind them that death was unimportant. So wrapped up in her own emotions had she been that Fina had never noticed Ramirez crying, watching the woman who had been a mother to him be locked away in a panel and shuffled back, like a single card in a deck of cards, deep inside the Great Silver Shrine.
Behind him, he heard Elder Prime impart kind words to Fina, who only sniffled, before escorting her back to her room. To him only came Elder Orbit, who frowned at him from his side.
"Ramirez," he said, "you are a young man. Men do not cry."
Had it been any other time, Ramirez would have snapped that he was crying, and he was a man, so men did cry, but he had no energy then to resist as was his norm. "Yes, sir," he merely mumbled, rubbing at his face.
Elder Orbit had regarded him approvingly. "Your sword lessons are at the usual time, as always," he reminded the younger Silvite. "I trust you won't use this as an excuse to skip again."
"No, sir," Ramirez replied faintly. "I'll be there, sir."
"If you skip, you'll be punished," Orbit reminded him again.
"I know, sir," Ramirez said dully. "I'll be there, sir."
"Good," Orbit said, pleased. "Elder Prime will be waiting for you, then." And with that, he left.
Ramirez remained there, his eyes downcast; for how long, he couldn't say. He didn't know if the other Elders even so much as glanced at him; he knew none of them bothered to say anything to him, though. Perhaps there was nothing they felt they had to say; perhaps they thought any words they could say would be wasted on him. Life, as it was, would continue, and it didn't matter. Nothing mattered.
Hahaue was dead.
Eventually, Ramirez trudged back to his room to prepare for his lessons. Although—or perhaps because—he was a prodigy at the blade, even at his young age of fifteen, the Elders insisted on having him practice daily and train at learning new techniques. He was a blade adept, they said; his swordsmanship was a treasure that would serve them all one day, they said. Therefore, he should work continuously to be stronger and stronger, in order to defend Silvitekind. From what, they never specified.
Ramirez liked his sword, Ilazki, certainly; he sometimes felt as if it protected him, that it would keep him safe from harm. However, he was far more interested in his studies than in becoming a master swordsman, in learning more and more about Arcadia, in someday traveling there. Although the Elders encouraged him to further his studies, pleased by his thirst for knowledge, they looked down at his desire to visit the world below, reminding him constantly of the evils of humanity.
He didn't believe them. He didn't want to believe them. Whether their doctrines were true or false, he would confirm it with his own eyes and hands, and if it was true, he would accept their doctrines.
Coming to a halt, Ramirez gazed at the blue Arcadia, and smiled sadly.
"There..." he murmured, "there, will they accept me? Will there be people who understand me? People I can trust and depend on? People who won't let me feel...this alone?"
His smile melting away, he shifted his eyes down to his feet, and began to walk again.
The Elders didn't care about him. They cared about Fina, but not about him—just his abilities. Ramirez realized that a long time ago, which only fueled his independent streak. Now, though...there was no one to comfort him when he desperately needed it. Hahaue was dead. Fina wouldn't protect him; she couldn't. He was supposed to protect her. Hadn't he told her that?
He couldn't keep fighting the Elders; now, more than ever, they controlled his life. He couldn't ask anyone to help him, and there was no one on whom he could depend.
He was alone.
"Yes..." Ramirez murmured, his eyes, fixed on the railing, reflecting dour resentment. "I remember it well. What of it?"
"...I don't know if you remember this part, but..." Fina murmured, nervously pushing a bang out of her face. "You...you said you'd protect me. That we'd always be together..."
Ramirez smirked mirthlessly. "Heh..." he muttered. "I'm surprised you remember that. You were so upset, I'm surprised you remember anything of that day."
Taking a deep breath, Fina edged a little closer to her childhood friend. "Ramirez..." she said softly, "I know when you left the Great Silver Shrine almost eight years ago, you had no choice. You had a duty to perform, and even though I was upset, after you had left, I came to understand the importance of what you were doing, and I waited for you." Leaning in to him, resting a hand on his shoulder as he leaned back, glowering at his knees, she continued, "I believed in you, even as the years passed and we received no word from you. I believed that you would never choose not to come back, and that something terrible must have happened to you to keep you from returning. But—"
"But you were wrong," Ramirez replied brusquely, snapping his gaze up to stare straight out into the sky. "I chose to stay on Arcadia. I chose to stay with Lord Galcian. I chose to abandon you." Shutting his eyes, his forehead creased, uncertain but suspicious of Fina's devastated expression, the young swordsman continued, "I thought you would be safe up in the Shrine. Even if you were alone, the Elders favored you; they still favor you, do they not? They would give you anything you desired; all you would have to do is express that desire. You would not be treated ill, I was certain." He smirked. "I never imagined they would send you down here to finish my mission, though. I suppose their desperation to collect the Crystals overrode their desire to pamper the last female Silvite." Looking over at her, his eyes dark, he continued, "They didn't give you any training before sending you down here, aside from learning a few spells, did they?"
Mutely, Fina shook her head. "...Everything I've learned about fighting, I learned by fighting with Vyse and Aika," she replied, her voice subdued. "They sent me as soon as they came to their decision. They told me they'd been deliberating on it for years, though..."
"Ha, I imagine they would have," he said dryly. "When you die, Fina, that moment will mark the end of the Silvite race."
"...I—"
"Incidentally," Ramirez interrupted her, "do you know what your mission parameters are?"
"What?" Fina said, confused. "I...we were both sent down here to find and retrieve the five Moon Crystals and bring them to the Great Silver Shrine, so that the Elders could seal them in a place where nobody could misuse them again."
"I see," he said dryly. "I was just curious. I notice you said 'five' Crystals, though. Where do you think the sixth is?"
Shaking her head, Fina queried, "What are you talking about, Ramirez? You know as well as I do that the Silver Moon Crystal is already on the Great Silver Shrine!"
"Ha! Oh, yes, it is certainly on the Shrine," Ramirez laughed. "Do you know where on the Shrine it is? Have you ever seen it?"
Staring at him, completely confused, Fina uttered, "What? I don't understand what you're talking about... No, I haven't seen it, but that's because it's sealed away somewhere in the Great Silver Shrine, right?"
Her childhood friend simply laughed, and the cold sound of it frightened her. What did he know that she didn't? "Yes, it's on the Silver Shrine," he told her when he had finished. "But it's not where you think it is." Now deadly serious, he glared at her, saying, "The Elders didn't tell you anything, did they? They just said, 'Fina, take over Ramirez's mission,' and sent you down here, didn't they?" Looking away at the Red Moon, he continued, "Were they trying to get you killed? I wonder."
"Ramirez, please don't talk like that," she begged, clutching as she had ten years ago at her old friend's clothing, her eyes beseeching. "Please...please..." Resting her head on Ramirez's shoulder, she began to weep.
The silver-haired swordsman glanced back down at her, temporarily at a loss of words. He had definitely gone too far, he realized now... Awkwardly, he raised his left arm to hold Fina, though he knew he wouldn't be able to comfort her, and rested his face against the crown of her head.
Eyes on the heavens, allowing Fina to weep into his uniform, Ramirez thought sourly of the girl who had been like a younger sister to him through his childhood.
/She's as spoiled now as she was then,/ he bitterly groused. /Why do I comfort her? ...Yes, the betrayal. But there's no justice in this existence. I did nothing but tell her the truth, and she believes she has the leisure of crying. When I was told the truth, the unvarnished truth of the Silvites, I had only one choice: to accept it. I had no option to grieve, to disbelieve, to refuse; the Elders would not have allowed it. I was given a mission, and I was told the truth, and I was to fulfill it without delay. They never thought of me as anything more than a tool to actualize their ideals and judgments...and yet they all doted on Fina, never expecting anything from her but her happiness and good health./ Narrowing his eyes into trembling slits and clenching his hands into fists, he demanded, /Why did they hate me and love Fina?! Why should Fina be treated any better than me?! Why is Fina STILL treated better than me?!/
It was then that Ramirez realized that he truly hated her.
It took all of his self-control not to break out into hysterical laughter.
He waited silently a while longer, long enough for Fina to begin to calm down, before shaking her shoulder. "It's getting late," he murmured, his tone gentle and his eyes glittering with malice. "We should get to bed."
She gazed up at him, her eyes still wet with sorrow, and whispered, "I love you."
Ramirez worked his jaw for a few seconds more before he realized he had been struck dumb.
She, too, looked shocked at her bravado, and stood quickly, her face red. "I, um, I mean—" she stammered, flustered at how Ramirez was just staring at her in disbelief. "I—good night!!" she cried, running to the platform and quickly activating the device that would send her to the foot of the cliff.
Ramirez stood and watched her go, walking slowly to the balcony. Fina...loved him? ......He didn't know quite how to react to that......
It was one of life's delicious ironies, though, that the girl he hated should be in love with him.
Smirking slightly, Ramirez wondered, /Should I be cruel or kind? Shall I gently inform her of her mistaken emotions, or shall I tear her heart asunder? Heh.../ Narrowing his eyes, he watched her run to her room across the island as the platform returned to the top of the cliff where he was. /Oh, sweet Fina. Sweet, simple, stupid Fina. Why is it that you claim to love me? Perhaps the Elders indoctrinated it into you, to make sure you would wish to couple with me and perpetuate our doomed race. How pathetic.../ Boarding the platform and sending himself leisurely traveling down, Ramirez shut his eyes, still smiling vindictively. /It suits you, Fina. Being manipulated thusly suits you well—you, who don't even understand why you were sent down here!!/
He followed Fina up to the balcony on the upper floor of the living quarters, where their rooms were located. She didn't seem to notice him approaching, so intently was she watching the reflection of moonlight on the koi-filled pond.
Carefully forming a mask of kindness, Ramirez walked up next to her, on her right, and placed a hand on her left shoulder. Startled, she stared wide-eyed up at him, then quickly glanced away, knowing well that her cheeks were still wet.
"I'm sorry, Fina," he said quietly. "I said many unnecessary things... Perhaps it's best if we forget we had that conversation."
She nodded silently, leaning against him.
With a slight sigh, he pulled away and moved in front of her to brush away her remaining tears. "You always were swift to cry," he commented as he worked.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, gazing up at him. "I...I just..."
"Now, now, Fina," he chastised her gently, "you're an adult now. You mustn't cry."
The pale blonde young woman hesitated, as if to say something, then nodded sadly. "Yes..."
Finishing, Ramirez smiled. The expression pained him, but he still fondly and falsely smiled down at her. "We have more work tomorrow," he reminded her. "Let's get our rest."
She nodded again, passively sad. "Yes."
He stepped to the side and moved to walk to his room; Fina turned to look at him go, and he was because of it inspired.
"Oh, and Fina..." Still smiling, Ramirez turned back to face his childhood friend. "I love you, too."
She clasped her hands to her chest and froze, her expression alight with surprise and hope. "R...really?" she asked, her voice hushed.
"Of course," he replied before raising a hand and 'affectionately' ruffling her hair. "You're family to me. As my little sister, of course I love you."
"Eh...?" Fina uttered, the joy in her face slowly crumbling apart.
"Sleep well," Ramirez said pleasantly, pretending not to notice. "Sweet dreams..." Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to the tattoo on her forehead before retreating to his room, smiling vindictively to himself the entire time.
Unaware of this exchange, Vyse laid in bed only two rooms away from the Silvites, wide awake and staring at the ceiling, resting his head on his folded arms.
"'I like you, too', huh..." he murmured thoughtfully. "Ramirez... I never would have thought you'd say something like that..."
The Blue Rogue grinned lopsidedly, pleased beyond simply having gained Ramirez's apparent respect. He truly did like the Admiral, as ill-tempered and antisocial as he was; it wasn't something he could really explain, but he supposed he couldn't help it after he'd tried so hard to befriend him. Well, it's not as if he didn't want to be friends with Ramirez! Vyse was happy, both for the silver-haired swordsman and for himself. Sure, Ramirez still wasn't too friendly with everyone else, except possibly Fina, but first things first, and considering he spent a lot more time with him than anyone else, it was probably to be expected. Vyse was getting the feeling that Ramirez might even want to make more friends, but just was too uncomfortable with dealing with other people normally to do so.
"I'll help you!" he said suddenly, sitting up and raising a fist. "Rami, I'll help you out for sure!" Vyse flopped back onto the bed with an enthusiastic grin, continuing mentally, /You just need a little more time. It's not your fault that you got messed up somewhere along the way! Doc himself said you used to be a really nice guy, and he's known you since you first came down here! I'll return you to your old self for sure!/
It was just a restatement of old vows, but Vyse made them seriously, caring about his friend.
"Still," he muttered then, "that sure was a strange thing for him to say... Sure, he insulted me like usual, but for him to say he likes me..." With a laugh, Vyse wondered out loud, "Maybe it was a love confession?" With another laugh, the words a mere joke in his mind, he shook his head. "Nah, Rami's not like that." With an affectionate smile, Vyse continued, "But I'm really happy. Ramirez, I'm really happy you like me..."
Rolling over and pulling the blankets over his head, the brunet
pirate continued to contentedly, warmly think of his fellow swordsman,
not even questioning why he was so happy and thus not
recognizing the full extent to which his own feelings were beginning to
grow. After all, what more had he to think about beyond that Ramirez
was his friend?
Early the next morning, Aika and Fina were discussing the events of
last night, with Fina relating the story unenthusiastically and Aika
making sympathetic noises and comments. Fina left out certain parts,
such as Ramirez's talk about her being the last female Silvite, not
wanting to dredge up those unpleasant memories and not wanting Aika to
think any worse of Ramirez than she already did, but Fina detailed the
rest of the night clearly, and the pigtailed Air Pirate listened well.
When the blonde Silvite came to a close, Cupil snoozing quietly at her
feet, Aika was shaking her head, her arms crossed.
"I guess it can't be helped," she said with a frown, brown eyes reflecting contemplation.
"So should I just give up?" Fina queried, looking up at Aika, her hands tightly clasped in her lap.
"Hmmm..." Aika shut her eyes. "Well, it's not as if he hates you, Fina, and that's always a start. And even if he looks at you like family, you aren't really family, and that's a help, too." She opened her eyes and grinned teasingly. "You aren't really family, right?"
"No," Fina replied, then hesitated. "At least...I don't think we are."
The redheaded pirate girl blinked. "You aren't sure?"
"Well, I don't know who his parents were," she confessed, abashed. "He never talked about his mother, and now that I think about it, I don't think either of us knew who our father was. I suppose it's possible that we're biologically related. I don't think we are, though," Fina added embarrassedly at Aika's stare.
"...Well," she said. "...Huh. That...would be kind of weird. If you were siblings, I mean... But let's assume you're not," she added with a quick wave of the hand. "Besides, if you have no way of knowing, it's not your fault if you are! Although that would be really freaky," Aika finished, muttering the last comment under her breath. "In any case, you're pretty sure you aren't family, so there you go. What you need to do now, I'd say, is to get Ramirez to think of you less as a little sister and more as a good-looking young lady. I think a good way to go is to remind him that even though you grew up together, you haven't seen each other in a few years, so you have gotten a chance to grow apart... How long ago did Ramirez leave where you two grew up, by the way?"
"Eh? Umm..." Fina mused. "Seven and a half...nearly eight years ago, I believe."
"Eight years ago. Great! That's a really long time ago. A—wait." Aika blinked, rethought that amount of time, considered how old Ramirez and Fina both looked, registered that there was something very wrong with that equation. "Eight years ago?" she repeated. "Hold on, Fina, how old are you two? 'Cause I could swear you both don't look any older than seventeen!"
Blinking twice, looking nonplussed, Fina replied, "I'm seventeen, yes, but Ramirez is...well, he'd just turned seventeen when he left, so he must be almost twenty-four now."
The air piratess gawked. "Twenty-four?" she repeated, her mind blown. "He's a good seven years older than you!"
Suddenly self-conscious, the white-clad young lady fidgeted. "...It's not that long an amount of time," she said meekly.
"Well...if it doesn't bother you, I guess there's not much for me to say," Aika said doubtfully, uncrossing her arms and planting her hands on her hips. "It could be worse, I suppose. Still, looking at him, you'd never guess he was that old. I always figured he was around our age. Vyse and I are seventeen, too," she added. "Huh. I guess it makes more sense, though," she began to muse; "it'd really be weird to be an Admiral and only be seventeen. If he's twenty-four, then that's a little more sane..." Realizing she was moving far off-topic, Aika laughed nervously, folding her arms behind her head. "Sorry about that, Fina! Just thinking out loud..."
Fina smiled and shook her head. "It's all right," she replied. "Umm...but if you could continue with what you were saying originally?"
"Oh! Right," Aika nodded. "Eight years is a pretty long time, so try to play that up. You aren't the little girl he used to know; you're a full-grown woman now. You're not a weakling, either; although you're hardly at his level, you and Cupil can more than hold your own, so you won't be a huge burden in that respect either. Right, Cupil?" she grinned, prodding the still-sleeping silver beast with her foot. It popped awake, and blinking rapidly, it made a few happy noises and floated up to orbit Fina's head.
The two girls laughed at its antics, and with a grateful smile, Fina said, "Thank you, Aika; I feel a lot better now."
"Hey, don't worry about it!" Aika laughed, winking. "That's what friends are for, after all!"
Shutting her eyes and bringing a hand to her mouth, Fina laughed and stood. "Well then, let's get ready to work on the Delphinus' new engine again today, Aika!"
"Yeah!" Aika cheered, getting to her feet as well. "Say, if you want, Fina, I could get Vyse to talk to Ramirez for you."
"Huh?" the young Silvite woman uttered, blinking.
"Well, it seems the two of them are getting to be pretty friendly, so if Vyse said something, Ramirez might listen to him," Aika pointed out. "Ironic, considering how much he used to hate him..." Grinning wickedly, she added, "Oh, I just got a great idea! If Vyse pretends like he's interested in you, that might get it into Ramirez's head that he doesn't want to give up his sweet little Fina to any other men!"
"Aika, don't you dare!!" Fina gasped, blushing madly. "If Vyse did that, I'd—I'd be mortified!!"
Laughing, the redhead clapped a hand onto Fina's shoulder. "Don't worry, I was just kidding," she reassured her with a playful grin. "But I'm serious about asking him to help. Vyse can keep a secret; if we make him promise not to tell Ramirez you like him, he won't say a word about that. He could always try asking him about you, though; coming from him, it won't sound so weird." With a shrug, Aika goes on, "I'm not that fond of Ramirez, and I don't think he's crazy about me, either. If I asked him what he thought about you, he'd get suspicious, so it's better that way, don't you think?"
Looking doubtful, Fina raised a hand to her chin and murmured, "I don't know..."
"Well, how about this?" Aika suggests, crossing her arms. "I'll tell Vyse I think Ramirez has a crush on you, and ask him to discreetly ask Ramirez how he feels about you to make sure, and prod him a little in case he's a little reluctant to talk. We'll work near them, and when Vyse asks, we take that as a cue to hide and listen in on their conversation. That way he doesn't know that you like Ramirez, and we get some good information!"
"Are you sure that will work?" Fina queried, her misgivings clear.
"Well, if you have any better ideas, I'm willing to listen," Aika replied.
She cast her gaze to the floor, pondering the suggestion. Fina honestly thought that there were a lot of holes in Aika's plan, but...well, what else did they have?
"All right," she decided, and then begged, "But please, please be tactful!"
"Don't worry!" Aika winked. "Vyse may be sharp when it comes to sailing and fighting and outsmarting the Armada, but when it comes to things like this, he's denser than a brick wall. Just leave it to me, Fina! Now let's go; I'll go look for Vyse, so you just go on ahead."
Fina nodded, and the two of them headed out, Cupil floating after them leisurely. They parted ways at the top of the stairs, and Aika headed directly for Vyse's room—only to run into him, literally, when he suddenly exited.
"Ow! Geez, Vyse!" Aika grumbled as she picked herself off the floor. "Don't open your door all of sudden, would you?"
Rubbing his head, Vyse rolled his eyes. "Don't stand right outside my door, then," he muttered. In a louder voice, he continued, "So, something up, Aika?"
"Yeah, sort of," Aika replied, barely managing to keep herself from grinning like a maniac. With a conspiratorial glance around, particularly at Ramirez's door, she said in a low voice, "Say, Vyse, can I grab your ear for a minute?"
"As long as you don't mean that literally," Vyse replied. "OW OW OW OW!!" he yelled as she pulled him—by the ear, naturally—into his room, shutting the door behind them. "What was that for?!" he demanded as soon as she let go. "And when I told you not to, too!"
Aika grinned roguishly. "Sorry," she apologized, "but that was just like an invitation, Vyse! I'll make it up to you later, promise; besides, I didn't want anyone to overhear, anyway." Glancing over at the door as if to check for eavesdroppers, she leaned in and whispered, "Actually, the truth is..."
"Yeah?" Vyse whispered cautiously, leaning in as well.
"I've gotten the feeling that Ramirez has a thing for Fina," she finished with a self-assured nod.
"Wow, really? You too?" Vyse blinked, amazed.
Aika stared. "What do you mean, 'you too'?"
"Well, a while ago, after I was talking to Fina, Ramirez confronted me about it, and he was pretty upset over the whole thing," Vyse told her. "I'd just asked her to sing for me, but he was asking me if I liked her and so on. He seemed pretty jealous, actually."
"Really," Aika said, making a note of it. "Why don't you ask him about it?"
Now it was Vyse's turn to stare. "Huh?"
"Come on," she wheedled. "You know Ramirez! He'd never be able to tell Fina if he was, so he obviously can't talk to her, and you know Ramirez and I don't like each other that much, so he clearly won't talk about it to me. It's not something he'd tell us if either of us asked him, either. So it's up to you! You're both men, and you've gotten pretty friendly with each other recently, so it'll seem more natural that way, anyway!"
"Wait, but Aika," Vyse protested, "why do I have to do this to begin with?"
"Vyse, don't you get it?" Aika demanded, putting on a very convincing act of being scandalized. "If he and Fina get together, then two things will happen: one, he'll start to be happier and more open, and two, he'll have more of a reason not to go back to the Armada!"
Vyse considered this. "You do have a point," he admitted. "You don't think he would go back to the Armada, though, do you? Not after all we've been through."
"I wouldn't put it behind him," Aika said, furrowing her brows and crossing her arms. "Let's be realistic: Ramirez has been working for Galcian for a long time now. He also thinks that humans are all scum except for Galcian. I know you've been working on changing that, and I've noticed that the two of you are pretty chummy now, but I think in the end that would just mean he'd feel bad about handing us over to the Empire. Ramirez is a rigid guy, and he really didn't like us at first, and he still doesn't really like most of us, so I think his loyalties would come first if he had to choose."
"You don't think he's going to betray us, do you?" Vyse queried, concerned.
"Betray? Nah," the redheaded girl replied, shaking her head. "If he were given a chance, he'd probably do it, but he hasn't had any opportunities for that. He's stuck with us, and if we make sure it stays that way, then maybe his loyalties will eventually switch to us." Winking, she added, "You remember what Doc told us, about how much he used to be like you, and how nice he used to be. I bet he's already starting to crack! Who'd rather be all bitter and lonely, anyway? Especially when the alternative is right in your grasp!"
With a grin, Vyse nodded. "You're right, Aika. Ramirez is still pretty reserved, but he's a lot friendlier than when he first joined us, back when we got the Delphinus," he said, recalling both the initial Ramirez, who promised to kill him, and the Ramirez of last night, who told him he liked him. "We should all try to make him feel more welcome here, as if he's one of us Air Pirates, and not an enemy being tolerated for the moment."
"He is an Admiral; don't forget that, Vyse," Aika reminded him.
"Yeah, but just because he's an Admiral doesn't mean he's a bad person," Vyse argued. "Look at Belleza, for instance. Sure, when we first met her, she tricked us and almost got us killed, but she was just doing her job. She doesn't like risking the lives of her crew unnecessarily, and she took losing well when we beat her near the Temple of Pyrynn. And in Yafutoma, she didn't make anyone fight against Bluheim; she got everyone to retreat as soon as possible so they wouldn't get hurt." Shifting his weight, the young ship captain continued to gesture to make his point to Aika, regarding him with arms akimbo and a half-convinced expression, "The way I figure, she's essentially a good person working for the bad guys. She doesn't even think of herself as being one of the bad guys; remember what she said when she revealed her true identity? She doesn't anyone to suffer like she did when she was a kid, so to get rid of the wars that cause orphaned children, she's working to bring the world under one rule. I know the logic is more than a little warped, believe me, and the Valuan Empire's hardly the one that should be controlling all the rest, and I was just as mad as you were when she deceived us, but her heart's in the right place, I'm sure."
"You sure you weren't just entranced by her jiggling boobs?" his childhood friend demanded with a mock scowl, though the sparkle in her eyes betrayed the joviality behind her words. "You were staring pretty hard at 'Bellena'."
"H-hey, gimme a break!" Vyse yelled, blushing. "Geez, Aika! Why not just kick a Looper for running from battle! Ow!!" Hopping on one foot, he glared at his childhood friend, who had just dealt him a nasty blow to the shin.
She grinned wickedly, and said, "Well, there aren't any Loopers around!"
Vyse rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall, rubbing his leg.
"You've got a mean kick," he muttered. "Remind me not to invite you to
hurt me again. Sheesh."
Later that day, after the morning had been devoted to hard work and
everyone broke outside for a well-deserved lunch, Vyse remembered what
Aika had told him. He regarded the clear sky thoughtfully for a moment,
munching on an egg salad sandwich and his back to the tavern, and then
turned to Ramirez, who was contenting himself with one of Urala's box
lunches, sitting next to him on the grass. Aika and Fina, who, as
they'd plotted earlier, had been stalking the two, caught the motion,
and inconspicuously hid nearby to spy, hidden just around the corner.
"Say," Vyse began, "I've been wondering since before, but..."
"Hmm?" Ramirez murmured, glancing at his companion.
"I was just wondering," Vyse said with a shrug, "but are you interested in Fina?"
Already disliking the flow of the conversation, the silver-haired swordsman queried warily, "Interested how?"
"Well, you've known each other for a long time, but you were separated for a few years, so I was wondering if you...well, you know...hadn't started to fall for her," the captain of the Delphinus replied, trying for tactful and failing horribly.
Ramirez peered at him. "Have you talked to Fina since we parted ways yesterday?" he inquired suspiciously.
"Huh? No. Why?" Vyse replied, confused.
"Mmph. It's nothing," he said, still apprehensive but deciding Vyse spoke the truth. "Have you spoken with Aika, then?"
"Huh?" Now sweating slightly, the brown-eyed youth smiled nervously. "What are you talking about? I noticed it a while ago. Remember when you warned me not to get too familiar with Fina, after I asked her to sing for me that one time? I thought it was odd back then, and I just today remembered it. I just wanted to make sure. I won't tell anyone about it, especially not the girls—promise."
"Vyse, I'm not in love with Fina," Ramirez said exasperatedly. He was about to go on when he happened to catch sight of something long and orange some ways behind Vyse, poking out from behind a corner—one of Aika's ridiculous-looking braids? His expression didn't change, his military discipline keeping him from betraying that he'd noticed a spy, but he was definitely not pleased to know he had an audience.
/On the other hand,/ he mused quickly, /whatever Aika hears, she'll relay to Fina, so I could use this opportunity to keep Fina from chasing after me needlessly... And if Fina's listening in with her, all the better./
"Did Aika set you up to this, by the way?" he added. A twitch of the braid—/Not very stealthy, that hairstyle,/ Ramirez mused bemusedly—and a twitch from Vyse told him all he needed to know, so he continued, "Don't try denying it, Vyse."
With an embarrassed sigh, Vyse said, "All right, you got me. Aika mentioned that she thought you had a crush on Fina, so it reminded me of back then, and I got curious." It wasn't exactly what happened, but it was true nonetheless, and Vyse knew Ramirez wouldn't like that he'd been talking about him at length behind his back. Guiltily, the brown-eyed Blue Rogue resolved not to do that anymore...
"Hmm," Ramirez frowned. It seemed plausible enough...but there was still something fishy about the situation, his lunch aside. Deciding to engineer the conversation a little further, he looked away and commented, "I wonder if Fina put her up to mentioning that to you."
"What? Why would she do something like that?" Vyse queried, staring.
Glancing at the pirate, Ramirez decided with some satisfaction that he was probably being honest, which pleased him for a number of different reasons, and replied, "Well, it's just it's too much of a coincidence."
"What do you mean?"
Turning to face Vyse fully, Ramirez inquired, "You remember last night when Aika told me Fina had something to say to me, right?"
The Air Pirate nodded, still not quite clueing in, taking a sip from his water glass.
"Well, she ended up confessing her love to me," he admitted, making a show of averting his gaze, though in reality he wanted to see the reaction of the pumpkin-colored braid. It slipped out of sight, and there was some whispering from that direction, though it was easy not to notice if you weren't listening for it.
"He told Vyse," Fina was whispering desperately to Aika at that moment, having pulled her back. "What am I going to do, Aika??"
"Calm down, it's not a big deal," Aika whispered back. "Vyse isn't the type to spread rumors, anyway, and it could be worse. In any case, we'll get noticed if we try to sneak away, so let's just listen in for the moment."
Yes, judging from that there was whispering to begin with, Fina must be there with Aika... /What perfect timing,/ Ramirez had to think, with the mental equivalent of a smirk.
"Woah, for real?" Vyse was gaping; no, that surprise definitely wasn't faked. An honest guy like him couldn't feign that. "What did you say?"
"Well, what could I say?" Ramirez replied, scowling slightly; he, on the other hand, could act quite well. "I ended up pretending to misunderstand, and told her I loved her like a sister. How else could I avoid hurting her feelings?"
"Don't you think that would have hurt her feelings, too?" Vyse questioned doubtfully.
"Well, when she confessed, she blurted it out all of a sudden," Ramirez told him, "so what I did was probably better than telling her straight that I didn't love her. That would have crushed her."
Vyse considered this, regarding his companion with a growing smile.
"...What?" Ramirez demanded, a feeling of disconcertion growing with that smile.
He grinned. "It's nothing," he said. "Well...it's just that I think it's awfully sweet of you to go out of your way like that."
Ramirez made a face. "Vyse, please don't call me sweet."
With a laugh, Vyse apologized, "Sorry, sorry—bad choice of words. But still, that's surprisingly considerate of you, trying to make sure Fina wasn't hurt too badly. I would have figured you would have just told her directly; you might have a more refined way of speaking than me, but you're a lot more prone to just being brutally honest. You really are a nice guy at heart, aren't you, Ramirez?"
With an irritated sigh, he replied, "Think what you like."
"No, I think it's a good thing," Vyse insisted. "Honesty is really important, but you have to be careful of other people's feelings, too. If you're just telling the truth to be cruel, then that's bad; sometimes you have to tell a few small lies to keep from hurting other people." Taking another bite of his sandwich, he added, "Shtill, you haven't seen Fina fer yearsh, right? And you two've known each other longer'n'anyone." Swallowing, he finished, "And Fina's a sweet girl who really cares about you and thinks about you a lot. Don't you think you might eventually, well, fall in love with her? Even if you don't feel that way now?"
Ramirez frowned and just shook his head, wondering about how much Vyse did and didn't know. "You don't understand. It's...oh, how do I explain this..." He glanced away, and almost raised a piece of raw sliced Moonfish to his lips when he caught hold of a brilliant idea. Aika had gone through the trouble of causing him trouble; now he'd return the favor. "Well, take you and Aika, for example," he said, looking back to his captain. "You two are childhood friends too, right?"
"Yeah."
"So how would you feel if Aika suddenly confessed her love to you?"
Meanwhile, Aika and Fina stared at each other wide-eyed from their hiding spot.
"That'd be—wow, way too weird," Vyse answered, blinking in surprise. "I've known her ever since we were playing in the sandbox. We're practically like family—it'd be like if my sister hit on me! If I had one." He blinked, reconsidered his words, and suddenly realized. "Ohhhh. I get it! It's like that with you and Fina, huh?"
"Exactly," Ramirez said emphatically. "You finally understand, Vyse."
"Heh... Looking at it from that perspective, I guess I know how you feel," the brunet said thoughtfully, taking another bite of his sandwich as, unbeknownst to him, the two eavesdropping girls sweatdropped heavily. "It'd be way too weird if Aika had a crush on me. A good thing I don't have to deal with that..."
"Yes," Ramirez agreed, glancing back at the girls' hiding spot with a restrained but triumphant smile. "A good thing indeed."
Vyse looked around then, and the Silvite swordsman regarded him curiously. Had he finally noticed the girls as well? It was a bit late for that, but it was understandable that, since he's in his own base, he would be off his guard like this. Ramirez could let that amount of negligence slide, considering the circumstances, and better to notice eavesdroppers before they escape rather than after, or not at all. The Silvite considered the Blue Rogue to be his equal; Vyse should act like his equal as well.
"How long's it been since we broke for lunch, Ramirez?" the captain of the Delphinus queried before taking a bite of his sandwich.
"Eh? Ah...I'm not sure, exactly, not having a clock to which to refer, but I would guess twenty minutes?" Ramirez replied, his tone more polite than usual, as he returned to his own meal.
Vyse gave him an odd little look, chewing thoughtfully and chasing his food with a swig of water, but he gave the older swordsman a lopsided smile and finished off his sandwich. Standing, he replied, grinning at his companion as if he'd told an amusing joke rather than make a temporal estimate, "I'm going to head back to the Delphinus. I'll be waiting for you, Rami!"
The silver-haired young man rolled his eyes at the nickname, at which Vyse's grin became slightly sheepish, but Ramirez simply inclined his head into a nod as the Air Pirate took a step toward the inner docks, looking back long enough to wave before leaving. He watched him go as he sipped his cloudy soup and ate his rice, his expression neutral. The fool had used that annoying name for him, smiled for no apparent reason and didn't even notice Aika and Fina, both of whom he was graciously ignoring as they attempted to slip away unnoticed...
His expression softened ever so slightly.
/Idiot./
Work for the rest of that day passed quickly, and it wasn't long until
everyone had called it a night and got ready to shower and get to bed.
It had been, however, in other respects, quite a long day, and both
Aika and Fina had been given much to ponder. The girls were truly
starting to envy the Princess Moegi, who had Enrique utterly
captivated... Of course, they didn't begrudge the happy couple, and
were happy to give them their blessings, but they couldn't help but
feel at least somewhat jealous at Moegi's rosy love life when their own
romantic prospects were grey at best and getting bleaker. It was during
their shower that the two best friends discussed their current
situations, across a stall wall.
"Men," Aika promptly complained as she stepped into her stall, hanging her towel outside the shower curtain. "They. Are utterly. HOPELESS."
"Perhaps it would be best to give up," Fina suggested, her verdure eyes downcast as she turned on the hot water and entered. "If they both think of us as family, then..."
"Give up? Hah!" the spunky piratess laughed, her brown eyes fierce. "A good Blue Rogue never gives up! She just...admits temporary defeat," she finished reluctantly.
"Maybe we should do that, then," the Silvite lady called.
Aika mused bitterly on the subject for so long that Fina had to call her name before her attention was revived. Then, with a startled noise, she replied, "Huh? Yeah. No, wait, no! We can't call it quits, not after we've tried this hard! You love Ramirez, don't you?"
The green-eyed young woman was silent for a moment as she lathered her skin with Nasrian scented soap before she quietly said, "Yes. But..."
"What? I can't hear you over the water."
"Yes, but," Fina raised her voice, "I don't want him to be unhappy."
"Huh? Why would he be unhappy? You're important to him!"
"But if he thinks of me as a sister," the Silvite argued, "then I shouldn't try to force him into feeling something he doesn't feel. That wouldn't be fair to him, and I wouldn't be happy either if I thought he was just with me to please me. He seemed rather annoyed about the subject when Vyse brought it up, too... I don't want him to get upset with me because I keep overstepping my boundaries. I'm glad just to have my childhood friend back.
"Besides," and Fina paused to pick up the shampoo, her smile and blush both faint, "it was awfully sweet of him to try to protect my feelings like he did. I'm grateful to him for at least trying to be kind to me even when I was being a bother." Aika groaned, to which the pale-blonde young woman blinked rapidly. "What?"
"'Sweet' and 'Ramirez' just don't go together," she replied, her tone more cross than she'd intended it to be. "Honestly, what are you and Vyse thinking?"
Fina giggled in reply. "You just don't see his good side," she said gently. "Why don't you try talking to him? You two might have more in common than you think."
"Gnuh. I'll think about it," the carrot-topped girl muttered. "Anyway, moving back on topic..."
"I think what I said applies to you and Vyse as well," Fina interrupted even more gently. "You care about him more than anyone else, just like how I care about Ramirez. So shouldn't his personal happiness be just as important to you as your own happiness? Even if it isn't in the way you would prefer, Vyse still loves you, Aika. You'll always be dear in his thoughts... That is what I believe, anyway."
There was a long pause as the Air Piratess scrubbed her skin roughly and thoroughly, as if she could force the truth behind Fina's words to slough off along with the dead cells. Finally, though, she sighed heavily, and raising her arm as a cushion, leaned her head against the stall wall. "You have a point," she said resignedly. "Damn it, Vyse, why d'you have to be such a blockhead..."
"If you really want to, though, you could always confess to him anyway," the Silvite pointed out, her voice still gentle.
Another lengthy pause ensued, water raining over Aika's bare back, before she smiled and laughed ruefully. "On the other hand, there's something to this maidenly give-up-on-the-guy-you-like-because-he-thinks-you're-like-his-kid-sister routine..."
Fina smiled nervously before she replied, "Do whatever you think is best, Aika."
"Mnuh," the Blue Rogue mumbled in non-reply, then let the conversation dwindle into silence as she mused over her good friend's words. There was no way that she could tell Vyse how she felt, especially now that she knew he wouldn't return her affections... That route was a dead-end, so as she rinsed herself off, she instead deliberated over Fina's suggestion to talk to Ramirez. Vyse had said they should all try to make him feel welcome, and hell, Aika knew he'd have no reason to be nice to someone he knew neither liked nor trusted him—/With good reason,/ she thought darkly—but that didn't make her more inclined to actually follow through...
Shutting off the water and grabbing her towel, she briskly began to dry herself off as she considered talking to the taciturn man. Maybe Vyse and Fina were right; maybe Ramirez was a better guy than for what she was crediting him. Doc had nothing but good things to say about him, too. It occurred to her also that maybe he treated everyone like an enemy was because he expected them to be or become his enemies. Well, they weren't his enemies, or they wouldn't be if he'd get it through his head that following Galcian wasn't going to make him happy in the long run.
Blinking, Aika thought then, /Maybe he's given up on being happy.../ Although she still had her misgivings about the man, she couldn't help but feel sorry for someone who'd had such a rough time that he'd forsaken friendship and happiness because he didn't believe they existed...
The Air Piratess shook her head vigorously, loose, wet strands of her hair beating against her neck and shoulders. "I'm over-thinking things," she declared out loud.
"Aika?" Fina called from her stall.
"I'm going to talk to Ramirez after all, Fina!" Aika called back, grabbing her clothes and quickly changing into them.
She couldn't see her friend's smile, but it was audible in her reply of, "Good luck!"
The young redhead didn't take long to dress, dry her hair and brush it, not wanting to give herself time to rethink her decision, and as she walked quickly from the showers, leaving her hair loose, she caught sight of the Prince of Valua exiting the mens' showers at the same time.
"Hey, Enrique!" she called over to him. "Do you know where Ramirez is?"
He glanced over at her with a politely surprised smile and paused a second for thought. "I think he's already headed back to his room, Aika."
"Thanks!" she yelled, waving and taking off for the living quarters. She smiled and shouted good-nights to the people she passed on the way, but she didn't slow down until she reached the second floor of the barracks, where she spied the white-haired Silvite just a step away from his door.
"Hey, Ramirez!" she shouted, jogging up to him.
He turned at the sound of his name, his expression carefully guarded; he definitely didn't want to talk to her. "...What?" he answered, to be polite.
Standing before him and crossing her arms, Aika stated, "I want to talk to you!"
His expression remained guarded. "Oh?"
"Have you got a minute?" she continued, turning a half-step toward her door, not waiting for an answer. "Let's go to my room for privacy."
/What's wrong with my room?/ Ramirez wondered, but he knew she probably would feel more comfortable in her own territory. "...Fine."
The two walked over to and into Aika's room, with the piratess picking a seat to take and the Valuan Admiral choosing to stand rigidly instead. He waited patiently for her to begin the conversation, and the two of them regarded each other silently before Aika finally took her cue and spoke.
"Well...maybe it's against my better judgment to ask this, but how do you feel about Fina?"
"Your hair is nice like that," Ramirez commented, flicking his green eyes to Aika's loose hair.
"......huh, wha?" Vyse's childhood friend uttered, blinking rapidly.
"It looks better the way it is now," he said in the way of explanation, bemused by how easy it was to change the subject, though he doubted it would last once his companion regained her bearings. "You should wear it down more often."
"Uh, well, uhh..." Aika stammered, then stopped and glared at Ramirez. "Hey, wait, don't change the subject! I asked you about Fina!"
"You don't take compliments well, I see," the swordsman observed.
"We're not talking about me, we're talking about Fina!" she protested, blushing.
"A topic I'm beginning to find disagreeable," the silver-haired man frowned. "I have no wish to discuss her with you."
She frowned as well. "Why not?"
"Why should I?" he replied, allowing a small measure of annoyance to show. "I know whatever I say to you here, you'll report back to her without fail. Besides, I strongly suspect that you were the one who put her up to all this in the first place. Fina is far too timid to come up with this on her own."
Aika didn't reply, knowing it too be all too true.
"I'm right, aren't I?" Ramirez smirked mirthlessly. "Well, you needn't reply, since it's rather obvious. Please be reassured, though, that I will not fall in love with Fina... As you really should understand well from Vyse."
"I haven't had a chance to talk to Vyse today," the orange-haired replied hotly, crossing her arms huffily.
"I'm afraid you misunderstand," he said, looking down upon her. "I never stated that you spoke with Vyse. Nor, must I mention, do I think he would speak of this with anyone but you."
The implication behind Ramirez's statement took a few seconds to sink in; when it did, Aika gaped open-mouthed at the faintly smirking swordsman before she sat up straight and managed to sputter, "You, you knew!!"
"Knew what?" the Silvite swordsman said scornfully, his jade eyes narrowed. "That you were eavesdropping on our private conversation? You hardly have a right to be indignant."
"Hey! I wasn't hurting anyone!" she shouted, rising to her feet, her face growing red. "I didn't mean to, anyway! Besides, you could at least try to be a little more tactful!"
"Oh? I thought I was being tactful," he remarked coolly. "Perhaps you were too busy being self-righteous to notice?"
Grinding her teeth, Aika forced out, "Well...I'm sorry, then, okay?"
"Give me a reason to accept your apology and perhaps I'll do so," Ramirez replied evenly.
"You know what?!" the pirate girl exploded, her patience with the swordsman at its end. "You're a big jerk! I just said I was sorry and you have to go and dangle it over my head! What do Vyse and Fina think is so great about you, anyway?! When you'd sell us all out to Galcian in a heartbeat if you had the chance!!"
Ramirez was quick to fall silent, his expression once again guarded.
"I'd be surprised if you haven't already cooked up some plan to stab us all in the back!" she continued to rant, heedless of the consequences. "The only thing keeping you from carrying it out is that you haven't been able to contact him!"
"Your level of faith in me is utterly remarkable," the Silvite commented blandly.
"What the hell is with your devotion to Galcian, anyway?" she scowled, glaring at him. "What makes him so much better than the rest of us?"
His eyes narrowed slightly. "That is a story I have no intentions of telling to you."
"Why not? Because I wouldn't understand?" the pirate girl inquired, rolling her eyes. "You won't know until you try me!"
"Perhaps it's because it's a private matter," Ramirez replied, stressing the words coldly. "Apparently, you don't understand such things."
"I won't tell! If I tell," and Aika paused to fumble for a suitably acceptable exchange, "you can beat me up as much as you like, and I'll tell Vyse I had it coming."
The Silvite had to smirk at that. "As tempting as that sounds," he said dryly, "I trust you about as much as you trust me." Glancing away, he continued, "If you were Vyse, I perhaps might be convinced to speak, but as you are, I'm definitely not going to tell you. Especially since I dislike repeating myself, and all considering, I find it highly likely that Fina told you what I told her, back when I was first brought aboard the Delphinus. Or is your memory too poor to retain such petty details?" he finished, his tone laced with contempt.
"What makes Vyse special?" the pirate girl inquired, ignoring the crack.
"...There's something about him that's disarming," Ramirez chose to reply at length. He mused on to himself, recalling some of his early conversations with the handsome rogue, "It wouldn't have been the first time I spoke more freely to him than I would with anyone else..."
"Hunh, so you're saying you like him?" Aika queried, an eyebrow and a corner of her mouth both quirked upwards, placing her arms akimbo.
"That's another thing I don't care to discuss with you," the Silvite scowled.
Finally recognizing that if she kept on this path, their conversation would be irreversibly ruined, Aika attempted to make amends by raising her hands and saying, "Let's start over, okay? I don't want to aggravate you."
"Your previous words strongly suggest otherwise," the sixth Admiral commented.
"Well, then, I'm sorry, all right?" Aika said, annoyed. "I'm sorry."
"I believe we went over this before," he noted, peering at her.
"Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" she demanded, now both annoyed and exasperated.
He shrugged, shutting his eyes. "Not particularly."
Peering at him for a moment, she finally declared, flopping back onto her chair, "I really don't understand why Vyse puts up with you."
"To be fair, I don't understand why he puts up with you, either," the Admiral commented. "Our perspectives are too different." Crossing his arms and turning away, he continued, "Vyse gets away with calling himself my friend because I've actually found him to be agreeable, for the most part." Ramirez glanced back at her. "You are unlikely to earn the same regard."
"I really don't like you," Aika seethed.
Without emotion, the Silvite stated, "The feeling is mutual."
There was a moment where neither spoke; then, the redhead sighed. "...This isn't how I intended this conversation to turn out."
"What were your intentions?"
"I was trying to see if maybe you were a nice guy at heart like certain people keep assuring me," Aika replied, aggravated.
"I'll save your life someday. You can make your own decision then." At likely the same time, he would be giving the Moon Crystals to Lord Galcian and laying waste to Crescent Isle, so he doubted it would make a difference, but at least she'd get to keep at least her life. She had to treasure the little things. "Until then," the swordsman finished, turning toward the door, "perhaps it's best if we respectfully avoid each other."
"Good night," the boomerang-user sighed, running an ungloved hand through her bangs.
"Good night," Ramirez replied with a curt nod as he left. Outside her door, he was mildly surprised to meet Vyse.
"Hey," the brunet smiled, pushing himself off of the wall, his arms crossed. "Pretty rare to see you hanging out with Aika. What were you two up to?"
"Just clearing up some issues," Ramirez frowned. "What are you doing here?"
"Curiosity," the young captain grinned. "Enrique told me Aika had been looking for you."
"Please don't tell me you were eavesdropping," the white-haired swordsman sighed in irritation.
"What? No," Vyse replied, blinking widely in genuine surprise. "I only just got here. Besides, Aika would get pissed if I listened in on her."
"You're a better person than she is," Ramirez mused.
"What?"
"Nothing," the Silvite said dismissively. "Are you heading to bed now?"
"Yeah. Don't want to be dead on my feet tomorrow," Vyse replied, regarding Ramirez curiously but deciding to let it slide. "'Night."
The young Admiral turned to return to his room. "Good night."
"Oh, yeah, Ramirez?" Vyse called over once he'd reached his door.
He glanced back at the brunet Air Pirate over his shoulder. "Yes?"
Vyse smiled warmly, his expression soft. He had spent a lot of time musing over his conversation with Ramirez last night, and although he didn't understood much better now than he did then, he had puzzled through a couple of things. What Aika had said before was right; Ramirez's loyalties were to Galcian. But that was something that could change, right? Even if it took a lot of work. It was just a matter of letting him realize which life would be better for him and what he'd always wanted for himself, and that he could be happy in Arcadia.
The young captain knew that he hadn't really been making things easier for Ramirez, either; it had to be tough for the Silvite to go against his commanding officer... If Vyse had to work against his father, for example, he doubted he'd be enthused about that, either. And having to work with Air Pirates when he was an Admiral of the Valuan Armada, all because he, Vyse, had in essence kidnapped him... He didn't like thinking of it that way, but what else could one call taking someone to a place at which they didn't want to be against their will? Yes, dwelling on Aika's words had opened his eyes on certain things. True, he'd heard similar things from his father, but to a teenager, there is a big difference between hearing something from one's parent and hearing the same thing from one's best friend.
Vyse's easygoing smile increased as he gazed at the patiently waiting swordsman. Yeah, now that he really thought about it, he had put Ramirez through a lot. He had to admire a guy who could have taken that kind of stress and still end up liking the person who forced him into it anyway.
"Thanks..." he said, thinking of all of that, "for putting up with me."
The Admiral blinked, completely confused. "...Pardon?" he ventured.
"I know this isn't really your place," he began, glancing up at the Moon, "and maybe even after all this time, you still think of me as an enemy you just happen not to hate..." Leaning against his door and smiling at the stunned Silvite, he finished, "But I'd really like it if this became your place, someday."
Unable to form any words to exchange for that, the snowy-haired youth simply gazed at the Blue Rogue silently.
"Oh, one last thing," Vyse added, grinning brightly.
"What now?" Ramirez inquired hesitantly.
"I'm glad you like me," he smiled gently. "I hope you're glad I like you, too."
He continued to say nothing, though his jade eyes widened slightly as his heartbeat began to sprint for the first time since he had conquered his supposedly false emotions.
"'Night, Ramirez," the captain of the Delphinus said cheerily, entering his room.
"...Good night, Vyse," the silver-haired young man murmured, already puzzling through the Blue Rogue's words.
His room was cast in shadows and moonlight, and he locked his door with a quiet click behind him before he leaned against it, running a hand through his bangs and finally allowing himself the luxury of a moment of panic.
/What's going on?/ he thought desperately, staring into the dark. /What's...this feeling...why? Why am I feeling this way again? I was confused! I was just confused!! Why is my heart pounding like this again?!/
"Vyse," he whispered, sweat beading on his face in spite of the cool, "do you even realize what you're doing to me...?"
He wiped his brow on the back of his glove, and walking over to his desk, his breathing elevated, he began to strip down to his pants and undershirt. He pulled out the chair heedless of the noise and slumped down upon it, tossing his discarded garments on the desk and his boots on the floor.
/It can't be./
Still breathing heavily, his green eyes fixed on a point in the gloom, his heartbeat thudding, Ramirez placed a hand over his mouth and thought, /I can't be in love with him. I...I can't. I already dealt with this! It's...I just can't! It's wrong, and...he's the enemy! I'm going to betray him to Lord Galcian! This can't be happening!!/
Bowing his head and leaning over the desk, he buried his fingers into his bangs, obscuring his eyes with his palms. This... Did Vyse know? About his...confusion? Or was it possible that he was becoming confused...? It was entirely possible, but...
"No," Ramirez stated breathlessly, shaking his head. "Not Vyse. Even if he were, it's impossible that he'd choose me..."
But Vyse had told him quite clearly that he liked him, twice. Was he reading too much into it? But what he'd said just now had been rather suggestive... But Vyse was a fool, he wouldn't realize what he was saying! ...Or would he? Despite how Ramirez often thought of him as an idiot, not always seriously, he knew the Air Pirate had a good head on his shoulders. How else could he have thwarted the Armada for this long, and even snuck into and escaped from the Grand Fortress? It was possible that Vyse was far more crafty than for what Ramirez gave him credit... And if he allowed that concession, was it possible that even his assessment of his honesty was also mistaken?
If that were so, then he needed no regrets concerning his betrayal. Vyse would have betrayed him eventually anyway; better that he seize the first chance and thus the upper hand. Yes, he wouldn't need to regret, to doubt, to be anxious...but...
He didn't know what to think. Ramirez truly didn't know what to think.
"Why is it..." he whispered, massaging his temples, "that you're so very skilled at upsetting my world view, Vyse...?"
Whatever else he thought, the sixth Admiral knew this was hardly a matter to be contemplated when exhausted. He needed more time to gather information, to observe and assess, to analyze the reverse side of Vyse. And then...what? Regardless of whether Vyse was honest or deceitful, what did it matter? Ramirez had his duty to fulfill. Duty came before all other things; abiding by his vows and oaths to Lord Galcian were his top priority. That was the one unchangeable rule. Distinguishing the true nature of Vyse's character was unnecessary for the completion of his mission, and thus superfluous. He would be gone within a couple of weeks; he would never have to think about the Blue Rogue or any of his companions again, aside from when they met on the battlefield.
But there was also the undeniable fact that he liked, and possibly loved, Vyse. How would that change things? How had it already changed things? Moons knew how much it had warped, and was still warping...
"I need sleep," Ramirez groaned, standing, though he knew he was unlikely to achieve it. With a deep sigh, he turned from the desk and, without bothering to push the chair back, collapsed onto his bed to begin anew his vain attempts for respite.
The rest of that week, though perhaps not peaceful, was thankfully
without incident.
NOTES: We own nothing except our ideas. Don't take our ideas.
All properties of Skies of Arcadia/Eternal Arcadia [Legends]
belong to everyone it is to whom they belong.
Ianthe: (*wails*) I SUCK! I did nothing to help write
this chapter!
Ayu: Yeah, I wrote this one all by myself. Edited it by myself
for the most part, too.
Ianthe:squee. Blame my brothers! My internet connection
is nihil thanks to them! DAMN YOU, GABRIEL KNIGHT!! DAMN YOU
FOR SEDUCING LUCK AND AIDAN (and me) WITH YOUR ASSHOLE WAYS!!!
Ayu: (*patpats*)
"Vyse was getting the feeling that Ramirez might even want to
make more friends, but just was too uncomfortable with dealing with
other people normally to do so."
Ianthe: Anybody else getting Utena/Anthy flashbacks? That's one
of my favorite couplings, incidentally.
Ayu: I got to page 17 before I asked myself, "When do these people SHOWER?!" So that's why we all of a sudden have a shower scene. Thought you might be interested.
Ayu: The lyric-title this time is taken from a Yaida Hitomi song by the title of I'm here saying nothing. Full lyrics can be found at my site, as always, the link to which you can find below.
Contact deep.Indigo: deep.Indigo@negativenergy.zzn.com
Contact Ianthe of d.I: ianthefira@rangersgrove.zzn.com
(URL: Ranger's Grove (rangersgrove.tripod.com))
Contact Ayu of d.I: ensoph@goddess.zzn.com
(URL: ~ T H E : E T E R N A L : M I N D ~ (theeternalmind.sterlingsylver.net))
