A night in the sun
Sage: Umm..uhh…what are you…wearing?
Kaley: (grins and spins around wearing a heavy blade outfit which is quite…revealing) Oh isn't it so cute?! I love it so much!
Bakura: (tugs on wavemaster robes) Why am I wearing this?
Kaley: You're the co-host silly!!
Bakura: Ra damn you…(pulls at robes) They're the color of Marik's shirt!! Lavendar for a guy?! And this headdress is pink and blue…
Kaley: It's cute isn't it?!
Bakura:…(growls and sulks)
Sage: Anyways, back to the story…glad to see so many positive reviews again! ^_^ You guys are awesome!!
Elk: Also, this vote was more of a 'what do the reviewers think' then a real vote…But anyway it's still nice to know what you guys think..but I can't help but wonder what you guys think the prize is? (ponders)
Bakura: How about the prize be I get to kill Kaley for putting me in this?!
Elk:…no…
Kaley: The prize is cute!!
Elk: The race is brutal…
Sage: And Tsukasa's hot…is there a point to any of this?
Kaley: Is there ever a point to our babbling?
Sage: No, just wondering…
Elk: Well, it's time to do this…(takes a deep breath) Ok…so…umm…(sighs) On wi-
Bakura: ON WITH THE RA DAMNED FIC!!
Elk: -_-
"This year's event is going to be great!" Sang a female brunette heavy blade. The wavemaster next to her groaned and shook his head.
"I hate doing these stupid events…" He muttered, pulling harshly at his lavender robes. (A/N: Bakura: (still sulking) Kaley: ^_^) "Do I have to wear these robes?! They make me look girly…"
"But they're cute…" The girl pouted at her friend. "C'mon, please Kura?"
"Ah, whatever…" He sighed and went back to tugging at his clothes. "Anyways, what are we doing this year?"
"You know…the Goddess race?" The girl bounced excitedly. "Just think about it Kura! It will be so cute!!"
"You think everything's cute Kaley…" He glared at her. "And out of all the system administers we're the ones that get stuck with this?"
"I begged to get this job!" Kaley gasped in shock. "I thought it'd be fun to plan out such a big thing…"
"Ok, ok…so, let's just get to work then…and stop calling me Kura!" He snapped. "BA!! Ba-ku-ra…Bakura!"
"I know that Kura…silly, I didn't forget your name!" Kaley giggled and hopped away, leaving a highly annoying Bakura.
"I should ruin this event just to shut her up…" He muttered as he followed her off.
Tsukasa gated back into town with a smile. He'd checked the area and it was still the same, still as beautiful as always…
"Tsukasa!" He turned and saw the heavy blade Mimiru running happily towards him. He sighed and spun full around to face her. Sometimes he wished he could just tell her to leave him alone. After all, he didn't always want to talk.
"Hey." Tsukasa nodded and leaned against his staff. "What are you up to?"
"Oh, just waiting for A-20 to log on." Mimiru grinned. "She wants me help getting a few more Golden Grunties. So, what are you doing?"
"Waiting for something."
"What?"
"A friend…"
"A friend?" Mimiru giggled and leaned closer. "A special friend?" She asked quietly. Tsukasa rolled his eyes.
"Mimiru…"
"I knew it!!" Mimiru nearly tackled the boy. "So~o?? Who is it? Where are they? How old, c'mon Tsukasa details!!"
"Ugh, Mimiru, I'm waiting for my friend Elk." Tsukasa glared at her. "He's forty years old and he lives in the woods…"
"Tsukasa!" She shouted, giving him a small push. He smirked.
"Fine, his name really is Elk…but I don't know those other details." Tsukasa shrugged. "He lives in Japan, how's that one for you?"
"Ah, fine, don't tell me anything!" Mimiru crossed her arms. "Maybe I should just talk to him myself!"
"Good luck finding him." Tsukasa said. " He won't show up here until nine tonight…" However, Tsukasa's voice trailed off. He groaned and nodded behind the heavy blade.
"Huh? Who's behind…" Mimiru turned around and nearly screamed. "AH GOD DAMN IT SORA!!" She shouted. Sora laughed and quickly jumped away from the angry girl.
"Guess what?" Sora leapt over Mimiru, landing behind Tsukasa. "Fruitypants is hugging Elk."
"Huh?" Tsukasa spun around. "Who's Fruitypants?"
"Balmung!" Sora sang. "You know, they are hugging…it's so sad, Elk is tragically torn between multiple lovers!!"
"What?" Mimiru stared at them in confusion. "I thought you and Elk were going out?" She said, turning to Tsukasa. "He's a cheating hussy!!"
"Wait, Mimiru…" Tsukasa held up his hands. "You don't get it…"
"Sora, are you lying?" She asked the twin blade.
"Nope, sorry to disappoint you by being honest!" Sora giggled. "Elk in the arms of another man! Poor poor Tsukasa…"
"Hang on a second guys!" Tsukasa yelled but by now nobody was listening.
"Where are they?"
"Down by the Grunty farm…"
"C'mon Tsukasa!" Mimiru cried and dragged the boy swiftly down to the farm.
Elk was frozen, not the first time and he had a bad feeling it wasn't the last either. He had forgotten Balmung's question. It didn't really matter right then, not with the way the taller man was looking at him. Balmung had wrapped his arms around the boy so tightly that Elk couldn't even struggle. Instead, he stared up at the smiling man, wondering what was going on.
"Balmung, why are you hugging me?" He asked, trying to keep his voice normal though he knew it sounded strained. Balmung didn't seem to hear him.
"Elk…" The white-haired man sighed. "How old are you?"
"Huh?" Elk was a bit surprised. "I-I'm thirteen." Elk stammered. "I-I just turned thirteen a few weeks ago…" (A/N: Sage: This is based on extensive research so it's a pretty damn good guess.)
"Barely a teenager…" Balmung sighed sadly.
"What is it…Balmung?" Elk reached up and rested his hand on his friend's cheek. "What's wrong?"
"Elk, I don't know to be honest…" Balmung leaned onto the boy's hand. "But I'm trying to figure it out…so wait for me…"
"Wait…for you?" Elk repeated, confused. Balmung shook his head and held Elk tighter.
"Wait for me…to figure out why I can't stop…thinking about you…" Balmung said slowly, as though even he didn't know what he was talking about. "I'm sorry Elk, until then though, pretend this didn't happen." Balmung then let go of the boy and took a few steps back. Elk pulled at his sleeves, his face a brilliant shade of red.
"Um, I-I…Ba-balmung…y-you…I…" Elk just stared at him, causing the angelic man to grin.
"You are quite cute when you're embarrassed." Balmung said. "Don't be though, if anything I should be the crimson one."
"Ok you good for nothing man whore just what do you think you're doing?!" A female voice suddenly screamed. Both men turned and saw a heavy blade girl, who was currently struggling to get loose of Tsukasa's grasp. Sora stood behind them smirking.
"Tsukasa…" Elk said in surprise. The other wavemaster looked up at him and something flashed in his eyes. Elk frowned. It had appeared to have been something between embarrassment and jealousy…which wasn't really a good combo.
"Don't try to stop me Tsukasa!" The girl yelled, finally breaking free of the boy. "Listen you you you…two timing hussy!!" She stormed to Elk, towering over him. "I've seen my friend hurt before and I know your little games!! You stay away from him, you and your whore filled lifestyle need to back off ok?!"
"Mimiru!" Tsukasa shouted. "Would you just shut up for a minute?!"
"B-but Tsukasa!" Mimiru glared at Elk. "You saw what I saw! He is the one isn't he?" She said suddenly, turning back to Elk. "You're Elk right? Cheating on Tsukasa?!"
"I-I'm…I…I-I-I-I…" Elk's eyes started to tear up once more. What was he supposed to do? What could he say to make this freaky girl go away?
"Spit it out!" Mimiru screamed.
"I'm sorry!" Elk cried out, the only thing he could think of.
"Damn right you better be!" Mimiru snapped. "I ought to smack you for-"
"He's not cheating on Tsukasa." Balmung walked in between the crazed girl and his weeping friend. "In fact, are you so sure that he and Tsukasa are even dating?"
"Of course I am!" She yelled but Tsukasa then joined them.
"I said I was waiting for someone, you're the one to jump to conclusions." Tsukasa glared at her. "I wouldn't care if these two were going out, it's their choice. Mimiru, you can be so stupid sometimes…" Elk caught Tsukasa's eye. Now he looked kind of sad…was it his fault?
"We aren't dating." Balmung said calmly. "I merely gave him a hug for reasons that I choose not to tell you people."
"See Mimiru?" Tsukasa sighed, resting his hand on his forehead. "Jumping the gun only makes you look like a fool."
"O-oh…I-I see…" Mimiru blushed deeply and turned to Elk, who automatically took a step away. "Listen, I'm sorry, don't cry ok? I didn't mean to be like that…" Mimiru's voice softened. Elk noticed that, when she wasn't screaming she was kinda pretty. "Tsukasa's my friend and I guess that isn't an excuse but…oh and I'm sorry for thinking you were a man whore."
"It's ok…" Elk smiled nervously.
"Anyways, it's all Sora's fault for stirring things up right?" Tsukasa said evenly. "So…then Mimiru, if you want to yell at someone, yell at him."
"This is Sora's doing?" Balmung's eyes narrowed and both he and the heavy blade rounded on the giggling man. Sora smirked at them.
"Oh, you guys want to play with me?" Sora laughed and ran off. "Then catch meeee!!"
"Get back here!" Mimiru screamed and chased after him.
"Player killer!!" Balmung yelled before following the girl. Tsukasa and Elk watched as they ran off in silence.
"I'm sorry…I upset you didn't I?" Elk said sadly, not looking at his friend.
"No, you didn't…are you really thirteen?" Tsukasa didn't sound mad…but still…his eyes held something different in them now.
"Yes…is that bad?" Elk asked.
"No, not really. You just don't act like you're thirteen I guess." Tsukasa shrugged. "I thought you were ten…"
"Oh…" Elk blushed deeply. "I-I'm sorry…I really am…"
"Oh don't worry about it. It doesn't matter…" Tsukasa paused, then said. "So, Balmung's…your friend?"
"Um, yes…he's my friend…that's all he is, really." Elk said quickly.
"I told you I don't care either way…go out with him if you want, it's not my life it's yours." Tsukasa said, perhaps a bit too harshly. Elk bowed his head.
"Alright…sorry…" Elk said, then the two were quiet.
"Anyways, see ya at nine…" Tsukasa wrapped away, leaving Elk alone. He sighed, pulling his hat over his eyes. Then he logged out of his once again messed up world.
Nine rings, nine o clock. Elk stood nervously in front of the chaos gate. He held in his hands the address that Tsukasa had given him. But now, with Tsukasa seemingly mad at him, was it still ok to go?
"He did say see ya at nine…" Elk muttered quietly. Finally, taking a deep breath, he called out the keywords and was whisked away to a new area. When his eyes opened, he gave a small cry. Not of fear or surprise but delight. The entire area around him was filled with snow covered birch trees. He spun around and looked up at the full, bright moon overhead. Snow was gently falling on him like flakes of stardust, some of which he caught with his tongue. Normally, he didn't like the snow but this…this was-
"Beautiful." Elk jumped and saw Tsukasa sitting on the ground, leaning against one of the pale trees. He quickly sucked his tongue back into his mouth and blushed.
"Tsukasa…this area…it's amazing!" Elk cried. He held his hands out, catching a few flakes of snow. "When…how did…"
"It's for an event, later next week." Tsukasa heaved himself off the ground and walked quietly over to his friend. "It's a Heavy Blade only event, so you and I would never normally see this area but…it's too beautiful to go to waste like that."
"It's…it's so pretty…" Elk bent low and scooped some of the snow into his palm. "I can't believe it…"
"You haven't seen the half of it." Tsukasa sounded so excited. He grabbed Elk's hand and helped him up. "C'mon, to the hilltop…" The boy led Elk through the forest, up a steep hill. Elk nearly fell several times but his friend caught him each time. Finally, after a few minutes of climbing, they reached the top. Elk gasped, so loudly that it almost echoed. Below the hill was the snowy forest that they had left, but it wasn't the only thing there.
"See? Beautiful." Tsukasa said. Next to the snow covered land, also under the bright moon was a summery field of wildflowers. They danced in the breeze and swayed around under a carpet of glowing green lights. Fireflies, thousands of them. Not too many that they clogged the landscape but enough to make Elk lean forward, as if to catch them.
"This, this, this is…" Elk stammered.
"This isn't everything." Tsukasa grinned. "Look behind you…" Elk turned around and made a surprised noise. Behind him it was a bright sunny day. Half of it was covered in flowers and green leafy trees with birds chirping loudly in their branches. The other side was a lovely fall day, with red, gold, lime and yellow leaves, some in the trees, most matting the floor.
"Oh Tsukasa…" Elk gasped, twirling around several times to take in everything around him. It was the four seasons, even night and day, coexisting harmoniously around this hill. The quiet winter, the joyful summer, the busy spring and the colorful fall.
"Yeah, I know…" Tsukasa said, smiling gently at the look of pure awe on the younger boy's face. "It really is something isn't it? It's for the annual Goddess of the Seasons event. Mimiru is hoping to be the goddess this year." Tsukasa moved closer to Elk. "It's incredible isn't it?"
"I-I think it's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!" Elk whispered.
"Heh, I thought you'd like it." Tsukasa smirked. "By the way, I wasn't mad at you earlier. I was mad at Mimiru and Sora."
"Oh…I see…" Elk beamed at him. "That's great, I've been worried about this all day."
"Don't, you already do too much of that." Tsukasa sighed and grabbed Elk's hand. "Well, c'mon! Let's go!"
"Go?"
"You don't want to go play in the seasons?"
"O-of course I do!" Elk gripped Tsukasa's hand and the two ran laughing down the hill.
That evening was wonderful. The two played in the leaves, threw snowballs and built snowmen and had a lot of fun catching fireflies. After that, they sat down under a cherry blossom tree and relaxed. Elk noticed that whenever he looked over at Tsukasa, he was smiling at him. Elk just shrugged it off though and rested his head against the trunk. He even took off his hat, letting the wind catch his hair.
"What are you thinking about?" Tsukasa asked him. Elk smiled.
"This place…it's so amazing. I had so much fun today…" Elk shut his eyes. "I was really worried that the day wouldn't be good, after this morning but…it was wonderful…thank you Tsukasa…"
"You're welcome…" Tsukasa leaned his head against the tree. "Elk, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Huh, um, no…"
"What about a boyfriend?"
"No, I don't…"
"That's interesting…" Tsukasa also shut his eyes. "Which do you prefer? Guys or girls?"
"Huh?" Elk opened his eyes and stared at the mage.
"Well, I guess it doesn't matter does it?" Tsukasa said thoughtfully. "You should like someone for who they are, not if they have boobs or not."
"…I guess you're right…" Elk said slowly.
"So when you fall in love, don't think about whether or not they are a guy or a girl…" Tsukasa opened one eye lazily. "In fact, don't think at all…"
"Tsukasa?" Elk frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing…" He grinned and shook his head. "Guys, girls, doesn't matter…anyways, I have to log off for the night, see you later Elk." Tsukasa stood up and was about to leave when he paused. "Oh and, think about what I said."
"I will…bye…" Elk watched sadly as the wavemaster departed. Elk sat under the tree for a long time, thinking about what he had said. "Guys or girls…doesn't matter as long as you're in love…" Elk said under his breath. "What was he talking about?"
The bamboo rattled whimsically as Kite tied his wish to one of the sticks. Elk looked over at it. 'I wish that I could protect my friends-K' was written on it.
"There, what do you think? Kite asked.
"That's a great wish…" Elk smiled and looked down at his blank paper. "I still don't have one though…"
"Don't worry, you'll think of a good one." Kite said cheerfully. He tilted his head back and stared up into the bamboo leaves. Many of their friends had already hung their wishes. 'I want rare items and lots of them!!-MIN!!' 'I wish for my brother's safety- Blackrose' 'I want to have more fun taunting Fruitypants!' 'I wish for love and peace! Vash'
"So many wishes…" Elk said softly. "I wonder what everyone else will wish for…I wonder what I should wish for…" Elk sighed and followed Kite over to their friends.
"Ohh, look at this!!" Minstrel held up a strange looking item. Kite stared at it, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Yes, that's a rare potion…" Kite said.
"You bet it is!" Minstrel grinned. "It took a lot of time and I had to beat one hell of a monster to get it!" Minstrel held the item up higher so that everyone could see it. It was the Tanabata Festival and everyone had gathered with their friends. Elk and Tsukasa were talking with Wiseman about a new rare rod that had recently been created. Everyone else was admiring Minstrel's ultra rare item.
"Your kimono is really cool Tsukasa." Elk said again, grinning. Tsukasa's long green and silver robes matched him so well, with the neat little designs all over it. Tsukasa laughed.
"Yeah, not bad are they?" Tsukasa held out his arms. "Not bad at all…everyone looks pretty good actually." Elk suddenly noticed something. In Tsukasa's hand was a slip of paper. Elk looked down at his own. Part of the festival meant making a wish but…he didn't know what to wish for yet. So, like Tsukasa, he held onto his slip.
"Yeah, I guess so…" Elk looked around, standing on his tip-toes. "But I haven't seen Balmung yet…"
"Oh, you miss Fruitypants?!" Sora sang. "How cute!"
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!" A female voice suddenly cried out. "THE TANABATA FESTIVAL WILL COMMENSE SHORTLY!! PLEASE, EVERYONE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE STAGE!!"
"C'mon, let's go…" Tsukasa grinned and everyone made their way slowly across the field.
"Oh, this is so exciting!" Kaley giggled as she dragged Bakura on stage with her. Bakura rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Only you would think this is exciting…" He muttered. "Don't expect me to act happy either, I hope someone gets killed."
"Kura!" She cried, elbowing him lightly in the ribs. "This is a romantic event, filled with passion and love!!"
"…and death and betrayal and pain and suffering…" He added. "Hey, maybe this won't be so bad after all…" The white haired man smirked.
"Kura!" She yelled again, hitting him. "That's not funny…" She turned to the crowd and picked up her microphone. "OK!!! This year's event is a race like always but with a twist!"
"One person will be selected randomly out of the crowd. They will be placed at the top of that hill." Bakura grinned and swung around, pointing behind the stage. "Did I say hill? I meant volcano." He snapped his fingers and a fiery mountain of doom exploded out of the ground, a rope bridge in the eye of the volcano. "They will stand on the bridge." The crowd muttered darkly and Bakura grinned. "Falling into the lava will kill you, so be careful…"
"Also, you can't climb up the mountain alone!" Kaley shouted. "You must have a partner, though the partner serves a rather dark purpose…"
"You see, long ago a woman waited at the top of a volcano for her lover to return to her…" Bakura said. "This woman was a Goddess though, who could only be seen if someone brought her a human sacrifice!"
"So, for this race you MUST have a human sacrifice, or a partner if you so wish to call them." Kaley continued. "For to cross the bridge, you must throw someone into the volcano to please the ancient codes of the heavens…"
"So, one person is going to be selected as the Goddess…" Bakura paused. "Oh yeah, I nearly forgot…the prize for getting to the Goddess…" He smirked. "Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there won't we?"
"Nice pun Kura…" Kaley said, giggling. "Well, let's pick the Goddess now…"
"How terrible…" Ryoko said, shaking her head. "Kill someone to please a deity?"
"I don't like that…" Elk looked down sadly. Someone was probably going to throw him into the volcano…
"Elk…" Someone whispered behind him. He turned and gasped. There stood Balmung, wearing a black kimono with a gold fish on it. His wings weren't wrapped around him either, rather they made it look like he'd just landed on the ground.
"There you are Balmung…" Elk smiled slightly. "I was looking for you…"
"I'm sorry I'm late…" Balmung bowed his head. "Please forgive me."
"No, it's fine really!" Elk said quickly. "The event is about to start though…"
"Yes, what a horrible event…" Balmung sighed. "I know what Bakura means now…betrayal is a must in this game."
"Yeah…" Elk sighed and shook his head. "I just know that I'll be the sac-" But Elk was suddenly gone. Balmung's eyes widened and he looked around wildly.
"Elk?"
"We have our Goddess…er…our God?" Kaley stared quizzically at the young wavemaster that had appeared on stage before her.
"Err, I guess we didn't fix the randomizer…" Bakura frowned. "Ah well…what's your name kid? Tell us about yourself." Bakura handed him the microphone. Elk blinked several times, then took a deep breath.
"My name…my name is…I'm Elk…I'm a level 63 wavemaster and I like going to quiet places and I love to draw and I like the fall colors and I hate school…" Elk said in a slightly distant voice. He wasn't really thinking, just talking.
"Great!" Kaley grinned and hugged him. "Now, to the volcano top we go!" She, Elk and Bakura disappeared, reappearing in the center of the bridge. "Now, pick your partners and gather at the base of the mountain!!!"
"I must save Elk!" Balmung cried out. "But I need someone to…" Suddenly he grinned. "Sora, want to be my partner?"
"Sure thing Fruitypants!" Sora sang. Balmung smirked.
"Um, let's…a contest partner…" Kite frowned when someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and saw Tsukasa smiling strangely.
"What do you say? Rescue Elk?" Tsukasa asked him. Kite nodded and the two shook hands. "I guess we'll decide who dies when we get there huh?"
"Oh my, poor Elk…" Ryoko pouted. "I really must save him!" She looked around and grabbed the nearest person…a werewolf girl named Orca. "Um, I'm sorry, I don't know you, my name's Ryoko will you please help me save Elk?"
"Well, I wasn't going to but sure, why not?" The girl grinned and knocked her hands together. "Maybe there will be a tough monster guarding the kid!"
A few moments later, everyone had gathered at the bottom of the mountain. Balmung and Sora were smirking at each other, both planning the other's death. Tsukasa and Kite stood quietly, speaking only to wonder how to climb to the top. Ryoko had decided that Orca was a very hyper person, because she was chatting away about the kinds of monsters that showed up at these events.
"Is everybody ready?" Kaley called down. Elk shook his head.
"I'm not!" He cried. Bakura laughed.
"You better be, because once they get to the top, they find out about the other part of the Volcano Goddess story…" Bakura grinned. "It will be so much fun!" Elk frowned and backed away from the ivory haired boy. He really didn't like this Bakura person.
"Kura, stop scaring him…" Kaley grinned. "It'd be fun, I promise!" She then turned back to her mike. "ON YOUR MARKS!!" She watched as everyone steadied below her. "GET SET!!" More movement…then…"GO!!!"
A/N: Sage: Well well well…that was a very fun chapter to write!
Kaley: Hee hee!! I'm so cute!! (is still wearing her heavy blade outfit)
Bakura: Well, at least I get to help out but…(tugs at robes) WHY IN A DRESS??!!
Elk: Um, um, so…as you can see, this race is different…but well…you'll see…as you can guess, the teams that the next chapter will follow are…
Kaley: Team Backstab- Balmung and Sora!
Bakura: Team Quiet- Kite and Tsukasa…
Elk: And the last Team…Team Weird- Ryoko and Orca…
Sage: Who will win?? What is the prize? What will Elk wish for?? It's all next chapter…
Elk: and also…
Muses, Sage and Kaley: FROM ALL OF US, WE WISH YOU A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Remember: You are never too old for free candy!! ^_^