Disclaimer: I uh... I don't think I've done that on this story yet. Oops! *Deer-in-the-headlight O_O* Well I do claim my own characters. Which at the moment is only Zari and Agi, but the real piece of work is still backstage warming up. hehehe... Enjoy!
Ch 5 Forbidden Fancy
As had become her routine, Zari sat on the rail of her balcony, watching the smaller moons become iridescent as they glide around the ever bright Titus. The sky beyond burned in vivid colors like a wildfire. "I'll never get tired of seeing this," she said to the sky.
The wind blew swiftly over the grass, carrying faint notes on its wing. ~*What is that? Someone up before me?*~ She pushed the stray locks of her hair behind the tip of her ear. "An ocarina?"
Her feet made no sound as she landed on the grass. The white nightgown she wore, blew up against her skin as she walked against the wind. "Where is it coming from?" She now heard the notes outright, for the wind had died. They paused, still she continued. The leaves of a large oak shaded her from the morning light. She sighed, "where are you?" she whispered as she rested her hand on its trunk. The notes began again, softly at first, then grew louder until she realized they came from just above her head. She ducked behind the tree then peered around it to see the face of th musician. Only his left arm came into view, though that was more than enough. She had tended to that same limb twice on occasion.
He paused once more before beginning another tune. It rang out clear and was picked up and carried again on the wings of the breeze. The notes were soft, sweet, and slow (picture a Celtic tune if you will). Their melody alone was enough for Zari.
His eyes opened slightly and caught sight of movement, and the gleam of light. His hands slowly descended to his lap. He suddenly felt no desire to play the instrument in his grasp. His only desire lie with her. His eyes watched every fluid movement, every graceful turn, every controlled bend in her limbs, though he did not see her physical self. In his mind he saw past her unintentional physical charms, to the flame that kindled her spirit. At that moment it was open, exposed, and vulnerable to the cruel harshness the universe could bestow. The entire time he feared some unseen torrent would extinguish the fragile flame. Then as she neared the end of her dance, every fear left his mind, he felt emotions stir in him, none he knew the name of or had ever experienced before. Though they reminded his mind, of the pleasures of being held in a trance.
He heard her gasp and all emotions vanished. "Forgive me milord," she said frantically. "I didn't mean to intrude. I'll take my leave."
"Zari!" he called. She halted reluctantly. "You're a magnificent dancer." The words left his lips as hard as stone, even he himself would not have believed them.
Still she turned and smiled, "thank you. If you'll pardon me, I have to return before Talme delivers my errands." She disappeared before another word was spoken.
His head hit the bark with a soft thud. "Smooth Shin... brilliant."
Titus had slid into its noon position and Zari was no closer to finishing than she had been that morning. She sighed, "thank Ledena the rest of these stay here. I'm sick and tired of that trader on Sanrie. He would not shut up! Not only that, but he wasn't the least bit discrete as to where he let his eyes wonder... jerk off."
Junid's voice broke the silence, "if you wait any longer you'll lose the feel of the sword. You spend too much time with that lass, and what has she taught you? Nothing important I promise you that."
Shin's voice answered the criticism, "knowing you speak of knowledge concerning the battlefield, then no, I haven't acquired anything. Though it isn't the void of skill she fills-"
"I know precisely where this is going, that road is forbidden for a Kai to tread! It's against everything in the code."
"I know that! Every night for the past two, I have read our code 'till the brink of day. It will change nothing."
"Enough nonsense lad! You think you'll win a duel if you talk through it?"
"I would never put it passed you."
Zari's face flushed in fear. ~*He can't duel now! Does he want to undo time's healing?!*~ She replaced the parcel she held in her hand in the bag that hung across her chest, then passed swiftly over the grass towards Shin and Junid.
She saw Shin's overcoat and shirt lying next to two empty scabbards, but there was no sign of either of the two.
A thunderous roar boomed from above. Her eyes found them dueling in the clouds. Another clang rang out, and they disappeared. The gleam of their swords then reappeared on the ground.
"I was right," Junid stated as his blade clashed against Shin's. "That woman has weakened you. And she claims to be able of protecting each of us."
"She can, she will."
"I still wait for her to prove herself, and now I wait for you."
"Wait no longer."
Shin pushed Junid away and switched his sword to his left hand. The desire to warn him of this risk disappeared as her eyes fell on his face. Through his eyes she found herself staring at something more; a shapeless figure of dull light surrounding an encased flame. It burned steadily inside the crystal shield. Unaccessible, denying any warm touch that might jeopardize it. She could sense the fear; afraid of the cold, afraid of a change, afraid of a mistake. Though these fears kept him safe from the cruelty of the universe, they denied him the splendors life was willing to grant him.
Shin suddenly dropped his sword and fell to his knees. She rushed to his side and tenderly examined his arm. Junid scowled at her then rested the tip of his blade beneath her jaw. "He's fine lass."
"You would delight in thinking so," she snapped. His hand trembled as he found her eyes glaring at him from beneath her brow. "I was aware I would have to protect you from the forces of the universe. Though I had no idea I had to protect you from each other." Her voice softened as she turned to Shin. "You've strained the fibers to their limits, continue and you'll tear everything apart. This duel is over."
"Though your errands are not," Talme stated from behind Zari. Zari started and bolted to her feet. "Am I right?"
"Yes'm, I have yet to complete."
"Then get going." Without reply, Zari darted around Talme, who kept her eyes on Shin. He watched Zari leave, wishing she'd look back over her shoulder and smile, but she did not. He felt his heart sink as she disappeared into the distant hills leagues away.
~*Please come back.*~
"Shin," Talme said sternly. "Stop this!" Shin looked at her, a mix of sadness and confusion in his eyes. "You know as well as I do, that path is forbidden. This is the only warning you will receive. If you truly care, you'll forsake those thoughts."
"What has Agi told you?" he demanded.
"Only that she is relinquishing her claim, her visions will return to the original visionary -Zari. Maybe, she can make the just decision. You are not strong enough to resist what she will offer you."
"Do not concern yourself, there is nothing between us. She's merely aiding me in my recovery."
"Oh wake up! Everyone sees it but you! Even Zari notices the tender smiles you give her. At least she fights the temptation, and embraces the truth."
"No," Junid said solemnly. "She's as blind as he is. It would be prudent to let it stay that way perhaps. You hear me?" he said to Shin. "Your fancy won't harm either of you should it remain hidden. But let it open, all your fears will become reality."
Ch 5 Forbidden Fancy
As had become her routine, Zari sat on the rail of her balcony, watching the smaller moons become iridescent as they glide around the ever bright Titus. The sky beyond burned in vivid colors like a wildfire. "I'll never get tired of seeing this," she said to the sky.
The wind blew swiftly over the grass, carrying faint notes on its wing. ~*What is that? Someone up before me?*~ She pushed the stray locks of her hair behind the tip of her ear. "An ocarina?"
Her feet made no sound as she landed on the grass. The white nightgown she wore, blew up against her skin as she walked against the wind. "Where is it coming from?" She now heard the notes outright, for the wind had died. They paused, still she continued. The leaves of a large oak shaded her from the morning light. She sighed, "where are you?" she whispered as she rested her hand on its trunk. The notes began again, softly at first, then grew louder until she realized they came from just above her head. She ducked behind the tree then peered around it to see the face of th musician. Only his left arm came into view, though that was more than enough. She had tended to that same limb twice on occasion.
He paused once more before beginning another tune. It rang out clear and was picked up and carried again on the wings of the breeze. The notes were soft, sweet, and slow (picture a Celtic tune if you will). Their melody alone was enough for Zari.
His eyes opened slightly and caught sight of movement, and the gleam of light. His hands slowly descended to his lap. He suddenly felt no desire to play the instrument in his grasp. His only desire lie with her. His eyes watched every fluid movement, every graceful turn, every controlled bend in her limbs, though he did not see her physical self. In his mind he saw past her unintentional physical charms, to the flame that kindled her spirit. At that moment it was open, exposed, and vulnerable to the cruel harshness the universe could bestow. The entire time he feared some unseen torrent would extinguish the fragile flame. Then as she neared the end of her dance, every fear left his mind, he felt emotions stir in him, none he knew the name of or had ever experienced before. Though they reminded his mind, of the pleasures of being held in a trance.
He heard her gasp and all emotions vanished. "Forgive me milord," she said frantically. "I didn't mean to intrude. I'll take my leave."
"Zari!" he called. She halted reluctantly. "You're a magnificent dancer." The words left his lips as hard as stone, even he himself would not have believed them.
Still she turned and smiled, "thank you. If you'll pardon me, I have to return before Talme delivers my errands." She disappeared before another word was spoken.
His head hit the bark with a soft thud. "Smooth Shin... brilliant."
Titus had slid into its noon position and Zari was no closer to finishing than she had been that morning. She sighed, "thank Ledena the rest of these stay here. I'm sick and tired of that trader on Sanrie. He would not shut up! Not only that, but he wasn't the least bit discrete as to where he let his eyes wonder... jerk off."
Junid's voice broke the silence, "if you wait any longer you'll lose the feel of the sword. You spend too much time with that lass, and what has she taught you? Nothing important I promise you that."
Shin's voice answered the criticism, "knowing you speak of knowledge concerning the battlefield, then no, I haven't acquired anything. Though it isn't the void of skill she fills-"
"I know precisely where this is going, that road is forbidden for a Kai to tread! It's against everything in the code."
"I know that! Every night for the past two, I have read our code 'till the brink of day. It will change nothing."
"Enough nonsense lad! You think you'll win a duel if you talk through it?"
"I would never put it passed you."
Zari's face flushed in fear. ~*He can't duel now! Does he want to undo time's healing?!*~ She replaced the parcel she held in her hand in the bag that hung across her chest, then passed swiftly over the grass towards Shin and Junid.
She saw Shin's overcoat and shirt lying next to two empty scabbards, but there was no sign of either of the two.
A thunderous roar boomed from above. Her eyes found them dueling in the clouds. Another clang rang out, and they disappeared. The gleam of their swords then reappeared on the ground.
"I was right," Junid stated as his blade clashed against Shin's. "That woman has weakened you. And she claims to be able of protecting each of us."
"She can, she will."
"I still wait for her to prove herself, and now I wait for you."
"Wait no longer."
Shin pushed Junid away and switched his sword to his left hand. The desire to warn him of this risk disappeared as her eyes fell on his face. Through his eyes she found herself staring at something more; a shapeless figure of dull light surrounding an encased flame. It burned steadily inside the crystal shield. Unaccessible, denying any warm touch that might jeopardize it. She could sense the fear; afraid of the cold, afraid of a change, afraid of a mistake. Though these fears kept him safe from the cruelty of the universe, they denied him the splendors life was willing to grant him.
Shin suddenly dropped his sword and fell to his knees. She rushed to his side and tenderly examined his arm. Junid scowled at her then rested the tip of his blade beneath her jaw. "He's fine lass."
"You would delight in thinking so," she snapped. His hand trembled as he found her eyes glaring at him from beneath her brow. "I was aware I would have to protect you from the forces of the universe. Though I had no idea I had to protect you from each other." Her voice softened as she turned to Shin. "You've strained the fibers to their limits, continue and you'll tear everything apart. This duel is over."
"Though your errands are not," Talme stated from behind Zari. Zari started and bolted to her feet. "Am I right?"
"Yes'm, I have yet to complete."
"Then get going." Without reply, Zari darted around Talme, who kept her eyes on Shin. He watched Zari leave, wishing she'd look back over her shoulder and smile, but she did not. He felt his heart sink as she disappeared into the distant hills leagues away.
~*Please come back.*~
"Shin," Talme said sternly. "Stop this!" Shin looked at her, a mix of sadness and confusion in his eyes. "You know as well as I do, that path is forbidden. This is the only warning you will receive. If you truly care, you'll forsake those thoughts."
"What has Agi told you?" he demanded.
"Only that she is relinquishing her claim, her visions will return to the original visionary -Zari. Maybe, she can make the just decision. You are not strong enough to resist what she will offer you."
"Do not concern yourself, there is nothing between us. She's merely aiding me in my recovery."
"Oh wake up! Everyone sees it but you! Even Zari notices the tender smiles you give her. At least she fights the temptation, and embraces the truth."
"No," Junid said solemnly. "She's as blind as he is. It would be prudent to let it stay that way perhaps. You hear me?" he said to Shin. "Your fancy won't harm either of you should it remain hidden. But let it open, all your fears will become reality."