Chapter 3:: Cimerion & The Overprotective Brother
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"This is the sleeping quarters, where my men stay…" Bart walked past a large gray door. "And this is Primera's room, and I guess Chu-Chu stays here, too."
"All right…" Karina nodded.
"And this is the gear dock. This is the largest place in the whole ship. We all keep our gears here, of course, except Maria, Siebzehn is too large and it has to stay up top!" Bart pointed at the door.
"Wow… I saw all the gears when I went with Billy to look at Renmazuo…" Karina looked at Bart and shrugged. "But we didn't stay too long."
"Oh, right! C'mon, I'll show you the Gun Room and the Engine Room!" Bart ran to the other end of the hall.
"Young master, slow down!" One of his men yelled.
"Whatever!" Bart grinned and shrugged. "Sorry!" He turned to Karina. "This is the Gun Room. You're most likely to find Billy and Jessie around here."
"Okay."
"Come on!" He opened the door and ran in. "This is also where we eat, and it's also our bar and supply area! Say 'hi' Old Maison!" Bart waved and Old Maison.
"Hello, Young Master, hello Lady Karina." Maison smiled warmly and nodded. "Need anything to eat or drink?"
"Throw me a coke, Maison!" Bart grinned.
"I'll just have some water." Karina said politely.
"All right!" Maison lifted two cans and threw them to Bart.
"Here, Karina!" Bart handed her the canned water.
"Thanks…" She clasped the cold can in her hands.
"Come on, let's go down the spiral staircase! It takes you to our rooms!" Bart ran down the stairs.
"Okay." Karina nodded and followed.
Bart landed and the floor after jumping the last four steps and turned back to Karina. "Come here!" He walked up to one of the doors. "This is Fei, Billy and my room!" Bart grinned. "Billy's in here, okay, so if you need him for any reason, or me, we'll probably be in here."
"Gotcha!" Karina smiled.
"And this one, over here!" Bart ran past two more doors. "Is where the girls stay!" Bart pointed at the one right next to it. "And the one right next to mine is yours for now!"
"Yes, I know." Karina closed her eyes and sighed.
"Hey, what's up?" Bart blinked.
"I don't know. I think I'll miss this place even though I've only been here two days." Karina opened her eyes and smiled.
"Oh, this place is so likable!" Bart grinned. "Now come on, one more place to see!" Bart ran into the engine room.
"Oh.." Karina looked back at Bart's door. "…Billy…"
"Come on!!" Bart said impatiently.
"Okay!" She looked back and followed.
"They already are close, I see. Those fools don't listen very well… It took them long enough to get away. I hope they didn't get too much information on Shinigami." A little boy sat up in the darkness, his arms folded.
"And that is the Yggdrasil engine room!" Bart left the room.
"Wow… You have an amazing ship…" Karina looked down and tapped her foot.
"We have about an hour to wait until you're home!" Bart grinned.
"I.. miss my home…" Karina whispered.
"Oh, well, you'll be home before ya know it!!!" Bart shrugged.
"Hello, Bart, Karina." Billy walked out and turned to Bart. "When are we getting to Cimerion?"
"In an hour." Bart folded his arms. "Having fun with your guns?"
"…I guess." Billy shrugged. "Has Citan come out of his room yet?"
"Nope, I think he was really confused by those readings and needed to prove he could learn SOMETHING about them." Bart chuckled.
"All right. I need to go see him." Billy nodded and left.
"Well, I guess Billy's free if you wanna go talk to him." Bart pointed at Citan's door. "He'll be out in a minute." Bart walked up to the spiral staircase. "I'll be on the bridge if you need me!" He did a thumbs up and ran up the stairs.
"Thanks, Citan." Billy walked out of Citan's room. "Oh, hey, Karina!"
"Hi, Billy." Karina looked up.
"How are you doing? Excited about getting home?" Billy smiled warmly.
"Yeah, I am!" Karina forced a smile.
"You look sad. I'd think you'd be happy." Billy blinked confusedly.
"I am. I am happy, Billy." Karina sighed.
"Alright." Billy nodded and stepped up to his door.
"Billy, wait!!" Karina said, walking up to Billy and looking down.
"Yeah?" He smiled.
"Could I, stay with you? I mean, I have nothing better to do." Karina smiled back and shrugged.
"Suit yourself." Billy shrugged.
"Thanks." Karina smiled and followed him into his room.
"I don't know why you would, though." Billy stopped and flopped down on his bed, where various guns and gun part laid scattered aimlessly.
"Because I love you." Karina said so softly that it was barely audible.
"What?" Billy looked up.
"Nothing, Billy." Karina smiled. "I was joking."
"Okay…" Billy shrugged and picked up a pistol and looked it over slowly.
"What type is that?" Karina sat down on the end of his bed.
"It's a godfather AAA ranked gun. It shoots godson ammo. This is one of the strongest pistols ever made. It doesn't have too bad of a recoil and it shoots smoothly." Billy twirled it around on his finger and stopped it and then looked at Karina and smiled.
"Do you like it to not have too much of a recoil..? Because I know some people who think the stronger the recoil the more exciting it is to shoot it." Karina crawled up next to him.
"Well, I guess that's true, but for combat, you don't want one that will phase you." Billy set the gun down and looked at her and shut his eyes. "But, if it's excitement you want, you should get a rifle, cause those babys'll get you hard." He said in his philosophical voice.
"Oh… My father liked guns a lot. He had a huge cellar a little ways back in our yard where he kept all his guns and stuff like that. It's been so long since I've been down there, so the place is probably covered in spider webs and stuff." Karina said softly, like she had hit a soft spot.
"Doesn't Brad go down there?" Billy sat up.
"Brad didn't want to… It hurts him too much. He won't admit it to me, probably because he thinks he has to play the 'stronger protective older brother'." Karina smiled. "I think it hurt him too much to lose dad and mom. He looked up to dad so much. I think Brad wanted to be just like him. My father was a good man." Karina looked down and smiled sadly. "I miss them."
"What happened?" Billy kneeled his head to the side.
"I was too young to really remember how it happened. But they, the people who killed my parents, were after me. Because of my blood." Karina looked away.
"Your blood?" Billy blinked.
"That was the reason those men took me, I know it. Because there is something about my blood that they want." She shut her eyes. "It has been like that since they died."
"I'm sorry, Karina. That's sad… But what is wrong with your blood?" Billy looked at her.
"I don't know, to tell you the truth, Billy." Karina whispered.
"Oh…"
"I just feel like I'm not understood. Like I'm different in a bad way." Karina looked down.
"I understand you, Karina, and you're not different in a bad way. You're you, Karina, and I like the fact you can be so honest with yourself. It shows true character." Billy put his hand on hers.
"Thanks, Billy." Karina looked up and their eyes met.
"M-miss Karina.." Billy blushed and the two drew closer and closer until their lips almost met. Their breath became short and weak. They were right about to kiss when—
"We have now docked at Cimerion City, will everyone please report to the bridge." Sigurd's voice came over the intercom.
"Oh.. Right…" Karina and Billy were suddenly jolted out of their spell.
"Well, we're here, better get up there like Sigurd said." Billy said, standing up quickly and sighing.
"Right." Karina looked down and tried to hide her blushing.
"C'mon." Billy nodded at the door.
"Coming." She stood up and followed him, thinking about his lips being so close to hers; she could almost taste his kiss.
"We have now docked at Cimerion, Miss Karina, I know how happy you are to be going home now." Sigurd turned around.
"…I am." Karina said softly.
"Good. Now we have decided that we will send Bart and Fei and…" Sigurd trailed off and looked around.
"…I'll go." Billy piped up. Karina looked at him and turned bright pink and looked down.
"Alright." Sigurd nodded. "Miss Karina, you are invited back with us at any time, we would all love to have you, I'm sure."
"Bye, Karina, I hope to see you again, maybe we can be closer." Elly walked up to her and hugged her.
"Bye Elly… I'm sure we could.
"Bye." Rico looked at her and shrugged. "Come back soon."
"See you later!" Maria said, smiling sweetly,
"Bye, Maria." Karina smiled back.
"Goodbye, young angel, I would like to see you on this ship again, you are nice to have around." Citan held out his hand.
"Goodbye, Citan." Karina shook his hand.
"…!" Primera ran up and looked up at Karina.
"Hi, Primera!" Karina kneeled down next to her.
"……." Primera hugged her and held out a flower and a small note.
"For me?" Karina said, blinking.
"…!" Primera grinned and nodded.
"You want me to… read it later?" Karina whispered as Primera folded the note in her hand.
"…….." Primera looked down and nodded.
"I guess we should get going…" Bart shrugged.
"All right…" Karina nodded and hugged Primera. "Bye, Prim."
"…Let's go!" Fei said, walking up to the door.
"Gotcha. Bye everyone, thanks so much for everything." Karina stood up.
"See ya' girl!" Jessie patted her on the back roughly.
"Father, she's not one of your ruffian 'pals'. I don't think you should hit her on the back like that." Billy scolded.
"Aw, go pray, boy." Jessie said, dismissing his advice.
"Bye, Mr. Black." Karina said gently.
"Mr. Black?! Well, that's not something I've been called for quite a while!" Jessie chuckled and left the room.
"Let's go!" Bart said, tapping his foot impatiently. "I wanna see Cimerion!"
"Thanks again…" Karina said, following Bart out the door with Fei and Billy following.
"Sweet young lady." Citan turned to Sigurd.
"Yes, it is a shame she had to go." Sigurd said gently.
"If you ask me, I think Billy is getting a little bit lovesick." Jessie walked back in. "He has that vague lonely look that every Black gets when they are falling for another."
"I don't think anything is going on between them, Billy is just the type of person, obviously, that Karina would befriend." Citan folded his arms.
"Yeah, right, Hyuga, and you're the person who thought me and 'Kel absolutely hated each other's guts. You're an A+ student, but you sure are a flunker when it comes to love." Jessie said sarcastically.
"But you two didn't get along so well when you first met." Sigurd said, turning around and tapping his foot on the metal floor.
"Well, at least I went with a woman, unlike you Mr. 'I dated some flat chested chick whom I was supposed to fight for the honor of the name 'Element'." Jessie turned to his and laughed slightly.
"She had a name." Sigurd said slowly.
"…You don't remember it, do you, Sigurd?" Citan blinked.
"Yes I do! It was… Si-Si- Sienna, maybe?" Sigurd said slowly. "It was so long ago."
"Her name was 'SIERRA'." Jessie said loudly.
"Whatever. What happened to her after the fight?" Sigurd kneeled his head to the side.
"She left Solaris that night, not wanting to be there when you got your elemental weapon." Citan said, looking up and sighing. "In any case, that was so long ago, and I'd rather not dwell on the past right now, I have some work to do." Citan shook his head and left the room.
"Now that he's a married man, Hyuga's just no fun!" Jessie said, sitting on the floor and folding his arms.
"…Whoa! This place is cool!" Bart looked around the entrance of Cimerion City.
"Well, thanks for the escort, guys, but I can get home from here, it's a short walk." Karina said, stepping away from them.
"But Sig said-" Bart started. "Aw, nevermind. See ya later, Karina, you're welcome back on my ship anytime!"
"Thanks Bart." Karina shook his hand slowly.
"Now we'll be bored at night, wanting someone to ambush us!" Fei said, grinning.
"…Bye, Fei!" Karina shook his hand and smiled.
"See ya!" Fei did a thumbs up sign.
"It will be a little louder without you there. Bart acted civilized, or tried to, for the most part." Billy folded his arms.
"Hehe… See you later, Billy." She held out her hand.
"Hmm?" Billy blinked and held out his hand slowly.
"I'll miss you guys! Tell Sigurd—"
"Thanks again, I know." Bart said gently.
"If you guys need anything to be done to any of your gears just go to the Red Dragon garage down the street. They'll fix up anything for you." Karina shrugged. "Well, goodbye…" She said slowly and turned around to leave.
"Hey, Karina!" Bart said, walking up to her.
"Yeah?" She blinked.
"…I hope you have a nice life, now that you're home. Bye.." Bart said, stepping back with Billy and Fei.
"Thanks, I hope you guys do too, bye." Karina smiled and walked into the crowd.
"Well…" Fei shrugged. "It's getting late."
"Yup." Bart nodded. "Hey, look! A bar!" He pointed. "Crystal #12." He grinned. "Hey, let's go get the others and bring them here!"
"I don't think it's a very good night to drag home my father's smashed carcass. Mainly because I smell like any alcoholic beverage for a week after I do." Billy said slowly.
"Let's go!" Bart said, ignoring Billy.
"Alright." Fei nodded and followed Bart.
"…It's time for a stein hoist.." Billy grumbled.
"...Brad?" Karina opened the door. "Are you home?" She turned on the lights. "I guess he's still at the garage." She sighed and sat down on the couch. It doesn't seem any different; I remember everything like this. She looked down and remembered the note Primera had given her. She pulled it out of her purple sash and opened it slowly.
I think my brother feels for you differently than you think big sister Karina. You do feel the same, I can see it in the way you speak to each other. I think you are a good person, Miss Karina, and I would be happy if you and he could be together.
Primera
"Primera!" Karina blushed and set the note on her lap and held up the flower. "It's a white rose…" She shook her head. "I'll bet that that Brad is off at the bar with that Ziggy Gordo!" She stood up, putting the note in her sash and set the white rose in a vase full of flowers. "I'll go see…"
"Wow! Thish plache ish great!" Bart said, his words slurred.
"You bet!" Jessie laughed.
"You can carry Bart, Fei… Fei?" Billy looked over at Fei.
"C'mon, Elly, a little shmoochi!" Fei laughed.
"I'm not kissing you while you are drunk, Fei." Elly said, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Aw… You're no fun!" Fei looked down.
"Please tell me that Citan and Rico are still sober…" Billy looked over at Citan and Rico.
"I am as sober as humanly possible, young one." Citan folded his hands.
"I'm sober enough to drag their smashed carcasses home." Rico growled.
"Hey, you!" A man looked back at Bart.
"Whadda yoou want, you little punk?!" Bart looked down at him.
"You're runining everyone else's time because of you're loudness and stupidity!" He growled.
"Aw, yer jusht a angry little midget!" Bart said slowly.
"Midget?" He stood up, towering over Bart.
"…Uh.." Bart's eyes widened. "You are a very… very BIG man, aren't you?" Bart looked at Rico. "Rico, a little help?"
"You got yourself into this, Bart." Rico said, not looking up.
"Now, we don't have to resort to violence, young ones, we could talk this out over tea or--" Citan held up his hands.
"I can handle thish, Chitan." Bart stood up. "Give me your besht shot, Kong."
"I'm not going to hit a one-eyed midget kid." He folded his arms.
"Chicken! Bwaak bwakk!"
"'Ey! You show 'em 'ose the little chicken boy, mon!" A black man looked up and cheered the larger man.
"Whatever, Ziggy, shut up!"
"Excuse me, Mr. Caladino?" Karina leaned over the front of the bar.
"Miss Karina! Is that you?! When did you get back?" Mr. Caladino turned around and blinked.
"It is a long story, yes it is me. I got back today." She said, leaning forward.
"Well, it's nice to see your pretty face again." He smiled.
"Thank you, where is my brother, is he here?" She smiled.
"He's over there straightening out some boy." He pointed past the swinging door.
"Thanks, Mr. Caladino." Karina nodded and went past the swinging door. She walked into the room and saw a circle of men around an area. "That must be Brad…"
"You asked for, it, kid." The man thrust his hand out and grabbed Bart by the collar and lifted Bart a foot in the air.
"Excuse me, please… Pardon me." Karina walked through the circle. "Brad…" She said.
"Karina?!" Billy looked past Bart and blinked.
"Brad…" Karina folded his arms. He still didn't turn to her. "Brad!" She kicked him in the shin.
"OWWW!! Oh god! OW! Why you?!" He turned around, still holding Bart and blinked. "…Karina? Is that you?"
"…Brad, It's me, Karina." She smiled.
"Karina!" He hugged her with one arm, the other holding Bart.
"'Ey! It's 'ittle Karina!" Ziggy stood up and grinned.
"Hi, Ziggy!" Karina smiled.
"How did you get away from those guys? Did they hurt you?" Brad said slowly.
"Well… You see that guy you're strangling?" She pointed at Bart. "He and his friends saved me."
"What?!" Brad dropped Bart. "You mean these guys saved you?! How?"
"Well… It is a long story… But they saved me and they've taken care of me for the last two days." Karina said, pulling away from Brad.
"Eh hemm…" Bart stood up. "I'm Bart."
"…You didn't touch my sister, did you?" Brad growled looking at them.
"Brad!" Karina elbowed him in the ribs. "Please, they aren't a ship full of perverts."
"…I'm Bart, nice to meet you." Bart repeated through his teeth.
"I'm Brad Rinsuchii, Karina's older brother." Brad said, not shaking Bart's hand.
"I'm Billy."
"I am Citan Uzuki"
"Fei Fong Wong!"
"Rico"
"Elly!"
"Oh, hello. Sorry about before, but, y'know, I don't like communists, wet toilet paper, cold coffee, little punks pretending to be Gear pilots or loudmouths." He glared at Bart. "And you seem to be a loudmouth."
"Grrr…" Bart growled.
"'Ey! I'm Ziggy Gordo!" Ziggy stood up.
"My you two are obnoxious fellows." Billy said, sipping his tea.
"Eh hem… Please don't mind the boy, he has special problems. I'm Jessie Black, Billy's dad." Jessie grinned and stood up.
"Well well, here's a real man!" Brad grinned. "You don't look much like you're son, you look like you actually went through stuff and you're not some prissy poodle high class boy."
"Well, that pretty much describes my boy! He wasn't raised like I had intended him to be…" Jessie looked down.
"Dad!" Billy stood up.
"Guys… I'm so happy to see you all again…" Karina folded her hands and put them over her chest. "And we met again so strangely."
"I had no idea your brother was so… so very… large…" Bart looked up at Brad. "Hey, I like those sunglasses, man, and the spiked hairdo is so you!"
"I also hate suck ups." Brad looked down at Bart.
"Well, finally a guy I can actually look almost eye-to-eye with." Rico said, smiling slightly.
"Why don't we all go back to the Yggdrasil for a quieter few drinks?" Citan suggested.
"I can't go… You all go on ahead and have a nice evening." Karina said slowly.
"It wouldn't be half as fun without you." Bart whimpered.
"Primera's been sulking around since you left, Karina." Billy said gently.
"Well… Maybe I'll go to hang out with Primera." Karina shrugged.
"She would like that." Billy smiled.
"I'm sure you would like it too." Bart said quietly.
"What was that, Bart?" Billy looked at him coldly.
"Nothing, Billy-boy." Bart grinned innocently and shrugged.
"That would be fun, Ziggy, you wanna come?" Brad looked at Ziggy.
"Aw, sorry Mon. I gotts ta' git back to the garage to do some late night finishin up!" Ziggy shrugged. "Normally I wouldn't give a crap if I did, but, 'ey mon, tis guy is willing to pay me 900,000 smakeroonies to finish 'is car by tomorrow."
"Well, suit yourself, Zig-man, see 'ya!" Brad waved slowly.
"Shall we be off?" Citan walked to the door.
"Sure." Brad shrugged.
"You know, Billy cried a lot while you were gone." Bart laughed.
"I didn't do a thing like that, Bart!" Billy blushed.
"Yeah, right." Bart chuckled.
"…So you guys decided to come to the bar?" Karina blinked. "Don't you have one? Won't Maison be jealous?"
"Aww.. More variety, and Maison don't give a hoot, he just sits back there and plays computer games…" Bart grinned.
"So, your ship is only a little further?" Brad said, squinting in the dark.
"Yes." Citan said gently.
"Boo!" Bart popped out of the bushes in front of Fei.
"Oh god! Bart!!" Fei whacked him on the head.
"Hehe…" Bart chuckled. "Hey, hey Rico!"
"Don't talk to me, you weird little freak." Rico said in a low voice.
"Oh.. Hey, Jessie!" Bart ran up to Jessie.
"What, patch-boy?" Jessie looked down at Bart.
"I wanna tell you something!" Bart went on with his story.
"Here, Miss Karina." Billy handed her a white flower.
"Huh?" Karina turned to him and blushed slightly.
"It's a young moon flower." Billy said softly. "There seem to be a lot in Cimerion."
"There are many different types of plants here." Karina looked away, trying to hide her grin.
"…I see." Billy glanced at the moon.
"BOO!" Bart popped out of the bushes and laughed loudly.
"Hi Bart.." Karina looked up.
"Aw… SPIDER!"
"Ahh!" Karina screeched and hugged onto Billy. "Kill it! Kill it!"
"Haha… I'll bet you like that, Billy." Bart grinned devilishly.
"Bart, that was mean." Karina frowned and pulled away from Billy.
"There it is, the Yggdrasil." Citan stopped.
"Whoa… It's huge. It must have amazing power." Brad blinked in awe.
"It does! You like my Yggdrasil, eh?" Bart nodded.
"It is an amazing piece of mobile machinery. It probably took years to design and create such an awe inspiring structure." Brad leaned to the side.
"I didn't know King Kong knew such big words." Bart muttered to Citan.
"You got somethin' to say, punk, say it to my face." Brad folded his arms. "But then again, you and I can't look eye-to-eye, you're too short." He grinned.
"Why you… Let's get back to Sig before I get… angry." Bart grumbled.
"…Right, good plan." Fei nodded and followed.
"Hello, I am Sigurd Harcourt, welcome to the airship, Yggdrasil III." Sigurd said gently.
"Hey, I'm Brad, Karina's brother, you got a great ship here." Brad glanced around the bridge and then back at Sigurd and grinned.
"Thank you." Sigurd nodded.
"Why don't we show you around?" Bart said, pointing at the door.
"Sure." Brad turned to Bart and nodded.
"There are so many perfect gears here. You all pilot them?" He looked at all of them.
"You bet." Bart nodded.
"Now, why don't we get a few drinks?" Jessie grinned.
"Alright, we have anything your mind can dream up here, just say what you would like." Maison turned to them.
"I think I'll just have tea, Maison." Billy sat down on a stool.
"All right." Maison nodded.
"I guess if I must I'll have a white wine spritzer." Citan folded his arms.
"You mix, I drink, Maison, play your cards!" Jessie grinned.
"Father, that isn't very safe…" Billy glanced at Jessie and then back at the table.
"That's what you always say, but I'm not dead yet, am I?" Jessie sneered.
"Hi, Primera, how have you been?" Karina stepped up to her.
"….Fine, I guess." Primera's eyes glinted slightly.
"Fine? Well, that's good." Karina sat down on a bed.
"….." Primera walked up to her.
"Did I read the note?" Karina blinked.
"….." Primera nodded.
"Yes." Karina said gently.
"…." Primera looked down shyly.
"What did I think? Well… Primera… I don't know how I feel about your brother." Karina looked down. "To really tell you the truth."
"…" Primera shrugged.
"But if we were to… You really wouldn't mind? You wouldn't mind if your brother and I were…" Karina trailed off.
"…." Primera shook her head and smiled.
"That's a little reassuring. I'm not saying I do feel that way about him, though." Karina said gently. "Well, it's getting late, you should go to bed, little lady." Karina stood up and Primera nodded. "Well, goodnight." She smiled and left the room
**********
"This is the sleeping quarters, where my men stay…" Bart walked past a large gray door. "And this is Primera's room, and I guess Chu-Chu stays here, too."
"All right…" Karina nodded.
"And this is the gear dock. This is the largest place in the whole ship. We all keep our gears here, of course, except Maria, Siebzehn is too large and it has to stay up top!" Bart pointed at the door.
"Wow… I saw all the gears when I went with Billy to look at Renmazuo…" Karina looked at Bart and shrugged. "But we didn't stay too long."
"Oh, right! C'mon, I'll show you the Gun Room and the Engine Room!" Bart ran to the other end of the hall.
"Young master, slow down!" One of his men yelled.
"Whatever!" Bart grinned and shrugged. "Sorry!" He turned to Karina. "This is the Gun Room. You're most likely to find Billy and Jessie around here."
"Okay."
"Come on!" He opened the door and ran in. "This is also where we eat, and it's also our bar and supply area! Say 'hi' Old Maison!" Bart waved and Old Maison.
"Hello, Young Master, hello Lady Karina." Maison smiled warmly and nodded. "Need anything to eat or drink?"
"Throw me a coke, Maison!" Bart grinned.
"I'll just have some water." Karina said politely.
"All right!" Maison lifted two cans and threw them to Bart.
"Here, Karina!" Bart handed her the canned water.
"Thanks…" She clasped the cold can in her hands.
"Come on, let's go down the spiral staircase! It takes you to our rooms!" Bart ran down the stairs.
"Okay." Karina nodded and followed.
Bart landed and the floor after jumping the last four steps and turned back to Karina. "Come here!" He walked up to one of the doors. "This is Fei, Billy and my room!" Bart grinned. "Billy's in here, okay, so if you need him for any reason, or me, we'll probably be in here."
"Gotcha!" Karina smiled.
"And this one, over here!" Bart ran past two more doors. "Is where the girls stay!" Bart pointed at the one right next to it. "And the one right next to mine is yours for now!"
"Yes, I know." Karina closed her eyes and sighed.
"Hey, what's up?" Bart blinked.
"I don't know. I think I'll miss this place even though I've only been here two days." Karina opened her eyes and smiled.
"Oh, this place is so likable!" Bart grinned. "Now come on, one more place to see!" Bart ran into the engine room.
"Oh.." Karina looked back at Bart's door. "…Billy…"
"Come on!!" Bart said impatiently.
"Okay!" She looked back and followed.
"They already are close, I see. Those fools don't listen very well… It took them long enough to get away. I hope they didn't get too much information on Shinigami." A little boy sat up in the darkness, his arms folded.
"And that is the Yggdrasil engine room!" Bart left the room.
"Wow… You have an amazing ship…" Karina looked down and tapped her foot.
"We have about an hour to wait until you're home!" Bart grinned.
"I.. miss my home…" Karina whispered.
"Oh, well, you'll be home before ya know it!!!" Bart shrugged.
"Hello, Bart, Karina." Billy walked out and turned to Bart. "When are we getting to Cimerion?"
"In an hour." Bart folded his arms. "Having fun with your guns?"
"…I guess." Billy shrugged. "Has Citan come out of his room yet?"
"Nope, I think he was really confused by those readings and needed to prove he could learn SOMETHING about them." Bart chuckled.
"All right. I need to go see him." Billy nodded and left.
"Well, I guess Billy's free if you wanna go talk to him." Bart pointed at Citan's door. "He'll be out in a minute." Bart walked up to the spiral staircase. "I'll be on the bridge if you need me!" He did a thumbs up and ran up the stairs.
"Thanks, Citan." Billy walked out of Citan's room. "Oh, hey, Karina!"
"Hi, Billy." Karina looked up.
"How are you doing? Excited about getting home?" Billy smiled warmly.
"Yeah, I am!" Karina forced a smile.
"You look sad. I'd think you'd be happy." Billy blinked confusedly.
"I am. I am happy, Billy." Karina sighed.
"Alright." Billy nodded and stepped up to his door.
"Billy, wait!!" Karina said, walking up to Billy and looking down.
"Yeah?" He smiled.
"Could I, stay with you? I mean, I have nothing better to do." Karina smiled back and shrugged.
"Suit yourself." Billy shrugged.
"Thanks." Karina smiled and followed him into his room.
"I don't know why you would, though." Billy stopped and flopped down on his bed, where various guns and gun part laid scattered aimlessly.
"Because I love you." Karina said so softly that it was barely audible.
"What?" Billy looked up.
"Nothing, Billy." Karina smiled. "I was joking."
"Okay…" Billy shrugged and picked up a pistol and looked it over slowly.
"What type is that?" Karina sat down on the end of his bed.
"It's a godfather AAA ranked gun. It shoots godson ammo. This is one of the strongest pistols ever made. It doesn't have too bad of a recoil and it shoots smoothly." Billy twirled it around on his finger and stopped it and then looked at Karina and smiled.
"Do you like it to not have too much of a recoil..? Because I know some people who think the stronger the recoil the more exciting it is to shoot it." Karina crawled up next to him.
"Well, I guess that's true, but for combat, you don't want one that will phase you." Billy set the gun down and looked at her and shut his eyes. "But, if it's excitement you want, you should get a rifle, cause those babys'll get you hard." He said in his philosophical voice.
"Oh… My father liked guns a lot. He had a huge cellar a little ways back in our yard where he kept all his guns and stuff like that. It's been so long since I've been down there, so the place is probably covered in spider webs and stuff." Karina said softly, like she had hit a soft spot.
"Doesn't Brad go down there?" Billy sat up.
"Brad didn't want to… It hurts him too much. He won't admit it to me, probably because he thinks he has to play the 'stronger protective older brother'." Karina smiled. "I think it hurt him too much to lose dad and mom. He looked up to dad so much. I think Brad wanted to be just like him. My father was a good man." Karina looked down and smiled sadly. "I miss them."
"What happened?" Billy kneeled his head to the side.
"I was too young to really remember how it happened. But they, the people who killed my parents, were after me. Because of my blood." Karina looked away.
"Your blood?" Billy blinked.
"That was the reason those men took me, I know it. Because there is something about my blood that they want." She shut her eyes. "It has been like that since they died."
"I'm sorry, Karina. That's sad… But what is wrong with your blood?" Billy looked at her.
"I don't know, to tell you the truth, Billy." Karina whispered.
"Oh…"
"I just feel like I'm not understood. Like I'm different in a bad way." Karina looked down.
"I understand you, Karina, and you're not different in a bad way. You're you, Karina, and I like the fact you can be so honest with yourself. It shows true character." Billy put his hand on hers.
"Thanks, Billy." Karina looked up and their eyes met.
"M-miss Karina.." Billy blushed and the two drew closer and closer until their lips almost met. Their breath became short and weak. They were right about to kiss when—
"We have now docked at Cimerion City, will everyone please report to the bridge." Sigurd's voice came over the intercom.
"Oh.. Right…" Karina and Billy were suddenly jolted out of their spell.
"Well, we're here, better get up there like Sigurd said." Billy said, standing up quickly and sighing.
"Right." Karina looked down and tried to hide her blushing.
"C'mon." Billy nodded at the door.
"Coming." She stood up and followed him, thinking about his lips being so close to hers; she could almost taste his kiss.
"We have now docked at Cimerion, Miss Karina, I know how happy you are to be going home now." Sigurd turned around.
"…I am." Karina said softly.
"Good. Now we have decided that we will send Bart and Fei and…" Sigurd trailed off and looked around.
"…I'll go." Billy piped up. Karina looked at him and turned bright pink and looked down.
"Alright." Sigurd nodded. "Miss Karina, you are invited back with us at any time, we would all love to have you, I'm sure."
"Bye, Karina, I hope to see you again, maybe we can be closer." Elly walked up to her and hugged her.
"Bye Elly… I'm sure we could.
"Bye." Rico looked at her and shrugged. "Come back soon."
"See you later!" Maria said, smiling sweetly,
"Bye, Maria." Karina smiled back.
"Goodbye, young angel, I would like to see you on this ship again, you are nice to have around." Citan held out his hand.
"Goodbye, Citan." Karina shook his hand.
"…!" Primera ran up and looked up at Karina.
"Hi, Primera!" Karina kneeled down next to her.
"……." Primera hugged her and held out a flower and a small note.
"For me?" Karina said, blinking.
"…!" Primera grinned and nodded.
"You want me to… read it later?" Karina whispered as Primera folded the note in her hand.
"…….." Primera looked down and nodded.
"I guess we should get going…" Bart shrugged.
"All right…" Karina nodded and hugged Primera. "Bye, Prim."
"…Let's go!" Fei said, walking up to the door.
"Gotcha. Bye everyone, thanks so much for everything." Karina stood up.
"See ya' girl!" Jessie patted her on the back roughly.
"Father, she's not one of your ruffian 'pals'. I don't think you should hit her on the back like that." Billy scolded.
"Aw, go pray, boy." Jessie said, dismissing his advice.
"Bye, Mr. Black." Karina said gently.
"Mr. Black?! Well, that's not something I've been called for quite a while!" Jessie chuckled and left the room.
"Let's go!" Bart said, tapping his foot impatiently. "I wanna see Cimerion!"
"Thanks again…" Karina said, following Bart out the door with Fei and Billy following.
"Sweet young lady." Citan turned to Sigurd.
"Yes, it is a shame she had to go." Sigurd said gently.
"If you ask me, I think Billy is getting a little bit lovesick." Jessie walked back in. "He has that vague lonely look that every Black gets when they are falling for another."
"I don't think anything is going on between them, Billy is just the type of person, obviously, that Karina would befriend." Citan folded his arms.
"Yeah, right, Hyuga, and you're the person who thought me and 'Kel absolutely hated each other's guts. You're an A+ student, but you sure are a flunker when it comes to love." Jessie said sarcastically.
"But you two didn't get along so well when you first met." Sigurd said, turning around and tapping his foot on the metal floor.
"Well, at least I went with a woman, unlike you Mr. 'I dated some flat chested chick whom I was supposed to fight for the honor of the name 'Element'." Jessie turned to his and laughed slightly.
"She had a name." Sigurd said slowly.
"…You don't remember it, do you, Sigurd?" Citan blinked.
"Yes I do! It was… Si-Si- Sienna, maybe?" Sigurd said slowly. "It was so long ago."
"Her name was 'SIERRA'." Jessie said loudly.
"Whatever. What happened to her after the fight?" Sigurd kneeled his head to the side.
"She left Solaris that night, not wanting to be there when you got your elemental weapon." Citan said, looking up and sighing. "In any case, that was so long ago, and I'd rather not dwell on the past right now, I have some work to do." Citan shook his head and left the room.
"Now that he's a married man, Hyuga's just no fun!" Jessie said, sitting on the floor and folding his arms.
"…Whoa! This place is cool!" Bart looked around the entrance of Cimerion City.
"Well, thanks for the escort, guys, but I can get home from here, it's a short walk." Karina said, stepping away from them.
"But Sig said-" Bart started. "Aw, nevermind. See ya later, Karina, you're welcome back on my ship anytime!"
"Thanks Bart." Karina shook his hand slowly.
"Now we'll be bored at night, wanting someone to ambush us!" Fei said, grinning.
"…Bye, Fei!" Karina shook his hand and smiled.
"See ya!" Fei did a thumbs up sign.
"It will be a little louder without you there. Bart acted civilized, or tried to, for the most part." Billy folded his arms.
"Hehe… See you later, Billy." She held out her hand.
"Hmm?" Billy blinked and held out his hand slowly.
"I'll miss you guys! Tell Sigurd—"
"Thanks again, I know." Bart said gently.
"If you guys need anything to be done to any of your gears just go to the Red Dragon garage down the street. They'll fix up anything for you." Karina shrugged. "Well, goodbye…" She said slowly and turned around to leave.
"Hey, Karina!" Bart said, walking up to her.
"Yeah?" She blinked.
"…I hope you have a nice life, now that you're home. Bye.." Bart said, stepping back with Billy and Fei.
"Thanks, I hope you guys do too, bye." Karina smiled and walked into the crowd.
"Well…" Fei shrugged. "It's getting late."
"Yup." Bart nodded. "Hey, look! A bar!" He pointed. "Crystal #12." He grinned. "Hey, let's go get the others and bring them here!"
"I don't think it's a very good night to drag home my father's smashed carcass. Mainly because I smell like any alcoholic beverage for a week after I do." Billy said slowly.
"Let's go!" Bart said, ignoring Billy.
"Alright." Fei nodded and followed Bart.
"…It's time for a stein hoist.." Billy grumbled.
"...Brad?" Karina opened the door. "Are you home?" She turned on the lights. "I guess he's still at the garage." She sighed and sat down on the couch. It doesn't seem any different; I remember everything like this. She looked down and remembered the note Primera had given her. She pulled it out of her purple sash and opened it slowly.
I think my brother feels for you differently than you think big sister Karina. You do feel the same, I can see it in the way you speak to each other. I think you are a good person, Miss Karina, and I would be happy if you and he could be together.
Primera
"Primera!" Karina blushed and set the note on her lap and held up the flower. "It's a white rose…" She shook her head. "I'll bet that that Brad is off at the bar with that Ziggy Gordo!" She stood up, putting the note in her sash and set the white rose in a vase full of flowers. "I'll go see…"
"Wow! Thish plache ish great!" Bart said, his words slurred.
"You bet!" Jessie laughed.
"You can carry Bart, Fei… Fei?" Billy looked over at Fei.
"C'mon, Elly, a little shmoochi!" Fei laughed.
"I'm not kissing you while you are drunk, Fei." Elly said, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Aw… You're no fun!" Fei looked down.
"Please tell me that Citan and Rico are still sober…" Billy looked over at Citan and Rico.
"I am as sober as humanly possible, young one." Citan folded his hands.
"I'm sober enough to drag their smashed carcasses home." Rico growled.
"Hey, you!" A man looked back at Bart.
"Whadda yoou want, you little punk?!" Bart looked down at him.
"You're runining everyone else's time because of you're loudness and stupidity!" He growled.
"Aw, yer jusht a angry little midget!" Bart said slowly.
"Midget?" He stood up, towering over Bart.
"…Uh.." Bart's eyes widened. "You are a very… very BIG man, aren't you?" Bart looked at Rico. "Rico, a little help?"
"You got yourself into this, Bart." Rico said, not looking up.
"Now, we don't have to resort to violence, young ones, we could talk this out over tea or--" Citan held up his hands.
"I can handle thish, Chitan." Bart stood up. "Give me your besht shot, Kong."
"I'm not going to hit a one-eyed midget kid." He folded his arms.
"Chicken! Bwaak bwakk!"
"'Ey! You show 'em 'ose the little chicken boy, mon!" A black man looked up and cheered the larger man.
"Whatever, Ziggy, shut up!"
"Excuse me, Mr. Caladino?" Karina leaned over the front of the bar.
"Miss Karina! Is that you?! When did you get back?" Mr. Caladino turned around and blinked.
"It is a long story, yes it is me. I got back today." She said, leaning forward.
"Well, it's nice to see your pretty face again." He smiled.
"Thank you, where is my brother, is he here?" She smiled.
"He's over there straightening out some boy." He pointed past the swinging door.
"Thanks, Mr. Caladino." Karina nodded and went past the swinging door. She walked into the room and saw a circle of men around an area. "That must be Brad…"
"You asked for, it, kid." The man thrust his hand out and grabbed Bart by the collar and lifted Bart a foot in the air.
"Excuse me, please… Pardon me." Karina walked through the circle. "Brad…" She said.
"Karina?!" Billy looked past Bart and blinked.
"Brad…" Karina folded his arms. He still didn't turn to her. "Brad!" She kicked him in the shin.
"OWWW!! Oh god! OW! Why you?!" He turned around, still holding Bart and blinked. "…Karina? Is that you?"
"…Brad, It's me, Karina." She smiled.
"Karina!" He hugged her with one arm, the other holding Bart.
"'Ey! It's 'ittle Karina!" Ziggy stood up and grinned.
"Hi, Ziggy!" Karina smiled.
"How did you get away from those guys? Did they hurt you?" Brad said slowly.
"Well… You see that guy you're strangling?" She pointed at Bart. "He and his friends saved me."
"What?!" Brad dropped Bart. "You mean these guys saved you?! How?"
"Well… It is a long story… But they saved me and they've taken care of me for the last two days." Karina said, pulling away from Brad.
"Eh hemm…" Bart stood up. "I'm Bart."
"…You didn't touch my sister, did you?" Brad growled looking at them.
"Brad!" Karina elbowed him in the ribs. "Please, they aren't a ship full of perverts."
"…I'm Bart, nice to meet you." Bart repeated through his teeth.
"I'm Brad Rinsuchii, Karina's older brother." Brad said, not shaking Bart's hand.
"I'm Billy."
"I am Citan Uzuki"
"Fei Fong Wong!"
"Rico"
"Elly!"
"Oh, hello. Sorry about before, but, y'know, I don't like communists, wet toilet paper, cold coffee, little punks pretending to be Gear pilots or loudmouths." He glared at Bart. "And you seem to be a loudmouth."
"Grrr…" Bart growled.
"'Ey! I'm Ziggy Gordo!" Ziggy stood up.
"My you two are obnoxious fellows." Billy said, sipping his tea.
"Eh hem… Please don't mind the boy, he has special problems. I'm Jessie Black, Billy's dad." Jessie grinned and stood up.
"Well well, here's a real man!" Brad grinned. "You don't look much like you're son, you look like you actually went through stuff and you're not some prissy poodle high class boy."
"Well, that pretty much describes my boy! He wasn't raised like I had intended him to be…" Jessie looked down.
"Dad!" Billy stood up.
"Guys… I'm so happy to see you all again…" Karina folded her hands and put them over her chest. "And we met again so strangely."
"I had no idea your brother was so… so very… large…" Bart looked up at Brad. "Hey, I like those sunglasses, man, and the spiked hairdo is so you!"
"I also hate suck ups." Brad looked down at Bart.
"Well, finally a guy I can actually look almost eye-to-eye with." Rico said, smiling slightly.
"Why don't we all go back to the Yggdrasil for a quieter few drinks?" Citan suggested.
"I can't go… You all go on ahead and have a nice evening." Karina said slowly.
"It wouldn't be half as fun without you." Bart whimpered.
"Primera's been sulking around since you left, Karina." Billy said gently.
"Well… Maybe I'll go to hang out with Primera." Karina shrugged.
"She would like that." Billy smiled.
"I'm sure you would like it too." Bart said quietly.
"What was that, Bart?" Billy looked at him coldly.
"Nothing, Billy-boy." Bart grinned innocently and shrugged.
"That would be fun, Ziggy, you wanna come?" Brad looked at Ziggy.
"Aw, sorry Mon. I gotts ta' git back to the garage to do some late night finishin up!" Ziggy shrugged. "Normally I wouldn't give a crap if I did, but, 'ey mon, tis guy is willing to pay me 900,000 smakeroonies to finish 'is car by tomorrow."
"Well, suit yourself, Zig-man, see 'ya!" Brad waved slowly.
"Shall we be off?" Citan walked to the door.
"Sure." Brad shrugged.
"You know, Billy cried a lot while you were gone." Bart laughed.
"I didn't do a thing like that, Bart!" Billy blushed.
"Yeah, right." Bart chuckled.
"…So you guys decided to come to the bar?" Karina blinked. "Don't you have one? Won't Maison be jealous?"
"Aww.. More variety, and Maison don't give a hoot, he just sits back there and plays computer games…" Bart grinned.
"So, your ship is only a little further?" Brad said, squinting in the dark.
"Yes." Citan said gently.
"Boo!" Bart popped out of the bushes in front of Fei.
"Oh god! Bart!!" Fei whacked him on the head.
"Hehe…" Bart chuckled. "Hey, hey Rico!"
"Don't talk to me, you weird little freak." Rico said in a low voice.
"Oh.. Hey, Jessie!" Bart ran up to Jessie.
"What, patch-boy?" Jessie looked down at Bart.
"I wanna tell you something!" Bart went on with his story.
"Here, Miss Karina." Billy handed her a white flower.
"Huh?" Karina turned to him and blushed slightly.
"It's a young moon flower." Billy said softly. "There seem to be a lot in Cimerion."
"There are many different types of plants here." Karina looked away, trying to hide her grin.
"…I see." Billy glanced at the moon.
"BOO!" Bart popped out of the bushes and laughed loudly.
"Hi Bart.." Karina looked up.
"Aw… SPIDER!"
"Ahh!" Karina screeched and hugged onto Billy. "Kill it! Kill it!"
"Haha… I'll bet you like that, Billy." Bart grinned devilishly.
"Bart, that was mean." Karina frowned and pulled away from Billy.
"There it is, the Yggdrasil." Citan stopped.
"Whoa… It's huge. It must have amazing power." Brad blinked in awe.
"It does! You like my Yggdrasil, eh?" Bart nodded.
"It is an amazing piece of mobile machinery. It probably took years to design and create such an awe inspiring structure." Brad leaned to the side.
"I didn't know King Kong knew such big words." Bart muttered to Citan.
"You got somethin' to say, punk, say it to my face." Brad folded his arms. "But then again, you and I can't look eye-to-eye, you're too short." He grinned.
"Why you… Let's get back to Sig before I get… angry." Bart grumbled.
"…Right, good plan." Fei nodded and followed.
"Hello, I am Sigurd Harcourt, welcome to the airship, Yggdrasil III." Sigurd said gently.
"Hey, I'm Brad, Karina's brother, you got a great ship here." Brad glanced around the bridge and then back at Sigurd and grinned.
"Thank you." Sigurd nodded.
"Why don't we show you around?" Bart said, pointing at the door.
"Sure." Brad turned to Bart and nodded.
"There are so many perfect gears here. You all pilot them?" He looked at all of them.
"You bet." Bart nodded.
"Now, why don't we get a few drinks?" Jessie grinned.
"Alright, we have anything your mind can dream up here, just say what you would like." Maison turned to them.
"I think I'll just have tea, Maison." Billy sat down on a stool.
"All right." Maison nodded.
"I guess if I must I'll have a white wine spritzer." Citan folded his arms.
"You mix, I drink, Maison, play your cards!" Jessie grinned.
"Father, that isn't very safe…" Billy glanced at Jessie and then back at the table.
"That's what you always say, but I'm not dead yet, am I?" Jessie sneered.
"Hi, Primera, how have you been?" Karina stepped up to her.
"….Fine, I guess." Primera's eyes glinted slightly.
"Fine? Well, that's good." Karina sat down on a bed.
"….." Primera walked up to her.
"Did I read the note?" Karina blinked.
"….." Primera nodded.
"Yes." Karina said gently.
"…." Primera looked down shyly.
"What did I think? Well… Primera… I don't know how I feel about your brother." Karina looked down. "To really tell you the truth."
"…" Primera shrugged.
"But if we were to… You really wouldn't mind? You wouldn't mind if your brother and I were…" Karina trailed off.
"…." Primera shook her head and smiled.
"That's a little reassuring. I'm not saying I do feel that way about him, though." Karina said gently. "Well, it's getting late, you should go to bed, little lady." Karina stood up and Primera nodded. "Well, goodnight." She smiled and left the room