Chapter 24:: Let's Go to the Lake
Author's note: Well, I'm back! Sorry about the long wait for the new chappie, but it's not like anyone keeps an eye on this thing, so I'm just posting this to mostly annoy people (Certain people more than others, cough cough) Err.. Yeah. Anyway! Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate the support! If you have any suggestions for later chapters, IM me! Later!
"Brother Billy!!" Bobby cried out, his face glowing as he ran at top speed towards Billy. He flung himself into Billy's arms, laughing. "You're back!"
"Hi, Bobby, is everyone OK?" Billy asked, putting his hands on Bobby's shoulders and looking into the red-haired boy's eyes.
"Yeah, we're fine!" Bobby nodded, grinning even more broadly than before. His wide grin slowly turned to a shy gaze as he averted his attention to Karina, who smiled slightly in return.
Billy blinked, looking at Bobby, trying to figure out what was wrong with the boy. He smiled, realizing what was wrong. "Oh, Bobby, this is Karina."
Bobby gave Karina a rather curious look, blinking. "Who's Karina?"
"She's Brother Billy's night night pillow!" Bart grinned, finally catching up.
"His what?" Bobby gave Bart a blank stare.
"BART!" Billy screamed, his normally calm and collected demeanor changing to a more flustered one. (If you have EVER seen the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Billy somewhat resembles Linus when he's freaking out about the Great Pumpkin not coming)
"What? It's true." Bart said innocently, turning away. Karina looked at Bart, rolling her eyes.
"Nice to meet you, Bobby.." Karina said softly, smiling again. Bobby grinned back, blushing shyly.
"Where are the others?" Billy asked, looking at Bobby.
"Inside." Bobby replied.
"OK, good.." Billy smiled. "Looks like you've been doing a good job of keeping this place under control."
Bobby nodded vigorously. "Yes, Brother Billy. I took real good care of it."
"Great news, kiddo." Jessie nodded slapping Bobby's back. Bobby turned to Jessie, his smile widening even more.
"Uncle Jessie!" Bobby exclaimed, hugging onto Jessie.
"Hey, boy's twerp." Jessie smiled, rubbing Bobby's head affectionately.
"This place really is lovely, Billy.." Karina commented, looking over the peaceful landscape.
"You think so?" Billy asked, smirking. "Thank you."
"Hey, it's not like the boy built the place." Jessie commented, puffing out his chest.
"Oh, of course.. It's lovely craftsmanship, Jessie." Karina added.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Jessie said matter-of-factly.
"Well.." Billy began, looking from one person to another. "Shall we?" He finished, gesturing at the house. Karina smiled, nodding. Bart walked up next to Karina, putting his arm over her shoulders.
"Get your mitts off of my sister.." Brad growled. Bart removed his arm, and instead gestured at the house.
"A year ago, this place was totally trashed by the Seraphim. We almost completely rebuilt it. May I add that we also increased its size quite a bit." Bart noted, grinning.
"It's a home built from the heart." Fei said in a high voice, making a small heart with his fingers.
"..Dude, please.." Bart rolled his eye, turning towards Fei. "You're so cheesy.."
"The power of cheese should amaze you, patchie." Fei replied.
"Whatever." Bart shook his head, waving away the comment.
"..Hey.." Fei blinked, noticing that while the two were talking, the rest of the group had left them standing in the middle of the yard. "They left us!"
"The cheap bastards!" Bart snapped.
"Oh, yeah, sure.. Ditch the guy who saves the world from a gigantic silver blob!" Fei hissed
"They are so ungrateful." Bart said softly, shaking his head in disbelief. Fei shrugged, slapping Bart on the back.
"Well.. later!" Fei said, leaving Bart to go inside the house. Bart followed slowly, muttering under his breath.
* *
Meanwhile, inside the house, the rest of the group mingled around the main room, idly chatting with one another. Rico was leaning against a tall wooden ladder that led upwards into the rafters of the first main room. A long dinner table was in the center of the room, a bench on each side. There was a simple, white ceramic vase in the center of the long table, burgeoning with yellow daffodils, white and yellow narcissi, multicolored lilies, bluebonnets and black-eyed Susan's. Another table was up against the corner wall, a group of candles resting on it, with a Bible in the center the table. There were a few bookcases set up along the corner of the back wall, each loaded with thick, old books. A door was in the center of the back wall, leading into another room.
"Well.. it's nice in a sort of.. archaic sort of way.." Kajumei said, shrugging.
"Archaic?" Billy blinked, looking at Kajumei.
"It's not like they're Amish, Kaju.." Karina said softly as Brad walked up next to Kajumei.
"It looks unsanitary." Brad muttered.
"Thank you, Brad. I've finally reached my goal.." Billy muttered sarcastically, giving Brad a rather rude look.
"Ignore him, Billy. He just hasn't had his 'bitchy' medication yet today." Karina explained, shooting a disapproving glare at Brad.
"Don't you give me your lip, young lady." Brad hissed.
"Bite me, Brad." Karina replied, sticking her tongue out. Brad sputtered, recoiling.
"You are going to be so grounded if you continue, young lady." Brad snapped.
"I dare you to try. I'll just sneak out and mess around with bikers that are twice my age." Karina replied.
"Um.." Billy coughed, getting the attention of the squabbling siblings.
"What?!" Karina and Brad both snapped at the same time, turning to Billy, who fell back in surprise.
"Um.. these are the rest of the children.." Billy whispered, gesturing towards a small group of children who had just come in from the room behind the door. There were about eleven more, excluding Bobby. The girls wore simple dresses, and the boys mostly wore loose t-shirts and shorts. A few of the children were mutants, one resembling something of a mole.
"Brother Billy!" One of the small girls, with red pigtails, freckles on her nose and bright green eyes, ran up and hugged onto Billy's knees, giggling. She looked upward at Billy fondly, her face aglow.
"Hello, Bridget. Are you feeling alright?" Billy asked, squatting down on the floor and hugging the girl back.
"Fine!" Bridget giggled. "I lost my tooth!" She announced happily, commencing to open her mouth as widely as it would and pointing at an empty space where her left front tooth should be.
"Wow.. That's really cool, Bridget." Billy smiled, lifting her up in his arms.
"Did you bring us anything, Brother Billy? Did you?" A small boy with wild dark blonde hair, shimmering sky blue eyes and a green cap on his head asked, tugging on Billy's robe.
"Oh, yeah I did. I left them in the Yggdrasil. I'll bring them in when I go back out to get the rest of my things." Billy replied, setting Bridget back on the floor. The children squealed happily, running towards Billy, then scattering onto the rest of the group. Fei quickly began to goof around with the children, and Elly stood off to the side, talking with the children about what they had been up to. A few children stood watching Rico shyly, waiting for him to respond to their presence. Bridget came up to Billy, tugging on his cloak. "What is it, Bridget?" Billy asked, and she made a motion for him to come closer. Billy leaned close, and Bridget pulled up next to his ear.
"Who are those people over there?" Bridget asked, gesturing at Karina, Brad, Kajumei, Ziggy and Sierra.
"Oh.." Billy nodded, standing. "I forgot to introduce them." He said as the orphans all began to notice the new arrivals. He walked up beside Karina, putting his hand on her shoulder. He quickly pulled it away when Brad shot him a rather dirty look. "This is Karina Rinsuchii, her brother Brad, his girlfriend Kajumei Heartlock, their friend Ziggy Gordo, and Uncle Siggy's old friend, Sierra LeRage." Billy said, pointing at each as he introduced them.
"Hello, kids.." Karina said softly.
"..Are you.." One of the older girls began, stepping up to Karina. "..Brother Billy's girlfriend?" Karina could almost feel Billy's face turning ten shades darker, even though he was facing away from her at this point. She smiled shyly, looking down.
"Um.. Collette.. It's not polite to ask people questions like that." Billy said to the girl.
"Oh.. OK, Brother Billy." Collette said, rolling her eyes and smiling.
"So.. uh.. What now?" Ziggy asked, folding his arms.
"I'll show you to your rooms." Billy said softly, walking towards the door.
"Gonna be a tight fit." Kajumei said.
"..Oh.. yeah. I forgot to tell you.. Only you four are staying here.. The rest agreed to stay in the Yggdrasil." Billy said, turning to Karina, Brad, Kajumei and Ziggy.
"Yeah, I like having my own bathroom." Bart muttered.
"This place doesn't look like it has alcohol, either." Sierra squinted. "A sign that this place is doomed. Do you hear me? DOOMED."
"They heard you, Sierra." Sigurd said softly.
"Like I give a damn." Sierra muttered to Sigurd.
"Come on, Karina.. Your bags must be heavy." Billy whispered, holding out his hand. "I'll carry them for you."
"No.. that's OK, Billy. I have them." Karina smiled back, following Billy into the next room. Brad was about to follow, when Kajumei grabbed his collar. Brad stumbled, making a gagging sound as his shirt tugged on his neck. Kajumei released his shirt, and he turned to her.
"What was that for?!" Brad snapped.
"Leave them alone, you lunatic." She replied, winking.
"Never! This is how teenage pregnancies occur!" Brad declared, about to turn away.
"How many times have I told you? Billy doesn't know how to work his thing.. I doubt he knows where it is." Bart added.
"Silence, you." Brad growled under his breath, turning towards Bart and beginning to advance upon him.
"Whoa, man, back off!" Bart cautioned, stepping back. "You don't want any of this, man, so just.. Don't push me!" He continued, making a move for his whips.
"Oh, please, you use strings on sticks, how harmful can you be?" Brad rolled his eyes.
"Why don't you both shut up?" Fei began, stepping up. "You're making a scene." He said, gesturing at the orphans, who were staring blankly at Bart and Brad.
"Whatever.." Brad hissed, turning away. "I'd snap him in two, anyway."
"Bring it on, Sasquatch!" Bart yelled.
"No.. Bring it off, young ones." Citan walked up, putting his hands in front of Bart and Brad, standing in between the two.
"Honestly, Hyuga.." Jessie muttered. "You are so incredibly un-hip that it frightens me."
"At least I didn't have a mid-life crisis and pretend to be a 'brother/ hippie/ belly dancer'." Citan whispered, adjusting his glasses.
"Hahaha.. wait.. belly dancer?" Fei blinked, and all heads turned to Jessie, who blushed.
"You didn't see him that night after two bottles of bourbon and a beer." Sigurd sighed.
"I don't want to see it ever again." Sierra added on.
"You do too, and you know it, LeRage." Jessie grinned, making a move for his shirt.
"Dad, please!" Billy screeched, reentering the room, his face even more pale, his eyes showing a look of shock. "Not in front of the children!"
Brad saw Billy, and almost instantly pounced on him and began to shake Billy by the throat. "Where is she?! Where's my baby sister?! Tell me, you shifty-eyed little.."
"Off, boy." Kajumei hissed, pulling Brad off.
Billy sighed in disgust, fixing his mussed cloak. After recollecting himself, he whispered to Brad, with an indignant air to his voice, "Karina wasn't feeling too well. She wanted to rest a little."
"..Oh." Brad blinked, his face becoming a little less savage.
"Yes." Billy nodded, sighing. "Besides, even if we were.. that is.. even if.."
"Stop while you're ahead, boy." Jessie warned, sitting down at the chair at the head of the long table.
"But.. But Karina and I.. We're just friends!" Billy blurted out, and more than one of the group members laughed sarcastically in response.
"As friends you suck on each others mouths to clear plaque away, right? I get it now." Bart nodded, smiling. "You guys have a symbiotic relationship, then?"
"Ah.. Bart!" Billy snapped, clenching his fists. "Just.. just.. leave me alone!" He hissed, turning his back and shuffling out of the room in an 'oh-how-dare-they' sort of way. Jessie sighed, running his hand through his white hair, while looking at Bart.
"You got the boy all flustered again, patchie." Jessie said softly, straightening.
"It's not a hard thing to do, man." Bart muttered, leaning against the windowsill and folding his arms.
"You have to give Bart that, Jessie. Billy is a tad bit too sensitive." Elly commented, nodding towards Bart. Fei looked at Elly, and slowly nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, whatever." He replied.
Brad groaned, throwing his arms up behind his head and leaning to the side. He sucked in the edge of his lower lip for a second, as if in thought, and then said, "Why don't you show us around this place, Black?"
"Sure thing, buddy." Jessie grinned, nodding.
"I'm not your buddy." Brad hissed under his breath.
"Brad!" Kajumei snapped, slapping him in the stomach. Brad rolled his eyes and straightened.
"Come on, then." Jessie muttered, leaving the room with Kajumei, Brad, Ziggy and Sierra. As they left, one of the younger girls toddled over towards Fei. She gripped onto the leg of his pants, and tugged insistently. Fei looked down at the girl, smiling.
"Yes?" He asked, kneeling over to the young girl.
"How did Brother Billy meet these people?" She asked softly.
"Well.. It's a long story." Fei looked up, thinking. "Well.. we.. er.. found Karina.."
"How?"
"We were traveling in the Aveh desert. Anyway.."
"Why?" The orphan asked.
"Why what?" Fei blinked.
"Why were you in the Aveh desert?" She said softly.
"Bart was being a moron."
"Hey!" Bart snapped.
"It's true, Bart." Fei muttered, and the rest of the group nodded in agreement.
"Yeah.. whatever.. See if I save your butts anymore.." Bart hissed.
"Anyway.. Bart was being a moron.." Fei began, issuing a growl from Bart with his comment.
"How?" She blinked.
"He was hunting a sandworm that looked at him cross-eyed." Fei nodded.
"Damn sandworm.. I'm gonna eat that thing one day.." Bart growled.
"Not until I study it, young one." Citan sighed, Bart turning to him.
"And what did I say about THAT, Uzuki? Study my-"
"Anyway.." Fei interrupted, causing Bart to scowl even more deeply. Bart rolled his eye and looked out the window once again, muttering under his breath about 'the pony-tailed-show-offish-farmboy'. "We found Karina, and she needed our help.. So.. we.."
"Why did she need help?" The girl whispered.
"She just did." Fei said plainly.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because." Fei replied.
"Why?" The girl repeated.
"Because she just did." Fei muttered, becoming rather irritated.
"Why?" The girl repeated once again.
"..Have a sucker." Fei whispered, pulling a brightly wrapped sucker from his pocket.
"Yay!" The orphan giggled, ripping the wrapper off, throwing it haphazardly to the side and popping the candy into her mouth.
"Yay, indeed." Fei nodded. "Anyway.. Karina needed to get back to Cimerion.. Which is a city to the south of here."
"You mean 'was a city'?" Bart muttered.
"Bart!!" Elly snapped, slapping Bart's shoulder. Bart winced, rolled his eye, and went back to stewing in the corner.
"So we took her there.. where we met Brad, who is Karina's brother, Kajumei, who is Brad's girlfriend.."
"And who also whooped your candy-ass, Fei." Bart chuckled bitterly.
"Yeah, whatever.." Fei growled, lifting up a small pebble that was on the floor and chucking it at Bart. As the soft sound of the pebble connecting to Bart's forehead sounded, Fei continued, "And then we met Sierra, who is.."
"The biggest byyyyyatch this side of the living world." Bart snapped.
"Just ignore him." Fei muttered. "And we met Sierra, who is Sigurd's old friend. Just recently, something very bad happened in Cimerion.. and so.. Billy decided to bring Karina here for a little while just to try and help her feel better." The orphans stared at him blankly for a few moments, before Bobby spoke up.
"Yeah.. OK.. So.. Is she Brother Billy's girlfriend?" Bobby asked.
"Well.." Fei trailed off.
"We're not sure.." Elly finished for him, smiling. "But I'm sure he'll let you know if it's true or not."
"Oh.. Right." Bobby nodded, biting his lip.
"Uncle Bart?" Collette whispered, toddling up to Bart and extending a book out to him. He turned to her and smiled slightly.
"Yeah, kid?" He asked.
"Will you read this to me?" She asked, her eyes widening. As she asked this, Bart grinned. He knelt over and took the book from the girl's hands, looking at the cover.
"Sure thing, kid." He said.
"Thank you, Uncle Bart!" She giggled, her eyes glowing.
* *
Billy sighed, knocking on the door to the guestroom. The door opened a moment later, and Karina smiled at him sleepily.
"Hi, Billy." Karina said softly. "Is something wrong?"
"Um.. no.. no, of course not. I just.. erm.. wanted to know if everything was alright." Billy stuttered, blushing.
"Everything is fine, Billy." Karina replied in a warm tone. "This place is very calm and soothing."
"But.. there are so many children here.. surely the sound of their playing isn't very calm and soothing.." Billy said, blinking. Karina sighed, stepping aside.
"But it is.." Karina said assuredly. "Come in, Billy.."
"Yes, ma'am." Billy said under his breath, walking in unsurely. Karina shut the door behind him, turning to face him as he sat down in one of the wicker chairs next to the window.
The room itself was rather small, being only large enough to hold two twin sized beds, two wicker chairs, a polished oak dresser drawer, another door which led into a small closet, and an oak bedside table in between the two beds. On the walls hung small oil paintings of landscapes, mostly flower gardens or ocean scenes. A large window with white curtains delicately stitched and lined with embroidered flowers on the back of the wall, had its shutters open, a delicate breeze just barely causing the curtains to sway. The smell of the flowers outside and the briny ocean not too far away lingered on the breeze. The two twin beds had thick, intricately designed quilts each, designed with bits and pieces of deep scarlet, midnight blue, hunter green, and tan cloth. On the bedside table was a lace covering, a large lamp with a dark wooden base, and a rather small circular clock with an oak veneer.
"You're so lucky to live in a place like this." Karina murmured, walking over to the twin bed nearest to the window, which her bags were placed on the foot of, and sitting down. "It's just.. so much more.. comfortable.. Than the city."
"I think that may be one of the reasons my parents chose this place to build our home.. that is.. after we left Solaris." Billy said softly.
"Solaris? You lived in Solaris?" Karina asked, her eyes sparking an interest.
"Yes.. We all lived there.. I don't remember much about it, though.. it was so long ago. I just remember.. that we had the best money could buy. We were a Class A family.. living in practically a mansion.. having the best food all the time.. getting anything I could ever want.. we even had a butler." Billy sighed, looking up. "I don't think my grandparents liked us much, though.. they only seemed to come over when they had to. I haven't seen them in the longest time. But.. apart from those things.. I don't remember much of anything."
"Brad told me once that my parents lived in Solaris.. my mother was a citizen there, not one of a very high class, and my father was a -lamb- that escaped from the test facilities and managed to find his way to my mother's home. They fell in love and eventually my mother gave birth to Brad. They left only a week after Brad was born, and escaped to the surface. That's all I know, though.." Karina nodded, looking down at her hands.
"Really? That's very interesting." Billy commented. "So Brad never learned Solarian?" Billy asked.
"No.. I guess not." Karina shrugged.
"I'm a bit rusty with my Solarian. I only remember a few things about the language, actually." Billy sighed.
"Do you miss it? You know.. from what you remember?" Karina asked softly. Billy paused, pondering for a moment.
"Well.. maybe when I was younger I would have. I mean.. I would have come from vast wealth and having anything I could possibly think of. But.. now.. I don't think so.. I mean.. from what I remember of Solaris.. there were police everywhere monitoring everything you would do.. there were no real plants and hardly any animals there. Everything was so.. fake.." Billy whispered, stretching. He yawned, looked at Karina and continued, "But.. down here.. Everything is free and open.. there are so many different types of people, life everywhere.. and things are still so.. you know.. real and natural.." He turned now towards the window, shutting his eyes and breathing in deeply as the breeze swept in. "I really do love being here."
Karina looked at him quietly, smiling to herself as she observed him silently gazing out the window and breathing in the smells of the flowers outside the window. She pulled a few strands of hair back and looked back down at her hands. "..Billy?" Karina asked suddenly, turning to him. He turned his head to look at her, and just smiled in return, letting her know that he was listening. "Will.. the pain ever go away?"
"The pain?" Billy asked, blinking.
"..The pain of what happened to Cimerion.. will it ever go away?" Karina whispered, clenching her hands together on her lap.
"I.. don't know, Karina. I really don't." Billy said delicately, but feeling that his answer wasn't making her feel any better, he continued rather unsurely, "I think.. that the pain and memory will always be here.. but.. the immediate pain will go away. It will stop being on your mind all the time."
Karina bit her lip, smiling weakly. She looked up, trying to keep tears from running down her face. She nodded, looking back down at Billy once again. "Thank you.. Billy."
"No problem." Billy said gently, standing and walking over to the bed. He sat down next to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you going to be OK?" He asked as Karina looked away and nodded slightly.
* *
"And that would be the kitchen. It's where we keep the.. food and stuff.." Jessie muttered half heartedly, nudging the kitchen door slightly with his foot. "Now, if you'll follow me, I'll lead you to where you'll be.. staying, I guess."
"What a great tour guide you are, Jessiah." Sierra muttered, rolling her eyes. "When are we gonna get to the beer, man?"
"Later." Jessie hissed, pushing a door open that led into a small room. In the room, there were two sets of bunk beds, the top bunk with a wooden plank spread over the space in between them as a sort of bridge. There were magazines and books scattered about on the plank, as well as on the beds and on the oddly shaped chair set in between the beds.
"Hot holy damn, there are socks hanging from the ceiling!" Sierra laughed, pointing up. "What the hell is wrong with that?"
"Don't ask me, the boy set this place up. He has head problems. He got it from his mother." Jessie muttered. He tapped his finger on one of the doors on the wall opposite of the bunk beds, saying "This used to be a bathroom, but since the original house was destroyed about a year ago, we rebuilt the entire place. This is the room where the male guests will be staying, and this one.." He added, tapping the door next to the first "Is the ladies guestroom." He looked at Sierra and frowned, "But I'm afraid we have no monkey rooms, you'll have to sleep outside." He said apologetically.
"Ahah.. ahah. Very funny." Sierra snarled, making a motion to point a rather rude finger at Jessie.
"So.. my sister is staying in there?" Brad asked, pointing at the door. "Is it far away from that bow kid's room?" He asked, Kajumei rolling her eyes as he said it.
"Brad, you're nuts." She muttered, flicking his ear with her forefinger.
"Anyway," Jessie interrupted, grinning, "Let's get you guys all set up in your rooms." He said, clapping his hands together and turning towards the room that led into the men's guestroom. Just as he said this, Billy left the room that was supposed to be the women's guestroom. As he saw Brad, his eyes widened and he paled.
"Hello, Billy." Brad began calmly. "Is my sister in there?" He asked. Billy looked at Jessie, then at Kajumei, wondering if it was a trick question. He breathed in, taking a moment before responding.
"Yes.. she is." Billy said softly.
"Oh.." Brad shrugged. He turned away, acting uncharacteristically calm about the matter. As Billy gave a sigh of relief, Brad spun back around, snatching him by the collar, slamming him against the wall and lifting him in the air. "Did you lay ONE finger on her?! I swear to God, if you made her do anything.." He snapped, coming very close to Billy's face.
"No, no of course I didn't! I.. I would never!" Billy cried out, stuttering. He squirmed, trying to loosen Brad's grip.
"Brad! Let him go!" Kajumei snapped, grabbing Brad's arm. As she did this, Karina walked out of the room. Karina's eyes widened as she walked out, seeing the spectacle her brother was making of himself.
"Brad.. What are you doing?" Karina asked, walking up to him. He ignored her, continuing to attempt to kill Billy.
"You are SO dead!" Brad yelled.
"Brad.." Karina repeated.
"If you EVER touch her again.."
"Brad." Karina hissed.
"I swear I will KILL you!"
"BRAD!" Karina yelled, kicking him in the shin. Brad yowled in pain, dropping Billy and grabbing his shin. Billy crumpled to the floor, breathing heavily.
"Good.. lord!" Billy gasped weakly.
"You are nuts, Brad!" Karina hissed, placing her hands on her hips and turning away.
"Really.. we are their guests.." Kajumei muttered, punching Brad lightly in the head. He gasped in pain, hopping on one leg and gripping his shin.
Karina rolled her eyes, leaving the room and muttering something about Brad being a baby. Billy finished gasping, stood up, and left into the opposite room, which led to his room, glaring at Brad the whole way. Jessie paused, looking at the remaining group.
"Well.. come along!" Jessie continued, leading them into the guestrooms.
Karina walked slowly into the first room, where the rest of the group still was, with the exception of Maria and Emeralda, who were outside with a few of the orphans. Fei and Elly were sitting at the table, having light conversation. Rico was standing in the corner, keeping his normal state of being the 'loner' of the group. Citan stepped over and sat down next to Fei, joining the conversation. Sigurd was quietly reading in the loft above the table, his legs dangling from the planks. Bart was sitting on a chair he had pulled out from the table, with a small ring of remaining orphans huddled around him. He held a book out, reading to them with great passion in his voice.
"And then.. huffing and puffing.. the little Engine that Could.." He said, gasping and holding the book out, "Said.. 'I think I can! I think I can!'" At this moment, Bart broke down and began to cry, wiping tears from his eye. "Oh.. man.. that part gets me every time.." He wept. An orphan stood up and pat him on the back gently.
"It's just a story, Uncle Bart. No need to cry over it." He said quietly.
"It's not 'just a story'!" Bart snapped, looking up. The orphans recoiled at his sudden shout. "This is a story of perseverance and hope!! The Engine could, even though no one believed it could!"
"Uncle Bart.. It's a story. Lighten up." Another orphan said bluntly.
"How could I ever expect any of YOU to understand the depth and beauty of such a great classic as 'The Little Engine that Could'?!" Bart snapped, throwing the book down. He stood up and stomped away in something of a huff. Karina giggled, walking up to Bart.
"Having issues with reading to the orphans, Bart?" She asked, smiling at him amusedly.
"They don't get the depth of beautiful stories." Bart muttered, sighing. Karina laughed, looking at the group of orphans, who were looking confusedly after Bart.
"Oh, let it go." Karina said, poking his shoulder.
"Never! I must bring some form of culture to this.. cultural wasteland!" Bart hissed.
"Bart, just because they don't worship the Little Engine that Could doesn't mean that.." Karina began, but Bart cut her off.
"Silence, woman!" Bart shouted, pointing at her. "You're with that ex- priest and his anti-Engine that Could teachings!"
"Bart.. You're insane." Karina whispered, turning back and stepping away cautiously. The slow movements turned into a dash out of the room.
"No one understands me." Bart whispered, sitting down and humming a tragic tune to himself.
"Bart?" Fei asked from the table. Bart looked up, grinning.
"Yeah, buddy boy, pal-o-mine?" Bart asked hopefully.
"Could you keep your angst-humming a little lower? It's kind of.." Fei began, lingering off.
"Annoying." Elly finished.
"Yeah, that's it. Annoying." Fei nodded.
"..Damn." Bart hissed.
* *
"This place is boring, Sigsipoo." Sierra commented, hopping up onto the fence, rolling an apple she had found in the kitchen on her shirt. The two were in the backyard, near the fenced enclosure for the chickens. Sigurd sighed, leaning against the fence and looking into the vast open space beyond the house.
"In your eyes, Sierra. However.. I believe that it is quite settling.. It's a good place to sort out loose.. Feelings." Sigurd replied, brushing back a few strands of silver hair from his vision.
"Yeah, well.. as of recently, you're the youngest man I know of that could go into an old fogie's home, Sigsipoo." Sierra muttered.
"That is completely unrelated to topic, Miss Sierra." Sigurd murmured.
"Touche." Sierra nodded.
"What is it about the quiet that bothers you so, anyway?" Sigurd asked as Sierra took a large bite of her apple, crunching quite loudly.
"That fact that it's too damn quiet. Makes the noise in my head damn near unbearable sometimes," She replied after a moment, through a mouthful of apple. Hardly a ladylike response. Hardly ladylike.. but it made a lot of sense. Sigurd nodded; for once she was being straightforward instead of being a smart-ass.
"I suppose I understand where you're coming from.. But all the same.. I like the quiet," Sigurd replied. "I experience so little of it on the Yggdrasil.."
"It's really quiet in my life. You don't really have anyone else to talk to.. Except for various woodland creatures that may want to strike up a conversation with you." Sierra commented, flicking a pebble with her toe.
"Hm.. There is a difference between quiet and being alone, though." Sigurd whispered, shutting his eye and smiling at the soft breeze.
"I like being alone, Sigurd. There's no one to stab you in the back." She murmured, turning away. Sigurd looked away, frowning.
"You're.. still angry.. about our past.. aren't you?" He asked, looking back up at her. Sierra gave rather forced chuckled, flipping her emerald braids behind her shoulders.
"Don't flatter yourself, Sigsipoo." She murmured, placing one hand on her hips. "I just don't like how much you all have grown.. You have changed."
"It's part of growing up." Sigurd replied.
"Growing up means accepting that you're going to die soon, Sig." Sierra looked back at him, smiling rather defiantly. "And I don't intend to die any time soon."
"You are very strange, Sierra." Sigurd responded. "You go from speaking about the quiet, to talking about how we've changed, and now to dying too soon."
"Hey, what can I say? I'm not good at segues. " Sierra shrugged, finishing off her apple and tossing the core carelessly behind her shoulder.
"I can see that.." Sigurd nodded, smiling.
"What does that mean?" Sierra snapped, turning her head towards him.
"Nothing.. err.. it means absolutely nothing.." Sigurd pulled away, holding up his hands in defense. Sierra squinted at him, hopping off of the railing.
"Yeah, whatever." She muttered, kicking the dirt as she walked back into the house through the back door.
"Women.." Sigurd sighed, hanging his head, "Are so confusing.."
"Have they not always been that way?" Citan's voice came from behind. Sigurd smiled, shutting his eyes.
"How wise you are, Hyuga." Sigurd murmured. Citan stepped lightly next to Sigurd, and leaned against the fence. He looked at the ex-fire element, smiling.
"I never predicted that someone like you, Sigurd, would ever feel the way you do about someone like Sierra." Citan whispered, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.
"You too?" Sigurd laughed, looking at Citan. "I was surprised enough when she came back the first time.. because you know.. back when she left Solaris.. I was trying to get clearance to us a shuttle to go out and find her.. because.. I guess I was worried about her.. she was just a dumb kid.. she didn't know what she was getting herself into.."
"Ah, I see.." Citan nodded.
"Yeah.. but.. her parents told me that she had.. That Sierra was so upset with losing that she took their shuttle and.. crashed it on the surface.. and that she was dead.. They had a funeral and everything."
"You never told me about that, Sigurd." Citan blinked, straightening.
"I was too.. upset.." Sigurd whispered.
"Then why were you so calm when the Young Master brought her back to the Yggdrasil?" Citan asked.
"..I was.. I just.. couldn't bring myself to ask her about it.. I was too happy to see that she was all right.." He replied.
"Happy?" Citan smiled, giving Sigurd a rather coy look.
Sigurd paused, his eye widening. "Uh.."
"Weeeeeelllllll, what are we talkin' about, my buds?" Jessie yelled, throwing his arms onto Sigurd and Citan's shoulders.
"Ah, Jessiah. Nice for you to join us." Citan smiled, looking at Jessie, who grinned back.
"No problem, Hyuga." Jessie nodded. He looked at Sigurd, then at Citan. "Well?"
"We're discussing Sigurd's feelings for Sierra." Citan replied. Sigurd gasped, shooting a rude glare to Citan.
"Hyuga!"
"..'Scuse me?" Jessie blinked, turning to look at Sigurd. "Why in the name of God do you like her, anyway? She ain't got anything special."
"According to you, Jessiah." Sigurd snapped. "Neither of you know her the way I know her. I've always felt that she had.. a more feminine, gentle side."
"Yeah, maybe her butt, but you have to understand that every woman has a butt, Sigurd." Jessie rolled his eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that, Jessiah." Sigurd muttered, rolling his eye. "So now that you've pushed your hardest to drive your son up the wall, you're going to move onto me?"
"What does that mean, Sigurd?" Jessie squinted at him.
"I don't want your feelings about Sierra to try and influence my feelings about her." Sigurd said, pulling away from Jessie and backing towards the door. He turned, and left into the house the way Sierra had gone.
"..Did any of that make sense to you?" Jessie asked Citan, blinking.
"Not in any way." Citan replied. Jessie sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Feminine men are so confusing." He groaned. Citan smiled at him, nodding.
"I'd have to agree, Jessiah." Citan nodded.
"This is why I can't make any sense of anything the boy says to me unless I'm drunk or something." Jessie muttered.
"Jessiah.." Citan laughed, looking upward.
* *
"You know what, Billers?" Bart asked, turning to face Billy. The two were standing next to the sink, peeling potatoes. Bart turned the potato, beginning on the other side.
"Do I want to know?" Billy asked, setting the potato he finished into a large silver pot, and reached for another potato. He began to peel it, rotating the potato quickly in his hand.
Bart slowed his peeling, sighing. "I've been wondering something.."
"Ah, I see. But I don't really care." Billy replied, dropping the potato into the pot and beginning another one. Bart sighed again, rolling his eye.
"Would you just listen to me for once?" He asked, setting down the peeler and dropping his potato in the sink, on top of the peels.
"The potatoes will brown after you peel them if you don't put them into the pot of water." Billy said quietly, looking into the pot, pondering how many more potatoes they would need.
"Billy!" Bart snapped. "What's your problem today?" He asked. Billy shook his head, dropping the potato into the pot and looking at Bart.
"Finish peeling that one, and then just do one more, OK?" He asked.
"Yeah, sure, whatever." Bart rolled his eye, picking up the peeler and the potato so he could begin peeling again. Billy sighed, looking down.
"Sorry, Bart. I'm just.. worried." Billy said quietly.
"About Karina?" Bart asked.
"Yeah.. and everything else that's happening. I'm just wondering how I could ever get her to stop mulling over things in the past.." Billy said gently. "I know it's horrible to feel like asking her to stop being upset over having her home.. destroyed.."
"It's not horrible." Bart said quietly. "It's understandable, Billy."
"Is it really? I feel like I'm being selfish.." Billy whispered.
"When someone you care about is in pain.. you just want to help them feel better.. that's all you want." Bart said, smiling. "You think I haven't felt that way a million times about Margie?"
"..Really?" Billy smiled, looking at Bart. "So you care more about Margie than you let on."
"Well.." Bart looked away, a soft blush creeping up his cheeks. He shook his head, laughing, "Uh, that's beside the point, Billy! Don't change the subject!"
"Well.. what do you think I should do?" Billy asked softly.
"I think.. you should do something with her to help her get her mind off of it for a while." Bart nodded, finishing off the potato and dropping it into the pot. Billy sighed, lifting the pot and setting it on one of the back burners of the stove top.
"OK.. Hey, Bart?" Billy asked, looking at Bart.
"Yeah?" Bart replied.
"Are the orphans back from their little excursion with Fei and Elly yet?" Billy asked.
Bart blinked, looking out of the window. "Doesn't look like it."
"Ah.. Well, I'm going to go read for a while, when the timer goes off, could you come get me?" He asked, setting the kitchen timer.
"Yeah, sure." Bart nodded. Billy smiled, leaving the kitchen.
* *
"What is this, Uncle Fei?" Bobby asked, holding up a flower. Fei, Elly, and the orphans were on a nature hike, just a mile or so away from the Orphanage. The sky was just barely showing shades of pink, orange and purple. Fei leaned over, looking at the flower for a few moments.
"That's an Indian Paintbrush, Bobby." Fei replied.
"Do you think Miss Elly would like it?" Bobby asked, smiling. Fei looked at him for a moment.
"You trying to get up on my girl, Bobby?" Fei laughed dryly, reaching for the flower.
"Uh.. no, sir.." Bobby paled, pulling away.
"Good man." Fei patted him on the back, and Bobby scuttled away. Elly approached Fei from behind, folding her arms.
"Fei?" She asked.
"Yes?" Fei turned to her, smiling.
"Did I just see you on the brink of killing that poor little boy?" Elly muttered.
"..Of course not, mon beau premier." Fei stood, turning to face where the orphans were.
"It's getting late, Fei. Shouldn't we be heading back to the house?" She asked.
"..Perhaps we should. But the kids are having such a great time." Fei said gently. Elly smiled, looking at the orphans.
"Strange how charming nature hikes are to children." Elly said gently.
"Yeah, I guess." Fei shrugged.
"Anyway, I should get back because I promised Billy I would help him with dinner." Elly said.
"..What's that supposed to mean?" Fei squinted.
"Oh, for the love of God, Fei!" Elly snapped. "You aren't even trying to say.."
"Perhaps I am, Elly.. Perhaps I am.." Fei whispered Elly groaned, rolling her eyes. She lightly hit the back of Fei's head, walking past him.
* *
"Ey, mon." Ziggy said, stepping up behind Rico, who shuddered.
"What now?" He muttered, glaring at Ziggy. Ziggy grinned, sitting next to Rico.
"I just wanted to tell you about somethin', mon." Ziggy nodded lazily, putting a hand on Rico's shoulder. "I know you and me ain't gotten along too well these past few months, mon, and I just wanted to let you know that you are as good as a bro to me."
"Dear god, save me." Rico said under his breath.
"What you say, mon?" Ziggy blinked , his rose tinted sunglasses slipping down his nose.
"I said.." Rico looked around, searching for something large and heavy with which to kill Ziggy. "..yay."
"Now, give me a hug.. brother!" Ziggy grinned, rushing at Rico. Rico's eyes widened in horror as Ziggy approached him, almost in slow motion. Rico looked from side to side desperately, cursing Billy for not having anything in the house that Rico could use as a club. He looked upward, noticing a bucket hanging precariously on the wooden plank above him. Rico slammed his fist into the pole. Perhaps it was some divine force, perhaps it was mere luck, or perhaps the house was just on a unleveled foundation, but to Rico's sheer amazement (and joy), the bucket tumbled off of the board, and fell straight down and slammed right onto Ziggy's head, knocking him out when he was just a quarter of an inch from Rico.
"..Thank all things holy and right in the world.. that was too close.." Rico sighed, looking at Ziggy. "Eugh.." He groaned in disgust, taking a pillow and pushing Ziggy off of him with it. Karina walked in, smiling at Rico.
"Are you officially one of his brothers now, Rico?" She asked, smiling.
"..I refuse to go." Rico muttered. Karina laughed.
"Yeah, that's how Brad responded to it when he became a Gordo brother." Karina nodded. She looked back, and then at Rico. "Anyway, Billy said that dinner is ready, so you might want to go get washed up." She smiled, leaving the room.
"..I don't wash before I eat. I'll just get dirty again. Screw that." Rico muttered, standing and walking into the dining room. Karina returned into the room, sighing as she lifted Ziggy up.
"I guess we could just prop him up in his chair.." She whispered, groaning as she lugged Ziggy into the dining room. She heaved him into his chair, gasping. "Good lord.. what has he been eating..?"
"..Greetings, sister." Bart said from behind, resting his forehead on her shoulder. Karina smiled, looking at him.
"Hello, Bart." Karina said gently, turning around.
"How's Karina?" Bart asked, taking her hands and swinging them from side to side.
"Karina's fine. How's Bart?" Karina asked.
"Well, you know how it is, giiirl.. Just a little of this, a little of that.. Bart's chipper-dee-doo." Bart grinned.
"Excuse me.." Billy murmured, walking past them with a plateful of corn on the cob. Karina turned to him.
"It looks really good, Billy." Karina asked, smiling. Bart sat down, making a grab for the roast.
"Trust me; most of it is probably wax or something. How else do you think he stays so skinny?" Bart muttered, lifting the whole roast off of the plate and making a move to carry the whole thing to his plate. Billy whipped out a carving knife, resting it on Bart's hand.
"Put.. the cow.. down." Billy snapped. Bart paled, dropping the roast.
"OK, Conan.." Bart whispered.
"Fei has arrived!" Fei cried out, bursting into the room. Bar groaned, glaring at Fei.
"You think we all need to pull down our pants, grab the maracas and do a little dance when YOU come into the room?" Bart rolled his eye.
"What?" Fei blinked.
"Nevermind, Fei. My witty comments far surpass the ability of reasoning your mortal brain possesses." Bart said softly.
"You make no sense, Barto." Fei smiled, sitting down in his chair. Jessie walked in, grabbing a biscuit.
"Skip the grace, slap a bib on me and stand back, baby." Jessie grinned, pulling a beer out of his pocket and sitting down at the head of the table.
"Dad, where did you get that beer?" Billy asked, squinting.
"..None of your business." Jessie whispered, holding the beer protectively.
"Why not?" Billy asked, folding his arms.
"Because.." Jessie hissed.
"..Because why?"
"Because last time I told you, you took them and hid them from me." Jessie whispered.
"..Whatever.. Can we get through one meal without someone losing some garment, or someone daring someone else to sudden death pea wars, or someone getting a utensil jabbed into a limb?" Billy asked gently.
"Can you stop resembling a piece of pasta with a pregnant woman's attitude?" Bart asked, observing his fork and then looking at Billy. He then turned to Fei. "Sudden death corn war?" He asked. Fei hunkered down so only his eyes were visible over the table.
"Forts may be made from mashed potatoes or roast.." Fei muttered, whipping out his spoon and forming a fort with his mashed potatoes.
"Show your face, dude." Bart hissed.
"Why?" Fei asked.
"I ain't firing until I see the whites of your beady eyes." Bart replied.
"Act your age, guys." Maria whispered
"Infidels!" Bart snapped, turning to Maria and shooting a few pieces of corn at her.
"Ow! God, that one got me in the eye!" Maria snapped, wiping her eye.
"As well it should have, fluffy!" Bart yelled.
"I'll get you.." She snapped, lifting her spoon and loading it with mashed potatoes.
"How old are we, children?" Elly asked, resting her hand on Maria's.
"Shut up, carrot top, I'm getting the braided boob." Maria snapped, shutting one eye to get a good aim on Bart. Elly recoiled, frowning.
"Now, couldn't we just.. have a nice, peaceful meal?" Karina asked, smiling.
"Karina's right." Billy nodded.
"Oh, stuff it, Gumby." Bart snapped.
"Yeah, all you want is to get into her pants, Billy." Maria added, shooting the potatoes at Bart.
Billy and Karina both made offended gasps, the two looking at each other. "I do not!" Billy snapped, blushing.
"..That's very rude.." Karina whispered.
"But true." Fei said, squinting at Bart and Maria, pondering which one to hit.
"Wait.. I'm not dead.." Billy blinked, looking around. The group stared at him.
"Well.. yeah.." Sigurd said gently.
"What did you think you were?" Sierra asked, taking a sip of her iced tea.
"Well.. you were talking about.. vile things.. and Brad didn't kill me.." Billy whispered.
"It's not VILE, Billy. Are you saying wanting to get in my pants would be VILE?" Karina asked.
"NO! N-no, of course not! I-It's just.."
"Then you want to?" Jessie asked.
"That's not it! I-I.. I need more ice in my drink.." Billy said quickly, grabbing his glass and running into the kitchen.
"..Man, and I thought saying 'I'm oiling my baseball glove' was a bad excuse for why a guy would run out of the room blushing. 'I need more ice in my drink'? Really, Billy, be a little more creative." Bart muttered.
"..What?" Fei asked, looking at Bart.
"YOU know, Fei.. 'Oiling my baseball glove'.. Oh, come on, you know!" Bart said slowly, looking at Fei.
"..What?"
"FEI.. My BROTHER.. Implying you are a MAN.." Bart turned to Fei, putting his hands on Fei's face. "Look at me while I tell you this. Billy is a boy, right?"
"Despite all of our loony ways of proving otherwise.. yes, yes he is." Fei nodded.
"And he's how old?" Bart asked.
"Seventeen." Fei replied.
"Meaning he is a teenage boy, right?"
"Right."
"Well.. when we don't have women.. or in some rare cases, men.. to display our teenage boyishness and newfound.. err.. play things to.. we need to.. 'oil our baseball gloves'.. you get what I mean?" Bart asked.
"..Oh.. OOOHH.. I get you now." Fei nodded, and then squinted. "Eeew.."
"Billy was right.. Where is Brad?" Karina asked.
"He went back to the Yggdrasil to work on some things. He said he'd get something to eat a little later." Kajumei said.
"..Oh.." Karina blinked.
::On the Yggdrasil::
~Beruvine.. look within your soul.. see your true reflection.. Beruvine..~
Brad shuddered, dropping the wrench he was holding. He had been feverishly working on repairing the cannon to full power almost the entire day, perhaps just so he could be alone to think. He turned, squinting in the darkness. He only had a few lights on in the engine room, and the lights cast eerie shadows on the ground.
"Is someone there?" He asked, standing. "..Hello?" He stepped away from where he was working, looking around. He walked out of the engine room, looking around the small living room area. "..Maybe I just need something to drink.." He whispered, stepping up to the vending machine. He tapped a few of the buttons, and a cola came out of the machine. Brad lifted it up, taking a sip of the drink.
~L'lai nen terr.. Shaii reu, Beruvine..~
"What?" Brad hissed, spinning around, dropping the cola. "Shit.." He whispered, bending over and picking up the can. He stood up, walking up the stairs to try and find some paper towels to sop up the cola on the floor.
~L'lai nen terr.. Shaii reu, Beruvine..~
Brad froze, slowly looking behind him. "Man.. I've gone nuts.. I'm hearing things.." He whispered, slowly walking behind the counter, looking for the paper towels.
~Nai no chan.. Rezch l'lai nen terr.~
"..Do not fear.. Please come to me.."
"Who's there?" Brad straightened. "It's not funny, just come out already!"
~L'lai nen terr.. Shii reu, Beruvine..~
"Come to me.. Be quick, Beruvine.."
Brad froze, feeling a strange chill spread through his body. An odd, pulling sensation filled his bones, as he began to move forward, not even really intending to do so. He walked into the room he was staying in. He stopped at the door, his body going back to normal. Brad reached up and opened the door, nothing that the door was strangely cold. A wave of icy air came over him as the door opened. "..Whoa.." Brad whispered, looking into the room. "What's going on?" He asked to himself. The entire area around him was eerily silent, and a ghostly sort of mist hung around the window. Brad felt goose bumps raise on his skin as a smoky rectangular outline began to form. The form began to become more solid, and he began to recognize it as a mirror.
"What the hell?" Brad hissed, squinting at the mirror. The mist cleared, and the mirror was there, solid and real. Brad stepped up to it, running his fingers along the oddly warm surface of the mirror. "Where did this thing come from?"
~You have come, at last..~ A voice said. Brad recoiled.
"What in the name of..?" He hissed, squinting. A misty form appeared in the mirror. The form was that of a young woman, with shockingly green eyes, a wild curly red hair, the shades of a sunrise. She wore a deep scarlet jacket and long black gloves. Her black shirt underneath the jacket had a couple belts strapped diagonally along her chest. Two spiked belts went around her waist, and long, baggy black pants ran down her legs. Brad's eyes widened. "..K-Kajumei?" He whispered.
Kajumei smiled, shaking her head. ~I am a mere reflection of your innermost desire..~ She said.
"..Then.. why are you here?" Brad asked gently.
~To help you stop denying who it is you are..~ Kajumei replied.
"What do you mean?" Brad asked, squinting.
~..You are something higher than humans.. Something more..~
"Not this again.. this isn't real.. This is just a dream.." Brad hissed.
~Please, Beruvine.. Stop denying your true self..~ Kajumei said softly, frowning.
"I'm not Beruvine! I'm Brad Rinsuchii! This is just a crazy dream!" Brad yelled, clenching his fist.
~..Why are you still hiding, Beruvine..?~ Kajumei asked, sighing.
"Just go away! Leave me alone!" Brad snapped. "I've heard enough of this shit to last me a life time! Just go away!" He yelled, falling to his knees and grabbing his head as an unbearable screaming sound filled his head.
~Beruvine..~ The voice said, the sound becoming more intense.
"Go away!!" Brad shouted, gripping his head.
~..You cannot hide forever..~ The voice hissed. The sound was now almost deafening. Brad groaned, doubling over, still gripping his head in pain.
"Stop it!! Stop!!" Brad screamed, feeling like the sound was going to rip him apart. In an instant, the feeling and the sound ceased, and the room warmed. Brad paused, opening his eyes. He sat up rapidly, looking around.
He was, once again, in the engine room. Brad groaned, leaning against the wall, breathing hard. He was sweating, and his heart was racing, the sound still reverberating softly in his memory. "..There is some crazy shit going down.." He hissed. "Some crazy ass shit.." He whispered, leaning back and sighing.
::Around 10:30 at night::
"..Hey, Karina?" Billy asked, looking at Karina, who looked up from the book she was reading. The two of them were in the room Karina was staying in
"What is it, Billy?" She asked gently, smiling.
"I was wondering.. There's a lake a couple miles from here.. we were going to go down there tomorrow.. you know, just to.. do.. stuff.. And I wanted to know if you wanted to come with us.." Billy said gently.
Karina looked at him, and nodded. "That would be fun.. I'd love to go.." She said.
"Ah.. OK.. Well.." Billy looked around, and then stood up. "I should let you get some sleep.. so.."
Karina stood up, walked over to Billy and hugged him, burying her face in his chest. Billy felt his face burn, and he placed his hands lightly on her back.
"Thank you for letting me stay here, Billy.." Karina said gently. "You have been so kind to me.."
"Well.." Billy began, "I really want you to try and cheer up.. I don't like seeing you sad.." Karina pulled away, smiling.
"..I'll try.." Karina whispered. Billy blushed again, scratching the back of his head.
"Um.. err.. goodnight.. Karina.." Billy said gently, walking towards the door.
"Goodnight, Billy." Karina said.
::The next day, around 11:00 in the morning::
"Hey, Brad?" Kajumei asked as the group neared the area where the lake was, the lake now in view. He looked at her while rubbing sunscreen on his arms.
"Yeah, Kaju?" Brad replied.
"Why the hell were you gone so long last night?" Kajumei asked, blinking. Brad paused, looking away for a few moments. "..Brad?" Kajumei asked, resting her hand on his arm. Brad started, turning to her.
"..Oh.. What did you say, Kajumei?" Brad asked.
"..Are you OK, baby?" Kajumei asked gently, running her hand along his arm. "You're acting kind of out of it today.."
"..I'm just.. sort of tired.. And I.. um.. was up late last night trying to finish up the repairs to the cannon." Brad said softly, frowning.
"Oh.. Well.. take care of yourself, OK?" Kajumei whispered, frowning and turning away from Brad.
"This place is so beautiful, Billy!" Karina grinned, running ahead of Billy and looking onward and the lake. "It's.. amazing!"
"I've always loved it here." Billy said gently, walking up next to her. He took her hand, squeezing it.
"Thank you for bringing me here.." Karina said, looking at him.
"I pick the food spot!" Bart yelled, running by with two picnic baskets. Fei gave a yell, running after him.
"Bart! Fei! If you go careening into the lake with my food I swear I'll drown you!" Elly yelled, following.
"Wait for me, Fei's Kim!" Emeralda cried.
"..Well.. Let's go!" Billy grinned, grabbing Karina's hand and following the group.
"I'm going swimming.. Want to come, Karina?" Billy asked, standing up.
"Sure.."
"Hey! Hey, hey, hey!" Brad snapped, standing. Karina rolled her eyes.
"Brad, please.." Karina hissed. Kajumei glared at Brad, who sighed.
"..Remember to put on your sunscreen." Brad said gently, handing her the sunscreen. Karina blinked, taking the bottle.
"..OK, Brad.. Hey, Billy, could you do my back, please?" She asked, taking off her over shirt to reveal a white and purple swim tank top. She pulled her hair around, exposing her back. Billy blushed, taking the bottle.
"Sure.. er.." Billy said, squeezing some of the sunscreen onto his fingers. He began to rub the sunscreen into her skin, blushing.
"Wow, Billy. We forgot to bring your baseball glove." Bart grinned.
"Guess you'll just have to get more ice for your drink, right?" Fei grinned as well.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Brad hissed.
"Nothing." The two said together.
"Does Karina know that she's Billy's dream fantasy?" Bart asked, placing his hand on his stomach.
"What?" Karina blinked, looking back.
"Shut up, Bart!!" Billy screeched.
"Ah, dream fantasy, eh? I know that to be true, boy." Jessie grinned.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Billy growled.
"..Well.. All's I know is, that night you spent in my room, well.. When you got up your pants looked a little wet and.. well.." Jessie looked at Bart and Fei, who began sniggering.
"Jessiah!" Sigurd laughed, "Don't say something like that!"
"Dad!! That's not true!! I-I.. Ah!" Billy turned bright red, looking like he was about to kill his father.
"But young one.. what is happening to you is perfectly natural.. you see.. you are in those awkward years when your body just does strange things.." Citan began, whipping a small dry erase board and a couple of pens from out of nowhere.
"Oh, God! Hyuga!" Sierra laughed, slapping her knee.
"He's actually going to do illustrations!" Bart cackled. Billy paled.
"Citan!!" Billy cried out.
"And you see.. one of those things is that your reproductive organs begin to.. well.. go haywire.. a just solution for this is the.." Citan continued, setting up the dry erase board and taking the cap off of a blue pen. The group looked on, some with disgust, some were falling out of their seats with laughter, Billy looking like he was going to die.
::Two hours later::
"And.. the result of the event causes what we all call a 'wet dream'. It is a perfectly natural, beautiful part of the growing and maturing process, young one.."
"..My God.." Bart whispered, sitting up sleepily. "Is he done yet?"
"I hope so.. if he's not I'm going to throw something. At him." Fei whispered, yawning.
"Really, Hyuga, that was sort of going too far. I feel kind of sick. I don't want to hear anything about my boy and his beautiful wet dreams or whatever it is you said about it." Jessie muttered.
"..Well.. I was just trying to educate you all." Citan whispered, erasing the board.
"I'm just.. very sickened, and frightened. I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a couple weeks.. or months.. hell, maybe even years.." Elly whispered.
"Where are Billy and Karina, mon?" Ziggy asked, looking around.
"Down, Freakzilla." Kajumei whispered, holding Brad down.
"..They went towards the docks a while ago." Bart said. "They had enough sense to leave during Citan's 'beauty of maturing' speech."
"Where are the docks?" Brad asked. "I just want to know."
"They're across the way." Bart said, pointing. "See?"
"Why are they all the way over there?" Brad asked.
"Well, the water is much deeper around there." Elly said, nodding.
"I'm going to go.. for a swim.." Brad said slowly, standing up and beginning to run.
"NO!" Kajumei snapped, jumping from her chair and tackling him.
"Let go, Kajumei!" Brad snapped.
"I got the ankles, girl!" Ziggy said, grabbing onto Brad's ankles.
"Leave.. them.. alone.. Sasquatch!!" Kajumei yelled.
"Never!!" Brad yelled, thrashing around, trying to get the two off of him.
"You go first." Karina said, standing on the dock.
"Why?" Billy asked. "You're not scared, are you?"
"No.. You just go first." Karina replied.
Billy shrugged. "OK.." He said, pulling off his t-shirt and jumping into the water, making a small splash. He surfaced, smiling. "It's really nice, Karina.. Come on, jump in."
"..I don't know.. you may be lying.." Karina whispered.
"I'm not lying, Karina. I promise!" Billy laughed, slapping the water. Karina resisted, looked at the water for a few moments, and almost jumped in a couple times. "Oh, come on, Karina.."
"..But.."
"Come on!" Billy laughed.
"All right, all right!" Karina smiled, stepped back, and then jumped up and dived into the water.
Billy laughed as she surfaced, a strange look on her face. "Wasn't that fun Karina?" He asked.
Karina turned to him, her lip quivering. She immediately jumped onto him, yelling, "You liar! It's freezing in here!! I could have gone into a cold induced coma!!"
"Karina!! I didn't know how high your tolerance for cold was!! I thought it was fine!!" Billy laughed, pulling away. Karina glared at him, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever.."
"..Look, I'm sorry if it spooked you, Karina, but.." Billy began. She turned to him, blinking.
"Billy, I really don't mind." She said, smiling. "The water actually feels much warmer.."
"Well.. There are spots where the depth of the water is lower.. the water may just be warmer there than it was where you jumped in." Billy said gently, smiling.
"Maybe.." Karina whispered.
"So, what do you want to do?" Billy asked, smiling. Karina blinked, shrugging.
"It is one of the only times we actually have alone.." Karina said softly. Billy blushed, looking away.
"Um.. yeah.. I guess." Billy replied. Karina swam closer, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"..I really.. feel better because of you, Billy.. I know I would.. feel so much more pain if you weren't here.." Karina said, looking down. "But.. for some reason.. when I am with you.. the pain goes away for a while.."
"..I'm glad I can make you feel better.." Billy said, smiling.
"..Billy.." Karina whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. She leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on his lips. Billy pulled away momentarily, blushing.
"..I'm sorry.. I'm still pretty new with this.." Billy said gently.
"..Me too.." Karina replied, resting her forehead on his. Billy blushed, leaning forward and kissing her in return, moving his hands shyly around her waist. Their legs brushed against each other momentarily as the two continued kicking to keep afloat. Karina made a soft mewling sound, kissing him more openly. Billy held onto her more tightly, shyly opening his mouth, still unsure what he was doing. Karina ran her fingers through his hair, feeling his tongue brushing against hers lightly. Billy made a gentle sound, wrapping his arms around her as the two separated for a few moments. Billy felt his face flush, feeling Karina's warm breath on his neck as she caught her breath.
* *
"..It will happen soon.." The Billy clone whispered, leaning against a tree. The clones of Fei and Bart slowly approached him from behind. "Tell me I'm right."
"It will strike.. As soon as I give the signal.." The Fei clone hissed, pulling out a whistle.
"Will it be able to hear that whistle from beneath the water?" The Bart clone asked, looking at him.
"The Dralgoln's sight may not be quite advanced, but like any other serpent.. it mostly relies on its sense of hearing.." Fei said, folding his arms. "Trust me.."
"Should we now?" Billy muttered, leaning his head against the tree. "My weaker half seems to be a little awkward when it comes to Karina.." He said, looking at the two in the water.
"Oh, it just sickens me.. blow the whistle already!!" Bart snapped.
"..Alright.." Fei said, lifting he whistle to his lips. He shut his eyes, and blew the whistle. There was a soft, quiet, high pitched whistle sound.
* *
"Billy.." Karina whispered between gentle kisses. Billy smiled, his ice-blue eyes shimmering.
"Yes?" He replied, lowering his head and brushing his lips on her shoulder. Karina sighed, her heart pounding against his.
"I love you.." Karina whispered, moving her hand so she could tilt his face up at hers. Billy smiled, leaning closer.
"I love you, too.." He whispered before kissing her again. Karina suddenly stopped, pushing Billy away. Billy blinked, trying to hide his frown. "What is it?" He asked as Karina looked around, her eyes widening with fear. "Karina?"
"..There's something here.." She whispered, her voice quivering.
"Karina? What do you me-" He began, but was cut off by a dull roaring sound.
"Billy! Get out of th-" Karina began, but the sound increased, and almost instantly, the water began to suck downward, and Karina and Billy felt something beginning to rise. The two were pulled further apart, the water circling wildly. Suddenly, the water exploded in a roar that sounded something like a tornado, waves crashing, and shrill human screams. The deafening roar and explosion of the water caused Billy and Karina to go shooting in the air, and Karina to lose all sense of being, her world darkened, and she felt nothing but a blinding pain, surrounded by the sound of roaring and human screams..
* *
A/N: Uh.. sorry about this update being sort of craptacular.. I had to force myself to write this because I have major writers block right now, but my dear friend Lord Sauron continued to ask me "When are we gonna see Ch. 24?" and my dear friend Ma-San asked something akin to "So, are you not writing anymore?", and my dear sister, SweetCadbury, kept saying "You'll never finish this, you're stuck on Ch. 24.".. So.. this chapter is devoted to you guys! Yeah, you get a craptacular one, but still.. it sounds good! Peace!
Author's note: Well, I'm back! Sorry about the long wait for the new chappie, but it's not like anyone keeps an eye on this thing, so I'm just posting this to mostly annoy people (Certain people more than others, cough cough) Err.. Yeah. Anyway! Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate the support! If you have any suggestions for later chapters, IM me! Later!
"Brother Billy!!" Bobby cried out, his face glowing as he ran at top speed towards Billy. He flung himself into Billy's arms, laughing. "You're back!"
"Hi, Bobby, is everyone OK?" Billy asked, putting his hands on Bobby's shoulders and looking into the red-haired boy's eyes.
"Yeah, we're fine!" Bobby nodded, grinning even more broadly than before. His wide grin slowly turned to a shy gaze as he averted his attention to Karina, who smiled slightly in return.
Billy blinked, looking at Bobby, trying to figure out what was wrong with the boy. He smiled, realizing what was wrong. "Oh, Bobby, this is Karina."
Bobby gave Karina a rather curious look, blinking. "Who's Karina?"
"She's Brother Billy's night night pillow!" Bart grinned, finally catching up.
"His what?" Bobby gave Bart a blank stare.
"BART!" Billy screamed, his normally calm and collected demeanor changing to a more flustered one. (If you have EVER seen the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Billy somewhat resembles Linus when he's freaking out about the Great Pumpkin not coming)
"What? It's true." Bart said innocently, turning away. Karina looked at Bart, rolling her eyes.
"Nice to meet you, Bobby.." Karina said softly, smiling again. Bobby grinned back, blushing shyly.
"Where are the others?" Billy asked, looking at Bobby.
"Inside." Bobby replied.
"OK, good.." Billy smiled. "Looks like you've been doing a good job of keeping this place under control."
Bobby nodded vigorously. "Yes, Brother Billy. I took real good care of it."
"Great news, kiddo." Jessie nodded slapping Bobby's back. Bobby turned to Jessie, his smile widening even more.
"Uncle Jessie!" Bobby exclaimed, hugging onto Jessie.
"Hey, boy's twerp." Jessie smiled, rubbing Bobby's head affectionately.
"This place really is lovely, Billy.." Karina commented, looking over the peaceful landscape.
"You think so?" Billy asked, smirking. "Thank you."
"Hey, it's not like the boy built the place." Jessie commented, puffing out his chest.
"Oh, of course.. It's lovely craftsmanship, Jessie." Karina added.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Jessie said matter-of-factly.
"Well.." Billy began, looking from one person to another. "Shall we?" He finished, gesturing at the house. Karina smiled, nodding. Bart walked up next to Karina, putting his arm over her shoulders.
"Get your mitts off of my sister.." Brad growled. Bart removed his arm, and instead gestured at the house.
"A year ago, this place was totally trashed by the Seraphim. We almost completely rebuilt it. May I add that we also increased its size quite a bit." Bart noted, grinning.
"It's a home built from the heart." Fei said in a high voice, making a small heart with his fingers.
"..Dude, please.." Bart rolled his eye, turning towards Fei. "You're so cheesy.."
"The power of cheese should amaze you, patchie." Fei replied.
"Whatever." Bart shook his head, waving away the comment.
"..Hey.." Fei blinked, noticing that while the two were talking, the rest of the group had left them standing in the middle of the yard. "They left us!"
"The cheap bastards!" Bart snapped.
"Oh, yeah, sure.. Ditch the guy who saves the world from a gigantic silver blob!" Fei hissed
"They are so ungrateful." Bart said softly, shaking his head in disbelief. Fei shrugged, slapping Bart on the back.
"Well.. later!" Fei said, leaving Bart to go inside the house. Bart followed slowly, muttering under his breath.
* *
Meanwhile, inside the house, the rest of the group mingled around the main room, idly chatting with one another. Rico was leaning against a tall wooden ladder that led upwards into the rafters of the first main room. A long dinner table was in the center of the room, a bench on each side. There was a simple, white ceramic vase in the center of the long table, burgeoning with yellow daffodils, white and yellow narcissi, multicolored lilies, bluebonnets and black-eyed Susan's. Another table was up against the corner wall, a group of candles resting on it, with a Bible in the center the table. There were a few bookcases set up along the corner of the back wall, each loaded with thick, old books. A door was in the center of the back wall, leading into another room.
"Well.. it's nice in a sort of.. archaic sort of way.." Kajumei said, shrugging.
"Archaic?" Billy blinked, looking at Kajumei.
"It's not like they're Amish, Kaju.." Karina said softly as Brad walked up next to Kajumei.
"It looks unsanitary." Brad muttered.
"Thank you, Brad. I've finally reached my goal.." Billy muttered sarcastically, giving Brad a rather rude look.
"Ignore him, Billy. He just hasn't had his 'bitchy' medication yet today." Karina explained, shooting a disapproving glare at Brad.
"Don't you give me your lip, young lady." Brad hissed.
"Bite me, Brad." Karina replied, sticking her tongue out. Brad sputtered, recoiling.
"You are going to be so grounded if you continue, young lady." Brad snapped.
"I dare you to try. I'll just sneak out and mess around with bikers that are twice my age." Karina replied.
"Um.." Billy coughed, getting the attention of the squabbling siblings.
"What?!" Karina and Brad both snapped at the same time, turning to Billy, who fell back in surprise.
"Um.. these are the rest of the children.." Billy whispered, gesturing towards a small group of children who had just come in from the room behind the door. There were about eleven more, excluding Bobby. The girls wore simple dresses, and the boys mostly wore loose t-shirts and shorts. A few of the children were mutants, one resembling something of a mole.
"Brother Billy!" One of the small girls, with red pigtails, freckles on her nose and bright green eyes, ran up and hugged onto Billy's knees, giggling. She looked upward at Billy fondly, her face aglow.
"Hello, Bridget. Are you feeling alright?" Billy asked, squatting down on the floor and hugging the girl back.
"Fine!" Bridget giggled. "I lost my tooth!" She announced happily, commencing to open her mouth as widely as it would and pointing at an empty space where her left front tooth should be.
"Wow.. That's really cool, Bridget." Billy smiled, lifting her up in his arms.
"Did you bring us anything, Brother Billy? Did you?" A small boy with wild dark blonde hair, shimmering sky blue eyes and a green cap on his head asked, tugging on Billy's robe.
"Oh, yeah I did. I left them in the Yggdrasil. I'll bring them in when I go back out to get the rest of my things." Billy replied, setting Bridget back on the floor. The children squealed happily, running towards Billy, then scattering onto the rest of the group. Fei quickly began to goof around with the children, and Elly stood off to the side, talking with the children about what they had been up to. A few children stood watching Rico shyly, waiting for him to respond to their presence. Bridget came up to Billy, tugging on his cloak. "What is it, Bridget?" Billy asked, and she made a motion for him to come closer. Billy leaned close, and Bridget pulled up next to his ear.
"Who are those people over there?" Bridget asked, gesturing at Karina, Brad, Kajumei, Ziggy and Sierra.
"Oh.." Billy nodded, standing. "I forgot to introduce them." He said as the orphans all began to notice the new arrivals. He walked up beside Karina, putting his hand on her shoulder. He quickly pulled it away when Brad shot him a rather dirty look. "This is Karina Rinsuchii, her brother Brad, his girlfriend Kajumei Heartlock, their friend Ziggy Gordo, and Uncle Siggy's old friend, Sierra LeRage." Billy said, pointing at each as he introduced them.
"Hello, kids.." Karina said softly.
"..Are you.." One of the older girls began, stepping up to Karina. "..Brother Billy's girlfriend?" Karina could almost feel Billy's face turning ten shades darker, even though he was facing away from her at this point. She smiled shyly, looking down.
"Um.. Collette.. It's not polite to ask people questions like that." Billy said to the girl.
"Oh.. OK, Brother Billy." Collette said, rolling her eyes and smiling.
"So.. uh.. What now?" Ziggy asked, folding his arms.
"I'll show you to your rooms." Billy said softly, walking towards the door.
"Gonna be a tight fit." Kajumei said.
"..Oh.. yeah. I forgot to tell you.. Only you four are staying here.. The rest agreed to stay in the Yggdrasil." Billy said, turning to Karina, Brad, Kajumei and Ziggy.
"Yeah, I like having my own bathroom." Bart muttered.
"This place doesn't look like it has alcohol, either." Sierra squinted. "A sign that this place is doomed. Do you hear me? DOOMED."
"They heard you, Sierra." Sigurd said softly.
"Like I give a damn." Sierra muttered to Sigurd.
"Come on, Karina.. Your bags must be heavy." Billy whispered, holding out his hand. "I'll carry them for you."
"No.. that's OK, Billy. I have them." Karina smiled back, following Billy into the next room. Brad was about to follow, when Kajumei grabbed his collar. Brad stumbled, making a gagging sound as his shirt tugged on his neck. Kajumei released his shirt, and he turned to her.
"What was that for?!" Brad snapped.
"Leave them alone, you lunatic." She replied, winking.
"Never! This is how teenage pregnancies occur!" Brad declared, about to turn away.
"How many times have I told you? Billy doesn't know how to work his thing.. I doubt he knows where it is." Bart added.
"Silence, you." Brad growled under his breath, turning towards Bart and beginning to advance upon him.
"Whoa, man, back off!" Bart cautioned, stepping back. "You don't want any of this, man, so just.. Don't push me!" He continued, making a move for his whips.
"Oh, please, you use strings on sticks, how harmful can you be?" Brad rolled his eyes.
"Why don't you both shut up?" Fei began, stepping up. "You're making a scene." He said, gesturing at the orphans, who were staring blankly at Bart and Brad.
"Whatever.." Brad hissed, turning away. "I'd snap him in two, anyway."
"Bring it on, Sasquatch!" Bart yelled.
"No.. Bring it off, young ones." Citan walked up, putting his hands in front of Bart and Brad, standing in between the two.
"Honestly, Hyuga.." Jessie muttered. "You are so incredibly un-hip that it frightens me."
"At least I didn't have a mid-life crisis and pretend to be a 'brother/ hippie/ belly dancer'." Citan whispered, adjusting his glasses.
"Hahaha.. wait.. belly dancer?" Fei blinked, and all heads turned to Jessie, who blushed.
"You didn't see him that night after two bottles of bourbon and a beer." Sigurd sighed.
"I don't want to see it ever again." Sierra added on.
"You do too, and you know it, LeRage." Jessie grinned, making a move for his shirt.
"Dad, please!" Billy screeched, reentering the room, his face even more pale, his eyes showing a look of shock. "Not in front of the children!"
Brad saw Billy, and almost instantly pounced on him and began to shake Billy by the throat. "Where is she?! Where's my baby sister?! Tell me, you shifty-eyed little.."
"Off, boy." Kajumei hissed, pulling Brad off.
Billy sighed in disgust, fixing his mussed cloak. After recollecting himself, he whispered to Brad, with an indignant air to his voice, "Karina wasn't feeling too well. She wanted to rest a little."
"..Oh." Brad blinked, his face becoming a little less savage.
"Yes." Billy nodded, sighing. "Besides, even if we were.. that is.. even if.."
"Stop while you're ahead, boy." Jessie warned, sitting down at the chair at the head of the long table.
"But.. But Karina and I.. We're just friends!" Billy blurted out, and more than one of the group members laughed sarcastically in response.
"As friends you suck on each others mouths to clear plaque away, right? I get it now." Bart nodded, smiling. "You guys have a symbiotic relationship, then?"
"Ah.. Bart!" Billy snapped, clenching his fists. "Just.. just.. leave me alone!" He hissed, turning his back and shuffling out of the room in an 'oh-how-dare-they' sort of way. Jessie sighed, running his hand through his white hair, while looking at Bart.
"You got the boy all flustered again, patchie." Jessie said softly, straightening.
"It's not a hard thing to do, man." Bart muttered, leaning against the windowsill and folding his arms.
"You have to give Bart that, Jessie. Billy is a tad bit too sensitive." Elly commented, nodding towards Bart. Fei looked at Elly, and slowly nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, whatever." He replied.
Brad groaned, throwing his arms up behind his head and leaning to the side. He sucked in the edge of his lower lip for a second, as if in thought, and then said, "Why don't you show us around this place, Black?"
"Sure thing, buddy." Jessie grinned, nodding.
"I'm not your buddy." Brad hissed under his breath.
"Brad!" Kajumei snapped, slapping him in the stomach. Brad rolled his eyes and straightened.
"Come on, then." Jessie muttered, leaving the room with Kajumei, Brad, Ziggy and Sierra. As they left, one of the younger girls toddled over towards Fei. She gripped onto the leg of his pants, and tugged insistently. Fei looked down at the girl, smiling.
"Yes?" He asked, kneeling over to the young girl.
"How did Brother Billy meet these people?" She asked softly.
"Well.. It's a long story." Fei looked up, thinking. "Well.. we.. er.. found Karina.."
"How?"
"We were traveling in the Aveh desert. Anyway.."
"Why?" The orphan asked.
"Why what?" Fei blinked.
"Why were you in the Aveh desert?" She said softly.
"Bart was being a moron."
"Hey!" Bart snapped.
"It's true, Bart." Fei muttered, and the rest of the group nodded in agreement.
"Yeah.. whatever.. See if I save your butts anymore.." Bart hissed.
"Anyway.. Bart was being a moron.." Fei began, issuing a growl from Bart with his comment.
"How?" She blinked.
"He was hunting a sandworm that looked at him cross-eyed." Fei nodded.
"Damn sandworm.. I'm gonna eat that thing one day.." Bart growled.
"Not until I study it, young one." Citan sighed, Bart turning to him.
"And what did I say about THAT, Uzuki? Study my-"
"Anyway.." Fei interrupted, causing Bart to scowl even more deeply. Bart rolled his eye and looked out the window once again, muttering under his breath about 'the pony-tailed-show-offish-farmboy'. "We found Karina, and she needed our help.. So.. we.."
"Why did she need help?" The girl whispered.
"She just did." Fei said plainly.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because." Fei replied.
"Why?" The girl repeated.
"Because she just did." Fei muttered, becoming rather irritated.
"Why?" The girl repeated once again.
"..Have a sucker." Fei whispered, pulling a brightly wrapped sucker from his pocket.
"Yay!" The orphan giggled, ripping the wrapper off, throwing it haphazardly to the side and popping the candy into her mouth.
"Yay, indeed." Fei nodded. "Anyway.. Karina needed to get back to Cimerion.. Which is a city to the south of here."
"You mean 'was a city'?" Bart muttered.
"Bart!!" Elly snapped, slapping Bart's shoulder. Bart winced, rolled his eye, and went back to stewing in the corner.
"So we took her there.. where we met Brad, who is Karina's brother, Kajumei, who is Brad's girlfriend.."
"And who also whooped your candy-ass, Fei." Bart chuckled bitterly.
"Yeah, whatever.." Fei growled, lifting up a small pebble that was on the floor and chucking it at Bart. As the soft sound of the pebble connecting to Bart's forehead sounded, Fei continued, "And then we met Sierra, who is.."
"The biggest byyyyyatch this side of the living world." Bart snapped.
"Just ignore him." Fei muttered. "And we met Sierra, who is Sigurd's old friend. Just recently, something very bad happened in Cimerion.. and so.. Billy decided to bring Karina here for a little while just to try and help her feel better." The orphans stared at him blankly for a few moments, before Bobby spoke up.
"Yeah.. OK.. So.. Is she Brother Billy's girlfriend?" Bobby asked.
"Well.." Fei trailed off.
"We're not sure.." Elly finished for him, smiling. "But I'm sure he'll let you know if it's true or not."
"Oh.. Right." Bobby nodded, biting his lip.
"Uncle Bart?" Collette whispered, toddling up to Bart and extending a book out to him. He turned to her and smiled slightly.
"Yeah, kid?" He asked.
"Will you read this to me?" She asked, her eyes widening. As she asked this, Bart grinned. He knelt over and took the book from the girl's hands, looking at the cover.
"Sure thing, kid." He said.
"Thank you, Uncle Bart!" She giggled, her eyes glowing.
* *
Billy sighed, knocking on the door to the guestroom. The door opened a moment later, and Karina smiled at him sleepily.
"Hi, Billy." Karina said softly. "Is something wrong?"
"Um.. no.. no, of course not. I just.. erm.. wanted to know if everything was alright." Billy stuttered, blushing.
"Everything is fine, Billy." Karina replied in a warm tone. "This place is very calm and soothing."
"But.. there are so many children here.. surely the sound of their playing isn't very calm and soothing.." Billy said, blinking. Karina sighed, stepping aside.
"But it is.." Karina said assuredly. "Come in, Billy.."
"Yes, ma'am." Billy said under his breath, walking in unsurely. Karina shut the door behind him, turning to face him as he sat down in one of the wicker chairs next to the window.
The room itself was rather small, being only large enough to hold two twin sized beds, two wicker chairs, a polished oak dresser drawer, another door which led into a small closet, and an oak bedside table in between the two beds. On the walls hung small oil paintings of landscapes, mostly flower gardens or ocean scenes. A large window with white curtains delicately stitched and lined with embroidered flowers on the back of the wall, had its shutters open, a delicate breeze just barely causing the curtains to sway. The smell of the flowers outside and the briny ocean not too far away lingered on the breeze. The two twin beds had thick, intricately designed quilts each, designed with bits and pieces of deep scarlet, midnight blue, hunter green, and tan cloth. On the bedside table was a lace covering, a large lamp with a dark wooden base, and a rather small circular clock with an oak veneer.
"You're so lucky to live in a place like this." Karina murmured, walking over to the twin bed nearest to the window, which her bags were placed on the foot of, and sitting down. "It's just.. so much more.. comfortable.. Than the city."
"I think that may be one of the reasons my parents chose this place to build our home.. that is.. after we left Solaris." Billy said softly.
"Solaris? You lived in Solaris?" Karina asked, her eyes sparking an interest.
"Yes.. We all lived there.. I don't remember much about it, though.. it was so long ago. I just remember.. that we had the best money could buy. We were a Class A family.. living in practically a mansion.. having the best food all the time.. getting anything I could ever want.. we even had a butler." Billy sighed, looking up. "I don't think my grandparents liked us much, though.. they only seemed to come over when they had to. I haven't seen them in the longest time. But.. apart from those things.. I don't remember much of anything."
"Brad told me once that my parents lived in Solaris.. my mother was a citizen there, not one of a very high class, and my father was a -lamb- that escaped from the test facilities and managed to find his way to my mother's home. They fell in love and eventually my mother gave birth to Brad. They left only a week after Brad was born, and escaped to the surface. That's all I know, though.." Karina nodded, looking down at her hands.
"Really? That's very interesting." Billy commented. "So Brad never learned Solarian?" Billy asked.
"No.. I guess not." Karina shrugged.
"I'm a bit rusty with my Solarian. I only remember a few things about the language, actually." Billy sighed.
"Do you miss it? You know.. from what you remember?" Karina asked softly. Billy paused, pondering for a moment.
"Well.. maybe when I was younger I would have. I mean.. I would have come from vast wealth and having anything I could possibly think of. But.. now.. I don't think so.. I mean.. from what I remember of Solaris.. there were police everywhere monitoring everything you would do.. there were no real plants and hardly any animals there. Everything was so.. fake.." Billy whispered, stretching. He yawned, looked at Karina and continued, "But.. down here.. Everything is free and open.. there are so many different types of people, life everywhere.. and things are still so.. you know.. real and natural.." He turned now towards the window, shutting his eyes and breathing in deeply as the breeze swept in. "I really do love being here."
Karina looked at him quietly, smiling to herself as she observed him silently gazing out the window and breathing in the smells of the flowers outside the window. She pulled a few strands of hair back and looked back down at her hands. "..Billy?" Karina asked suddenly, turning to him. He turned his head to look at her, and just smiled in return, letting her know that he was listening. "Will.. the pain ever go away?"
"The pain?" Billy asked, blinking.
"..The pain of what happened to Cimerion.. will it ever go away?" Karina whispered, clenching her hands together on her lap.
"I.. don't know, Karina. I really don't." Billy said delicately, but feeling that his answer wasn't making her feel any better, he continued rather unsurely, "I think.. that the pain and memory will always be here.. but.. the immediate pain will go away. It will stop being on your mind all the time."
Karina bit her lip, smiling weakly. She looked up, trying to keep tears from running down her face. She nodded, looking back down at Billy once again. "Thank you.. Billy."
"No problem." Billy said gently, standing and walking over to the bed. He sat down next to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you going to be OK?" He asked as Karina looked away and nodded slightly.
* *
"And that would be the kitchen. It's where we keep the.. food and stuff.." Jessie muttered half heartedly, nudging the kitchen door slightly with his foot. "Now, if you'll follow me, I'll lead you to where you'll be.. staying, I guess."
"What a great tour guide you are, Jessiah." Sierra muttered, rolling her eyes. "When are we gonna get to the beer, man?"
"Later." Jessie hissed, pushing a door open that led into a small room. In the room, there were two sets of bunk beds, the top bunk with a wooden plank spread over the space in between them as a sort of bridge. There were magazines and books scattered about on the plank, as well as on the beds and on the oddly shaped chair set in between the beds.
"Hot holy damn, there are socks hanging from the ceiling!" Sierra laughed, pointing up. "What the hell is wrong with that?"
"Don't ask me, the boy set this place up. He has head problems. He got it from his mother." Jessie muttered. He tapped his finger on one of the doors on the wall opposite of the bunk beds, saying "This used to be a bathroom, but since the original house was destroyed about a year ago, we rebuilt the entire place. This is the room where the male guests will be staying, and this one.." He added, tapping the door next to the first "Is the ladies guestroom." He looked at Sierra and frowned, "But I'm afraid we have no monkey rooms, you'll have to sleep outside." He said apologetically.
"Ahah.. ahah. Very funny." Sierra snarled, making a motion to point a rather rude finger at Jessie.
"So.. my sister is staying in there?" Brad asked, pointing at the door. "Is it far away from that bow kid's room?" He asked, Kajumei rolling her eyes as he said it.
"Brad, you're nuts." She muttered, flicking his ear with her forefinger.
"Anyway," Jessie interrupted, grinning, "Let's get you guys all set up in your rooms." He said, clapping his hands together and turning towards the room that led into the men's guestroom. Just as he said this, Billy left the room that was supposed to be the women's guestroom. As he saw Brad, his eyes widened and he paled.
"Hello, Billy." Brad began calmly. "Is my sister in there?" He asked. Billy looked at Jessie, then at Kajumei, wondering if it was a trick question. He breathed in, taking a moment before responding.
"Yes.. she is." Billy said softly.
"Oh.." Brad shrugged. He turned away, acting uncharacteristically calm about the matter. As Billy gave a sigh of relief, Brad spun back around, snatching him by the collar, slamming him against the wall and lifting him in the air. "Did you lay ONE finger on her?! I swear to God, if you made her do anything.." He snapped, coming very close to Billy's face.
"No, no of course I didn't! I.. I would never!" Billy cried out, stuttering. He squirmed, trying to loosen Brad's grip.
"Brad! Let him go!" Kajumei snapped, grabbing Brad's arm. As she did this, Karina walked out of the room. Karina's eyes widened as she walked out, seeing the spectacle her brother was making of himself.
"Brad.. What are you doing?" Karina asked, walking up to him. He ignored her, continuing to attempt to kill Billy.
"You are SO dead!" Brad yelled.
"Brad.." Karina repeated.
"If you EVER touch her again.."
"Brad." Karina hissed.
"I swear I will KILL you!"
"BRAD!" Karina yelled, kicking him in the shin. Brad yowled in pain, dropping Billy and grabbing his shin. Billy crumpled to the floor, breathing heavily.
"Good.. lord!" Billy gasped weakly.
"You are nuts, Brad!" Karina hissed, placing her hands on her hips and turning away.
"Really.. we are their guests.." Kajumei muttered, punching Brad lightly in the head. He gasped in pain, hopping on one leg and gripping his shin.
Karina rolled her eyes, leaving the room and muttering something about Brad being a baby. Billy finished gasping, stood up, and left into the opposite room, which led to his room, glaring at Brad the whole way. Jessie paused, looking at the remaining group.
"Well.. come along!" Jessie continued, leading them into the guestrooms.
Karina walked slowly into the first room, where the rest of the group still was, with the exception of Maria and Emeralda, who were outside with a few of the orphans. Fei and Elly were sitting at the table, having light conversation. Rico was standing in the corner, keeping his normal state of being the 'loner' of the group. Citan stepped over and sat down next to Fei, joining the conversation. Sigurd was quietly reading in the loft above the table, his legs dangling from the planks. Bart was sitting on a chair he had pulled out from the table, with a small ring of remaining orphans huddled around him. He held a book out, reading to them with great passion in his voice.
"And then.. huffing and puffing.. the little Engine that Could.." He said, gasping and holding the book out, "Said.. 'I think I can! I think I can!'" At this moment, Bart broke down and began to cry, wiping tears from his eye. "Oh.. man.. that part gets me every time.." He wept. An orphan stood up and pat him on the back gently.
"It's just a story, Uncle Bart. No need to cry over it." He said quietly.
"It's not 'just a story'!" Bart snapped, looking up. The orphans recoiled at his sudden shout. "This is a story of perseverance and hope!! The Engine could, even though no one believed it could!"
"Uncle Bart.. It's a story. Lighten up." Another orphan said bluntly.
"How could I ever expect any of YOU to understand the depth and beauty of such a great classic as 'The Little Engine that Could'?!" Bart snapped, throwing the book down. He stood up and stomped away in something of a huff. Karina giggled, walking up to Bart.
"Having issues with reading to the orphans, Bart?" She asked, smiling at him amusedly.
"They don't get the depth of beautiful stories." Bart muttered, sighing. Karina laughed, looking at the group of orphans, who were looking confusedly after Bart.
"Oh, let it go." Karina said, poking his shoulder.
"Never! I must bring some form of culture to this.. cultural wasteland!" Bart hissed.
"Bart, just because they don't worship the Little Engine that Could doesn't mean that.." Karina began, but Bart cut her off.
"Silence, woman!" Bart shouted, pointing at her. "You're with that ex- priest and his anti-Engine that Could teachings!"
"Bart.. You're insane." Karina whispered, turning back and stepping away cautiously. The slow movements turned into a dash out of the room.
"No one understands me." Bart whispered, sitting down and humming a tragic tune to himself.
"Bart?" Fei asked from the table. Bart looked up, grinning.
"Yeah, buddy boy, pal-o-mine?" Bart asked hopefully.
"Could you keep your angst-humming a little lower? It's kind of.." Fei began, lingering off.
"Annoying." Elly finished.
"Yeah, that's it. Annoying." Fei nodded.
"..Damn." Bart hissed.
* *
"This place is boring, Sigsipoo." Sierra commented, hopping up onto the fence, rolling an apple she had found in the kitchen on her shirt. The two were in the backyard, near the fenced enclosure for the chickens. Sigurd sighed, leaning against the fence and looking into the vast open space beyond the house.
"In your eyes, Sierra. However.. I believe that it is quite settling.. It's a good place to sort out loose.. Feelings." Sigurd replied, brushing back a few strands of silver hair from his vision.
"Yeah, well.. as of recently, you're the youngest man I know of that could go into an old fogie's home, Sigsipoo." Sierra muttered.
"That is completely unrelated to topic, Miss Sierra." Sigurd murmured.
"Touche." Sierra nodded.
"What is it about the quiet that bothers you so, anyway?" Sigurd asked as Sierra took a large bite of her apple, crunching quite loudly.
"That fact that it's too damn quiet. Makes the noise in my head damn near unbearable sometimes," She replied after a moment, through a mouthful of apple. Hardly a ladylike response. Hardly ladylike.. but it made a lot of sense. Sigurd nodded; for once she was being straightforward instead of being a smart-ass.
"I suppose I understand where you're coming from.. But all the same.. I like the quiet," Sigurd replied. "I experience so little of it on the Yggdrasil.."
"It's really quiet in my life. You don't really have anyone else to talk to.. Except for various woodland creatures that may want to strike up a conversation with you." Sierra commented, flicking a pebble with her toe.
"Hm.. There is a difference between quiet and being alone, though." Sigurd whispered, shutting his eye and smiling at the soft breeze.
"I like being alone, Sigurd. There's no one to stab you in the back." She murmured, turning away. Sigurd looked away, frowning.
"You're.. still angry.. about our past.. aren't you?" He asked, looking back up at her. Sierra gave rather forced chuckled, flipping her emerald braids behind her shoulders.
"Don't flatter yourself, Sigsipoo." She murmured, placing one hand on her hips. "I just don't like how much you all have grown.. You have changed."
"It's part of growing up." Sigurd replied.
"Growing up means accepting that you're going to die soon, Sig." Sierra looked back at him, smiling rather defiantly. "And I don't intend to die any time soon."
"You are very strange, Sierra." Sigurd responded. "You go from speaking about the quiet, to talking about how we've changed, and now to dying too soon."
"Hey, what can I say? I'm not good at segues. " Sierra shrugged, finishing off her apple and tossing the core carelessly behind her shoulder.
"I can see that.." Sigurd nodded, smiling.
"What does that mean?" Sierra snapped, turning her head towards him.
"Nothing.. err.. it means absolutely nothing.." Sigurd pulled away, holding up his hands in defense. Sierra squinted at him, hopping off of the railing.
"Yeah, whatever." She muttered, kicking the dirt as she walked back into the house through the back door.
"Women.." Sigurd sighed, hanging his head, "Are so confusing.."
"Have they not always been that way?" Citan's voice came from behind. Sigurd smiled, shutting his eyes.
"How wise you are, Hyuga." Sigurd murmured. Citan stepped lightly next to Sigurd, and leaned against the fence. He looked at the ex-fire element, smiling.
"I never predicted that someone like you, Sigurd, would ever feel the way you do about someone like Sierra." Citan whispered, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.
"You too?" Sigurd laughed, looking at Citan. "I was surprised enough when she came back the first time.. because you know.. back when she left Solaris.. I was trying to get clearance to us a shuttle to go out and find her.. because.. I guess I was worried about her.. she was just a dumb kid.. she didn't know what she was getting herself into.."
"Ah, I see.." Citan nodded.
"Yeah.. but.. her parents told me that she had.. That Sierra was so upset with losing that she took their shuttle and.. crashed it on the surface.. and that she was dead.. They had a funeral and everything."
"You never told me about that, Sigurd." Citan blinked, straightening.
"I was too.. upset.." Sigurd whispered.
"Then why were you so calm when the Young Master brought her back to the Yggdrasil?" Citan asked.
"..I was.. I just.. couldn't bring myself to ask her about it.. I was too happy to see that she was all right.." He replied.
"Happy?" Citan smiled, giving Sigurd a rather coy look.
Sigurd paused, his eye widening. "Uh.."
"Weeeeeelllllll, what are we talkin' about, my buds?" Jessie yelled, throwing his arms onto Sigurd and Citan's shoulders.
"Ah, Jessiah. Nice for you to join us." Citan smiled, looking at Jessie, who grinned back.
"No problem, Hyuga." Jessie nodded. He looked at Sigurd, then at Citan. "Well?"
"We're discussing Sigurd's feelings for Sierra." Citan replied. Sigurd gasped, shooting a rude glare to Citan.
"Hyuga!"
"..'Scuse me?" Jessie blinked, turning to look at Sigurd. "Why in the name of God do you like her, anyway? She ain't got anything special."
"According to you, Jessiah." Sigurd snapped. "Neither of you know her the way I know her. I've always felt that she had.. a more feminine, gentle side."
"Yeah, maybe her butt, but you have to understand that every woman has a butt, Sigurd." Jessie rolled his eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that, Jessiah." Sigurd muttered, rolling his eye. "So now that you've pushed your hardest to drive your son up the wall, you're going to move onto me?"
"What does that mean, Sigurd?" Jessie squinted at him.
"I don't want your feelings about Sierra to try and influence my feelings about her." Sigurd said, pulling away from Jessie and backing towards the door. He turned, and left into the house the way Sierra had gone.
"..Did any of that make sense to you?" Jessie asked Citan, blinking.
"Not in any way." Citan replied. Jessie sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Feminine men are so confusing." He groaned. Citan smiled at him, nodding.
"I'd have to agree, Jessiah." Citan nodded.
"This is why I can't make any sense of anything the boy says to me unless I'm drunk or something." Jessie muttered.
"Jessiah.." Citan laughed, looking upward.
* *
"You know what, Billers?" Bart asked, turning to face Billy. The two were standing next to the sink, peeling potatoes. Bart turned the potato, beginning on the other side.
"Do I want to know?" Billy asked, setting the potato he finished into a large silver pot, and reached for another potato. He began to peel it, rotating the potato quickly in his hand.
Bart slowed his peeling, sighing. "I've been wondering something.."
"Ah, I see. But I don't really care." Billy replied, dropping the potato into the pot and beginning another one. Bart sighed again, rolling his eye.
"Would you just listen to me for once?" He asked, setting down the peeler and dropping his potato in the sink, on top of the peels.
"The potatoes will brown after you peel them if you don't put them into the pot of water." Billy said quietly, looking into the pot, pondering how many more potatoes they would need.
"Billy!" Bart snapped. "What's your problem today?" He asked. Billy shook his head, dropping the potato into the pot and looking at Bart.
"Finish peeling that one, and then just do one more, OK?" He asked.
"Yeah, sure, whatever." Bart rolled his eye, picking up the peeler and the potato so he could begin peeling again. Billy sighed, looking down.
"Sorry, Bart. I'm just.. worried." Billy said quietly.
"About Karina?" Bart asked.
"Yeah.. and everything else that's happening. I'm just wondering how I could ever get her to stop mulling over things in the past.." Billy said gently. "I know it's horrible to feel like asking her to stop being upset over having her home.. destroyed.."
"It's not horrible." Bart said quietly. "It's understandable, Billy."
"Is it really? I feel like I'm being selfish.." Billy whispered.
"When someone you care about is in pain.. you just want to help them feel better.. that's all you want." Bart said, smiling. "You think I haven't felt that way a million times about Margie?"
"..Really?" Billy smiled, looking at Bart. "So you care more about Margie than you let on."
"Well.." Bart looked away, a soft blush creeping up his cheeks. He shook his head, laughing, "Uh, that's beside the point, Billy! Don't change the subject!"
"Well.. what do you think I should do?" Billy asked softly.
"I think.. you should do something with her to help her get her mind off of it for a while." Bart nodded, finishing off the potato and dropping it into the pot. Billy sighed, lifting the pot and setting it on one of the back burners of the stove top.
"OK.. Hey, Bart?" Billy asked, looking at Bart.
"Yeah?" Bart replied.
"Are the orphans back from their little excursion with Fei and Elly yet?" Billy asked.
Bart blinked, looking out of the window. "Doesn't look like it."
"Ah.. Well, I'm going to go read for a while, when the timer goes off, could you come get me?" He asked, setting the kitchen timer.
"Yeah, sure." Bart nodded. Billy smiled, leaving the kitchen.
* *
"What is this, Uncle Fei?" Bobby asked, holding up a flower. Fei, Elly, and the orphans were on a nature hike, just a mile or so away from the Orphanage. The sky was just barely showing shades of pink, orange and purple. Fei leaned over, looking at the flower for a few moments.
"That's an Indian Paintbrush, Bobby." Fei replied.
"Do you think Miss Elly would like it?" Bobby asked, smiling. Fei looked at him for a moment.
"You trying to get up on my girl, Bobby?" Fei laughed dryly, reaching for the flower.
"Uh.. no, sir.." Bobby paled, pulling away.
"Good man." Fei patted him on the back, and Bobby scuttled away. Elly approached Fei from behind, folding her arms.
"Fei?" She asked.
"Yes?" Fei turned to her, smiling.
"Did I just see you on the brink of killing that poor little boy?" Elly muttered.
"..Of course not, mon beau premier." Fei stood, turning to face where the orphans were.
"It's getting late, Fei. Shouldn't we be heading back to the house?" She asked.
"..Perhaps we should. But the kids are having such a great time." Fei said gently. Elly smiled, looking at the orphans.
"Strange how charming nature hikes are to children." Elly said gently.
"Yeah, I guess." Fei shrugged.
"Anyway, I should get back because I promised Billy I would help him with dinner." Elly said.
"..What's that supposed to mean?" Fei squinted.
"Oh, for the love of God, Fei!" Elly snapped. "You aren't even trying to say.."
"Perhaps I am, Elly.. Perhaps I am.." Fei whispered Elly groaned, rolling her eyes. She lightly hit the back of Fei's head, walking past him.
* *
"Ey, mon." Ziggy said, stepping up behind Rico, who shuddered.
"What now?" He muttered, glaring at Ziggy. Ziggy grinned, sitting next to Rico.
"I just wanted to tell you about somethin', mon." Ziggy nodded lazily, putting a hand on Rico's shoulder. "I know you and me ain't gotten along too well these past few months, mon, and I just wanted to let you know that you are as good as a bro to me."
"Dear god, save me." Rico said under his breath.
"What you say, mon?" Ziggy blinked , his rose tinted sunglasses slipping down his nose.
"I said.." Rico looked around, searching for something large and heavy with which to kill Ziggy. "..yay."
"Now, give me a hug.. brother!" Ziggy grinned, rushing at Rico. Rico's eyes widened in horror as Ziggy approached him, almost in slow motion. Rico looked from side to side desperately, cursing Billy for not having anything in the house that Rico could use as a club. He looked upward, noticing a bucket hanging precariously on the wooden plank above him. Rico slammed his fist into the pole. Perhaps it was some divine force, perhaps it was mere luck, or perhaps the house was just on a unleveled foundation, but to Rico's sheer amazement (and joy), the bucket tumbled off of the board, and fell straight down and slammed right onto Ziggy's head, knocking him out when he was just a quarter of an inch from Rico.
"..Thank all things holy and right in the world.. that was too close.." Rico sighed, looking at Ziggy. "Eugh.." He groaned in disgust, taking a pillow and pushing Ziggy off of him with it. Karina walked in, smiling at Rico.
"Are you officially one of his brothers now, Rico?" She asked, smiling.
"..I refuse to go." Rico muttered. Karina laughed.
"Yeah, that's how Brad responded to it when he became a Gordo brother." Karina nodded. She looked back, and then at Rico. "Anyway, Billy said that dinner is ready, so you might want to go get washed up." She smiled, leaving the room.
"..I don't wash before I eat. I'll just get dirty again. Screw that." Rico muttered, standing and walking into the dining room. Karina returned into the room, sighing as she lifted Ziggy up.
"I guess we could just prop him up in his chair.." She whispered, groaning as she lugged Ziggy into the dining room. She heaved him into his chair, gasping. "Good lord.. what has he been eating..?"
"..Greetings, sister." Bart said from behind, resting his forehead on her shoulder. Karina smiled, looking at him.
"Hello, Bart." Karina said gently, turning around.
"How's Karina?" Bart asked, taking her hands and swinging them from side to side.
"Karina's fine. How's Bart?" Karina asked.
"Well, you know how it is, giiirl.. Just a little of this, a little of that.. Bart's chipper-dee-doo." Bart grinned.
"Excuse me.." Billy murmured, walking past them with a plateful of corn on the cob. Karina turned to him.
"It looks really good, Billy." Karina asked, smiling. Bart sat down, making a grab for the roast.
"Trust me; most of it is probably wax or something. How else do you think he stays so skinny?" Bart muttered, lifting the whole roast off of the plate and making a move to carry the whole thing to his plate. Billy whipped out a carving knife, resting it on Bart's hand.
"Put.. the cow.. down." Billy snapped. Bart paled, dropping the roast.
"OK, Conan.." Bart whispered.
"Fei has arrived!" Fei cried out, bursting into the room. Bar groaned, glaring at Fei.
"You think we all need to pull down our pants, grab the maracas and do a little dance when YOU come into the room?" Bart rolled his eye.
"What?" Fei blinked.
"Nevermind, Fei. My witty comments far surpass the ability of reasoning your mortal brain possesses." Bart said softly.
"You make no sense, Barto." Fei smiled, sitting down in his chair. Jessie walked in, grabbing a biscuit.
"Skip the grace, slap a bib on me and stand back, baby." Jessie grinned, pulling a beer out of his pocket and sitting down at the head of the table.
"Dad, where did you get that beer?" Billy asked, squinting.
"..None of your business." Jessie whispered, holding the beer protectively.
"Why not?" Billy asked, folding his arms.
"Because.." Jessie hissed.
"..Because why?"
"Because last time I told you, you took them and hid them from me." Jessie whispered.
"..Whatever.. Can we get through one meal without someone losing some garment, or someone daring someone else to sudden death pea wars, or someone getting a utensil jabbed into a limb?" Billy asked gently.
"Can you stop resembling a piece of pasta with a pregnant woman's attitude?" Bart asked, observing his fork and then looking at Billy. He then turned to Fei. "Sudden death corn war?" He asked. Fei hunkered down so only his eyes were visible over the table.
"Forts may be made from mashed potatoes or roast.." Fei muttered, whipping out his spoon and forming a fort with his mashed potatoes.
"Show your face, dude." Bart hissed.
"Why?" Fei asked.
"I ain't firing until I see the whites of your beady eyes." Bart replied.
"Act your age, guys." Maria whispered
"Infidels!" Bart snapped, turning to Maria and shooting a few pieces of corn at her.
"Ow! God, that one got me in the eye!" Maria snapped, wiping her eye.
"As well it should have, fluffy!" Bart yelled.
"I'll get you.." She snapped, lifting her spoon and loading it with mashed potatoes.
"How old are we, children?" Elly asked, resting her hand on Maria's.
"Shut up, carrot top, I'm getting the braided boob." Maria snapped, shutting one eye to get a good aim on Bart. Elly recoiled, frowning.
"Now, couldn't we just.. have a nice, peaceful meal?" Karina asked, smiling.
"Karina's right." Billy nodded.
"Oh, stuff it, Gumby." Bart snapped.
"Yeah, all you want is to get into her pants, Billy." Maria added, shooting the potatoes at Bart.
Billy and Karina both made offended gasps, the two looking at each other. "I do not!" Billy snapped, blushing.
"..That's very rude.." Karina whispered.
"But true." Fei said, squinting at Bart and Maria, pondering which one to hit.
"Wait.. I'm not dead.." Billy blinked, looking around. The group stared at him.
"Well.. yeah.." Sigurd said gently.
"What did you think you were?" Sierra asked, taking a sip of her iced tea.
"Well.. you were talking about.. vile things.. and Brad didn't kill me.." Billy whispered.
"It's not VILE, Billy. Are you saying wanting to get in my pants would be VILE?" Karina asked.
"NO! N-no, of course not! I-It's just.."
"Then you want to?" Jessie asked.
"That's not it! I-I.. I need more ice in my drink.." Billy said quickly, grabbing his glass and running into the kitchen.
"..Man, and I thought saying 'I'm oiling my baseball glove' was a bad excuse for why a guy would run out of the room blushing. 'I need more ice in my drink'? Really, Billy, be a little more creative." Bart muttered.
"..What?" Fei asked, looking at Bart.
"YOU know, Fei.. 'Oiling my baseball glove'.. Oh, come on, you know!" Bart said slowly, looking at Fei.
"..What?"
"FEI.. My BROTHER.. Implying you are a MAN.." Bart turned to Fei, putting his hands on Fei's face. "Look at me while I tell you this. Billy is a boy, right?"
"Despite all of our loony ways of proving otherwise.. yes, yes he is." Fei nodded.
"And he's how old?" Bart asked.
"Seventeen." Fei replied.
"Meaning he is a teenage boy, right?"
"Right."
"Well.. when we don't have women.. or in some rare cases, men.. to display our teenage boyishness and newfound.. err.. play things to.. we need to.. 'oil our baseball gloves'.. you get what I mean?" Bart asked.
"..Oh.. OOOHH.. I get you now." Fei nodded, and then squinted. "Eeew.."
"Billy was right.. Where is Brad?" Karina asked.
"He went back to the Yggdrasil to work on some things. He said he'd get something to eat a little later." Kajumei said.
"..Oh.." Karina blinked.
::On the Yggdrasil::
~Beruvine.. look within your soul.. see your true reflection.. Beruvine..~
Brad shuddered, dropping the wrench he was holding. He had been feverishly working on repairing the cannon to full power almost the entire day, perhaps just so he could be alone to think. He turned, squinting in the darkness. He only had a few lights on in the engine room, and the lights cast eerie shadows on the ground.
"Is someone there?" He asked, standing. "..Hello?" He stepped away from where he was working, looking around. He walked out of the engine room, looking around the small living room area. "..Maybe I just need something to drink.." He whispered, stepping up to the vending machine. He tapped a few of the buttons, and a cola came out of the machine. Brad lifted it up, taking a sip of the drink.
~L'lai nen terr.. Shaii reu, Beruvine..~
"What?" Brad hissed, spinning around, dropping the cola. "Shit.." He whispered, bending over and picking up the can. He stood up, walking up the stairs to try and find some paper towels to sop up the cola on the floor.
~L'lai nen terr.. Shaii reu, Beruvine..~
Brad froze, slowly looking behind him. "Man.. I've gone nuts.. I'm hearing things.." He whispered, slowly walking behind the counter, looking for the paper towels.
~Nai no chan.. Rezch l'lai nen terr.~
"..Do not fear.. Please come to me.."
"Who's there?" Brad straightened. "It's not funny, just come out already!"
~L'lai nen terr.. Shii reu, Beruvine..~
"Come to me.. Be quick, Beruvine.."
Brad froze, feeling a strange chill spread through his body. An odd, pulling sensation filled his bones, as he began to move forward, not even really intending to do so. He walked into the room he was staying in. He stopped at the door, his body going back to normal. Brad reached up and opened the door, nothing that the door was strangely cold. A wave of icy air came over him as the door opened. "..Whoa.." Brad whispered, looking into the room. "What's going on?" He asked to himself. The entire area around him was eerily silent, and a ghostly sort of mist hung around the window. Brad felt goose bumps raise on his skin as a smoky rectangular outline began to form. The form began to become more solid, and he began to recognize it as a mirror.
"What the hell?" Brad hissed, squinting at the mirror. The mist cleared, and the mirror was there, solid and real. Brad stepped up to it, running his fingers along the oddly warm surface of the mirror. "Where did this thing come from?"
~You have come, at last..~ A voice said. Brad recoiled.
"What in the name of..?" He hissed, squinting. A misty form appeared in the mirror. The form was that of a young woman, with shockingly green eyes, a wild curly red hair, the shades of a sunrise. She wore a deep scarlet jacket and long black gloves. Her black shirt underneath the jacket had a couple belts strapped diagonally along her chest. Two spiked belts went around her waist, and long, baggy black pants ran down her legs. Brad's eyes widened. "..K-Kajumei?" He whispered.
Kajumei smiled, shaking her head. ~I am a mere reflection of your innermost desire..~ She said.
"..Then.. why are you here?" Brad asked gently.
~To help you stop denying who it is you are..~ Kajumei replied.
"What do you mean?" Brad asked, squinting.
~..You are something higher than humans.. Something more..~
"Not this again.. this isn't real.. This is just a dream.." Brad hissed.
~Please, Beruvine.. Stop denying your true self..~ Kajumei said softly, frowning.
"I'm not Beruvine! I'm Brad Rinsuchii! This is just a crazy dream!" Brad yelled, clenching his fist.
~..Why are you still hiding, Beruvine..?~ Kajumei asked, sighing.
"Just go away! Leave me alone!" Brad snapped. "I've heard enough of this shit to last me a life time! Just go away!" He yelled, falling to his knees and grabbing his head as an unbearable screaming sound filled his head.
~Beruvine..~ The voice said, the sound becoming more intense.
"Go away!!" Brad shouted, gripping his head.
~..You cannot hide forever..~ The voice hissed. The sound was now almost deafening. Brad groaned, doubling over, still gripping his head in pain.
"Stop it!! Stop!!" Brad screamed, feeling like the sound was going to rip him apart. In an instant, the feeling and the sound ceased, and the room warmed. Brad paused, opening his eyes. He sat up rapidly, looking around.
He was, once again, in the engine room. Brad groaned, leaning against the wall, breathing hard. He was sweating, and his heart was racing, the sound still reverberating softly in his memory. "..There is some crazy shit going down.." He hissed. "Some crazy ass shit.." He whispered, leaning back and sighing.
::Around 10:30 at night::
"..Hey, Karina?" Billy asked, looking at Karina, who looked up from the book she was reading. The two of them were in the room Karina was staying in
"What is it, Billy?" She asked gently, smiling.
"I was wondering.. There's a lake a couple miles from here.. we were going to go down there tomorrow.. you know, just to.. do.. stuff.. And I wanted to know if you wanted to come with us.." Billy said gently.
Karina looked at him, and nodded. "That would be fun.. I'd love to go.." She said.
"Ah.. OK.. Well.." Billy looked around, and then stood up. "I should let you get some sleep.. so.."
Karina stood up, walked over to Billy and hugged him, burying her face in his chest. Billy felt his face burn, and he placed his hands lightly on her back.
"Thank you for letting me stay here, Billy.." Karina said gently. "You have been so kind to me.."
"Well.." Billy began, "I really want you to try and cheer up.. I don't like seeing you sad.." Karina pulled away, smiling.
"..I'll try.." Karina whispered. Billy blushed again, scratching the back of his head.
"Um.. err.. goodnight.. Karina.." Billy said gently, walking towards the door.
"Goodnight, Billy." Karina said.
::The next day, around 11:00 in the morning::
"Hey, Brad?" Kajumei asked as the group neared the area where the lake was, the lake now in view. He looked at her while rubbing sunscreen on his arms.
"Yeah, Kaju?" Brad replied.
"Why the hell were you gone so long last night?" Kajumei asked, blinking. Brad paused, looking away for a few moments. "..Brad?" Kajumei asked, resting her hand on his arm. Brad started, turning to her.
"..Oh.. What did you say, Kajumei?" Brad asked.
"..Are you OK, baby?" Kajumei asked gently, running her hand along his arm. "You're acting kind of out of it today.."
"..I'm just.. sort of tired.. And I.. um.. was up late last night trying to finish up the repairs to the cannon." Brad said softly, frowning.
"Oh.. Well.. take care of yourself, OK?" Kajumei whispered, frowning and turning away from Brad.
"This place is so beautiful, Billy!" Karina grinned, running ahead of Billy and looking onward and the lake. "It's.. amazing!"
"I've always loved it here." Billy said gently, walking up next to her. He took her hand, squeezing it.
"Thank you for bringing me here.." Karina said, looking at him.
"I pick the food spot!" Bart yelled, running by with two picnic baskets. Fei gave a yell, running after him.
"Bart! Fei! If you go careening into the lake with my food I swear I'll drown you!" Elly yelled, following.
"Wait for me, Fei's Kim!" Emeralda cried.
"..Well.. Let's go!" Billy grinned, grabbing Karina's hand and following the group.
"I'm going swimming.. Want to come, Karina?" Billy asked, standing up.
"Sure.."
"Hey! Hey, hey, hey!" Brad snapped, standing. Karina rolled her eyes.
"Brad, please.." Karina hissed. Kajumei glared at Brad, who sighed.
"..Remember to put on your sunscreen." Brad said gently, handing her the sunscreen. Karina blinked, taking the bottle.
"..OK, Brad.. Hey, Billy, could you do my back, please?" She asked, taking off her over shirt to reveal a white and purple swim tank top. She pulled her hair around, exposing her back. Billy blushed, taking the bottle.
"Sure.. er.." Billy said, squeezing some of the sunscreen onto his fingers. He began to rub the sunscreen into her skin, blushing.
"Wow, Billy. We forgot to bring your baseball glove." Bart grinned.
"Guess you'll just have to get more ice for your drink, right?" Fei grinned as well.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Brad hissed.
"Nothing." The two said together.
"Does Karina know that she's Billy's dream fantasy?" Bart asked, placing his hand on his stomach.
"What?" Karina blinked, looking back.
"Shut up, Bart!!" Billy screeched.
"Ah, dream fantasy, eh? I know that to be true, boy." Jessie grinned.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Billy growled.
"..Well.. All's I know is, that night you spent in my room, well.. When you got up your pants looked a little wet and.. well.." Jessie looked at Bart and Fei, who began sniggering.
"Jessiah!" Sigurd laughed, "Don't say something like that!"
"Dad!! That's not true!! I-I.. Ah!" Billy turned bright red, looking like he was about to kill his father.
"But young one.. what is happening to you is perfectly natural.. you see.. you are in those awkward years when your body just does strange things.." Citan began, whipping a small dry erase board and a couple of pens from out of nowhere.
"Oh, God! Hyuga!" Sierra laughed, slapping her knee.
"He's actually going to do illustrations!" Bart cackled. Billy paled.
"Citan!!" Billy cried out.
"And you see.. one of those things is that your reproductive organs begin to.. well.. go haywire.. a just solution for this is the.." Citan continued, setting up the dry erase board and taking the cap off of a blue pen. The group looked on, some with disgust, some were falling out of their seats with laughter, Billy looking like he was going to die.
::Two hours later::
"And.. the result of the event causes what we all call a 'wet dream'. It is a perfectly natural, beautiful part of the growing and maturing process, young one.."
"..My God.." Bart whispered, sitting up sleepily. "Is he done yet?"
"I hope so.. if he's not I'm going to throw something. At him." Fei whispered, yawning.
"Really, Hyuga, that was sort of going too far. I feel kind of sick. I don't want to hear anything about my boy and his beautiful wet dreams or whatever it is you said about it." Jessie muttered.
"..Well.. I was just trying to educate you all." Citan whispered, erasing the board.
"I'm just.. very sickened, and frightened. I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a couple weeks.. or months.. hell, maybe even years.." Elly whispered.
"Where are Billy and Karina, mon?" Ziggy asked, looking around.
"Down, Freakzilla." Kajumei whispered, holding Brad down.
"..They went towards the docks a while ago." Bart said. "They had enough sense to leave during Citan's 'beauty of maturing' speech."
"Where are the docks?" Brad asked. "I just want to know."
"They're across the way." Bart said, pointing. "See?"
"Why are they all the way over there?" Brad asked.
"Well, the water is much deeper around there." Elly said, nodding.
"I'm going to go.. for a swim.." Brad said slowly, standing up and beginning to run.
"NO!" Kajumei snapped, jumping from her chair and tackling him.
"Let go, Kajumei!" Brad snapped.
"I got the ankles, girl!" Ziggy said, grabbing onto Brad's ankles.
"Leave.. them.. alone.. Sasquatch!!" Kajumei yelled.
"Never!!" Brad yelled, thrashing around, trying to get the two off of him.
"You go first." Karina said, standing on the dock.
"Why?" Billy asked. "You're not scared, are you?"
"No.. You just go first." Karina replied.
Billy shrugged. "OK.." He said, pulling off his t-shirt and jumping into the water, making a small splash. He surfaced, smiling. "It's really nice, Karina.. Come on, jump in."
"..I don't know.. you may be lying.." Karina whispered.
"I'm not lying, Karina. I promise!" Billy laughed, slapping the water. Karina resisted, looked at the water for a few moments, and almost jumped in a couple times. "Oh, come on, Karina.."
"..But.."
"Come on!" Billy laughed.
"All right, all right!" Karina smiled, stepped back, and then jumped up and dived into the water.
Billy laughed as she surfaced, a strange look on her face. "Wasn't that fun Karina?" He asked.
Karina turned to him, her lip quivering. She immediately jumped onto him, yelling, "You liar! It's freezing in here!! I could have gone into a cold induced coma!!"
"Karina!! I didn't know how high your tolerance for cold was!! I thought it was fine!!" Billy laughed, pulling away. Karina glared at him, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever.."
"..Look, I'm sorry if it spooked you, Karina, but.." Billy began. She turned to him, blinking.
"Billy, I really don't mind." She said, smiling. "The water actually feels much warmer.."
"Well.. There are spots where the depth of the water is lower.. the water may just be warmer there than it was where you jumped in." Billy said gently, smiling.
"Maybe.." Karina whispered.
"So, what do you want to do?" Billy asked, smiling. Karina blinked, shrugging.
"It is one of the only times we actually have alone.." Karina said softly. Billy blushed, looking away.
"Um.. yeah.. I guess." Billy replied. Karina swam closer, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"..I really.. feel better because of you, Billy.. I know I would.. feel so much more pain if you weren't here.." Karina said, looking down. "But.. for some reason.. when I am with you.. the pain goes away for a while.."
"..I'm glad I can make you feel better.." Billy said, smiling.
"..Billy.." Karina whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. She leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on his lips. Billy pulled away momentarily, blushing.
"..I'm sorry.. I'm still pretty new with this.." Billy said gently.
"..Me too.." Karina replied, resting her forehead on his. Billy blushed, leaning forward and kissing her in return, moving his hands shyly around her waist. Their legs brushed against each other momentarily as the two continued kicking to keep afloat. Karina made a soft mewling sound, kissing him more openly. Billy held onto her more tightly, shyly opening his mouth, still unsure what he was doing. Karina ran her fingers through his hair, feeling his tongue brushing against hers lightly. Billy made a gentle sound, wrapping his arms around her as the two separated for a few moments. Billy felt his face flush, feeling Karina's warm breath on his neck as she caught her breath.
* *
"..It will happen soon.." The Billy clone whispered, leaning against a tree. The clones of Fei and Bart slowly approached him from behind. "Tell me I'm right."
"It will strike.. As soon as I give the signal.." The Fei clone hissed, pulling out a whistle.
"Will it be able to hear that whistle from beneath the water?" The Bart clone asked, looking at him.
"The Dralgoln's sight may not be quite advanced, but like any other serpent.. it mostly relies on its sense of hearing.." Fei said, folding his arms. "Trust me.."
"Should we now?" Billy muttered, leaning his head against the tree. "My weaker half seems to be a little awkward when it comes to Karina.." He said, looking at the two in the water.
"Oh, it just sickens me.. blow the whistle already!!" Bart snapped.
"..Alright.." Fei said, lifting he whistle to his lips. He shut his eyes, and blew the whistle. There was a soft, quiet, high pitched whistle sound.
* *
"Billy.." Karina whispered between gentle kisses. Billy smiled, his ice-blue eyes shimmering.
"Yes?" He replied, lowering his head and brushing his lips on her shoulder. Karina sighed, her heart pounding against his.
"I love you.." Karina whispered, moving her hand so she could tilt his face up at hers. Billy smiled, leaning closer.
"I love you, too.." He whispered before kissing her again. Karina suddenly stopped, pushing Billy away. Billy blinked, trying to hide his frown. "What is it?" He asked as Karina looked around, her eyes widening with fear. "Karina?"
"..There's something here.." She whispered, her voice quivering.
"Karina? What do you me-" He began, but was cut off by a dull roaring sound.
"Billy! Get out of th-" Karina began, but the sound increased, and almost instantly, the water began to suck downward, and Karina and Billy felt something beginning to rise. The two were pulled further apart, the water circling wildly. Suddenly, the water exploded in a roar that sounded something like a tornado, waves crashing, and shrill human screams. The deafening roar and explosion of the water caused Billy and Karina to go shooting in the air, and Karina to lose all sense of being, her world darkened, and she felt nothing but a blinding pain, surrounded by the sound of roaring and human screams..
* *
A/N: Uh.. sorry about this update being sort of craptacular.. I had to force myself to write this because I have major writers block right now, but my dear friend Lord Sauron continued to ask me "When are we gonna see Ch. 24?" and my dear friend Ma-San asked something akin to "So, are you not writing anymore?", and my dear sister, SweetCadbury, kept saying "You'll never finish this, you're stuck on Ch. 24.".. So.. this chapter is devoted to you guys! Yeah, you get a craptacular one, but still.. it sounds good! Peace!