Jovian Chronicles: Book One
The Present: Chapter Four
It was completely dark while she heard the whispering of two beings, one was a girl of a young age and the other of an older man.
"I wish to take your hand in marriage," said the male voice. The girl laughed as she turned away from the man and started to walk away. Instead, his followed her and kept his steps close behind her until he grabbed her arm and turned her around. "I mean what I say, princess. I do wish to take your hand in marriage. You are completely beautiful, and are different from the other princesses. There is nothing wrong with being a strong woman and that will make you a powerful ruler. I would love to be by your side."
"I am eleven and you are eighteen, why would you want to marry a child like myself?" she asked. She shivered as his fingers touched her chin and gently brought his face near hers.
"Age has no limit and I love you," he said and then gently kissed her. He took her hand and lead her down the long halls and into the office of the King of Jupiter. There, he bowed before his highness and smiled. "King Jupiter, I would like to marry Princess Makoto."
King Jupiter scrunched his brows while he looked at the man with a raised brow and then to his young daughter whom was holding his hand.
"My daughter is not of age to be married," he said and then thought about it. "If you do marry my daughter, you must wait until she becomes of age before you soil your marriage and produce heirs for this kingdom."
The man nodded as young Makoto gave him a smile knowing this would change her life completely.
Makoto stirred as she felt herself being held while someone was walking. Her emerald eyes opened as she looked at the blurred face turn into Seifer whom gave her a smile with a wink to follow.
"Good rest princess?" he asked with a raised brow. She just snuggled closer while she felt the wind chill her legs and arms.
"Why are we outside? Where's Tanaka?" she asked and then tried to stifle a yawn. Seifer smiled down at her and held her a bit closer so to help warm her.
"There are no more cars to rent so we're walking back to the garden. We should be there soon enough since it's not that long of a walk. I made sure to send Tanaka ahead since there was a delivery truck headed in that direction with only one seat left so he also took my luggage with him," answered Seifer. Makoto nodded while her thoughts wondered about the dream. Of course she knew it was about herself and that she was married at eleven to a man seven years older than her but, why in the world would that happen?
(The reason why she, well I , married him was because in her childhood her mother died and she never received any attention from her father. Instead, she seeked it out in someone else and ended up getting a different attention, more than love. It was something she had never felt before except when she was in her mother's arms. Why in the world would my father just leave me like that? Did he have any reasons of leaving me alone? Ugh...After three years of marriage, which would make her fourteen at the time, her husband went missing and then two months later she received a letter from her scouts that had said her husband was dead. After a year of mourning, she moved on and decided to go back to being independent instead of having another husband since she thought he was her first and only love. But, if there was a connection between these two, why is is that she never killed herself? Is there someone else that took his place?)
Makoto was engrossed in her thoughts about her past that the sound of a screeching beast made her jump and quickly cling onto Seifer who in turn chuckled a bit before setting her down. The garden wasn't far from them and was shining brightly in all of its glory as the giant beetle came out into the light emitted from the garden. Makoto quickly took a defense stance and noticed that Seifer brought out a blade that had the hilt of a gun along with a trigger and she associated it with the gun blade.
"Stay back princess," said Seifer as he charged at the large beetle, using its large body to his advantage since he could move quicker. Makoto couldn't stand there and do nothing while the man looked for a way to get through the hard casing around the beetle. Quickly, she used her teleportation while a ball of electricity formed in her hand. Without thinking, she appeared in front of the creature and sent the attack right into the under-belly. The bug squirmed and fell backwards, it's claws thrashing and slicing into her skin.
Instead, she ignored the pain and jumped back while another ball of electricity formed; then she threw it at the stomach once again while Seifer sliced down on the bug. Slowly, it crumpled and turned into a small pile of dirt on the ground.
"Makoto..." Her adrenaline was gone and the pain started to sink in where her arm and leg held a deep gash across it. Auto-magically her hand went to her arm were the blood was pouring down more quicker than her leg.
"This is an entertaining evening after all...lets get back to the garden where I can get some medical attention. I don't think my friends would like it if I croaked on them over a small scratch than compared to worse incidents we've been in together," she said and started walking as if she felt no pain. Seifer growled and quickly picked the woman up into his arms, not caring that his clothes got blood on them since it wasn't like dry-cleaning couldn't fix it. His stride was longer and quicker than hers could ever be.
"I told you to stay back. Why didn't you listen? Now I'm going to have this on my conscience," said Seifer with a growl to follow. Makoto laughed and teleported them into the main lobby area of the garden where Seifer stopped for a moment until he remembered his surroundings then continued towards the medical area.
"This is nothing compared to the fights I've been in. I've been thrown against a light pole, garage, telephone booth, fallen off a cliff, had a sword through my stomach, died countless of times, and have no scars to prove it. Lucky, huh?" she asked as he sat her on the table while the doctor quickly moved to work.
"Is this your causing?" asked the doctor only for him to glare at her while she took care of Makoto's wounds. "Report to Headmaster Cid since he asked for your presence immediately."
Seifer nodded and looked at Makoto again with a worried glance only to receive rolled eyes.
"Are you stupid Almasy? I said I was going to be okay and you heard the orders. Get up there and I'll join you after I'm bandaged up," said Makoto and waved her hand to turn him away. Seifer left and made his want to the elevator where he went to F3. He walked up to the door and knocked before entering. There stood Tanaka with Headmaster Cid giving the last of his report.
"....I took the truck back since Seifer refused to go unless he was able to carry the princess back to the garden. All our luggage is placed in our respectful rooms," said Tanaka. Headmaster Cid nodded and looked at Seifer with a frown.
"You are too old be still living at the garden. When at the age of twenty, all students are to leave and make a leaving on their own but you are needed for a mission along with assistance in training the newly recruited Makoto Kino. Tanaka is to be leaving on a mission for two weeks which means you have that time-limit to get her used to using a gun blade along with teaching her the necessary skills. Usually I don't send fully trained students on SeeD missions but she comes with high recommendations," said Headmaster Cid. Seifer couldn't agree more.
"I wasn't surprised for her high recommendations. She has the ability to teleport and use the power of electricity, or so I saw this evening," said Seifer. Headmaster Cid raised his brows.
"Were you attacked on the way from Balamb?" he asked only to receive a nod. Another knock came to the door where Makoto entered slowly with a smile. Tanaka quickly glared at Seifer when he saw the bandage on her upper arm and another around her thigh.
"Is there anything you would like to add to the mission report?" asked Headmaster Cid. Makoto smiled and gave a bow.
"The entire mission was a complete success but plan A would have not failed if the leader hadn't let his emotions and worries get in the way. Luckily I seemed to have pleased Seifer enough to where you decided to come instead of giving up a fight," said Makoto. Headmaster Cid looked over at Tanaka and gave a lop-sided smile.
"Learn from your mistake and don't let your emotions ruin a mission but I can see how you worried about a beautiful lady as herself," said Headmaster Cid giving a wink towards Makoto only to receive a playful wink in return. "To make things easier for your both, Seifer and Makoto, I have placed you in a dorm room together with each separated rooms. You are dismissed."
They saluted and then left respectfully filled into the elevator. Makoto let out a sigh and leaned against the wall with a yawn to follow.
"Man, today was the longest day I've ever had," said Makoto. Tanaka still continued glaring at Seifer.
"I will not forgive you for letting a woman of her standing get harmed in such a way. You should have protected her," said Tanaka in a fierce way that made Makoto look at him with scrunched brows.
"Quiet emotional-man since you have no idea went on out there. For all you know, we could have been doing something other than just walking back to the garden," answered Seifer in a cocky voice. Makoto let out a sigh as she knew the fight was going to happen and had to step in before things went out of hand.
"Stop you two. Tanaka, I had to join since I wanted to fight plus he wasn't going to the sensitive under-belly of the creature so it was my fault for not thinking and jumping into action, like always. Seifer, maybe later if you're lucky," she said, giving him a wink. They both quieted down and walked towards the dorms in silence then split off into their rooms. Seifer moved into his room and came back out moments later to give Makoto something to sleep in but found her no where. When he entered her room, he found her curled on one side in her underwear that consisted of shorts and a thin-strapped tank-top.
He gave a smile and put covers over her and then turned the light off while he moved into his room. For some reason he was restless tonight and let out a sigh while he laid on his best. Sure, he had finished unpacking and what else was there to do? Nothing. His mind began to wonder...
There he stood in the middle of a fort in his green uniform and a large sword by his side. A call came from the gate that two riders were approaching and he motioned for them to open the gate where his dearest friend appeared. He was the Chancellor from the Jovian Kingdom and behind him was a rider covered in a cloak, the face completely hidden. Both of their horses were taken as he smiled and moved toward the man.
"Aw, Chancellor Tomas Brown. What brings you here?" he asked. The brown eyed man looked up at smiled.
"General Seifer Almasy, but what else would I come for? Too bad it isn't good news of your beheading. This time, I bring you a soldier." He gestured toward the cloaked figure that was looking around in awe.
"A soldier that hides himself in a cloak? Must be pampered. Soon enough I will turn this girlish boy into a man---"
"Just take a look at these papers before you start referring to this soldier as a man." He rose a brow and looked at the papers.
"You send me a woman to fight? You must be crazy!"
"Not as crazy as you sound. I can already tell you enjoy hearing yourself speak," came a female voice. He grinned.
"Don't worry Chancellor I will take care of this woman with a firm hand---"
"Seifer you have to---" He looked down at the papers once again.
"Makoto Kino. First year student. Remove your cloak so I can get a look at you." He watched as long delicate fingers come out from behind the cloak. Slowly, they unbuttoned the top while Chancellor Tomas Brown took the cloak away revealing the woman in men's clothing. Golden brown waves outlined her delicate face, showing the features of rose lips, soft pale pink skin, but, one thing that caught his attention where her eyes. Those crystallized emerald orbs filled with fire, held power, and strength.
He towered over her but, she didn't seemed to be intimidating by it. Dark green pants covered her legs, with a white shirt neatly tucked in with a dark green jacket buttoned closed. By her side hung a sword; it's handle was beautifully crafted with silver and gold roses. On the top held the sign of Jupiter along with the initials M.K. Her hand rested on her hip while a smiled took over her lips.
"Are you just going to stand there with your mouth open or are you going to say something?" she asked raising a brow. She was a strong woman and her delicate features mislead anyone that wanted to oppose such a woman. Instead, they would laugh and wouldn't expect anything of her.
Seifer looked around his room as he still felt the chill from the fort he was in while his mind raced with the thoughts and quickly he came into realization that the girl in the next room was her and this was the past that she was trying to find out. He was a part of it and somehow it seemed that it must have been good. Makoto was a strong woman and nothing would bring her down to being less than that. He was starting to understand her character through just a simple dream. Tomorrow they would train and it would be a fun time and who knew what would come of it.
AN: Yes, this came out a bit fast but that's ok. I have the next chapter working in my mind. Somehow, this story seems to be going really slow. Eh, oh well. It's better to be slow than too fast. This is going to be one of my longest fics and to think, there are more books to complete this series. I have to find the papers though because I have each book planned out with the plot and everything for the past so each one is completely different than the other. Some may seem a bit the same when it comes to the present time story ( Makoto going to another time or visa-versa ) but that's what happens when you have so many different pairs that are in different times ;D Thanks for the reviews and yeah!