The Kingdom of Glass
Hint to answering the last chapter's question: Kyoko is my fave. Furuba character. Good luck!
Oh yes, warning: Link/Celes pairing, battle scenes, references to Celes and Link's past, and a kawaii moment between Yuki and Amanda that wasn't in the last chapter. For those who haven't taken/weren't paying attention and/or forgot Physics. I try to keep it out of my writing but it did worm it's way in here. Remember force mass X acceleration.
Thanks to:
PeaceLoveOcelot: First! All right, you got me intrigued on Vash, maybe I'll bear the insanity of the anime and actually continue watching it. Knight Hunters was a tough one to watch, but it seems there is sanity in Yohiji that would be of use. I'm glad you liked the way I portrayed your character. I went on what I gathered from your reviews (moving around a lot helps you develop a skill for solving people and discovering their attributes). A shy, gentle, polite, intelligent girl, who has a side to her personality similar to her Bishonen that people rarely see (then again, I'm usually off somehow, so let me know). I thought since you hated fighting, your character would best find a job as a nurse, then I really needed another know-it-all in my story and Lily the scholar just fit.
So that's your development history. Thanks for all the input. Vash the clumsy angel it is because Lockea's warped sense of humor already put Raenef (Demon Diary) as the Chibi. Oh yes, sounds like someone I know… Katt.
I do see you as Micheal, personally, a very inquisitive person who isn't quite as blunt as Phoenix, but still knows more than she tells. I gave you a total of five points. Three for answering the question about yourself and two for the one about me.
Katt: Mwahahaha went an entire day! And only Peacey beat you. That is sad.
Spatial Monkey: Ah, thank you. Finally, someone points out a flaw to my work (and believe me, there are many). I don't know why no one ever critiques my work when that's all I do to others. So thanks, FINALLY!!! You have no idea how happy that makes me to know I'm not the only one who thinks my writing could use improvement (who doesn't?). Please don't kill me for the late update.
Yamashira de'Ryuu: Yes, you are rambling. I was a little worried there for a while, school must always come first! Sorry my timing was bad on the update but believe it or not, I have an update schedule in my bio. Big grin thanks for finding the typo, makes my job easier. I can bring you and Jing in as cameos right now, this section of the story is focused on tournaments and I have something big planned for you later on, right now, however, how about a trip to the arcade for Amanda and Lily? A small part but like I said, big things later.
Scarletmiaka: Why thank you. I hope there's a Bishonen world too. So, which version (mine or Songwind's) do you like better (they're very similar but Songwind's is digital and mine is Parallel)?
To my many mothers. All four hundred or so of you (not really but it feels like it). There are four who stand out most in my mind. Mother, Mama, Niki, and Cindy, every time you smiled and took interest in me made me try a little harder to be the shining star in everyone's life.
Chapter Eight: Lullaby of Memories
The blonde haired general settled into a guard position with easy grace, readying her sword for the coming battle. For once her opponent was not her childhood friend, Link, but instead she was challenging the Allen Schezar of another trainer to a friendly match. Her opponent was well known for both his skills as a flirt and an amazing swordsman, and she had wanted a match with one for several years.
Now she had the chance. Everyone was gathered around watching, Seairra had volunteered to referee their fight, and she could feel the adrenaline rushing at the thought. This Allen's trainer had boasted that her Bishonen was her strongest swordsman, still, Celes thought she was stronger. After all, she had learned her art from her mother.
"C'mon Celes, show them how it's done!" Edgar cheered. She smiled, there they were, being supportive, but her real attention was on him, silently watching the battle.
No one knew the truth behind them, except their trainer, whenever they were seen together, people passed it off as friendship between the similarities, not seeing the truth deep down. He was always quiet but she could draw him out to speak together, to sing and laugh. No one really knew how much she cared, except the all-knowing Micheal who could spot a marriage in a meeting between two. He caught her eye and gave her a small smile of encouragement that said, 'If you lose, I'll never let you live it down.'
She smirked, the battle began with Seairra's call, he lunged in first with his sword, a grace and speed one expected from someone such as Allen Schezar. She parried, trying to get behind him, but he would not let her, forcing her into defense. She withdrew, shifting stances all the while cursing her lose of magic use for the battle. He took a stance and they came to a standstill, each searching for fault.
Knowing well the Allen before her would display none, the beautiful general allowed herself to drop guard for the tiniest second. He took the bait, lunging in as the crowd held their breath. She shifted from one foot to the other, allowing him to fall past her, he barely recovered enough to block, now finding himself under the small Bishojo's body. Being much larger than her, all he had to do was flip her over his head, but she landed back on her feet with a catlike grace, ready for his next move.
They were lightly panting by now, and they knew that the fight would come down to endurance rather than strength or speed, for it was apparent they were equally matched in force. She decided not to make the next move, waiting instead for whatever trick he might think up. Moments later, she had her answer, Allen raised his sword only a inch, drew it back over his shoulder, and charged. She stepped aside but he turned, his weapon slicing through her green shirt, blood dripping from her collar which was probably now broken. She cursed silently, pulling away.
At this rate she would never win. Allen used a katana, same as she, so speed was the way he fought, added to the fact that he, being a Bishonen, was much larger than her put her at a disadvantage. She needed an edge, no pun intended, to knock the blonde pretty boy out of the ring. Then it hit her.
She shifted her sword to her uninjured hand, drawing as close to the arena edge as she could without calling a foul and waited, alert but unguarded, for Allen. He took the bait, bringing his sword up in an arc and sweeping it cleanly toward the Bishojo's arm again. She ducked under the blade, catching Allen in the stomach with the flat of her own. She twisted and with the last of her strength sent her opponent flying from the arena, collapsing to the ground at the pain coursing through her left shoulder.
"Umm, Celes? You're supposed to stand up when you beat someone." Micheal's voice said wryly from somewhere near her.
She just grunted, "Whatever, I'm not moving." She closed her eyes, she won, but just barely. That was a rewarding experience.
"You want me to unbound your sword or keep it that way?" He persisted, coming into view over the top of her.
"Gimme some healing potion and I promise I won't kill anyone, otherwise it's best to keep the blade blunt, my collarbone must be broken." She grinned weakly, allowing her trainer to help her up.
"Okay, keep sword blunted and buy Celes painkillers. Got it." He joked, not about to hand over a potion for something as minor as a broken bone, she needed more experience anyway. Sure enough, the Bishojo growled at the thought of not getting any blessed potions, even though she knew it was bad to use potions for the smallest things. He chuckled at her. "You did well today, I'm glad to see you using strategy in battle, now if only I could get Link to do the same."
"Don't hold your breath, berserkers are the most dangerous of all foes." Said Bishonen ambled over to them with a cocky grin.
"Yes, and I'm sure Celes was quaking in fear the day she threw you in the lake." Micheal replied dryly, leaving the two to finish business with Seairra and the other trainer.
Link pouted at that, pushing his injured friend down on a bench and proceeding to inspect her wounds. "You know, Celes, if his sword hadn't been blunted and this were a wild battle, he might have killed you."
"Highly unlikely, if you take a look, he didn't hit that hard, more likely I'd need to be moved to a clinic immediately before I died of blood loss." She retorted.
"Either way you, Celly-chan, would be dead. I think you've been beat."
No one called her Celly, even though that was her birth given nickname, but then again, only Link had been around her since birth, Alanna and Aly had joined the party several years earlier when Celes was on the verge of evolving into Sama, and Edgar had come along only a few months before. She pushed the nickname aside, any other person would be murdered for using it but she gave Link permission since she could call him Linka. "Okay, you go fight him, like I told Micheal, I am not moving." And she meant it.
He simply shrugged, "Not in the mood. I have to take care of you now, since you went and let yourself get hurt." He fished for some bandages in his never-ending pouch (or so everyone joked) and tugged her shirt off her shoulder, removing the white cloak as well. "I swear, what would you do without me?"
"Live in peace?" She suggested, only to be smacked over the head with some bandages. "Ittai! I was serious you know. Life would be a lot more peaceful without you."
He grinned, "Yeah, because you'd be dead. Remember that time you and I were exploring the woods and you fell off the side of that cliff?"
She groaned. "Of course, but I seem to remember you pushing me and then falling over as well and a wild Bishonen saved us. So technically, that was all your fault."
Link finished with the bandages and sat down beside her, letting her head rest on his shoulder. "Ahh, the antics of Chibis. How our mother was almost as mad as the Bishonen was at Micheal. Only us two in a crowd of Bishonen, it was easy to sneak away."
"They were mad at Micheal because he let us get away and said nothing about it." Celes replied, breathing in his scent. "Ugh, I'm tired. I didn't think I'd get this exhausted."
"Name a time when you actually think." Teased the Bishonen, but wrapped one arm around her anyway.
Arkarian sauntered over then, smiling at the two knowingly. He had been around since there birth and knew more about them than their companions. "You two look so cute, one would think your romantically involved, rather than brother and sister."
Celes groaned. "Shut up, Arkarian, I thought I told you to leave that alone, and you better not tell anyone, not even Phoenix."
Of course Arkarian knew, he had been with Linla when they were born, and the disturbance they had caused. Twins were rare, especially fraternal ones, and it was unheard of for two of different classes to be born to the same mother. The Bishonen could barely stand half lings, mostly because they believed in regular couples, and class mixing was a disgrace. Other than Micheal, no one else knew the truth, everyone just thought Link and Celes were born to different mothers under Micheal.
"Don't worry, though I don't see why you two hide it. If I had a sibling who wasn't related to me, I'd be overjoyed." The blue haired Bishonen grinned, moving away now that the excitement of the battle was over.
"He just doesn't get it." She whispered, snuggling closer to Link, closing her eyes with the intent of simply resting. "Link, where did you and Malon run off to yesterday?"
"Nowhere, I just wanted to be around other Bishonen of my type." He replied softly, using his free arm to try and find his ocarina somewhere in his pouch.
"You mean I'm not your type?"
"Celly, if you were anymore my type, I'd wonder if we aren't two halves of the same person." He grinned, bringing the ocarina to his mouth to warm it. "You going to sleep on me?"
She didn't answer. "Do you remember the day mother left?"
He startled at the question. "Yeah, it's hard to forget. Why?"
"I was just wondering. Your soft, I'm sleeping now." She muttered incoherently. 'The day mother left was soon after I had evolved, being younger than Link and a late bloomer was my biggest problem. I didn't like having a San staged twin while I was stuck Chibi. Afterwards, my mother asked to be released and returned home, tired of traveling. It wasn't that she wanted to leave us, but we were adults and we had no real reason to go back to our cities, since Link and I could not live together in a city anyway.
'That's what happened to most Micheal's Bishonen, they all grew older as he did and returned home to raise families. It's an odd occurrence for a pregnant Bishojo to remain with a trainer, since most wanted to raise children in a normal environment, but Celes had been with Micheal a long time, and decided to trust Micheal with Linka and I to him.
'Linka and Celly, twins. It was always a secret because we wanted it that way. For even Bishonen cannot spot heritage between two of different classes. There is no way as we share no genes, even though our mother is the same, Link and I are not truly related.
'That is perhaps the most confusing aspect of this world, we exist in the minds of others and so therefore are kept as viewed, sharing only one type of DNA with differences made only in our raising. Like me, I am very different from my mother, my affection for others is open. Link is much more talkative than Linla's Link, who I doubt speaks more than a few words a day because Linla is a very quiet woman.
'It's just the way our trainers are. Like Trainer, like Bishonen, I suppose.' She let her thought trail to an end, slipping deeply into a slightly painful rest, lulled by the sound of Link's ocarina.
His own thoughts also drifted, though in different, more whimsical ways than the sleeping girl beside him. Aly was missing, and the Chibi's frantic mother couldn't seem to place where she was, but he saw her, lingering in the rafters like the spy she would one day grow to be. Arkarian was pretending to meditate but instead watching Alanna's futile quest to find her daughter when she need only look up. It seemed only Edgar and Celes were uninterested in the affair. Edgar because he was busy flirting with someone in a distant corner and Celes because she had fallen asleep.
The little Bishojo noticed his watchful eye and winked to him, moving like a cat along the rafter beam until she was right above her unsuspecting mother. She rose on both her feet, preparing to jump down, with a large smile.
He stopped playing, she was twenty feet up, what was Aly thinking? She might hurt herself is she wasn't careful. Didn't that happen to him once?
"C'mon Celly, it's at the top of the tree." The chibi climbed up another branch, higher and higher, his sister trailing along behind him.
"Wait, I can't climb trees, I'm scared." She whined, grabbing hold of her branch tightly, deadly afraid of the possibility of falling.
Celly didn't follow him, instead sliding her way back to the ground and watching Linka, higher and higher he climbed.
The Chibi lost her balance, teetering on the edge trying to find her feet again. 'Oh, no.' His thoughts raced but he couldn't do anything with Celes on his shoulder. Micheal turned right then. "Alianne No!"
Alanna glanced up, the girl fell down. Everything held still, all eyes on Aly as she tumbled from the beam .
"Linka, no!" He rushed toward the Chibi that fell from a very high branch head first, sure the child would die if he hit even the soft forest ground, and caught him carefully in his arms, barely.
'C'mon, Alanna, Micheal, Arkarian! Someone!' It was Bishonen instinct to worry for another Bishonen, but there were many reasons the people in the gym could not let a Chibi die. Most of all, it was a child and anyone who wasn't protective of a child shouldn't be allowed to live, the second was politics. What would the Cities say if they heard a Chibi had been killed from 'Trainer Carelessness'?
Alanna just watched, unable to do anything out of the fear that consumed her, but Micheal ran forward, shoving the Bishojo from his path and catching the girl, letting them fall so he cushioned her.
A breath was released for the safety of Aly. "What were you thinking Aly Homewood?" The trainer berated, cradling her to his chest as he sat up on the mat, his tone firm but worried. "You could have been seriously hurt and you scared us all, especially your mother. Do you like making us worried?"
She stared up at him with the biggest hazel puppy dog eyes he'd ever seen. "I'm sorry." She sniffed, "I didn't mean to be bad."
'Well,' Link chuckled, returning to his ocarina, assured in Aly's safety. 'I suppose Chibi's live to cause trouble. It's amazing Micheal even continues to raise them.'
Celes stirred barely snuggling into his shoulder even more, oblivious to the life and death situation that had just taken place. Not that anyone would tell her anything either.
That evening, the group returned to the hotel where Phoenix had stayed behind to pick her up for dinner just as Amanda came back from her first day of class. The younger trainer agreed to stay behind with Yuki, not really wanting to go out again that day.
When they came back, they found Amanda curled up next to Yuki on the mattress, sleeping. Phoenix smiled at that and gently took Amanda's glasses, placing them on the bedside table and moving one of the spare blankets from the closet and covering the two with it.
'Such a long day, and we've still got another week in this place. Oh goody.'
This chapter reeks. I hope ya'll were in such a state of shock that you didn't notice it because it smells pretty bad where I'm sitting.
How many of you thought Aly was gonna die? C'mon, Micheal's superman, never underestimate him (actually, referring to character notes he's raised five chibis total so he's had all sorts of wonderful child-raising experiences). Besides that, I still need a chibi and I don't plan to miraculously give Amanda one, even though her next Bishonen should be coming in here in a few chapters. I have three definite for her. Another anime and a book. (Twenty points for guessing where the character's from, thirty if you guess the right character).
Nicknames: I could go on for days on how much I hate Linka as a nickname. Celly's okay. Anyway, genes are passed on in some pretty strange ways (all or nothing), you could have a Zelda born to say a Link and a Malon, it isn't always passed on from one parent, and some can only be born if the right genes mix, like Aly having George for a father, only an Alanna and a George can have an Alianne. Link and Celes could actually have a child but that would be wrong (to much anime, to much Arjuna, to much royal family histories).
So, nicknames. If everyone with the same genetype has the same name, things can get pretty confusing, so nicknames act as real names during the Chibi stage and sometimes into San and Sama, trainers when they catch a Bishonen can sense a nickname if it's strong enough in a Bishonen, since Yuki rarely used his nickname, Amanda couldn't tell and kept Yuki. Arkarian is the only Sama who allows others to use his nickname (Karian) and then normally only by Phoenix and Aly, who he views as being little kids.
This is it for the mushy boring stuff for a while, next we'll be back to the sarcasm and the insanity of Lily's Bishonen (just Ritsu, Yohiji, and Vash for right now, eventually I'll come up for an excuse as to why Rain didn't show up even though they belong to Lily.
Next time: It's Amanda again. I know Lily from my class at the orientation center, she's a really smart, really nice scholar, but I never imagined her Bishonen to be so… weird, and I thought Phoenix, Arkarian, and Edgar were bad! Morning mishaps and afternoon tests on day four of my stay here. When will I find the time to breathe?
Lockea