CH 4 – ESCAPE
The man was starting to get on Chirari's nerves again. But this time, it was for a different reason. He was being overly helpful! She supposed it was better than fighting with him constantly, but it wasn't helping her reputation, or his. People in town were beginning to get used to him. Some people actually were beginning to think that he wouldn't leave. Especially the Perchins woman. It didn't help that she was the biggest gossip in the village and had started another rumor. In Chirari's opinion, this was the worst one yet. "Mercury help me," she murmured as she remembered how it started.
"How are you this morning Chirari? As perky as usual I see." Chirari inclined her head slightly to her elder as a sign of respect. "I am fine this morning. You?" "Oh, well, I'm not dead yet and that's all that counts isn't it?" The water adept nodded once more, hoping that she would never think like that in her old age. The woman was at least 150 and still kicking, of course, most people lived longer than that with the recent development of the Lemurian drought. At this point in time, Retsu poked his head in, "Excuse me Miss Chirari, but did you have any other errands you needed me to run?" After he had heard the supposedly secret conversation through the wall, the man had begun trying to be polite and overly helpful. When he left, it wouldn't be soon enough for Chirari, no sir, not soon enough. "Ah!" Mrs. Perchins exclaimed, "This must be the young man you healed the other day. Very handsome I might add. How long have the two of you been together?" "Pardon me?" Chirari asked. "Oh come now don't be shy. The two of you make a cute couple." "What?!?!" she spluttered incredulously. "He's NOT my boyfriend!" Where was that man? He seemed to have disappeared. "Oh of course not dear," the woman said sarcastically, "It's no use denying it. I can tell it from your eyes. You like him." "I DO NOT!" With that she ran out of the room, her face a bright crimson color.
Chirari couldn't believe it. The whole town was talking about it now. If that didn't chase Retsu off, she hadn't the slightest idea of what would. In fact, when he learned of the whole thing, he seemed amused. AMUSED! She had to make her escape. Well, she was running low on herbs again. That was a good excuse. Yes, she thought, a very good excuse. Of course, she could go tell the woman that they had "broken up", but that would have implied that they had been together in the first place. Desperate times require desperate measures, she contemplated. When to make her escape though? Without her here, surely the man would eventually leave without her to torture. Hmmmm…best to do it as soon as possible, yet not too soon or someone might get suspicious. But when? She continued to plan her flight throughout the rest of the day.
* * *
Kazay once more flicked a strand of blonde hair out of her eyes. Chirari had just left. She had a sneaking suspicion that it was because of Retsu. Stopping by Chirari's house caused the corners of her mouth to twitch. How amusing. Gone fishing had she? The white sign stuck obtrusively outwards against the dark wood of the door. A sudden thought came to her. I wonder if she'd mind if I… Quickly glancing around, she scribbled a new line in Chirari's hand on the sign. It now read, "Gone on a fishing trip. Be back after Retsu has vanished off the face of Weyard." Kazay smiled. It had been quite a while since she'd pulled any practical jokes on anyone, and this time, no one would figure out it had been her. "What do you think you're doing?" The wind adept must have jumped ten feet high. She whirled around to see who had caught her. "That's not very funny," Retsu told her with a patient look plastered across his face. Uh oh, she thought, when he looks like that, he positively boiling. "Hello Retsu," she said slowly inching away. "How are you on this fine morning?" By now, the look on his face was just annoyed. "I asked you a question," he said, irritated. "Oh, well, I was just leaving…" "No, you're not," he said cornering her. She beamed at him. "Don't you have some chores for Chirari to be doing?" "No." "Oh…well, um, okay then. I'll be going if you'll just move…" "I'm not moving," his voice was dangerously soft. "Where's Chirari?" "She went fishing?" Kazay said hopefully. A thoughtful look slowly swept across his face. "She went to Lemuria." Retsu released her from the corner she had been forced into. "How did you know?" Kazay asked before she could clap a hand over her mouth. "Lemuria is the best spot to fish in all of Weyard," after a pause he added, "Oh, and by the way, you better fix that sign." With his final sentence, he opened his hand and a bout of flame scorched the sign. As he disappeared off into the distance of the town, Kazay began to realize why she had stopped playing practical jokes.
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SkyNymph: Hello, my name is DR. I have finally got around to writing my first disclaimer. Here it is:
Disclaimer: DR does not own Golden Sun or anything within the game.
DR: Isn't that wonderful? Thank you for reading and please leave a review.