Disclaimer: I don't own anything that is mentioned in this story……I hate doing these things (sigh).
Chapter Five: The Island of Eternity
Anthy's POV
The sunset was stinging my eyes; I could smell the tropical island breeze it smelled like the salty ocean and the passion fruits growing along the shore. The sand was soft and warm on my bare feet as I ran freely through the verdure rainforest. Nature was so wild and free, it was what I always longed for, what I always imagined in those books of mine. I picked many vibrant fruits off all the dangling branches, one after another; I stuffed my face with oranges, bananas, mangos and limes. Enjoying and smelling the radiance of all the plants and flowers surrounding me from all sides, the Hibiscus, jasmines. It made me want to lie down in those garden beds among the metropolis of the growing flowers, press my face to the earth and sing softly to myself. The birds were so friendly and I was so close they perched on my arm and we chirped together, everything about this place was tranquil yes it was but it seemed something more than that something amorous. The monkeys were pulling my hair and jumping on my shoulders, they wanted me to follow them, as I trekked through the narrow passage between plants and gaunt trees Two beautiful mares strolled beside me on each side one ebony black and the other a heavenly white I stroked their soft shining coats and smiled at them I seen them smile back at me in their electric blue eyes as we ran together through this paradise following the bellowing primates above us. Hopping from branch to branch. The animals followed me, making gleeful noises cheering me on, all the lemurs, reptiles and birds. I could see a clearing up ahead and the animals raced me to it they stood sentry-like as gargoyles awaiting my arrival; I could feel their thoughts they held some great veneration for something up ahead. My Heart dropped in my chest, the blood just stopped the pulsing and breathing and I recall the brisk sweep of vertigo whist through me like wind at the sight of it.
It was a magnanimous castle I could not see its' towers before because of the rainforest's canopy of trees and vines of fruit hanging from the sky. The castle…….It was in the middle of this paradise. It was celestial it looked like something from heaven; its walls were pure crystal and seemed to be glowing, emitting a lustrous glow around it. If a harsh breeze were to blow it would probably shatter this glass castle, this glass castle was so shiny and it seemed without smudge or withering. The art on the stained glass windows were all of roses the mosaic were of pale scarlet, cobalt blues and rosy pinks.
I just couldn't tear my eyes away if god were here now and called my name out and begged me to stare upon his face I would not advert my gaze from this palace. I stood just like the animals gawking with high reverence.
I had the strongest feeling to run to it like a lost lover, run across its drawbridge and burst through the doors like an ungrateful intruder. I wanted to kiss its walls and lose myself in it completely. The wind blew my hair in front of my face obscuring my view it made a flapping noise like a cape in the wind. I could see something between the strands of my hair from the front of the castle there was a white figure. I squinted my eyes it was a man, and white had to be his badge of pride- white silk slacks and a matching flowing cape flapping behind in the wind like my hair, and magnificently embroidered doublet, beneath it a tunic of gold silk tissue. His hair a cropping style though bouncy and curly lilac hair and olive skin. The man's face reminded me of a Botticelli Angel that looked familiar on the Angels heads in the paintings of the chapels. His arms were wide open he pointed at the entrance of the castle and looked back at me smiling brightly with his arms open, in an embracing manner. Wanting me to come to him, run into his arms and hug him violently as if I had known him and loved him and he had returned to me, that's what it felt, I would've done it, there was some bonding connection between us and I had never seen this man before……''
''Would you be able to find your way there?'' he asked me tilting his head so his cerulean bangs didn't intrude into his face.
''No'' Anthy answered dismissively staring down at the wooden planked deck. He pulled her chin up to his face gingerly, his shallow breaths' blowing in her face '' I think you lie'' he said curtly staring deep into her mute fluttering eyes intimidatingly, penetrating her thoughts, her secrets, her lies she just wanted to scream it in his face ''Get out of my head!''.
It was a clear day out today clearer than all the days these past two weeks. There weren't any clouds out at all and the waves were exceptionally gentle. These past two weeks have been nothing but a series of unfortunate events. A lot of shit has happened these two weeks and it makes you stop and think ''yes this is real, you are awake, and this is really happening to you''.
It has been two weeks, two weeks since- I can't even dare speak her name, but it flows through my head every second of the day ''Anthy,…..Anthy…..,Anthy…'' it chants going around and around in my head, then her images split into my thoughts, her smiling face at the party with her gleaming white smile, the way she looked so elegantly in that white dress that color white contracted wonderfully with your olive skin. ''Anthy,….Anthy,….Anthy,…. Yes Anthy, with your high gloss India beauty, and the way your jade green feline eyes would watch me when I wasn't looking, my thoughts would naturally skip back to that feeling of your full, warm lips against mine before the attack, before you're kidnapping. I won't try to describe the ecstasy because rapture tastes so sweet. The only thing all these thoughts, longings and memories add up to is I miss you achingly.
These two long weeks, now it is just Jury and I as it has been for the past couple of weeks, I am coming for you Anthy, please don't give up hope!. We're following right behind them; they have ransacked and etched out two major colonies along the coast since Ohtori. The others have stayed behind to help rebuild what has loss it is such a shame, and I have a bad feeling that if they find the castle-they have You, and Jury and I are the only one's who are able to stop them.
Jury
''I wonder what Jury's thinking about?'' Utena thought staring at Jury like an envious younger sister- with pink hair.
Probably ''My Treasure, My Money, My ship, MeMeMeMeMeMeMeMeMeMeMeMe''! Utena shrieked inside her head laughing to herself out loud.
Jury looked down at her through the corner of her eye ''You got a problem?'' she asked nonchalantly one leg propped up on a barrel her elbow resting on the upraised knee and her hand rubbing her chin in deep contemplation.
''Nah, you just look like your posing for a portrait'' Utena scoffed resting her hands on the back of her head.
''You don't look so good are you feeling alright?'' Jury asked furrowing her eyebrows down at her in concern.
''Not really, other than the fact we are not on a very large boat in the middle of the ocean and haven't found land in three days, not too mention we may run out of food shortly'' Utena retorted sarcastically rolling her eyes.
''What's with the attitude? so your getting seasick, eh, pirates don't get seasick ya know'' Jury teased grinning widely giving the pink haired first mate a sly wink.
Utena's face cringed up almost immediately ''We're not pirates! We are on a Rescue mission!'' Utena yelled appallingly pulling at her hair. Jury said nothing she just stood there, no expression visible on her face, she was good at that.
''We don't even have a crew or a rescuing party it's just you and me and some dinky boat! In the middle of the Damned Ocean!''. Utena yelled angrily kicking the mast in a blind fit of rage a bucket fell on her head and she staggered back flailing her arms wildly.
Jury laughed maniacally like she just brought Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to life, she stopped raising one orange tinted eyebrow –something had caught her eye—she pulled out her spyglass and scrutinized crossed the waters surface for several moments spotting some familiar land marks the corners of her mouth began to stretch she inhaled deeply before roaring out boisterously even though she could feel Utena's presence right behind her.
''LAND HO!'' Jury cheered pumping her fist in the air jumping down from the barrel. Suddenly she felt the soaking of her breeches, swallowing the hard lump in her throat she took a deep breath and reluctantly looked down to see that she was indeed in ankle foot water, her face dropped immediately.
The tangerine haired captain glanced up and the two locked blue eyes, ''I told you it was a dinky boat'' Utena said shrugging her shoulders scrambling up to get the bucket she tossed around earlier. Jury waded through the water, rolling up the long sleeves of her velvet blue jacket and going to her First (and only) mate's aid. Scooping up as much as she could and dumping it back into the sea.
It didn't take long to get all the stupid water out of the boat, Utena and Jury moved barrels to the left side so their skiff was leaning, the waves weren't high enough to splash on deck.
They both stood with their hands on their hips panting Jury sauntered behind Utena ''I am a genius'' she declared a bit of cockiness in her tone.
''What the heck are you talking about you Heffalump If it weren't for me we would not have gotten all the water out so fast!'' Utena's face pursed up and she began flexing her fingers in a strangling motion towards Jury.
''What's your issue you look like you just sucked on a lemon'', Jury chortled to herself tears coming out of her eyes, streaming down her face and she let them trickle to her lips and licked them up .
Her upper-body shaking involuntarily from the laughter '' God I crack myself up''.
Utena just glared at her through the corner of her eye staring off in the distance waiting for their skiff to drift closer to the land she was more excited than she looked.
''Well …..That was a pretty dumb question'' Jury's voice was abrupt and somewhat soft compared to her usual coarse tone. – Utena did not bother to move-. The leopard took notice of how bedraggled her accomplice looked, she was now wearing a long shapeless cloak of gray velvet she was sure it was once an extravagant trinket but now it was downplayed with wear and rain and the simple white tunic she wore underneath it was torn a speckled with splotches of dirt. Her hair had grown a bit since they had been out it was brushing the top of her shoulders, full of pink light and unruly though now it was damp and even studded with drops of dew from being outside.
Jury then glanced at herself thinking she looked the same her long blue frock coat suit for a man and white frilly flowing shirt with brown breeches and unpolished holey boots. She could feel the water in her stockings, swishing around in her shoes. She did not have to think she looked the same she felt utterly grotesque. It had been three days since they left the last port she couldn't remember the name of the town, She was famished the last thing they had eaten was the last bit of fish in the barrel this morning, but she was grateful that they had found land although it had been all day, It was turning to dusk now and the sun was setting. It looked awesome curving up to welcoming the dark violet halo star scattered sky it melted down into the light beige clouds just above the sun, the suns lingering rays were shimmering on top of the waters surface together she and Utena came up with the name ''Swirly'' for the stupendous sight of the colorful sunset.
Just as they longed for the skiff washed up the surf hitting the land and the wet sand slowing it down. The skiff came to a halt at first Jury did not know what to make of the bumping halt she was used to the smooth feeling of flying over the water for several days. Utena sat up immediately jumping down from the boat reluctantly waiting for her companion. Jury stood on the skiff legs wide-spread, as the pink haired teen stared as her captain did a quick circumspect of the perimeter. Jury didn't see any pirate warnings, she didn't see any tracks in the sand, there wasn't an opening passage in the woods at the edge of the beach frowning she closed her spyglass and placed it in her overly large jacket pocket. Perhaps this was just a deserted Isle, maybe if they walked around they could find someone, find something.
''Go before me pinky'' Jury joked pushing Utena up the beach. Even though it was hot outside it felt good to be climbing, to be walking, the feeling of the warm sand on her heel rather than the cold wet hard planks of the deck of their skimpy skiff. Utena moved steadily ahead not loathing the fact that something perilous could be in the forest, a bag slung over her shoulder and her right hand hanging free by her side.
''First things first as soon as I find an aloe Vera plant I am squeezing it and washing my hair'' Utena started looking down at the sand Dodging pointy seashells.
''Yeah squeeze me one too, how do you think I feel, my hair is twice as long as yours'' Jury replied back kicking some starfish and wiping the sweat off the back of her neck sighing at the feel of the heat bumps forming on her dermis.
''Do you have any idea where we are?'' Utena asked her voice was very soft almost inaudible.
''Well not exactly…….'' Jury's voice trailed off and she heard Utena's low growls. Looking up beneath her long orange curls she saw her pink companion struggling with the sheath hanging on her belt.
''Hey!...Let's not go into the forest yet'' Jury protested running up beside her grabbing Utena's arm. Utena looked at her with the most importuned sarcastic look like ''why?''.
''It's getting dark, we can do It tomorrow……..in the daylight''.
Utena cajoled to herself biting her lip a little at watching Jury twirling a strand of her hair before turning around and separating some bushes.
Jury let out a high pitch screech and ran in front of her ''what do you think your doing?''.
''Your not very evincing you know—what does it look like I am doing? I am going in I feel like a can of garbage''.
''You smell like one too'' Jury muttered letting her mouth form into an ''O'' shape and her eyes drop. Utena glared at her and grinned deviously ''Oh so your scared of the dark!''.
''No you imbecile, has it ever crossed your mind that maybe it is seemingly portentous to enter the woods at night on a foreign island, that you have never been on in your life, not to mention this is probably the first time you've ever been outside your now rummaged village'' Jury rambled on arms folded and eyes closed.
''I am still going'' Utena said gnashing her teeth together as she cleared a path and walked straight into the woods. Jury stood her mouth agape kicking the dirt.
'' Can't let her go alone she is after all a city girl'' Jury murmured reluctantly following Utena's figure through the woods.
Jury walked solemnly with her hands in her pockets following the pink blur in the corner of her eye she felt like her ribs were concaving inside themselves it was horrible. ''I found it!'' She called out cheerfully, Jury ran to her taking notice that they were on a cliff and below them was a clear lagoon. Utena snipped the bundle of plants audaciously. Jury threw her head back and began to slowly unbutton her shirt; she slipped her feet out of her boots and managed out of her breeches until she was completely nude.
Utena had called out at her but she just ignored it and off she went, the dirt on her feet was no more and she was flying.
The water was crisp and cold and her skin was soaking it up like lotion, she saw the small school of fish swim away in fear and the water was clear, no dirty particles, no mud. Digging her palms in the sand at the bottom clenching it and watching it drift away as her body floated back up to the surface. She knew she had made a large splash because she watched the ripples echo out on the surface. She floated on her back and seen the bewilderment on Utena's face.
Utena had taken a gander below her and inhaled when she saw the lagoon it was so clear she could see the bottom, the moonlight helped. And on the darker side the stars were reflected on the surface and it looked like the night sky, she had to blink twice to comprehend the scene. It looked like one of the fantasies from her dreams, when the water was like a mirror and reflected the sky.
It wasn't long until she had joined Jury but she floated almost on the entire other side of the lagoon. Jury watched Utena's back, as she massaged the Aloe- Vera in her hair, she had almost moaned out-loud to herself.
It was funny watching her dawdle alone on the other side, had she never bathed with another person before?. Was she that shy with her nudity?. Jury laughed loudly to herself getting wry looks from the lone one floating afar. Watching her companion attempt the dead man's float. The Leopard inhaled deeply and plunged underwater swimming gracefully along with the little fish towards the white body in the water.
Ripping up wildly next to her she suddenly felt the painful jabbing in her ribs and the next thing she knew their screams were echoing hollowly through the forest.
''Jury you scared the life out of me!'' Utena hissed wrenching the older girl's hair. Jury squirmed around like a snake holding her ribs ''you didn't have to kick me!'' the red head pouted. Utena opened her mouth but closed it sharply her heart skipped a beat, she glanced at her Captain and she had heard it also. The jingling of somebody's jewelry, the pounding thump of someone's footsteps, in the bushes behind them.
Death Shrieks washed over the two girls, Jury lapped quietly behind the younger one and placed her hand on her shoulder. Together they began to return slowly back to the bank. They retreated towards the bank ostentatiously as if they never were aware of the rustling thing in the bushes.
''You freak too easily'' Utena smirked sarcastically pulling on her tunic. Jury flashed her back a famous smile ''I guess it was just an animal''.
''Or the freaky reality that we're on an unknown island in the middle of the night with- Utena was cut off by Jury's shushing
The older girl with the longer hair whipped her head around and ripped the rapier out of its sheath. ''Come out!'' She boomed with a voice that wasn't very feminine.
''Jury'' Utena muttered breathlessly her eyes darting around warily.
''NO Utena there is somebody out there I heard their laughter, it was over there!'' She roared maniacally walking boldly towards the bushes.
''Wacko'' Utena said drawing her sword from her waist, she didn't hear anything but she felt like they were being watched. She followed close behind Jury. Jury sprung up with the agility of an enraged animal and cut straight down the middle of the bushes letting a war cry flee her parched lips. At the very instant someone had fled from it and they began to follow the outlined figure through the dark forest.
Utena's breathing was harsh and her legs tripped over stumps and loose vines the dirt mounds in the land slowed her pace down. There was a putrid odor intruding her nose and the nasty scent proved to tell that a rotted swamp was nearby. Jury was dashing in front of her, jumping, turning sharply, flinging branches and kicking pebbles, she struggled to keep up with the older woman.
She heard Jury laugh a small fit of victory and kept moving when she caught up to the small clearing somebody was hanging upside down from a branch. Jury stood hands on her hips, chest heaving glaring at the body hanging by its left foot twirling around a little in the wind.
It was indeed a he and from the moonlight she could tell he had a tanned complexion. He wore an opened thing purple vest revealing his broad shoulders and flat stomach. Baggy loose white breeches and open toed sandals. He stared evil daggers at them both, with his piercing green eyes as dark as the foliage on the trees. Jury threatened him holding out her rapier regally, meeting the tip of his nose.
''ANSWER ME?'' she screamed she was getting very violent now, her eyebrows furrowed low between her eyes and the veins in her neck began to perk out. ''You're a thief aren't you? '' Utena asked in the most soft childish voice.
''Yes he is, he was going to steal form us! isn't that right?''
''Yes'' he answered back and both Jury and Utena's eyes fluttered like butterfly wings in bafflement. He sounded so young, too young maybe perhaps he was Utena's age.
''He's just a kid, a teen, like me………Jury''
Jury gnashed her teeth together as she watched Utena stare at him with the most apathetic pity in her eyes. ''He was going to rob us blind little Rogue!'' jury barked in his face he dropped his scimitar.
''See he was going to stab us!'' Jury implored picking up the sandy dagger and scrutinizing it.
''You don't know me so you don't have to judge me, cut me down'' he said calmly it was really a gorgeous voice almost rich, and silken, somewhat violent and piercing but deep. This plea drew a small laugh from Jury's lips that were neither harsh nor sweet.
''Why so you think you can take advantage of us being poor defenseless Women in the mid-night of this isle'' Jury cooed in a bitter tone, Utena grabbed her arm suddenly gripping it. The lines of her animate face were in deep contemplation.
'' I was going to rob you as I would men, but now I see my scheme has failed so it fleets my mind'' He confessed again, something in his voice seemed sincere almost sad. Utena nodded in agreement but only really with her own eyes they closed and opened..
''Fine I'll cut you down……but you better not try anything funny'' Jury hesitated. She walked to him reluctantly, '' so how did you get yourself into this trap?'' She questioned sawing the thick prickly rope.
''Yeah we didn't set this trap…..'' Utena added fingering the symbols on his scimitar.
''Nope it's all mine'' He stated rather simply his eyes darting around nervously. The rope released and he dropped landing harshly on his back, grunting loudly and holding the damaged spot. Utena and Jury watched ecstatically at the company of another human being, it didn't matter if he previously attempted to rob them. He stood dusting his pants off and turned to face them. He had a good height, his nose was desirably narrow with unremarkable nostrils his eyebrows were strong, dark, and high over his eyes and he had straight forehead. He wore a tied bandanna of a matching indigo of his vest on his head it was tied in the back. He was broad-chested with long muscled toned arms giving him the impression of manly power even though you could see the age in his eyes and face he couldn't be any older than Utena. His skin was smooth and the color of cinnamon could he be a Spaniard, he kinda looked like the governor and his sister.
The sand wasn't that warm surprisingly as the night was and enveloped the three at the bonfire. Jury had caught a rabbit earlier and well………..cooked it, they all couldn't believe they were eating a bunny but it kinda tasted like chicken. Or was it that they wanted it to taste like chicken so bad that it actually did?.
'' Kai….Is there a town or a colony on this island?'' Utena asked eating the lean meat lasciviously, color seeming to return to her sickly pale face.
''Yes there is……it's just'' Kai stammered his eyes settling enthrallingly on the flames in front of him.
''Why are you out here?'' Jury asked at last, she always thought it was odd of him to be out here alone.
''I… have no home, I live here'' he whispered leaving his thin lips parted he wanted to say more but obviously couldn't bring himself.
''I'm sorry'' Utena muttered respectively bending her head down low looking at her toes. Jury dismissed her pity rather quickly and asked him '' what island is this?''.
''This is Teomura island'' He replied rather demurely, placing his hands in front of the fire. Utena took slight notice that He sat rather closely between them and watched their movements attentively, smiling at them graciously everytime they'd look. Kai seemed to be desperate and grateful of their presence it seemed he hadn't been around people much. He was terribly shy and would watch them out of the corner of his eyes, when he was caught he'd retreat his gaze back to the floor.
Jury sat legs outstretched feet warming in front of the fire, her head was tilted up to the stars and she scratched her chin '' Can't say I've ever heard of this place''. Utena's heart dropped to the floor she looked at Jury through the fire.
''Say Kai could you take us to the village in the morning?'' Jury asked smiling nicely, eyes shut politely, hands clasped nicely together. ''Yea sure'' he agreed grabbing a hand full of sand and letting it fall between his fingers.
