Home Sweet Home
IV.
Many nights ago, I remember sleeping in the Makai. In those days, I hardly had anything to worry about besides finding food and fighting off any intruders that invaded my territory. Days and nights in the Makai were always more pleasing than the Ningenkai could ever hope to be. There was no such thing as twenty-four hours. Time blended together and sometimes nights could last more than fifteen days. There was never a guarantee the sun would come up in the morning or the moon would rise at night.
Living in an animalistic world always brought upon battles, but it involved no more than instinct. Demons in the Makai do not simply attack one another every chance they get like many believe.
I was fending for myself even before I grew out of childhood. My parents were slain in a fight over who would get to live in the area. The opposing side was also killed. I was just beginning to understand the ways of the world when this happened, and I made a young promise to myself that I would become stronger than any other to get what I want. I hope this promise will never become old.
Over the years, I gained more power by myself alone. Many wise youkai told me that I must obtain a sensei so I would have someone to lead me down the right path. They prophesized that it would come in handy.
I didn't listen to them. I wanted to work alone with no one to hold me back. I didn't want to learn restraint. I merely wanted to survive.
Then the Mamodo King came forth and spoke of a challenge we were to all take part in. It thrilled me to know that there would be some excitement…but then he mentioned how it would take place in the Ningenkai. Why did he choose there of all places? No matter, I thought, I was still one of the strongest no matter where I fought.
Next, came a crashing rule that upset many of us. Our powers would not work properly in the other world, therefore we were to find a human partner to call forth our powers. The youngest of us were to participate in this event, battling to become the next Mamodo King. We were all given a book of spells the humans would read from.
So…I thought…I worked alone all my life and now my first partner was going to be a ningen. How ironic.
I thought…Interesting how I chose Sherry out of everyone else. Sometimes I have to wonder if she chose me before I chose her. I threw the book at her and told her everything that was happening. That's when we made our deal. But the first time she looked at me, I saw trust in her eyes. She didn't even know me. I blocked the blow to her death, but I could have very well attacked her as well for all she knew.
She was a loner as well as I, though her status was not by choice. She had had only one friend and that friend turned against her. I believe the mamodo didn't have to convince the girl too much to awake the evil in her heart. It had to have been bordering dangerously close…so close, Sherry's friend could have snapped on her own in no time.
I also believe that even if that blast didn't kill Sherry and I didn't show up, Sherry herself was on her way to snapping.
We had made it back to her mansion. I gave her my black coat to put over her, so she wouldn't be so exposed. Her butler didn't ask why she wore no clothing, only stared at her with confusion. As soon as we entered the doors, she ran straight up the stairs to her room. I knew my way around, but decided to follow her up. If I didn't, I wasn't sure how long she would take.
She didn't close her door all the way, so I allowed myself in. She was searching through her overly large closet for something to where while I sat on the window seat to look out over her grounds.
I looked to the floor when I heard her throw multiple clothes out of the closet. I glanced to the separate room where she was hidden, "Can't you just put on what you always wear?"
"I could…" I heard her thinking about it and looked back out the window.
"Though I would suggest you wear something a little less heavy. You get overheated and pass out too easily. It's probably due to that." I crossed my arms and leaned against the windowpane, "Don't you agree?"
"I suppose, but…" she trailed off as she came out of the closet, still holding that damn towel to her. She had discarded my cloak on the window seat, "I was brought up wearing dresses and never really thought about wearing anything else."
"I'm sure you must have lighter dresses."
She looked at me as though I had gone insane. Her eyes grew, "You know, Brago, you've got a point. I do have dresses that are made for a day out in the sun." I shook my head before she continued, "I just got to figure out where I have them." She disappeared within the closet again.
"This isn't entertaining," I mumbled, closing my eyes. I thought it would be in my best interest to meditate so I would not become too impatient with her.
Slipping into my own state of mind, I thought back to yesterday after she came out of the bathroom. She was definitely not acting like herself. She looked like a little girl wanting to cry her eyes out for no reason or for every reason.
She kept speaking of losing something and not wanting to let go. I presumed she was only having a dream while being half awake.
One thing still tugged at my thoughts roughly, however. After she laid down and I covered her so she would not show herself to me in case her towel were to come off, she grabbed me. Her fingers wrapped around my wrist like a vise, and though I knew I was much stronger than her, I was having a hard time freeing myself from her. Her body was as stiff as the dead and there was no way to bring her back.
When I finally managed to escape her grip, I saw a single tear slip from her eye and drop to the pillow. I don't think she remembers any of it and that's what confuses me. What could her subconscious mind be thinking to make her so strong and then tearful?
What was she so afraid of?
Upon asking myself this question, I slowly opened my eyes when I felt her presence standing directly in front of me. Pink invaded my vision as she held up a silky pink dress with thin straps.
"Think this would work?"
I looked at her from around the outfit. Was she serious in asking me that? I actually couldn't care less what she wore. When I gave no response, she took it upon herself to believe I agreed with her choice.
She walked to the other side of the room to slip it on. I looked back outside.
"We really need to get back on track, Sherry," I began, watching my eyes in the window's reflection, "We're so close to that fire mamodo I can taste victory." I licked my lips lusciously, the thought making me ache for battle.
Sherry didn't respond at first, but then made an uncomfortable sound, "Did you want you get something to eat first?"
I clenched my fists. I knew she needed nourishment if she was to do well in travel and in battle, but her weak human body was really starting to annoy me. In the Makai, I sometimes went more than two weeks without eating as part of my training. I often thought about doing the same to her, but figured she would drop over dead in the first four days.
I saw her reflection in the window. She was standing behind me now in her lighter pink dress that hugged her body rather than flared out. She was hugging my book to her chest, and her eyes looked sad. I don't think she knew I could see her, for she raised the book to her chin and pressed her lips against it. Her eyes closed only slightly, but she appeared as though she were in a dream.
When the Mamodo King gave us our books, he somehow connected some of our spiritual energy into them. We knew when our books were safe and when they were in deep trouble. Power encircled the books when we used our powers, and we were to feel the burn when our books are destroyed.
When I watched Sherry kiss my book, not only did I see it, I felt it. The odd sensation shot through my body so quickly, my right hand lashed out and smacked right against her window. The force I used, plus my gravity powers, cracked the glass slightly before it was pushed out of its place.
Sherry gasped when there was nothing but a hole in her wall . The glass shattered into a million pieces when it hit the ground below, and I heard some of her groundskeepers shout in alarm.
Everything then became quiet. For the first time in my life, I was out of breath and I didn't even battle. I hated the feeling of my chest heaving in and out so fast that I couldn't stop my head from spinning.
"Brago…?"
I heard her call out my name curiously, no doubt wondering what got me so worked up. Hell, I don't even know why I reacted like I did.
"It's nothing," I finally said when I believed my breathing was back to normal. I stood from the window seat and walked toward the door, "Let's get something to eat so we can leave."
I was already walking down the stairs before she started to follow. She spoke up when we reached the first floor, "Do you mind if we go out to eat?"
"Whatever," I responded, now heading toward the door. I was in no mood to argue with her. My nerves were still tingling and if I didn't have the kind of control I did, I'm sure I would have been trembling. I stopped and looked over my shoulder to see her calling for her butler to drop us off somewhere. She braided her hair? When did she do that?
I shook my head. It didn't matter. I walked to her limo and got in before the butler came and offered to open the door for me. Sherry followed quickly, slamming the door behind her. She sat on the seat across from me. I then heard the front door open and slam before the engine turned on.
"I know this really nice place right out of town that serves all kinds of fish. They cook it just right and add the right amount of ingredients to make it perfect." She explained in my kind of monotone, though the phrase itself should have been more upbeat. It would have been okay had I said it…but it sounded out of place when she did. At times, Sherry can be just as ruthless as I, but she was never emotionless.
I was watching her, but when she didn't return my gaze and only looked outside, I glanced down at the book in her lap. I hated that thing, and yet it's what will help me win this war. But it was too connected to me. It acted as a lifeline I had to drag behind me.
"Sometimes…"
"What did you say?" Sherry asked. I blinked my eyes and looked to her. Was I really about to say something I didn't want to? What was wrong with me today? I found myself hoping I didn't catch the delirious epidemic that Sherry had.
"Nothing," I said, looking out the window, "Just thinking."
From my peripheral vision, I saw her open her mouth and then close it quickly. I could tell by her downhearted expression that she wanted to ask what I was thinking.
Don't get too curious, Sherry…
The car pulled to a stop and the butler quickly jumped out of the car and opened the door for us to step out. I didn't bother fighting it. If he wanted to be a lowly human slave, then so be it.
"Will you want picked up, Miss Sherry?" he asked.
"That won't be necessary," she said as we began our way toward the restaurant.
"Very good," he bowed and got back into the limo.
The place was very quiet inside and the smell of fresh beverages floated through the air. Sherry took the liberty to take me to a corner table where it was the darkest and loneliest. I sat opposite from her, but didn't bother to pick up the menu like she did. Besides basic words, her language was often hard to make any sense out of it…especially on menus where people decide to make up words. I always let her order for me.
While her face was hidden, her left hand stayed atop my book, her nails gently tapping on the top cover. It was something she did often, always having a hand on it if it wasn't in her tight grasp. I noticed, but never paid much heed to it. She protected the book just as much, if not more so, than I did. Sherry put so much of her energy into keeping the book safe that I don't have a hard time believing some of her ki entered into my book's soul as well. It made me feel…
Connected…
I hated that fucking word.
"Would you like some Sherry, sir?"
"What?" I snapped my head to the side where the voice came from. It was the waiter holding a drink and looking absolutely terrified at the glare I shot him.
"Uh…um…" he stumbled over his words.
Sherry laughed from the other side of the table. Before I could ask what was so funny, she answered for me, "Sherry is a type of alcoholic beverage. It's actually not too bad, if you want to try some."
I raised a brow. Sherry? A type of drink? I looked from the man who still looked a bit petrified so the smiling Sherry who was getting pleasure from my mistake. I leaned back in my chair and glanced out the window, "Whatever."
"Two glasses, please," Sherry ordered, and I heard the waiter pour the drink into two delicate glasses. Sherry then ordered what she would like for herself and what she thought I would like to have.
When the waiter left, I picked up my glass of Sherry and took a cautious sip to see how I would like the taste. To my amazement, it was one of the best drinks I ever had.
"Like it?" She asked and I nodded.
She gave another small laugh, "Even though we're a little young for alcohol, places like this don't mind serving you a little bit. As long as they don't get you drunk." She paused and took a sip of her drink, "Were you ever drunk before?"
My eyes shot up to her. Was she trying to start a conversation that had to do with something other than mamodo's, battles, and survival?
"Once…" I heard myself respond. And was I actually following along with the conversation?
Her eyes widened for a quick moment as she leaned forward with her hands on the table. She looked too interested for her own good. Her shining blue irises urged me to tell the story.
I shook my head once, "There's really nothing behind it. I had been traveling for a couple weeks and came across a strip of land that held some sort of fruit. I was thirsty, so I picked one and drank the juice. It was refreshing, so I picked some more. I really wasn't aware that I was becoming drunk…I was still young at the time. I remember hearing someone yelling at me for eating their food."
I stopped. Why was I telling her this? It had no significant meaning. Why were we even talking about getting drunk in the first place?
She was smiling, however, seeming to enjoy herself more than I ever remembered, "What happened?"
I hesitated before hearing myself say, "I don't know. I passed out."
Sherry laughed again, the soft sound being carried around the restaurant with the fine smelling food. Her eyes shone with an amused twinkle as she took another tiny sip of her drink.
I looked down into my Sherry to see small ripples caused by the slight movements of the table. It would have been near impossible for her to catch it, but for the briefest moment, I felt myself begin to smile.
I caught myself quickly.
I'm back! Ya know, this is the fastest I have ever updated. But I got almost 40 reviews and for this being a new section and all, I find that really good. Thank you all! And since I went more in depth with Sherry's feelings in the last chapter, I would focus around Brago this time. Don't worry, chapter 5 will have more action. And then after that, it's gonna get more serious.
A little extra thing: I graduated on Thursday, so I had a graduation party today. On my cake, it said, "Ed says, Congratulations!" and then I put an alchemy symbol in the middle of the cake. It was the best cake I ever had. Just thought I'd share that with you.
Until next time…
Enula