Well, this is a more light-hearted short than the last chapter...and both containing Tir is a coincidence --;; As always, please review! D
Disclaimer: I still don't, and never will,own Suikoden...oh cruel, cruel world...
Glistening Stardust
#2 Hearts
Three children stared out of the boat in joy. There, before them, stood the tallest castle they had ever seen, and it seemed to have formed naturally too, except for a few bridges here and there. Adding to the awe was the glare of the sun as it beat against the walls.
"Look, look, Jowy! Aren't you glad we took up Tir's offer?" A short-haired girl shook a boy with long silver hair who was sitting right beside her.
"N-Nanami! Stop doing that! You'll tip the boat!" Jowy said in alarm.
"But isn't it awesome Jowy! Look look! There's even a ledge looking out over there!"
"You seem to be awfully easily amused," chuckled Tir, who was sitting at the front of the boat.
"Thank you for bringing us here, even if it was due to Nanami's constant nagging," said a young dark-haired boy with a gold circlet. "I'm sure you didn't want to be back here anytime soon."
"Oh, nono, it's alright, Riou. Rather, thank you for keeping me company…"
"…but you know…why are we the only ones rowing?"
Nanami would not, could not keep still after they landed on the port of the ancient castle. "Look! The water's salty, just like Dunan's!"
Riou leaned down, dipped a finger into the lukewarm lake and tasted it. "She's right! Reminds you of Dunan Castle, doesn't it"
"Dunan Castle, huh…That doesn't bring back good memories…"
Riou kept silent, knowing what Jowy meant. It was the time when they had been enemies, fought on different sides, and almost killed each other.
"Hey, what are you slowpokes doing! Let's check out the inside!" Nanami waved from the cooler-looking inside and ran off.
"Haha, she's really excited. Let's go too, Riou!" Jowy followed Nanami's lead, but stopped when he noticed that Riou hadn't come yet.
"I'll stay out here, Riou," said Tir. "I'm not really keen on going inside…"
"Hmm…I understand that, but won't you be lonely out here by yourself?"
"And who do you think you're talking to?" Tir grinned. "I've been alone for awhile now."
"…We'll be back as soon as we finish touring the inside. Don't catch a cold!"
Tir watched as Riou, accompanied by Jowy, ran in the shady castle. "Like I'd catch a cold in this sweltering weather," Tir chuckled. He could tell that Riou was worried about him, about his loneliness and self-imposed isolation from the world, but it was true, he had been alone for awhile now. Even when Gremio, the one he trusted most, was with him, he enjoyed Gremio's company and friendship greatly, but the True Rune prevented him from truly sharing happiness. Sighing, he looked out at the lake he used to gaze out at so often over four years ago.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Nanami was in heaven. This was the first time the three of them, Riou, Jowy, and herself, had been together for a long time, and of all places to visit, the esteemed Toran Castle! Granted, it was a bit rundown from its lack of use, but there must be some still living here. She knew that it was not too much different than Dunan Castle in many aspects, but still, the glory of a different kind of castle excited her. Unfortunately for her, the residents weren't people she would quite call "esteemed…"
"Hey, Nanami! Slow down!" Riou and Jowy managed to catch up and found Nanami standing still. "What's wrong?"
Before them was a giant chamber filled with rowdy, drunken pirates, sitting on rickety, wooden benches. The smell was enough to knock a grown man out cold, and the noise didn't help much either. Beer was passed around freely, but most of it ended up on the floor anyways. Nanami stood there, disgusted. This was not what she had been expecting…not in the least bit.
"Hey there, missy. How 'bout a drink wiz us?" A stocky pirate swaggered up to the trio, only to be beaten down by a tonfa and the butt end of a staff.
"Whatcha doin' wiz our friend, eh?" Many others stood, each with a grouchy look and every intention to crush the "intruders."
Meanwhile, in the background, a kindling flame could be seen. "How dare you…ruin my vacation…like this!" Nanami, with evil little sparks for eyes, rushed into the crowd with nunchucks swirling. "Golden Vine Dragon Leaf Scatter Special Attack!" …
(10 minutes later…)
"Order us as you please! Lord…ess Nanami!"
The rows of pirates laid prostrate before the mightiness of Nanami. She sat in her throne of mightiness (made of a pile of stacked wooden stools), gazing down upon her lowly subjects…as Riou and Jowy stood to the side, determined on not having anything at all to do with them.
"Alright, first things first. Let's get this place cleaned up…" Nanami stood, surveying the dirty, grimy room. "I'd expect the rest of the rooms to be in this shape too…" she thought. Aloud, she said, "You! Go and fetch some water. You two! Get some mops and towels, and if you can't…those shirts'll do. You! ..." etc. etc.
Soon enough, all the pirates had their hair tied back and sleeves rolled, scrubbing the walls or mopping the floor. Nanami strolled between the working masses, and saw two slacking off. "YOU! Get to work!"
Riou and Jowy jumped. Surely she couldn't mean them? But oh yes, she did… No one escapes from the evil clutches of Nanami! "Um…Nanami, we're…not going to work too, are we…?"
"Of course you are! Who else do I mean?"
"B…but we're here on vacation…!"
"So? You're setting a bad example for the other folks, so get going!"
"But…"
"Are you challenging your older sister?"
Riou shrunk back. Jowy patted his shoulder and whispered, "Let's just listen to her before things get nasty…" Riou quietly nodded.
Soon enough, they were washing the laundry outside… (Tir, by this time, had fallen asleep a long time ago. Riou and Jowy suppressed the intense urge to dump the laundry water on his head…)
Nanami continued walking through the rooms. She marveled at the sights. This place must have been awesome in its glory days, if it weren't for those men. Ugh, men! She stalked in disgust past many rooms, then suddenly stopped and backed up. What was this? A kitchen…? An idea sprouted in Nanami's mind…
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Why are we doing this?"
"Because Nanami said so."
"And I'm asking…why?"
"…you seem to have forgotten Nanami in the old days. Remember how she'd chase us with a big…BIG stick when we didn't tell her our secret?"
"……"
"See? There you have it."
"Alrighty guys! Breaktime!" Nanami's voice called out from another room.
All the men immediately flopped down onto the floor. Never in all their days of pirating and sailing the seven…or fewer or more…seas (how many seas does Suikoden have?) had they done so much work. Their arms were sore, and their bellies ached for food. A smell drifted in from a ways away…What is this, food? Every person looked up eagerly to see Nanami come in with a giant platter of heart-shaped cookies.
"Are all of you hungry? I made some of Nanami's special cookies for everyone! Help yourself, there's plenty to go around!"
A loud clamor rose as the pirates rushed towards the cookies. Sure, they were…sissy, to be frank, but they were FOOD, and FOOD was GOOD. Each grabbed a piece, crammed it into his mouth, and reached for more.
…Meanwhile, elsewhere, two boys were quietly sneaking out of the castle…
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Tir was getting impatient. "They said they'd be back as soon as possible….what's taking them so long…?" Unable to wait any longer, he stood up from his sitting spot and made his way into the castle. Just as he stepped in, he bumped into Riou and Jowy, who were running full-speed out. The two looked at him with fearful eyes before they dashed off towards the boat. This confused Tir even more. What was there to be so afraid of? It's not like the Zombie Dragon came back or anything…at least he hoped it didn't. And where was Nanami anyways? Tir continued into the Main Hall…and there was a sight for him to see.
On the ground, scattered, lay fifty or more pirates, all lying with giant rolling tummies, but that wasn't what scared him. They all looked like they choked…or rather…they ate something really REALLY bad…and hadn't had the time to spit it out before they passed out. There, standing in the back behind a giant platter, was Nanami, dressed up in a cook's outfit.
"Hey, Tir! Look at these guys, they must really like my cookies! My little brother acted like that too when he ate my cooking. They cleaned the entire tray up!" She bent over, and found a little piece, the last surviving member of the endangered species of the race of Nanami's Cookies. "Hmm…it's still edible. You want it, Tir?"
Well well? DD How was it? XD Sorry for all those Nanami fans out there if they were offended. Oh, and yes, the title was also from a song...I'll probably be doing that from now on... And as for the styles, maybe I'll alternate between angst and humor...? Hmmm...