A New Beginning
A/N: Wow it's been so long since I've updated! I'm really sorry. Anyway, this was going to be the last chapter of A New Beginning but as it was kinda long I decided to split it into two parts. Hopefully I'll have the final chapter up soon. I'll post any notes about being delayed or anything in my profile.
So enjoy! (Warning: may contain fluffiness!)
ooooooo
Chapter 10:A day for the diary. Part 1.
Vyse watched Aika fondly from his bedroom window as he eased on the first of his brown boots. To him she was poetry in motion. Her hair and arms swung loosely as she danced gracefully through the light mist emitted by the island's fountain with a dizzy Cupil. The red-head exposed her perfect, white teeth in breathless laughter as she jumped from the fountains perimeter to Fina's side.
Smiling to himself, Vyse pulled on his second knee-high boot and lifted the wicker picnic basket from the end of his bed. He walked to his wooden cabinet feeling the rising trepidation in his chest. With slightly trembling fingers, Vyse retrieved the small black box that would complete the perfect day that he had planned…
ooooooo
"Where're we going? Vyse? Where're we going? Huh? Where!" Aika hopped to Vyse's side energetically, eager for her spontaneous boyfriend to divulge more information about this surprise trip. Though Vyse was never one to follow a daily mantra, the fact that Fina wasn't invited piqued her curiosity.
"I told you, it's a surprise. Don't get too excited though, it's nothing that great." Vyse lied blatantly, barely managing to conceal his compulsive smile.
Aika grinned knowingly. After sharing her life with Vyse for so long she knew him well enough to tell that if Vyse wasn't about to share a secret with her, it had to be something substantial. Content with a smug smile Aika clasped Vyse's hand and skipped eagerly aboard the Delphinus.
The mystery journey had an uncharacteristically calming effect on the excitable Aika. Vyse had chosen not to employ any crew for the trip which left the captain tied to the wheel. It didn't go far to inhibit the romance though as the superior technology of the Imperial Armada liner, the Delphinus, had an advanced auto-pilot system.
Vyse's hands deftly flipped the switches and pressed the buttons to chart the course to his planned destination. Letting the captain handle the technical side of things, Aika hopped up onto the smooth metal top of the master control panel and turned to Vyse, her smiling eyes inviting him to join her.
Vyse vaulted over the controls to hug his girlfriend tightly just before the liner took a sharp upwards swoop.
"Hold on!" warned Vyse, grinning.
Aika hugged back and giggled uncontrollably as the two Air Pirates slipped and skidded like rag dolls at the mercy of the Delphinus, along the length of the shiny silver metal, as the battle ship cut it's way northward through the clouds.
Aika gave one last excited yelp as she and Vyse slid suddenly towards the centre of the rectangular metal box as the ship finally broke out into the sun's brilliance in the land above the clouds.
Vyse felt Aika's hot breath caress his ear as a gasp of awe escaped her lips. A beautiful calming aura enveloped the two Blue Rogues as they lost themselves in unison to the dizzying expanses of the open blue skies. Vyse was content in the quiet reflection that ensued and began absently stroking Aika's silky hair. Aika felt a cat-like purr deep in her throat as she shifted her position so that her body was curled close to Vyse's and her head lay comfortably in his lap.
Vyse realised, with mild surprise, the oddity of their situation. Never, in his seventeen years of life had he known Aika to be so tranquil, so content to be sitting still, saying nothing. Did Aika always have these qualities? Or did Vyse bring them out in her? Vyse smiled to himself, liking this idea.
Gazing down lovingly at his girlfriend, he began to trace light circles on the clear pale skin of her bare shoulders. Aika let another low moan escape her lips and she clutched Vyse's hand in hers and laced her long elegant fingers between Vyse's strong, supple ones.
Vyse chuckled and let his mind wander again. Though both Air Pirates are very alike there were some vital differences. Vyse always had to have means to his madness, to justify his means. Aika on the other hand… well – she was more likely to jump in feet first. Their kids would be a happy medium. Vyse stopped abruptly. He was thinking about having kids! And he not even 18!
But it was a strangely pleasing thought. Their kids would be adorable. Weather boys or girls, Vyse would have them controlling the helm by the age of seven. Vyse and Aika would regularly take the kids out on adventures – weather for exhilarating treasure hunting excursions or to play with Pow in a sprawling green-hilled island expanse. At night-time, with the kids tucked soundly into bed, Vyse and Aika would animatedly recall exciting stories of their adventures fighting the Emperor – or spending days hunting down elusive discoveries until the sun and their children's sparkling eyes drew to a close for the day.
Aika rolled over so that she could look into Vyse's faraway brown eyes, the sudden movement shaking him from his wistful daydream.
"Vyse, how many children do you want?"
"Three." The Blue Rogue stated simply. Both teenagers blinked, equally startled by Vyse's quick response.
"I was expecting you to be a little freaked out…" Aika murmured.
"Well, we don't have to have them right away-"
"No! I didn't mean that I don't want you to be thinking about having kids. Unless you don't want them."
"But I do." Said Vyse earnestly.
"Oh."
"'Oh' good or 'oh' bad?"
"Good. Really good." Aika squealed getting excited.
"Vyse grinned, sharing her enthusiasm, "So how many do you want?"
"Five. Girl, boy, girl, girl, boy." Aika recited, not even pausing to think.
Vyse took a moment to think about Aika's proposed family and found himself watching one of those cheesy health-insurance commercials in his mind's eye – where he and Aika, the proud parents, chase giggling children around a picturesque garden attached to a picturesque house in a picturesque village.
But if their kids had even half the energy he and Aika had as children…
"How about four?" He compromised.
"Hmmm… "Aika gazed, glassy eyed, through the front window into the endless skies. When she turned her head back so that Vyse could see her face she was smiling more genuinely than Vyse had ever seen her uncover a treasure trove.
"Two boys, two girls?" she said dreamily.
"Sounds good to me. Vyse junior, Aika junior, Dyne junior and Fina junior." Said Vyse subconsciously puffing out his chest in pride at reciting his children's names.
"Maybe something more… original?" started Aika tentatively, "like Kyo for a boy?"
"Kyo…Kyo. Kyo." Vyse said the words slowly and deliberately, tasting the name on his tongue, listening to every syllable.
Though he didn't need to contemplate for long. "Sounds good to me!" he smiled, squeezing Aika's shoulders slightly.
Aika bit down on her lip, trying to contain her excitement.
"I can't wait". Said Vyse leaning down to catch Aika's soft lips with his. The kiss lasted only a few seconds before Vyse broke away and stood up.
"Where're you going?" Asked Aika, forcing herself to open her eyes and come back to reality.
"We're nearly there. I have to find a place to dock." Vyse called over his shoulder as he guided the huge ship back down through the clouds. "We can continue this when we land."
"I'll hold you to that, Cap'n." murmured Aika, sitting up. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs.
Once again silence ensued as both Blue Rogues paused to take in the beauty of the skies. Vyse heard Aika gasp behind him as she realised where Vyse was taking her; to the beautiful rolling green hills of Ixa-Taka.
ooooooo
Vyse expertly landed the Delphinus in a lush hillside field, and slowly turned off all of the roaring jet engines.
Aika hoped to her feet as the vibration in the steel floors began to subside. Vyse bent down to pick up the basket that he had hidden behind the tiller and walked purposefully towards Aika.
"Coming milady?" Vyse asked extending a hand to his giggling girlfriend.
"Yes milord." Answered Aika curtseying elegantly and taking Vyse's outstretched hand.
Suddenly Aika ruffled Vyse's hair and took off for the open door.
"Race ya!" Aika challenged, blowing a raspberry over her shoulder.
Vyse smirked and chased after his girlfriend, though he knew that he had no chance of catching up due to the bulky picnic basket that he was carrying.
When he caught up to Aika she was sitting cross-legged on the retractable ramp that let's the crew dismount the Delphinus.
"Wow…" She breathed gently, "It's so beautiful."
Vyse walked over and stood vigil at her side, admiring the scenic view.
"I know… Not much compares to the woodlands of Ixa-Taka. Ready for a picnic?"
"Yup!" chirped Aika, jumping to her feet in one skilled motion, "Let's go!"
Vyse laced his fingers through Aika's and the two set off into the sparse woodland.
ooooooo
It didn't take long for the Blue Rogues to locate a suitable spot. There was a small clearing, about a five minute walk into the woods. Dappled sunlight shined through the gaps in the swaying leaves onto a long, fallen tree trunk whose might stretched along the forest floor. The ground was carpeted with purple and pink flowers whose petals undertook a never-ending dance.
Vyse knelt down and began unpacking the contents of the basket as Aika sparked an interesting conversation on why men should be the one's to 'carry' a baby.
"No way," continued Vyse, unpacking two tall loqua glasses, "Could you imagine a huge, thick necked, muscular body-builder with a swollen stomach? His huge hands patting the bump where his lump-of-muscle baby is?" Vyse finished, slipping a small black jewellery box into his pocket.
"Yeah, but he'd have the legs for it." Aika retorted, taking a glass of mirr loqua from her boyfriend who was now sitting next to her and giving her a very strange look.
"What I mean is his ankles wouldn't get all purple and swollen." Aika finished.
"But-" Vyse was about to start when a sudden rustle in the trees made him stop. Instinctively he pulled Aika closer to himself, protectively wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
Evidently Aika hadn't heard anything as she snuggled against Vyse's chest, mistaking his defensive gesture for a cuddle.
Vyse gently shook his head. Too many years of adventures and ambushes had obviously got his imagination working over-time.
But the lovers relaxed into the position and kept each other warm in a breeze scented with jasmine.
Aika began dragging her fingers lightly up and down Vyse's neck and he knew what she wanted even before she tilted her head back and looked at Vyse with her sexiest half-closed eyes. Wanting it too Vyse closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side, leaning in towards Aika's soft lips.
Aika closed her eyes and waited but after a few seconds she still hadn't felt Vyse's kiss and even felt her boy friend pull away from her. Aika opened her eyes, clearly hurt, to a very unexpected scene. Vyse, his mouth gagged and arms and legs flailing wildly was being dragged off by a very wild looking woman.
For a split second Aika could do nothing but stare at the bizarre scene before she came to her senses and grabbed her trusty boomerang.
The large woman had gotten a good distance ahead, even with the hindrance of Vyse's contorting body so Aika began to run, deftly ducking under and jumping over the woods hazards such as branches and roots. Somehow Vyse managed to get the mouth-gag off in the struggle and scream,
"Aika, throw the boomerang already!"
Aika narrowed her eyes trying to focus on the exceptionally fast woman while dodging trees left, right and centre. Suddenly Aika gave a huge jump and spun wildly releasing her weapon with great momentum. Aika stopped for a second to watch her boomerang hit its target and to regain her balance. She was just in time to see the woman pull Vyse's cutlass from where she had sheathed it after disarming him and expertly tallying Aika's boomerang sending it hurtling back towards Aika.
Gasping at the woman's expertise, Aika ran towards her boomerang, jumped and caught it in the air and kept sprinting towards the struggling pair. In an all out sprint Aika easily began to gain ground on the wild woman. When she was only a few yards away Aika throw the boomerang again, as hard as she could.
This time the woman had no time to tally and was forced to dive and roll along the ground, the deadly boomerang just skimming the top of her head. Aika was forced to slow down to avoid crashing into Vyse and the big woman who where tangled on the ground, the woman sitting heavily on the small of Vyse's back.
"STOP!" Screamed the woman and Aika, startled, stopped.
Aika stooped down to pull her boyfriend into a more comfortable sitting position as the dark woman above her stood up and, mumbling incoherently, dusted her self off.
For a moment the two Blue Rouges paused to take in the captor's appearance. Her dark skin was decorated with brightly contrasting tattoos and streaks of war paint. Her ruby coloured eyes glistened as she patted her mane of unruly red hair and straightened her feathered head piece. She was robust but not grossly so, though as she now stood at full height she showed herself to be a whole head taller than Vyse and her girth threw both the Air Pirates in shadow. Vyse couldn't help thinking he had seen people of similar dress before.
"Just great… ruddy girlfriends … all mine … no regard…" Mumbled the woman, "Well, let me guess," she said crossing her muscled arms over her very large chest and regarding Aika, "You are this mans wife and don't like to share. You're the selfish kind who reels 'em in and kills anyone who looks at him funny."
"I… huh?" Asked Aika. She didn't know where to start with that one. Straining her neck upwards she continued, "Well, yeah Vyse is my boyfriend and I like to think that he only likes me telling him what to do."
"Big Cyndi won't accept that, no she won't." Said 'Big Cyndi' shaking her head with a resemblance to a tree shaking in a storm.
Vyse shuffled around beside Aika finally getting to his feet, one hand nursing his back, "Look Cyndi…"
"Big Cyndi" corrected Big Cyndi.
"Oh, yeah right, Big Cyndi. I'm very flattered and all but I am very happy with my girlfriend and we are in a bit of a rush so if you don't mind-"
"Oh I mind" Came a smooth voice from somewhere behind Vyse and Aika.
And the next thing Vyse new there was a sickening thud as a large object collided with the back of his head. Then everything went black.
A/N: Cool, I love a good cliffy. I've already started work on part 2, the grand finale. All comments appreciated!