Another chapter! XD And I'm almost on track again. What ever happened to every Thursday? Well, it's Friday so I'm close. XD XD XD This chapter embarrasses me. Too much fluff, which I'm not good at! Forgive me!
Lady Rhian Knightmage- lol, nope! XD After all, you're taking time out of your schedule to read my story. I shouldn't be mad! –hugs- Hee hee . . . Black haired dude will ave more ties in this story as it progresses. XD Now that I think of it, he's the first real human antagonist! Sorta. XD Maybe? Lol!
Suzuno Oosugi- lol, yes! Guessing games are fun. X3 I've already written the chapter in which Toroki is revealed which is . . . –Counts- 39? XD Gosh, it's still nine chapter away . . . Please hang in there! And don't worry about not reviewing; exams are important!
Care- lol! –hugs- It's okay, really, really! I'm happy to read your reviews, they always bring a smile on my face. Hmmm . . . Yes, Tatara hasn't given her a kiss yet! That will change very soon. X3 He's the main love interest! He's gotta do his thing! XD XD XD lol!
Kaeru Soyokaze- Lol! X3 X3 X3 Yes evil man! The first people-bad-guy-thingy. And we don't even know his name yet! But I wish I could draw him . . . I think of him as someone sexay. O.o I honestly think of him sort of looking like Roy Mustang. XD Which shouldn't happen! Oh no! lol!
quillian91- Oh, thanks so much for your review! –hug- Yup, a lot of possible pairings. X3 There are so many it's hard for even me to keep track of them! Want me to make a chart or something in the next update? I can try!
Chapter Thirty
"So, it only looked human?" Lanva asked lifting Suzuno's head a bit. Danko nodded.
"Yep," she replied, fluffing the pillow and being careful not to get her fingers caught in the young girls' hair. Went she pat the top of the fluffy cushion twice, Lanva placed Suzuno's head down once again and pulled her covers up to just to her collar bone. "It looked like a person a bit, but . . . It actually sort of looked like that thing we almost had to fight earlier."
"The Croteal or whatever?"
"Yeah! That's the name!"
"That explains everything," Tatara said. He was sitting in a chair that was against the wall of the same tiny guest room. The other two looked at him curously, waiting for an answer. "A Croteals' young can stand on two feet and have more human-like featuees, but as if grows it mutates into what we all saw."
"So are you saying there's a whole family near Midoru?" Danko inquired. He nodded.
"I guess so."
Lanva chuckled a bit, patting the girls' back in an almost apologetic manner. While the two seemed to bicker and throw remarks at each other, it was almost as if it was part of their getting along. "Man, sucks to be you guys! You better hope the rest of those things don't come."
"I'll find you so you can be their snack."
"Ew! Don't even joke about that!" This time he wrung his arm around her neck, pulling her closely and laughing a little more. "Man, you're so cute! Almost like my little sister."
"You gotta a sister?"
"I have four!"
"Excuse me."
Everyone turned their faces to the entrance where Subaru was standing with a tray in her hands. There were five wooden cups, a warm bowl of liquid and small white cloth. Her face seemed quite annoyed by something, and while Tatara glanced over to Lanva and Danko and had a theory about why, the other two seemed completely clueless. Then again, they both didn't seem like smart people; the thought made him smile.
"Alright!" Lanva said excitedly, running over towards the tray. He wanted to swipe off the cup but stopped just before in fiance and waited for her permission. She held it out, turning her head as if in dissaproval when Danko came by his side and the two took their drinks. She looked to Tatara with a much bigger smile, though he could easily see that she hated seeing the two of them together. "Want some tea?"
"Thanks," he replied, taking one and sipping it. Subaru placed the tray down on a small table by the bed, then pulled a second chair that was next to the male warrior over beside Suzuno, rolling up her own sleeves.
First, she unbraided Suzuno's hair carfully, trying not to stir her so she could get plenty of rest. She had wanted to do that earlier while she was dressing her in a white nightgown, but she was in a rush to try and help Danko's grandmother in the kitchen and completely forgot. After that she took the white cloth and dipped it into the warm water in the bowl, squeezing it tightly to make sure it wasn't too damp. When it was moist enough for her taste she patted the small towel on Suzuno's cheeks, trying to wipe the dried sweat off.
"Would you excuse us?" she heard Tatara saying, though she was sure that he wasn't speaking to her. Lanva and Danko, who were still joking around about feeding each other to the next Croteal spotted in Midoru, stopped speaking and glanced at him.
"What?" Lanva asked, his voice unmistakably annoyed. "Are you gonna make a pass at my honey bunny?"
"Honey Bunny my ass," Subaru muttered, though the words were grumbled so low that none of the others could hear it. To be honest, she really wanted to two of them out now; just hearing them made her blood boil.. She heard Tatara make a vague reply and the two of them stomping out rather childishly mumbling a few curse words jokingly as they closed the door behind them.
Personally, while she wasn't fond of Tatara since Suzno became so immediately clingy with him, she also decided to give him the benefit of the doubt since he hadn't done anything wrong. Whenever she thought of labeling him, Amefuri's words of judgement came to mind and she held her tongue. She waited for him to speak, interested in whatever it was he had to say.
"Is there something bothering you?" he asked, surprising her. She decided to keep her back on him and continued to clean off Suzuno's face lightly.
"N-No," she replied, inwadly cursing herself for the odd stuttering that flew from her mouth. 'Now he's going to think there really is a problem!'
"I noticed how you didn't really like how much Danko and Lanva wer getting along." Subaru stopped her cleaning, holding her breath unconciously. He was right on the spot. "Are you jealous?"
"What?" the female warrior snapped. She felt the heat rise to her face, and for some reason she couldn't tell if she was blushing or if she was angry. "Of course not. We're not married; we don't even want to get married! He can go and be a prostitute just like Amefuri for all I care. I'm sure he'd love that more than living with me anyway."
She giggled a little bit, though a feeling in a crater in her stomach weighed heavy on her and she quickly ceased. She was starting to hope that by mentioning the third warrior he would change the subject. No such luck.
"There's nothing wrong with it," he continued on, and this time she felt she wanted to listen intently. "The two just look like friends; I doubt she would get between the two of yo-"
"Quiet!" she said sharply, clamping a hand over her mouth as soon as she said it. Now even she couldn't deny the fact. How could he so easily read people? Or was it obvious and she was just trying to hide it? "I'm sorry . . ."
"It's fine. . . It's understandble. I just thought you would just prefer a little time without them for a bit." Subaru turned to look at him, and he gave her a soft smile; suddenly she didn't feel any suspicion from him.
"Thanks," she replied in a small voice, turning her head and dipping the cloth into the water again. "I guess I'm sort of glad someone noticed."
"That you were bothered? Or . . ."
"I'm only upset because I . . . love him."
It was the very first time in her entire life that she had said such a thing to anyone. She thought it would be hard to admit, even to someone of whom it wasn't meant for. But while talking to Tatara it almost just seemed to roll off her tongue. A huge weight lifted, and intstead of feeling angry or upset over something, she felt . . . clean.
Subaru knew that for as long as they knew each other, Lanva and her hadn't gotten along much, or they always seemed to find some way to argue. When they first met she felt they got along fine. But, once the idea of their marriage started, he suddenly changed from his sweet, manly persona to one that was loud, boasful and perverted. In some ways it irritated her to no end, but at the same time . . . After living with him for two years . . .
She almost jumped at the pat on her shoulders and turned her face, a little surprised that Tatara was standing there behind her. She hadn't even heard him get up or walk over. She relaxed once she knew who it was, and he let go, letting his hand drop to his side.
"Are you going to tell him some day?"
She laughed, but this time she really meant it; she didn't do it just to drive away the conversation. "Maybe when we're married I'll tell him!"
Subaru stood up after squeezing the cloth for the second time, turning to Tatara and putting the wet towel in his hand. She smiled. "Could you watch after Suzuno a bit? I would like to make something to eat in case she wakes up . . ."
"Of course," he replied. As she walked out, something about her light steps comapred to her usual harsh strides and her relaxed shoulders against her normally stiff ones made her seem like a much younger woman. She seemed more her age, or he had suspected as such. He didn't know how old she really was, but he figured she was young.
Once she was completely out of the room, door closed behind her, Tatara sat down at the chair the female warrior had been in, still holding the cloth. It was slightly dry but still wet enough to use, and only a small portion was lined with dirt. Leaning over the bed a bit to reach he began to tap tenderly at her cheeks, cleaning just as the previous caretaker had done.
As his fingers trailed to her forehead he felt it gently, sensing a tinge of warmth. He flattened his palm over her temple, the warmth turning into a buring sensation. He noticed that her eyes were twitching a bit, as if he were disturbing her and he pulled him hand back. It wasn't a moment later that she relaxed, her mouth opening a little and breathing calmly.
"A Byakko Warrior . . ." he whispered to himself, placing the cloth on top of the down on the tray, dipping it slightly into the water but leaving it. He put his hands in his laps, watching her steady breathing, her once pale cheeks flushing a bit. Looking at her, he started to think of the man that Suzuno claimed was not Toroki of the Byakko Seven before fainting. What did he say to her? 'What did he give her when he . . .?'
Suzuno breathed in sharply and she visibly flinched, putting the warrior in a sort of cautious tension. She held her breath again, Her teeth biting her lower lip. For a moment, Tatara wondered if she was really awake but he doubted that she was someone that would play a trick like that. He leaned closer over to her, his face closely examining hers as if to find the source of her pain, his fingers lightly grazing over her warm cheeks. 'Is she sick? Having a nightmare? What . . .?'
He was startled a bit, focusing so much on Suzuno that he didn't notice that someone was opening the door. He turned his head, wondering if it was Subaru again with something to eat but found Danko's grandmother instead. She smiled kindly and a little sympathetically as if she were sorry for interrupting anything, and held her small but bony hands together. He could tell there was something between them.
"You're Tatara. . . ." she started in a leisure, almost shaky older woman's voice, though it had some strength to it. Lifting her long, wooly dark skirt up slightly with her hands, one of them still holding onto something else and took a seat. " . . . Am I right?"
"Yes," he replied, turning to the side so he could keep an eye on both girls. He nodded. "Is there something you need?"
"Oh, nothing much," she replied, beaming. Her cheeks turned a glowing red and she chortled. "It's just not everyday you get to see a handsome young man in this house!"
" Well . . . thank you." He didn't really know what to say; this gave him an awkward but at the same time pleased feeling. Since he lived isolated for so long, he wasn't exactly sure of what to say in a situation like this, even if it was from an elderly. She waved a hand a bit as if she were just joking with what she was saying.
"No need to be embarrased, I was only teasing. But what I said is true; Danko prefers women over men, so rarely we ever have male visitors." Somehow, with the girls' rather masculine and defensive attitude towards Suzuno, Tatara wasn't all that surprised. He always had this sense of being able to read people, even if he was never around them so much.
"That young lady, Suzuno . . . such a a dear. I can see why she's truly the Priestess of Byakko."
"You know?"
"Subaru had told me in the kitchen; the both of you are the only warriors she's found, I suppose?"
"No," he replied. "There is one other . . . Amefuri. He's at the but palace, but I haven't met him yet."
"Amefuri?" She piped up, seeming a little flabbergasted. Then her face changed from that to a wide smile. "Ah, Echi! I knew I remembered such a name."
"You know him?"
"Yes, very much so! He made many journies to Daini Toshi, the home of the Emperor. He was so young though, and he always stopped here in Midoru to rest half way. I remember how he would show off his symbol and his tricks, but . . ." She frowned.
"But?" Every time Tatara heard about Amefuri, he wanted to know more about him, even if it was just a little. In a strange way, he wanted to learn more about Subaru, and the Priestess and the place she came from. They were fellow warriors, destined to save everything and all things; why shouldn't he be able to know?
"Ye Gods . . . The last time I saw him was about six or seven years ago or so. In his last visit his Mother came along, and what a beauty she was! One of the most gorgeous women I'd ever seen in my lifetime. He seemed so nervous and quiet that day too; not his usual, lively self." Once again, her grimace turned to a wide, nostalgic smile. "I remember she asked me to please guide him to the palace to stay were something to happen to her, or were she unfit to care for him. She was a dear."
Tatara kept silent, not knowing much else to say. After a moment between them she stood up, using her hands to iron the creases out of her skirt. She walked by his side to stare down at the Priestess, who had been sleeping peacefully since the elderly had walked in. Finally, she held out her hand to give the item she was holding to him, allowing him to see it. She pointed to Suzuno with an old, wrinkly finger.
"This is for the Priestess of Byakko," she told him, now pointing down to the little tan, seed-like pills. "She's starting to catch a fever; trust me, I've lived in this world for eighty years. I would know! Please give it to her immediately."
"Immediately?" Tatara inquired, looking down at the tiny medicine capsules. He didn't really understand. "Right now she's sleeping . . ." She chuckled a bit.
"Use that common sense of yours! There's still warm tea on that tray, and I'm sure a healthy young man like yourself can think of the rest."
"Pardon?"
"Oh, think harder now! A pretty young lady like her? Wouldn't want her to get away."
Before he could question her again, she had left, just as Lanva, Danko and Subaru had done before. He turned. Once again, he was alone with her, staring down at the face of the Priestess. From her rather long eyelashes, to her still tinged pink cheeks, to her lips . . . He looked down at the pills once again. 'Could she have possibly meant . . .'
What was one supposed to do in a situation like this, when a Priestess was perceived in the Legend as a pure-blooded maiden? Would this be acceptable? Would she find this acceptable? Suzuno was never one to speak much, though she seemed very content just being protected.
"She's starting to catch a fever."
"This . . . would be protecting her," he told himself, picking up the tea that was one the tray. Danko's Grandmother was right; it was still plenty warm. He took a small sip of it, forgetting that his own cup had been placed over by the chair he was originally sitting in, letting the liquid simmer around in his mouth for a little to savor the taste before swallowing it. After a moment he also put both pills in his mouth, though this time he didn't gulp them down.
"I hope you're not too bothered by this," he muttered as he slightly lifted her head, making it even with his as he slanted his body over the bed. He raised it slowly as not to wake her, and his eyes gradually closed. "If it does, I'm sorry. . ."
X x x x x x
And now, Tatara has kissed her. XD Yeay! Yeay! –Celebrates- Romance! OMGosh!11111oneoneelevenone111! X3 I should've had that sooner . . . I feel bad. This story moves slow! But I'm happy. But it's embarrassing . . . How can I make a romanc if I'm embarrassed! OMGosh, I'm so complicated . . . and immature. XD lol!
Well, yeah! Nothin much happening here. But Danko's Grandma knows Ame-chan and stuff, which is cool! And once again you hear about his pretty mom. XD When are you gonna meet her anyway? Please be patient! I'm trying! XD XD XD
-Runs off to watch Naruto and read Hikaru no Go- My current obsessions. XD Especially Naruto. Yes! XD lol!