Authors Note: I am sorry that this took so long, I have been working on my own original story. Also I actually have no clue as to what Athens is like so I am using most what I saw in the mythology based game, God O f War. I have been swamped with stuff and have been forced to abandon all but two of my stories. I am taking this one slower until I gain a lot more information on the new characters, enough to at least use them in the story.
Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Forty Eight: Complicated Jealousy
Athens was asbeautiful as it had always been as Sophitia rode her horse down the stone plated streets that lead from the immense harbor where they would be leaving the ship up towards the main city and then into residential areas upon the mountains that lead down to the great bay. The gates weren't far off from where the everyday people lived, and beyond that was the temple of the oracle. The first order of business would be going to the temple and convincing the priests and saints to allow the rest of their group housing for the winter. After that they would head over into the country side, it was still guarded by the walls of Athens but it was where the farmers resided. It was also where Sophitia's family lived.
Siegfried stepped alongside Sophitia and Taki holding his large blade in one hand, the blade pointed up to the sky and the handle pointing down. He also held his traveling bag in the other arm, the one that had not been tainted with the raw physical power of the Azure Nightmare. Sophitia eventually came to the temple and the horse she rode seemed to grow more comfortable, obviously it recognized the familiar surroundings. She looked back at them before speaking "Just act natural." she said before approaching the temple, they followed him. Kyle stepping last after flicking Silverbolt off his shoulder to rest on the saddle of Sophitia's mount.
It didn't take long for Sophitia to find the aging priest who she had known since her journeys had first began and explain most everything that had happened and why they had no choice but to remain together over the cold seasons. It would have been foolish to travel during the winter and it would be a good chance for the tired to rest, the wounded to lick their wounds and for all of them enhance their skills. Before the priest even answered he bowed to Taki remembering her from seven years back, the woman who returned the wounded Sophitia to them. The huntress quickly returned the old man's attention to the subject at hand and he laughed.
"It would be no trouble to set aside a few rooms for you, we do the same for many travelers who must rest from the cold. Feel free to bring your comrades, I'd like to meet those that are working so hard to do such great things." the old man laughed before stepping away. Sophitia breathed in relief before she head back outside and they all moved back toward the harbor, unknowing that a messenger had freshly left the temple and was heading away from the group. Many messengers left the temple on and off, but this particular member of the trade would bring a great tension between the group over their places of birth.
"Do you have any idea just how annoying that is?" Mitsurugi questioned as Link flipped another one of his arrows up and caught it, it was about the hundredth revolution he had put it through out of his raw boredom. It wasn't the fact he was doing it, it was the fact that he let the point strike the wood before he flicked it back up into the air. Upon this he snapped it back up catching it between his index and middle fingers before stabbing it back into the quiver that rested on his side at this point. He had spent most of their trip trimming excess wood into new arrows as he had lost a good deal of them during his drift in the ocean. Good thing he had the resources and the knowhow to make them just as good.
With Sophitia and company having set out things had gotten a lot quieter as many of the others were around and about the two ships gathering their belongings, the docksmen would be watching the ship. Link glanced up at Mitsurugi approached him and took a seat next to him, he had admired Link's determination to rise from his injuries and fight off personal doubts. He didn't know how this boy from another world was crafted by his Gods, but it was clear that he had stepped to the edge of death. Mitsurugi wouldn't have blamed him if he had been ready to give up, but he continued to push on. His resolve was strong, and the samurai acknowledged that.
"I'd like to ask you about this man...the one who Taki will surely start hunting for at the coming of spring." Mitsurugi said in his English, which had improved dramatically to the point it was no longer broken.
"Jealous Heishiro?" Link asked simply with a chuckle. Mitsurugi had fear that the intent of his worlds would not have been misread by the otherworldly swordsman, but then again Link had become a lot more casual with the group. In Mitsurugi's life the only people who ever addressed him by his first name had been his parents, his teacher and a particular rival of his.
"Don't be so dense, boy. Taki has no interest and I am still concerned that those blades of hers will at some point be tensed at my back once again." Link nodded. He knew of the rather complex relationship between the assassin and the samurai and while Cassandra and Yunsung were hopeful of it, romance was an impossibility.
"Well, isn't this an unusual pair?" the two of them looked back to see Kilik standing over the two of them, his long coat blowing lightly in the wind. He explained he had picked up mention of Yugo and felt it was his business as a member of the group, Mitsurugi did not chase him off however. He just continued.
"As I was saying, I know how Taki thinks. There is very little chance that this man is a commoner. In your visions, I would like to know exactly what kind of man we will be searching for." Link leaned forward, it was clear that Mitsurugi wished to know of Yugo's power.
"My visions were only visions visions of four people. I cannot say anything about his level of skill, but he is very much alive and he is somehow connected to the Soul Calibur." he stated as he leaned forward his bag resting behind him. He shrugged lightly "Still in spite of the fact he was not truly there, and that all I saw was an image. I could feel a raw determination upon him. Something that could be anything from vengeance to indignation. I couldn't tell."
Mitsurugi mused lightly leaning back in a rather casual robe he had substituted for his armor "I don't dare share such a concern with Taki, but I fear that when we do find this man, he might not cooperate if he truly has a shard of that sword. In his eyes he might not see a reason to hand something of such power over to us."
Link nodded at this realizing that this man would obviously have power flowing through him as well. He didn't dare tell them the history behind that spirit that had awakened within him and gone on to threaten the creature called Spawn. The spirit held within the mask of the Fierce Deity called Mythran, that had retreated into his being after the raw and harsh defeat of the Majora's Mask. He had known it was present and was forced to don the mask to use it, but this time it came out without the use of the Catalyst. What was Mythran's connection to Soul Calibur and Soul Edge?
Kilik leaned forward on the Kali Yuga "You fear that even after we find him he might consider the Soul Calibur a weapon and wish to have no involvement in this conflict. Hell, for all we know he could even be an enemy."
The Hylian Swordsman nodded his head as he broke from his thoughts "It is just as Kyle said of this Hwang, if he refuses to turn over what we need we will have no choice but to put him in his place." he said lightly cracking his knuckles, ready to step forward if nobody else felt up to it.
The samurai shook his head at Link's words "It isn't just the fact we might have to fight him over it. Hwang is a high ranking warrior in the Korean Defense Force, he has no choice but to agree to the rules of a duel. I fear that a warrior of the Fu-Ma might not agree to something as simple as a drop of blood determining the victor." he said in reference to the first rule of a European deul. The victor was the one who drew blood from the torso.
"This is a pretty depressing scenario." Kilik murmured.
"Lets be honest Kilik. That would suck!" Link responded.
"Indeed." Mitsurugi breathed.
Link leaned toward not liking the thought of even more conflict which was essentially all he had witnessed since he had arrived. He looked at his bag, he had completed the final two sketches and the last three locations as to where they would find these people, he still had to show them to the group however.
"As if we haven't already got enough emotional problems with those that we are already put against. Raphael's relationship with Ivy. Then there is Drake and Talim. Sophitia also mentioned the fear of facing another even after we found Siegfried." Kilik exhaled.
"Who do you think it is?" Link asked towards the samurai as he picked up his own bags making sure that everything was prepared for travel, his secondary sword that he never used was there as well, not used since he discovered his beloved Shishi-Oh.
Kilik looked over the deck towards everybody sitting at the dock awaiting the return of the elder Athenian, the men from Athens' dock had already agreed to take care of the ships. "I feel sort of guilty for resting out the Winter while that bastard Nightmare continues to push his search for the sword."
"If he has any care for the strength of his body and the well-being of his cohorts he will not venture into the winters of the far east. He is waiting, same as us." Mitsurugi explained as he stood up and started away from the ship as the sight of a white horse appeared on approach.
It wasn't long after Sophitia had returned to the harbor on horseback that she requested everybody follow her back to the city and thus a short hike ensued over the stone streets and many of them were busy taking in the sights as they walked. Link smiled as he walked "This land reminds me so much of my own, so appreciative of the surrounding world and its eternal beauty." he mused. Cassandra smiled from the side, taking in his light smile and the fact he was looking towards her as well as the fields.
Silverbolt had taken his perch on Raphael's shoulder and Yunsung lagged behind the group still appearing sour about a few things, he would have rather been hunting down that traitorous Drake. However the last time he made this known Xianghua silenced him by putting her grip around his still aching arm. Kilik had also reminded him that Drake had knowledge as to how assassin's fought, he would not fight with honor and he would go straight for the kill. Yunsung still had to realize the difference between the outside world and a dojo.
Kyle, Mina, Taki and Siegfried werealready there of course, probably already situated in their rooms or somewhere close to that. Sophitia felt a little better that Taki had been carrying around that short cut kimono, had she been wearing her stealth outfit or armor, she could think up a few questions that would gain the kunochi's spite. There also were not many that would question Mina as long as Kyle was beside her.
Kilik and Xianghua stepped beside Link and Cassandra. The three of them had all insisted that Link not bother donning his cloak and hood as they had already seen him before, they knew that much and Sophitia promised that they would understand those in her company. Link however, was not so sure of the tolerance of humanity just yet.
Maxi sort of hung back with the group and looked at Mitsurugi, while he was normally somewhat offset from the group he had still discovered the relationship between Taki and this Yugo person. However, the samurai had told him bluntly that it was not his business. Now he was just concerned about how they accepted those from the East.
Mitsurugi explained how Taki saved Sophitia years ago and brought her home, that was the foundation for their friendship. Considering the fame Sophitia carried in Athens, it was a good guess that they would not alienate the associates of the former Fu-Ma.
Indeed they were a very diverse group, but they were also the friends and allies of Sophitia Alexandra. Athens would see them as a beacon of light for a world that could easily be doomed and would support them every step of the way.
After nearly a mile of the stone streets and beautiful architecture they were back at the Temple of the Oracle, tall and imposing it was a memorial to all those that had answered the call of the Gods. Among such honored souls was Sophitia Alexandra. Cassandra couldn't help but smile back towards Link and Talim, for it was the same place where they had all first met, even if the first meeting between Cassandra and Link involved the crossing of blades and angered words. Link smiled back, Talim eventually did the same.
Waiting at the stairs was Taki who had been at work sharpening one of her blades and Siegfried who was leaning up against one of the columns. Kyle and Mina had taken a room together and were apparently discussing what they were going to do with Yunsung. They were responsible for him. His anger towards Drake was going to get him killed and they knew it.
Sophitia stepped off her horse and handed the reigns to a stable boy who had come up almost on cue and he took off towards the stables with the animal traveling behind him. Cassandra breathed as he let her legs collapse and seated herself in the middle of the temple's lot, gazing up at the sky that was cloaked over them. Link sat down as well and looked up, he had never noticed how the clouds formed above. It wasn't long before Talim, Kilik and Xianghua had joined them. This left several of the others shaking their heads at the carelessness of youth.
"You sure know how to torture a man, Sophie!" a voice suddenly called out from behind as Sophitia headed towards the temple. She whirled around as swiftly as lightning to gaze past her friends to the speaker who had appeared behind him. Rothion smiled up at her as she looked at him and shrugged lightly "I was hoping that the Winter would bring at least one good thing to Athens." he said with a chuckle.
Without warning Sophitia bolted down the stairs and pushed past Mitsurugi and Raphael and ran straight at her husband before jump tackling him. He quickly backed to avoid falling as her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck, his own moved around her body and they shared a deep and passionate kiss. Siegfried chuckled lightly gaining Taki's attention "Let me guess, Rothion?" the lovely assassin nodded with a half smile.
She then approached Siegfried sitting down next to him before she motioned her head towards the two happy lovers. Any present suspicion or concern was cast away for those few perfect moments of reunion. Taki had half expected the young knight to be repulsed by Rothion's presence having known that the whole time Taki was dragging her back here, she was questioning where he was. Taki shrugged as she glanced at the knight "So much for all that admirable restraint." She chuckled. Siegfried laughed.
Several heartwarming moments later Sophitia pulled herself from her husband, attempting to hide the fiery blush that had come across her face. Cassandra and Talim were laughing while Link was managing to contain himself, Xianghua and Kilik didn't dare laugh however. They had a few ideas how it must have felt, of course when they were separated last time they still believed that their friendship had been common, it grew after they rejoined in Athens.
She looked back at her comrades able to see the raised eyebrows and mental snickers as only Kilik, Xianghua and Maxi had actually met Rothion before just now. He attention was then snatched as Siegfried stepped down the stairs and towards him, his sword leaning against one of the several columns. Rothion didn't flinch as he had easily figured out who this man was, the partner that Sophitia was forced to run ahead of in her first encounter with the Soul Edge. Her journeys were just as eventful as ever.
He stopped as he was standing before Rothion, the swordsmith standing about two inches taller than the young knight. He had once believed that after he achieved redemption that he and Sophitia would be together, he could tell that everybody was fearful of what he might do. Parting his lips he spoke "You are Sophitia's husband, correct?"
Rothion gave a smile at this "If I wasn't I wouldn't have done what I just did, I wouldn't want to face the fury of this maiden's other half."
Siegfried gave a light smile at the humor before he held out his hand to Rothion, he then chuckled outwardly "Then you are either a very deserving man or somebody that has become more fortunate than most. Nice to meet the man behind the legend." he chuckled.
Rothion smiled before snatching the young knight's hand, both palms calloused and weathered from their respectfully different ways of life. Rothion couldn't help but ask "Legend? Me?"
Siegfried smirked "When word reached Venice that Sophitia Alexandra had wed, many rumors appeared about how you might be a son of the Gods. Then again not many are willing to accept that dear Sophitia is a baker's daughter." the woman in mention shook her head lightly, having heard her share of the rumors about her.
"The man is never a match for the legend it seems." Rothion said as he lowered his hand and brought his arm over Sophitia's shoulders. Siegfried had taken notice of how he squared his knees and how his arms were crafted in a way that wouldn't come from hammering swords, it was obvious that he was a warrior in his own right. He guessed an instructor or teacher, no man had the right to make a blade if he could not wield it.
Sophitia smiled as he took back his healthy hand and placed a hand on Sophitia's shoulder feeling her tension melt away. The two of them had been something so long ago before fate seemed to stamp its foot down on the crossroads of their individual paths. Siegfried hoped that this had proved that he was happy for her. He would always love her, but he would not dare to object to the choices that she had made.
"I told you that something happened between those two." Link muttered towards Talim who breathed out lightly, she had not believed Link's theories about the elder sister and the lighter side of Nightmare. Of course he wouldn't dare tell the wind priestess that Cassandra had retold a few of her sister's stories about her first trip.
"With all that Siegfried has gone through, I'm surprised he is so accepting of it. I mean weren't they...you know..." Maxi silenced himself as he noticed Cassandra casting him a very threatening glare that threatened to devour his soul.
"My sister and Siegfried were close, but not like that." she snapped and made sure that everybody was starring at Maxi. Talim giggled at the pirate's confusion and embarrassment as Siegfried stepped up and stopped as he passed by the man.
A smirk came across his face "I'm flattered you'd believe that I was worthy of her, but we were both young and our devotion to our individual faiths halted us from such foolishness. Not that it would have been something I would have regretted." Everybody laughed including Rothion, Sophitia giggled in spite of the large hue on her face.
Taki smirked seeing a window of her own "Not all partnerships are quite taken in the manner of your friends, Maxi." this was said at the expense of Xianghua and Kilik.
Kilik blushed lightly while Xianghua looked up at Taki, wrapping her arms around her obvious lover "What's up Taki, you jealous?"
While it was said in good humor this earned Xianghua an acidic glare as once again his image was forced into Taki's mind and she found herself stumbling to turn away from them. She cursed lightly as she stepped away before she stopped and looked back at them "I don't chase after little boys taken by little girls." She said before stepping away "If you need me I'll be finding my room." she growled before vanishing through the doors. Siegfried moved after her hoping that he could help her calm down before some poor servant of the temple felt her misdirected wrath.
Xianghua was taken aback and Mitsurugi shook his head lightly realizing that after so many years her past was beginning to catch up with her. It must have been hard. The obvious confusion that existed on the two lovers faces only served to crack the samurai's stoic neutrality he had held for so long. He was prepared to slap her mouth for such an insult, wether or not it was meant as one.
"Kilik, your woman should learn to keep her mouth shut." all eyes turned to Kyle as he strode past and moved to follow Taki, it was easy for member of the group to see how he might have identified with how the kunochi had lived her life. In solitude and without time for play. Seeing that the leader of the Four Blades had taken up the duty of putting the younger members back in their place he moved to follow Siegfried and Taki, leaving the others to prevent any fight.
Xianghua glared back at the Korean insulted before she tore her arms away from Kilik and got in the older warrior's face glaring at him "If you wanna say something to me feel free to express it to my face!" she snapped. Talim and Yunsung looked on feeling it was just an argument, Link however looked prepared to charge in and separate them.
Everybody gasped when Kyle grabbed her chin and pressed his brow against her own, her eyes went wide and the air filled her lungs as he glared back at her. He spoke after what seemed like forever "Fine. After hearing your words to a tortured woman, I'm convinced that you're a little bitch." He said sharply before releasing her and striding past her. She was shocked and looked back at Mina, Raphael and even Yunsung. None of them seemed prepared to tell their leader that he was out of line and being unfair.
Part of her told her to stop herself, but she glared at the Korean's back "What are you going on about! I've done nothing to her!" Mina shook her head before moving forward to stand by Kyle who had came to a stop on the marble stairs. She looked back at Xianghua, whom she considered her friend and shook her head ever so lightly.
"What did I do?" Xianghua demanded to know as Kyle and Mina vanished into the temple without another glance at the confused young woman.
"Taki is aching for her man it would seem." Raphael murmured.
"We know he is alive, isn't it about time she got over it?" Xianghua groaned.
"I don't think she has the ability to." Kilik theorized.
"Taki is a single star amongst other that has been forced to grow dim by the destiny she chose, that organization she hails from doesn't leave her with the same social freedoms as you." Link murmured. His arms crossed and his eyes closed as he spoke, explaining the theories that he, Kilik and Mitsurugi had gone over. "The Fu-Ma, they hunt her now from what I have gathered, gaining love for another would only endanger them. As for this man, Yugo, being alive he might still be with them. Their blades might be forced to cross."
"But...they loved each other. How would anybody be able to do that!" Xianghua demanded of Link. Talim and Cassandra both looked at Link as he exhaled, his own memories of his failed attempts to grasp love coming back to him.
"It has been over seven years since they saw one another, there is no telling what he plans to do with the Soul Calibur shard he has gained. Love is truly something powerful, but it does have its limits and conditions. Taki fears that he might not return her love or worse, she might have to slay him in order to retrieve what we need." Everybody grew deathly quiet at this.
Cassandras hands came to her mouth and Sophitia felt tears grow in her eyes at the thought of what her friend, the woman who had saved her life had been ready to discover. Talim looked at the ground and depression seemed to wash over the group. Xianghua was now feeling the justice of Kyle's words and looked up "But...she said she wasn't jealous...I was only kidding..."
Link exhaled "She is not jealous of you and Kilik, she is jealous of what you have so easily gained between one another. Taki's relationship with this man was formed behind the backs of all those that trusted her to not make such a mistake as having feelings for her comrade. She sees the obvious future before you and hates how she might never again have the chance to grab at it. Sometimes frailties cannot be seen on the bodies or in ones technique, some go deeper." Link said this before he stepped into the temple.
Xianghua sat on the stairs and looked at her feet unable to believe how hard her words much have struck Taki, Kilik held her and Maxi sat down beside her resting one hand on her shoulder. Sophitia allowed Rothion to leave and return to their home which doubled as his smithy, hopefully the dinner her parents were preparing for her and her group would help to raise some of their spirits.
Next Chapter: Scornful Hospitality
(Voice of Siegfried)While many may claim to welcome us there is a great deal of hidden scorn behind bright smiles and batting eyes I can smell it. I do not blame them for fearing me, disliking me and even hating me. It was by my hand that so much has happened. I will take their slings and arrows, but he does not deserve their hatred. To be pushed by his breaking point by these people that know nothing about him! I will not stand for it!