Anyway… I've been thinking, and it seems like this story is gearing more towards a 'growing up' fic (gee, like there's not enough of those already…) than a sweet little angsty shounen ai fic (which I will incorporate). I'll see where it goes, but it's steering towards that.
Also, I have to ask – Does anyone here like Riddel? If you do, raise your hand. *sits on her hands*
And thank you for all the nice reviews! They make me all happy ^_^; I didn't actually expect anyone to review this, and to have reviews is all T_T thank you! like. So uhm… REVIEW MORE! Yes. It's fun. EnvyChapter 2
- Karsh -
I saw her today. The most beautiful person in the world - the most graceful, wonderful, coolest person ever (well, besides myself). Today, I saw the future Mrs. Karsh. Of course, she doesn't know it yet. I didn't even talk to her - I just saw her. She was surrounded by palace-guards, walking along the streets of Termina. I guess she's from Viper Manor. I overheard dad talking to mom once about General Viper's daughter. It must be her; it has to be her. Who else could be that perfect?
Anyway, the future Mrs. Karsh was by a festival stand, buying some sort of girly thing. Girls are weird like that, they like weird stuff like jewelry and birds. Except, this girl like snakes. I just know she does. If she doesn't, why was she wearing that snake on her head? She has to like snakes; I just know it. That's cool - girls don't like snakes much, and she does. All the more reason that she's gonna marry me.
I'm only 12, so I guess I shouldn't be talking about this kind of stuff yet, but I don't care. Next time I see her, I'm gonna introduce myself. I've met General Viper before, he's come by to get weapons from my dad a few times, but he's never brought her along. I think I'll ask mom what her name is when I get home.
Mission: find out Mrs. Karsh's name failed. Why? Because I forgot that mom and dad decided to be all noble and adopt Garai's kids. I only talked to one of them, really - the little kid. He's kind of weird, not at all like Garai. The other one, Dario I think, looks so much like him it's spooky. I saw dad looking at him sadly (Dario didn't notice), but he didn't say anything. I guess he misses Garai or something. I didn't know him well, but he was very popular in my family (all over the continent, actually).
Now I have two missions: find out Mrs. Karsh's name and get to know Dario. Maybe I'll see if he can fight as good as his dad could. If he can, I think my training can get a lot better.
I roll over on to my right side, massaging the other side. I slept on my left arm all night so it really hurts. Better not tell dad - he'll say I'm weak. I can't help it, really. No matter how much I train, I always wake up with a sore arm because I slept on it. Someday I'm going to be beaten by a bed. I just know it.
Mom's pounding on my door. Judging by the light coming in, I guess I slept in. Probably missed breakfast, too.
"Karsh! Ye slept straight through breakfast." See? I bet she saved me something, though, "I couldn't save ye any food, though!" Damn. Can't win 'em all.
"Hn." I sit up, massaging my arms. I think my bed is made out of stone. My mouth opens, letting a yawn escape.
"Get up and go outside, Dario's waiting!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Do it, Karsh!" Well, there's my dad's voice. I guess my job in the family is to beat up that Dario kid. Well, his funeral. Stretching, I kick the sheets off and run over to my dresser, pulling out my usual vest and pants. It's always warm here so I never wear anything else. I never can understand how the dragoons at Viper Manor can wear such heavy clothes, or how the devas wear all that armor.
"'Tch, not bad." Dario lowered his cheap steel sword and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, "Didn't expect you to be any good."
"Yeah, I'm pretty good ain't I?" I smirked, hauling my axe over my shoulder, my legs bent. I really, really want to sit down and die right about now, but I can't let him know that.
"Eh, I've seen better. You're good, but I'm better."
"Ha! We'll see about that," Did I say I wanted to die? I meant I wanted him to die, by my hands, by the axe in my hands.
"Boys!" My mom's standing in the side door, looking at us, "Lunch."
"'K mom!"
"Thank you, Ms. Zippa."
"Just Zippa!"
"Zippa, then." Dario glances at me and then over his shoulder to Glenn. The poor kid's been trying to keep up with us all day, hacking away at that straw man. I think he needs an opponent, but we'd probably cut one of his arms off, especially since he's just got a wooden sword. "Come on, Glenn."
"Yes, oniisan!" He runs over to Dario and ducks beneath his arm, letting his brother place a hand on his head as they walked into the house. It must be nice, having a brother and all. I never had someone to look up to when I was that young - just General Viper, Garai, and my dad. I would've liked another kid to watch over me.
Shrugging, I follow the two inside the house. I think there must've been some sales today (I never notice since I'm usually too busy training), 'cause dad looks really happy. Plus he's got a bag full of money. That usually means he's sold something or won a bet. Mom looks happy too, so he must've sold stuff.
"Some soldiers from Viper manor just came by and picked up their order. 'Twas a big one, we made a lot off o' it! I c'n buy some of that mythril metal now and - "
"We're going to save it."
"What? But Zippa, I'll make more if I use the mythril - "
"We're saving it."
"Hmph." He looked at the three of us kids, "Don't ever git married, kids."
"Zappa!"
Dad cleared his throat and plopped down in his chair, "Well it's lunch time! Lets eat!"
I was sure I was gonna kill him this time. We'd been sparring for the past three hours, broken two fence posts, a window, killed a squirrel, and scared off a customer. After the customer ran away screaming, dad came out and yelled at me an' Dario to go into town. He doesn't like it when I scare away customers, but usually he just spanks me, so I guess now he'll send us into town. He'd never hurt a kid that wasn't his.
Glenn was watching us the whole time, hitting the crap out of that poor straw man. I think I'll need to tell mom to buy some new straw. Glenn ran up to Dario, tugging on his arm, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "C'n I come too, oniisan?"
"Don't you wanna train so you can get big and strong like me?" I smirked, holding my chin up.
"Like me, you mean." Dario glanced at me.
"Mmm... no, because you're a wimp."
"Oniisan…"
"What did you just say?" The wimp gripped his sword, challenging me.
"AH SED GIT TO TOWN!"
"Yes dad!" I dropped my axe to the ground and ran out of the fenced yard, "C'mon, I'll show you around."
Dario glanced at Glenn, then back at me, then to the broken window where my dad's red, angry, spitting face was watching us. "Ok!" He ran after me, setting his sword down next to my axe, "Anything interesting?"
"Well, there's a bar."
"But we can't go in there, we're just 12."
"'Tch, like it matters."
"That'd be against the law!" I laughed, running down the road leading into town, Dario trailing after me. I feel kind of bad about leaving that kid back there alone, under the watchful eye of my hornet of a father, but I wasn't about to show a five year old where I hang out. If mom found out I'd be dead; she's much scarier than dad when she's angry. She does stuff like take away my food and make me do chores; dad just uses the paddle. I fear mom more than him.
We only make it a few yards from the house before I can hear my mom's voice, shouting after us, "Take Glenn with you!" Well, at least she can't say I did it on my own. It's her fault if I corrupt him.
"Dario, if she uses this against me, you're my alibi."
"What?"
Glenn came running up next to us, nudging himself in between me an' Dario. "Easy, you might hurt yourself." Dario and I laughed. I can tell that if we'll have anything in common, it'll be making fun of Glenn.
"I c'n take care of myself!"
"Izzat right?"
"Yup! I'm not a wimp!" Glenn held his head up, trying his best to come up to our elbows, and promptly tripped over a stick.
"Oh, no, you're not a wimp." I exchanged glances with Dario, trying to cover up my snickering.
"Nope." He doubled back, grabbed the stick, and broke it in half before taking his place next to us.
Ok, so he's not that bad. The kid's got spunk at least. Most kids wouldn't even try as hard as he does, I give him that much. Still, he is just a little kid. "So, you enjoyin' it here?"
He shrugged, trying to look and act as much like us as he could. "'S ok. It's not as good as home, though."
I could hear Dario's feet stop, the sound of his shoes echoing along the street. Seems like he misses their home more than Glenn does, "Eh, isn't it like that?" Dario seemed to have composed himself as he ran up next to Glenn, holding his head high. They're not so bad, these two. I think I could get to like them.
Now everyone in this town knows there's a street with traveling merchants. Each year at festival time it'll be littered with them, each one trying to catch your attention with their bright colors and loud voices and some poor guy in a suit who's trapped in a box. Every local knows to just pass by and ignore them. Dario and Glenn, however, are not locals. Even though Garai would visit my dad's shop sometimes and they'd go hang out with the "deva" crowd, he never brought Dario or Glenn along. In fact, judging by their amazement at all of the crap surrounding us, I would guess they've never been here before.
"First time in Termina, isn't it?"
"Well, we live – I mean - " he coughed and shook his head, " - lived a little while east of here, just near the mountains."
"It's not that far away, though." I looked over at Dario, who had his hand clamped on Glenn's shoulder in attempts to keep him from running off, "Don't worry," I added in a quieted voice, "he'll get sick of it after a few days."
"I hope so..." Glenn had managed to steer us to the "psychic" tent - the weird one with glowing eyes. No matter what freak sideshow or traveling salesman we had, there was always the same fake psychic. "We just never wanted to come here, I guess..."
"Well it's not like there's much here anyway, just the harbor."
"Oh, I wanna getta fortune, oniisan!"
"Sure." We stood in front of the tent, Glenn jumping up and down and waiting for the puff of smoke to clear.
"I didn't know there were any other towns besides this one."
Dario laughed and watched Glenn cough as he tried to wave the smoke away, "You'd be surprised."
"And who would like their fortune told?" Nice to see the fortuneteller's feeling uncreative today - on good days she'd make up some stupid phrase (they changed it depending on their mood) to mystify you and make your sinuses hurt more. I guess the smoke is getting to her.
"Oh, me me!" Glenn jumped up and down, rubbing his eyes, "I wan' mine!"
She held out a wart-y hand, "Very well." Dario looked at the hand, then at me. Glenn just smacked it.
"She wants money."
"Oh!" Dario blinked and patted his pockets weakly, then lowered his head, "Oh. Oh well."
"Hey, it's ok - I got some." I reached into my pant pocket and pulled a few coins, dropping them into the fortuneteller's hand. It was a bit red since Glenn had hit it a few times.
"Thank you." She sounds a bit ticked - well, I guess I would be too if a five year old beat me up. "Hummm...." More of that mystical sinus inducing smoke drifted out of the tent, causing Glenn to cough again.
"Goes all out, doesn't she?"
"You should see her on a good day."
"A change in position should bring you good fortune." Glenn stared at the old hag as her face peered through the dark shadows of the tent. He pouted and crossed his arms, kicking the sidewalk.
"Dat don't make sends."
"Neither do you." I looked away, covering my mouth with an outstretched palm. Glenn didn't hear me, but Dario seemed to. If he didn't then he seemed to enjoy kicking me in the shins.
"It will in good time."
Glenn looked up at her, head slightly tilted, and smiled, "Well, if you says so!"
"Who is next?"
I shook my head, holding a hand up, "No thanks. You're a crock-pot, you old wart! You always give me stupid fortunes!"
"What's that you say?!" The hag looked down her ugly nose at me with her beady yellow eyes, "You'd do best not to talk back to your elders."
"I'll talk back to whoever I want."
"Karsh, you shouldn't talk so rudely to her." Dario bowed low, asking her to forgive me. Damn wimp, I knew he was a pushover the moment I saw him. Sure he can hold a sword ok, but he can't hold his ground.
"Ah don't let her fool you. She doesn't know what she's talking about."
"Hmph! If you think I'm so crazy, why don't I give you a reading – on the house." She smirked at me, contorting her ugly wrinkled face into a mask of grotesque horror. Yeuck, how can anything look so awful?
"No thanks, baba, I'm fine."
"'Baba'?! Insulting brat!" She grabbed my hand and yanked it forward, chanting one of her stupid voodoo ritual things, "A change of fashion is in order."
"Ha!" I move my arm to pull away, but she keeps her disgusting hand clamped on my wrist.
"Don't take my readings lightly!"
"Whatever." She let her hand go and I jumped back, rubbing my wrist, "Warts better not be contagious."
Her face contorted again, yellow eyes twinkling with some sort of evil witch tint, "They are."
"Damn woman!"
Dario sighed nearby, "Karsh, you need to learn to control your temper."
"Not you too!" I looked around, desperate for someone to be on my side, but there is no one else! Wait… there is! That short kid, Dario's brother. What's his name again? "Glenn!" I looked down, seeing him standing a foot or so away from the tent, "I don't need to control my temper, right?"
"Dey… dey… I dun wan' warfs!" Glenn let out a little shriek and ducked to his brother's side, clutching at his pants. "Oniisan!"
The hag cackled, "You won't get them."
"But, but – "
"I just said that to make him mad."
"You damn, stupid – "
Dario sighed and looked over at her, smiling. "You shouldn't frighten little children like that." Maybe Dario's not so bad after all.
"Yeah, poor Glenn's traumatized."
"I wasn't referring to Glenn." I take it back, I'm still gonna kill him! By tomorrow, he'll be lying at my feet begging for mercy while I laugh and swing my axe around in the air.
"Would you like your fortune told?" Damn that hag! She cut in before I had a chance to retaliate! This is war witch!
"Oh, I couldn't possibly – "
"On the house."
Dario grinned, "Well when you put it that way, how could I refuse?"
"Wonderful." The hag closed her eyes and did that stupid 'hum' again, focusing her energy or some crap like that. All of a sudden, her eyes shot open, the yellow irises bright and flashing, "That… can't…"
"Ma'am, are you alright?" Dario moved to her but stopped as she raised a hand, staring at him.
"No, stay there!" The witch's eyes flashed to me so fast that I'm really not sure if she looked at me or not. She doubled over, causing Dario to rush to her side to keep her from falling. "You…" Glenn moved now, standing on her other side.
"Obasan!"
"I-I'm fine." She closed her eyes, shaking her head wildly and stood. "I'm said I'm fine! Thank you for your concerns." She nodded to Glenn and Dario, her eyes lingering on Dario, "Be mindful of the people you hold dear. That is all." Another puff of smoke and she retreated back into the tent.
"I hope she'll be alright."
"Hmph! That was just for show." A rock flew out of the tent and hit me in the head. "DAMN HAG!"
"Oniisan, what does 'damn' mean?"
"Ah! Glenn," Dario chuckled nervously while glaring at me, "You'll know when you're older."
"It's one of dose bad words papa says dat mama gets angora, right?"
"Angora!" I started to snicker before Dario picked up said rock and threw it at me, "God – "
"NOW THEN!" He plastered a fake smile on his face and clamped his hands on Glenn's shoulders, "Karsh, why don't you show us some more festival sites?"
"Fine, but that's about the height of the excitement."
"Ooo! Wuzzat!" Glenn ran off towards this year's poor sap-in-a-suit, dragging Dario along with him. Serves him right.
A painter and some crazy guy asking about food later, we were downtown. Downtown in Termina is very, very boring. Now, to an outsider I guess it's pretty exciting – I mean, there are a couple shops, a bar, an Inn, some lady who sells flowers, and a statue. Termina is the largest city in El Nido, which I think is very sad. I mean we're just a city whose main attraction is a statue of General Viper. Seriously, if you lived here would you be excited to go downtown?
Glenn and Dario are very embarrassing to go around Termina with. Why? Because every five seconds, Glenn runs off and shrieks in that weird high-pitched voice of his and points at a fly. Seriously, a fly. He thinks Termina's flies are interesting. Dario's not much better, he looks around the city 'ooo'ing and 'aaa'ing at the people's clothes and buildings. You can tell they're tourists. I've been ducking behind lampposts and purposely getting lost in the festival crowds in an effort to avoid being seen with them. I have a reputation (in jeopardy, might I add – after that lemon fiasco) to hold in this city, and being seen with tourist won't help it at all.
"Hmm, is that an elemental shop?" Dario paused in front of Lisa's elemental store.
"Eh? Oh, yeah – it's nothin' special."
"But they're elemental materials!" Dario sighed and peered inside the window, "I really want one, but mom never let me get any."
"What about your dad?"
"Are you kidding? Dad never had anything to say when it came to raising us." Glenn tugged on Dario's sleeve, pointing at the store.
"What's in dere?"
"Elementals."
"What're dose?"
"Uhm…"
"They're really cool." I nodded to myself.
"But, I thought you said – "
"Oh! I wan' see!"
"Sure." I walked over to the door, pushing it inward. Lisa's is rather small, there's some bins along the wall with some various pieces of crap that you get bored with after awhile, and across from that is the counter, along with more barrels of crap.
Of course, Dario and Glenn found the crap was interesting. I sighed and crossed my arms, watching the tourists sift through the bins, looking at the various things. Their homes must have really been boring.
"Hey, Karsh!"
"Huh? Oh, hey guys – " wait… I did a double take and watched as two of the kids from the lemon fiasco came into the store.
"What're you doin' in here?" One of them, the short fat one, came up to me and elbowed me in the side, "Getting an elemental at last?"
"Yeah, you don't own any of those!"
"Guys, shut up."
"Ha, Karsh thinks he's so cool and he doesn't have elementals!" The tall skinny one laughed and walked over to the counter.
"What, are you getting some?"
"Well yeah! Our parents don't baby us."
"Ha! Well at least I know how to use them. You guys wouldn't know a dark elemental from a light elemental if they bit you in the a– "
"Uhm…" I lifted my head and looked towards the bins. Dario was standing there, watching the three of us argue. "Karsh?"
"Huh?" Dario gestured to Glenn, who had half his body in the bin, trying to see what the bottom looked like.
"Pfft, he's not paying attention." I turned back to dumb and dumber and crossed my arms, "So, go ahead and buy your dumb elementals. You won't be able to do a damn thing with them."
They glared at me and grabbed their elementals from the man behind the counter. "You watch your mouth, Karsh!" The tall one lifted his head and stomped out of the shop.
"Yeah. And have fun with your tourist friends!" Fatty cackled and stomped out of the building. I cringed as a bottle crashed to the floor.
"SOMEONE IS PAYING FOR THAT!"
I jumped and grabbed Dario's arm, then hauled Glenn out of the bin by his leg and set him on the floor, finally grabbing his arm and running like crazy out of the store.
"Karsh!" I ducked to the right, plopping down onto the stairs and letting go of the brothers. "Who were they?"
"Just a couple of idiots. Don't mind them."
"What're their names?" He sat down next to me, keeping an eye on Glenn as he ran around in circles.
"Silt and Peppy or something stupid like that."
"Those are odd names… which is which?"
Shrugging, I fell back onto the stairs and rest my head on one of the steps, "Nobody ever remembers."
"Oh."
"Oniisan!" Glenn ran up to Dario, into his arms and grabbed hold of his shoulders, "Lookit da flowers!" He let go of his brother and turned, pointing to the flower stand. Dario smiled and nodded at him.
"Yeah, pretty aren't they?"
"I like da purple ones!"
"Bellflowers." We all looked up and stared. And maybe drooled a bit. It's her! She's appeared in front of me again, the goddess who will be my wife some day, once General Viper appoints me first in command. Then he'll die and I'll be General Karsh, the best General in El Nido. Or something like that.
"Is that what they're called, then?"
She smiled and nodded, raising a bouquet of the flowers, "They are very pretty." She extended a hand – which, might I say, is the most beautiful hand in the world – to Dario, "I don't believe I have seen you here before. I am Lady Riddel."
He looked around rather awkwardly and lifted Glenn, putting him next to him, and stood to take her hand. Rather sickenly, he took her hand and kissed it lightly, "Dario, son of Garai." She didn't seem to be too surprised at this statement, and instead just widened her smile. She's got a great smile, "And this is Glenn, my brother."
"Ew!" All three of us blinked, looking at him, "You kissed her hand!"
Dario and Riddel laughed. I let out a fake chuckle; it's not really that funny. I wouldn't do it. "Of course, Glenn. It's the proper way to greet a lady."
Gag, Dario, gag. You're a sappy wimp, too. "Oh, it really does not matter to me. I always feel so silly when children greet me like that anyway."
"But you a kid too!"
"Well, that is true!" And she let out the most beautiful, pure sound I've ever heard. She laughed. I swear if I could I'd die of happiness right there. "Oh, and you – " she turned her attention to me, finally. I am the main attraction of Termina, after all.
I jumped up and bowed to her, I will not kiss her hand no matter how 'proper' it is, "Karsh, son of Zappa."
"Oh, Zappa! I would not have known!" She smiled, "You do not look like him. Dario," she gave a small hand motion towards him, swishing her long sleeve, "greatly resembles General Garai."
"I guess he does."
"Lady Riddel, you embarrass me." He bowed his head, blushing. What's with these two? They're acting like they've known each other for years.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" She turned back to me and curtsied, "I am forgetting my manners towards you as well. It is nice to meet you, Karsh, son of Zappa. And you, Dario and Glenn, sons of Garai." I don't know how she did it, but she made her smile even more beautiful. Could it be an angel?
"And you, Lady Riddel."
Glenn and I chimed in, "Yeah, nice to meet you." At the same time. This kid really isn't that bad, at least he's not a wimp like his boring, stupid brother.
"Lady Riddel." One of the men by her – when did she have guards surrounding her? – took a step forward and bowed his head, "We must be leaving soon."
"Oh, can't I stay just a few more minutes?"
"I am afraid we must take you back to the manor."
She sighed and nodded to him before turning her gaze back to us, "I am very sorry, but I must take my leave. It was nice meeting you three."
"The pleasure is all ours."
Hey, what's with him taking all the good lines? I've got to say something! "Yeah! And t'anks for saying dat dey're benpowers!"
Riddel laughed wonderfully again. Dammit, kid, not you too! "You ought to hang out with us sometime!" There! I finally said something.
Dario turned and looked at me, a stark, white look in his face. Oh can it, you stupid idiot. The palace guards seem a bit peeved at me too. What? Well I had to say SOMETHING.
Riddel didn't seem to take notice of all the shocked faced, of course. She's got brains. "Oh? Why… I think I should like that. And where do you all stay?"
"At the Smithy!" I pointed off to the left, towards the houses.
"Oh! All three of you?" Dario and I nodded; I heard Glenn kicking a stone off the steps. Riddel frowned briefly, probably thinking of Garai, and nodded, "Well, I shall come visit you three, then." She curtsied again and Dario bowed, elbowing me in the side to do the same. Grumbling, I bowed to her and quickly straightened. The guards surrounded her and led her out of the city. I couldn't see her face, but her hand waved to us as she left.
"Well, she is rather nice."
"Yeah, she's pretty cool for a girl." Well, I'm not going to tell him that she's the future Mrs. Karsh.
"Oniisan!"
"Yeah, Glenn?"
"I wan' a bedpower!"
Dario laughed and took hold of Glenn's hand, leading him to the flower stand. "Karsh?"
"Huh?"
"Could I borrow some money?"
Damn idiot! He's a wimp, sappy, stupid, weak, AND he's going to make me bankrupt. That's it, if I have to baby-sit these two, I deserve a raise.
---
Fortune teller scene, take 2:
Fortune teller: He will kill you! *points to Karsh*
Dario: What? Surely you jest, he wouldn't kill me!
Karsh: Well, actually I think the old bat is right.
Dario: What? Glenn, you don't think she's –
Glenn: Yep, she prolly white.
Dario: Damn!
Riddel scene, take 2:
Dario: Well, she is rather nice.
Karsh: Yeah, and she's gonna marry me.
Dario: WHAT?! *ensues to try to beat the crap out of Karsh*
Glenn: Ha! You's bof insade! Karsh'll mawwy me!
Karsh and Dario: *stop, look at Glenn, then at each, and run away*
…. Review please! ^_^ *beg beg* Oh, and does anyone wanna betaread this? Specifically, someone who knows facts about the game… If you do, please email me at maggie005@adelphia.net (no spam or anything or I'll hurt you o_O~! [and viruses are useless since my program deletes all attachments])