Okay, before I get sidetracked again. Sigh. It's so early....... but I'll suck it up. I must do it, for the sake of the fans!
Just random note: my legs are killing me. I had the first practice of the season yesterday, and the captains almost made me and two of my friends hyperventilate. It was horrible. Not to mention I'm jealous cause everyone says I should have made captain.
Keiko, Reviewer of the Day/Week/Month- Of course I remember you! How could I forget? Yeah, this is very confusing if you don't know the characters to the story. I plan to restart Why Demons Return when I get all my other ideas out of my head, down and completed. Which will take time, yes, much time. Don't expect my inuyasha story for a while, though... I want to finish shivers first. Then Inuyasha, maybe Denial if I feel up to it.
So, on with the story. Now, if I can remember the plot idea......... hmmm....... that's right. Okay, I can do this.
-
"Approaching Lands of Ice area."
Vyse nodded, turning the wheel a bit to the left. "Great. We'll be there in a minute."
Fina looked up. "So where's 'there?'"
He smiled, keeping his eyes forward. "Surprise. Trust me, you'll love it."
Aika and Fina exchanged looks before going back to their positions. The two had somewhat accepted the fact that they weren't going to get many straight answers from Vyse. It was frustrating, but what could they do about it?
Vyse sighed. "Drop anchor here."
Aika looked up, confused. "Vyse, we're in the middle of nowhere. Why drop anchor here?"
"You'll find out soon."
She shrugged, pressing the button that would lower the anchor. After a few seconds there was a satisfying 'thud.' Everyone in the bridge physically relaxed at the same time, as if it had been rehearsed. Vyse turned, leaning on the wheel.
"So, ladies and gentlemen. We have come to one of the best spots for viewing the Aurora. What do you say we go out on deck and stargaze for a while?"
Everyone blinked once, twice, three times. "Stargazing?" Hans asked uncertainly.
Vyse nodded. "Nothing better to do, really. Besides, some of us wanted to come here. And it's a nice way to relax."
Aika smiled. "I guess I can do with that."
Moegi smiled. "I do not think that I saw the Aurora before, at least not at a clear time."
Lawrence shrugged. "As long as I remain paid, I'm fine with anything."
"Then I guess we'd better get some blankets out. Everyone meet on deck in ten minutes." Vyse walked out of the bridge calmly, not meeting anyone's eye. He went over his plan again in his mind, trying to figure out how much time he would have to complete it. 'Fifteen... fifteen minutes, maximum. No time to waste.' He slipped into the room where the petite boat was, preparing it for launch. Then he went into the lounge area, heading to the galley. Everyone had already disappeared, leaving the large room to himself. He poured himself a cup of water. Standing in front of the kettle, he poured the water on the floor slowly, leaving the slightest amount, which he poured into the kettle. He touched the metal of the kettle, watching as a small hole was burned into it.
He stepped back, looking at his work. The only thing that would mess up this setting would be bad luck. If someone came in before he had returned, it would take serious brain racking to come up with a cover story. Vyse sighed, praying that everything will work out.
He went up to the deck, finding everyone already gathered there. Moegi had succeeded in finding enough blankets for everyone, and was busy passing the out to the others. His eyes spotted Aika and Fina talking quietly, and he put on a smile that almost, but didn't, reach his eyes. Fina looked up as he came closer and whispered something to Aika. The two stopped talking immediately, looking at him. His smile dropped. "What's wrong?"
Aika smiled. "Nothing at all. We were just having a girl to girl conversation."
Vyse winced. "Then I'll butt out."
Fina looked between the two, feeling the heavy tension. 'I've never seen them so nervous around each other,' she thought. She smiled, trying to ease the tension a bit. "So where do you two want to look at the Aurora?"
Vyse smiled at Fina, thankful for her intervention. "You wanna go to the lookout tower?"
"Sure," Aika said, also glad that Fina had stepped in. "I'll grad a blanket and meet you there."
"Aika, wai-" But Aika had already run off towards Moegi, not waiting to hear what Vyse had to say. He sighed. "Sometimes she's so impulsive."
Fina giggled. "In a good way. Let's go on up, okay?"
Vyse looked longingly after Aika but nodded, tearing his gaze from the redhead. "Lead the way."
The two made their way up to the lookout tower, chatting idly on the way. Fina shivered slightly when they re-entered the cold air, but Vyse pretended not to notice. They sat on the bench, a good distance apart. The tension wasn't as strong as it was between Aika and Vyse, but it was still there, and they both felt it. Fina sighed, opening her mouth to speak just as Aika came up, a bright smile on her face. "There wasn't enough for each of us, so we can share one, if that's alright with you two?"
Vyse nodded, smiling. He scooted over towards Fina, patting the spot on his other side. Aika sat beside him, throwing the blanket over all three of their shoulders. Fina closed her mouth, trying not to look to disappointed.
After a while, she started shivering. Vyse looked at her, concern written all over his face. "Cold?"
She smiled. "Just a bit..."
"How about some hot chocolate?"
"That would be great."
Aika hopped up. "I'll go get some!"
Vyse put a hand on Aika's shoulder, pushing her back down. She flinched slightly under his touch, hiding it by turning it into a shiver. Vyse smiled. "I'll get it. You two stay here, I'll be back in a bit."
He climbed down the ladder and sighed, his cheerful manner no more. 'Now for the hard part. I have fifteen minutes to do this. Fifteen minutes'
He hopped into the smaller boat, taking off. He immediately sunk as far as he could go, hiding himself from view. Once he was below the clouds he stopped, entering Glacia from the entrance at the bottom. As soon as he could put the boat to rest he did, jumping out. Immediately he felt the old power, great, but faded. He followed the trail until he came to Rykan's final resting place. Though it had been a long time since the archwale had died, the carcass was still partly there. "Must be the cold," he thought aloud. He drew his cutlass, walking to a spot where the flesh was still clinging to the bones. "I'm sorry, Rykan," he muttered before slicing off a bit of the decaying flesh. He took a plastic bag out of his pocket, dropping the flesh into it. He quickly replaced the flesh into his pocket, running back to the boat.
Vyse reached the ship without any troubles at all, securing the dinghy quickly. He made his way back to the lounge, hoping that no one had disturbed his work. Everything was in the same place as it had been when he left. He took at a three mugs and three packets of hot chocolate, dispensing them into the mugs. Finally, with a grimace on his face, he put on a plastic glove from his pocket, reaching into his other pocket. He pulled out a small piece of the silver rope that had left scars on his wrists. Taking a deep breath, he dropped it on his forearm.
It took all of his self-control not to scream in pain as he watched the rope burn his flesh away. After a few seconds, he removed the rope, dropping it on the floor like it had burned his covered hand. Sighing, he held his arm for a few moments, his eyes closed. He reminded himself of the time limit he had and opened his eyes, moving as if in a dream. He found some bandages and began to wrap the burns. He knew they would heal quickly, but it would still leave a slight scar. 'How many more times am I going to have to do this?' he thought, picking up the rope. He tucked both the rope and the glove into his pocket, flattening it so that it appeared empty.
Only moments later the door opened, revealing a worried looking Aika. "Hey, Vyse, are you okay? You've been down here for at least fifteen minutes..." she trailed off, taking in the details of the room, her eyes coming to a stop on his bandaged arm. She gasped. "Oh my goodness, what happened?"
Vyse didn't miss a beat, wincing genuinely. "I spilt hot water on myself, nothing big. There's a hole in the kettle. Don't know how it got there."
Aika went over to the kettle, inspecting the hole. "It looks like it was burned. Do you think all that hot water finally got to it?"
"Most likely. Either that or we have metal eating rodents on the ship."
Aika chuckled, looking at the bandage. "Sure you're alright?"
He looked at the bandage, sighing. "Yeah, I'm good. I just wish I could get Fina some hot chocolate, she must be freezing up there."
"Don't worry about that," reassured Aika. "I'll see if there are anymore blankets. That way we won't have to share and she'll be warmer. How long are we staying, anyways?"
"Until tomorrow, whenever tomorrow is here. Then I want to head to Valua to visit Enrique. Think he'll look forward to an unannounced visit?"
Aika smiled. "Of course! I'm sure Moegi misses Enrique, too. Took a lot of courage for her to leave her husband to come with us for a bit."
Vyse grinned. "I think I'm going to have to tell her to stay with Enrique before it turns into a Polly and Robinson thing. Besides, long distance relationships never work out, do they?"
"Not in most cases. I'll get the blankets, you go on up to Fina, I'm sure she's wondering where we are right now."
She left without waiting for him to respond again, as if she had suddenly grown nervous around him. 'Why do you make things so hard?' Vyse thought. He looked at his bandage sullenly before sighing, heading back up to the look out post.
-
And it's over! Yeesh, that took time, didn't it? I think I'm getting into the pattern of one update per month, a monthly treat for all of you. Let's not consider how long it's been since Shivers got updated. It'll be too embarrassing. School's settled down, but, just like my mother, I can always find something to complain about. But on a lighter note.
I have the weekend, so I will start working on the next chapter soon. I think that it'll start becoming more romantic after this. I've been thinking about this next chapter for so long, I practically have the words memorized. Isn't that sad? But let me stop rambling.
Please review.
Just random note: my legs are killing me. I had the first practice of the season yesterday, and the captains almost made me and two of my friends hyperventilate. It was horrible. Not to mention I'm jealous cause everyone says I should have made captain.
Keiko, Reviewer of the Day/Week/Month- Of course I remember you! How could I forget? Yeah, this is very confusing if you don't know the characters to the story. I plan to restart Why Demons Return when I get all my other ideas out of my head, down and completed. Which will take time, yes, much time. Don't expect my inuyasha story for a while, though... I want to finish shivers first. Then Inuyasha, maybe Denial if I feel up to it.
So, on with the story. Now, if I can remember the plot idea......... hmmm....... that's right. Okay, I can do this.
-
"Approaching Lands of Ice area."
Vyse nodded, turning the wheel a bit to the left. "Great. We'll be there in a minute."
Fina looked up. "So where's 'there?'"
He smiled, keeping his eyes forward. "Surprise. Trust me, you'll love it."
Aika and Fina exchanged looks before going back to their positions. The two had somewhat accepted the fact that they weren't going to get many straight answers from Vyse. It was frustrating, but what could they do about it?
Vyse sighed. "Drop anchor here."
Aika looked up, confused. "Vyse, we're in the middle of nowhere. Why drop anchor here?"
"You'll find out soon."
She shrugged, pressing the button that would lower the anchor. After a few seconds there was a satisfying 'thud.' Everyone in the bridge physically relaxed at the same time, as if it had been rehearsed. Vyse turned, leaning on the wheel.
"So, ladies and gentlemen. We have come to one of the best spots for viewing the Aurora. What do you say we go out on deck and stargaze for a while?"
Everyone blinked once, twice, three times. "Stargazing?" Hans asked uncertainly.
Vyse nodded. "Nothing better to do, really. Besides, some of us wanted to come here. And it's a nice way to relax."
Aika smiled. "I guess I can do with that."
Moegi smiled. "I do not think that I saw the Aurora before, at least not at a clear time."
Lawrence shrugged. "As long as I remain paid, I'm fine with anything."
"Then I guess we'd better get some blankets out. Everyone meet on deck in ten minutes." Vyse walked out of the bridge calmly, not meeting anyone's eye. He went over his plan again in his mind, trying to figure out how much time he would have to complete it. 'Fifteen... fifteen minutes, maximum. No time to waste.' He slipped into the room where the petite boat was, preparing it for launch. Then he went into the lounge area, heading to the galley. Everyone had already disappeared, leaving the large room to himself. He poured himself a cup of water. Standing in front of the kettle, he poured the water on the floor slowly, leaving the slightest amount, which he poured into the kettle. He touched the metal of the kettle, watching as a small hole was burned into it.
He stepped back, looking at his work. The only thing that would mess up this setting would be bad luck. If someone came in before he had returned, it would take serious brain racking to come up with a cover story. Vyse sighed, praying that everything will work out.
He went up to the deck, finding everyone already gathered there. Moegi had succeeded in finding enough blankets for everyone, and was busy passing the out to the others. His eyes spotted Aika and Fina talking quietly, and he put on a smile that almost, but didn't, reach his eyes. Fina looked up as he came closer and whispered something to Aika. The two stopped talking immediately, looking at him. His smile dropped. "What's wrong?"
Aika smiled. "Nothing at all. We were just having a girl to girl conversation."
Vyse winced. "Then I'll butt out."
Fina looked between the two, feeling the heavy tension. 'I've never seen them so nervous around each other,' she thought. She smiled, trying to ease the tension a bit. "So where do you two want to look at the Aurora?"
Vyse smiled at Fina, thankful for her intervention. "You wanna go to the lookout tower?"
"Sure," Aika said, also glad that Fina had stepped in. "I'll grad a blanket and meet you there."
"Aika, wai-" But Aika had already run off towards Moegi, not waiting to hear what Vyse had to say. He sighed. "Sometimes she's so impulsive."
Fina giggled. "In a good way. Let's go on up, okay?"
Vyse looked longingly after Aika but nodded, tearing his gaze from the redhead. "Lead the way."
The two made their way up to the lookout tower, chatting idly on the way. Fina shivered slightly when they re-entered the cold air, but Vyse pretended not to notice. They sat on the bench, a good distance apart. The tension wasn't as strong as it was between Aika and Vyse, but it was still there, and they both felt it. Fina sighed, opening her mouth to speak just as Aika came up, a bright smile on her face. "There wasn't enough for each of us, so we can share one, if that's alright with you two?"
Vyse nodded, smiling. He scooted over towards Fina, patting the spot on his other side. Aika sat beside him, throwing the blanket over all three of their shoulders. Fina closed her mouth, trying not to look to disappointed.
After a while, she started shivering. Vyse looked at her, concern written all over his face. "Cold?"
She smiled. "Just a bit..."
"How about some hot chocolate?"
"That would be great."
Aika hopped up. "I'll go get some!"
Vyse put a hand on Aika's shoulder, pushing her back down. She flinched slightly under his touch, hiding it by turning it into a shiver. Vyse smiled. "I'll get it. You two stay here, I'll be back in a bit."
He climbed down the ladder and sighed, his cheerful manner no more. 'Now for the hard part. I have fifteen minutes to do this. Fifteen minutes'
He hopped into the smaller boat, taking off. He immediately sunk as far as he could go, hiding himself from view. Once he was below the clouds he stopped, entering Glacia from the entrance at the bottom. As soon as he could put the boat to rest he did, jumping out. Immediately he felt the old power, great, but faded. He followed the trail until he came to Rykan's final resting place. Though it had been a long time since the archwale had died, the carcass was still partly there. "Must be the cold," he thought aloud. He drew his cutlass, walking to a spot where the flesh was still clinging to the bones. "I'm sorry, Rykan," he muttered before slicing off a bit of the decaying flesh. He took a plastic bag out of his pocket, dropping the flesh into it. He quickly replaced the flesh into his pocket, running back to the boat.
Vyse reached the ship without any troubles at all, securing the dinghy quickly. He made his way back to the lounge, hoping that no one had disturbed his work. Everything was in the same place as it had been when he left. He took at a three mugs and three packets of hot chocolate, dispensing them into the mugs. Finally, with a grimace on his face, he put on a plastic glove from his pocket, reaching into his other pocket. He pulled out a small piece of the silver rope that had left scars on his wrists. Taking a deep breath, he dropped it on his forearm.
It took all of his self-control not to scream in pain as he watched the rope burn his flesh away. After a few seconds, he removed the rope, dropping it on the floor like it had burned his covered hand. Sighing, he held his arm for a few moments, his eyes closed. He reminded himself of the time limit he had and opened his eyes, moving as if in a dream. He found some bandages and began to wrap the burns. He knew they would heal quickly, but it would still leave a slight scar. 'How many more times am I going to have to do this?' he thought, picking up the rope. He tucked both the rope and the glove into his pocket, flattening it so that it appeared empty.
Only moments later the door opened, revealing a worried looking Aika. "Hey, Vyse, are you okay? You've been down here for at least fifteen minutes..." she trailed off, taking in the details of the room, her eyes coming to a stop on his bandaged arm. She gasped. "Oh my goodness, what happened?"
Vyse didn't miss a beat, wincing genuinely. "I spilt hot water on myself, nothing big. There's a hole in the kettle. Don't know how it got there."
Aika went over to the kettle, inspecting the hole. "It looks like it was burned. Do you think all that hot water finally got to it?"
"Most likely. Either that or we have metal eating rodents on the ship."
Aika chuckled, looking at the bandage. "Sure you're alright?"
He looked at the bandage, sighing. "Yeah, I'm good. I just wish I could get Fina some hot chocolate, she must be freezing up there."
"Don't worry about that," reassured Aika. "I'll see if there are anymore blankets. That way we won't have to share and she'll be warmer. How long are we staying, anyways?"
"Until tomorrow, whenever tomorrow is here. Then I want to head to Valua to visit Enrique. Think he'll look forward to an unannounced visit?"
Aika smiled. "Of course! I'm sure Moegi misses Enrique, too. Took a lot of courage for her to leave her husband to come with us for a bit."
Vyse grinned. "I think I'm going to have to tell her to stay with Enrique before it turns into a Polly and Robinson thing. Besides, long distance relationships never work out, do they?"
"Not in most cases. I'll get the blankets, you go on up to Fina, I'm sure she's wondering where we are right now."
She left without waiting for him to respond again, as if she had suddenly grown nervous around him. 'Why do you make things so hard?' Vyse thought. He looked at his bandage sullenly before sighing, heading back up to the look out post.
-
And it's over! Yeesh, that took time, didn't it? I think I'm getting into the pattern of one update per month, a monthly treat for all of you. Let's not consider how long it's been since Shivers got updated. It'll be too embarrassing. School's settled down, but, just like my mother, I can always find something to complain about. But on a lighter note.
I have the weekend, so I will start working on the next chapter soon. I think that it'll start becoming more romantic after this. I've been thinking about this next chapter for so long, I practically have the words memorized. Isn't that sad? But let me stop rambling.
Please review.