Girl in Gaea: The Untold Story
By Brenli and AmetrineButterfly
Chapter 6
Okami had felt alone for nearly all of her life, but never was it this bad. Her only friend and true ally, Kitsune… they were enemies now. And threatening her? Okami didn't know what had gotten into her. But Okami knew what Folken was after, and if Kitsune was fool enough to eat up everything he said, then she would have no choice but to get rid of Kitsune. The blonde woman wiped away more tears. "This sucks." What was worse, was that Okami had nowhere to go. She now was aware of her power, but it was still hard to believe that she could fight Folken and his nation alone. She needed allies… then it came to her. The Abaharaki! They would probably still be stuck in that canyon, repairing their caravan! She could find her way back there, all she needed was a horse. Good. Now she had a plan.
She hastily made her way to the stables, trying her best to avoid any passerby. She made it there with little effort, and moved to the nearest horse.
"Okami."
Letting out a startled gasp, she spun to see Dilandau standing behind her.
He looked tired and stressed as he stared back at her. "… What do you think you're doing, Okami?" He tried to sound bored, but the words came out tight with restrained emotions.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" She turned her back to him, strapping her bag behind the saddle. "I can't stay here, especially if you're here." Her voice trembled slightly with her last words.
"So you're leaving… just like that?"
"What of it? It's not like you'll miss me…"
Dilandau felt a pinch in his chest. "Don't be stupid." He scoffed. "You don't have anywhere to go."
"How stupid do you think I am? Even if I didn't have anywhere to go, anywhere is better than a place that wants me dead."
Dilandau absorbed the honest words, not knowing how to respond. Because it was true. This place wanted her dead. Well, Folken wanted her dead, anyway. "… Oh, do we want you dead?" He asked nonchalantly. He lied nonchalantly.
"Again… how stupid do you think I am?" Okami glared at Dilandau. "Dilandau, ever since I was little, I've had this gift. I KNOW when people lie. I know when they feel sad. I know when they're angry, jealous, frustrated… I know a lot of things. And I know what you were trying to do today…" She choked slightly. "Forgive me but this whole thing is new to me. But typically, when someone tries to kill you, they're not worthy of your trust anymore. Do you really expect me to hang around here?"
No, he didn't. He really didn't. "… I… don't know…" God, he wanted to slap himself for sounding so foolish. "I just want you to know that there is… more to it than simply wanting to kill you, Okami." He tried his hardest to sound casual about the whole topic. He wondered if did a good job of acting or not.
"Whatever it is… I don't care. I was wrong about you! You're not human… you're a MONSTER!" Okami grabbed the horse's reigns, blinking back her sadness again.
The word hit Dilandau like one of her energy waves, settling inside of him. His heart felt like it couldn't beat the same way and it bothered him more than he would have liked. He knew what was wrong: he was hurt. Emotionally hurt. It had been so long since someone had really called him such a name, because it had been done before, and everyone knew he knew what he was. But it was different now. So different, Dilandau couldn't control his vocal cords as easily. "I WAS a monster… WAS a monster, Okami!" He cried. "NOW I'm just… a confused, broken… MESS of a man!" He stopped and blinked rapidly.
Okami cast an unreadable glance over her shoulder. Her eyes gave away that she was torn. But she quickly turned away again. "Goodbye, Dilandau." Okami mounted her horse, and rode off, leaving Dilandau behind.
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"Geez, Dallet, a little more hung up than you need to be, don't you think?"
"Shut up, Gatti…"
"I'm just saying… If Kitsune is hungry she will come down and get stuff herself."
"Shut up, Gatti…" Dallet repeated.
Gatti pointed at the bowl of soup Dallet cradled in his hands. "And a poor choice of food for her, anyway, Dallet."
"SHUT. UP. GATTI." Dallet left the noisy breakfast table, walking up to Kitsune's room. Dallet momentarily wondered if Gatti was right, at least about the choice of food. But that was literally all that was left of the food. He shook the doubt from him and knocked on Kitsune's door. "Kitsune?"
He heard a mild yawn and muttering. He heard Kitsune's body land against the door before opening it. "… Ohayooo…"
"… Did you not get a wake up call?" Dallet asked, puzzled.
"… Obviously not…" Kitsune muttered. "What is that…?" She pointed to the bowl in his hands.
"It's soup… It's your breakfast."
Kitsune looked at the soup for a moment before taking the bowl and rushing back to her bed, where she wrapped the blanket about herself before spooning a bit into her mouth. She grimaced.
"Bitter?"
Kitsune nodded. Dallet apologized. Kitsune shrugged and continued to eat. Dallet stood there for a few seconds before asking softly, "… Are you feeling better, today?"
Kitsune put the bowl down on her lap. "… I guess so… I'm not so… hysterical." She took another spoonful into her mouth. "… This soup really sucks, Dallet."
"I told you I was sorry. This is what happens when you don't eat breakfast with everyone else. You get the shit food."
"That's a lovely image."
"Isn't it?" Dallet smiled. "Listen… Kitsune… Considering yesterday's episode no one's really expecting you to whip out your sword… But you will need to eventually. You know that…"
Kitsune nodded solemnly. "… I know what I need to do. It doesn't mean I want to… But I will do it… at some point."
Dallet looked at her searchingly. She was so quiet it bothered him. "… The sooner the better, to let you know… If you put it off the less powerful you will be… compared to Okami..."
Kitsune laid the soup bowl down in her lap again. "… I guess the only thing that matters now is that I become Kitsune the Light Star, huh?"
Dallet frowned. "Kitsune –"
"That's okay, I guess. She'd survive in Gaea longer than the normal Kitsune…"
"… Maybe." He knew he had to agree with her. It was the cold truth. "… But don't lose touch with the 'normal Kitsune'…" He finally took a seat next to her. "If you do, I won't get to make fun of you for blushing and bowing…"
Kitsune smiled halfheartedly. "That would be a crime, ne?"
"An EVIL crime. I'd have to kill you for it." He watched her shudder at hearing the word, 'evil.' "I'm sorry…"
Kitsune absentmindedly waved her hand at him. "Don't be sorry or I'll make you finish off my soup!"
"A punishment worse than death?"
"Would you like to try the soup?"
Dallet shook his head wildly, the long, brown hair flying about his shoulders. A silence followed, and he knew Kitsune just wasn't the same anymore. It bothered him more than it should have. At least, that's what Gatti would have told him. That it shouldn't bother him so much. "… Kitsune, you're not happy here, and it's begun taking a toll on you…"
Kitsune blinked at him. "… Aren't you a bag of sunshine dust?"
Dallet shrugged it off. "… I'm sorry for it. That's all I'm saying."
Kitsune saw the sincerity in his eyes and gave waved off the apology. "… I'm homesick, I guess…"
"I don't blame you… I think we all got homesick, all of us here in the Cavalry… I think we all still do. But you really do get used to it, if you're strong enough. And you start smiling again." Dallet flashed his signature, light smile. "… I've decided to help make sure you're strong enough to do so."
"… Arigato, Dallet… Again."
"You're welcome, again. Kitsune. Consider it payment for such nasty soup."
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It took Okami longer than expected to reach the canyon, but it did give her plenty of time to map out a plan. She wouldn't tell the Abaharaki that she was the Dark Star, which would be a huge mistake. The last thing she wanted was another assassination attempt. The entire time she rode, she tried her best to keep Kitsune and Dilandau far from her mind. She knew she would just be better off forgetting about them, even though she knew they would eventually meet again.
Bringing her horse to a stop at the canyon ridge, Okami observed the damaged caravan below, workers milling around it in an attempt to fix it. She dismounted her horse and pulled off her bag. "Ok, big guy." She spoke to the horse. "You have to go back. If they knew I was with the Black Dragon Clan, they wouldn't trust me." The horse stood fast, clearly not understanding. "Get out of here!" With a quick smack on the rump, Okami made the horse run off, back in the direction she came.
Shouldering her bag, Okami wondered if she was making the right decision. She knew nothing about the Abaharaki, and as she descended the canyon into the basin, she wondered still if this was true.
She cautiously approached the workers, although none of them seemed interested in her. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad?
"Who are you?" A male voice asked, and Okami spun around to see a tall, impressive looking man in black armor.
"I'm sorry." Okami said, maintaining a passive tone. "Am I not supposed to be here?"
The man's eyes narrowed. "No."
"I see." Okami crossed her arms. "Then where do I sign up?"
"Sign up?"
"Yeah. I'm interested in joining the Abaharaki? Why else would I be here?" She let her gaze wander up and down his body. "So who's your leader, anyway?"
"You're looking at him." The man said flatly.
Okami's eyes widened. "Oh."
"And the Abaharaki are serious fighters. We aren't bodyguards, we aren't babysitters." He returned Okami's wandering gaze. "There's not much promise to a woman who doesn't carry a sword."
Tossing a chunk of curly hair over her shoulder, Okami shrugged. "Why don't you give me a sword? See what I'm capable of before turning me away?"
The blonde man frowned. "The Abaharaki is always in search of new fighters. So I suppose we could give you a chance…"
It didn't take much convincing for the man called Allen to let Okami into the Abaharaki, considering she virtually wiped the floor with anyone who attempted to spar her. It was incredible to Okami, how talented she was with a sword now, and how merely drawing a sword gave her this knowledge. She never used her powers when she sparred with the Abaharaki men, bearing in mind that it would be a dead give-away to who she really was.
"What is your name?" Allen asked as Okami brought another opponent to the floor with little effort.
"…Okami." She said, first hesitating to give her name, but then realizing they wouldn't know who she was anyway by a mere first name.
"Okami…" Allen repeated. "Welcome to the Abaharaki."
"Thank you." Okami bowed.
"Millerna will give you armor and a sword. You two seem to be about the same size…"
A woman with a long auburn ponytail and very skimpy armor smiled. "That's me." She told Okami, when she looked confused over who this 'Millerna' was.
"Oh." Okami wanted to frown, but she kept a passive look on her face. If Millerna was going to be giving her some armor, it would probably be just as scanty as hers. That would suck.
"Come with me."
Okami followed Millerna into the caravan, introducing random members of the Abaharaki, which of course, Okami knew she would never remember. But she knew it would be alright, she would be spending a lot of time with these people.
"I'm glad that another woman fighter has actually joined us!" Millerna said excitedly, as she lead Okami into a bedroom. Okami took note that it was so plain compared to the extravagant rooms of the Black Dragon Clan. "I have the perfect set of armor for you."
Millerna moved over to her closet, and flashed a glance back to Okami. "You seem to like black…" She noted Okami's black pants and shirt and dug into her closet. "You have a nice figure, but don't let any of the guys paw your ass."
"Oh I don't think I need to worry about that. It only takes one broken hand for them to leave me alone, right?"
Millerna laughed. "You know? I think I like you, Okami. We're gonna be good friends." She pointed at a bunk bed. "The caravan is short on space, so you'll be rooming with me for a while."
"That's alright."
Millerna threw a set of black clothes at Okami, which consisted of a pair of black short shorts, black thigh highs, and a long sleeve black shirt. "Put those on." Millerna said. "I have silver armor pieces in here somewhere."
Okami did as she was told, making sure Millerna's back was turned when she changed her shirt, and immediately sliding the sleeve over her wrist. After everything was on, she sighed with relief. Her midriff was covered, which she was extremely grateful for. The only sliver of flesh visible was her thighs between the short shorts and thigh highs.
"Here." Millerna piled pieces of silver armor onto the bottom bunk of the bed. "Pick what you would like." She set a pair of black boots and a sword with a belt attached down as well. "When you're done, meet me in the control bridge."
Okami frowned at the closed door when Millerna left, and then she picked up a pair of silver gauntlets. "These are cool." She slipped them over her wrists and chose a silver chestplate. There was still a pile of other armor pieces, but Okami ignored them, satisfied with her current selections. She stomped into and laced up her boots. She clicked her belt on and the sword fell smoothly to her left hip.
When her ensemble was complete, she surveyed herself in the mirror. So this was her new reality? It worked for her, perhaps. But something inside her felt sad. She couldn't quite figure out what is was. Sure, she could read others like a book, but when it came to herself? She might as well try to read Greek first…
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'He's offered you food, even.'
Kitsune froze, hearing that familiar voice from far away. "Toshiyo…" She blinked rapidly. The Toshiyo before her wore Dallet's warm smile and had his hair tied back.
Toshiyo's smile turned into Dallet's smirk and he let loose his hair, Kitsune watching it fall neatly to his shoulders. 'He calls you cute things and now he's feeding you, too. That's some competition, isn't it?'
Kitsune shook her head and reached out for him, trying to run her fingers through his new, long strands. "Toshiyo-"
He was gone again. Kitsune was standing alone once more, breathing in an erratic rhythm. This was the second time she'd had a vision of this nature, and she hated it almost as much as her vision of the torn horse. Kitsune rushed to her window and stared up at the sky for a short moment. Somewhere way out there was Toshiyo, and she would be frightened half to death if he really did have long hair now and smile like that. What, was he happier now that she was out of his way?
She could not stand there and keep wondering something like that. She needed to leave. So she did, stepping out of her room and proceeding down a flight of stairs… She was heading to the training room and she had no idea why. One would think she'd avoid it like the plague.
She smiled bitterly. Oh, she wanted to avoid it like the plague. But she knew she couldn't. Not if she wanted to remain alive. She stood there, staring at the closed door. Part of her actually wanted to open it.
She didn't need to. "Kitsune, hi." Dallet greeted, pulling her in by her tattooed wrist. "Come here."
Kitsune was pulled into the training room where several of the Dragon Cavalry had appeared to have taken a break from their training. Dallet had obviously been sparring with someone, as he held his sword and let sweat trickle down his forehead. He was a mess, really, but Kitsune still found him terribly attractive. The sweat reminded her too much of drops of shower water running down him.
"Kitsune," Dallet said to her softly, motioning with a nod of his head towards the center of the room. Kitsune blushed and quickly turned her gaze to Dilandau, who stood fully armored amongst the men about him.
" … is believed to still be with the Abaharaki, so we're returning to the canyon. They might be picking up the mess we made for them…" Dilandau tried to give off a satisfied grin, "… So the attack will be easy. But don't wimp out on me. You're gonna run in there and go for the KILL, you understand? … Except for the Wing Goddess. If you kill her, I'll have to kill you. And I'll enjoy it."
Kitsune frowned thoughtfully. It didn't matter how little time she'd known Dilandau. He was trying way too hard to be heartless. He was trying so hard it was difficult to take him seriously.
"Dallet!"
Dallet let Kitsune's wrist go and went to Dilandau. "Yes, sir?"
"You're not playing guard anymore. The Light Star seems smart enough to know when to stay back."
"Yes, sir!" Dallet replied obediently.
"Good. Now armor up and mount your horses." Dilandau left without another word.
"Dallet…" Kitsune followed him as he left the training room quickly.
"… Are you not ready?"
"… I don't know."
Dallet turned around to give her an apologetic look. "I know it feels soon. But… at least you're not fighting."
"Yet."
Dallet paused. "… Yet." He offered her a smirk. "… You'll be fine for today. Just remember to stay out of trouble. If you get into trouble I'll have to run in and save you."
Kitsune turned her gaze to the ground.
"… Get your armor, Kitsune."
"Oh, right!" Kitsune sprinted off.
"… She certainly isn't handling her position very well, is she?" Guimel commented when she was out of earshot.
"This is pathetic. The Dark Star's gone awry, and the Light Star's a coward." Ryuon moaned.
"Hey, back off…" Dallet said defensively. "Don't you remember when you first came here? How completely scared you all were? We thought we ran a higher risk of dying by Dilandau's hand than by any act of war!" He pointing a finger at Shesta. "Shesta about pissed his pants all the time!"
"Hey…" Shesta said defensively, "It's harder when you can see visions."
"My point further proven…" Dallet said solemnly. "Kitsune can see visions, too."
Shesta blinked. "Really?"
"Her's are more like premonitions, but yes, and she's new to it." Dallet nodded. "… So lighten up on her. It'll be easier than giving her a hard time about being afraid."
There was a long silence among the members of the Dragon Cavalry, before they all broken into grins.
"Oh, Dallet! I am such a damsel in distress! Sigh, faint!" Shesta teased lightly.
"Never fear, my dear! If you get into trouble I'll run in and save you!" Gatti responded.
Dallet stared at them darkly, pointing at Gatti. "I already told you 3 times today, so…" His finger moved to Shesta. "Shut up, Shesta."
To be continued…