Seasons
Chapter VII
I spent the rest of the evening there talking about bad drivers, dumb subcultures and the worst recipes that we had the misfortune of trying. "And I said "A pie like that doesn't stay around the house for long. She didn't even know what I was talking about."
Nothing seemed odd until I went to the beach. It was warmer and the snow was gone. Even more noticeably Nami was there. "Hi Jack, what brings you here?" I looked around. The snow was gone but it was still a bit cold. That tacky guitar music was playing in the background.
I frowned, "You're listening to this bull again?"
She frowned "If it's so horrible, do us both a favor by shutting up and leaving!" She said frowning.
I smirked, "Do you like him? Wow Nami, even though you look like a man, I'm sure you could do better than that." Despite the fact that Nami and I argue a lot I rarely saw her get angry. You'd think she enjoyed arguing. However today was obviously different. Today was going to be a special treat because I was pissing her off. "You know, they say to each his own but; Travelocity! I'm on my way!" I yelled before falling to my knees laughing.
"Shut up bitch. You might as well laugh. You look like an anorexic teenage girl and you have less manners than a senile old fart in traffic. In any case you've been talking and laughing over the music for the past few minutes. Aren't you a bit early for the festivities? The firefly festival starts at sundown! And I'm assuming you'd wanna get changed first because right now you look like some decided to shit on the beach and it got up and started talking." She growled.
And growling too! "Thanks Nami. You make life a lot more comical." I said laughing. She punched me in the face and walked away. "Ouch." I said rubbing my nose. It was really only making it hurt more.
"That went smoothly didn't it? Why were you talking to her in the first place?" Keitarou said appearing in front of me. "You do know you're back in normal time don't you? It's almost time for the festival. Go get ready! Now!"
He seems to be in a bad mood, a very contagious one. I don't like his tone. He sounds bossy and obnoxious. I frowned, "What the hell are you talking about?"
He sighed, "What do you mean what am I talking about? I told you at least three times! The Harvest Goddess wants to speak with you tonight at the firefly festival. I told you this morning." For those of you wondering, the only one to have brought of any type of festival so far is Nami.
"And why should I go meet with her?" I asked smirking. She has goddess in her title That should say something. Harvest…Goddess. Hmm, this I've gotta see.
"Why are you smiling like that? It's disgusting!" Keitarou yelled drawing his sword pointing it at me.
"The sword again? Is there something wrong with you? Do you have some kind of insecurity that makes you feel the need to constantly point your sword at people?"
He frowned, "If you didn't have that stupid look on you face I wouldn't be pointing my sword at you!" He said putting it away. I don't have time for this. I went back to my farm. Cliff was there working.
"What are you doing here?" I asked confused.
"What are you doing up?" He asked rudely escorting me too my room. "Don't worry; Karli and I are taking care of things." He said slamming the door.
"You still need to talk to Demeter. You don't want to stand her up." Keitarou said sitting on my TV. "You again? What are you following me for?" He leaned forward, "You didn't whine before. Is that because you couldn't see me?" I frowned shoving him out, "If I could have seen you, I'd have gotten rid of you, and stay out of my bath!" I yelled.
The firefly festival was filled to the brim with people crying. Many of then looked as though they had just finished cutting themselves to Evanescence. Who here would be addressed as a goddess that actually wants to talk to me? Then I saw her. She was that girl I had seen on my farm the other day. She had just enough cleavage to ensure I wouldn't remember her face the next day. "You are Jack?" She asked approaching me.
"Yes. Are you Demeter?" She nodded. "I wanted to discuss some things with you about what's happening to you." She said sitting on one of the benches.
The mayor came up to me and handed me a flower not only bigger than my head but also heavy. "Um… thanks." I said nervously. He just skipped off like a kid in a really old person's body. I shook my head. How sad. I hope I die before I get that old.
"I wanted to explain what exactly is wrong with you. Keitarou gave you the ability to travel through the soul planes. However this is not some multi-purpose time and space traveling device for those alive. Even if you can travel though here, you cannot see where you are going because you are still alive. This plane drains the life out of those who come and the less life you have the further you can travel. You're still quite lively though" She said. This was beginning to sound like a lecture.
I sighed, "I don't know how to stop it." I said.
She leaned back, I see I suppose since you aren't alive it doesn't work by your focused thoughts but by your subconscious thoughts. I'm unsure of how to stop it myself however I will have Keitarou monitor you as my schedule is a bit tied up. He will report back to me so I can work on something to close the gate."
I sighed, "Why him? Couldn't you assign him to do those other things?" I whined. He doesn't have any cleavage for me to stare at while he's running his mouth.
She shook her head, "No. Besides, it's his fault in the first place, he should take some responsibility." She said with an angry expression. I have a feeling this is between them. When I looked away I saw my grandfather talking to someone I couldn't quite recognize. I got up and walked over to him. "Jake? What are you doing here?"
He started laughing, "Figures. Don't even know what the festival is for, do you? And stop calling me Jake, I'm your grandfather!" He said hitting me on the head.
"What is this festival for? Celebrating fireflies?" I asked brushing one off.
"Spirits of the dead return today and leave guided by lit flowers. The flowers are lit by fireflies. It's a long story but you'll figure it out, you're my grandson after all." He said scratching his head. "Since I have the chance to talk to you again, wanted to say you're doing good kid." He said putting his hat on my head. "Be back next year." He said disappearing.
"Bye." I felt a tap on my shoulder from cold, wet and clammy hands. "You know to the majority of people here, you look like you're talking to yourself." It was Nami. "You know, to the vast majority you look like a man." She frowned, "That one again? If I were so worried about looking like a man, I would put on a skirt. Hmm, what can you do? I know; nothing." She said smirking. I hate that smirk! She looks so conceited and generally stuck up!
I smirked, "You'd put on a skirt so you can show off your hairy legs?" I said. "Don't make assumptions. Are you saying that because you shave or do you just expect women to shave while you go around looking as hairy as you please?" She asked. Well, she's gotten me into the female box of twisting what you say. In any case whether I say yes or no is a bad answer for the sake of the argument. I snickered, "There are no right answers are there? You're definitely a woman. I'd better get out of here before I get punched again" I mumbled. I didn't mean to say it out loud.
I walked away to grab my flower. Demeter looks a bit irritated. Wow, I actually noticed she's irritated past her cleavage. Well, that's enough of that. She's talking again. I don't really want to hear anymore of this so I'll just stare at her breast. My picture was blocked out by Keitarou's sword. If he doesn't stop with that.
He leaned down, "See something interesting?" he whispered. I moved his sword from in front of my face, "You're joking about him watching me right? I mean, clearly you can see how annoying he is! He's crazy!" She looked as if she was thinking about it, "Well, if his father was dead I would have him watch you but that couldn't possibly end well." She said walking away.
"Karen is at the dock; maybe you should go talk to her." Keitarou suggested. If I'm not mistaken wasn't he trying to keep me away from her? What is he planning? Well, it's not my problem. She seemed upset so I got her some Wine.
Keitarou was behind me growling, "If you lay one sleazy hand on her I will... Hi Karen." He said no longer paying attention. That's odd, it's not like she can… Oh my God! I looked forward to see myself talking to Karen but it wasn't me talking to her. It was as though I was watching in third person. I looked down at my reflection in the water. Keitarou had switched places with me and now he was trying to hit on Karen!
End Chapter
I'm four days late.
