Chapter 1-1: When life starts moving.
"Oi! Vincent, isoginasai We're going to be late," cried a feminine voice. Isoginasai means Hurry up!
In the male's dressing room, a dark-green-haired bard was busy trying to tie up his cape. He was in his properly-made bard outfit, which had his shirt tucked in and neatly arranged. Not only that, he stands at a mere 5 feet 5 inches tall. "Uh… right!" he replied, not knowing what language she used when she called for him. But, the "We're going to be late" literally gave away what she was trying to say, though, so it didn't matter that much to him.
He came running down the stairs with lots of ruckus, and through the crowd of crew he squeezed through. Luckily, he was quite slim and tall, so people might make way for him – and if they didn't he could at least try to slip through.
He eventually stopped by a huge stage – the curtains weren't drawn yet, and the crowd was making a lot of noise. He saw his partner, and adjusted his spectacles and prepared himself.
"Vincent! You baka, you're late!" whispered the silver-blue-haired dancer with anger. Baka literally translates into Idiot, moron and the like.
She approached him, and the difference in height became obvious. Her silver-blue-hair made her stood out. Her eyes were – surprisingly – grey in colour, and she stood high at 5 feet 8 inches, severely injuring Vincent's pride as a boy – who are expected to be taller than the girls at this time of the age. Her figure was near perfect, and was very similar to another persons figure. Her skin was nicely taken care of, as it appeared flawlessly smooth and fair. Not a single scar could be found on her.
She was wearing the irresistible dancer outfit, which made her look really sexy. It took her a really long time to get used to this – she felt like some kind of a weird nude star at first, but when people began to stop bothering her about this, she slowly adapted and blended within. Her skirt covers from the back of her waist, right down to the ankles while she only has her undergarments on – which – obviously – leaves the rest of herself exposed. That's not the end of it, for they are going to act a play to the whole village of Comodo.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "My cape wouldn't stick, and the cool thing about bards-"
"Hai, hai Bards get those cool capes. I know, so stop telling me already," she then began shoving him towards the opposite side. "Now get into position! We can't screw this up – or my sister will screw us around," Hai, in this situation, is used as Yeah.
Hesitantly, he moved towards the other side. A small, wooden stool was waiting for him to sit on, and he did so, taking 2 deep breaths to push away his nervousness. This time, the crowd is simply tremendous – it's probably the whole of Comodo village watching their play. Well, after all – with a beautiful dancer like her and a talented but stupid bard like him, why not? Her seemingly perfect dances – which her sister always find some unnoticeable flaw to boss her around with – and his wonderfully yet coincidentally suitable music created the best pair there is around.
Without a doubt, though, that was what he thought.
"I warn you - don't you dare daydream. Zero-kun's skills are ten times better than yours, but yours are just… ugh, I don't even know how to describe it," she threatened while glaring furiously at him.
If there's a –kun behind someone's name, it normally means the person who mentioned the name and the person with that name are close.
Oh, that's right. That dimwit Zero… he forgot all about him, the top student in class. He still remembered that day when their lecturer remarked on how a person like Zero could actually transcend much earlier than all of them. Upon that thought, his blood began to boil. At the same time, the curtains began to draw…
Half way through, though, Vincent let out a roar that disgusted every single person in the audience. The dancer only stared at him; her eyes were twitching, in her eyes you could see a ball of flame being rekindled into a forest fire.
"Axial, why? Why must it be him?" he exclaimed loudly, catching everyone's attention. It was supposed to be a play, after all, but theirs was more focused on dancing and performing rather than conversations.
"Uh, Vincent, I don't know what you're talking about…" she said, scratching her head while forcing a smile at the same time. She couldn't run up to him and throw him around like a cursed, voodoo doll – trying to injure the person that the doll is "imitating", which would probably be Vincent anyway.
The dark green, messy haired bard turned around to see all the audience's attention towards him. He knew it – they thought it was part of the play.
"Fine… fine. Let your dance show me everything Your one and only, beautiful dance that every mankind has longed for!" he played along, showing an annoyed face before he sat back on the stool. He knew it – Miya's going to kill him. Hell, he could assure, although he didn't want to be smacked around by a mad woman like her.
He held up his lute. His fingers breezed through the strings in a proper order, in a very soft manner – while, at the same time, timing the tune… and the volume. Everyone recognized what song he was playing, and it was a beautiful song indeed, among the only songs which he actually perfected – the Song of Lutie.
And so their play finally began… With the slow, graceful dance.
"She's all grown up now, isn't she?" A Sage, who was sitting at the front row, remarked.
"She sure is, dear," answered the priestess beside.
The Sage was grizzly haired, and his skin complexion was of an old man's. But that doesn't put him at the back row – for he is still energetic and living healthily. In fact, he is still working out his duty as a Sage… as THE Sage of Judo.
The priestess, who was sitting beside him, had highlights of grey-ish hair that partially camouflages itself within her bright, blonde hair.
"Hey! Mom, Dad," A long, green haired alchemist whispered from behind. "Where do you think Natsumi is?"
"Well, I think she did tell me that she'll be here… with someone that she'd like all of us to meet," the Sage answered.
"What?" she said in a raised tone, which caused everyone to hiss at her. Looking back at her parents, she continued. "Any idea where they might be?"
"Ayla dear, she might be late, you know," the priestess then requested that she sit down and watch the play that her youngest sister is performing in… the play that her eldest sister thought of.
Annoyed, tempted yet without a choice. She simply sat down and looked everywhere else except the stage, her mind only wondering just what the hell Natsumi is doing.
"Kaz… please," a scarlet haired alchemist pleaded.
She was pulling a crusader towards the Bards and Dancers Academy of Comodo. She was petite – 5 feet 3 inches, but that doesn't make her any less pretty, for she worked hard for her very own body. Yup, something that she was very proud of. Her scarlet haired was pulled back with a simple pink hair band, and her hair was at shoulder's length. Her nose was sharp, and she had thin lips. Her eyebrows were nowhere near thick, but her eyes were of a pair beautiful, priceless amethyst.
"No, I'm not ready yet," which put her pleads to a waste. The crusader managed to break himself free from her tight grip.
He was a rather large sized man – his, seemingly, extra large plate mail makes him look extremely bulky. The cape that was stuck to his back, didn't help much either, but he does stand at an exact 6 feet with pride. He had a single scar that seemed to be a graze from some object. It was diagonal from his right to his left, and was located on his forehead. Not that it matters too much, but it seemed to resemble something.
His dark-crimson hair was covering one of his eyes, although it was only slight. But, he didn't think of that as a nuisance, but rather as something to his advantage. Because of his eyes. They were the eyes of a devil, despite how it was of a unique topaz. It was the irregular shape of his pupil. They weren't circle, they were oval… and, longitudinal. It made him look like a devil, but it was because of this difference that Natsumi managed to have her very own eyes beautify his when they were stuck on him.
She sighed, before turning him towards him. "For me,"
"You always say that,"
"Because it's always for me,"
"What about me?"
Boy, that really shut her mouth up.
"I… I'm sorry, I'll –"
"No… you're right,"
The dark-crimson haired crusader's face turned gloomy.
"Because of that… you…" she paused there. Her mouth moved but there was no air movement through her trachea – through her throat. There was no sound, like she became dumb.
The crusader, Kazuya, took the opportunity. "I know how strict your parents are, although they've been quite lenient to you on other aspects,"
Natsumi looked at him in his eyes that have never scared her ever since the day she saw him.
He had a really faint, light blush on his cheeks. She looked so… beautiful, yet so sad and pitiful… He knew what would make her much more pretty… at least, in his view.
"I'll go," he said with a smile. Her tears trickled down her face, which was smiling faintly. He used the back of his palm and gently wiped away her tears. "There, there…" both of them hugged each other shortly before something struck her mind, which broke the hug.
"Oh no, I forgot that we're totally late!" Kaz scratched his head.
She held his hand and began pulling him. "Come on, let's go," she added. This time, with enthusiasm.
A huge round of applause echoed throughout the village as the play had finally ended. Both Vincent and Axial stood side by side and bowed, and exited the stage – one with an exhausted body and another with his fingers that are about to drop off.
And yet, the worse has yet to come.
"You two, here, now," Miya ordered. The exhausted pair barely walked and sat on the bench that Miya was standing in front of.
"Miya onee-san… please…" Onee-san means sister. There is also Onee-chan, but –san is more polite.
"You know what I want," she said while putting on her annoyed looks.
Vincent sighed. "I was angry, it's that simple,"
"Oh really?"
He nodded.
"You better thank the audience that you received such applause," she said while looking away.
Both of them, especially Vincent, let out a long sigh of relief.
She looked at the exhausted pair. Maybe she's too hard on them… just, maybe.
She slapped her hand on top of Vincent's head and began scrubbing his hair – making it messier, while saying, "I guess for once I can say 'Good job' to both of you,"
"Yeah, but your hand is saying a complete different thing,"
She withdrew her hand. Wasn't that the way to have some good effects or something like that on a person? Well, she casted everything aside. "Ok, Vincent… Go home,"
Well, he was about to do that anyway. After all, all the cleaning up of the back stage and other stuffs are done by the rest of the crew, not the performers – especially after those types of plays - plays that lasted for what seemed to be a life time.
When the door slammed shut, the sisters were left with each other. Miya went and made herself comfortable right beside Axial, who had no energy left to move her body.
"Tired?"
"Very,"
The silver-blue-haired dancer giggled upon hearing her youngest sister's answer. "I used to be you, you know…"
"But, onee-san, you're still a dancer… you can still dance, right?"
"I'm aged," she said before she held up her hands. She couldn't hold them still, they were shaking much more than she used to… much more than she expected. "I can't dance in this type of condition,"
Axial looked at her.
"Don't worry I'm still dancing too. Except this time, I'm dancing through you,"
Both of them smiled before Miya stood up. "Okay, time to see mom and dad,"
"And Natsumi onee-san too?"
"Yeah," Miya held her hand towards Axial to pull her up before both of them slowly went out the door.
Out in the hallway, they bumped into a navy haired bard who seemed to be looking for company.
"Zero-kun!" she said upon noticing him. Miya saw the looks in her sister's eyes. She whispered into her ears, "When you're done, you know where to go," before she continued on without her.
"Aki!" he replied before both of them ran towards each other, followed up with a warm hug.
When they were together, it was obvious both of them were of the same height. He was wearing the academy uniform, which was basically a white collar shirt with light brown pants, and the standard bard shoes. His eyes were cerulean, and rather almond-shaped but otherwise normal.
He wasn't those big strong boys with muscles. Well, what kind of bard would be that kind of a man? He was slim and it was clear that he had to maintain himself to achieve the proper figure.
"I was so nervous" Axial told him.
"Haha, but you did great," he gave his comment.
"I did? Demo, I would've been better if they chose you, Zero-kun" Demo means But.
Zero merely smiled. Actually, he didn't want to go for the play. Having the whole of Comodo watching him, and with his so-called perfect skills, everyone would probably "fall in love" with him and his music. Not that he didn't like that kind of reaction, but his life won't be the same when that happens.
Then something came across his mind. "But, Aki, why did Vincent act so weird?"
"Oh, Vincent? That baka… he was late," she said grumpily.
"I'm sure that wasn't why he acted so weird,"
She then used her fingers to "play" with her hair. "Because I told him that Zero-kun's skills are ten times better than his," Her eyes then looked away.
The bard chuckled. "You don't need to tell him that," he told her. Within his mind, he added, "I don't need to have yet another enemy,"
"Demo, it's true!"
He placed his fingers onto her lips. "Where is Miya-sama?" he inquired.
-Sama is normally used for someone with higher authority or someone who is respected, well-known, etc.
"Miya onee-san? She went ahead without me to our otou-san and oka-san,"
"By 'otou-san' and 'oka-san', you mean your parents?"
She nodded.
"Okay, let's go then,"
"Why do you want to see her?"
"I have some questions I would like to ask… and, besides, I guess meeting your parents won't be so bad,"
Both of them then followed the very same direction that Miya went at. They had a conversation with each other, but no audible dialogue could be heard. However, if you were to observe them a little closer, their hands…
Meanwhile, back at their house…
"Natsumi dear, what took you so long?" asked the brown haired priestess.
"Yeah! You promised you'd come by!" Ayla added.
"Sorry. We had a few problems on the way, and when we reached there…"
"The crowd was too big, eh?" the sage cut in. "I knew it, even I thought so. To have the whole of Comodo watch that play… Miya absurdly went too far,"
"I'm sure she didn't mean that," another priestess with jet black hair gave her comment. "She just wants people to know about Axi, that's all…"
"Even so, the whole of Comodo?"
"Anyways, Kaz I think you can come in now," she said before the crusader came in.
"Oh Natsumi, where did you get this hot little tin can, eh?" she said sarcastically while poking her shoulders.
"Please, Ayla. I'm not comfortable with you poking me," she said, trying to keep her cool in front of her lover.
A sweat drop trickled down the timid crusader's face before he introduced himself. "Uh… hello everyone, I'm Kazuya… Kazuya Riserdense,"
Everyone gazed at him blankly, except Natsumi – who was scratching her head upon their reaction.
"D-do any of you want to… you know, ask me q-questions?"
Instantly, everyone zoomed past Natsumi – towards him, and began showering him with so many questions, all at the same time, that he couldn't do anything but smile.
"Damn it, one at a time!" Natsumi exclaimed loudly, which made everyone zipped their mouth. Kazuya merely chuckled softly.
Suddenly, a voice from outside shouted, "Mom! Dad! I'm baaaaaaaaaaack"
The door was barged the very instant the shout stopped. Miya came in, to see a crusader staring at her.
"Well, well… who might you be?"
"Uh…" The crusader was too distraught to respond. He still remembered how Natsumi told him Comodo has many, many dancers and that he had to control himself, but Miya was the very first dancer that he saw during that day. The… exposure made his nose bleed… seriously.
Everyone backed away from him with disgust, except Melissa – who reached for the Willow Environmental Friendly tissues that were nearby and began to follow protocol. She made him sit on the nearby couch, with his head facing up words, so that the blood doesn't drip out.
"Okay… I'll go get something else for me and Axi to wear," she said before she went up the stairs.
Natsumi was sitting right beside her lover. She was worried about his nose bleed, but even more worried about how she's going to tell everyone her recent, little secret that no one except Kazuya knew about. Everything went wrong – she expected him to introduce himself smoothly, and then everyone asking questions about him properly. She, in particular, didn't expect him to have a nose bleed when he saw a dancer, and of all dancers… it was her eldest sister. But, well, she should've seen it coming. After all, how can everything happen the way you want it to?
Melissa was right beside the scarlet haired alchemist. She was scrutinizing her looks and her reactions. Natsumi used to be very calm, things like this won't worry her. A worried Natsumi means something big happened, and… well… Melissa noticed it. But, just what could've been big enough to worry her?
Natsumi then called out to everyone, requesting them to be seated around the living room. They all did what she said, some feeling sorry for Kazuya while others – more specifically, Ayla – was laughing her ass off.
"Everyone, I have something to tell you…" Upon hearing those words, Kazuya immediately faced her, not even caring about his bloody nose.
At the corner of Natsumi's eyes, she noticed him looking at him. His hand laid on her shoulder, and her hand laid on his hand.
Her eyes turned back towards everyone. They were on all ears, just as she expected.
She took in a deep breath before her mouth opened, only to have one single word leaked out: "I…" and then she stopped there.
"Natsumi dear, you can go ahead," Rachael said, her words pushing Natsumi's nervousness.
"Um…"
"So, this is your house?" Zero questioned.
"Hai!" Axial replied enthusiastically.
"Well, shall we?" Both of them then approached the entrance. Just as they were about to open the door, they heard everyone exclaiming "What?" loudly, all in perfect unision. The bard and dancer looked at each other with wonder, before they barged in through the door. Man, that door's going to break really soon if everyone were to constantly barge in…
