Secret of the Mask 2
Chapter 4
"Now then," Hahli said, "what brings you to Ga-Koro?"
Takanuva wasn't exactly sure how to answer this question and put his thoughts into words. Trying to sort his thoughts, he removed the tablecloth from Pewku's shell and attempted to fold it.
Since he was distracted, his folds were off and it made the tablecloth look like a mess.
"Here," Hahli offered with a chuckle, "I'll take that." The Ga-Matoran folded the tablecloth and put it away into a cupboard as Takanuva frowned sheepishly.
Turning back to the Toa, she said, "Would you like to take a seat?" She motioned to one of the chairs around her dining table.
"Thanks," the Toa said, settling himself instead on the floor, "but I don't think I'll take the chance. I've already broken most of Jaller's chairs."
Hahli waited for the Toa to chuckle, but he never did. Instead, the Toa lowered his gaze toward the floor.
She thought to press him again about why he had come, but decided against it. The Toa sighed.
"It's just…hard," he said, drooping his head at the final word. "Everything's so…different!" He looked up at his friend, wondering if he had gone insane. Hahli nodded understandingly. Feeling more confident, he continued.
"Everyone treats me…differently than they used to." He motioned outside. "Matoran used to ignore me, but now they chase after me…just because I found a mask." He lowered his eyes and tightened his fists. "I try to fit in with the Toa, but no matter how hard I try, I'm just so…so…"
"Different?" Hahli suggested.
Takanuva stared at her. "Yeah…" he said. He lowered his eyes, and then struck a frustrated fist to the dirt floor. "I'm tired of being different."
Knock, knock.
Takanuva and Hahli turned to each other with wide eyes. As Hahli approached the door, Takanuva quickly put the tablecloth back over Pewku and hid behind her.
Hahli opened the door cautiously and then gasped. "Why, Jaller! How nice it is to see you…" She glanced nervously behind her, wishing that her hut had a back door.
Jaller shyly stood on the doorstep with his two pointing fingers pressed together. "Hello, Hahli," he said. He began making imaginary circles on the ground with one foot, staring at it intently as he spoke. "I was just…erm…in the neighborhood when…" He stopped when he thought he heard something. "What was that?"
Hearing the sound of Jaller's voice, Pewku began chirping. "Quiet," Takanuva hissed, putting a hand over her mouth.
The Toa was not about to let go of this golden opportunity to hear his friend admit his feelings for a certain Ga-Matoran.
Unfortunately for Takanuva, Pewku didn't know she wan't supposed to make her presence known. She had the complete intention of knocking the Captain of the Guard over and licking him to death, no matter how oddly her owner was acting. She began to proceed to do this as the Toa held onto one of her legs for dear life.
"Did your dinner table just move?" Jaller asked. Before Hahli could stop him, Jaller tore off the tablecloth.
Jaller's eyes got as big as Kanoka Disks. "…Takanuva! What are you doing here?"
Takanuva shielded his mask with his arms. "Look, Jaller, I can explain –"
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr!"
Jaller pounced onto Takanuva's chest and began punching his mask. Though it escaped all logic that a Matoran could harm a Toa, Takanuva waited for death to come…again.
"Jaller!" Hahli shouted and dragged the Captain of the Guard off of his cowering friend. "It's not what you think!"
"Oh yeah?" Jaller retorted. He put a fist on his hip and pointing at Hahli suspiciously. "Then why was he hiding?"
Hahli narrowed her eyes and gestured at the Toa. "Is there any wonder, with how you just reacted?" She sighed in exasperation as Jaller thought about this.
"No, Jaller," she continued, "there is nothing going on between Takanuva and I! I just hid him there because some crazy Ga-Matoran were after him." Jaller looked guiltily over at the nodding Toa of Light.
"Plus," Takanuva added, "it seemed that the two of you were having such a nice conversation that I didn't want to interrupt..."
Takanuva winked in Jaller's direction and Jaller blushed.
The Ta-Matoran had the sinking suspicion that his friend not only had the element of light but must have been psychic as well – for how else could he have known that Jaller liked Hahli? In Jaller's mind, this wasn't as obvious as the fact that Ta-Koro was the Village of Fire.
Takanuva smiled and began making his way toward the door. He hunched over slightly as he walked across the room so as not to hit his head against the ceiling. "Now," he said, "I think I'll be lea –"
"No," Jaller suddenly said, which made the other two look up, "I think we'll be leaving now…"
The Matoran grabbed his friend's arm and began dragging him toward the doorway that no longer accommodated his tall Toa frame. Thus, Takanuva gracefully smacked his head against the top of the doorframe as Jaller dragged him through it. Pewku scuttled after them, slightly concerned that Jaller might break her owner.
Though it escaped Takanuva as to how a Matoran could drag a Toa around like a small rahi, Jaller didn't show any sign of slowing down until a feminine voice called after him.
"Oh, Jaller," Hahli said in a confused tone, "why did you come here?"
That was an excellent question, Jaller decided. Yet, like with Takanuva, it was a difficult one to answer.
"I, erm…uh…" Hahli looked expectantly at him. Finally, Jaller came up with a plausible answer.
"I wanted to ask you to a Kolhii rematch. Yeah, that's it…! Remember how you promised me one before we left on our quest?"
Hahli tilted her head to the side and rested her hands on her hips. Jaller gulped nervously, feeling as though she were probing his mind and she knew that this wasn't the true reason why he came.
After what seemed like a lifetime, Hahli smiled. "Yes, I did promise you a rematch, didn't I? Very well. When and where will it be?"
"Tomorrow," Jaller said, feeling slightly more relaxed. "At the Ga-Koro Kolhii Field. We'll see you there." With that, the two friends and the Ussal Crab left the Ga-Matoran hut.
As soon as they were out of hearing distance, Jaller turned angrily to his friend. "You were going to listen to me as I talked to her? What kind of a friend are you?"
Takanuva smiled, nodding his head as he spoke. "A curious one."
"Ugh!" Jaller slapped his hand against his mask and then let it slide down slowly. "Whatever. Let's get back to Po-Koro." Jaller marched forward, leading the way North to his temporary stay during the transition between losing his home in Ta-Koro and the Matoran's coming journey to Metru Nui.
Takanuva watched his friend, thinking of the Captain of the Guard's stubbornness in admitting his feelings for a certain Ga-Matoran.
With a grin, he muttered, "Kolhii-head." With that, he and Pewku followed their friend.
Author's Note: (hands cookies out to the reviewers) Thank you for your comments and support. :) May many cookies find their way to you.