I'd like to say thanks to all who reviewed and how much that means to me. I started this as an experiment but with all the good reviews I had to put a lot more into this. So I had to bet the game and that took about a month of hard gaming to do. I was only in Episode Six when I stated writhing this. Anyway thank you all for your reviews. Runs off to play Makai Kingdom
booki booki: Sorry it took my a wile to update but after betting the game I had to retool some stuff.
The Rogue Shadow: Cutesy is good but this will get a little darker but that's much later on. Still I'm glad you like the Laharl/Marona thing I'm working on. I try to do odd couples and I just love it when reads respond well to them.
Goldamon X: Thank you for the 'this could be the start of the greatest Story ever' but if you set the bar so high I will only disappoint you in the long run. Still that is the nicest thing I've ever gotten here.
AirbenderSora: I took your advises and read thru this chapter so I hope it's better. No ones a procrastinator with video games you just get new ones and forget all about other one you were playing. True for me anyway.
GMan: Your right. I put Suzan when I meant to write Nyx. What happened was I messed up Sanjuro's name and when I corrected it I also changed Suzan to Nyx but I missed one. Sorry if was confusing anyone.
Shadow Rave: I know what you mean. You see so many Square soft Crossovers you'd think there by more for Nippon Ichi Soft.
Bella: I'll fess up I rifted the cute ear thing from Inu-Iyasha. I thought that being a crossover it was already AU but your right in I should label it so. In my defense I'll just say that most Fanfiction is a convenient excuse to pair boy A with girl B.
Lacto3.1415: I'm happy you like the crossover and I'm sorry for the lateness of my update
The Useless Sempai: Thank you. I was sure if forgot something when I spell checked the last chapter and sure of chorus I had hit the ignore all button for Terra Firma. I'm totally sincere when I say this, I find it helpful when someone will Pont out what I misspelled. I'm now paying more attention to the names of the places in the game as they appear in my story.
As for the question of where's Ash? I'll just say this. Not dead.
Kid-author: Grammar errors are a hard thing to have in a story but when a read can forgive that and still say it was good story is something I truly appreciate.
Again all things Disgaea and Phantom Brave are owned by Nippon Ichi Soft and not me.
Demon Brave
Episode Two
-Twilight of Love-
The sun was starting to set on Phantom Island when Marona and her demon solders returned fresh form their victory on Terra Firma. Everyone but Marona and Laharl seemed in high sprites. The newest residents of Phantom Island had bought some new weapons with the help of an old friend of Rosenqueens.
Sanjuro leaped off the hovercraft as he cut the night air with twin sliver flashes off his new long knifes. The blades of the knifes were over a foot long, two and a half inches wide with a single edge. The blades easily slid back into the sheaths on Sanjuro's hip.
"Those damn slime monster weren't a damn thing next to my mad skills."
"I often wonder what kind of braggart goes on and on about betting such lowly enemies, and now I have found one." Said Leo the knight with a flux accent and an air of nobility.
Leo just hopped off the hovercraft with out flare or grandeur but still looked cool. Over his shoulder was a black battle ax with a single black ax blade at the top with a sharp spike on the bottom. Leo could move like a whirlwind of death with that ax.
"That's all well and good for the two of you but some of us are new to this fighting thing." Rosenqueen said as she slowly climbed down a rope ladder with a large two handed sword on her back.
In life Rosenqueen was proud of her figure and athletic ability but combat was new to her and today had left her drained.
"Don't worry, I'll pick up any of slack." Gao said as she followed Rosenqueen down the ladder.
Gao said she didn't need any weapons so she got a change of cloths instead. Goa now had on a black halter top with a sliver fur lining around the neck and steel shoulder guards. Baggy white pants with a black belt and spiked black gloves finished the outfite. The new look was intend to showoff her midriff that was so ripped you could smash rocks on it.
Nyx and Notsuko the were next two off. Nyx didn't say anything and that was usual for her. Notsuko on the other had was all energy.
"What about the Werewolf Raphael. Did you see him run off after we kicked his sorry tail? My god I thought I was going to die laughing."
Marona and Laharl were the last to leave the hovercraft. Marona was somber and quite the whole trip back. She didn't even say a word as she head for her room.
"What's eating her?" Notsuko asked.
"The fake Raphael didn't run away because we kicked his tail. He ran off because of Marona's reputation as The Possessed." Laharl answered simply and followed Marona into the house.
There was a few dark moments of silent till Sanjuro spoke up.
"I don't know about you guys but I haven't had a good drink or meal as a phantom so how about we have a victory BBQ."
"That's the best damn idea you've had all day Sanjuro! My favorite combo of meat and booze!"
Gao cheered as she threw her fist in the air and started chanting meat and booze.
Leo shrugged nonchalantly.
"Why not? This is a good opportunity to get into the esprit de corps."
There was a clacking nose of Rosenqueen's abacus but she stopped before finishing her calculation.
"Were already so deep in the red that a little party won't put us in any deeper but after this we tighten up and work hard."
"Maybe we can cheer Marona up as well?" Notsuko add happily as everyone quickly started to dived up jobs.
Back inside her room Marona started to peel off her sweaty clothes as the memory of the day come back to her. The job had been a resounding success but the mayor had short changed her and Laharl had nearly flown off the handle at that. Still it brought a smile to her sad face when she recalled what Laharl had said to her.
'Just give me the word Marona! I'll raze this inbreed backwater island village so bad that their great-grandchildren with piss themselves with fear when they hear the name Laharl!'
Marona knew Laharl well enough to know that he was kidding and was just blowing off some steam, at lest she really, really hoped he was kidding.
Still it wasn't the money but the villagers that made Marona sad. They all called her The Possessed and said she was only there for money like every other Chroma. There was not one kind word of thanks for all she had done. After today her dream of being welcomed by everyone was seemed so far off.
There came a light knocking on her bedroom door and Marona quickly turned her back toward it.
"Marona?"
It was Laharl from out in the hallway.
"Hold on I'm still changing."
"Don't worry I'm not coming in. I just wanted to say something."
"What is it Laharl?"
"You did a good job today Marona."
Marona turned around quickly but she could hear Laharl's foot steeps as he headed down. Still she allowed the smallest of smiles to cross her cute face.
After Marona had changed back into her white summer dress she headed outside. Leo waved Marona over to sit around a bonfire with everyone. They where all drinking and joking with each other. Beer, wine, sake and lemonade and tea for the miners, that include Laharl much to his annoyances, was passed around and a toast was made.
"TOO LIFE!" Everyone chorused as clicked there glass together.
"Ahhh it's been too long since I had a good drink." Gao sighed as she took another drink of her sake.
"Too true, as phantoms we couldn't do anything we took for granted when we were alive. Eating, drinking, sleeping even just being abele to touch something." Leo agreed as he let Notsuko seek a sip of his wine.
Rosenqueen saw this and leaned over to Leo.
"Are you sure you should let her have alcohol?"
"It's just a sip. What harm could it do?"
"I wonder how useful any of you are? After all you all died once already." Laharl said without respect.
"I'll have you know that I died saving a village from a horde of a hundred monsters!" Gao yelled angered by Laharl brash comment.
"So what they just rolled over you."
"HA! I managed to defied ninety-nine of them before I died. Even then my outrage that one got way keep my soul bonded to this world and I became a phantom."
Gao crossed her arms and flashed a wining smile as both Marona and Notsuko ate up every word of her story.
"Wow! Your so cool Gao!" Marona cheered.
(We'd like in interrupted this fanfic for the true story of Gao's death. Feel free to skip on)
It was an open air café in Monetopia on a nice sunny day. It only damped was the loud Silver haired Amazon bagging on her table.
"Waiter, Waiter! Get your minimum wage ass over here!" Gao yelled as she slammed her fist against the table, shaking the huge towers of used plates that took up half the table.
A young man in a white and black ran over to his customer before she upset the other guest.
"Would you like your check?"
It was not so much phrased as a question as it sounded like he was pleading.
"This hamburger you gave me is medium-well and I asked for rare."
"But health officials say ground hamburger most be cooked for at the very lest…"
"Don't give me that Health department jazz. You know the golden rule of business, the customer is always right. So if want a tip you better get me a rare hamburger like I ordered and get it here pronto!"
"Yes right away!"
The waiter took off running as fast as his legs would take him but soon returned with a rare hamburger. Now satisfied with how the hamburger was prepared Gao happily bit into it and wolfed down half of it in no time. It was then that Gao felt a sharp pain in her stomach.
'Ohhhhhhh I bet a drink of beer will help with the digestion.'
Gao reached out for a mug of beer but her fingers went numb and her vision blurred. There was a horrible crashing as Gao feel into her table and overturned it. Even one in the café turned to see the Amazon warrior on the ground laying as still as death.
The next day The Times did a report on a costumer who died at a café after eating under cooked meat.
(We now bring you back to the fanfic)
Leo did not believe a word Gao had said.
"You are truly amazing madmazel Gao."
"Is that a hint of disbelief I hear in your voices Leo?" Gao asked.
"Non, it is outright disbelief."
Gao got up and marched over to the Knight and pulled his steel helmet off.
"I don't need criticism from a guy who won't show his face…!"
Gao stopped dead in her takes as she and everyone had was at their first good look at Leo. Long strands of fine blond hair waved like threads of spun gold that completely framed Leo's young and elegant faces. A lady killer smile, arch thin eyebrows, purified nose and sexy eyes. It all added up to one thing, Leo was a damn hot pretty boy.
Leo took advantage of the complete shock of his comrades and shifted the topic to Laharl.
"So Laharl tell me, how does an all powerful Overlord end up as a phantom?"
Laharl looked down into the melting ice cubes of his lemonade glass as he thought about Leo's questioned. It was a simple question so Laharl would give a truthful and simple answer.
"I committed suicide."
There was the deathly stillness that was broken briefly the shattering of Marona's glass as it slip from her hands.
Laharl grinned ruefully. 'That's right. I never told Marona that I took my own life.'
"If you'll excuse me, this conversation is getting depressing." Laharl said as he got up and left.
Whenever Laharl needed to be alone he'd always go up on top of the roof however Marona knew this. Sure enough when Marona pulled her self up to the roof form her balcony she saw Laharl. He looked oblivious to her laying on his back looking up at the night sky but he knew she was their. She sat down next to him and there the two waited in silences. The quite suited Laharl just fine but it was hard on Marona who longed to know more about him. As Marona sat next to Laharl she couldn't help but think of the first time they meet and it was far from a story book meeting.
A five year old Marona sat on her parents bed crying. There was no real reason for it but she suddenly had a deep longing to hear her father voice.
"They will come back! They will come back!" Marona told herself in between sobs but her heart told her that was not true.
There was a click as the front door of the house opened and Marona's heart jumped with joy.
'Their back! Daddy, Mommy and big brother Ash they all came back home!'
She ran down the stares expecting to see her beloved family waiting. Daddy would scold her for staying up late, mommy would make her a bed time snake and big brother might give her a piggy back ride. However when Marona reached the bottom of the steps those simple hopes and joys would be shattered forever. Instead of her family Marona saw a strange young boy with odd blue hair poking around her home like he owned it.
"Man what a crappy little house. I bet you could fit this whole thing in my old bedroom with space to spare."
There was a sudden crash as a plate went flying past Laharl's head.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my house!" Marona yelled as she had another plate ready to become a projectile weapon.
"Hey, hey just calm down I'm only here to give you a message from your father. He wanted me to tell you that he was sorry he'll never see you again and always remember that thing he always told you."
Even if Laharl had ripped out Marona's heart he could not have hurt her more the he did with those words.
"Daddy's not coming home but what about Mommy and Ash?"
"Those two wont be come back either."
There was another crash of a ceramic plate but this one struck home and hit Laharl's nose.
"Get out of my house you monster!"
Marona turned to run but Laharl was faster and grasped her elbow. Marona strangled against the steel grip that held her in place.
"Demon."
That word sent a chill down Marona's spine as she finally notes how unearthly Laharl was. There was no human warmth from the hand holding her, the pointy ears and cold red eyes. Marona carefully eked out a reply.
"What did you say…?"
"Demon. You called me a monster but I'm a demon. Your father Haze gave up his life so that I may be reborn into this world."
Marona didn't want this. She wanted her family back not this heartless monster. The unrightness of it all made her angry and she lashed out blindly at the cause of her miserly. She screamed, yelled, kicked and hit Laharl with balled fist as fresh tear ran from her eyes. Laharl just was just quietly took the abuse. Marona then felt Laharl's arms embarrass her in a hug as she cried, her tears staining his fine red scarf.
"I cried too. When my mother died, I cried too. I never said it but I really wanted was someone to hold me then. Not saying a word but just holding me as I cried."
Marona stopped fighting but her tears ran on for what seemed like hours. Laharl then picked the little girl up and took her to her room. He pulled open the covers of her bed and tucked her in for the night. Laharl even handed her a teddy bear form her toy box.
"Could you sing me a lullaby?" Marona asked with a sniff.
"What's a lullaby?"
"It's like a song."
"A song huh, I don't know if it qualifies as a Lullaby but there is one song I know by heart."
Red Moon, Red Moon…
Cleanses the sinful
And makes them anew
Shining brightly in the night sky
Waiting of the souls
Who will be born again tonight?
Who will be born again tonight?
"Not bad for you first lullaby." Marona said but she had stopped crying altogether.
Laharl shrugged taking that as a good review and started to levee Marona's room.
"My name's Marona but I didn't get yours."
"Laharl."
"Laharl, you don't have anywhere to go or anyone waiting for you right? So maybe you could stay here, with me, for a while?"
"Maybe I will stay here, if only for a little bit. First you have to tell me what it is that your father told you to always remember."
"Be kind to those who are mean to me and to use my gifts to help others. Then one day everyone will come to like me. That's what daddy always told me."
"Good night Marona and see you in the morning."
Marona sat next to Laharl on the roof of what was now as much his home as hers. The party must have ended as now the whole island was silent save for the splashing of the sea and rushing of trees. Marona knew she'd have to be the one to break the ice but how does one touch a very sensitive topic among friends.
"So how, I mean why did you…"
"End my own life?" Laharl finished for her.
"Yes. I know you don't like me asking about your past life but this is something I feel I should know about you."
Laharl sighed, shrugged and tried to be as opaque about it as he could.
"I was angry and did something foolish that cost the life of someone important to me. I gave up my life so they could live again."
"What was her name?" Marona asked with the smallest hint of jealousy coating the word her.
Laharl scratched the back of his head nervously as his cold and indifferent façade was starting to crack. 'Guess it's pretty obvious that I died for a girl.'
"Flonne, her name is Flonne. She was an angel of all things but keep going on about how even demons can feel love. I still have the pendent she gave me."
Laharl dug a beautiful blue tear drop pendent out of his pocket and it's pure light caught Marona eyes. Thru the light Marona saw how Laharl became so happy and at peace when he talked about Flonne and it hurt her. Marona buried her head in lap so she would have to look at him.
"Go away Laharl."
"What!"
"Just go away and find your way back to Flonne! there no reason for you to stay here if someone's waiting for you!"
Laharl smacked Marona on the back of her head so she would look at him.
"Don't be an idiot! I want to make this clear right now, I have no regrets. I lost my kingdom, my friends and the girl who showed me love but I'd do it all over again. Do you know why?"
"No."
"Because at the end of the sad and unfortunate chain of events I got to meet you, Marona."
Marona hugged Laharl tightly as if she was afraid he was disappear if she let him go.
"Promise me Laharl that you'll never do something like that again. That you won't leave me alone like that."
"I give you my word Marona."
Time stood still for Laharl and Marona as something pure and beautiful pulled them closer and closer together. Marona grasped one of Laharl's shoulders and leaned forward as he brushed his hand thru her hair. They both closed their eyes as their lips moved closer and closer together.
"Woo how! Laharl and Marona are going to suck face!" Cheered a happy albeit drunken Notsuko.
Marona and Laharl saw that the party hadn't stopped but had just move to the opposite side of the roof. Notsuko, Leo, Sanjuro, Rosenqueen and Gao were all peeking on Marona and Laharl. Sanjuro clamed his hand over the drunken girl's mouth to keep her quite as Rosenqueen glared at Leo.
"I told you that giving Notsuko wine was a big mistake."
"But it was only a small sip of wine!"
"That girl is bouncing off the walls after a tablespoon of sugar. What did you think alcohol was going to do to her?"
"Well I think we killed the mood anyway." Sanjuro said as he kept Notsuko quite despite the girls best efforts otherwise. Notsuko final did get free after biting Sanjuro's hand.
"You brat!"
Sanjuro said as he held his injured hand and Notsuko stuck her tongue out at him.
Gao smiled at the young couple of Laharl and Marona.
"It's amazing how advanced today's kids are in matters of the heart. But what a nice girl like Marona sees in a brat like Laharl I'll never know."
The talking stopped when they saw how angry Laharl had become. His eyes bright red and his scarf blowing about like an enraged snake.
"YOU JERKS!"
The spying demons scattered and Laharl gave chase full intend on doing harm to them. Marona just sat there blushing and thought that things may not be as quiet as they use to be.
Nyx sat by the dieing embers of the fire and finished one last cup of tea. She could tell by all the noise that her skills as a healer would soon be in need.
-Episode Two End-
Notsuko: It all started when I opened an old magic book in the library.
Marona: Damn it, now it's spread too Notsuko!
Notsuko: Fiftytwo magic cards came flying out. Each with a powerful magic spell and now it's my duty to get them all back. For I am Card Getter Notsuko!"
Marona: Card getter?
Notsuko: But I'm not alone in this mess as my school friend and cousin Marona helps out. She even tapes everything as I run around in these cute but sometimes reveling costumes she makes me. One of these days I have to tell her I don't swing that way.
(Notsuko holds up a portfolio of pictures with her in costume ranging for weird but cute to things that make Rosenqueen blush)
Marona: No! No! No! I'm not some dirty voyeur!
Laharl: Can I get those pictures in wallet sizes?
Marona: Laharl!
Notsuko: However I have a rival for the cards. Laharl from the Lee family wants them as well and now it's a race to get them all.
Laharl: Lee? When did I get into the Lee family?
Marona: Are you starting to see how weird and stupid this is?
Notsuko: Love is in the air as unclear relationships cross the hearts of myself, Marona, Laharl, my brother Sanjuro and Leo a family friend who both I and Laharl share a crush on but who more likely is after Sanjuro. It's a real love pentagon!
Sanjuro: Maybe we should just have an orgy and call it a day? He's trying to be funny
(Laharl and Marona start kicking the hell out Sanjuro for that line)
Notsuko: Join us next time on "Magical Card Getter Girl Notsuko" Episode Three-A Rival Appears
Notsuko: Get the Magic!
Marona: Please don't take any of this seriously. We're really not that messed up.
(In the background Laharl is still assaulting a helpless Sanjuro)