Disclaimer: All appearing characters and places belong to Namco unless otherwise specified.
The O-dai themes belong to the Zeroshii-Wa, but it has closed down now. Ain't that so sad?
Setting: Alternate-Universe.
Warnings: Hey people, did you read the setting? Yes we did! Good, because this is kind of a school-trip-fic, set for some reason in Japan. Don't ask, I don't know.
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Normal Version,
#18 – Hot-springs
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Various yelps of surprise and contentment sounded around the rock-enclosed pool as the girls entered the water. Sheena, perhaps a little more used to the hot-springs' temperature, sighed happily as her body got used to the heat.
She smiled and turned towards one of the exchange students she was supposed to be guiding, a blonde by the name of Colette.
"Careful," she called, "It's pretty hot."
The girl smiled and nodded, stepping gingerly into the water and then easing down slowly. She panted a little. "Do the Japanese do this a lot?"
The black-haired girl shook her head. "Only old men," she answered, knowing pretty well that wasn't the complete truth, but there was no point in complicating things for the girl. She would have enough time to get to know the culture.
Colette looked around happily. "This is really pretty. I always thought these open pools would be cold, but it's pretty warm."
"The water is too hot for the air to be cold," Sheena laughed and leant back, looking at the sky. This wasn't a particularly expensive resort, but it was far enough from the city that no noises (besides the group's own) could be heard and the stars shone prettily on the sky.
Behind and a little to her back a wooden wall (a palisade almost) rose from the floor. It was perhaps three or four meters high and it divided the women and the men's area. Now that wall was something she was definitely grateful for – smaller hot-spring hotels had only one mixed pool, and that would only spell awkward for both parties.
"The stars are so different from my home," she heard Colette saying next to her. The blonde laughed sheepishly. "Then again I'm almost at the other side of the world. Eh, for me. For my country, I mean."
"...yes. I don't think I ever tried to look at the stars when I was abroad," answered Sheena.
"You wouldn't have been able," sighed Colette and sunk a little further into the water, "Most cities are too full of light and you can't see them."
Silence ensued, but Sheena didn't really mind. They had been working all day – walking from here to there, visiting museums, restaurants, stores... they deserved the rest.
"Um..." Colette said again, "How did you say these things were called?"
"What, the hot-springs?" Sheena asked, more to herself, "Onsen"
"Ah..." the girl smiled. "Onsen, onsen... I have to remember that. Onsen, onsen..."
The black-haired girl smiled. When she heard a group of foreign students would be spending half a year (maybe more) at the university Sheena Fujibayashi had quickly volunteered to guide them during their stay. Having spent some years studying abroad she knew how hard it could be at first – when you didn't know the language, when you didn't know anyone and when you didn't even know how to approach the natives... it was hard and it was lonely and it was something she wouldn't wish on anyone.
She was glad she had volunteered, too. They had been together for only two weeks but it had been enough for her to meet some people she was sure she would cherish for all of her life. Colette; theology major who was there to study the local Buddhism, Lloyd; a teen who was due to participate in a kendo tournament soon, and then there was Genis; a boy whom she thought would only be accompanying his sister but that had surprised all of the volunteers by mastering most verb-forms after just a week.
And, of course, there was said kid's older sister, Raine; who was an interesting woman with a certain air of motherhood around her (and an unhealthy interest in old Shinto temples) and Kratos, Lloyd's father and trainer – a man whose sword-arm, she was sure, would easily surpass most of Japan's stars.
"...hey, it's HOT!" a male voice cried from the other side of the wall and Sheena scowled just a little.
There were Colette, Lloyd, Genis, Raine and Kratos and then there was him. She hadn't thought she would meet him ever again – sure, she had studied almost a year with him, but that didn't mean anything.
And yet there he was.
"How are you supposed to get in there, anyway?" Zelos Wilder, reluctant theology student and (from his point of view) play-boy extraordinaire, as if that was anything to boast about. What was he doing in Japan? Only he knew and he certainly hadn't explained.
Colette giggled. "Wasn't Orochi there to them?"
"With a little luck he'll push the idiot in."
Colette laughed. "Did you really meet Zelos before?"
"Unfortunately?"
"Isn't it really amazing that you'd find each other again?" the blonde insisted, eyes brimming with innocence.
"...amazing, yeah," Sheena sighed. She hadn't been angry to see him again – she hadn't been happy – she hadn't known what to feel and she still didn't.
"Perhaps it's fate!" Colette exclaimed, almost splashing in her vehemence.
"Fate?" she raised an eyebrow, "Of all people, do you believe in fate?"
"Well..." the girl seemed to think, "I guess it depends on which religion you speak of, but me..." She hugged her knees and looked up at the sky. "I think we're freer than that."
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"Where is Zelos, anyway?" a brown-haired boy looked around. "He was just complaining about the temperature a few minutes ago."
A silver-haired boy, clearly younger than the rest and sitting by the edge of the pool, looked around as well, looked at the palisade that separated them from the girls and, seeing the redhead wasn't there, shrugged. "Perhaps he got tired of the heat."
The first one sighed. "Well I'm getting a little bored too... what's the point of just sitting here? I can't even wash!"
The younger one shook his head. "Lloyd, onsen are meant for relaxation and healing. The almost abnormally high temperatures help the muscles relax and since the waters come from a natural volcanic foundation it's filled with minerals that nourish the skin and are known to cure certain diseases..."
"Fine, fine, I get it..." Lloyd cut the boy's speech, "Geez, did you memorize the travel book?"
Genis laughed. Next to them Orochi, one of the volunteers that had traveled along with them, smiled. "The speed with which you learn whatever information we give you is --"
"Move it!" a new voice joined in. The three men looked up to see the man they had been looking for re-entering the area. He was carrying a pair of rudimental cloth-bags that were obviously concealing something.
"Zelos!" Lloyd called, "Where did you go, anyway?"
"I needed to pick some stuff now that the old man's out of the way," the redheaded explained.
"Hey, Kratos isn't that old..."
Zelos re-entered the pool slowly, wincing slightly as he did so. "No offense bud, but your dad ain't the most fun guy to be around."
"...can I ask what is it you have in the bags?" asked Orochi, as though he already knew the answer but had to ask anyway.
The redhead lowered himself down to his waist before answering. "Well, the brat here ain't the only one who knows about traditions and stuff..."
"Hey!"
"I read," Zelos continued, producing two white bottles out of one of the bags, "That it's also traditional to drink this while soaking. Sake, was it?"
"...it is?" Lloyd turned towards Orochi.
"Yes, well, it's not exactly traditional, but..."
"See?" Zelos grinned, "And since the brat here can't drink..."
"Stop calling me that!"
"We have four bottles for the three of us," he uncorked the first bottle and from the second bag got three small plate-like cups. "So, gentlemen... cheers?"
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Sheena had long ago left the spring, gone to get washed, helped Colette fight her way through the traditional bathing area (radically different from the things the blonde was accustomed to) the lavatories and fetched some cold tea for the two of them. Now that the blonde was done with all of that they were ready to hit the spring for one last soak before going back to their rooms.
Careful not to spill their beverages the two lowered themselves into the water with much more ease than before.
"Once you get used it's so nice..." Colette sighed.
"You can't stay for much long your first time though."
"Why?"
"You can pass out," Sheena explained, "I've seen that once or twice."
"Then... shouldn't I step out? It's my first time, after all..."
"Its fine," she waved her hand, "A few minutes before you sleep do wonders... you'll sleep like a baby."
Suddenly all around them the rest of the girls yelped or shouted various cusswords. The ones that were inside the water lowered themselves 'till only their head was visible, and the most of the rest ran inside the baths. Colette and Sheena, not really knowing why, did the same and submerged themselves.
It wasn't much later than she discovered the reason.
"Sheee-naaaaa!" a voice called from the palisade and she was (not that) surprised to see a familiar mane of red hair peeking over the wall. "Where are ya, babe?" said the man in fluent drunk-speech.
"Heheheheh..." next to the redhead a second head peeked up and, upon seeing them, waved. "Heeeey, Colette, you totally need to see... you know, too see from up here!" Lloyd called, apparently as drunk as the other.
"I can't believe this..." Sheena muttered. "Let's go, Colette... Colette?"
The blonde was already covered by a big towel-robe and standing by the palisade. "Lloyd, you'll fall down if you're not careful!"
"...I can't believe this," Sheena muttered again. Clutching the towel close to her body she got up, fetched her own robe and, ignoring all what Zelos was yelling from atop the palisade fetched Colette's robe and tugged at it. "Let's get inside, Colette."
"But...!" she resisted, "What if they fall down?"
"Sheeeena, you'd catch me, right?" Zelos asked.
Lloyd laughed. "We won't fall! Look, I can even let go! No hands!"
"Don't let go, idiot!" Sheena yelled. "Where is Genis, anyway?"
"I tried to talk them into not doing that!" the younger boy's voice barely reached them, "Do you think they listened?"
"And Orochi?"
"...he kinda had some sake too..."
"Gods," the girl sighed. "Let's go Colette. Don't worry; if they were able to climb up they can get down as well..."
"Uh..." Lloyd chose to day just then, "It's uh, getting kinda cold... uh..."
The blonde's face scrunched in worry. "Can you get down Lloyd?"
"Ah..."
Sheena sighed. "Zelos, get him down. Now."
The redhead shook his head (and most of his body), vehement. "Not unless... unless... y'gimme a kiss!"
The girl slapped her forehead. Even if she agreed – which she wouldn't ever do – how was she supposed to get up there?
"Stupid drunken idiot..." she murmured, "Stay up there! We'll go fetch Kratos or something."
"Noooo don't leaaaaveee!" Zelos called.
She tugged at Colette's arm and the girl, seemingly accepting that was the best thing to do, followed her.
Sheena, however, had to force herself to keep walking when, behind her, she heard the redhead's voice calling
"So cruel... and after I came all the way here searching for you, too..."
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...so much for the hot springs – after hearing that line she had had trouble sleeping.
She hadn't thought of such a possibility, of course. She had realized that if Zelos ever traveled via his university he was bound to end at hers – after all, the two colleges had an agreement that had lasted for years and years now.
However, she hadn't though it'd be for her.
Sure, they had kinda sorta dated when she studied abroad... but as much as she didn't like to admit it, it hadn't been serious... so why? Was he really searching for her? Or was he just trying to pick her up, as usual? Or perhaps he was just drunk.
It was a little past five and a half in the morning and they were leaving the onsen-town. If they wanted to arrive to their next destination on time they needed to hurry. Sheena waved good-morning to Kratos and Raine, who were talking just next to the bus' door and climbed inside.
Inside the bus the only sound was that of a hushed conversation towards the bottom, the rest of the students has fallen asleep, waiting for their classmates and professors to get ready. All of the sleepers were covered in travel-mantles of different colors which, Sheena knew, were stored in the overhead compartments. She, too, would get one as soon as she decided where to sit.
In the third row, to the right of the bus, Lloyd was sleeping with his mouth slightly ajar, squeezed in between an equally-sleepy Colette and Genis, who was covered by about three different blankets.
Just behind them was Zelos, covered in a light-blue mantle, sleeping with his head resting on the window. He would get a neck-ache and then he would complain about it all day long but Sheena didn't have the heart to shake him awake – as much as she would like some answers, as much as the partially-empty and completely asleep bus would be the perfect place for them to talk, she just couldn't.
Instead she sat next to him were someone had left a red blanket, neatly folded, just for her.
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Notes: OMG I've started doing AU. I won't be able to stop now, I know it.
So how did this came to be? Hot-springs equal onsen equals Japan... and my mind refused to do anything else. And I like Alternate Universes. A lot. So don't be surprised if I end up doing more of these... BTW, I know nothing of the USA or Europe's college system, and I don't know if theology is a major. But as you can guess, I don't particularly care.
I liked this one. Could've been longer and better, perhaps, but I liked it anyway and I think the size was ok, too. It was written in a sitting, too – not more than a few hours.
I actually finished this one last week, but E3 got in the way and you know... thanks for the comments and the critique last time – very much appreciated! I hope you liked this one and that you'll enjoy the next –
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#19 – At the Castle
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