Elendil Star-Lover: I noticed that on your profile at the very bottom you've written the lyrics to the Rush song, "The Trees". ^_^ I love that song! Count on me to point out all the classic rock, but what can I say? I live for that kind of music! Also, I really liked all of your quotes you've put on there! Oh, and FF9 Zidane! On your profile you have the theme song to Ranma! ^_^ Hehe! I love that show. And it has an awesome song!
A/N: Wow! I was surprised with the response I got with the first chapter! Not only do I see a lot of my old reviewers ::waves:: Hi guys! But I noticed a bunch of other people. Thanks everyone for reading my story! And for putting up with my slowness. -_- Gomen nasai. Telling you that we are extremely busy is a major understatement, but not a good excuse. I'll try to update these faster, but you have to realize that I'm updating this story as quickly as I write it and Noelle (Save-the-Queen) edits it. Arigatou everyone for putting up with me!
Chapter Two
With a shaky hand, Mikoto opened the door of the study. Papers littered the floor where she had dropped them in her state of shock. In a zombie-like manner, she walked to the kitchen. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't give Garland that satisfaction.
The thought that haunted her the most was that anything, any little emotion could cause the end of the world. And it was up to her to protect Gaia. She held herself to her promise, even if she had to be miserable.
"What's up Mikoto?"
The sudden voice almost caused her to leap out from her skin. It was only Mogsam. Once she calmed down, she softly said, "Don't do that."
"You should've seen the look on your face!" the moogle laughed. She felt her cheeks redden as embarrassment took over her.
"No!" Mikoto yelled, shaking her head, "Just leave me alone!"
Mogsam watched as the Genome sprinted away from him. Automatically he felt bad about picking on her, however he wouldn't admit it. Tired and confused, he carried his letter to the kitchen table and added a postscript to the letter had had written to Mojito.
P.S. Come home soon. Mikoto needs you, kupo!
The moogle sealed the letter and set it aside to mail later. Still feeling bad about teasing Mikoto, he decided to check on her. She's probably in her room, he thought, I'll check there first. He flew up to Mikoto's room and poked his head in. It was completely empty. The bed was unmade and the curtains were still drawn, giving the room a dark and eerie look.
"Maybe she's in the study, kupo…" he inquired to himself. Slowly he wandered through the long halls of the Palace, finally making it to the study. Without even knocking this time, he threw open the door and thrust himself into the room.
Mikoto sat in the leather armchair behind the desk, staring off into space and obviously deep in thought. Mogsam was about to sneak away and not disturb her when he noticed something odd. Mikoto's face was completely expressionless.
"M-Mikoto?" the creature stuttered nervously. Wearily she shifted her gaze to look at him. Her eyes were cold and distant. "Is everything all right?"
Very slowly, she shook her head, yet not even one word escaped her lips. "Well…do you want to talk about it?" Again, she shook her head and stared back into space.
Maybe she did not know that the moogle still stood there, staring at her, or maybe she just ignored him, because she did not do so much as look at him the rest of the time he was in there. Inside his little mind, the moogle was thinking of all the possible ways that he could cheer her up. As much as he hated to admit it, Mikoto was one of his only friends, and losing her to a depression like this would not be good.
A crash came from downstairs, interrupting his thoughts. This time, it was he who jumped. Looking back at Mikoto, he saw that she seemed unaffected by the noise. Normally she was the jumpy one. Shaking these thoughts away, Mogsam scurried down a few staircases to see a flash of purple fly into the kitchen.
"Artemecian!" the moogle cried. Turning his head back to the study, he yelled, "Mikoto! Artemecian is here, kupo!!" No response came. Mogsam sighed and ran to meet the mail-moogle.
"Hi, Mogsam, how're things in the Palace, kupopo?" the purple moogle asked as he began rummaging through his mailbag.
"I'm not sure anymore. Everything was fine until about an hour ago, kupo…"
Artemecian looked up from the letters he was pulling out of his sack, "What do you mean? Kupo? Is everything okay?"
"I don't know, kupo…I think something is wrong with Mikoto…" Mogsam said slowly, handing him the letters that everyone had written to be sent out.
"Hmm…" Artemecian thought for a moment before saying anything. "Well, I'm not doctor, kupopo, but do you know of anything that she really likes to do?"
"Not really…" the moogle admitted, looking at the tile floor.
Both were silent as they thought between themselves. Slowly, Artemecian started, almost in a whisper, "Mojito once commented on how much she likes to read Lord Avon's works, kupo."
"Yes, but I believe she's read most of the books in the Palace library! Kupo!"
"Then why not buy her a new one? Kupo! That should cheer her up and keep her happy for at least a little while until you can figure out what's really wrong with her."
"That's a pretty good idea," Mogsam admitted. "But Daguerreo is so far away, kupopo! Especially to fly!"
"Yeah, well, lucky for you I've already been to Daguerreo on my mail-run. I checked this out for myself, but maybe Mikoto should have it instead, kupo."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, but you get to turn it back in after a week, kupo," the purple moogle laughed. Mogsam smiled and nodded, grateful for his friend's kindness. "Anyway, here's your weekly mail. You seem to be quite popular with the moogles, kupopo!"
"Actually, it's Mikoto. She just loves to hear what's going on outside the Palace, kupo, so she writes to almost every moogle in every town."
"Why doesn't she go see for herself, kup-kupo?"
Mogsam knew the real reason, but he was not for sure whether or no the should tell Artemecian. So, instead he bluntly said, "A medical condition."
"Oh, well tell Ms. Mikoto that I said get well soon, kupo!"
"Sure," he smiled, taking the handful of letters and book from him. Artemecian hoisted his knapsack up higher on to his shoulder and with some difficulty flew out the window.
Quickly, Mogsam looked through the letters and separated them into piles. As usual, the majority of them went to Mikoto. Excitedly, he flew up the staircase with everything in tow. In his eagerness to get to the study he dropped several letters, but decided not to get them until later. He could not wait to see the smile on Mikoto's face when she saw the new book.
He was finally there. Despite his attempt to quietly open the door, it creaked very loudly. When he looked up he saw Mikoto's lifeless stare fixed on him. "Hey Mikoto!" he stuttered, "Look what Artemecian brought, kupo!" Smiling forcedly, he held up all the letters and dumped them on the desk in front of her.
"Thank you," she said monotonously.
"And!" he added in quickly, "Artemecian also sent a surprise for you! Ta-da!" Mogsam yelled holding out the book.
Though her facial expression remained stoic, he could see her eyes light up, and that was enough for him. Now beaming at his success, he dropped the book into her lap and ran out of the room to start gathering the fallen letters.
A few days had passed since Artemecian had dropped by. Mojito had returned from Burmecia and with him he brought food, news and a desire to speak with Mikoto. All this time she locked herself in the study with the book, only coming out to use the bathroom and occasionally to eat.
As Mojito made his way to the study Mogsam stopped him. "I wouldn't go in there, kupo," he warned.
"Why not?"
"She's been acting strange. She hasn't talked to anyone for two straight days! Kupopo! All she's done is read, sleep and eat! Kupo!"
"I still want to talk to her. I promised I would bring back news, and I did!"
"Okay, but I'm warning you, she has not been herself, kupo."
Almost as if it were on cue, a thud came from behind the study door. Both moogles looked at each other and simultaneously ran to open the door. "Mikoto? Are you all right, kupo? Did you hurt yourself?" Mojito asked as soon as the door flung open.
Mikoto sat in the leather study chair once again, almost as if she had never moved, and maybe she didn't. Mojito sighed and wiped his brow with his paw. "You sure scared us! What happened, kupo?"
"It tried to make me cry," she said monotonously.
"Wha-?" Mogsame looked confused around the room. "What 'tried to make you cry'?" Mikoto did not answer; instead she turned the chair to face away from the two moogles. Finally, Mogsam's eye landed on the familiar book and he gasped. It had obviously been thrown across the room and had lost quite a few pages during the trip.
Mow Mojito was extremely confused. Why would she worry about crying so much? Why would she throw and ruin something that was not even hers? "Is there anything you want to talk about? Kupopo?"
Her eyes welled up but she quickly wiped the tears away and sniffled, "I couldn't without crying."
"What's so bad about crying? Is it really such a bad thing?" Mojito asked quietly.
Mikoto bit her lower lip and waited for her emotional wall to build back up. "Yes," she finally sighed. "If you want to know why, then you may read for yourself." She stood up and took the 'Basic Magic' book from a bookshelf. "You will find the answers in the notes."
"Huh?" Mogsam inquired loudly.
"I'm leaving…" she said quietly.
"Where are you going, kupo?"
"We're running low on money, and we'll have to pay that library fine," she sighed. "I'll go collect some money from the Auction House. I need to get away anyway. I'll stay in the Treno mansion for awhile, until I can set things straight in my head." Then, without saying anymore, she left the study, leaving the moogles standing there, holding the book with dumbstruck faces.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
That's it! Sorry that it isn't a very long chapter, you'll just have to deal with it. Lol. u.u The next chapter may be more exciting. We don't know yet, but we're planning on introducing a new character! Yay! ^_^ Hopefully the wait won't be as long. Ja ne until next time everyone!
