Hello, and welcome to my first ever Blue Dragon story! I do have certain characteristics from the anime present (such as the shadows speaking) and you can expect to see more conversions! I do not own rights to Blue Dragon/Blue Shadow or the song "Hallelujah", but I do own this story and its plot! Enjoy!
Blue Dragon: Revelations
Spellbound
They retreated to the living room once Kluke had fallen back asleep, keeping their voices lowered so as to not wake her. Their shadows had returned to them not too long ago once Phoenix had returned to her wielder. Jiro's unease at finding Shu alone with Kluke still lingered in the back of his mind but his friend's unchanging naïve nature quieted the suspicious voice. "So, Shu, it seems you've been doing well."
"You could say that," the teen shrugged, reaching behind the sofa they sat on and pulled out a ragged pack that looked as if it was on its last string. It had once been a sunshine yellow with red straps and dark green buckles, but now the colors were faded and left the pack with a pastel theme. Shu tossed the ancient machine part to the scientist. "here you go. It was about twenty kilometers from where you initially thought it was. Looks like there still a few bugs to work out on your Location Feature. That's the part you needed, right?"
Jiro's eyes immediately lit up as he caught the part. "Perfect, this is a clockwork flywheel." He flashed Shu an apologetic smile as he shrugged. "It's great, thanks."
"The place is pretty snazzy," Shu raised an arm and swept it around him. "a little too over the top if you ask me." He missed the brief second where his friend's expression became one that said "who asked you?" when he turned his attention to the windows as light began to fill the room. "Wow, is it morning already?"
"Whoa there." Jiro held up a hand as the teen moved to stand. "Don't worry about breakfast, I have that taken care of." His expression became one of disappointment as he picked up the two drinks. They had long since cooled and the taste would be ruined if they were reheated carelessly. No matter. The edges of his vision blurred as he focused on the two cups in his hands.
Shu's attention instantly locked on mana that began to gather around the cups. He was going to cast a spell! It was as he leaned forward to stop his friend that he noticed the steam rising from the drinks. "Looks like someone's been practicing," he smiled as Jiro's mana receded and became dormant once more. "that was sweet."
He nodded appreciatively and fixed the spectacles on his nose. A sound from upstairs came as the sun peeked over the horizon. Now was about the time that she got up to head to the clinic. "Which reminds me." Jiro lifted his wrist and voice commanded it to make a call. "Good morning, this is Jiro Hansen (A/N: I couldn't find any records of their last names, so you'll see me make some up as we go along). Yes, it has been awhile…No, I'm feeling just fine. I'm actually calling in regards to Kluke…Your suspicions were correct, she isn't feeling well…I will see to her recovery myself…I'll be sure to pass along your message. Thank you for understanding."
"You really called her work and told them she wasn't going in?"
"They were concerned about her too and even told me that if she tries work they will personally send her back, with force if needed." Jiro fixed Shu with a stern expression. "You know how she gets when she puts her mind to something." Shu had to nod his head in agreement, picking up the bag and pulled out an oatmeal muffin. He knew better than to take one of the Danish sweets. The last time he had eaten one of those, which happened to be her favorite and one that she had been saving, was the last time he had seen her snap. It was as he was preparing to take a bite when his attention shifted upward to the ceiling, unable to sense Kluke's energy anymore. Something was off. "Doesn't it seem a little too quiet to you?" Depositing the two drinks into the heat conserving cabinet, they made their way up the stairs where they found her room to be empty. They checked the study, bathroom, even the attic, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Calm down, you two." Blue Dragon and Minotaur appeared from their shadows on the carpet. "She's fine." They pointed out the window just before returning to their shadow dwellings.
True to their word, they found her outside behind the house in what looked like a medicinal garden. Her back was towards them as they slipped outside and must not have heard the door closing behind them since her attention remained on the plants in front of her. "I may not be able to work, but I can still drop off these medicinal herbs to the clinic. They are running out of Witch Hazel and Poppi Blossoms." Her movements paused as a song began to play in her wireless earbuds. Before she even knew it, her work in the garden had finished and the song was beginning to have its usual effect on her. When was the last time she had felt lighter than air? Far too long for her liking. Her eyes closed as the music washed over her like a tidal wave and allowed the notes to permeate her being. "…Now I've heard there was a secret chord…that David played, and it pleased the Lord… But you don't really care for music, do you?…It goes like this…The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift…" Her arms rose as her feet began to dance of their own accord. The ponytail that she had gathered her hair into became untied and the robe she had slipped on fell to the ground as she twirled. A breeze picked up as her movements carried her safely from the garden and into a clear space scattered with clusters of wildflowers, playing with the hem of her vintage styled dress that was covered in silver feathers patterns. Her hands rose and cupped together, a small orb of mana forming between her palms. "There's a blaze of light in every word, it doesn't matter which you heard…the holy or the broken Hallelujah…" The ball broke apart and began to float around her as if it the pieces were fireflies. The breeze gathered into a mini whirlwind around her feet as she began the chorus, growing stronger with each "hallelujah" she sang until she was suspended a few feet in the air.
Jiro made to step forward, his expression one of concern, but fell back as Shu shook his head. "Don't worry," he pointed to the swirling wind. Phoenix's outline could be seen in the eye of the wind tunnel and there was no way that she would let harm come to her wielder. "she's alright." Seeing that she wasn't in any mortal danger, he turned his attention to her face as she twirled and danced. All the worry lines that had once plagued her beautiful features were now nonexistent, revealing her mature yet youthful charisma that attracted people to her. The short dress she wore revealed her shapely legs, but his eyes refused to wander elsewhere for respect of his friend. At least that was his first intentions. A nudge from Shu brought his attention to the intricate white lace that covered her voluptuous bosom, asking if the lace had been from a shop in Jibral, and Jiro couldn't help but send his own hallelujah towards the sky. His mind instantly cleared when he realized where Shu had been looking. "Don't you have any decency?"
Shu raised an eyebrow as his friend's tone. The scientist would have been drooling if he hadn't distracted him in some way. He honestly couldn't blame Jiro though. Kluke was gorgeous, even he knew that, and his fairly recent introduction to the male puberty was writhing within him for an unknown reason. She was his dear friend and had harbored feelings for her for years now, but it as if those feelings had grown and morphed into something more. "Might want to wipe your mouth," he pointed to the left corner of his own mouth, a smirk raising his lips. "there's a little something. Wait, I think that might be drool." Anger instantly flared within Jiro at his friend's words. His mouth opened to release a retort but it died on his lips as Kluke returned to earth.
She brushed a hand over her brow as she approached them, her robe draped over the woven basket that held the medicinal herbs. The radiance of her rejuvenated being and sparkle in her eyes took his break away as she raked a hand through her brunette tresses, her smile making the sun seem dim. "Hi, guys! I heard you talking downstairs but I didn't want to interrupt since you guys haven't seen each other in so long." Kluke deposited the basket on the back step before turned and wrapping an arm around each of their necks. This action earned an embarrassed chuckle from Shu and a faint blush from Jiro that she couldn't see. "Thanks for healing me," she stepped away after giving them a faint squeeze. "I guess I should take better care of myself."
"Kluke, I am sorry that I let myself into your house without your permission. I was trying to finish my gift for you." Jiro's eyes narrowed as Shu stepped towards her, one hand rummaging around in one of his pockets before pulling a delicate silver chain from it. A glittering diamond that threw rainbows in ever direction in the shape of a feather hung from the small chain as he clasped it around her neck. "I couldn't find you a new flower, being as I've brought you so many," he gestured out to the garden. "and felt bad so I made you something instead."
Jiro's eyebrows rose as he and Kluke examined the stone. The clarity was as high as if it had been sitting atop a velvet cushion in the palace or in a museum! "You made that yourself?" Blue Dragon voiced from Shu's shadow, confirming that they had indeed made the diamond by the use of a few spells. "Incredible!"
Kluke couldn't take her eyes off the shifting colors and glimpses of her reflection. It was beyond anything she had seen in the jewelry stores and though it has the occasional rough edge, each of them were testimony to the hard work and dedication that Shu had put forth into making it. "It's beautiful," she whispered, releasing the chain and smiling as it nestled just above the neckline of her dress. "I love it."
Jealousy lifted its ugly head in Jiro as she collected Shu in her arms. Minotaur's voice rang in his head to calm down as they separated and turned their attention to him as their stomachs rumbled. A deep breath through his nose did little to calm the anger he felt but it did earn an apologetic smile from Kluke. "Don't worry, I have breakfast inside, it's from your favorite bakery too. I apologize that I didn't walk you home last night so I hope you'll accept the breakfast as-" His words instantly halted as she appeared within inches from his face, her soft breaths tickling his face. Jiro nodded as she asked if there was a cappuccino waiting for her in the heating cupboard. Heat instantly flooded his being as she rose to her tip toes and pressed her lips against his forehead briefly before slipped inside with the basket of herbs, calling back that he was a lifesaver. The faint smell of the wild flowers lingered as he made to follow her but paused in the doorway as he caught sight of Shu's slightly withered expression. "What did you expect? I've been here the whole time while you've been off gallivanting through the wilderness."
Shu wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he silently agreed with Jiro's words. "But that's about to change."
BlueNovaNF (my partner) really liked this chapter and I hope you do to! Let me know what you think!