Chapter 12: Good Morning...Or Should I Say Evening?
"Whaaaah!"
"Kyaaaah!" I yelped as the adjacent scream startled me out of my depression. 'Just who was that anyway?' I asked myself as I started at the curtain.
"Gyaah! What the hell happened to my clothes!?" I heard a boy yell out in a panic.
'Clothes!?' I asked myself in bewilderment as the boy's question infected my state of mind and I instinctively looked down at myself. "Kyaaaaah! My clothes!" I shrieked out loud as I pulled off my covers to find that I was dressed in a rather loosely tied hospital gown.
"Aisha!?" I heard the boy yell again. I turned my head to the direction of the boy just as the curtain was vigorously pulled aside to reveal a familiar red headed boy, who was also in a similar gown.
"E-Elsword!?" I shouted in shock at the sight of him staring straight at me; his hair slightly covering a bandage that was wrapped around his forehead. Time stood still as we both stood there staring at each other; both of us trying to figure out why we was where we were. As if the whole situation wasn't intense enough, greater forces at work decided to make a funny as I watched Elsword's gown come undone and fall to the floor.
"Ack!" I spazzed as my jaw dropped and I instantly became red. 'W-w-w-what the heck...is wrong with me?' I shouted at myself as I tried to look away but my body just refused to obey as my body was getting hot and fluttery with the whole situation. After what seemed like an eternity of awkward silence, I regained enough brain cells to break the silence.
"S-s-sorry about that..." I said meekly as I turned away my head in a feeble attempt to stop gawking at his body. "H-here…ah… let me help you..." I said as I pulled off my sheet and turned to get out of the bed. However, it would seem as if the forces behind Elsword's gown falling off didn't think that it was very fair that I was the only one to receive a show and quickly sought to rectify the so called wrong.
"Hnnnng" I heard Elsword's grunt as I bent over to pick up his gown only to have my own gown land in my hand.
"Huh?" I said as I sat back up and blinked twice at the gown resting in my hand as I felt the cool autumn air blow against my bare chest. I looked back up at Elsword to see that his body was now matching his hair as his jaw hung wide open; and to top it all off, he was having a nosebleed. It didn't take long for me to put two and two together and that he had saw something he shouldn't have as a wave of overwhelming anger and embarrassment bubbled up to the surface.
"..."I stood there silently frozen in shock.
"Um… are you ok Aisha?" He asked in a concerned tone.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Meanwhile, back at Aisha's dorm...
"Blewhaahuuu!" spouted Angkor as he woke up suddenly in disarray. 'Hmmm…' he thought to himself as he looked out the window, sporting a manly mug. 'Why do I get the feeling that I've missed something wonderful?'
Back at the nurse's office…
"Hehe, for two people who came in here unconscious you sure do have a lot of energy in the morning...or should I say evening?" Nurse Helen said as she tended to the bright red hand print still glowing on Elsword's face.
"Hmmph! Stupid perverted idiot!" I said as I angrily faced away from the two.
"Now now Aisha..." said Helen in an apologetic tone. "If you should be mad at anyone it should be me. I mean I did undress you two to wash your clothes after all. You both were so filthy and sweaty when your friends brought you in so I figured that would be best."
"But...but...he saw… all of me..." I said as I looked down at the bed with a tear in my eye.
"Well… you saw all of me too. How do you think I feel?" Elsword called out at me.
"Who cares about that? You're a guy!" I snapped back with my back turned.
"No one cares about guys..." *sniff* he said with a sniffle.
"Now now Aisha, be nice." said Helen in her motherly tone. "Now here's your clothes you two. Get them on while they're nice and warm." She then walked over and handed me my void princess outfit and my pantyhose, fresh from the dryer and soft like a cats underside.
"Wow, this smells nice!" I heard Elsword exclaim as Miss Helen closed the curtain between us again.
"Hehehe." I heard her giggle. "Well I used super downy fabric softener, which I can testify to personally that it keeps your clothes smelling fresh and nice for a week. ~"
"Well it does smell pretty good..." I muttered to myself as I took in another whiff of my clothes and smiled before sliding on my bra. "T-thanks miss Helen." I called out as I heard footsteps towards the door while I slid on one leg of my hose. 'Oh wow...' I thought as I slid them all the way on, effortlessly I might add. 'This is really soft now...I have to get me a bottle of this stuff too...'
"Well I'm going to head on home now." announced Miss Helen as I heard the door open. "Once you get your clothes on, all you have to do is close the door behind you, ok? I would stay but my husband has a surprise for me when I get home today and I already kept him waiting too long. Any longer and he'll begin to worry again. He's such a worry wart sometimes.~ "
"Hehe, well okay then." chuckled Elsword. "Thanks for patching us up."
"Hehehe. No problem." replied Miss Helen as she giggled at the comment. "You make sure to take care of Aisha now ok?"
"Hehe, that's the plan.~" he responded with a chuckle.
"That's the plan he says..." I grumble quietly to myself. After a few more minutes of basking in the scent of freshly washed clothes, I finally dawned on my void princess outfit once again. I slid the curtain open to find the red haired boy sitting on a chair by the door as he held his weapon on his lap.
"Yo." He said to me while he waved at me, wearing a happy go lucky grin on his face. "So, you ready to go?"
I looked at him with a puzzled look on my face. "Go where? And why are you still here?" I asked as my eyebrows narrowed on him.
"I was just waiting for you to get dressed." He said with a smile.
"And why would you do that?" I asked him again.
"Because my clothes are in gym." He responded.
"So why not just go to the gym then?" I asked again.
"Well I would...but I kind of forgot where the gym was so yeah." He said with a smile as bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face. "I guess this head injury made me forget where it was?" I just shook my head and crossed my arms as I let out a sigh.
"Sure it did..." I said in an unconvinced tone. I was still pretty mad at him so I sped past him and walked out to the hall. "Well come on then, I haven't got all day." I could hear him chuckle weakly as he walked out and closed the door behind him.
My anger for the whole event continued to fester as I walked at a quick pace in front of him. "Hey Aisha, where's the fire huh?" he called out from behind me. "Why are you going so fast?"
"Hmmph!" I pouted loud enough for him to hear. "Because I wanna go home and I'm still here giving you a guided tour!"
"Hey, I have to get home too but you don't hear me complaining about it." He responded as he elevated his voice.
"Get home? Don't you live on campus!?" I said in confusion.
"No..." he said as he drew out his response unnecessarily long. "I have to walk home, and I live in downtown elder." I slowed to a stop as his statement registered in my brain. "Really?" I asked him slowly as I turned around. 'If it turns out that's true then...'
"Yeah really… Some first day huh?" He said with an unamused look on his face.
"Well when you put it that way..." I responded meekly to his statement but unbeknownst to me he was only just beginning. "Yeah, so explain it to me how someone does a good deed and is rewarded with a great big bag of salt?" He shouted at me angrily.
Stunned by the sudden outburst, I could only stand there, bewildered as he stared at me with intense eyes, rendering me speechless.
"I walk in and stumble onto your little episode this morning and say 'hey, I should do the right thing and step in'… only to end up fighting some crazy guy, end up on the shit list for some dog that belongs on a leash and this spiffy bandage to commemorate the concussion I got for coming to your rescue!"
"Well no one told you to do that!" I shouted back at him. "You could've done what everyone else does and just ignored it!"
"How could anybody ignore that!?" he shouted back in disbelief.
"I don't know but they've been doing a good job of ignoring it so far; in fact they've been ignoring this and more for the better part of four years!" I started up again. "And… if that wasn't bad enough, I was kidnapped, beaten, and tortured last week! Hell, if it wasn't for Crimson, I'd be..." I stopped suddenly mid sentence; my cheek moist from a stray tear that rolled down the side of my face. 'Oh no, what's this now?' I asked myself mentally as I wiped my face; unconsciously letting out a sniffle.
'No, no! Why are you crying? Stop that!' I argued with myself.
"You'd be what Aisha?" I heard Elsword ask, this time, with worry in his voice.
"I-I'm fine!" I shouted out, feebly trying to hide the fact that I was crying. Luckily I had my back towards him so he couldn't see me.
"You don't sound fine to me..." He said as he put his hand on my shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" I snapped at him as I felt his hand touch my shoulder. "I'm not some weak little girl who needs saving!" I felt the presence of his hand retreat for a moment, but was surprised to see that my outburst wasn't enough deter him from returning his hand on my shoulder.
"But Aisha... I've never thought of you as weak." He said in a concerned tone. "Quite the contrary...I've always thought of you as being strong."
"S-strong?" I said as I turned around to face the perplexing comment. "Never thought I was weak? Always thought I was strong? How could you know anything about me? Huh? We Just met today!?"
"Well that's just it Aisha..." he responded. "I didn't just meet you today...we've actually met each other before. Quite frankly, you're the reason why… I am who I am today." He said as he looked down at his side as if he were trying to hide the tinge of red in his cheeks.
"Met before..." I said slowly. 'Just what does he mean by that?' I asked myself as I scoured my mind for some kind of clue as to where I might have met him before. 'But the only person I've met that even matches his description would be my hero-!' I gasped as I came to my conclusion mid thought as my eyes lit up brightly.
"No, I'm still not Crimson so get that idea out of your head this instant." said Elsword as his eyes dead panned.
"Aww..." I sighed as he quickly stepped on my hopes. "Well if you're not Crimson then just who the hell are you anyways because I don't remember meeting you anytime else other than today."
"Well it's kind of a long story... are you sure you want to hear it?" He asked me hesitantly.
"Just get on with it!" I snapped at him.
"Well ok then..." he said with a sigh. "Well it all began about a week or two into freshman year of high school..."
Elder private high 3 years ago:
"Gaaaaah!" I cried as I fell to my knees in pain.
"I don't know why you even bother trying to sign up for scrub sword." An intimidating voice said out loud, followed by the heckling of their cohorts. I groggily lifted my head to face their blue haired leader. He stared back down at me as though he were a corrupt king, full contempt as he stared down a trampled peasant. I grit my teeth as I clenched my fist and tried to pick my battered body up.
"Hey look Ronan, he's getting up." said of his flunkies.
"A glutton for punishment eh?" chuckled Ronan as he continued to wear his pompous smirk on his face.
"Well boys, lets teach him another lesson shall we?" He said with a sinister grin as he waved his hand forward slightly as his henchmen rushed from his side, proceeding to pummel and overwhelm me.
"Gyaaah! Ahhhh!" I cried in pain and they kicked and whacked me with their training swords. All I could do was to cover my head as the rest of my poor body was beaten. After what had felt like an eternity, I was baffled to hear "Ok boys, that's enough. Pick his ass up." My ribs ached as his henchmen yanked my arms and pulled me to my feet roughly.
"Honestly, how many times are we going to go through this eh?" said Ronan as he pinched and shook my cheeks. "Day after day...week after week... month after month...for three years! For three years… you've tried to join the swordsman's club, and every time, you couldn't make it past initiation. When are you going to get it thru your thick skull and realize that you just don't have what it takes be a swordsman?"
"Because I made her a promise!" I shouted at him as I shook myself furiously out of his grasp. But to my dismay, my freedom was rewarded with a fist to the face, knocking me thoroughly off my feet.
"You mean that bitch you call a sister?" He said he started down at me.
"It's not my fault she kicked your nuts in." I said responded. A grin crept across my face as I watched Ronan's face as it twisted in fury and pain as he was most likely reliving the time I just reminded him of. Before my sister went off on a mission three years ago, she stepped in on time when Ronan was "playing" with me and proceeded to "play" with him back by kicking him straight in his nut sack so hard that they had to surgically pull them back down.
"And you see, that there is your problem el-scrub..." he said as he regained his condescending composure. "You have no skills, no natural talent, and you're always hiding behind your sister. Honestly, your father must be rolling around in his grave; having a worthless son who can't even use a sword and leaving some bitch to carry on the Seigheart name... if I were you I wouldn't be able to live with myse-"
"Shut up!" I yelled back at him furiously as I tried to get back to my feet but Ronan just used his foot and kicked me back over on to my rear. I growled at them furiously as I watched Ronan and his henchmen gathered around in front of me with their training swords slung on their shoulders; they were ready to finish this.
"It's time to face facts el-scrub!" shouted Ronan as he raised his training sword high above his head. You will never be a knight, much less a swordsman like me - Aaaaaaaah!" shouted Ronan along with the rest of his cohorts as purple lightning surged through his group and knocking them off their feet.
"Man, I don't know what's more revolting… That condescending speech of yours after you had the nerve ganging up on one guy, or the fact that you're even a knight." A voice said after the lightning had stopped. As I turned to face the voice, I was shocked to see the voice belonged to a girl who didn't look any older than me. She wore long thigh high white socks and a purple, long sleeved, one-piece dress with a white collar and a black and gold trimmed belt. She had amethyst colored eyes and short layered purple hair with two purple bangs that were puffed at the ends to frame her face. She first looked at me with concern then glared angrily at Ronan and his group.
"Just who the hell are you and what do you think you're doing huh?" shouted Ronan as he crawled to his feet.
"My name is Aisha Bensalem, and I'm just doing what no one else has the guts to do apparently!" she answered pridefully as she held out her staff pointed towards Ronan and his mob of goons.
"Well then, I hope you enjoyed your first and last mistake!" shouted Ronan. "Let's get her boys!" He shouted as he and his goons sprung into action. I grit my teeth as I was helpless to stop the cowardly act about to unfold in front of me... at least… that's what I'd originally thought was going to happen. I looked up and noticed a cold breeze emanating from Aisha's staff as she held it at her side, just before she kneeled down and puller staff behind her.
"Gust Storm!" She shouted as she leaped into the air. A torrent of blue wind spiraled around her as twirled in mid air. A mixture of yelps and screams filled the room as the whirlwind engulfed and carried Ronan and his cronies around and around and around before finally throwing the frosted bunch half way across the room in a crumpled heap on the floor. "Had enough yet?~" boasted the mage as she laughed at the sorry lot on the floor. I sat there amazed at how easily dispensed the group that's been bullying me for years now.
"Y-y-you'll be s-s-s-sorry!" stuttered Ronan as he struggled to stand to his feet.
"That's what they all say." replied Aisha as she stuck her tongue out at him.
"So… once again, you have another girl here to fight your battle..." taunted Ronan with a smug grin, despite being crippled to the point of barely being able to stand from Aisha's attack. "I guess… some things will never… change - aaack!" Yelped Ronan mid-taunt as Aisha tossed a fireball at his feet.
"Come on boss, let's get out of here!" yelled one of his henchmen as they dragged him and the rest of their crew out of the arena.
"Yeah, you better run!"" Aisha shouted as Ronan and his gang fled. "Well, we sure showed them; didn't we um..." she paused as she held her chin. "I'm sorry… but with all the commotion, I didn't get your name back there." She said as she outstretched her hand to me, a hand that I couldn't see because I was still recovering mentally from the shock Ronan's comments. "Hello... are you alright?" she asked in a puzzled tone. I however, still sat there dead to world, much less her question.
"Hey, I'm talking to you! Are you alright?" She asked me again. This time bending down to my level and shaking my shoulders as she tried to get my attention. "It looks like it was a good thing I showed up here today..." That last statement of hers was the one that pushed me over the edge and snapped me out of my stupor.
"I'm fine!" I yelled as I smacked her grip off my shoulders.
"Just what heck is the matter with huh?" responded Aisha as her voice elevated. "Is that any way to treat someone after they saved your butt!?"
"I didn't ask for you to step in…" I said with a glare. "I had them right where I wanted them before you butted in!"
"Well excuse me for helping those weaker than myself!" She shouted back at me as she pressed her hands to her hips. "Maybe if you weren't so weak, I wouldn't have had to jump in! You should work on becoming stronger if that's the attitude you're going to have with peo-"
"Don't you think I've tried that!?" I shouted out in frustration as I began to tear up; completely cutting off Aisha's rant. "Nothing works! Nothing works ok!? Nothings worked for over five years now. I've tried every day... every day for the better half of five years... and yet I have nothing to show for it!" I cried as I banged a clenched fist on the floor.
"Five years?" I heard her ask me in between my tears. "Why is it so important for you to get stronger that you had to train continuously for five years?" She asked me, this time with less anger in her voice and more curiosity.
"Because I made her a promise!" I responded as my voice elevated. "Before she got called off to the military, she made me promise her that I'd become stronger before she came back…"
"I see..." replied Aisha as looked down at me, lost in thought. "But if she's your sister... what's she have to say about this? I mean, surely she's checked in to give you some tips and stuff right?"
"Don't you get it!?" I snapped at her innocent comment. "It's been five years, and not even a phone call, a letter, anything! Of course she would help me...but she hasn't returned at all." "Oh wow...I ah… I don't know what to say… I'm sorry... but what about your parents?" asked Aisha.
"They died when I was young... so my sister is the only one I have left... and I...I..." I stammered as I couldn't even finish the sentence as tear began to fall down my face. 'No, stop that noise this instant.' I scolded myself mentally as I tried to stop myself from crying but the next thing I knew, I was bawling profusely there on the floor. That was, until I felt my face press up against something soft. "Mmph?" I protested.
"I'm so sorry..." I heard Aisha say as I came to realize that she was hugging me. "I would've never guessed that you had it so rough... but don't fret." She said again as she released me from her hug and knelt down to my eye level, resting her hands on my shoulders. I sat there with a dumb founded look on my face.
"F-fret about what?" I managed to get out.
"About you sister." She replied with a warm smile. "I'm sure she's alive and that she misses you."
"You really think so?" I replied weakly as I stared back at this strange girl who was now here consoling me who simply smiled and nodded in response to my question.
"Yeah." She responded as she helped me up to my feet. "But you know... I think you'd do a lot better training with a partner than you've been doing training by yourself..."
"Well... I guess you're right." I admitted reluctantly. "But who would. I train with? I...I don't have any friends..." I reluctantly admitted. With me hanging around my sister all the time when she was her and with me focusing on becoming a swordsman just like her, I had successfully alienated myself from any of my so called peers. Upon hearing my last question, Aisha did something unexpected as she pressed her thumb into her chest.
"You've got me." She said with a smile.
"You?" I asked in disbelief.
"Do you see anyone else here?" She responded. I shook my head no as I answered her question. "I was thinking that I could be your sparring partner and if you'd let me... be your friend."
"S-sure..." I managed to get out of my mouth as I tried to hide the blush on my face. "We can be friends Aisha..."
"Hehehe, wonderful." chuckled Aisha. "So now that we're friends, do you mind telling me your name now? I remember giving you mines earlier but... you know what happened there." I stared at her blankly as it did just hit me that I never did give my name, even though she was kind enough to give hers first.
"Oh yes sorry about that." I said as I snapped out of my thoughts. "My name is Elsword." I as I shook her hand. "Thanks for helping me out."
"No problem." She replied cheerfully. "It's what friends do right? So how are you feeling about a little training together?" She asked as she winked at me.
"Um...not really..." I answered reluctantly. "I am a little sore and stuff but I'm not sure how training with a mage is going to help me with my swordsmanship though..."
"Well, I think it would do wonders, especially since this mage was the one who beat up that whole gang bullying you." She said as she waved her wand at me sternly. I shuddered as the reality of her statement slapped me in the face. "Also..." she began as she placed her hand on top of my stomach, causing me to blush. "I've been sensing something ever since the action died down..."
"S-sensing something?" I stammered out. "Yeah..." she began again while she rubbed my stomach in a circular motion. "It feels like you have a lot of mana built up inside of you...particularly from this region..."
"Wow...really?" I asked her in amazement as I looked down at my stomach. "All of that… is inside of me?"
"Yeah..." she began again. "So just think about it. If you were to train with a mage like me, we could find a way to tap into all of that mana hiding deep inside of you. Heck, it could even make you a better swordsman.~" With that last statement of hers, my confidence was restored as fire once again burned in my eyes.
"Ok then Aisha, you're right. Let's do this!" I said as I raised my hand and clenched my fist as smiled at her with a renewed sense of determination on my face... that is until my wounds from the fight made their presence known once again; earning me a giggle from the purple haired mage as I grabbed my ribs in pain.
"Easy there tiger, there's no rush." giggled Aisha. "We can try again tomorrow once you've rested up, ok?"
"Well ok then Aisha, I guess you're right." I replied as I held my side. I really was in no condition for any more action for the day. "I guess I'll go home then and lick my wounds."
"Hehehe, sounds like a plan then." giggled Aisha. "So see you here tomorrow?"
"Definently." I responded with a head nod. "Oh and...um...thanks again for helping me. You really saved me back there."
"No problem Elsword." She said with a smile. "It's what friends do right?"
"Right." I replied in agreement. "But next time... next time, I'll be the one doing the saving."
"Oh?" She responded in a confused tone as she looked back at me with a, bewildered yet, intrigued look on her face. I feared the worst as I wondered what was playing out in her head in reaction to my statement. But my fears seemed to be for not as a soft smile crawled across her face. "Well ok then Elsword… I'll be counting on you when the time comes."
"Yeah, I won't let you down Aisha." I replied with a determined look on my face. Aisha nodded her head yes as she gathered up her things and headed towards the entrance. "Well, see you tomorrow Elsword." She said as she waved her hand as she walked off to the entrance.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow Aisha." I called out to her as walked away. Little did I know however, that I wouldn't be seeing her here tomorrow, or ever for that matter for the next three years.
End of chapter 12.
Digi: And with that, chapter 12 is finally done!
Everyone: ITS ABOUT DAMN TIME!
Digi: I know, I know! I'm sooooo soooo sorry everyone for such a late release. I know there's no excuses for that.
Raven: Well… I guess we can forgive you. I suppose there were some pressing matters at hand right?
Digi: Like you wouldn't believe…
Rena: Well fill us in. You know we'd understand.
Digi: Welp….a lot of things happened since last September
Aisha: Yeah?
Digi: Well I had just gotten my car up and running again to do about another month of work before poof, my temp job fired me, so that sucked.
Rena: Oh wow that does suck.
Digi: Yes, yes it did. –sad face- Then I got a new job a month later In November. Another temp job but it was paying a whole lot more.
Chung: Well that sounds good to me.
Digi: yeah it does but the catch 22 is that you took up a lot of time and energy. So I didn't have much time to do anything, much less Elsword and writing.
Elsword: But that's never stopped you before.
Digi: Yeah it hasn't before. But I also had a string of bad luck with relationships the past couple of months as I kept typing up this chapter on my phone, slowly but surely.
Ara: Aww, you poor thing Digi –hugs Digi from behind-
Digi: Awww, thanks Ara. It was a tough time. –Blushes-
Chung: Oh ho? When did you get here Ara?
Eve: And why are you hugging him?
Aisha: Yeah!
Elsword: You should be hugging me!
Aisha: -Slaps Elsword-
Elsword: Oww!
Aisha: Baka
Eve: So what's this about Ara?
Ara: He didn't tell you?
Eve: He just finished this chapter today so no.
Ara: Oh? Digi is in the middle of a new story, starring me 3
Eve: Is that a fact? –Turns to face Digi-
Digi: Yes… I had a plot bunny about Ara x Elsword after stumbling upon a few stories so I want to make one too.
Raven: But you're not even finished with this story, why do another one?
Digi: I can do both!
Ara: Yeah! But anyways, the new story will be called Eun Knows Best, so keep an eye out for it coming soon. That's the next one on his list for proof reading as we speak.
Chung: Well it does sound rather interesting so I can't wait to see it.
Ara: Me too
Elsword: Me three
Rena: Hehe, I see… So how's everything else going Digi. Didn't you have a bunch of failed relationships? That must have been sad.
Digi: Yeah.. I did and it was sad... but I guess I had to muddle thru a bunch of failures to get to who I'm with now :3
Rena: Oh :3
Digi: Mhm :3 I met her a month and some change ago and well I think Digi might finally get married in game :3
All the Girls: Awwww :3 Congradulations Digi
All the Guys: Yeah man, congrads :D
Digi: Thank you guys, She really means a lot to me so I felt like sharing it with the world
Ara: Mhm. And shes such a cute little Ara class as well isn't she.
Digi: Exactly! So now I have a waifu, and I'm also working on getting the reaper title before its all gone. Im 365/800 into it. Just one month left
Raven: Well I think you can do it man. You do have El-baka's determination for some reason.
Elsword: Yeah! He has my – Hey!?
Ara: -Giggles- Well everyone, from all of us, we hope you enjoy this chapter and as always, read, review, and most of all enjoy it.