I promise I'll update my other stories :')

I do not own Magi.


Enigma

Chapter Twenty Two:

The Friend and the Foe


"Isn't it lonely?"

Kali paused, turning to Sharrkan curiously. The white haired swordsman had a cup pressed to his lips, eyes trained somewhere far away, as if reminiscing. Kali eyed him for a moment, waiting to see if he would elaborate before her eyes were drawn to the way he fingered his sword, thoughtful.

"What do you mean?" Kali inquired, leaning back onto her hands and Sharrkan hummed.

"I would still be nothing more than a political doll had Sinbad not come," Sharrkan said finally. His eyes turned toward her. "Have you ever wondered about... I don't know, having a family?"

"I think it's a little too soon to think about things like that," Kali mused playfully while Sharrkan rubbed the back of his head.

"Ah, well, I don't mean like that per say, more like..." he gestured to everyone around them, where somewhere off Pisti was giggling like mad while Spartos reprimanded her for her indecency and Yamraiha was whining about the latest man that had left her behind to a stone faced Masrur. "This."

"You guys are plenty enough like a family," at Sharrkan's excited grin she added. "Usually."

"Have you ever wondered about taking on a household?"

Kali paused, the cup she had been about to bring to her lips halted momentarily. A thoughtful look flickered upon her features, a thought she hadn't quite considered that deeply before and interesting enough in its own way. Camio was silent in the back of her mind and Kali's eyes drew upwards to the sky, the millions of stars dotting the endless black canvas.

"It'd probably be best not too," Kali began finally. "For starters, I've always figured that your household member would come to you one way or another if it was meant to be. As it is though, I'm better off without any."

Kali grinned good-naturedly as she turned to a thoughtful Sharrkan, his normally lax features uncharacteristically somber as his brows furrowed slightly. "Besides, they'd probably get fed up with me and we'd get into fights—I'm not the most sociable person you know."

"You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Well, maybe not completely," her eyes glittered and she sighed. "But maybe just a bit."

"It's something to think about," Sharrkan said finally, raising his arms up as the chain behind him clanked along the ground, reminding Kali of times long past and memories she held close to her heart so she would never forget what they taught her. "I just..."

A hand came to rest on her shoulder and she turned, his eyes full of something soft and a look so gentle Kali felt as though he thought she would shatter at his mere touch.

"I just don't want you to be alone."

Kali felt the feather resting against her chest warm and her eyes burned brightly against the moonlight. A flutter of Rukh.

"I'm never alone."


"There's more than one way to be alone."

She'd fallen asleep again.

Kali blinked wearily, once, twice, before a wide yawn tore apart her lips. Sluggishly her eyes rolled toward the side, trying to remember where she was and what she was doing.

Thin rays of sunlight streaked through a wide glass window behind her. Her eyes drifted toward it, high enough in the palace that she could see an endless space of ocean stretching out far and wide—forever. The thought was strangely comforting and she blinked once more, taking in the familiar outline of Sinbad's office minus the man in question himself. Her brows furrowed and she rolled over on the couch pushed off toward the side of his office, sitting up. Her tunic slid down her shoulder, revealing the dark ink swirling across her back.

Sure enough, the office which had previously been occupied by the two of them was left with no one else but herself. Kali looked around curiously, surprised Sinbad hadn't taken the chance to fall asleep with her.

Realizing the light weight against her legs she glanced downwards to where a downy blanket covered the lower half of her body and she reached forward, pulling it towards her thoughtfully.

He is a king after all. Kali's eyes fluttered shut and she hummed, some tune she wasn't sure where she'd heard it before leaving her lips as she leaned back against the couch, eyes traveling across the room somewhat thoughtfully.

It was clear Sinbad meant business in here, the only mess the slight clutter of ornaments littered across his desk along with several papers. Otherwise, everything seemed to have a place of its own and the space was large and inviting, promising easy thoughts to flow without the worry of clutter.

Her eyes landed on the glass sword she'd made for him and she stood, walking toward it as if she were in some sort of trance. Her fingers trailed along the thin edges, thoughtful as memories flickered through her mind, wild and vibrant and fresh.

I wish things were as easy as they were before. Kali dropped slowly to her knees, resting her head in her arms as she gazed at the glass ornament before her, light flickering and reflecting off of it as it casted a glow across the room, shifting like the ocean waves surrounding this wonderful country.

I've been wishing for a lot of things lately.

"There is no harm in such thoughts," Camio whispered quietly. "A little greed is good in this life."

Where'd he go? Kali inquired curiously, idly tapping one floorboard and grinning when she heard a hollow echo back. Sinbad's secret storage of alcohol from Ja'far.

"You two were talking about the recent events and a new shipment of fruits to Sindria when you started to nod off and he kept talking to you until you were fast asleep," Camio reported dutifully. "He continued working for a little while until he was called away, so he left a blanket for you."

"I'm surprised he didn't wake me up too," Kali murmured curiously and she felt Camio pause a moment before venturing.

"Perhaps he could see how tired you are as of late."

"I'm not tired," Kali shut her eyes, running a hand through her hair and bringing a sooty colored lock to her face, idly wondering if she should cut it soon before it started to get in the way. Sinbad said he thought it was beautiful long but he'd love her either way.

Always talking like I can do no wrong. Kali snorted, fingers drumming along the hilt of her sword as she contemplated what to do next now that she was here.

Despite her decision to remain here in Sindria a little longer, there really was no ulterior motive. She simply felt like the best course of action at this point was to wait things out a little longer and see which way the winds were shifting, after she was sure of what sort of turns the world was beginning to make then she would make her move. There's nothing wrong with touching up on some skills and improving myself.

Kali flexed her fingers, gazing down at her slightly calloused hands curiously. I guess I can ask to spar with Sinbad or Sharrkan or even Masrur if I just want to build up on strength in general, but...

Something was keeping her away from training too much with Sinbad when it came to djinn equips, even though he was far more experienced then her, she felt it was something she'd have to figure out and solve on her own at this point. Besides, djinn equip battles always end up destroying something no matter how careful we are.

"You don't seem to be hovering over the fact that you might disappear during your time here."

"I'm prepared for that," Kali shrugged. "At this point, all I can do is keep training and working hard so that I'm ready for whatever comes next."

"That's... very mature of you."

"The things that come after this are going to be taking a toll out of us, Cam." Kali pressed a hand to the glass window before her, eyes following the vast expanse of ocean that greeted her gaze, idly wondering what went on in Sinbad's head every time he looked out across this ocean.

Do you miss it?

There was a rush of footsteps outside the office door and hurried chattering. Kali turned around thoughtfully, something akin to mischief flickering through her eyes before she grinned, body flickering as she focused on the flow of Rukh throughout the island nation.

Well, it's as the saying goes right?

Her eyes twinkled and she disappeared.

Work hard, play hard.


"What exactly..." Kali held back a laugh, pressing the back of her hand to her lips as her eyes glittered with mirth and she choked. "Is the meaning of this?"

Sinbad retained whatever bit of dignity he had left, face calm and collected save for the several wooden sticks scattered around him, taut fishing lines pull and crossing over this way and that. Several empty buckets were present around him, seaweed lying in bundles and heaps off to the side as Kali idly nudged one with her bare foot, grimacing at the slimy feel and dragging her foot along the wooden floorboards of the ship as she arched a brow Sinbad's way, a look of settled determination on his face.

"I'm fishing."

"I can see that," Kali mused, the hint of a laugh bubbling beneath her words. "But why?"

"We got a complaint that there's been a lack of fish to the eastern side of the island ports," Sinbad replied calmly. "I listened to what my precious citizens had to say and found that it would be far more useful if I went out myself to assess the situation and see what was going on."

Do you miss it?

"And now you're on a fishing boat, fishing."

"Yes." Sinbad arched a brow, giving her a calm look, one that challenged her to question the situation befalling them. "Is there a problem with that?"

Kali hummed, that same forgotten tune playing along her lips as she idly made her way around the small sailboat, no one else present but Sinbad himself. She wondered if Ja'far and the rest of the generals were having a field day over something like this, their grand and precious king out in the middle of the ocean fishing on some small sailboat like a tired old man who'd gotten into an argument with his wife.

"Did you get into a fight with Ja'far?"

"No," Sinbad said curtly.

"Are you trying to avoid work?"

"I am working."

Kali's lips curled upwards almost wickedly and for once Sinbad pointedly ignored her, sitting down in the chair he'd brought out—she let herself die upon that realization, laughter tearing from her lips as she fell onto her back, holding her stomach while Sinbad merely gazed ahead, the focused gaze of a tell-tale fisherman making its appearance on his features.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Kali offered, containing the giggles bubbling at her throat as she coughed, sitting cross legged on the floor beside him as she peered over the edge of the boat curiously, the various lines casted downwards along with a net somewhere settled along the bottom of the ocean. She peered up at him, batting her eyelashes as she beamed. "Can I stay?"

"If you don't plan on making fun of what used to keep my family and me alive," Sinbad said surprisingly bitterly and Kali arched a brow, rather fond of the moments where he treated her like this instead of being that suave, charming king he always made himself out to be—it was human and she loved it. "Then I would love for you to be here beside me on this lovely day."

Kali smiled, eyes growing warm as she leaned slightly to the side, head resting against the side of his lap as she watched the waves sloshing back and forth almost lazily, promising a larger and deadlier wave coming when the tides would get higher. Calm before the storm. Sinbad shifted beside her in an attempt to make sure she was comfortable.

"You left me earlier."

Sinbad let out a bark of laughter, deep and throaty and Kali closed her eyes to the sound, lips tugging upwards. "I did leave you earlier, I apologize. I was tempted to gather you up in my arms and take you to my room to sleep more peacefully but I had to head out."

Kali hummed—she'd been doing that a lot as of late, some song she didn't really recall constantly filling her head. "How will you make it up to me?"

Sinbad made a noise of amusement, gaze flickering to her, so full of fondness and mirth that she only snuck a glance back for a just a moment less she be pulled in by those eyes as endless as the sea before her, like waves lapping against the shore, coaxing you further and further into those deep waters until you were drowning in them.

"Shall I tell you a story then to make up for it?"

"As long as there's food to go with it then I think that will be just fine."

The sound of the ocean filled her ears, waves lapping against the boat and crashing against each other like a resounding clap. She started to think about a lot of things. The memories of hundreds of worlds before her flittered through her mind occasionally, fresh and painful and dear to her heart. She thought about Alibaba and Morgiana, hoping they would be fine in the different paths they were setting out for and knowing in her heart they would be. She thought about Hakuryuu and the promises she'd realized she'd been making to so many people as of late. She thought about Kougyoku and Kou and the looming clouds that were beginning to gather in her heart.

She thought about Aladdin, about that sad and somewhat lonely smile and those warm blue eyes that seemed to see more of her than she'd ever seen before.

"This is scary," Kali suddenly mused aloud, and Sinbad paused from watching the fishing line, turning to her in mild curiosity as her eyes remained settling on the ocean, shifting in front of them, vast and endless, always endless. "When you're out here like this it makes you think a lot."

Sinbad chuckled, a deep and familiar sound. "It does have that effect, doesn't it?"

Kali continued to gaze out at the ocean for a moment before turning her eyes toward him, catching the way the sun glinted off those golden irises and the ocean seemed to make them shift, endless. "What do you think about while you're out here?"

Sinbad paused, looking rather thoughtful before he answered with a brief hint of a smile. "I like to remind myself where I came from, sometimes."

Do you miss it?

"Fisherman's son to a king," Kali mused and Sinbad arched a brow, turning down to her as he settled back, the two of them gazing out into the ocean side by side, a breeze tugging at their hair and pulling it backwards, the tail ends of vibrant purple mingling with soot.

"You're oddly at ease today."

"It could be nice like this more often if you weren't so rowdy all the time," Kali flashed him a cheeky grin and Sinbad scoffed, Kali's heart warming at the action. Something about this whole ordeal was making her oddly nostalgic and it was tugging at parts of her heart she'd reserved solely for him, for them, for this.

"You've never shared much with me," Sinbad started suddenly and Kali paused, tensing. There was something quiet to his voice though, no hidden agendas, no questionable motives or thought out plans, it was him talking, just him—Sin. "I've never expected you to ever open yourself to me truly to begin with, there was something about the way you didn't that I've always been fond of. But with the way things are as of late and the things I expect will come to pass soon enough..."

He trailed off, as if uncertain, and Kali suddenly realized with a quiet surprise that he was just speaking as the words came to mind, not calculating, not thinking, merely speaking. "Remember I'm still here, Kali. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

"I know," Kali said quietly, afraid that if she spoke anymore then something inside her would shatter, some carefully crafted thing she'd created in her heart that she couldn't risk giving up. "If I knew that being out here on the ocean made you like this I'd bring you out more often, it's refreshing."

A smile turned Sinbad's lips upwards, golden eyes shining deeply and thickly with emotion and Kali paused, freezing in her spot beside him.

"I care very deeply for you, Kali. Remember that."

Do you miss the way things were before all of this?

"I will," Kali said softly.

You probably don't regret a moment of it, do you?

The boat suddenly lurched and the two of them blinked, turning their eyes skywards as the ocean seemed to split into as a furious roar split the air, a towering sea monster dripping thick droplets of water down onto them as it bore pearly white fangs down on them, eyes glittering darkly as it parted its jaws once more and roared. The two of them stared, blank faced and expressionless as the sea monster before them before Kali idly reached forward, fingering the wooden fishing pole in her hands.

"I thought you were fishing?"

"I was."

"I see."

...

...

...

"I guess now we know where all the fish went."

"Yes, I suppose so."

Without another moment of hesitation, Sinbad lurched forward for the wheel of the ship while Kali grabbed her sword, flames igniting along the blade. The sea monster paused, seeming to blink at the look of wicked determination that had crossed over the two dungeon capturers and suddenly the creature seemed to pale, turning to tail to run as Kali launched herself forward, bringing her sword back in a wide arch.

"We're eating good tonight!"


If Kali didn't love the warmth and beauty and the heat that fire brought with it, especially considering that since Raum was a flame centered djinn, she really, really would hate the damn thing.

Fire.

It was always fire.

It scorched the earth all around her, deep and vibrant and eating up anything in sight. Kali watched the towering buildings come tumbling down, engulfed in the darkly colored flames. Her eyes took on a somewhat blank expression but she remained firm, reminding herself with the press of heat into her palm and blood dripping down the side of her brow that she was here and she was alive in a world that even though wasn't her own, one that belonged to the Kali that belonged here, and she owed her enough to fight for it just as furiously as she would've.

A black djinn came crashing down, arms raised to crush her beneath its fingertips. With a wide arched and a narrowed gaze, one of fury and red, red, red she sliced the monster in half, watching the two sides fall to the ground, beginning to reform only to be engulfed in deep crimson flames, roars and cries of despair welling up all around her. There were people running this way and that, scattered and falling to their knees as the Rukh left them, Kali bit her lip, blood trickling down her mouth as she shot forward, a ball of flaming light as she sliced through djinn after djinn, over and over and over again.

She threw herself in a wide arch, a ferocious dragon made wholly of flames curving outwards with the motion as it roared, tearing through the sky and into the hundreds of black djinns gathered all around.

"Stay strong, my king." Camio offered comfortingly. "You are stronger now."

Kali inclined her head softly, the only sign that she'd heard him as she shot forward, a growl ripping from her throat as she slashed through djinn after djinn over and over again. Her body shot forward toward several figures masked in black Rukh and she lunged, flames engulfing the body of wooden dolls as they fell to the floor. She heard the thundering crumble of a building and she whirled around, shooting forward to attack another djinn.

"Amar! Amar—answer me!"

A flutter, a whisper and Kali's eyes suddenly snapped to the side. She quickly spotted a boy, perhaps no older than Alibaba or Morgiana stumbling about. There was a look of horror and fear stretched across his face, blood splattering his cheek as he gripped his arm, blood dripping to the floor and soaking his once white clothes and he looked around, tears beginning to pool in his eyes. Kali froze, the djinn before her crumbling to ashes as she realized several more were approaching the boy, raising their feet to smash him into the ground.

He stumbled forward, falling to his knees as his lips mumbled the same name over and over again, eyes growing further and further away.

Kali breathed, inhaling and exhaling.

Without another thought she lunged forward, cursing herself for doing this every time she happened to catch someone, she could never leave them be. Maybe that just shows there's still a little bit of humanity left inside me. She snapped forward, clawed fingers digging into his collar as she jerked him forward along with her. His eyes widened, snapping to her figure in disbelief and Kali realized for the briefest of moments that his eyes were such a beautiful shade of red before she whirled around, bringing her sword up in a wide arch as flames shot forward, engulfing the three black djinns.

Kali crumpled in on herself, suddenly feeling the heavy blow of the toll she was taking out on her body as the two of them slammed into the ground. The boy beside her coughed, hacking and wheezing before he scrambled upwards, looking around sharply. "Amar—Amar! Amar, where are you? Answer me please! Amar!"

Kali's eyes snapped to where several more djinns were approaching and she cursed. There's no point, I've already lost this world, there's nothing more I can do here. Her eyes snapped this way and that, nothing but burning buildings and the putrid scent of burning flesh as she nearly gagged, staggering upwards and preparing to disappear when the boy beside her fell to his knees once more, tears pooling into his eyes and dripping down the side of his face, a clear streak through the ash and blood. Kali froze, heart hammering in her chest as something shifted, the world around her curling and winding, tighter and tighter as she felt her body flicker.

"Amar, please..." he sobbed, bowing down and letting his fists hit the floor. "Don't do this to me..."

Kali fancied herself for being an impulsive idiot on occasion, but usually a hot headed rationalist for the most part.

Without thinking of any possible consequences or the kinds of things that could happen with the choice she made, Kali lunged forward just as several djinn were about to slam down onto them once more, fingers digging tightly into the collar of the boy before her as his eyes snapped to her, growing round and wide as the two of them flickered.

And disappeared.

Kali let out a rush of air, body slamming hard into the floor as she coughed and hacked, body shaking as vines quickly wrapped themselves around her, healing the wounds and drawing magoi from the earth around her. She felt wooden floors beneath her fingertips, heard the rush of sea breeze outside and realized where she was.

There was a small island several miles away from Sindria, tucked away and hidden beneath miles of endless fog and mist that kept it from any prying eyes. She'd stumbled upon it by accident and realized where it was, bringing Yunan here once or twice to help her get a small little house of sorts situated. It was where she kept her most precious things, her memories and findings from dungeons in the past when she needed to get a few coins or sell something off. It was her own little secret hide out in a sense, one she'd kept safely guarded and carefully hidden for years upon years after finding it. It belonged to her and no one else.

Deep, heavy breathing filled the room, coughing and hacking and slowly, Kali turned, heart thundering against her chest as Camio spoke quickly in her mind, trying to reassure her that what she did wasn't the wrong choice and she was just trying to do what she thought was best.

The boy before her laid crumpled on the ground, wheezing—injured. Her eyes numbly trailed over his hunched over form, the outline of his hands, the blood flowing from his wounds, the inexplicable, real fact that he was there and he was alive.

She'd brought someone back.

She brought someone back from another world with her.

Kali suddenly felt sick.

Fear, disbelief and confusion all quickly battled it out to triumph over her mind. Curiosity, amazement, and wonder—they were all swimming rapidly back and forth like a storm at sea. Her head pounded, shaky fingers touching the ground as she slowly brought herself closer to him, hesitantly reaching outwards to press a hand against his cheek as she turned him toward her. Vines curled around her body comfortingly, a warm white light glowing from the soft and mossy ends as she felt her breath catch in her throat.

You saved him.

Instantly vines shot forward, wrapping thickly around him and glowing gently. Kali shoved whatever ounce of magoi she had inside her toward the effort of making sure he was alive and keeping him that way. An inexplicable urge to do everything in her power to keep him safe overtook her and she waved her hand, struggling to use the vines to help aid her in lifting him up as they staggered to the makeshift bed in the corner, laying him down as the vines continued to heal him.

She'd brought someone back from another world.

Kali stumbled, as if in a daze as she silently made her way over to a water basin, dragging it over as water sloshed off the side, vines attempting to steady her hands as she crouched down beside him. As if in a trance she reached downwards, soaking a wad of cloth into the cool water and bending over him, swiping the blood of his face and washing away the ashen stains across his cheek. She felt the vines curled around him begin to slow, the wounds nearly healed as she continued to dab and wipe numbly at his face, lost in the process when she suddenly paused, gently pulling her hand away.

His hair was silver, Kali realized. It was a beautiful shade of moonlit silver, like the moon reflecting off a rippling pool. Despite the fact that it was ashen and matted, she could see the sharp tint and recalled that his eyes were a startling beautiful shade of bright crimson red, like apples.

He was young, most likely around Alibaba or Hakuryuu's age by the looks of it, but she could be wrong.

Tanned skin, marred with scars over various parts of his body.

Alive. Hesitantly Kali pressed her ear to his chest, waiting until she heard the familiar thump thump thump of a heart beating wildly and soundly in his chest—alive.

"My king..." Camio breathed softly, as if stepping gingerly around her.

"Camio," Kali began softly, eyes round with disbelief as she slumped to the floor, staring at the unfamiliar stranger in her bed and feeling the world around her slow to a screeching halt.

"What did I just do?"

"You saved a life."


Omake: The Other Life and the Words of Advice Part I

Everything hurts.

Kali gazed up with a dazed look. She blinked once, blooding dripping from the side of her temple and drenching the side of her face. She breathed a shuddering breath, wincing at the sharp pain in her chest as she tried to keep her heart pumping and the blood flowing as she sluggishly tried to recall everything that she could about herself and where she was.

I must be in another world. The shift of the Rukh was different and she could feel the presence of the other her in this world somewhere else, but there nonetheless. Kali winced, hand clutching her stomach as Camio was whispering urgently and soothingly into her ear, promising he would not let her perish like this. Kali would have laughed had she not been bleeding so profoundly, blood spilling through her fingers and drenching the grassy meadow beneath her. Her wounds stung and ached, bones and joints crying out with every rise and fall of her chest despite Camio's attempts to numb the pain. Somewhere far off she wondered if she heard the thundering of hooves and rising shout of voices but found herself too tired to care at this point. She brought her free hand up to swipe a hand across her face, trying to clear aside the blood dripping down her face and inhaling and exhaling once more.

After the events at Magnostadt, something had changed during her travels between worlds. She no longer took the place of the Kali living in that world but instead existed alongside her, or him in some cases. The memories of their life would still come rushing to her, but in most worlds now she existed alongside them, taking care not to interfere and be seen if possible, and in other worlds she continued to take their place less the Kali of that world perished and disappeared.

"A possible change in your Rukh," Camio suggested quietly. "It could be that now that your entire being has changed in composition, so has your Rukh. You are no longer connected to every other Kali in other worlds on such a level, allowing you to exist as two separate entities—"

I'll believe anything you say at this point, Cam. Kali winced, turning her head slightly to avoid the bright glare of the sun down on her. I'm just so tired everything hurts. The world she had been at previously had not ended as well as she'd hoped, as always. Kali felt her consciousness began to slip when the thundering of hooves grew nearer and she tensed, prepared but hoping she needn't fight anymore when the sound came to a sudden halt and she paused, a shadow casting itself over her.

A flutter of Rukh, a whisper of quiet longing. Kali's eyes slowly began to take in the figure before her, eyes widening in disbelief and somewhere in the back of her head despite their situation she heard Camio laugh.

"Who are you?"

Young. Much younger than she ever could have imagined being able to witness him. Kali blinked once, trying to distinguish whether or not it was a dream until the blood spilling through her fingers reminded her she was currently bleeding out. The flaming hair was unmistakable, those deep eyes shining bright with youth, crimson and burning with curiosity, wary and hesitant. His hand gripped his sword, his horse pawing at the ground as it blew steam through its nose and Kali realized he must only still be a teenager in this world, beginning his military conquests alongside Hakuyuu and Hakuren.

Kouen. His name almost spilled from her lips, half giddy from the blood loss and half amused to see him so much younger than herself and still manage to pull off that deep set furrow in his brow. You made more expressions when you were younger, didn't you?

She never imagined she would see him like this.

Kouen's eyes seemed to finally take in her entire state, eyes widening slightly. Some part of her figured she should've just disappeared and teleported somewhere else so Camio could heal her properly, but her chest ached, the longing to see him alive and well and without the weight of the world on his shoulders ruling out above all else as she offered him a weak smile, eyes shining as something like confusion and wonder seemed to flicker across his face.

"I'm in...your hands," Kali breathed, eyes flickering shut as she barely glimpsed him quickly dismounting from his horse, hands reaching for her as his voice rang through her ears. "Kouen..."

Darkness.


You need to leave.

Kali shot upright, chest heaving as she lurched forward. She gripped the thick blanket between her hands, panting heavily as she quickly gripped her side, pain blossoming across her abdomen and she cursed, wondering why Camio hadn't already healed her when she froze, realizing she wasn't alone.

Her eyes snapped to the hair pin that was laid to rest gently beside her bedside and she snatched it, whirling around and pointing the sharpened edge forward as her eyes snapped around, feral and wild until they landed on calm, crimson irises, unmoving and unshakable.

That's right. Kali's thundering heart slowed and she blinked, somewhat awed at the appearance of a young Ren Kouen before her. I'm in another world. He must have taken me in and Camio didn't want to give anything away.

Kouen remained silent for a moment, eyes watching her calmly, warily, and Kali wanted to laugh for a moment at how earnest his expressions were—why couldn't he be like that now? Slowly, Kouen took a single step back, holding up his hands to show he meant no harm. He was a lot nicer at this age too, that's for sure.

"You should not move recklessly," Kouen said slowly, carefully. "Your wounds are still fresh. I would like to be informed as to how you got to such a degree and how you ended up where you did, but I am willing to wait."

Kali arched a brow, amused as Kouen continued, eyeing the sharp end of the hair pin in her hand and letting his hand drift away from his sword, the only sign of peace he could offer. You'd never do that in the future, you jerk. "I mean you no harm."

Kali snorted at that and Kouen arched a brow. Kali let out a sigh, sticking the hair pin back into her hair with practiced ease as Kouen paused, watching her with undeniably curious eyes as Kali pressed a hand to her side, humming to herself as she idly realized happily that he'd left all her belongings close to her, including Raum and Seere. Oddly trusting, despite everything you go through. Kali's eyes strayed to Kouen, whose vibrant red eyes had never left her for a moment. Is this before you have to get all tough and serious for your country?

"How did you know my name?" Kouen said finally, as if establishing that this was the moment for her to final reveal everything about herself to him.

Kali idly found this approach amusing, wondering if she should mess with him a bit, especially considering she had no place in this world when there was another Kali out there somewhere. Kali hummed and Kouen looked unsettled by her nonchalant approach, Kali raising her arm to prop her head up on her knee as she tilted her head, peering at him through sooty locks.

"Who doesn't know who you are?"

Kouen's eyes flickered, his hand drifted to the hilt of his sword and she smiled. "I doubt that you can believe me based on just this, but I promise I'm not here to try and kill you or do anything terrible."

Kouen's eyes narrowed and she wanted to laugh at how cute it almost seemed for a moment considering how much younger he was in this timeline, but he still managed to pull off the ferocious scowl fairly well. "I swear."

Unbeknownst to Kali, Kouen thoughts were in a sudden turmoil, torn because at this moment, the woman before him was a secret that no one in the palace knew about except for himself when he'd hauled her onto his horse and rode back, one hand wrapped around her waist to keep her upright against him and the other gripping the reins. Ren Kouen was no fool, he knew how dangerous such actions were, he knew this was not the time to be hauling bleeding strangers into the palace when they were on the verge of war with several neighboring tribes, he knew that there was no reason that would dictate this action of his to be reasonable.

But for some odd, unfathomable reason, he also knew deep to the very core of his being that no matter what happened, he shouldn't let this woman slip from his fingers, not even for a moment.

"Who are you?"

"A traveler," Kali replied breezily, settling back and making herself more comfortable. She adjusted the bandages wound around her chest and idly reached for the cloth she used to wrap around her chest, miraculously unscathed except for a tear in the side. She looped it around her and Kouen's eyes strayed to the side, Kali almost biting back a laugh at such politeness coming from Kouen of all people.

Kouen's hand suddenly fell to his side and Kali looked up curiously, his face startlingly open to her as his brows furrowed ever so slightly, crimson eyes pinning her to where she sat and never once leaving her form for a moment. Kali paused, feeling her breath catch in her throat.

"What do I have to do?" Kouen began calmly, quietly. To have you answer me seriously.

Kali paused, a flutter of Rukh flickering through the air. She could leave right this moment she realized, disappear from his life without a trace.

Kouen's eyes, worn down, wary.

Those crimson eyes, bright, intense, and perhaps even somewhat hopeful as they gazed at her in this very moment.

"For every story you tell me," Kali began suddenly and Kouen tensed, waiting. "I'll answer a question."

"Story?"

"Anything, fables, myths, things that have just happened in your life," Kali offered him a crooked grin. "I'll take anything."

There was a moment of silence, a shift, and Kali figured he must've finally realized that he needed a more direct approach if he wanted to get anything out of her when Kouen's voice suddenly filled the room.

"Once there was a dragon and a boy..."


I'm honestly teasing you all leaving the chapter like that and then throwing in the omake like this, but the idea for the omake suddenly possessed me and I absolutely had to write it. I just could not not write it. Minor spoiler in the omake that some stuff goes down in the upcoming arc. ;)

But it seems a lot of you guys are loving these bits of Kouen and I'm glad! People still seem to be awfully torn between the two and trust me, I am too, because there is honestly not set pairing as of yet. ;) Keep hoping, you never know who might win!

But you Kouen lovers, expect some heavy SinKal next chapter because I honestly want to get in as much of Sinbad the way he is now possible into the story before I have to tackle to awful challenge of what's to come in the recent events in the manga. :( I love building up for future angst :')

I think some of you guys already have a pretty good idea about where this mysterious boy is going to go from here on out, but my real challenge for you guys is to guess who out of Kali's arsenal he'll take the most shining too!

SHAMELESS ADVERTISING!

I recently just uploaded (another) new story for Haikyuu if any of you are familiar with the fantastic dorky and heartfelt volleyball anime, and I have a little clip here for you guys to see a peek of what it's about!


Natsume's Guide to Crows, Owls, and Kings


In a war-ridden dystopian society where lives are on the line, Natsume Kaito, Lieutenant of the Commander squad dares to go about her days piling together helpful and not-so-helpful tips and rules on how to survive life on the battlefield along with her brave and fearless soldiers! "Of course that's because Iwa-chan and I are in a polyamorous relationship with her!" "When did I ever agree to that?" "Trashy-kawa." Alongside her fellow dorks is what she meant. Oc/?


"Neh, Kaito-senpai?"

"Yes?" Natsume replied cheerfully, turning with some difficultly due to the extra weight she was carrying as she smiling eagerly at the younger recruit before her.

The bright orange haired boy blinked once, trying to understand the sight before him before he continued on excitedly. "Do you think you could help teach me how to wire some of these bombs? I want to learn how to diffuse them in case we ever needed too!"

"Of course!" Natsume's eyes brightened at the prospect of working with explosives and she grinned, hands busying themselves elsewhere despite the fact that she was keeping her gaze focused on the boy in front of her. "Are you free later today after warm ups?"

"Yes!" Hinata exclaimed before blinking once and adding, "Is that fine with Grand King-senpai though?"

Natsume smiled, hands busy with keeping Oikawa's face at bay as he whined against her hand, complaining that she hadn't let him kiss him in what felt like years—"I never let you kiss me to begin with, trashy-kawa!"—and she nodded. The brown haired captain was slumped over her like a sloth, arms wrapped around her shoulders as he pressed his weight down on her and Natsume staggered, holding up a shaky thumbs up.

"I-It won't be a problem at all! D-Don't worry—ack!"


"Had enough yet?"

"Not in the slightest! Bring it on, you owl."

"...did you just call me an owl?"

"Yeah! I mean, well, the way your hair is styled just sort of makes you look like, uh... well... Wow! I think I hear Hajime calling for me! Gotta go!"


"I can't wait anymore, Natsu-chan."

She paused, a chill running down her spine as a heated breath ghosted over the back of her nape. Natsume froze, body stilling as his heated body pressed in close behind her, hair tickling her cheeks as he bent forward, lips ghosting over her neck.

"W-What do you mean?"

"You," he purred, throaty and deep and Natsume's eyes went wide as she was spun around, hands pinning themselves on either side of her head as she gazed deeply into a hungry gaze, endless.

"I just want you."


"Hahaha, well of course! It's because Iwa-chan and I are in a polyamorous relationship with Natsu-chan! No one can interfere!"

"I don't remember ever agreeing to that."

"Neither do I, Trashy-kawa."

"There's nothing to agree on! It's already consensual!"

"If there's three of us, it would be trisensual then wouldn't it?"

"No, I don't think it works that way."


"I just..." Tears dripped from her eyes and she fell to the floor, gun clattering to the ground as she peered upwards, gazing at the end of a gun barrel pointed between her eyes. How could you. How could you.

She could never blame him.

A slow, sad smile crawled over her lips as tears spilled from the corner of her eyes.

"I just wanted you to know I've always loved you."

Bang.


The story will have chapters almost in a long-drabble like format. If I could I'd list it as a romance, drama and comedy, but currently it's just a romance/comedy with the more dramatic stuff coming in later because it is a war ridden dystopian society after all ;) I'm currently playing around with pairings but I'm toying with a reverse harem, oc/various kind of thing just for the fun of writing something a little different. I hope those little snippets were interesting enough, and I honestly would love it if you'd check the story out and tell me what you think!

Thank you all so much for all your kind and supportive reviews, you don't understand how happy it makes me just to see that you guys take out the time to write something, no matter whether or not its paragraph after paragraph or short snippet telling me this was a great chapter, they all just make my day.

MUCH LOVE.

Marshmellow-

-OUT!