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Chapter Three
The Road to Cathargo
Heliohapt is hot. The blazing sun makes the desert feel like a furnace. There is sand everywhere. It gets in their clothes and sweeps across the roads making it difficult to walk. Morgiana has to tread carefully to keep her feet from burning. Noon is the hottest part of the day and they take refuge in a roadside tavern while they wait for the sun to pass its zenith. There, they refill their water skins and stock up on food. They don't know long it will take to travel between towns and they need to be prepared. Hakuryuu's nose is already starting to burn and Morgiana can feel her neck and upper arms succumbing as well. She doesn't know how he's surviving in all those layers.
Her answer comes when they set out again an hour later. He takes a long look at the blazing sun and then at her and then he unties the thin belt at his waist and removes the padded cloth from around his middle. Morgiana wonders where he's going to put it and is surprised when he hands it to her. "Here. Drape this over your shoulders. It'll protect you from the sun."
She takes it but gives him an uncertain look. She wonders if it's really okay to take his clothing like this. It's so nice and white. She's afraid she'll get it dirty. Hakuryuu smiles and says, "It's fine. These clothes aren't really suited for this climate and you're going to be uncomfortable if you burn too much."
She nods and throws the garment over her shoulders as he reties his belt. She still thinks he's wearing too many layers but she keeps the thought to herself. If he's fine roasting, then she's happy to let him.
They spend the rest of the day walking. It would have been easier to hitch a ride with someone, but unfortunately it seems there isn't much traffic coming in and out of Cathargo these days. That's fine with Morgiana, though. She enjoys walking and the trip is much nicer with company. She could've made better time on her own as she could have run most of the way, but despite being a prince, Hakuryuu is no slouch and they still beat a pretty good pace. It's thanks to this that they manage to reach the next town before nightfall.
Hakuryuu books a room for them at the local inn and Morgiana promptly goes for a bath. She's covered in sand and starting to smell and while she's never been afraid of a bit of dirt, there's definitely a line and it's been soundly crossed. She grabs the soap from her bag and heads for the washroom with the kind of single-minded determination normally reserved for Nanaumi whenever she's in a room with King Takeruhiko.
She stops. Nanaumi? She tries to place the name but it slips from her mind like the soap in her hand. She shakes her head and continues on to the washroom. She's already forgotten why she stopped in the first place.
The washroom is surprisingly nice for belonging to the only inn of such a small town. There's a large mirror situated near the tub and after she undresses she takes a moment to examine herself. She frowns at the pinkness on her neck and arms and is once again grateful to Hakuryuu for letting her borrow his clothes. It's been a while since she last had access to a mirror and she's a bit surprised at what she sees. For some reason she looks smaller than she remembers. Her breasts are less full and her arms are skinnier and her hips are narrower. But, she reminds herself, she's only fifteen. She's perfectly average for her age. Hips and breasts will come with time.
The tub is wonderful. The water washes away all the sweat and grime from her body and relaxes her muscles. She takes care to be thorough when washing her hair and scrubbing the sand from between her toes, and when she steps out she feels like a new Morgiana. She dons a fresh dress and pads back down the hall to her and Hakuryuu's room.
It's clear when she walks in that Hakuryuu isn't expecting her. He's sitting on the edge of his bed and he's stripped down to his pants and under-tunic. The left side of his tunic is bunched around his waist as he inspects his wooden arm. His whole left side is visible and she sees scar tissue running in splotchy patterns from his neck to his upper arm and all the way down his torso. She sucks in a breath at the sight and the sound causes him to jump. He quickly turns his body around to face her and thrusts his arm back into the sleeve of his tunic. "L-Lady Morgiana," he stutters, pulling the material closed over his chest. "I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting…er, anticipating…I mean, I didn't think you'd be back so soon."
She just stares at him. She doesn't know what to say. She's never seen his chest before and she never expected to see such a grievous injury. She can only imagine the agony a burn like that must've caused him.
Hakuryuu has averted his eyes from her. He looks ashamed. "I apologize," he says again. "That's probably not something you wanted to see."
Morgiana snaps out of her shock and shakes her head. "No," she denies. "There's no need to apologize. It was my own fault for entering as I did." She takes a deep breath and wonders if she's going to regret the question she's about to ask. "Those scars…they're from the fire that you lost your brothers to, correct?" She remembers him briefly explaining what happened while they were still in Aktia. He told them his mother started the fire. She had wanted to dispose of them. Hakuryuu had been the sole survivor.
Hakuryuu is silent for a moment and his expression is pained. She can tell the memory still haunts him. "That's right," he says at last. "My oldest brother, Hakuyuu…he knew he was going to die…so he…" He pauses and she can see a shadow pass over his face. She wonders what he is seeing. "He covered me in his blood to stop the flames from burning me. He wanted me, at least, to make it out. He told me to avenge them."
Morgiana's eyes widen. She understands now why he'd flown so off the hook back in the pirates' base. He'd probably been made to relive that horrifying experience all over again. It's no wonder he is so full of rage at his mother. Morgiana doesn't have any memories of her own mother, but the image in her heart is of a beautiful, caring woman who still loves her even after so many years apart and even though Morgiana won't be able to recognize her if she sees her. That's just how mothers are.
There had been a time when Hakuryuu had believed his mother was the same. How awful it must have been for him to find out he was wrong.
She crosses the room in only a few steps and Hakuryuu starts when she grabs his shoulders. He is skittish; like a dog who expects a beating. Morgiana knows little about comforting others but she leans down and presses her forehead to his. In her tribe, it is a way of showing others that you wish to share their pain. Hakuryuu is not a Fanalis but he seems to understand.
"Thank you, Lady Morgiana," he tells her, pulling back from the contact. He is polite and his mouth is smiling but the motion to move away from her is executed with intentional swiftness. The haunted look is back in his eyes. "I appreciate your support, but you don't have to worry. I made a promise to someone I care about very much that I won't let my anger control me."
Morgiana pulls back as well and nods once firmly. "Then that's good." She chooses not to remark on the fact that he had let his anger control him just three weeks ago when he fought Alibaba under the influence of Umm Madaura. She wonders when he made this promise and to whom, because up until that same time she could sense the anger still inside him, festering just below the surface.
Hakuryuu stands and snatches up a neatly folded stack of fresh clothes that she only now notices had been sitting beside him all the while. "I'm going to go for a bath," he tells her. His eyes are back to normal now. Whatever dark thoughts he'd been having just a moment ago have passed. Morgiana nods and walks the few steps to her bed. Perhaps it was the full day of traveling, but she's feeling suddenly very tired.
She settles in and closes her eyes. Briefly, she thinks about Alibaba and Aladdin and wonders how they're doing. She wonders if Aladdin was able to infiltrate Magnostadt okay and if Alibaba managed to find someone to train him. Knowing them, they're both getting by somehow. She's asleep before Hakuryuu gets back.
That night, Morgiana dreams again.
She and Aladdin and Alibaba are gearing up to set out. Alibaba still has lots of work to do for his trading company and both he and Morgiana are eager to spread news of their engagement. Not to mention the threat of Sinbad and David and Arba have yet to be properly taken care of.
There is slight confusion when she and Alibaba realize Hakuryuu is no longer with them. She asks Aladdin about it and he tells her Hakuryuu has gone off on a quest to find Judar. At this news, Morgiana tastes a small amount of guilt. She knows that she hurt him when she accepted Alibaba's proposal, but it was unavoidable. To be honest, she's not really that surprised that he left. She's a little sad, though. She's spent every day of the past three years with him and now that he's gone she feels a small empty spot in her heart. She wishes he would've said goodbye at least.
They set off on their journey and Hakuryuu is quickly forgotten in the whirl of familiar faces and friendly negotiations. A month passes. Then two. Morgiana is blissfully happy. Everything is coming together. The world is more or less at peace and trade is going smoothly. There are still a few minor uprisings here and there and flu season has hit Aktia and Mystania particularly hard this year, but things are overwhelmingly looking up. Morgiana and Alibaba have started talking about plans for their wedding. They're eager to marry and start building a family.
But first, there's still the matter of David and Arba to deal with. Weddings and families can wait a bit longer.
Morgiana wakes to sunlight. There's a beam coming down directly on her face. She hears a rustle of fabric and sees Hakuryuu already up and quietly packing away their things. He's dressed lighter today, wearing only a tunic and his usual black pants. His hair is up in its topknot and the white ribbons hang down over his back as he kneels before their packs. He looks focused.
She sits up and the sound of rustling sheets catches his attention. "Good morning, Lady Morgiana," he greets her with his usual smile. "How did you sleep?"
Morgiana frowns and scrunches up her nose in thought as she considers his question. She knows she had a dream but she's having trouble recalling it. "I think I dreamt I was getting married."
Something in Hakuryuu's expression shifts. "Oh? To who?"
Who? Morgiana wracks her brain for the information but nothing appears. She shakes her head. "I can't remember."
Hakuryuu stares at her for a long moment. He's wearing a slight frown. He turns back to his task. "Strange. Perhaps you subconsciously yearn for lifelong companionship." He turns back to her briefly and smirks. "Or maybe you just ate something weird."
Morgiana puffs out her cheeks and huffs. Why do people always tease her about her eating habits? Really. She's not that strange.
They set out again and the day is even hotter than the one before. Luckily, people have built shelters periodically along the road and they stop often to drink water and take a few moments' shelter from the blazing sun.
Around early afternoon they encounter a small caravan heading the opposite direction from them. It's the first sign of other people they've seen on the road since leaving the port and they stop briefly for a chat.
"Well, well! Didn't 'xpect to run into a couple a' teenagers all the way out here," the caravan's lead driver says when he sees them. He's a large, friendly looking man with a big, bushy beard. "And what a pair y'are. A Kou kid and a Fanalis." He looks at Morgiana. "You best be aware you're headed into dangerous territory the way you're goin', little lady," he warns. "Folks down south would trade their own mothers to get their hands on one o' your kind." He glances briefly at Hakuryuu and then adds in a loud whisper, "Your friend here's a bit skinny for a body guard."
Hakuryuu scrunches up his nose in offense and Morgiana can't stop the laugh that bubbles out from the back of her throat. "Thank you for your concern, but we will be alright," she assures the man. "I'm quite strong."
Hakuryuu looks at her in betrayal.
"How much longer to the next town?" she asks, pretending not to notice her companion's sulking.
"'Bout a day still if you're on foot," he answers. He peers at Hakuryuu again and scratches his beard. "You sure he's goin' t'be okay?" he asks her. "He's awful delicate lookin'."
Hakuryuu finally snaps. "Just who are you calling skinny and delicate!" he rages. "I'm from Kou! This is just how we look, okay!"
Morgiana laughs again and the big caravan driver grins down at Hakuryuu apologetically. "Sorry, little master. Not meanin' to offend."
Hakuryuu growls in his throat and mutters something about not everyone being able to be a giant bear of a man and he knows he's not particularly tall but he's a solid average, thank you very much. Morgiana ignores him. "Thank you for the information," she says and bows to the man politely.
"Sure. 'M happy to help." He gears up to leave but then he pauses and adds, "By the by, if you're plannin' to camp in the desert, y'best take care. It gets awfully cold at night."
Morgiana nods. "We will. Thank you."
The man offers a parting wave and then he and his caravan continue on. Morgiana bows low after them. Once they are a good distance away, she turns back to Hakuryuu. He scowling after the caravan and looking pouty. She nudges him. "You really are sensitive."
He turns his pout on her. "Sorry I have so many faults!"
She smiles and grabs a fistful of his sleeve. "Come on, crybaby. We've got a lot of distance to cover before nightfall." She doesn't wait for him to reply; just hauls him roughly after her.
oO0Oo
Hey! Another reader! Soon I will have a crowd. Thanks a bunch, my home skillets. I'm still glad there are people enjoying this. Seriously, there's so much amazing fanart for Hakumor but only like 20 fanfics. This hurts my soul and must be swiftly rectified.
Stay tuned for the next chapter!