Okay, here's Chapter 19! Before I continue, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! On that note, I'm hoping that I'll be able to finish the story today. This chapter isn't the last chapter, but the next one will be (not including the omake). With that, we'll go through the review replies now.
ultimashadow: Well, thanks then! :) He probably will; Kluke tends to hit pretty hard just on her own. ;)
WindGoddess Rune: Yeah - it's about time, huh? But I'm glad he did. :) Thanks so much! :D Yeah, it stinks. I'll always have ups and downs. This last time I was sick bad wasn't because of the diabetes, though - writing tends to cut through the sugar. ;) Oh, I know, I'm just teasing you; guess I should probably be more careful about that. And please, by all means, copy me with the profile as much as you want. It was a pain to try and find out information to make a good one in the first place. *glares at "Search Engines" folder in Favorites* In fact, I'm actually a little embarrassed that you'd think I'm worth copying. *blushes* Thank you. Yes, I am - the Daner x Xi oneshot I mentioned in Recovery is about halfway done, and I have another oneshot collection I'm planning which will probably be uploaded soon after Troubles on White Day is finished. And, with Blue Dragon, that's not even including my kind-of-AU pet project titled Maple Leaf; that one I've been working on since around the time Episode 36 of Season 1 aired in Japan. I know; I'm pushing to finish Troubles on White Day today, so I haven't gotten the chance to update Blue Dragon Beyond. So sorry! And have a nice Valentine's Day!
Edward-Elric-in-red: Thanks! Really? Can't wait to see it when you're done. :D Here's the next chapter.
Prince of Tennis' Shaman: Don't worry about it! I'm just glad you're doing it. :) It's been taking me a while to translate the Spanish subs of Season 1, so... Translating just takes a while. Aw, thanks! :D Yeah - I know I said it earlier, but I can't help it - his character is so much fun to write, especially the game Jiro. But sometimes writing the anime Jiro can be equally fun, since he usually comes up with such neat lines. Take your time with the translation, and I'll reply to your next review when Chapter 20 is up. :)
There are the review replies. Well, people, we're getting mighty close to the end here. I don't want to end up rambling again, so once the disclaimer's done, read and enjoy. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Blue Dragon. But I hope everyone at Mistwalker has a Happy Valentine's Day!
"Ouch..." Bouquet rubbed her back as she sat up - she'd fallen asleep in the chair again, and her spine felt awful. And someone had put another blanket on her; she was really going to have to find out who kept doing this.
She checked to see who was in the room. Shu was, of course, still asleep. Marumaro was, too. Jiro was gone - he must've left with Kluke. That meant it was early, but not too early.
The box caught her eye again. Now that she was supposed to open it today, she was even more anxious to see what was inside of it than before. But she said she'd open after Shu took the pills, so she would have to wait until then.
She sighed, picking up her bag, looking around to see if she could find that book she'd snatched...
Jiro opened and closed his hands, his palms sweating; this had been such a stupid idea. Why hadn't he killed Marumaro when he had the chance?
For whatever reason, he'd let Marumaro talk him into getting a gift for Kluke. He said that it was "the most effective technique with a girlfriend". Effective for what, Jiro didn't know, nor did he want to find out. But knowing Marumaro, it couldn't be anything good.
So, after walking Kluke to work again, he'd found himself in the nearby jewelry store, looking for a present. Before going to sleep, the Devee had mentioned that Shu had also gotten a gift for Bouquet. Jiro wasn't one to copy his rival, but he'd admit that whenever Shu woke up, he seemed to be on very good terms with Bouquet. Besides, Kluke had been upset since Shu had gotten sick, and a gift might cheer her up.
"Excuse me? Young man?" Jiro looked up to see a cashier woman across the counter. "Can I help you?"
He blushed a little, suddenly nervous. "Maybe. I'm looking for a gift for my gir- friend," he quickly changed the last part. "For my friend."
The woman giggled. "I see. Well, we just got some new things in a few moments ago. We put most of them over there." she pointed to a nearby aisle.
He nodded, short and quick. "Okay. Hey, thanks."
"You're welcome." she bowed slightly before turning her attention to another customer.
Jiro looked through, but couldn't find much. He was thinking of giving up altogether, when he found something that seemed like it might be good enough.
The design was simple: a silver ring with a very small, yellow gemstone set in the center. It was possible that it was too simple, but Jiro doubted that Kluke wanted something showy; she just wasn't that kind of girl.
He had just grabbed it, but another hand had at the same time. "Ugh, not another one! Look, I need a gift for my girlfriend, and I'm not gonna deal with another brat!"
Jiro narrowed his eyes at the boy. "If you want to keep your head, you'll hand it over."
The boy pulled on it. "You hand it over!"
Jiro pulled back, borrowing one of Shu's favorite expressions: "Drop dead!"
"So..." Helen twirled a lock of hair between her fingers absentmindedly. "Did you kiss him today?"
Kluke looked at her through lidded eyes. "Are you going to ask me that every day?"
She smiled pleasantly. "Only until the two of you kiss."
"Who said we're going to kiss?"
"Come on, Kluke. What else are you two going to do?"
"Have a conversation like normal people!"
"Normal people would kiss."
"Agh!"
Why do I always have to wake up with my head feeling like lead? Was the first thought in Shu's head. He did admit, though, that some of the aching had gone away after he had taken the medicine.
He started sitting up so he could stretch, but felt a weight on his legs. Looking down, he saw Bouquet sleeping, a book in her hands.
Shu blushed, despite the fact that there was a blanket between them. His eyes scanned the room - he didn't know when the others had left, but he and Bouquet were the only ones left in the room. The sun seemed fairly high in the sky, so it was probably late afternoon.
He thought about waking her up, but she'd seemed so stressed out lately... He blamed himself for that. He also felt guilty that he was happy she was concerned about him; she'd already gotten rid of any belief he had that she liked Jiro, but it was still nice to know she cared.
Sighing, he laid back down and decided to wait, hoping he wouldn't fall asleep before Bouquet woke up.
It took a few good pulls, and a kick to the rude boy's stomach, but Jiro managed to pull the ring away. The problem was that by the time he had done so, and paid for it, he was late for walking Kluke back to the inn. It didn't help that he got stopped along the way.
"Are you stalking me?!"
" 'Course not, maro. I just came by to check if you'd gotten the present, maro."
"Yeah, not before getting into a tug-of-war." While Jiro was still angry with Marumaro, most of the venom in that statement was from the earlier fight with the boy.
"He, uh, wouldn't happen to have short light brown hair, would he, maro?"
Jiro's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
Marumaro sighed. "That's the boy Shu was fighting with for the necklace, maro."
The eyes narrowed. "Stupid little moron probably made the SCI worse. Should've kicked him somewhere else a lot worse than his stomach."
"You kicked him, maro?"
"Sure did."
"That seems like something you'd do, maro."
Jiro shrugged. "He was acting worse than Shu."
Marumaro snickered. "I think this trip has changed you, maro."
He strode past him. "Don't bother me - I'm late."
Bouquet sat up quickly, groaning as she realized she'd fallen asleep for the second time that day; this was developing into a horrible pattern.
Shu mumbled something incoherent, leaning towards her.
She giggled quietly, reaching over to brush his hair away from his face - she thought he was so cute when he slept.
She felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around to see Zola, who put a glass of water and the medicine bottle on the table, leaving without saying a word.
Bouquet pulled away when it seemed like Shu was waking up. He yawned, saying, "You sleep for a long time, you know?"
"Sorry," she looked towards the window. Night - time for the pills. "Are you able to take the meds now?"
He groaned. "Is it time?"
"Yeah." She got out two of them.
He sighed, gathering his strength and pushing himself up in one move. "Where are they?"
She shook off her surprise and started to get the water, but he snatched the meds from her before she could do anything else. He stared at her hard. "You're going to open my present, right?"
"Of course."
He stuffed the pills into his mouth, downing all of the water. He panted a little after he was done. "That... is disgusting."
Bouquet gaped at him. "I've never seen anyone swallow something so fast."
He shrugged, setting the glass on the table. "You'd be surprised how fast you can do something you don't want to do, just to get it over with."
"I guess that's true..."
Shu folded his arms. "Well? Are you going to open it or what? I'm not swallowing these things for my health."
Her eyebrow twitched. "I wish you would."
"Please, Bouquet."
She sighed, grabbing the box. She turned it over in her hands; who knew a little rectangle could cause so much trouble?
He pulled at the edges of the sheets, nervous as she unwrapped it slowly. The wait was agonizing enough, but it didn't help that the medicine was making him feel sleepy.
Once the wrapping was off, she saw the reddish box underneath. She opened it up, then gasped as she lifted the necklace out. "Shu..."
"What is it? Do you like it?" He nearly yelped out loud when he bit down to hard on the inside of his cheek.
She looked up at him, stunned, her eyes filling with tears. "How did you know?"
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Know what?"
"Oh... I guess you don't know..." she turned her eyes downward, twisting up her apron in her free hand.
"What's wrong, Bouquet?"
She looked up at him shyly, blushing. "W-well, it's just... T-to the Ra Clan, the triangle is the symbol of love."
"Oh, really?" he felt his own face heat up; at least now he knew what his instinct had tried to tell him.
She nodded. "Thank you..."
They were both silent for about two minutes before Bouquet threw her arms around him and started crying.
Okay... There's chapter nineteen. Next chapter will be the end, though that's still not including the omake. I'm keeping the note short this time, because I want to start working on chapter twenty. Review if you get the chance, and I'll see you in a little while, hopefully before Valentine's Day is over!