Giran was bustling in the afternoon, the square thick with merchants and prospective buyers shouting out prices and goods to one another. It made it extremely hard for a half rotted, zombified pirate to slip through unnoticed, and he spent much of his time hiding behind Dwarven merchants seated on the ground and waiting for a Necromancer to pass by. When he'd see one (his undead senses could pick one out in an instant), he'd scurry out from behind the Dwarf and take up a limping, classic mindless zombie gait behind them. He'd slip away before they'd turn around, and wait for the next Necromancer to pass by.
Corsair Captain Kylon played this game of leap frog for several minutes until he managed to cross the large square, and slipped into the housing district towards the inn. He tip-toed with all of the stealth of an underwear thief, and reached for the handle of the back door. It was jerked open just as his rotting fingertips touched it, and a living body darted out and slammed into him, causing him to fall on his back like a turtle, his hat tumbling away.
"Kylon, what are you doing here?" Komugi's hissing voice came. She pulled him up firmly by his bony arm and dragged him to a crevice between the inn and the clan hall next door to it. "Why are you in Giran? In the middle of the day no less!" She folded her arms over her chest like an angry mother, and glared down at him. Kylon gave her an aloof look, and brushed the dust from his velvet hat with feigned disinterest.
"Can't a gentleman see how a lady is doing?" he asked casually, placing the hat back on his head. "You were really upset that day, so I thought I'd be nice and check up on you." Komugi sighed loudly and rolled her eyes at him.
"The sentiment is appreciated, but I'm doing fine. You didn't have to come all this way just to see me. What about your crew, they seem like they'd be lost without you." Komugi stated.
"There's a patch of fellow undead near Tanor Canyon, they're waiting for me there." Kylon said, puffing out his chest in pride at having thought of such a clever hiding spot. "Regardless however, how can you be fine? He seemed to have hit you with a pretty harsh blow there."
"I said I was fine!" Komugi snapped. "Zaken's an undead asshole, and I'm glad to be rid of him. I hope someone stakes him through the heart, you won't see me crying about it." She spun on her heel and walked away, angry that Kylon was trying to comfort her when she didn't need comforting. He had escorted her back to the camp as soon as she stopped crying long enough to walk, and after getting past Mune's swords of justice, explained what he could gather from the situation. No questions were asked, and the party set out for Giran the next morning. Kyosuke stayed near Komugi the entire time, and even sat next to her as she slept in the inn the first few days they were in town. His kindness pushed her through her upset, and she felt more like her old self than ever. Because it put her in a bad mood she hadn't thought of Zaken much at all, but Kylon had done an excellent job making her recall the night on the bridge.
"All the better then, you should find out what makes him tick to help put a stop to him!" Kylon exclaimed, following after her. He stiffened and began walking like a mindless zombie in her wake as a Dwarf passed them, but then recovered to himself as soon as it was clear.
"Oh sure, let me just go run naked into Anthras' lair while I'm at it." Komugi said icily, turning to face him. "If Zaken was following my actions that closely before, then I'll be damned if I'm going to go continue prodding into that jerk's past just for fun with a death threat hanging over my head. Go back to your little bridge, Kylon. I'd like to return to some semblance of the sane life that I had before I ever laid eyes on that blood-sucking freak show."
"It was an empty threat." Kylon said before she'd finished her rant. She closed her mouth quickly and her eyes widened in a look of disbelief.
"Do you even know what comes out of your mouth any more or have your brains rotted along with the rest of your body?" Komugi spat, narrowing her eyes. Kylon didn't blink as he stared at her, his expression serious."
"One thing I know from my time with Zaken is his threats. He couldn't even look at you when he did the little jerk show. This is highly unlike him; something else must be bugging him and he's just getting you out of the way so you don't have to experience it." Kylon stated calmly.
"Silenos shit." She grumbled, rolling her eyes. "I need to go pretend I'm getting drunk. Go away, Kylon." She turned away from him and marched back into the inn where he didn't dare follow her. She sat down at the first empty table she found, and leaned her elbow upon it heavily. I wish Kyosuke were here. She thought in irritation. The young merchant had left for the harbor to see if he could find work to earn some quick cash before Lavinia and Mune left for Aden. They had invited her to accompany them to the city, hoping that she'd find something to occupy her mind with there. Kyosuke requested to go along as well, to keep Komugi company once Lavinia had begun her duties as the substitute Magister.
"Oh hello, funny meeting you here!" a light voice said above the hum of conversation. Komugi lifted her head and looked around in confusion. A short-haired light elf grinned down at her from next to her table, and Komugi inwardly cringed. "Do you remember me? I'm the Summoner from that night on the boat from Talking Island." She said, sitting down at Komugi's table without asking for permission.
"How could I forget." Komugi said flatly, resting her chin on her hand and glancing away.
"My this is a small world, and here I was sitting in my inn room last night thinking about how I'd like to see you again and apologize!" she said happily, folding her hands daintily on the table. Komugi glanced at her without moving her head, keeping her face expressionless.
"Apologize for what?" Komugi asked warily, watching her. "If I'm recalling correctly you don't have to apologize for anything."
"Oh but I do!" the elf, whom Komugi's mind recalled being named Deedlit said, and leaned towards Komugi with a sad look on her face. "I'm afraid I lied to you about my name."
"Oh that." Komugi said, then shrugged and looked away. "No need to apologize for that either, I could tell then and responded accordingly." Deedlit's mouth clamped shut in an instant, and Komugi almost thought she saw a hateful look pass the elf's pretty face.
"Well, in the light of proper etiquette, I thought I should introduce myself to you properly." She said, smiling sweetly. "My name is Melissa. I had to lie you see, because I didn't want that Bisclaveret to follow me once we reached the mainland." Komugi lifted an eyebrow as she glanced back at her, and then sighed, sitting back in her seat.
"I lied too." She admitted, "My name is Komugi, not Koyori."
"I knew that too." Melissa giggled. "I met what I suppose is the real Koyori awhile ago, and through strange circumstances she ended up telling me about you." She lifted a hand to cover her mouth daintily as she laughed. "You two's rivalry is so adorable!" Komugi's hair prickled out slightly and she clenched her fists.
"Nothing cute about it, I wish her chest would inflate and carry her away." Komugi growled, glaring into the air. Melissa giggled again.
"She has the cutest boyfriend too! My he's handsome!" Melissa continued, staring dreamily into the air. Komugi's head snapped back around to look at her.
"A boyfriend? Since when can the raccoon get anyone that I haven't cast off yet?" Komugi asked, shocked. "Did you catch his name? Maybe I know him."
"I believe he said his name was…hmmm… Gatz!" Melissa said after a moment of thought. Komugi's hands came down on the table hard, rattling the oil lamp in the center of it.
"WHAT?" she said louder than she had intended. Several people stopped talking to look at her, but she ignored them. "That brainless slut, how dare she! That was my sister's reserved boyfriend!" Komugi stood up from her chair quickly, her teeth bared. "I'm going to find her and bounce her all the way to Gracia on her chest alone."
"Komugi, there you are!" Kyosuke's voice preceded his body as he weaved his way through the inn towards her. His cheeks were rosy, and he had an accomplished glow to himself. "I have enough money to survive me awhile in Aden, when are we leaving?" he asked. Her temper thrown off, Komugi stared at him blankly for a moment before grinning at him happily.
"I guess as soon as we find Lavinia…" she began.
"Great! I'll go look for her!" he declared, and leaned down to peck her cheek quickly before dashing back through the inn. Komugi watched him go with a grin on her face, and placed a hand on her cheek where he'd kissed her.
"Ooh, he was cute, is that your boyfriend?" Melissa asked coyly, giving Komugi a sly grin. Komugi faced her in an instant, her cheeks red.
"He's a friend!" she exclaimed, the paused and thought for a second. "Right now anyway." She added.
"Go for him, he's gorgeous!" Melissa urged, her grin spreading.
"I think I will." Komugi decided, nodding firmly. "Thank you Melissa, it was nice seeing you again." She waved as she departed, and never saw Melissa's friendly smile grow cold.
"Komugi, hey wait!" Kylon's voice came as Komugi walked towards the square with Kyosuke. Komugi groaned and looked to the sky, composing her temper before turning around.
"What?" she snapped, putting her hands on her hips.
"Where are you going?" he asked, looking between her and Kyosuke. "Oh! I see, you're going to head up to Elmore to see the Ice Queen, I'm so glad you took my suggestion!' he said happily.
"Whatever Kylon, I told you I wasn't interested in pursuing Zaken's past anymore and I meant it. I'm moving on with my life. Don't think I'll see you again, so goodbye." She spun on heel and smiled sweetly at Kyosuke as she took his arm.
"You're giving up? You're so close to finishing it all!' Kylon's voice came, and Komugi skidded to a halt again. "Don't give up just because he's throwing a temper tantrum, spite him and show him who's boss!"
"Goodbye Kylon." Komugi said again, her voice an icy growl. Kylon froze with the hateful look she gave him, and looked down at the brick street as she walked up the stairs connecting the residential district with the square.
"Fine, give up. I'll do it myself." Kylon grumbled, turning his back on her and walking towards the entrance. "Don't need some stuck up little priss human child to do a man's work. Go run away with your boyfriend, see if anyone cares." He grumbled.
Komugi and Kyosuke met Lavinia and Mune at the Gatekeeper and flew directly to Aden. Komugi had never been in the grand city before, and her eyes widened in wonder at her first sight of it. It was glowing white and gold everywhere and the residents walked with a regal air about them.
"Shall we explore?" Kyosuke asked, offering her his arm like a gentleman. Komugi grinned at him and nodded, taking it enthusiastically. After telling Lavinia and Mune their plans, they began walking the city curiously.
Kyosuke took her to many merchant's booths, and she saw items that she'd never seen before. There were many things from Elmore here, and she stared in wonder at the jewels and gems that were brought from there. He spoiled her by buying her exotic treats, and even a set of Zubei armor which he had the blacksmith magically alter to fit her. In thanks, she took him behind one of the Clan Halls lining the outer streets around Aden's square, and kissed him enthusiastically.
It had been a long time since she'd really kissed anyone more than the simple peck she and Zaken had shared, and her heart thudded in excitement as it did the first time Ryonai had ever kissed her. The longer the kiss went on though; Komugi found her heart wasn't into it as much as she wanted it to be. She kept seeing a phantom sad look on Zaken's face the night on the bridge, and she ended up breaking the kiss as it ruined the mood.
"I'm sorry." She said, looking down to the grass. Kyosuke smiled and put a hand on her cheek, and kissed her forehead.
"It's ok, I'm not offended." He chuckled. "I'm glad you like your new armor." He smiled. Komugi returned it and curtsied lightly in her heavy brown, red and gold skirt. He flung an arm across her shoulders and they emerged from behind the Clan Hall.
"WHY IS THE DARK ELVEN GUILD THIS CLOSE TO THE MAGIC GUILD?" Komugi heard Mune screech. She and Kyosuke paused in their walking to look in the direction her voice came from. Mune stood in the street, fuming with her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Lavinia had her face partially hidden in embarrassment with her hand, already dressed in the green Magister's dress. Three Dwarven girls stood around them, looking up at Mune.
"There's nothing wrong with the Dark Elven guild being there Mune, you really need to learn to grow out of this." Lavinia sighed.
"Dark Elves make delicious pie!" a Dwarf with red hair that hid their eyes from view proclaimed. Next to them stood a pink-haired one with an identical eye-hiding hairstyle.
"Plenty of love!" this one proclaimed.
"That's it, I'm out of here." Mune stated, turning on her heel.
"Mune! You just got here!" Lavinia protested, walking after her. The three Dwarves trailed them like ducklings, each grinning widely.
"Wait, what's going on?" Komugi asked, raising an eyebrow as she stepped in Mune's path of travel. "And who are the goblins following you?" The three Dwarves reminded her of Junk Pixie somehow, and it disturbed her.
"That…that…that harlot lied to me!" Mune sputtered, pointing a shaking finger at Lavinia. "And those things just latched on to us out of nowhere, I don't know where they came from." She added in a calmer voice.
"Mune, I didn't lie to you, I've never been to Aden before myself, I didn't know the Dark Elven Guild was that close." Lavinia sighed in exasperation. She glanced down at the Dwarves, "Curiously though, where did you guys come from?"
"Do you know magic?" another with pink hair cut into a short shaggy style asked, tugging on her skirt.
"Yes?" Lavinia responded warily. The Dwarf squealed and latched onto Lavinia's waist in a tight hug.
"Great! You can teach Ichigo magic!" she proclaimed, hopping as she hugged. She pointed to the twin Dwarves hopping back and forth on their feet behind her. "That's Midget of Plenty and Plenty of Midget. They're inventors." She introduced.
"Mama finally let us out of the house." The one with red hair proclaimed proudly.
"We're gonna be richer than big sister Junk Pixie!" the other pink haired one added.
"Oh gods they are related." Komugi groaned, putting her own hand to her head as a headache sprang into it. "I met Junk Pixie a year ago." She explained as everyone turned to look at her in confusion.
"That's nice." Mune said, staring blankly into the air. "In any case, I'm gone. Bye Lavinia, I'll write to you." She said, waving as she left.
"Mune!" Lavinia exclaimed in disbelief. She clutched her hair by her scalp and groaned in frustration as her sister left without a backwards glance.
"Kay, bye!" the twins proclaimed in unison after hugging Ichigo. They trotted off in Mune's wake, leaving a very confused Komugi and Kyosuke behind.
"She's going to kill people…" Lavinia worried, pacing back and forth slightly. She focused on Komugi and latched onto her hands. "If you're not doing anything, can you follow her and try to convince her to come back? I really don't want to spend my time here alone." She pleaded, looking at Komugi desperately.
"I'm here!" Ichigo proclaimed, throwing a fist into the air.
"Um sure…I guess…" Komugi said absent-mindedly, her mind still trying to grasp what had happened. "You don't mind do you?" she asked Kyosuke. He shook his head and took her hand in his.
"I'll go where you go." He smiled. Komugi recovered from her stupor and blushed.
"Your mushiness is very nice, now hurry or she'll get too far away!" Lavinia said, shooing them in the direction she had gone.
"Make sure Midget and Plenty brush the little dangly thing in their mouth every night before bed!" Ichigo shouted as Komugi and Kyosuke departed.
After not finding Mune anywhere in the city, Komugi quickly raced to the Gatekeeper and described Mune to her. The Gatekeeper thought for a moment, and then admitted to sending someone who fit Mune's description to Goddard. Komugi quickly requested a spell for her and Kyosuke to the city without hesitation, hoping to catch Mune before she got too far.
As she arrived, however, she found no sign of Mune, but a male Swordsinger that resembled Mune somewhat.
"How in the world can you confuse a man for a woman?" Komugi asked in exasperation as Kyosuke laughed at the irony.
"They are rather feminine, maybe the Gatekeeper didn't check for breasts." Kyosuke laughed. Komugi smacked him playfully on his shoulder, but grinned herself. "Well now what, shall we go back to continue searching for her?" he asked. They sat upon cargo boxes near a derelict house, and Kyosuke slipped his arm over Komugi's shoulders. She leaned against his chest and sighed.
"Nah, let's do our own thing. She could be anywhere by now." Komugi said lightly, playing with a tear in his tunic. She glanced up to the sky, which was turning pink with dusk. "Let's get out of here come dawn, this place is really depressing."
Goddard was a high-walled city that lacked color and life. It was separated into two different levels, the higher level reserved for clans of prestige and nobility. Their Temple of Einhasad was located here, dug deep within a mountain. The lower level, where she and Kyosuke sat, was derelict and full of poverty. It was cold, and families huddled around steel barrels that fires had been built in to stay warm.
"Think they have an inn?" Kyosuke asked, glancing around him.
"I wouldn't trust it if they do. Come on, we may not be in Aden anymore, but since I'm a Prophet of Einhasad, I should be able to get us a room in the Temple's quarters." Komugi said, sliding off the box. She waited until Kyosuke hopped off before taking his hand and walking to the stairway that would lead them to the prestigious level.
"Spare some adena?" a ragged looking woman asked, holding out her hands. "Please, I have no money." Komugi's heart wrenched in pity, but she ducked her head down and kept walking. She wanted to help the woman, but she knew that if she did, she'd attract the rest of the beggars who stood near the stairways.
"How pitiful it is for a king to let his land go to waste over the lust for immortality." Kyosuke murmured, not looking at the beggars around him. Komugi looked up to his face curiously, and found his expression hard.
"I heard the King of Elmore was mad, I guess it's true." Komugi murmured.
It was decidedly warmer on the upper platform, fire wells lining the temple entrance heating the prestigious level. She and Kyosuke entered the Temple, and she went straight to the Head Priest and falsified a situation to him to get room and board. There was a moment of hesitation, but the Priest consented, and Komugi and Kyosuke were shown a room for the night.
"Well, this is quaint." Kyosuke said, as he and Komugi stared at the broken-down single bed in the room they were given. He cleared his throat and looked at her. "I can sleep on the floor if you'd like." He offered politely, his ears red.
"It'll be fine, just behave yourself." Komugi grinned, secretly pleased with the turn out.
"I'll try." He said, his polite smile turning wicked.
As Komugi had expected, Kyosuke managed to behave himself as far as not removing her clothes and forcing himself upon her. Every other base, it seemed, was fair game, and they made out long into the night. Komugi finally told him that enough was enough, because her lips were bruising. Kyosuke fell asleep with his arm around her, but Komugi found that sleep was far from her grasp.
She pushed herself from the bed as soon as she was sure Kyosuke was asleep, and padded silently out into the Temple wearing her nightgown and a shawl the Temple Priestesses had provided her with. It was the evening of her 15th birthday, and nobody knew but her.
She sighed as she stepped out of the temple and gazed up at the moon, her breath crystallizing in the air. It was still warm down in Aden, but Elmore was known for its colder temperatures. Wrapping the shawl around herself tighter, she hurried across the upper platform and towards the stairs leading to the lower level, as strains of music met her ears. Her feet became so cold on the stone that it hurt her, but she didn't turn back to retrieve her shoes.
A group of the poverty-stricken townspeople had gathered around a campfire they'd made in the middle of the city, and several played hand-carved flutes and fiddles while others danced around them. Others clapped in time to the music, and there was a smile on everyone's rosy cheeks despite the cold. Komugi felt herself echoing their expressions, the scene reminding her of the summer nights back in Talking Island when she was a child.
A little girl with carrot-red hair came up and looked up at her curiously. Komugi smiled at her, which the girl echoed, displaying a gaping hole where her two front teeth had once been. She grabbed Komugi's hand and led her in the middle of the dancing group, and began hopping in time with the music. Komugi laughed and began to dance as well, and a kindly woman put down shoes for Komugi to slip into so her feet would become warm.
These people's lives were rich, she realized, despite the poor conditions they lived in. They appeared to be having more fun than the rich folk in the upper level. She finally escaped the dancing circle after a few songs, and sat on a box on the outskirts, helping the musicians by keeping time with the music. A pretty elfin girl with hair as rich of a blue as the water in the Garden of Eva jumped into the dancing circle alone and danced elegantly to the music. It sped up the longer she danced, but she kept in time with it gracefully. When it ended, she fell elegantly to the ground in a finishing pose, and the entire group erupted into cheers. Komugi joined the people as they laughed at a smitten youth as he tripped attempting to give her a flower.
Movement on the other side of the circle caught her attention, and she was surprised to see Melissa moving away from the group. Gathering the shawl around her shoulders she hopped off the crate and jogged after her, a smile on her face. Melissa hurried down the steps leading out of town, towards the path that led to the Garden of Beasts. Komugi took a breath to shout her name, but it left her in a whoosh of air, as Melissa approached a taller figure and embraced it romantically.
In the moonlight, Komugi could make out the silver glint of armor, and a long blonde ponytail bound in a familiar fashion trailing down the man's back. Her breath caught in her chest in realization as the man stroked Melissa's cheek, then gently cupped her neck with his hand and pressed his mouth against it. Komugi fled back into the city without a backwards glance and into the temple, hot tears stinging her eyes. He was just feeding; I don't care what he's doing. She repeated to herself over and over again.
She threw the shawl onto the desk chair that sat near the bed, and crawled under the covers as quickly as she could. She snuggled close to Kyosuke, pressing her face against the skin of his back as she tried to get a grasp over her emotions.
"Ah, you're cold." Kyosuke said groggily, rolling over to face her.
"Sorry, went for a walk." She said, trying to smile. He gave her a sleepy grin and wrapped his arms around her shoulders before falling back asleep. That's right, I don't' care anymore. She said to herself firmly. I have someone much better than he ever was. Jealousy still chewed at the back of her mind, however, and she began imagining doing torturous things to Zaken's person to comfort herself. She drifted to sleep imagining herself kicking him as hard as she could in his genitalia, repeatedly, a content smile on her face.