Disclaimer: I don't own this and blah blah blah. This after they find the feather and all, just so you know. So here you go!
Some Drinks
POV River
"Just answer my question, dammit!" Kurogane growled at me and I cringed. How could this have happened? I was just talking about how lucky I was not to be turned into a vampire and now I was pinned against the wall by the angriest jerk in all dimensions possible.
"Why the hell should I?" I hissed, struggling under his grasp. "Why are you so determined to find out how I know about your parents?"
"I've never told a soul what happened, not even the ruler of my country and you better believe that I was punished for that. Yet you, a total stranger, can summarize the night my family died. Yeah, that sure as hell pisses me off," he hissed and gave me another one of his oh-so-famous-death stares. I glared back, but to say the truth I was terrified. This guy was so forward and physical, it scared me.
"In Celes, what your doing now would be considered harassment," I whispered. "Do this to royalty and your head is taken clean off," I said trying to force my way out but he was stronger than me any day. Plus, I was in no condition to use magic.
"Just tell me, dammit!" I whispered and I felt a stab in my chest. Was he and his family that close before they died? Were all families like this and did I have a crappy family to start with? Or was I just a crappy kid? I felt tears well up in my eyes again. Damn, his trip made me so emotional.
"Please, Kurogane. Let me go," I whispered lowering my head. "Why can't you wait? You'll find out eventually, I'm sure of it. Please… just let go of me," I felt his hands let go of my wrists and the vibrations in the walls as he walked out of the room. I started to cry and he stopped.
"Why the hell do you cry so much?"
"There is," I broke down in tears again, sinking to the floor. "No way," I sniffed wiping my nose on my sleeve. "In hell that I'll tell you that," I smiled through my tears. "Kuro-rin,"
He didn't move from that spot. I didn't want him to go, but I needed him to go. I needed him to leave me alone so that I didn't hurt him. The kid and Mokona kept their distance but somehow, Kurogane and I always got mixed up with each other. It was as if someone wanted to ruin my life. Then I remembered, someone did.
"Why are we always stuck together?" he asked I my head jerked up. Why the hell did he ask that? I felt my face go red and I stood up only to slide down the wall again.
"Um. I never really thought about that," I said waving my hand, acting like it was no big deal. Truthfully, I had been wanting to ask the same thing, but at better moment. "Why do you ask?"
"The witch looks at us like we're a pair," he muttered and I gulped. This was a very awkward conversation. "I thought, that you knowing all about our pasts'. Well, mine at least. I thought you might know something about it. Can't witches see into the future and that sort of thing?"
"Well, yes," I said, thankful that he wasn't looking at me trying to lift myself onto the couch. My legs gave way and I fell in a heap my face red, yet again. "But the future can always change. Besides, I don't specialize in dream seeing," I replied.
"What do you specialize in then?" he asked and I felt my heart sink. I really hated that subject.
"Offensive magic. Basically, attacking spells. I also had sword training," I said thinking that by saying that, Kurogane would talk and act more respectfully around me since he so does love swords and blood lust. Hopefully, he would stop forcefully asking me questions and pushing me against walls. I flushed red again. "I also was taught a number of Infigo Momenterra,"
"What the hell is that?" He asked turning around. I looked up at him and he stopped glaring. He actually had a nice face when he decided to put on pleasant expression.
"Death curses. Killing spells. Poisons. That is my specialty," I whispered, ashamed of what I had done and what I was capable of doing. His eyes widened before he put on an expression of annoyance.
"I was taught similar," he said hauling me up off the ground. I nodded my thanks and began walking forward, Kurogane close behind. Mokona jumped on my shoulder as we passed by the kitchen and into the living room where Sakura lay.
"Hello Mokona!" I giggled as it snuggled into the collar of my shirt. Kurogane made his little 'tsk' noise and I smiled.
"Sakura is awake!" it squealed and I gapped at it for a moment before bolting into the living room. Syaoron was explaining who Sakura was and she was taking it all in pretty well.
"So, I am traveling with complete strangers, aren't I?" she asked and I saw Syaoron bite his lip.
"Yeah. I guess, your highness," he said smiling a fake smile. I walked over to him and put my hand on his shoulder. I saw from the corer of my eye that Kurogane was leaning against the wall.
"Good evening, your majesty!" I beamed and Syaoron walked out of the room quietly. I felt bad for him. His only love never did recognized him. He must be feeling so much pain… "My name is River Flowrite and this is the brave warrior Kurgs,"
"Kuorgane, you idiot! It's Kurogane!" He roared and I laughed.
"I'm Mokona Modoki!"
"Are you also traveling with me?" she asked innocently and patted Mokona who leaped into her lap.
"Yep!"
"You two look very different than Syaoron-kun,"
"I totally agree!"
"You have a really nice smile,"
"Really? I think yours is nice too,"
"Mokona has a pretty smile too!" it cried and we giggled for a moment before starting our conversation again.
"It's nice to have adults traveling with me,"
"I'm glad you feel that way. Only, I'm not much older than you,"
"So what do adults look like then?"
"Um. All adults are different. Some look like me and other's like Kuro-pon!" he growled and the princess looked shocked for a moment.
"Oh. I understand,"
"Can people other than adults marry?"
"Um…Yeah. Sure. I guess…"
"So you guys are married, right?" My mouth dropped and Kurogane coughed. I shut my mouth, my face red from embarrassment.
"Um…Not really…"
"Engaged?"
"Um. I don't think so at least…"
"Dating?"
"Nothing of the sort!" I said casually waving my hand. Why was today the day of awkward questions? She looked disappointed and I smiled nervously.
"Something the matter?" Mokona asked and I helped her sit up straight. She nodded thanks.
"No. I was just thinking of how cute you two look togeth-" and she fell backwards in the high pillow. I was shocked on how quickly she could faint with at such good timing. For me at least. I was shaking after hearing all her questions. A couple? Really! We looked nothing the same and it was obvious we acted differently. I turned to see that Kurogane was starring out the window down the hall. I hesitantly made my way towards him.
"Awkward questions don't you think?" I asked shuffling towards him. He huffed and looked away.
"Hmph," He said looking back out the window. I walked closer peering outside the window. I gasped and Kurogane sent me a glare. Syaoron was crying in the rain with each of our kudans sheltering him. Kurogane's dragon on his left while my bird stood on the right. Syaoron's own kudan was licking the tears off his face. I knew I shouldn't be looking but I felt as if I had too. I mean, my feet wouldn't budge form the spot.
"F**k this payment," I muttered and Kurogane cocked a brow. I flushed and looked down at my feet. God, this guy was rubbing off on me.
"I never heard you swear before," he said.
"Well, I just learn it from the best teacher!" I said smiling back up at him. He growled and looked back outside.
"That kid needs to get stronger,"
"Why is that?" I asked, unconsciously leaning towards him to get a better view of what was happening outside.
"It doesn't seem like he likes to cry and if he wants to stop that from happening, he has to train himself not too," I looked back up at him in shock. He had a far way look in his eyes, like he had to do the same thing as well. Probably after his parents' murder.
"Kuro-puu…" I whispered and he gave me a funny look. I realized how close I had gotten to him and leaped back.
"What?" he asked, folding his arms on his chest.
"Nothing," I said, feeling the heat in my face go down. "It's just that… I think it takes some strength to know when is the right time to cry," I said making sure my feet didn't move anywhere closer to him.
"Well, then. Considering how much you cry, you have to be really strong," he said mockingly and I flushed. This guy pissed me off so much! I mean, he was fun to tease an all but all the comments and questions that he gave me were like hellhounds trying to eat my soul! No cool!
"I hate hellhounds!" I screamed and Kurogane looked baffled. I covered my mouth and looked sheepishly back at him. He grunted and walked over to the sleeping princess and Syaoron. He must've slipped by us earlier. The kid looked much better, as if the crying had done him some good. Arashi and Sorata also walked in carrying a big bag of some clanking objects.
"What's in the bag?" I asked sitting down. Why not get comfortable?
"Ah. You see, we thought it might be fun to celebrate. You know, since sleeping beauty woke up," Sorata smiled dumping the continents of the bag onto the ground. I squealed in pleasure getting strange looks from Kurogane. I didn't give a damn. I stood up only to fall sharply on my backside.
"Liquor!" I laughed falling over into a more or less immodest position. I didn't care though.
"Just see alcohol, and you get drunk without tasting it!" Kurogane said in exasperation. I glared at him and he laughed. I stopped glaring and just enjoyed the sound. It wasn't at all angry or mocking but more kind and free. It sounded like he hadn't laughed in a long time. I just realized that his laugh suited him. When he laughed he looked more his age, my age. Well, the age of my body, truthfully he'd be dead if he was my year age.
"What?" he asked looking at me.
"I never heard you laugh before," I didn't add that I used to think that for Kurogane laughing was humanly impossible.
"Well, you're rubbing off on me," he grinned in a wolfy way. I flushed and paid more attention to the liquor.
"Well, then!" Sorata exclaimed as he clapped his hands. "Drink up!"
-0-
POV Kurogane
"We're the only ones left awake," she said draining her cup. It was hard to believe that the witch could actually drink. I was expecting her to drop out before the rest of us. The kid was still holding the princess's hand and Sorata and Arashi had gone up stairs to sleep. Since then, we just had continued drinking quietly.
"Yeah. None of these guys can hold liquor at all," I muttered seeing her out of the side of my eye pick up Mokona and pat it gently. She smiled.
"And you think I can?" I was taken back a bit. I never though she could've been drunk in the first place but then looking closer, her eyes were a bit dull and she swayed much more than before.
"Your drunk too? Figures," I muttered gulping down the rest of my bottle of ale. This stuff was so damn strong. I was getting dizzy, but I was still going to drink because I hadn't co. The witch on the other hand was plain idiotic 24:7.
"Hmph!" she muttered before taking a long swig of ale. I felt like I should have stopped her but I didn't. No clue why, but part of me just wanted to get drunk off her being drunk…I spat out the liquor quickly. How the hell could I be thinking things like that? I pledge my faith to Tomoyo and I'd serve her an only her! Not some fricking stranger who butts into my life! I must have drunkway too much. I glanced over at the witch who was softly singing. I stopped drinking to listen.
Snow and light please save this life
For the sun and sky shan't save it
The moon is crying tears above
And stars shine down to comfort
But snow…why don't you save it
Save the life of this dying world
Snow…Why won't you save me
For the crying child below?
Cry my child
Cry now cry
Let the night take your tears
And use them as the stars…
That shine upon the snow…
They shine their light on snow…
Snow…heal this world
Let my small child live
Snow…Snow… Give me time to help my child here learn
Snow…Snow…let him live
So he shall see the birth
Of healing snow…
She finished the song looking at me and I realized that she had moved closer to me. Almost on my lap and I tried to move away, but I looked at her eyes and stopped. What was wrong with her eyes? They were like too separate blue oceans, so light that they almost glowed. They made me feel uncomfortable but like a bird starring into the eyes of a snake, I couldn't move. She smiled and looked away, breaking the spell.
"My eyes are kind of funny, aren't they?" she said with a far off look in her eyes. Whether that was from nostalgia or being drunk, I couldn't tell. "People say that they change different shades and that it's hard to look away from them. My eldest brother once said, 'Looking in your eyes is like looking into the eyes of a deadly snake. You feel like you need to run away, but you want to please the person that owns those eyes," she turned back at me, locking her eyes with mine. "Is that true? Do I have eyes that make people want to please me?" I shut my mouth knowing if I opened it I would say yes because it was true. Those eyes did have something about them, something not entirely human.
"Hmm. You have very strange eyes too, Kuro-puu," she said reaching out a hand and putting it over my eyes. "Like red jewels. Actually, like dragon eyes. There pretty so don't you worry a bit!" she beamed taking another swig of her ale.
"My sister had nice eyes too. Bright blue like mine except kinder and knowledgeable. She'd help more around the house than I would and learn a lot more. I was normally in a tree hanging upside down or skiing. Have you ever tried skiing?" she asked and I shook my head. She was so drunk.
"You should! Next world we go to with snow, I'll take you skiing. Ashura-ou and I skied all the time! We read and skied and skied and read and did magic and talked…" she listed a lot of past times and I shook my head. What the hell was wrong with this person?
"We never talked about my fate though. I never told him about the person I was going to kill," she whispered taking another sip of the ale. I listened closely; maybe her getting drunk could be to my advantage.
"I was told that I was supposed to kill the witch's pawn and help the clone until the real one can come in. Then I have too kill the real one after so the clone gets it's magic. Then I have t go back home and kill someone else or all the worlds will die. I have a tight schedule don't I?" she giggled at my shock. I composed my face and put on a glare.
"Who is this pawn? What clone? I have no idea what your talking about," I said hoping she would enlighten me on the subject. I felt a light pressure on my shoulder and looked to see the witch completely passed out. She looked so fragile and (call me crazy) angelic. No idea why I thought that but that's what she looked like. I felt my hand almost act on it's own and brush a long strand of pale starlight hair out of her face and she sighed, the bottle rolling out of her hands. She moaned softly and I caught a small phrase.
"River… clismb this tree. It's not that high…" She slumped a bit more falling forward a bit. I sighed and scooped her up. I could hide the surprise on my face. She was so damn light! I carried her over to a vacant couch and dropped her down on it. She groaned and turned to her side. I sat down on a matt right beneath her bed/couch. I thought a moment before closing my eyes and drifting into a warm dreamless sleep.
-0-