A/N: Hello, with this new chapter I bring in more characters, hooray! Sorry, no MK1 characters just yet. They will appear, I promise. It has also been brought to my attention that the last part was a bit confusing. I have gone back and edited it so now there is more details. Thanks Yami no Majou077 for the heads up and comment!
The day starts off simply with Enna coming to pick Ulrika up. Roze and Et had long left for their morning duties and now Ulrika and Enna are out once again in hopes that the tailor Yun is back.
When Enna first arrives, she has a hard time not laughing and pinching his cheeks. He stares at her wide eyed and alarmed as she comments at his boyishness. In truth, she wants to out right call him girly, but that would be too hurtful for the boy's ego. In the end however, she finds it too hard not to tease him.
"Enna, that's a really girly name," she says bluntly.
"Shut up, I didn't pick it because I wanted it," he replies sourly.
"Then who gave it to you?" But he doesn't answer.
"Aww, come on don't be such a sour puss. It's because you are always so negative that people pick on you! You make yourself a target."
Enna stays quiet until finally giving in with a sigh.
"It was Et. I was about two years old when she decided that she wanted to switch names. She said mine was easier so she became Et, short for Etward and I was Enna for Ennarcia."
Ulrika looks at him pitifully at the thought of having his life completely run by Et. He sees her look and becomes mildly irritated, but knows that she isn't the one that caused it.
"Well, what's our plan today, cute little Ennarcia Dysler?" He groans hearing his full name being called out.
"Et says that she wants us to stop by and help her escape the office. She's on desk duty right now because she's always shirking off the steady work. Since it's piled up, the higher officers have her locked down. Serves her right and you know it."
The blonde nods in agreement knowing the Pink head would likely run off at any given chance. If Ulrika by chance enters the office, the bubbly girl would snag the chance to run off and parade the city.
"We'll go there after the fitting, that is, if you still want to do this."
"You're being considerate now? If my memory serves me right, you begged me to take on the 'maiden' role just so that you could get people to stop talking about us."
"I don't like being the center of attention nor around it, but since no one else is pestering us, I can care less what they want. I'm surprised though, yesterday you didn't want to do it at all, what gives?"
Her lips twist downward recalling the conversation she had with the eccentric commander of the stationed brigade. He didn't seem right in the head, but something told Ulrika that his insight is slightly deeper yet farfetched than any one else she has ever encountered. Something about the way he went about ridiculous plots that look absurd might have a completely different reasoning.
But for now, they focus on their mission at hand, tracking down the mysterious tailor.
It doesn't take long until a tall bodied man in thin clothing to appear at the store doors.
"Hmm, Enna correct?" comes a young yet wise voice.
Getting a closer look, Ulrika notices his dark skin under the openings of his thinly covered attire. She nearly shivers imagining the cold in such little cloth. The man's hair glows fierce red. It has a different lighter tint than the commander's crimson red, but both have a unique brilliance and glow to them. With every step he takes, his hair waves like untamed fire.
Ulrika also notices the deep sature of his red eyes.
"I am Yun, a tailor and mercenary of sorts."
She gasps when his eyes lock with hers and sends shivers across her entire body. She feels stiff, uncomfortable, but a warmth dances in her belly.
"And may I ask my lady for her name?" His voice is smooth but it shakes her mentality. She can't quite place why he has such an affect on her, but she thinks that maybe it is his eyes. Something about them breaches her in a place she herself cannot reach.
"I-I'm Ulrika," she stutters, earning a glance from Enna. She fidgets momentarily until the man before her offers them commodity inside his humble store.
Ulrika doesn't speak much after that leaving Enna and Yun to go over the details of the costume she would wear for the Winter Bloom. She watches as Enna briefs Yun over the recent events leading to the maiden's wear. She notices Yun's surprise and quick glances, each time turning away before looking back. She would do the same for every time they locked eyes, her stomach would flutter and her heart beat would speed.
When it came time for her tailoring, she nearly shrieked off their ears at the simplest touch. After calming down, they were able to proceed.
The man thought her weird, she presumes.
She watches quietly as the man went over her accurately recording her fits. She would keep to herself every time he brushed her skin and she would turn red from his warm touch. She could never say that it felt nice, comforting even from just a stroke by him. It is strange yet oddly familiar to her and she wants to know why, why did this man affect her so?
"Do you have a preference, maiden?"
Her confusion is clear, but wiped away when she remembers her new 'role'.
"Such as a style you like to wear..." he continues to ensure that she does not misunderstand.
She shakes her head. "N-no...anything will do..."
Ulrika simply did not know what kind of fashion would be in style and wants no more humiliation than she has already sustained.
"Then, would you permit me to make the accustoms to my taste?"
"Sure." Is all she says.
After a while, her fitting is completed and they soon say their goodbyes.
"I will have the materials in within the next three days. I'll send a message for you so that I may begin the tailoring."
"W-would it be alright if I stopped by tomorrow?"
The look on Yun's face is clearly surprise. Enna however receives a bigger shock. Ulrika too couldn't believe the words that came out so fast to be hers.
"O-or...when you aren't busy, I mean you probably are so I shouldn't bother you!" Ulrika could not hide the anxiety in her voice as it continued to shake even when she had already stopped speaking.
Wiping away the shock, Yun gracefully bows.
"I would be honored if the maiden so wishes it. Please feel free to stop by anytime."
"Y-yeah...umm, thanks."
"Until we meet again, maiden." Yun smiles and Ulrika feels her stomach flip. She rushes out of the store dragging Enna out with her. She finds herself smiling brighter than the midday sun.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"What's up with you today? You've been smiling nonstop." Enna quirks a brow as Ulrika's smile falters into a frown.
"There's nothing wrong with me! I-I just have something to look forward to now!" The younger boy looks at her brightening face, clearly doubtful that that is all there is to it.
"First you get all quiet, scream from a bare touch, and now you want to see him again? Something wrong? I'd say that falls into the 'yes' category."
"Hmph, so what? I just really want to see him again, is that so wrong?" Upset, Ulrika turns her head away.
"Guess not, but I still think something is wrong with you..."
"And that would be...?" She questions the thin boy.
'I thought that you might like Roze-nii, but now I think you might have fallen in love with Yun,' is what Enna wants to say, but what comes out is, "You're so weird."
"I'm not weird! It's you guys that always gets me into these weird situations," Ulrika argues back, while Enna simply shrugs with an 'oh'.
Fuming, Ulrika continues to banter with the younger boy as they head into the plaza.
The pair stop by a small restaurant called 'Puni Paradise', where Ulrika met three round brothers who are well known chefs in the city. Enna using his connections, was able to reserve a table for the two and eat peacefully away from gossiping crowds. Ulrika was not as wary as he, so he took it upon himself to make sure that their day remained peaceful and as uneventful as possible.
While Enna left to pay the bill, Ulrika gulps down the last spoonful of pumpkin stew in the pot. She loves the taste of pumpkin as she recalls it is quite the common treat in her hometown. While the thought tastes a little sour as she still couldn't recall her home, the sweet smell of stew is able to blow her worries away. She indulges herself happily until a striking silhouette catches the corner of her eyes. It is quick and almost inconceivable, but Ulrika is positive that she had seen it.
She gulps down her saliva, thickly, to keep her affirmations down before quickly setting off after the shadow.
Ulrika runs across town endlessly. She does not stop for breath until she reaches the podium at the center of town. It occurs to her that it may have been a fruitless chase. She is chasing a 'shadow', she thinks and then laughs sarcastically to herself. Now that she is here, she remembers that she left behind Enna, who will probably give her an earful later for ditching him. The stupidity of her actions are clear to her. As clear as the sky is right now and as clear as the orb that sits above the clock tower.
Ulrika notices the great view and angle as she sits on the fountain ridges. She can clearly see the stone beast and it's angelic wings. The beast had four legs but stands on it's hind while the front hovers in the air. It's face is points up at the orb as if drawing power from it.
Ulrika suddenly remembers that this is the place in which she was chosen as the next maiden. They brought her to the podium, a ten foot high stage in her opinion, and announced her succession at the tip for all to see and hail. She did not get a good look last time because of the commotion. Now that she is here without the extensive crowd and attention, she is able to see the surroundings.
Her eyes fall back to the orb and how it shines. It's beautiful green hue looks to be swirling on the inside. Ulrika nearly falls into a trance just looking at it, but it feels like a spell has already been cast.
The next thing she hears is a scream.
"No! Let her go! Please!" says a voice.
"She's too young, she hasn't done anything wrong!" says another.
The voices are horror stricken.
Ulrika's eyes swivel around to pinpoint the cries, but she sees no hurdle.
"Don't, don't do it!" another cries.
The voices sound all too close, as if she were standing in the middle of it. The voices continue to shout in terror and agony and she doesn't know how to stop it. There is a pang in her heart and she looks up once more at the orb. It isn't swirling anymore, but glowing and spinning hypnotically.
Her eyes hit the ground to sort out her dizziness, but instead they catch a pair of thin legs.
It races pass her and up the stairs to the podium. A strong pull lifts Ulrika to her feet and soon she chases the being before her.
Ulrika's eyes glue on to the form and she nearly looses her breath. The chase ends.
"You don't have to do this," Ulrika finds herself saying. She's puzzled as to why so many emotions are welling inside of her. She wants to scream 'what is going on?' but what comes out instead is, "Didn't we promise to always be together?"
It finally dawns on her that she has been the one screaming, terrified the entire time and now she is trying to stop...something, someone...
"I've always done something mean and horrible to you," the figure speaks, "but you stayed beside me no matter what." Ulrika shakes her head and words suddenly spill forth from her mouth.
"It doesn't matter, you have done the same for me...I don't want it to end!"
"I have to go...I have to do this," says the voice, softly yet resolutely and Ulrika hopelessly finds herself questioning,
"Why?"
The being suddenly becomes a familiar shape, petite and feminine with messy long hair, like the one she saw from the restaurant.
"Because I love you."
The familiar form turns to walk away and Ulrika finds herself reaching out to her and calling for her to stop.
"Wait!" Her fingers make contact.
The shadow turns around and her face is suddenly clear.
"What are you doing? Unhand her you looney!" Ulrika releases the girl in front of her while also being released from her trance.
"Are you some kind of pervert?!" screams the stranger, actually a knight, clenches her shoulders. The man shakes her and she is able to regain only little of her senses. How would she be able to explain what had just happened?
"No! Let go!" Ulrika shouts and fights off the man's hold. "That's not-"
In doing so, her balance is lost and she trips over, knocking into the person she had just accosted.
They had been too close to the edge and fell right over. Her heartbeat quickened at the thought that this would be her end.
I love you...
because I love you...
…I...
Once more images and shadows flash before her eyes. Once more she tries to grasp at the distant form. Once more she fails.
So once again she falls into a light bliss, bright and white.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"..."
"Puniyo is fine, just a little startled. How's sleeping beauty over there?" A man with thick white hair pulled into a high knot cradles a young and shaken girl in his arms, petting her head gently to ease away her fears.
"No injuries, but she's out cold." Says the other man with long blue locks tied in a low side pony tail. In his arms lie Ulrika.
"Hmm, that was quite the episode back there, don't you think? It's a good think we made it in time, it wouldn't be fun if we lost the main event." The white haired man smiled widely while gazing at Ulrika's defenseless form.
"You're probably the only one who can find a situation like this entertaining." Speaks the other in a somewhat cold and disdaining voice.
"Oh lighten up, has anyone ever told you that you're an unsocial prick?" The smiling man flashes his eyes at the other, while earning a hard glare in return.
"And you are a sick bastard," came a harsh reply.
The white haired man shrugs, "That's no way to talk to you're superior, but what you say ain't far from the truth either. Well, it's a good thing I decided to drag your cooped-in-ass out for some 'rounds'."
His eyes fall back down to the young girl in his arms and pets her once more to assure that she is safe.
"Glad we 'caught' it." A humorous yet slightly crazed laughter fills the air earning a sigh from the colder man. He too looks down to the girl in his arms. Blue strands of hair fall out carelessly in front of his eyes, but he doesn't seem to mind. Instead, he takes one hand and strokes the sleeping blonde's hair gently away from her face.
"...You fall too easily, Ulrika."
End of Chapter
A/N: So...I'm getting tired of all these sleeping scenes but I can't get rid of them since I need them for the story. Also, it's not too hard to guess who the characters are with the descriptions now, right? Any suggestions, questions, comments, criticism, are totally welcome. Have a good night.