Chapter 2: Through the Garden Gate

Melody brought up Coud and the rest to the Captain's Cabin. At the wheel, they saw the young man, Nanashi, in his long black and blue uniform with red outlines around the borders of the patterns. His white hair flapped in the wind, and when he turned around to face them, Cisqua almost swooned.

"Oh… my… God!!! He has the face of Crues!" Cisqua thought as she blushed a little. Then Nanashi had his gaze lay on her, and he started walking briskly toward her after setting the ship to autopilot. Cisqua blushed furiously as he stood, clearly about twice her height, directly over her and looked down at her with powerful eyes. She closed her eyes in embarrassment and before she knew it, when she opened her eyes she noticed that all of her weapons had been confiscated. Nanashi sat on top of the table with the ocean map picking at the weapons and looking at each one. And what infuriated Cisqua the most is that he was wearing her hat.

"You! What did you do that for?!" Cisqua demanded, "You took all my guns! You probably even took the one in-!!!"

"No… I did not take the one there, lady Cisqua." Nanashi said softly, while examining her pistol. "I wouldn't dare touch a lady there. Nice hat by the way… good for storage."

Coud couldn't help but stare at Cisqua to see if he could spot the untouched gun on Cisqua, but meanwhile Nanashi continued talking.

"Well anyways. I'll be keeping these until we're on shore and I can make sure you won't try to harm Melody again. Next time you try to harm her, you won't be so lucky… understand?" Nanashi mumbled and Cisqua nodded her head up and down furiously in shame. "Good… now, on to business," Nanashi leapt off the table and tossed off his Captain's Uniform revealing a casual black tank top, and jeans underneath. Cisqua almost swooned again at the sight of his lean, muscular body, while Melody gave a menacing glare at her.

"I was told from a resource on the island… that you all are in possession of the Metherlance, which is correct, because here she is before me. Now, the reason you are here is because I need your help Cou." Nanashi glared at Cou with almost menacing eyes, which made Cou snap to attention.

"Me?! Why me?" Coud stuttered; his face exploded into shock and confusion.

"Yeah? Why him? We heard that the person requested the members of Arc Aile-" Cisqua retorted but was cut off briskly by Nanashi.

"And to bring the Metherlance. Yes, I know. I was the one who made the person call for those things. Anyways, I need you Cou because you have her, the Metherlance. She is the key that is going to save this island, and also potentially the world."

"Nanashi, what is it that makes this island so dangerous to the world?" Rowen asked in a respectful tone.

"The island is inhabited by some of the most powerful Edel Raids in the world, many of whom when used properly can cause massive destruction. There is a kingdom ruled by a single monarchy. But- there are two monarchies. They fight almost every month to gain control over the kingdom. Whoever does get control of all 'pure' Edel Raids, those who haven't bonded with a Pleasure, and the kingdom itself. The two 'Houses' are The Red Rose and The White Rose, not very original, I know… but what else are you going to call a monarchy on an island called the Blossoming Rose? Anyways, getting off topic here… "Nanashi mumbled all this while poking the hat on his head, not paying attention to his guests at all.

"What do you have to do with this?" Kuea asked sharply, with a scowl.

"And what do we have to do with this?" Cou added.

"Well… for you guys, you have the Metherlance, the 'best' of the existing Edel Raids, Cou. They want her. They believe that whoever has her, will be able to overtake the other, and with today's leaders of the Monarchies, they've got their sick minds bent on world domination, pretty much."

"You still haven't told us where you fit into this." Kuea snarled again.

But Nanashi just stared off into the horizon where the Blossoming Rose awaited. He took his thermos from his belt strap and took a long swig from it. Cou looked at him curiously, and thought to himself, "Why does he look so familiar? Have I met him somewhere before?" Nanashi patted Cisqua's hat and kept it on his head as he returned to the wheel. He looked ridiculous, but he didn't seem to care. He then jabbed a finger at the wall, where there hung several gas masks.

"Grab one, I'm going to put everyone on board asleep." Nanashi stated as he slipped a mask on from his pockets. He didn't even wait for them to grab a mask before he pressed the button and smoke started dispensing everywhere. Everyone rushed to the specified gasmasks and slipped them on.

"What the hell are you putting everyone to sleep for?!" Cou bellowed over the hiss of the spewing gas.

"We don't need to bring the cruisers along on this journey. I already have a substitute that will take over the ship and take them back home and then come back and meet up with us. I just hope he remembered to bring his mask…" Nanashi attempted to take another swig from his thermos, but the crimson liquid splattered all over his gas mask. "Crap…"

On the deck below, there stood another young man at the age of eighteen, though he didn't look it, due to his short stature. He had spiky black hair and slightly tanned skin, and was wearing sunglasses that hid his eyes. He pulled on his black jacket over his white t-shirt with the word "Yanks" on it. He slipped his hand in his pocket as the gas came to his face. He felt nothing. "Damn it, Nan's going to chew me out for this," the boy thought as he breathed the fumes and slumped to his knees and passed out.

Nanashi looked from the balcony down on the deck and muttered in exasperation.

"Yankee you idiot-!!!" Nanashi was cut off when he forgot the pull the brake to stop the ship from crashing into the dock. The ship lurched and sent everyone tumbling across the floor of the ship. Nanashi held on to Cisqua's hat and kept it held to his head. "Crap," Nanashi mumbled as he pulled the brake and then walked away from the wheel and grabbed his uniform and tossed it in a briefcase. He grabbed his suitcase and walked over the others who had collapsed in fright, while Melody followed closely behind him. But when he got to the door, he went back and took off Cou's red jacket and slipped it on. Then he woke everyone up with a kick to the side.

"Erm, we've arrived." Nanashi coughed into his hand to clear his throat.

"Sheesh, I could have piloted an airship better than that," Cou mumbled, rubbing his head.

"Doubt you could, young Lynx." Nanashi scowled at Cou with cold eyes, and sent chills down Cou's spine. Cou's eyes lit with realization when he laid his eyes on Nanashi wearing his jacket.

"I do know you! Nan! I knew your name sounded familiar!" Cou nearly shouted.

Nanashi just shrugged and walked on out the cabin. Ren got up and held Cou's hand, Cisqua, Rowen, Kuea, and Melody all silently stared at Cou in shock.

"You know… Nanashi?" Melody whispered, surprised by the sudden discovery.

"Yeah, he was a member of the Red Lynx, same as I was. But that was over five years ago. He was always kind of mean to me for some reason, but despite that he was the best thief in the crew. But he betrayed us by stealing a valuable item from our treasure storage. But we never caught him, and we hadn't seen him since then."

Melody's eyes widened in shock, something clicked in her brain. She ran off after Nanashi and left everyone in silence. Everyone got their stuff together and soon followed after Nanashi and Melody, curious about Nanashi and his mysterious ways.

Meanwhile, Nanashi kicked the man with "Yanks" on his shirt off the boat, sending him splashing into the water below. A small splash was heard, then the gasping and coughing of a drowning man.

"Yanks… you idiot!" Nanashi yelled over the railings of the cruise liner. Yanks coughed and sputtered and flailed about for several minutes before he could settle down and form a response.

"Sorry Nana!" Yanks yelled back, still sputtering the salt water out of his mouth.

"Don't call me Nana!!!" Nanashi fumed. Yanks swore he could see steam coming off of Nanashi whenever he did call him Nana. "Get your lazy ass back up here and take the voyagers home, I got the Metherlance, and we'll need you back as soon as possible, so make it snappy. I don't have time for your laziness."

"Yes sir!" Yanks roared back as a wave overtook him and pulled him under again. Nanashi slapped his forehead in aggravation, and sighed. Just then Melody and the others returned from the cabin. Cou went up to Nanashi and jabbed an accusing finger in his face.

"You! Nan! You stole something from the Red Lynx Sky Pirates over five years ago! And you stole my jacket over five minutes ago! I would like the jacket back please." Cou let out all the words in one breath. Nanashi just glared back, a glazed look over his face.

"I don't have time for this Cou-Cou." Nanashi mumbled and started walking off the ship and Cou's blood boiled in frustration, "Wolx is waiting for us, and I doubt he'll wait much longer. Everyone glanced over at Nanashi in shock.

"Wolx?!"

"Why do I have a feeling we can't trust Nanashi?" Cisqua thought to herself. "I mean, he claims to want to protect Ren, and to stop this monarchy from taking over the world… but he acts like he's just using us for his own purposes rather than to stop the threat. And… how does Wolx get himself mixed into this?" Cisqua glanced over at Melody while she thought, "But this girl… what are her ties to Nanashi? She seems… concerned about him. His girlfriend perhaps? Don't see how an jerk like him ends up with a sweet girl like her." Cisqua then gasped when she spots tears running down Melody's face.

"Nanashi… what have you become?" she sighed, clutching her hands to her chest, and then slipping a hand to the back of her neck and touched it softly. She sighed again and walked off the boat to follow after Nanashi, and everyone else followed suit, Cisqua watching Melody sulk her way to Nanashi.

In a dark room within the Blooming Rose Castle, a man draped in crimson robes glared at the fading cruise ship in the distance. He raised a set of high-tech binoculars and zoomed in on what was the port of the island. He saw Nanashi and the others heading into the forest, paying particular notice to Kuea and Ren. He heard the shuffling of feet behind him. He turned to notice his Lieutenant standing behind him. The Lieutenant was garnered in red trimmed battle armor and a demonic looking helm covered his face. Red roses pinned a crimson cape to his armor. His helm caused his breathing to sound distorted and demonic, along with his voice when he spoke.

"I suspect you already know this Crimson, but Nanashi has returned." The Lieutenant's voice hissed through the helm and echoed around the barren room. The man, Crimson, smiled deviously and nodded.

"Why don't you send him a welcoming party with some of your scouts? If you catch my drift…" Crimson chuckled demonically.

"Of course sire," the Lieutenant responded, "To the Red Rose, may her beautiful petals lure in the prey."

They saluted each other and the Lieutenant left. Crimson went back to looking at the port again, gazing over the members of the small group one by one. He noticed Melody, standing timidly next to Nanashi. He did a double take at her and almost gasped.

"For a second, I thought that was… bah, never mind. Though I do wonder how Nanashi ran into a girl like her." Crimson chuckled again deviously. Then he started laughing hysterically.

"There's no way he got a Raid!" Crimson screeched in a demonic tone and continued laughing all the way down the hall, where it echoed, and you could've sworn you heard Lucifer laughing with him.

I would like to give a small thanks to those who have read this, the replies I have gotten back so far are encouraging. I would like to note I have not read/seen all of the manga/anime, so if there is something wrong with the story plot, or I did something wrong with one of the character's or any other element to the plot of Elemental Gelade, I apologize. Thanks to those of you who have given me some sort of feedback, and keep on writing reviews people! Until next chapter,

~Baige Knightingale