A/N: The next to last chapter is here, everyone! As some of you may've guessed, Sasha's Trial is going to be completely different. It won't be featured in this chapter, though. Gotta save that for the finale!
Chapter 11
A heavy storm's a-brewin'. Low-hanging cumulous clouds sift through the heavens at a snail's pace, bringing with them ominous growls of thunder and stifling humidity. More than once Jay had stopped working to glance upward at the sky with interest. I know why he does this, but it's still fascinating albeit nerve-wracking to watch. He becomes quiet and contemplative. However, there's always a certain rigidness to his frame that informs me that he's anything but relaxed. "I feel wired sometimes when storms come," he once told me. "I try to calm down, but the anticipation always gets me. Regardless of how dangerous they are…I keep wanting to go up there—to fly within them… I know it sounds weird…"
And yeah, it did. But all of us share certain oddities or quirks when our elements become naturally active. Although, when I heard about Zane and Kai's peculiarities pertaining to their elements, I didn't worry half as much as I did with Jay. I don't know if it's just because he's the youngest out of us four, or maybe it's because Sensei Wu once divulged that Jay's element is the most unstable and sporadic. But whatever the reason, out of all of my brothers, I'm the most protective of Jay.
After we handle the sails and put away all the fishing gear, we hurriedly get inside. (Well, more like I hurriedly get inside whilst dragging my distracted best friend behind me. But you get the idea.) Though safe from the incoming storm, we are immediately assaulted by the odor of fish. And not cooked fish, but raw fish. Jay and I instantly recoil from the smell.
"Aww man! I forgot about having to go through this!" He grouses, pinching his nose closed.
I grimace, but shrug my shoulders in the end. "Yeah, but the pay-off's always worth it. C'mon, let's see if we can give them a hand." We make the short trek to the kitchen and push through the double doors. Both adorned in their respective aprons, Kai immediately looks our way with a sinister smirk.
"Hey guys, check it out! It was a female!" He lifts his gloved hands to reveal a mound of small, bright orange pearls. "Caviar, baby!"
"Oh, sweet!" Jay cheers and goes over to the island where the two are working. He looks over at the now headless tide grouper. "And it looks like she was loaded too!"
I approach the island also in order to survey the process. Zane had already stockpiled perfectly cut fillets, while Kai was harvesting and cleaning the roe. "Hell yeah! And like I was tellin' Zane here, you know what caviar is surprisingly good on? Pancakes," he says, nodding contently.
Jay and I grimace. Sometimes Kai's taste is reminiscent of that of a pregnant woman's. I have no idea why, and apparently neither does Nya. "And as I was telling him, he's not going to do that for breakfast tomorrow," Zane says, depositing the skeletal remains of the fish in the trash.
"Hey, Sasha might like it. You don't know." When Zane doesn't comment, I wave my hand to get their attention.
"Kai's bad taste aside, when Sasha came back up from her meditation, she told us some serious stuff." After I clarify everything of Sasha's visions and divulge our next course of action, I wait for their reactions.
Kai's face twists into a dark scowl. "Goddamn snakes!"
"Ha! Called it!" Jay cheers, his head buried in the fridge.
"So, we are headed for Twilight now?" Zane asks, and I nod.
"Yeah, but we're staying on the water for the time being. Sasha has misgivings about leaving Mikatagahara as of yet, so Sensei has permitted us to set sail. We're still headed towards Twilight, though."
"I see… And where is Sasha?"
"She's resting and Nya's with her. Oh and uh…she wanted me to tell you that she'd be up for cooking with you tonight if you still want to."
"Yes, that's fine. But only if she is well enough."
I chuckle lightly. "Heh, that's the same thing I said." I watch Zane for a moment as he wipes down his side of the island, his eyes passively focused on his task. I had given it some thought while out on the deck with Jay, and I think I know what I want to do for Sasha. But to pull it off, I'm going to need all of my brothers' help…especially Zane's.
A wave of apprehension washes over me at what I'm about to request. But in the end, I can only bite the bullet and hope for the best…or prepare for the worst. "Actually, Zane…I could use your help with tomorrow's dinner. You know that cook book you gave me for my birthday? Well, I'd like to make Peking Duck. I think…" I swallow, "…I think a nice meal like that would make for a great atmosphere…for when I tell Sasha how I feel about her…"
Zane stops wiping. Kai stops scooping. And Jay stops mid-sip from his water bottle. The whole kitchen freezes. I try to get a good look at Zane's face, but his head is still bowed. Feeling my heart start to pound, I open my mouth to explain myself… But Zane is the first to move and continues to wipe.
"…I understand. I'd be delighted to assist you, Cole."
My mind comes to a staggering halt. "What? Really?" I ask, not quite believing it. And by the looks of Kai and Jay's slack-jaw expressions, I'd say they're just as confused as I am.
"Of course." Zane looks up at me then, wearing one of the most forced smiles I've ever seen. Well, maybe not forced, since it's not pulled. But it definitely looks strange. "But I'm afraid we lack certain key ingredients. After all, it has been some time since we've traveled to a grocery."
"Uh…" I try to find my tongue in a fog of shock and bewilderment. "…Well, I was actually hoping Jay and Kai would help me too. Just to go and due a grocery run? Not today of course, but—"
"I'll help," Jay interjects, though he looks unsure of his own words. "And I wouldn't mind going today—right now even. What about you, Kai?"
Kai doesn't say anything for a time, his golden-amber gaze as sharp and lethal as red-hot daggers as he looks from me to Zane. His eyes linger on Zane before he slowly begins to remove his kitchen gloves. "Yeah. Yeah, okay…" He looks at me. "What do you need?"
"Here, I'll write it down…" I go and fetch a paper and a pen from one of the kitchen's utility drawers, and jot down a quick list of the ingredients we need. Once finished, I hand the list to Jay. "It's not a lot. But first and foremost, make sure those ducks are fresh."
"Uh-huh, got it."
"And don't dawdle, Jay," I warn him. "With the speed of your Storm Fighter, you guys should make it to the mainland and back well before the storm hits full force."
Jay rolls his eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah, ya big care bear. I hear ya."
I sigh once before turning to Kai. "Keep him on track, man. You know how he gets."
A half-a-smirk touches the corner of Kai's mouth and his gaze softens somewhat. "Yeah." He turns to whisper something to Zane—something I don't catch—removes his apron, and leaves the kitchen after Jay. Zane goes to place the fillets in the fridge. And seeing Kai's unfinished task, I take his place and put on his kitchen gloves.
"You don't have to do that, Cole."
"Nah, it's fine," I say, scooping out the last of the roe. "And I'll help you clean up too, fratello."
I offer him a sincere smile and he reciprocates, if only barely. "Thank you, брат."
We set to work again in more or less amicable silence. But after some minutes tick pass with nothing but the sound of Zane wiping and me turning on and off the faucet, I have to speak up. "…Zane, listen uh…about Sasha—"
"I have already disclosed my thoughts on the matter to Kai earlier. And just now before he left…he suggested I tell you the same."
I stop what I'm doing and wait curiously for him to continue. He dumps the rest of the carcass of the tide grouper into the trash before turning to me. I really don't like that disconsolate expression on his face. It reminds me too much of the time when he first learned he was an android.
"I've decided that I can no longer pursue Sasha in a romantic regard. The reason being…I cannot afford to lose you as a friend."
"What? No, Zane, nothing like that would ever happen!" I say seriously. "I even told Sensei the same before you came up!"
Zane's eyes become downcast. "So you say, Cole. But during my meditation…I saw it." My eyes widen. "It was…horrible. Our relationship crumbled bit by bit, until it shattered the very foundation of our brotherhood. In the end, Sasha became disgusted with both of us and distanced herself from us, attaching instead to Nya and focusing only on her duties as a kunoichi. After some time had passed, I saw that she and I were able to become relatively good friends again. But you…" he looks up at me again, and I see the worry and pain reflected in his eyes, "…you became a shell of your former self. You were left devastated—the result of a true love lost. You didn't recover, and no one—not even Jay, could bring you back. It was so painful for you, but it was even more painful for me to watch. I don't ever want to see you suffer like that. Ever. Especially because of my own unwillingness to surface from the water and reach for the light." His eyes turn dark with despair and loneliness. "Your feelings for Sasha run much deeper than mine if I was able to recover but not you. And in hindsight…it would've been difficult for her—no. For anyone to come to love me. I am not human, after all. I know this. And I accept it. My happiness…my light…is clearly out of reach."
I shake my head. "Zane—"
"I do not need your pity, Cole! Nor do I want it!" I'm taken aback by his aggressively harsh tone. Frigid ice-blues replace the pure hazel for the briefest of moments before he exhales and they return to normal. He regards me stoically. "My existence was ultimately meant to be a solitary one. Like my element, it is nothing but the ice-cold truth."
He turns away from me, and I can do nothing but stare at my brother and friend with utter disbelief. But then I frown at the incredulity of it all and reach out to grab his shoulders, forcing him to face me. His eyes are wide with alarm and he opens his mouth to speak, but I don't let him.
"Now you listen here, Zane," I say, shaking him roughly. "Your so-called truth is nothing but baseless supposition due to your own self-loathing. The future is open-ended for everyone regardless of whom or what they are. Absolutely nothing is set in stone. I know your sixth sense is right most of time, but… but surely you're not meant to be alone! If anyone deserves to find true happiness then by Atlas, it's you! And who in the hell cares if you're a robot! You can still feel, can't you? And that means you do have the capacity to love. So, I don't ever want to hear you talk this way again! You will find someone. And when you do, she'll be lucky to have you."
He looks at me for a moment in shock, but then a small smile tugs the corners of his lips. The darkness in his eyes lifts a bit, but I can tell he's not entirely convinced. "Kai…had said something similar…"
I give him another earnest smile. "That's because we care a lot about you, frosty. And you better believe Jay would've told you the same also." His smile becomes a bit broader and I pull him into a brotherly hug. It takes a second, but he lifts his arms to hug me back. "Solitary existence my ass," I mutter into his hair. "No way that's true. Your dad wouldn't want that for you, Zane, and you know it."
"I…I suppose not."
"And besides," I begin with a smile, "if Jay of all people can get a girl, I know you can."
He chuckles lightly. "What about Kai?"
"Tch! Are you kiddin'? Now we both know Kai's gonna die a virgin," I reply with mirth.
He laughs outright at that and lets me go. I pull back as well, but not before reaching up to playfully ruffle his shock of platinum blonde locks. I sober up, though, and regard him seriously. "But, Zane…if you truly would like a chance with Sasha then—"
"No, Cole." He frowns at me at first, but then softly smiles. "Please, follow your heart. I am sure the end result will be for the better if you pursue Sasha unimpeded. She has reentered your life for a reason. It cannot be out of sheer serendipity."
"There are no coincidences, Cole. Only the illusion of coincidence…" Yeah, she told me the same. I return my brother's smile. "Thanks, Zane. I'd be lucky to have Sasha as a girlfriend. But I'm luckier to have you as a brother."
I can feel my bond with Zane strengthen as we embrace one more time. Above all else, I always want to be a brother first, and a leader second. I may've failed with Dante, but I can't fail with these guys… I squeeze Zane tightly before letting go. "C'mon, let's finish cleaning up. Kai and Jay should be back soon."
It takes us all of fifteen minutes to finish cleaning up, making sure to deposit the trash into the garbage dispenser so we can dump it as soon as we reach Twilight. By the time we finish, the kitchen is smelling like fresh lemon and white vinegar. Afterwards, it doesn't take long before Kai comes strolling in with a bag of groceries in each hand. He's a little wet, but none too worst for wear. "Dammit! What a rip-off! How could that guy charge so much for two lousy ducks?!" He bemoans angrily.
"I'm just glad to be out of there," came Jay's reply, following in after him, looking more refreshed than bedraggled like Kai. "He looked like Beetlejuice. Not to mention he had two dead fish in his tank. Talk about creepy…"
I release a sigh under my breath and grin at the two. Nope, definitely can't fail these guys… Kai hands off the bags to Zane. "Here you go, Chef Boyardee," he says, then looks between us. "Everything okay?"
"Yes, Kai," Zane replies, placing the bags on the island. "Everything is just fine. Right, Cole?"
"Yeah," I say with a firm nod. "Nothing to worry about."
Kai and Jay both look relieved at the news. "Good, that's all I wanted to hear." As Zane starts taking out the ingredients, I find my brow furrowing in confusion. I fail to see any ducks. "Where are the ducks?" I ask Kai.
Kai leans against the counter and runs a hand through his wet hair. "Jay has em'." I turn back to my best friend, but of course he's still empty-handed. I give him an expectant look and he goes back towards the double doors. He opens one and shouts, "Come on, flat-foots! We don't have all day yanno!"
My eyes widen incredulously. No…they…didn't.
*QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!*
The pitter-patter of floppy feet soon fills my ears and two plump ducks come waddling enthusiastically into the kitchen. Two live plump ducks.
Yes…they…did. I face-palm and slowly slide my hand down my face.
"You said "fresh"," Kai remarks, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl. He smirks wickedly. "And it doesn't get much fresher than this."
You know what? Never mind. I want to fail these guys! Because they are trying their absolute best to piss me the fuck off! I explode on them. "Do I look like I know how to kill to live ducks, you assholes?! Do I look like Old McDonald to you?!"
Jay squints at me. "Well, you are starting to get crow's feet around your eyes so…"
"Stai zitto!" (Shut up!) I snap angrily, which again doesn't faze Jay at all. Hell, I'd even go as far as to say that my words roll right off him like the water off a damn duck's back! Isn't that ironic!?
"Actually, I think one's a girl," Jay says, getting on his knees and lifting one of the duck's legs up. Okay, that does it. I'm about to explode on them again when I suddenly hear the double doors fly open and an excited gasp.
"By Leviathan's breath, I thought I was still dreaming! Ducks!?" Sasha squeals and rushes to Jay's side on the floor, which, for some reason, he immediately flushes at. When Nya saunters in, he quickly rises to his feet, looking very guilty. For what exactly, I have no idea. As for me, I swallow my shout and shuffle my feet nervously.
"Yeah, Cole got 'em for you," Kai says over a mouthful of apple.
Sasha's eyes shoot up to me in surprise. "What? Really? But, you weren't around when I told Nya about my pet duck, Taffy. None of you were. Did she tell you when Zane and I were under?" She looks at Nya over her shoulder. "Did you tell him?" She asks, but of course Nya shakes her head.
"Pets?" Jay glances from Sasha to me. "I thought we were going to e—"
"Yes, well…Cole just wanted to make you feel more at home and had an epiphany that maybe this would be to your fancy since you do hail from the coast." Zane's brilliant articulation saves my bacon as well as effectively cuts Jay off.
Sasha's eyes glow with affection as she looks up at me from the floor, her hands combing through the ducks' back feathers. "Are you… Are you serious? Did you really think that, Cole…?"
"I…" I want that expression to stay, but I find that I don't want to lie to her either. I decide to compromise with another half-truth. "I…I do want you to feel more at home, Sasha. And if this helps then…"
She lifts herself from the floor and walks towards me, that warm and affectionate smile still planted firmly on her face. I stay rooted where I am as she closes the distance between us. For once, I take the initiative and touch her first, bringing her into my arms when she comes within reach.
"Oh, Cole…you're just too much… Thank you…" she whispers sweetly in my ear.
My cheeks feel like they're on fire and my heart does its slamming-against-my-ribcage game, but damn does it all not feel so wonderfully good. I hug her close. And over her shoulder…I catch Zane's eye. He's smiling encouragingly and then he mouths: "Tell her" plainly and blatantly.
Right now? Should I really? I close my eyes briefly in order to relish the feel of her soft curves against my body. Yeah, I can. Even with everyone here and watching, I…I can tell her! Taking a determined breath, I pull back to look at her. A pretty blush is now added to her expression of endearment, making me all the more calmer.
"…Sasha…I…!" The Bounty suddenly gives an unexpected jerk and I tighten my hold on Sasha's body reflexively to keep ourselves steady.
Nya stumbles into Jay. "Holy shit! What was that?"
"Oh no…it can't be," Sasha whispers and pulls back. Her eyes…they've changed again. Gone were the soft platinum, now only glowing aquamarine is all I can see. "I have to go. Now!"
"Sasha?" What's happening to her? But before I can get the question out, she tears out of my grasp and rushes through the double doors of the kitchen.
"Cole! We must follow her!" Zane hollers, bringing me out of my shock. I turn to him with a nod and dart out of the kitchen after Sasha, with the others on my heels. The Bounty sways again, tossing me against the wall, but I quickly right myself and call desperately out to Sasha.
"Sasha!"
But she ignores me and flings open the deck door, letting gushes of water and furious wind flood over her boots and into our home. She then turns back to look at me, her hair whipping around her face and water dripping from her skin. Her glowing aqua eyes narrow. "This is my Trial…and mine alone."
"What?! What do you mean?! Sasha! Wait!"
But again, I'm ignored as she faces forward and steps out into the storm. And maybe it was the wind, or maybe it was something else entirely. But the door abruptly slams shut behind her, separating us.
A/N: When compared to the original, I feel like I sucked some of the humor out of it. But in its stead, I hope you all liked the added soul.
