Welcome to part 9.
It being quite a while since I have last updated I apologize. But you know how life can be. Busy. Well please enjoy and review!
This Means WAR!
Conspiracy
Akari held the watering can limp in her hand, the water trickled from it steadily drowning a poor plant. She stared off into space, her brow slightly furrowed, oblivious to everything around her. Her mind raced with the possibilities of what horrible deeds she could come up with as her magnificent revenge. Alas, when any good idea started to form inside her head suddenly the drippy head of Gill would appear in her minds eye and mysteriously her ideas would flutter away. There was something about the way he had looked that night, apart from being drenched, that she couldn't shake out of her head. As hard as she tried she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She brushed away the little strands of her hair that refused to be held back in the bandana, leaving a long trail of soil across her forehead from her dirty gloves. What should she do?
Her eyes finally settled back on the plant she was watering as the sound of trickling water stopped and her watering can suddenly felt unusually light. On seeing the flooded soil around the plant she decided that she needed a break. She put her watering can away and set off down the road not knowing quite where she was headed.
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After shuffling her feet down the roads of Waffle Town for a good half hour she found herself in front of Town Hall. This was where Gill worked. She knew that. So of all places why did she come here? She stared at the door, finding herself annoyed by the size of it.
What does Gill do here anyway? She thought tipping her head slightly. I bet he just sits around and acts important. And from that thought sprouted a few good jabs of mockery she could throw at the ogre. Let's go inside! She thought giddily.
There was nothing better than making that fussy blond squirm to set her in a good mood.
She pushed the door open hesitantly and found herself instantly disappointed.
There was no fussy blond in sight.
"Oh, hello there!" called a woman from behind a desk. She had a pretty face and the sort of smile that made you want to smile back. She snapped the book she had been flipping through shut and gave Akari her full attention. "We don't get much visitors here. I'm Elli, what's your name?"
"My name is Akari. I am the new farmer."
"Oh yes, I've heard all about you." Said the older woman, much to Akari's surprise.
"You have?"
"Oh yes, dear. Well, I haven't heard all about you, but you are all Gill talks about…"
Excuse me!? Akari thought, her eyebrows raised in shock.
"…when Gill talks of course… which isn't very often…." Elli mumbled.
"Are you sure you have the right Akari?" Akari asked.
Elli wasn't listening anymore. "He has always been so antisocial, I think its great that he has finally found a friend!" She clapped her hands together and smiled merrily.
Akari stared at her tightlipped, not knowing quite what to say. Then finally asked cautiously, "What does he say about me?"
"Oh, well…" Elli tilted her head back in thought. "Something like this…" She slouched down in her seat and sat with her hands on either side of her head holding it up. Her lips curled into a trademark Gill frown with a slight pout. Then she switched her voice into a low gravely tone exaggerating Gill's as she said, " 'Oh I bet Akari is over at the bar right now, laughing it up with that stupid waiter…' Or, 'I'm going to get back at Akari, and this time she will be down on her hands and knees begging me for forgiveness…'"
Yeah…thought Akari, Sounds like we're best buds…
"You need something dear?" Elli asked softly leaning over the desk and studying the suddenly mute young woman carefully. "Are you looking for Gill?"
Akari shook her head 'no' enthusiastically.
"Well he didn't come in to work today." She said, suddenly gloomy.
"What? Why?" Akari finally found her voice again.
"I know, its quite out of character…and its really sad… he apparently was out in that dreadful storm last night and woke up this morning with a terrible cold. The Mayor said it was very severe and that he cant leave the house…"
A strange knot of guilt worked its way into Akari's stomach, but why? She had no reason to feel guilty. It was his fault for running around Waffle Town in a rainstorm. And yet….there the knot was.
"Oh, I just remembered!" Elli continued. "The Mayor also said that Gill would welcome any visitors. But only if they were beautiful young ladies…" She tipped her head thoughtfully to the side. "I wonder why only beautiful young ladies….? Well anyways, there is not much going on here, why don't I go with you over to visit him? That's where you were headed next wasn't it? Gill would really love having a visit from his friend!"
Akari's brain suddenly switched to flight mode. "A-actually I'm not r-really his frie--"
"Akari, you are such a great person." Elli said as she gathered her belongings from the desk and placed them in her bag. Akari froze. "Gill has been such a lonesome soul for so long, although it doesn't seem to bother him, nobody likes to be alone all the time." Akari felt that weird guilt knot in her stomach again. Elli slung her bag over her shoulder and turned to the young woman smiling sweetly. "He may seem hard on the outside, but I just know there is a good, kind hearted, and loving person inside of him."
Yeah, right… Akari thought while trying to force a smile.
"I know I haven't known you for very long, just met in fact…" The monologue continued, "But I know there is something inside of you that will bring that loving side of him out."
Akari's smile turned into a grimace. Wow, she is lathering it on pretty thick…
"Well, shall we?" Elli headed off toward the door and made sure to lock it behind her while Akari stood by trying to figure out how to get away. Elli turned to the younger girl and smiled her winning smile. "Gill would come back from the grave and haunt me if he knew I didn't lock the door." Her jaw dropped and she covered her mouth with one delicate hand in shame. "That was a horrible thing to say…"
I'm thinking that sounds pretty good right about now… Akari thought glumly.
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"HO, HO, HO! What have we here!?" Bellowed Hamilton, sounding like some perverted Santa Claus. He made a show of escorting them in with a flourish then craned his neck towards the stairs and Gill's room at the top as he yelled, "Well if it isn't Elli and AKARI!" Emphasizing her name completely inconspicuously. "This is such a wonderful surprise!"
Its comforting to know at least The Mayor is acting normal. Akari thought with a smirk.
Hamilton suddenly whipped around and grabbed her shoulder, prying her away from Elli's protective side and giving her a good shove towards the stairs. "Now why don't you young things go talk upstairs, alone!"
Akari stared at him mortified.
"Don't worry, I'll be up in a minute with milk and cookies!!" He slapped his protruding belly, and it jiggled like a bowl full of jelly…
Akari shivered and searched for an escape route. Hadn't she done this exact thing before? Deja vu… "Actually I should be getting back to the farm…." she grasped lamely for an excuse, "I got some….farmin' I need to do…"
"But you should at least go check if your friend is alright, right?" Came the soft voice of Elli gazing sweetly at her.
Akari's eyes were as big as dinner plates and pleaded Do I have to?
The other two just smiled at her.
Resigned to her fate, Akari shuffled up the stairs, head hung low, while Hamilton shoved a wad of cash into Elli's hands.
"Nice job!" He whispered once he heard Akari's footsteps overhead. "That last bit was beautifully done!"
Elli's eyes widened, her sweet smile twisted into a mischievous sneer, then licking her thumb, she began counting the bills. "It was easy really, she came right to me." she said, "All I had to do was convince her to follow me to your house. The girl is a sucker for sob stories." "Brilliant…" Hamilton sighed gazing up with sparkling eyes to where the 'love birds' were meeting.
Happy with her reward, Elli shoved the money into her bag and extended her hand out to Hamilton. "Nice doing business with you." She said shaking his hand. "But I feel bad for the poor sap who marries your son…" She turned toward the door. "No offense."
"None taken." Hamilton said with a shrug.
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Akari stood outside of Gill's bedroom door, her hand outstretched, fingers barely touching the cool surface of the handle. A thought crept into her mind, making her hand flash back. Wait a second. She was about to back down just then. That wasn't like her at all. She knew she could handle any of Gill's antics. And plus, a short visit couldn't hurt, right?
She clenched her fists determinedly and opened the door.
Now she stood in the doorway of HIS room and it felt as if she was sneaking into the dragon's lair…or ogre's lair to be precise… She took a hesitant step inside as though she was walking through a mine field and closed the door softly behind her. Her eyes scanned the room finding it….orderly, as was to be expected. She had seen it briefly once before but at that time she had been covered in Christmas twinkle lights and dangling from the roof outside the window. She chuckled softly.
Suddenly remembering why she was here she turned toward the bed and was relieved to find Gill sound asleep. Apparently the loud bellows from his father hadn't roused him…unless he was faking it. She waved her hand experimentally in front of his face and poked him on the shoulder as cautiously as though he were a bomb. Deciding he was genuinely asleep she put a hand to his forehead. He didn't seem to have a fever but what did she know, she was no doctor. It was then that she finally looked at him.
HOLY FUDGE! WHY IS HE IN THE NUDE!? She yelled inside her head as she leapt away from the bed. Well, technically he wasn't nude. He was wearing boxer shorts. But still. Well that was a long enough visit in my opinion, time to go! In her desperation to get away she tripped over one of Gill's loafers, landing hard on her butt. She winced, but quickly looked up to see if she had woken him. Luckily he just breathed deeply and rolled over in his bed, now facing her.
From her position on the floor she could see the rise and fall of his chest. The sheet that was his only covering was wound around his legs. His arms were cradled under his head and his face was void of the frown and furrowed eyebrows that normally resided there. His pale blond hair was a mess of cowlicks and honestly looked like wild grass, sticking up in every direction. He seemed so peaceful, beautiful even, so unlike an ogre. She could almost believe he wasn't the same guy who tied her and Chihaya up in a tree. Almost…
A certain unnerving feeling made her grab at her stomach, that sort of twisting knots feeling. But this time it wasn't guilt.
"Stupid pretty ogre…" She muttered under her breath.
Now she really needed to get out of here! Something about this place was getting to her head. Pretty soon she would be thinking things like Gill was--no, lets not even go there!
She pulled herself to her feet awkwardly and hopped over to the door careful to make each step perfectly silent. Her hand shot out, gripped the handle, and turned it only to be dismayed by the little clink sound it made as metal hit metal and there was no give. The door wouldn't budge.
"What….?" she breathed trying again but to no avail.
She tried again. Then again. And then a fifth time. But each time the little clink sound was heard and her heart beat began beating faster and faster. "Oh, this isn't good…" she hissed between clenched teeth. "This really isn't good." By the twentieth time around at just turning the door knob she decided to come about this in a different fashion.
Gripping the door knob with both hands she rattled it vigorously. Where is Hamilton and those blasted milk and cookies!? she thought. Then froze. It's Hamilton! It has to be him! He set me up! She slammed her fist against the door furiously. This is just the sort of sneaky thing he would do! Of course I could handle any of Gill's antics, but Hamilton….!? Gill probably isn't even sick!
It's a sad day when you realize it's not the ogre you need to worry about, but the ogre's father.
Cursing under her breath she gripped the door knob again and mounted one hiking boot clad foot against the door tugging with every ounce of strength in her. "I don't care what you do Hamilton…" she spat. "But I am not falling in…" Tug. "love" Tug. "with" Tug. "your…" Tug. "SON!"
With that last effort something finally gave…unfortunately it wasn't the door but the door knob. It flew right out of her hand and hit the back wall as she also flew backwards tripping over another one of Gill's stupid loafers and landing, thankfully, on Gill's bed.
No, wait! Not thankfully!
She scrambled madly to get out of the bed, but to her horror she found herself tangled in the sheets along with the sleeping ogre! Desperately trying to free herself, she let out a gasp of surprise as a pale arm circled around her waist and pinned her to the bed. She was terrified to move now and went completely still. Oh….this isn't good.. she thought with eyes closed tight. But wait! He is still asleep right? This is my chance to sneak away! She spied out of one partly opened eye to see that his face was a shocking inch away from her own, but sure enough, he was still asleep.
Her stomach was making those weird twisting feelings again as she pried her eyes away from his face and gripped his arm that held her waist, ready to quickly slide it away. And yet for some unknown reason she decided to steal one last look at the beautiful Gill, not the horrible, mean, stuck-up, infuriating, pompous Gill, but this Gill. After all, she probably would never see this Gill again. Maybe one day she will be able to finally get along with the ogre Gill if she could remember the harmless Gill she had seen today.
Naw! Who was she kidding, that would never happen!
While staring at his sleeping face it suddenly hit her that she had been making all that noise trying to open the door and he had slept right through it. "Wow…" she said almost too quietly to be a whisper, "you sure are a deep sleeper."
Just then his eyes snapped open.
Her blood ran cold, her eyes locked with the ocean orbs. This cant be happening….she pleaded in her head.
"A-Akari…?" Slurred a sleepy Gill. "What are you doing…in my bed…?"
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Meanwhile, downstairs, Hamilton was enjoying a glass of milk with cookies. He noted when the loud banging on the door finally stopped and laughed maniacally.
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Um…so tell me what you think. I had tons of fun writing this chapter and making Elli evil, honestly didn't expect that one coming. And Hamilton….really, I'm pretty sure what you are doing is illegal….
Reviews are like candy! And I love candy!