Everyone has been so patient and wonderful to me and I love all of you.
I won't both you with rambling right now. That's for the bottom. I'll see you there!
Thaioden's mouth twisted into a strained grimace as he pressed an earbud hard into his ear with a thin finger. His other hand was busy flicking through screen after screen on the large television. Sitting elegantly on the comfy sofa, the cat lady's white ears twitched forward as Thaioden let out a short exasperating breath. Chordata's white hands rested tensely in her lap. She concentrated on each little noise that groaned, popped, and honked from the busy streets below. From what she could gather, things did not look good. Not good at all. Thaioden had said his security systems were top dollar, but already six of his bodyguards had been reported missing at the south exit. All other doors were now covered, but-
"Where is Napil? Henderson? Josh?"
It looked as though the only thing holding them back from the front was the gathering crowd waiting to enter the bar.
But it was only a matter of time.
She turned to glance at the closed doors of her master's bedroom and her knees started restlessly bouncing.
"What do the west end cameras show? The feedback isn't working!" The tense man murmured into the cord, flicking frantically. After a brief moment, Chordata winced as the man whispered, "Oh, shit… stealth cloaks…" and the screen stopped on two double doors.
It was faint, but it was there.
A cluster of shadows lining the hallway. Invisible to all, but bending light.
Her amber eyes flicked back on Thaioden and she noticed his face had paled. "Thermal vision! Turn on the damn thermal! Find them! Don't let them get further!" Another pause and another flick through of the channels. "The 1A-H, 7B, 9C-M, 4R, and all of the floors above 21D are to remain on thermal vision! Now tell me of the east hall!"
A deep voice gave a short reply.
"What am I paying you for, Bernard? To stand around with your dick out? Send Tomas' men to shut them down! Close all doors, but the front and backstage! I can't have them getting further! Make sure Caleb can confirm the 'you know what's' ready." He grunted as his teeth clicked together audibly. "The 'you know what', Bernard! You know what that is, you damn, son-of-a-bitch! Please use the brain I know has to be struggling behind that thick skull! Give me the count down, you bastard." Another pause and Thaioden flicked back to another camera. "Twenty confirmed in back, five in tunnel, fifteen outside surrounding the building, but what about the suite!? What about the suite?" Another channel and another low grunt filtered from the phone's earpiece. "So, translating that slip of garbage you just spouted off, we probably have twenty minutes window time." Thaioden clicked off the ear piece. The usually complacent man ran his hands through his tangled locks and let go of a long breath.
"How bad is it?" She said hesitantly.
His lips instantly dropped his scowl to transform into his classic smirk. "It will be fine. Didn't mean to worry you about that little show there. Bernard works best when insulted. It's a humiliation thing with him. His therapist actually says it's helping his condition. Moreover, you said they'd be recognized, but – can't lie, honey - if those two don't hurry up, they'll be dead bodies in bikinis."
"Master Fanel… is used to handling situations on his own terms. I am afraid this 'own terms' will only bring more danger to both himself and Lady Hitomi. This Customer Receiver get-up will be most unwelcome for him, but I understand the necessity."
"I have everything worked out. If he keeps that sword down and plays the part right, Zaibach won't even notice them. But its all well and good they are able to exodus their tooshies out of danger; however, how do you plan to protect that tooshie of yours, ma cherie?" Thaioden tilted his head flirtatiously. "I don't see you stripping off any clothing."
Chordata felt her heart beat a little faster and her eyebrow flicked up. "There is no need to worry about my safety. If I want to disappear then no one will see me."
"There's that hint of mystery I like." The older man's eyebrows raised a fraction as he noticed a spark of feral wildness behind her eyes. Her calm posture, her polite charm… this look in her eye didn't match. A shadow of a thought crossed his mind.
Suddenly, her ear twitched and he broke his train of thought as a door opened from the back hallway.
"She's perfection, boss! She'll cause another riot in this!" A girl chirped sweetly, her heavily made-up face practically glowing. Blue tassels tossing on her exposed chest, the cat suddenly found herself praying poor, shy Lady Hitomi wasn't in a similar get-up.
"Get your sexy mermaid ass out here, ya swank!" The blond snapped after several seconds of nothing.
Finally, she stepped out, her legs wobbling in unusual heels. They were more like sparkling green boots, lacing up her calves. They twisted down to flare out widely at her ankles. Her already pre-tanned skin was glittering gold in the light as if she'd been tossed in a pool of fairy dust. The glitter was heavier around her green eyes; spreading all the way to the sides of her new hairline. Her lips were coated in a thick cherry red. She was dressed in a deep green two-piece with a tiny lace skirt that flared out at her narrow hips. The top was covered in sequences and obviously uncomfortably pushing up what little the girl had. Her now long, straight red hair cascaded down her back and a brush of side bangs swept over her forehead. Hitomi stopped, her golden cheeks blushing almost as brightly as her fake hair. She casually covered her exposed glistening torso with her sparkly arms and lowered her fake eyelashes to the floor shyly.
Her soft voice spoke up and it was unsteady. "I'm not a mermaid…"
"That's what you're supposed to be. You dissing my work?" Pricilla's head tilted sassily.
"But there's no fish-tail…"
"Your feet are your tail, duh!" the blond rolled her eyes.
"Good work. She's perfection."
"I told you! She'll be even better on stag-"
"Pricilla!" Thaioden's voice snapped sharply. "No more talking. Your job is done. Go."
The blond sighed dramatically. "Fine! I'll be looking for the extra dough in my bank account."
"Yeah, yeah, you money grubbing…" Thaioden trailed off with a wave of his hand. He withdrew his phone to punch in several things on the little screen.
"Good luck, Tomi!" The girl left with a chirp.
Chordata's other ear twitched as her Master's door opened on the other side of the suite. A canine entered, the fear radiating off his trembling body. His long brown ears drooped by the sides of his face. He pushed up his thick glasses nervously and tripped on his left toe as he came cowering into the room. He was dressed in a deep black shirt with the word MYSTESS scrawled on the sleeve that was tucked into a high waistline blue jeans. His brown tail tucked low, he glanced at the group underneath furry eyebrows.
"Bakura! About time! Where's our pirate!?" Thaioden barked.
"He's coming, sir," Bakura whimpered fearfully. "He's not very happy though..."
The sound of heavy footfalls.
A tall figure emerged from the doorway and stomped down the long hall. His head erect and his eyes dangerously flashing, he stepped angrily onto the blue carpet holding his navy sword in a shaking hand.
"Oh, my God! What happened to you!?" Hitomi yelped as one small bubble of laughter escaped her strawberry lips.
There were fake tattoos running up and down his arms, a shimmering substance on his lips, and two ruby jewel stones glued to his nipples. His unruly long black hair was slicked back exposing his sparking eyes and tan forehead. The hair was swept into a ponytail at the base of his neck. A leather band was tied around his forehead and a red bandana was tastefully knotted around his right bicep. His thin chest was bare – excepting his pink pendant and peck jewelry- all the way down to his low waist. True to his yelling, Van's legs were belted into bright blue striped chaps complete with fish scale leather boots. As he continued to walk to the kitchen, Chordata saw Hitomi turn an even brighter shade of red as he passed her. Her green glittered eyes flicked to his backside and then back up swiftly.
Ass-less chaps, indeed.
Chordata hid her fanged smile as the thong-exposed dark king jingled towards Thaioden, his accented eyes flickering with murderous intent.
"A bit drafty in here, sugarcane?" The long-haired man grinned with delight. "You make quite the pirate! Good work, Bakura!"
"This is unnecessary as it is foolish," Van hissed, his right hand tight on his sword's pommel. He towered over the club owner. "All we need is an escape route. I refuse to be a part of this spectacle. I am a king." His visible butt cheeks flexed and Hitomi made a strange noise with her throat.
Chordata stood promptly and glided to her Master. Putting a gentle hand on his tense forearm, she took in his hard glare with a patient look. "Master Fanel, the only way is through the front door and even that is heavily under surveillance. Mr. Thaioden has already confirmed that Zaibach is closing in. We must go now before it gets to be too late. This is the only way."
"Where are we going?" Hitomi piped in from the back and the dog-man beside her jumped slightly.
Van turned to her and his expression softened visibly as his eyes openly brushed over her golden body. Her hands rose back to cover her torso again.
"That's all been taken care of," Thaioden dismissed with a wave of his hand. "First, we have to take care of spiriting you guys out of here. The best solution? Hide in plain sight, ya see? Zaibach won't expect you to be part of the show!"
"Show…?" Van hissed darkly immediately turning back to Thaioden. "What is this… show?"
Thaioden clapped his hands together. "Alrighty, then. Pirate and mermaid, follow Bakura down the service elevator to the fourth floor. You'll have to take the stairs the rest of the way. Get to the second floor. Bakura will know what to do."
He turned to the canine with raised eyebrows. "Use that way, pup. You got the connection to backstage?"
"Yes, sir!" The dog yelped, patting the pocket of his jacket quickly.
"The other thing will be in the secret spot. Go get their clothes and pack them up! I'm trusting you with everything. Lives at stake!"
"Yes, sir! Lives at stake, sir!" He hopped forward and ran to Van's room.
Thaioden's brown eyes flashed with affection before turning to the two glittering people before him. "You two will follow exactly what he says. You need to stay close and – this is important - don't let each other out of your sights. You totes have to take care of each other. This will test your improv skills. As long as you can play the part, you should be a-okay, but this means no running off for a stabby-stab session unless she's with you, alright, flexy-butt?"
Van growled, but his hand went back to cover his bare bottom. "I dare you to-"
"What about you?!" Hitomi cried with sudden realization. Behind her, Bakura ran with a bag over his thin shoulder into Hitomi's room. "What is your plan? How are you going to escape, Thaioden?"
The brown-haired man's eyes tightened slightly, but his thin lips curled into his trademark smirk. "I'm like cat-woman over there. I'll be totes fine! My top priority is you two. Bakura!" He snapped and the canine came racing forward with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. "Time ta jet! You shoulda been gone three minutes ago! Scat! Scram! Scoot!It's almost time the show!"
"What show?" Van tried again.
"This way, you two!" The dog immediately headed out the front doorway. With a growl in his throat and an encouraging nod from Chordata, Van turned to follow him.
Hitomi stayed for only a few seconds longer. Her cherry lips opened and her green eyes tossing over Thaioden indecisively.
"Go on, little Kanzaki. I'll be totes fine!" He repeated those words and shooed her with delicate fingers. "Take care of yourself down there. I'll see you later."
Swallowing in a palpable tight throat, she stumbled away as fast as her wobbly ankles would allow. Her fin disappeared through the doorway and Thaioden's brown eyes never left the entry hall as he plugged his finger in his ear once more. "Bernard, make sure some blankets are in the 'you-know-what'…" His face suddenly crunched in anger. "The car, you useless fool! The car! Put some damn blankets in the car!"
Chordata took several steps closer. He dropped the call and his hand fell to his side. He turned to her and a gentle brown connected with shining amber.
"She knows you are not leaving."
"She takes after her daddy. Enough smarts and stubbornness to uncover any mystery."
"What about you?" She asked, repeating Hitomi's question. "You need to escape with me… us."
He sighed and her astute eyes noticed his fingers were slightly shaking. "I fear my part in this journey is coming to an end. Besides, this is my legacy, my lady in white. The emperor fights with his last breath for what he has built. He goes down in glory with his empire. He protects those that have been entrusted under him. It's his duty to those that have put their loyalty in him - and so on and so forth with the emperor metaphors. I have done everything I could possibly think of to keep my employees and those two knuckleheads safe in the short time I had. If that wild boy-king of yours follows his instincts down there, they might actually put on a hell of a show."
He released a quick breath and boldly closed the gap between them. Reaching out, he rested his thin hands on her shoulders and leaned down to press his forehead against hers. "Now disappear like the sprite you are. Fade into the safety of your shadows. You lovely phantom…" His fingers trailed up to stroke the sides of her soft neck and cup the back of her white head gently. "Just like a ghost, you appear before me and then you're gone…" he let out a small laugh. "Alas, my last thoughts will be regret. How very uncool of me."
As she looked into his brown eyes, her mouth opened slightly as the real man behind the club owner exterior shined forth for the first time. She saw the sparks of fear wild and panicked. She saw the sadness, the regret, the loneliness. She saw the resolution of his own death hanging over his future.
His lips curled into a shadow of a smile and he whispered, "You better scoot out of here as well. They'll be storming my door in ten minutes, I expect."
"Escape with me," she said softly, her white hands reaching up to his shoulders. "You cannot stay. They will torture you…"
"It's a matter of pride. Man's foolish pride. Your king and my little Kanzaki will be safe. Bakura is taking them to Guitoma to stay with his family."
"Guitoma…" Her heart squeezed with growing fright.
"It was the only place I could think of in such short notice."
"But Thaioden, Guitoma is under Zaibach's thumb. It is just as dangerous as Fanelia-"
"I'm aware. However, this is a risk I am willing to take. Bakura will be able to help them, I know it." His forehead crinkled with thought. "Or maybe that's the other canine I have under my employment?"
Chordata's eyes were suddenly wide and burning. "Please… please come with me…please…"
"Tell me something. I've been curious." He smiled down at her gently, ignoring her pleas. "I simply cannot let you go without knowing."
"That is it?" she asked taken slightly aback.
"Ever since I saw you, I knew there was more to you than meets the eye. Are you really just a sexy nursemaid to a bratty king? My eyes tell me you have secrets."
"What have you been suspecting?" She asked cryptically.
"I'm just throwing this out there. Grasping at clues, ya know." His hands tightened only briefly on her shoulders.
"You knew Hitomi's father, didn't you?"
Chordata's amber eyes froze for a moment before a warm light entered them. "You are perceptive."
"A talent I have always enjoyed about myself. So, enlighten me with your tale in the few minutes I have left to hold you. You knew him. He told you to go to the place where Van Slanzar de Fanel would appear."
"How did you figure this all out?"
He let out a laugh. "I saw the pendant's vision. I saw the beam of light carry him away. Kanzaki, my old friend… he rambled on and on about crossing destinies and fate and invisible ties that bring us all together... The last time I saw him he was going to find Van – find the lost king of Fanelia and his Dragon Guymelef." Thaioden's smile vanished instantly. "He never made it though, did he? I was left with his journal and nothing more. But you… you found Van. You knew where to go. The pieces fit better than you'd think."
She was quiet and then let out a small breath. "It is true. I met him in Dorn thirteen years ago."
Thaioden's eyebrows rose. "The Zaibach capital?"
"Yes."
"What the hell was that nut job doing in Dorn?"
"He had been captured and taken to the capital for private trial."
Thaioden's voice broke a bit. "Private trial, huh? Tortured beyond recognition more like."
"Yes," she whispered with a nod and the spark of regret tossed over her eyes. "He was."
He watched her ears fall lower. "But you believed him. You believed everything he said. His rambles of the lost king on his way to us. Destiny tying us to an apocalyptic future unless we find him. At least that's what Kanzaki was rambling about the last time I saw him."
"Eventually… yes. I believed him. After... when he died... I ran from Zaibach and fulfilled a promise I had made to him. He told me to mail a letter to his family in Austuria - his last letter to them - and find the lost king he described to me."
"And he charged me with mailing the journal to her. We became slaves to his cause, you and me."
She backed away from him and their arms dropped to their sides.
"Why have you not told Van? All these years you've taken care of him and you never said anything?" Thaioden asked.
A slice of silence fell between them.
"I always told Master Fanel it was destiny that brought me to him. And it was. I met Kanzaki and he told me where to find him. Master Fanel changed my life. I cannot tell him the truth. There will be consequences…" she murmured, shaking her head slowly. "I was a different person back then before he appeared to me. But once I saw the pillar of light with my own eyes… once I saw the broken body of a gentle boy lying on the concrete, my heart… my heart…"
"You fear how Van will react once he knows?" Thaioden asked quietly.
Her back straightened and her amber eyes flashed with that silent feral look. "I was a Zaibach Agent. I served under the Twenty-second regiment – Strategos Hatchet. I… I was also the one responsible for Kanzaki's death…"
Thaidoen's eyes widened and he took a step back in surprise.
"I was the one who killed him." She continued, encouraged by her confession. She felt as if her heart was pressing against her ribs. Her voice trembled with the words: "You think I fear the coldness in Master Fanel's eyes? You think I fear the instantaneous break of trust he will have for me? Like I said, you are very perceptive. I fear it with my entire being. And now to have his daughter with me... I will have to tell her some day, but... I cannot. Right now, I cannot."
"And the reveals keep coming even at the end of my saga." He closed his eyes and a wrinkle appeared between his brows. Turning back to the television screen, he picked up the remote.
"You turn away from me, Thaioden. Is it because of what I have told you? Are you disgusted?" Chordata whispered.
"No, my lovely white lily, as mentioned before, I suspected as much. Whatever you were, you have atoned for your sins long ago. Kanzaki believed in you and trusted you with that letter just like he trusted me with the journal. He was a brilliant, stupid man. And he was right."
"He was right," she agreed with a shiver. "I was not a bad person. I was misguided."
"No need to justify your past with me. I believe you. Van will believe it, too. Give him a little more credit, will ya? The guy's a wild pistol, but you were all he had for a long, long time. Trust in the strong relationship you share with him. And, even if he does throw a hissy fit, I actually find I quite enjoy his outbursts. Like a small child in a grown man's body. I'm sure your knowledge of Zaibach's inner-workings have probably saved both your lives several times over. He'll understand for sure. As for Hitomi... she will understand even more than Van."
His shoulders stiffened as the large screen flickered to another doorway. "It's time for you to go. Farewell, my lovely ghost."
She turned to the doorway, but stopped for just a second longer. She looked back at the long-haired man.
His back was straight, his head up. His hair was hanging long over his shoulders.
He pressed his finger into his ear just as before.
And then, much like the ghost he'd called her, Chordata disappeared out the doorway and was gone.
She was clumsier than ever.
Keeping her heavy eyes on each step, her clamoring shoes clacked and squeaked in their straps. Hitomi held onto the frigid railing like a lifeline. Van and Bakura had already cleared the second flight of stairs just as she began her fifth step.
"You guys are too fast! Please wait!" she called out desperately, her voice echoing in the metal stairway. "These stupid shoes…"
Their footsteps stopped and someone came climbing back up. Van's mildly exasperated face appeared around the corner. His exposed eyes gave her an up and down glance before he took the steps three at a time.
"Hold this." He thrust the sword into her hands and she let go of the railing in order to catch it. The weapon was heavier than she thought.
A gasp escaped her mouth as her feet were suddenly lifted from the ground and she was in his arms. The jewels on his pecks scratched the side of her arm and she focused her eyes on the sword that was currently clutched tightly in her shaking fingers. H carried her awkwardly down the stairs sideways. She felt his heartbeat pumping hard and fast on her shoulder. His hand curled around her shimmering legs and tucked her up closer on his chest as he passed around the tight corner.
"Thank you…" she whispered softly, her green eyes falling on his tense face. He kept his eyes on the stairs, but they softened slightly.
"You are welcome."
Bakura was whining softly as they finally came into view. "Hurry!"
With each step conquered, the beat of the club increased dramatically. Hitomi began to hear the thundering drone of voices laughing and shouting. Bakura cleared the last step on the second floor and held the door open for them with a quiet, but panicked look. Guiding them through a thin dark hallway, he kept his long ears perked for sounds. Hitomi wondered how he could possibly hear anything suspicious over the raucous noise coming from the first floor. Taking another door to the left, the dog-man sighed with relief while Van's arms stiffened against her.
"The writing on the door..." he mumbled with his eyes narrowing.
Alighted green; "BACK STAGE FOUR" shined down at them.
"We'll probably sneak out the back or something," she said with a reassuring smile.
Bakura, hurrying through the doors, motioned for the two to follow. They came upon a sea of people dressed in black t-shirts scrambling behind a large dark curtain. Sequenced tossed backdrops, dark props she couldn't quite make out, and electrical equipment everywhere made her heart drop in nervousness. The loud thumping music vibrated the entire room.
"What is this?" Van's voice vibrated her shoulder.
"I don't know." She shook her head, her green eyes staring around the bustling darkness. "Thaioden kept mentioning a show-"
A heavy, balding man with the same security black t-shirt came puffing up towards them. Bakura silently nodded his head towards them and the man stepped forward to check them over with a bundle of black wires in his hands while the dog-man disappeared with the crowd of workers.
"Put her down, dude. I gotta hitch these on ya." The man yelled over the music.
"Hitch what exactly?" Van's mahogany eyes narrowed suspiciously, his muscles tightening threateningly.
"Oh, god, we don't have time for that now, Van! Put me down!" Hitomi groaned. With a sharp sigh, he set her on her unstable feet.
Handing him his sword back, she didn't notice the balding man approach her from behind before it was too late. He grabbed her top and yanked it upward. With a short scream, she covered her breasts quickly before they were exposed to everyone.
A flash of silver erupted from Van.
"WHAT THE-"
"Unhand her bosom at once!" Van snarled with his sword unsheathed and pointing dangerously at the man's throat. The man's thick fingers froze on the straps of her top.
"Wait, wait, wait! He's putting on her mic!" Bakura's familiar yelp came from the far left and he was running up with his furry hands stretched out in shaking panic. "He's hitching the microphone on her suit! Don't kill anyone!"
"Kill…?" The balding man's voice quaked.
"Microphone…" Van hissed.
"Maybe mics aren't the best idea, Bernard. Let's just get them into position and have Caleb recite the lines like Tristan originally wanted." Bakura barked a nervous laugh, his brown eyes still focused on the solid sword. "Besides, that accent of his is hard enough to understand."
Bernard's cold fingers fidgeted with her straps only a second more before he let her go. She turned away from the men fixing herself quickly with a terrible blush. Tucking her breasts back into their already thin cups, she straightened and found Van sheathing his sword with a murderous glare at the man named Bernard.
"You will not touch her again."
"Dude, you need to calm your shit, man."
"Bernard, Caleb needs the script Tristan wrote! Come on, dude, we got like three minutes! I'll take care of getting them into position!" Turning to them with his long ears flapping, he gently took hold of Hitomi's wrist and guided her behind a long piece of wood running the bottom of the stage. "Laid down here on your stomach and don't let anyone see you until you get your cue."
"What cue?" she asked desperately, clutching the dog's furry hand. "Please don't tell me we are going to be part of some show! I think I'll probably throw up."
To her surprise, Barkura gave a friendly fanged smile. "That would actually be awesome if you did. Everyone loves a good projectile vomit. But really, there's no need to worry. This crowd is an easy-pleaser especially with the drinks we've been serving tonight. As long as you play your part half okay, we should get out of this just fine."
And he turned to leave her; coming up to a scowling Van. She suddenly remembered her instructions and, with a nervous gasp of air, gently got on her knees and laid down on the gritty black stage. Laying her chin on her folded arms, she looked up at Van several yards away, who was being instructed to put his foot on a fragile cutout and grasp a rope to his left.
Even with the nipple jewelry, she found him… quite dashing looking in that position. In the darkness, his outfit gave him a stereotypical rebellious look. His smoothed back hair and fake tattoos made him polished, yet wild. Someone who could charm or slaughter his way out of any trouble. Bakura belted his sword to his side and left him to tend to something else. Van met her eyes and they stared at each other. The workers all around them seemed to freeze as they met gaze for gaze.
And then the lights turned completely black and she lost his mahogany eyes in the dark.
And then her heart skyrocketed as she heard the words:
"NOW FOR THE SHOW YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! YOU GOT A TASTE OF HIM THE OTHER NIGHT! FEAST YOUR EYES ON HIS BRAVE STORY! THE SENSUAL TALE OF THE DREADED SHARPENED SUGARCANE AND HIS CAPTURE OF THE LEGENDARY MERMAID!"
A thick beat of music erupted from the speakers behind her and pulsed painfully in her ears.
"Oh, no, Thaioden, what have you done…?" she breathed with horror.
The curtains parted-
A beam of light focused on Van's frozen face. His left hand still holding tight on the rope, his foot still propped on the wooden cutout of what she could now see was the bow of a crudely-drawn ship. The wooden planks beside her began grading and shifting slowly creating the illusion of the sea.
Her breath catching in fear. She could see the red peck jewelry twinkling in the spot light, the small twitch of his fingers wanting to grab the sword at his side.
Then… the drunken crowd erupted with screams and cheers; overpowering even the insanely loud music. Women's voices seemed the most prominent. The cries went on for a good half minute, the crowd sounding like it was heaving itself into a fit of excitement. A single woman from the crowd shrieked, "I loooooove yooooou, Suuuugggaaarrr!" and she saw Van blink as if catapulting out of a daze.
His shoulders straightened, he thrusted his chest out proudly, and his lips twisted into a handsome lopsided smile. Holding his hand to his forehead as if shading his face from the sun, he stared off into the distance on the right. Leaning forward a bit more, he flexed the lean muscles on his arms and more screams followed.
Hitomi's mouth fell against her arms as she watched him.
He… he was actually going with it?
And he looked… sexy…
The voice continued.
"ABOARD HIS SHIP, THE SCHEHERAZADE, THE DREADED, YET TERRIBLY HANDSOME PIRATE FROM THE WEST HAD HEARD THE RUMORS OF A MYSTICAL CREATURE WITH THE TAIL OF A FISH, BUT THE TOP OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. A RARE PRIZE IN HIS FOREIGN LAND, HE WISHED TO CLAIM THE MERMAID AS HIS OWN. FOR MANY MOONS, THE SHARPENED SUGARCANE FOLLOWED HIS NATURAL INSTINCTS IN SEARCH OF THE MYSTICAL CREATURE. BUT HE WAS NOT ALONE IN HIS SEARCH…"
Van followed what the man said, his mahogany eyes still searching above the sea of people. Suddenly, a man leap onto the stage from a swinging rope and Van's eyes instantly snapped to confront the man.
It was an actor dressed as a pirate flicking a plastic curved blade over his hands. Switching into combat, Van flicked out his own sword and the women in the crowd screamed with pleasure. With another lopsided smile, he ran a course of his usual sword techniques, flicking his blade beautifully through the air. He stopped short of the man's shoulders and ribcage and Hitomi could see the guy wincing in apprehension. Van tossed the blade to an overhead swing and missed the man's body by mere inches. The man had the smarts to fall back as if dead.
Then another actor jumped into the fight.
It was actually fun watching Van pretend to slaughter actor after actor. She could see he was enjoying putting on the show; his ass-less chaps all but forgotten in the wave of fake combat. He turned around briskly to yet another onslaught and she watched him take in the cheers and awes. He slipped his sword around the side of the last attacker and tossed his blade high into the air. The crowd grew silent as they watched the blade turn and began to plummet back to the ground. Unbuckling his sheath quickly, he held it up just in time.
The navy sword slid into the hilt like a sword into butter.
The crowd went wild.
Van, panting and grinning, held the pose for them.
Hitomi wanted to cheer with them. He was amazing! He was doing so well! Where in the world did this Van come from?
And then the announcer was back:
"THE PIRATE SUGARCANE SAILED FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS, HIS SEARCH BECOMING DESPERATE." Van buckled the sword and resumed his position back on the cut-out, looking over the crowd once more. Below him, the actors he'd 'killed' slowly crawled back to the side curtain. "NEVER BEFORE HAD A MAN SAILED THESE WATERS FOR THIS LONG. THE STORM SEASON WAS SOON TO COME ABOUT, BUT SUGARCANE HAD TO CONTINUE. HE KNEW HE WAS CLOSE TO HIS GOAL. THE MERMAID COULDN'T BE FAR. AND THEN… THE TSUNAMIS HIT AT LAST AND HIS LUCK HAD FINALLY RAN ITS COURSE!"
The music stopped and was replaced by ferocious clashes of thunder and lightning. The lights flickered on and off like a strobe light. Blinking in the dizzy haze, Hitomi heard a strange hiss and felt cold air on her body. A fog machine had been activated at her feet. The speakers spiked with thunder and heavy rain; meanwhile, thin glimmering streamers representing rain fell from the sky and onto the watching crowd. Van pretended to be tossed back and forth by the waves; grabbing hold of the rope with both hands desperately.
"HIS SHIP HIT A WAVE TOO STRONG. SUGARCANE WAS THROWN OVERBOARD AND HIS SCHEHERAZADE SHATTERED INTO PIECES!"
Van let go of the rope and pretended to fall backwards. The lights stopped their insane flickering and suddenly turned a dark blue. A stage hand from somewhere pulled the ship slowly from the stage and replaced it with long green streamers billowing up from a fan. The crowd had fallen completely silent, watching their beloved Sharpened Sugarcane sinking to his death in the sea.
"You're up, Mermaid. Make it good…" an invisible voice to her right suddenly hissed at her and she felt a hand touch her back.
"Wait. It? Make what good?" she squeaked.
"Get up there!"
Oh, God… what did they mean by 'it'?
Closing her eyes tightly, she opened them once more with a determined look appearing on her face. The music changed as soon as she rose up to her knees to poke her head out from the 'waves'. The crowd let out a small gasp at her appearance and she felt her body start to relax. She tilted her head and let her red hair fall over her shoulder shyly as she glanced at Van's still face. His arms floated over his head as if lost in water.
She slowly stood, using the cover of the waves to make sure she was steady on her heels. Then she slipped out from the waves and came closer to Van. Her heeled feet sparkled with green and blue lights, making her legs looks glimmering fish scales.
"LITTLE DID SUGARCANE KNOW SHE HAD BEEN WATCHING HIM THE ENTIRE TIME. WATCHING HIS HEROIC FIGHTS, HIS DESPERATION DURING THE FURIOUS STORM. SHE CAME CLOSER TO HIS STILL BODY AND TOUCHED HIM."
Lifting a hand with improvisation, she gently slipped around his body and wrapped her arm around his waist. She trailed her hand over his chest and she felt Van actually shiver under her touch. He cracked his eyes open and glanced at her. She let a small seductive smile cross her lips and she actually heard his breath hitch in his throat.
"THE MERMAID SAW HE WAS CLOSE TO DEATH, SO SHE GAVE HIM HER BREATH. THE MERMAID'S KISS…"
Van and Hitomi's eyes both shot open wide, her hand frozen on his chest, his arms trembling where he held them above his head floating. Then Van, remembering he was supposed to be drowning, shut his eyes unnaturally tight.
Mermaid's kiss… Mermaid's kiss… so that's what they meant by 'it'.
The instruction floated in her head and she felt her heart thunder in her ears as she reluctantly tried to do as she was told. Reaching up with gentle fingers, she touched the sides of Van's face gently and turned his mouth to where she could reach. Hopping up on tip-toe, she closed her eyes and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
The crowd let out a loud disgruntled noise.
"A-A-AND THEN SHE REALIZED THAT KISS WASN'T ENOUGH, SO SHE DID HER BEST TO SAVE HIM WITH YET ANOTHER KISS! ONE THAT WOULD SURELY WAKE HIM FROM HIS WATERY SLUMBER!" The voice said tensely hearing the crowd's displeasure at her lack of affection.
"You need to get lower. I can't reach you properly." She hissed in Van's ear, her trembling hands still on his face. Feeling him swallow, he bent his knees slightly and she took a deep steadying breath as his mouth became more accessible.
'I can do this,' she told herself. 'Make it good… for the crowd…'
Brushing her fingers through his slick hair, she pressed herself heavily against his chest and captured his lips in hers. He stumbled to the side a bit – thrown off-balance by her and he seemed to lower a little more as if his knees went out. His arms began to descend from where he'd held them up and the muscles on his forearms flexed. She kissed him, pressing herself a little further and holding his head in her hands. Suddenly, she felt his left arm wrap around her back and she wasn't the only one doing the kissing. He pulled her closer and she laced her arms around the back of his neck.
"THE SHARPENED SUGARCANE'S LIFE HAD BEEN SAVED BY THE MERMAID HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO HUNT DOWN. BY THE KISS SHE GAVE HIM, THE PIRATE WAS ABLE TO BREATHE WITH HER UNDERWATER."
She didn't hear the announcer - nor did Van.
They enveloped further, she unknowingly lifted her left leg and wrapped it around his ass-less chapped knee and his hand trailed down to her thigh. With a moan she didn't mean to let out, she deepened their kiss even further; opening her mouth to his. Their tongues brushed sending pleasant and warm tingles down her skin. The urge to kiss further seemed to burst inside her even as the announcer let out an – "UMM… HE CAN BREATHE NOW…"
It was like wild-fire. Her skin was electric where he touched her. His breath was short and heavy and the sound of it only made her more delirious. Likewise, Van's other hand rose higher and higher on her back, curving around her waist.
She wasn't aware of the hand until it was too late.
His fingers grazed her breast and she instantly woke from the sensations. With a sharp gasp and her heart beating with instant anger, she pushed against him – breaking their lips apart - and reflexively gave his cheek a hard slap.
The crowd's laughter sucked them both back into the real world and her tingling lips parted frozen in disbelief. Her leg still wrapped around his, she lowered back on the floor with humiliation rising high.
Van's tan cheek was bright red.
"THE MERMAID HAD SAVED HIS LIFE, BUT THE PIRATE STILL NEEDED TO LEARN WHERE HIS BOUNDARIES LIE!" The announcer played quickly and the audience cheered in response. Van's cheeks burned and he stared at the ground unsure. Hitomi could tell he'd lost his groove in the play, but this actually looked really good with what the announcer said. She decided to keep it up. "THIS WAS NO NORMAL MERMAID, BUT THE PRINCESS OF MERMAIDS. AND LOOK… SHE'S FORGIVEN HIM!"
Hitomi twirled under Van's arm and curled to his bare chest sweetly. Looking up at him with innocent eyes, she pretended to be interested in his chin; poking him in the face playfully with her finger. He glanced down at her with his eyes still showing the dying embers of their kiss.
"THIS WAS HIS CHANCE. HE HAD THE MERMAID IN HIS GRASP… THE SHARPENED SUGARCANE HAD THE POWER TO BREATHE UNDERWATER THANKS TO HER RESCUE…. ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS TIE HER UP AND SHE WAS HIS…"
She felt Van relax once more; listening to his instructions from the announcer. The lights suddenly spotlighted blindingly on the two of them and a rope that descended slowly from the rafters. The music started a soft urgent beat. The rope lowered further and further till Van could reach it. Hitomi twisted out of his arms and let out a small shy giggle. Tossing her long red hair over her shoulder, she twirled as if carefree.
"COULD THE PIRATE TAKE AWAY SUCH A DELICATE CREATURE FROM HER HOME, ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE SAVED HIS LIFE? COULD EVEN A DREAD PIRATE BE SO EVIL? HE HAD SET OUT TO CAPTURE A MERMAID, BUT HAD THE MERMAID INSTEAD CAPTURED HIS HEART?"
She sensed a strange pressure on Van and realized he actually had to make a decision.
And all Hitomi had to do was play dumb mermaid.
She could get used to that. Let him have all the pressure for once.
Van's hand rose to slowly touch the rope dangling at his fingertips.
The crowd let out a small gasp and one woman shouted drunkenly, "Dooooooon't doooooo it, suuuuugaaaar!"
His shoulders straightened and his eyes flickered back to her. She gave him a sweet smile and glided closer to him.
Van grabbed the rope and it came falling into his awaiting hands.
The crowd let in a collective gasp.
Hitomi tilted her head as if curious.
Van motioned her closer and she willingly took another step.
"No, Mermaid! No!" several people wailed.
"Sugarcane! Don't take her!"
"How horrible!"
Reveling in the amount of passion from their cries, she came even closer to him, but let her expression fall into a troubled look. Van hid the rope behind his back and beckoned to her with an open hand. Reaching out her fingers tentatively, Hitomi hesitantly placed her palm inside his. He suddenly yanked on her fingers; pulling her closer and setting her completely off-balance. She fell against his body and he held her tightly against him.
She gathering her feet under her with the help of his shoulders, her eyes widened in mock fear.
Van - armed with that confident lopsided smile – brought the rope from around his back and she pretended to try and squirm away.
The multitude let out a thunderous roar of intoxicated applause as Van suddenly tossed the rope far into the crowd and several girls in the back caught it with squeals of delight. With his hands now free, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her easily, twirling her around. She braced herself on his shoulders, genuinely laughing.
So Van chose the Mermaid's freedom... huh...
"THE DREADED PIRATE SHARPENED SUGARCANE HAD FOUGHT HIS WAY TO FIND HER… AND ULTIMATELY HE LET HER GO."
Van set her down and they stared into each others eyes.
"BUT THE CHOICE WASN'T ALL HIS TO MAKE. THE MERMAID HAD NOT ONLY SAVED HIS LIFE, BUT SHE HAD FALLEN FOR THE PIRATE. SHE WISHED TO REMAIN WITH HIM, FOR ALWAYS…"
Not knowing what to do, she felt Van put his arms around her gently and she leaned lightly on his chest – one of his peck jewels pressing into her cheek.
"AND THUS, SHE JOINED HIM ON THE SURFACE, HER WORLD FOREVER CHANGED BY HIS SUDDEN APPEARANCE."
Seemingly out of nowhere, more than a dozen black shirted security men pushed through the crowd; attempting to clear a pathway to the door. The masses gave small screams of happiness and delight as Van and Hitomi glanced at each other with the same nodding thought and he scooped her up in his arms without another word. Jumping off the stage, he walked proudly cradling her as she waved to the adoring people. The security guards followed them as they began making their way to the door.
"HER HEART IN HIS HANDS, THEY STAYED TOGETHER UNTIL THE END OF THEIR DAYS…" the announcer continued. "MAKE WAY FOR OUR SHARPENED SUGARCANE AND HIS MERMAID! GIVE THEM SOME LOVE PEOPLE!"
The crowd whooped and cheered and hollered drunkenly. Van smiled, Hitomi laughed… and her eye caught something in the shadows and that familiar lace of fear she'd forgotten suddenly came back in full force.
"Van… Zaibach is here… they're watching…"
"We are protected by the crowd," he answered from the corner of his mouth, his mahogany eyes never leaving his new adoring fans. "We are hidden in plain sight. Keep smiling. We are making our way out of here."
The crowd continued to follow them as if entranced – out the bar, down a magnificent hallway, and out a set of double doors.
Outside.
As Van emerged, the huge throng outside let out an ear splitting cheer – not even knowing what their getup was about. The security continued to lead them through as shouts of 'what the hell is this about?' came forth. Many of the crowd who had followed them out began shouting loudly at what they'd just seen.
'The perfect love story…!'
'The most beautiful romance of all time...!'
'...Gotta see the next showing!'
It was a controlled chaos, but a chaos none-the-less. In the color and lights and throngs of people, even the security guards began to blend in as one with the crowd. There was no way Zaibach could even find them in this mess. They were a dime in a glittering dozen. As they moved further and further through masses of people, both Van and Hitomi slowly began to be forgotten. A few dozen people grabbed at Hitomi's shoes and hair as they passed, but Van tucked her closer and snarled at whoever come close. Since they were headed away from the bar no one tried to confront them.
Not like they were cutting in line or anything…
"Where are we going now?" Hitomi asked, her green eyes still searching for any sign of Zaibach. Another body collided with her back and Van shoved the person back roughly with his elbow.
"Bakura told me to head to the dark blue building on the far left of the alleyway. He said there is a vehicle waiting for us."
"Good. I'm ready to be out of here."
"You and me both." He said – though his lips still held the smile from before.
Another twenty yards and they'd be out of the crowd. Van made his way slowly, but determinedly.
Another ten…
Another five…
Upon leaving the throngs of people, Hitomi suddenly felt her heart clench in fear. Her eyes twisted themselves to the shadows of the alleyway they were headed towards.
"Don't enter!" she hissed immediately and he stopped with a confused look. "Van… something's wrong… I can feel it. Zaibach… we need to get away from here now!"
"No, you'll stay right here." A deep voice boomed from the alleyway and a figure slid into the street with a wide smile. He had glasses and a pair of deep set eyes. A mop of grey hair was slicked on his forehead. His uniform displayed a lightning bolt insignia and Hitomi felt the air leave her lungs.
"They found us…" she said with disbelief.
"We found you." The man repeated nodding. "Or more like we followed instructions from a very, very willing young lady and this pup." The man jerked his head swiftly and Bakura emerged – his arms held by two invisible soldiers still draped in their stealth-cloaks - his dark eyes swollen and his fur trickling blood from his forehead. He yowled as an invisible fist connected with his stomach.
Against her body, Van trembled with anger. She saw his mind racing with possible escape routes, his eyes flicking left and right ever so slightly. He shifted her body on his chest. She, however, was at a complete loss. Her brain couldn't seem to keep up with the situation. After the elation of escaping only to fall straight into their hands…
"What do you want with us?" Van growled taking a step back closer to the crowd.
The Zaibachian clicked his teeth together. "Just to take down a known slanderer and her accomplices. But we can continue this delightful conversation later. Right now, I want you to stay right where you are."
He backed further.
"Take another step and I'll shoot her dead. I'd rather keep both of you alive, but if you won't come willingly, I guess I'll have to do without my sport." The man's eyes narrowed threateningly and he instantly pointed a gun at Hitomi's head.
"Unbuckle your sword."
"When I let you go, try to run as fast as you can into the crowd. Run away and hide." Van murmured to her.
"W-wha-" Her heart crunched in her chest and she couldn't breathe properly.
Then he surprised her.
He kissed her.
"Goodbye, Hitomi."
And he let her go.
She fell to the ground painfully at his feet. The Zaibach lowered his gun to pull the trigger, but Van was already charging with his sword out.
Four shots rang.
Van swiped his sword upward. The Zaibach soldier stopped short and dodged quickly.
Hitomi pulled herself up and she suddenly knew what she had to do.
Wobbling to the crowd, she screamed, "THIS MAN WILL KILL YOU! RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
She noticed several people had looked back at the sound of a gun. With her screaming, the looks of panic immediately drilled into each and every face.
In an explosion opus of shrieking pandemonium, people began scattering like an open sack filled with mice. They pushed Hitomi down and charged down the street. She was being trampled by the onslaught, many kicking and tripping on her body. Her right leg audibly snapped as a boot stomped on her bare calf. She cried in pain, but lost her breath as she was kicked in the stomach.
She saw a blinding red behind her eyelids.
And then arms found her.
She knew these arms so well now.
"Hitomi!"
She heard his voice swimming in the back of her consciousness.
He was okay.
He was safe.
But there was an iron smell... a smell she remembered from back in Fanelia... trapped in a cold box awaiting her death.
Blood.
She fell into blackness.
FINALLY! I finally finished that scene. It's shorter - so much shorter - than I wanted it to be. There is so much more to give to it, but I had to let it go here and leave it to the next chapter. Now that I FINALLY got that done I'll be swinging this plot right around again. A lot of you are probably like, "Okay blue, you started a story with 'Hello Nurse' and now you are posting in other stuff! What gives?" I'll tell you... I hit a good spot in the muse FINALLY and I will hopefully be right back to this.
The main reasons for no posts are as followed: 1. I got moved to another position at my job and had to learn all this new stuff. I'm just glad I didn't lose my job. The economy is a bit dangerous for oil and gas people in Texas. 2. Wedding, wedding, and more wedding things happening. May 30th... so close now... 3. I'm actually going to be trying my hand at self-publishing soon. I've got a good story I'm working on right now independently and I've been told I really need to keep it going. That this might turn into something worth selling. I've always been really self-conscious when it comes to my writing. I put a lot of myself in what I work on. To publish and have something out there... wish me luck guys.
And 4. This was a surprisingly hard chapter to write. There's a lot of information dropped -especially about Chordata (did you guys see that coming? I'm curious...) And Hitomi and Van's relationship has pretty much hit a strange spot that's going to be totally fun to play with. Oh the many stuttering explanations of what in the world they mean to each other now ... it's gonna be great. But to get here was really difficult.
I'm finishing up Hello Nurse and I REALLY want to get both that and a chapter of Rutilus done. Rutilus is being a problem child. No worries though, guys. I'll whip her into shape soon. :D
Thank you always for the read and the support! My goodness I have the best people in the world. You guys are amazing! I love each and every one of you. Even if you click on this just to read and are anonymously following this silly story, I am honored.
Alright, time to post this!
Laters!
blue...