"Hi!" The boy said, grinning wildly. "How are ya?" Tyki blinked at him once, confused. He wore his normal outfit- - -a long, baggy button up shirt (he got his clothes from Sheryl when the elder out grew them) that fell down to his thigh and worn pants that had seen better days. His hair was wild and all over the place, and overall, the days of walking alongside the caravan had gotten him rather dirty, and he hadn't had a chance to go in the river by where they set up and clean himself off.
On the other hand, this red-head boy was clearly well-off. He had a headband around his head, going over the string of a black eye patch on his right eye. He had a clean, fitted white shirt on, covered by a simple black coat lined with silver thread and an emerald scarf around his neck. His pale skin was red around the cheeks, and Tyki assumed the boy realized how close they were because two seconds later, he had backed away a bit.
"Anyway, you're Tyki, right?" At the question he almost missed, Tyki scowled, leaving his hand in his pocket; despite the sudden clench of his fist, as if preparing himself for a fight, he told himself it was to continue searching for the wallet.
"Who wants to know?" He asked smoothly, his gold eyes guarded as he tilted his head to the side. The boy laughed and shook his own head, his hair flying in all directions.
"No, no, you got me all wrong!" He held his hand out. "My name is Lavi; I'm part of the Bookman family." Tyki silently disregarded the hand, giving Lavi a distrustful look- - -he had had this happen to him once before, when a child higher up had offered his hand in friendship, only to have been punished cruelly by both the child and his family. The Earl had taken his suffering and turned it into a lesson and reminder to their entire group.
"I don't recall giving you my name." Tyki said coolly. Lavi's hand fell, his gaze turning inquisitive as he did.
"It isn't Tyki?" He asked curiously. "That's what Allen called you last time I saw you- - -was I wrong?" Tyki stared at him wordlessly and Lavi stared back. "Is it 'cause of my eye patch? I don't really need it. I'll take it off if it bothers you so much." He reached up slowly, hands going behind his neck as they rose to take off the black fabric.
"No!" Tyki's hand shot out before he could stop it, wrapping around the other's wrist to stop him. Lavi stared at him, his visible eye wide in shock; Tyki felt his flush darken, most likely becoming visible on his face, and he released Lavi's wrist with a small gasp. "My apologies, truly- - -"
"Wow!" Lavi exclaimed over him, drowning out Tyki's apology. "You move fast! That was amazing!" Tyki blinked again; this boy was throwing him off, trying to completely turn his opinions of peoples other than gypsies as horrible tricksters and wicked liars. Belatedly, he realized he had torn his hand out of his pocket and the man was still waiting for him to pay for the food he had grabbed.
Lavi watched with interest as Tyki shoved his hand back into his pocket, digging around in it as he searched.
"Lavi!" The call made both Lavi and Tyki look up, Lavi sheepishly and Tyki with slightly wide eyes. An old man, wearing a black coat that trailed onto the floor, came into view; Tyki noted absently that the man barely came up to the boy's shoulders. "Idiot boy, don't go wandering around by yourself." He turned sharp eyes, ringed in black, onto Tyki, and his eyes narrowed. "Who's this?"
"Ah?" Unused to being addressed, Tyki blinked a few times before answering. "My name is Tyki Mikk, sir." The man- - -Bookman, he assumed- - -studied him critically.
"Age?" Bookman asked, and Tyki held his shock back.
"Ten seasons as of Amalia." Tyki answered, wondering what the inquiries were for. Bookman studied him a bit longer before nodding his head once, seemingly coming to a decision though he still glared at Tyki distrustfully.
"I will not find any of my possessions missing, will I?" Beside him, Lavi stiffened in surprise and horror.
"I can't believe you would ask such a thing, Gramps!" He yelled out, horror in his voice at the same time Tyki shook his head slowly. The Bookman watched Tyki warily for a few moments.
"We make it a point not to steal." Tyki said coolly, finally locating the missing wallet buried underneath the vast amount of objects in his pocket that he carried around with him everyday. "As much as I'd like to stay, I really must get home." He pulled out some money, handing it to the man at the stall; with a smile and polite bow, Tyki took the food. "It was nice meeting you, Lavi-san, Bookman-sama."
"No, no formalities." Lavi said. "I'll walk with ya, ok?" Tyki stared at Lavi again, eyes wide before he shook his head.
"It's no problem, really." Lavi ignored him, waving at Bookman before falling in step with the retreating gypsy. As he couldn't get the boy to leave, Tyki allowed him to walk beside him. "How did you know my name?" Lavi grinned at him.
"Bookmen are trained to remember everything, no matter how small or insignificant." Tyki nodded and Lavi continued. "So, two years ago, when I met Allen- - -how is he, by the way? - - -I heard him call you 'Tyki'. I kind of assumed it was your name."
"Ah, I see…" Tyki trailed off, keeping his voice neutral and completely ignoring the question about Allen. Lavi didn't seem to notice, and for a while they walked in silence.
"You said you were ten seasons." Lavi started conversationally, jolting Tyki in surprise and making the other glance at him briefly. "Is that kind of like saying it in years? I'm nine years old, you know." Tyki didn't respond, deciding to watch the other out of the corner of his eye instead. Lavi seemed to notice, and he looked back. "Are you sure you don't want me to take off my eye patch? I don't mind it, really, and if you'd be more comfortable without it..."
"No, it's fine, Lavi." He said the name with hesitance, not sure what to do with the other boy. Lavi beamed at him, and despite having just met the boy, Tyki could feel something flutter in his stomach, like a Tease.
He squashed the feeling violently.
"Tyki-pon!" Came the voice of his clan's leader, and he stopped accordingly, Lavi behind him. Ignoring Lavi's startled sound, Tyki turn slightly and smiled.
Their clan leader, known only as the Millennium Earl to everyone and them, was bounding over wearing one of his usual ridiculous outfits. Today, it seemed, he decided on a pink top hat with roses covering the brim, as well as a bright pink suit with a whit shirt. He was wide, with an enormous smile that never seemed to leave his face. His glasses glinted humorously, hiding the piercing gaze behind the clear glass and the darkness the hat provided.
"Lord Millennium." Tyki bowed respectively. "I apologize if I took too long- - -I had trouble locating the wallet."
"Oh, it's no trouble, Tyki-pon!" The man said joyously. "I'm relieved to have all members of our troupe safe and sound amongst family again. Ah!" The Earl seemed to have just noticed Lavi, though Tyki knew that the man had been watching the red headed boy closely before they had even entered the camp. "Hello! Who is this, Tyki-pon?"
Tyki glanced unsurely at Lavi before shrugging with one shoulder.
"He claims to be part of the Bookman estate," Tyki said, feeling the Earl's gaze sharpen at his seemingly flippant answer; he met his clan leader's gaze evenly, showing that he had remembered his previous lesson. "His name, I believe, is Lavi."
"Pleasure to meet you, Lavi." The Earl said with his normal overly-joyful tone. "Excuse me, Tyki-pon, but I believe your niece will be awake soon, and your brother is still with his wife in the recovery tent. I expect food for Rhode shortly, and then you may do as you please until sunset."
"Thank you, Lord Millennium." Tyki bowed his head, turning to walk forward again. "Come along now, Lavi."
"And, Tyki?" Tyki stopped, but didn't turn. The fact that the Earl didn't add his normal suffix was enough to tell Tyki that his leader had something of importance to say. "Be careful, all right?" Tyki nodded once, hearing the warning underneath the Millennium Earl's pleasant tone, before taking off, Lavi at his heels.
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"So," Lavi stood precariously on a tree branch, hand pressed against the trunk. "You call yourself Tyki Mikk. Right?" Tyki watched, an amused look in his eye, as Lavi struggled to stay standing.
"That's right." He jumped, easily grabbing onto the lowest branch and pulling himself up. "Come, now, Lavi, it isn't that hard to stay on the branch- - -it won't snap." As if to prove his point, Tyki walked confidently backwards on the branch he and Lavi stood on, arms spread wide for show more than for balance. "See? It's simple!"
"Easy for you to say!" Lavi called back. Tyki raised an eyebrow questioningly- - -a bad habit he supposed he picked up from Cross- - -and motioned for Lavi to elaborate. "I saw you last year, when you were standing on top of that pole thing." Tyki's eyebrow rose higher, but Lavi didn't notice; he had taken to peering over the edge of the branch, as if calculating how far down he would fall if he slipped. "It looked so amazing, but it something I would never be able to do, no question about it."
"Because you're from the Bookman clan?" Tyki asked curiously. Lavi grinned at him, apparently pleased with whatever conclusion he came up with; he stepped towards Tyki, his eyes continually darting from Tyki's face to the branch then the ground.
"Actually, Gramps found me in the street." Lavi sat on the tree gingerly as soon as he reached Tyki, swinging his feet slightly. "A Bookman isn't really allowed to have feelings or anything. Actually, most of the time, we stay in our home. If Gramps had his way, I'm sure he'd never leave."
"So how does the Bookman line continue?" Lavi grinned.
"See, that is where I come in." Lavi said. "Bookmen usually go find a young boy and train them to become the next Bookman. Until Gramps found me, I was just a kid on the side of the road." Tyki glanced down at Lavi; the red head was staring at the sky with a wide-eyed look on his face. "I have a lot to thank him for, really."
Tyki made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat; there was that stupid warm feeling in his stomach again, only this time it refused to be squashed so easily. His Tease came by, the butterfly hovering around Lavi before landing on Tyki's shoulder. The red head watched with a wide green eye.
"Can I touch it?" He asked softly, as if trying not to scare the butterfly away.
"No." Tyki said firmly. "This is a special butterfly Lord Millennium gave me to own and train. They're carnivorous, and this one is especially prone to biting." Lavi drew his hand back with a slight wince.
"Really?" Despite not reaching out again, Lavi stood carefully and leaned forward to inspect the butterfly better, placing his hands on Tyki's arms to keep himself steady. Tyki felt his heart pound a bit faster, a bit louder, and couldn't help the flush that came over his face.
"Kak!" A small girl of five seasons ran up to them. "Kak Tyki!" The sudden voice startled the two enough to break them apart; Tyki had to grab Lavi's arm to ensure the boy didn't fall from the tree and injure himself, but the space between them had grown exponentially.
"Rhode?" He questioned, leaning over to see the girl. Her purple-blue hair, falling half way down her back, was pulled into a messy ponytail at her nape, and in her arms was a worn bear that Rhode had carried around since she was a baby. She wore a long shirt, one of his own, and his clothes were so big on her that one shoulder was visible through the area where her head went through. There was a black belt tied firmly around her waist, and her small feet were bare, free to dig in the earth as she pleased.
"Daj sent me." She said, crossing her arms. "She says that it's almost time to eat, and you need to prepare for the show." Rhode's golden eyes shifted over to Lavi, and her smile widened. "Hello."
"You need to get going, Kak Tyki, Lero!" She pulled the bear up to hide her face as her tone took on a higher-pitched, scratchy quality to it. "Rhode's Daj won't be pleased if you skip dinner, and Lord Millennium will be even less pleased if you don't come in time for the show!"
"He's right, you know." Rhode said sweetly, though her eyes narrowed with venom at Lavi. "Come, Kak Tyki, we mustn't be late."
"All right, all right, calm down." Tyki jumped carelessly off the branch, landing on his feet on the earth below. "I'll be along shortly, ok, Rhode?" He said fondly, pulling a lock of her hair up to his lips and pressing a kiss to it. "Tell your Daj I'll be home soon, ok?" Rhode nodded before pulling Lero up again.
"Just make sure you hurry, Kak Tyki!" The 'bear' cried, and Tyki patted the bear's head with a laugh.
"I will, I will." He looked up at Lavi, who was staring at him in disbelief. "Are you going to stand up there gaping at me or are you going to get down anytime soon, Lavi?" The red head shook his awe off and began making his way back to the trunk of the tree.
"Don't laugh at me." He said, blushing furiously. "That was amazing, though." Tyki smirked, touching the brim of his imaginary hat as he fell into a bow.
"Only the best from the clan of Noah." He said proudly. Beside him, Rhode giggled.
"Lord Millennium is in search of you," She sang hauntingly as Lavi climbed down. Tyki jumped slightly, not realizing the girl had stayed with the two. "Looking for the Heart now, have you heard the news?" Her eyes narrowed again at Lavi as the boy's feet touched the ground. "Maybe you stole it from him? I'll see if it's true..."
"Rhode..." Tyki started, touching the girl's head, but she moved it off as Lero hid her face again.
"Lord Millennium is in search of you," The 'bear' sang on. "Looking for the Heart now, have you heard the news?" Tyki touched her head again, placing the other on Lero's head, but she didn't seem to notice. "I was not the one you sought, maybe it is you..."
"Rhode, calm down please." Her 'bear' dropped slightly, making only her gold eyes visible to Lavi.
"Who is it that has my Heart? I will find you soon." She finished hauntingly. Lavi blanched and backed away slowly, his emerald eye wide in surprise, his hands held out in peace. Tyki groaned slightly and placed his face in his hands. Rhode smiled sweetly, holding Lero up again. "Thank you for keeping Kak Tyki entertained, sir." She said, her voice oozing false sweetness. Only her eyes, narrowed in burning hatred, showed the girl's true feelings towards the boy. "You should come and play again soon."
"That's enough, Rhode." Tyki said firmly, picking the smaller girl up and placing her on his shoulders. "Hold tight to Lero, now. We don't want him to fall off and get hurt, now, do we?" Rhode used one hand to cling to her uncle and the other to tighten her grip on Lero. Tyki turned to Lavi, mimicking a bow as his niece was now on his shoulders. "Farewell, Lavi. Feel free to come to the show tonight as well, if you wish."
"Dinner, Lero!" The 'bear' cried from Tyki's shoulders, and he laughed.
"Calm, Lero, I'm coming." The boy waved once more at Lavi before walking back towards their camp.
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Tyki relished in his position in the sky, high above anyone and everyone. It gave him a sense of calm, knowing that as he was currently, he was virtually untouchable by the people below him. His Tease fluttered around him, the biggest on his shoulder.
"Ladies and gentlemen," He called, his voice booming over the crowd. Everyone looked up in surprise. "Tonight, we have a special show for a special little lady." He spread his arms wide, and the curtain opened to reveal Rhode.
She was wearing a brand new dress that Tricia made for her. It was pink, falling just past her knees in flowing layers. The top part had a corset-like design on the front, decorated with elaborate swirls in dark thread. Her sleeves were cinched around her upper arms, clinging tightly to her skin before flowing gracefully down in a water-like fashion. Long purple-blue hair was pulled into a crown braid around her head, showing off the cross tattoos she had across her forehead, and in her right arm was Lero as usual. Decorating her hair was a special shawl that Tyki himself had bought for her, a pink that matched the color of her dress. It hung on her hair, held in place by the braided crown, and had coins and beads specially sewn to it so that when she moved, it made a joyful little 'tinkle' sound. She was still barefoot, but the beauty of her dress and the way she smiled happily, waving at everyone she could see, distracted attention from that fact.
It was amusing that this was all Rhode really wanted her sixth birthday.
"We'll hear a special song that the young Rhode Kamelot would sing for us." He bowed down to his niece carefully from his perch; she beamed at him and waved vibrantly. "I know it is not part of our normal show, but it is Mistress Rhode's birthday today."
The small girl looked around at the enormous crowd of people. Taking a deep breath as if to steel herself, she snuck a glance first at Tyki, then at her mother and father watching from the sidelines, silently asking for support. All smiled encouragingly, and she stepped forward, her right arm tightening slightly on Lero. Allen, just slightly older than Rhode and talented on the violin, started playing, Mana and Cross joining him to provide music for the six year old.
"You're in my stars you know," She started, and once she did Rhode seemed to lose herself in the song. "Don't need no crystal ball to tell me so. Whispering in the air, hoping that my words find you somewhere." Rhode spun around on stage, her hair piece making its cheerful noise and her dress flowing around her legs, her bare feet moving in a rhythm only she seemed able to hear and create. "Even when I close my eyes, I'll never recreate the Time that flies. The consequence is hanging there- - -The sky will fall but I don't care."
Rhode's body began to follow her feet's rhythm, her body flowing as naturally as a six-year-old's can. She began to move from the center stage, taking up the whole platform to enchant as many people as she could, her golden eyes shut as she danced alone.
"Meet me beneath my balcony and say, no one but you could ever fill my night." Rhode's eyes opened and she smiled entrancingly sweet. "Be the sunlight in my every day; underneath my balcony I'll say no one but you could ever fill my night. Be the sunlight in my every day."
Tyki, from his perch on top of the world, on top of his safety net, saw a flash of red he had already began associating with Lavi Bookman Jr. He smiled when he saw Lavi just as entranced with his niece as everyone else was, the red head's emerald eyes (both of them- - -it appeared the boy liked his sight being perfect in the darkness of the night) locked onto the flowing six year old on stage.
"Your love is haunting me, and all I want is more to set me free." Rhode's eyes opened again, lazily, her moves getting sluggish as she struggled all the more to stay up past her bedtime; instead of disturbing the rhythm of the song and dance, it added to it, making it more ethereal, more beautiful. "Whispering in the air, hoping that my words find you somewhere. Do you hear me call your name? I know we will never be the same." She spun in a lazy circle, her eyes drooping, a sleep-filled smile taking over her face. "The consequence is hanging there. The sky will fall but I don't care."
Tyki jumped, landing beside his niece as she stumbled gracefully and lost her footing. He caught her before her body even decided to fall. Picking the girl up gently, her face burrowing into his chest, Lero getting squished between them as her left arm hung towards the ground. Pressing a kiss to the girl's forehead, Tyki turned to the audience.
"Our pakvora therno princess has worn herself out." Tyki called, bowing as best he could with his slumbering niece. "Thank you all for humoring a child." Smiling wickedly at the audience, Tyki allowed his Tease to take flight from his shoulder, making the others fly out of his outfit as well as he and Rhode vanished backstage.
I'm still unhappy with this chapter, but it's refusing to cooperate with me. So, here it is. Emilie Autumn is an amazing artist, in a way. XD this is her song, 'Juliet'.
According to the website I found:
Kak=uncleDaj=motherPakvora=beautifulTherno=young