Disclaimer: I do not own GS or its characters.

Chapter 2

Good Luck

~Four-leaf Clover

Trudging under the intense heat of the late morning sun, Yzak hurriedly approached the front door of the first house he passed by. It was an old style country house with a porch surrounding it. A few steps up the stairs, a wooden bench sat alongside the burnished oak front door. Different kinds of flowers and bushes sprang about the home, looking quaint and antiquated as it decorated the vast acres of land in the backdrop. The house looked oddly warm and happy with the brass 'Welcome' sign embellishing the door, though it seems there was no doorbell to be found at the front door.

Banging impatiently on the door, as another wave of pain hit him like a ton of bricks, he gripped the cursed letters in his hand. "Anybody home?" Yzak shouted repeatedly, sounding like a broken record. Clearly losing his cool, he banged at the door until he can't feel his hands anymore that resulted into him stubbornly kicking the door. With his vigour finally zapped out, he backed up unto the harassed door and slipped down the wooden porch.

"So now you learn to knock properly. I thought there was a bull charging up, didn't want to get horned." A red haired young man opened the door and stared at Yzak's heavily panting and sweating form on the floor.

"Maybe next time you should put a doorbell so I wouldn't charge up on your very sturdy door." Yzak menacingly said, his hands shaking at their own accord. Panic washed over the boy as he crouched down to help the wayward stranger stand up. He grabbed under Yzak's armpits to hoist him up but Yzak began trashing and elbowed his way out of the man's grasp.

"I'm not crippled. I can stand by myself, carrot top." Yzak readily snapped at the red head.

"Well, aren't you a snappy old man?" Fynn rebutted pertaining to the guy's hair color, moving back from Yzak's line of attack.

Yzak scoffed stylishly and grabbed the young man in his shoulder, making him stumble a bit. "Are you Leon Hahnenfuss?"

"Why are you looking for him?" Fynn removed Yzak's death grip on his shirt which was now crumpled because of the aggravated visitor.

"How is that supposed to answer my question? Are you Leon Hahnenfuss?" If this keeps up, I'm really gonna throttle this red headed woodpecker. Yzak leaned unto the nearest wall and tried to wipe some sweat dripping along his cheeks with the back of his hand.

Obstinate chap... Really what is up with the strangers nowadays...You help them and you become the bad one. Scratching the back of his head, Fynn decided to let go of the argument. "Come in and I'll call him for you."

Pushing through the copper haired lad, Yzak made a bee line for the couch and lied down. "And get me a glass of water after calling him." Yzak ordered and then amended himself. "Make that a pitcher of water and some food." He was definitely getting weak from the unexplainable heat he was feeling.

Scoffing in disbelief, Fynn went to the back door and left Yzak alone. So bossy, much more bossier than my boss. I wonder who he is.

Half an hour had passed and Yzak was still waiting for his food and water, his stomach was painfully growling now. Where is that country bumpkin, does nobody understand what I say now? Even that old snivelling chauffeur didn't heed my words.

"Ugh."

Turning face down on the couch, he clutched his abdomen. He glanced around him. Across the room seemed to be the door to the study. Next to it was an oak staircase, and a hallway connected to the kitchen it seems. The interior was plain and plain... not that shabby it can be survivable. Sitting up, he patted the floral blue and yellow pillows lying on the couch. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he inhaled deeply and heard the front door creak open.

A man in his leather boots and rough jeans entered. He looked at Yzak with a very shocked expression. "Who are you, boy? Come on, speak up!" The big man sat beside him and ushered him with what he felt as fatherly affection.

Yzak tried to swallow, he flinched. Damn that hurts. I guess this is Leon Hahnenfuss. "Sir, I'm Yzak Joule."

"Did you say Joule?"

Yzak nodded.

"You were still a tot the last time I saw you! What brings you here, young man? Is there anything you need from me?"

"Actually, this dilemma is not clear to me as well but my mother wanted me to give you this letter."

Accepting the letter, he calmly opened it and read silently. He nodded from time to time and wiped his bearded mouth. After reading the letter, he folded it up and placed it inside his breast pocket. Leon scanned Yzak from head to toe then unexpectedly he hugged the snappy haired boy. "Me and your mother haven't seen each other since that tragic day. You've grown. You look very much like your mother." He saw Yzak frown. "I just said the truth. You hardly look like your father. You look quite pale. Did you eat lunch?"

Yzak shook his head no.

"Come along then and let's see if I can feed you any edible grub. Since my daughter left me to go to the city to visit her friend, I have been saving up her cooked meals. It seems the only range I can get near to is the horse's range, get it?" guffawing at himself, Leon cracked a joke trying to bring up a smile to Yzak's face and it seems he's doing it wonderfully wrong.

"Sir," Yzak started, pinning him under his watchful gaze.

"No formalities needed. Please just call me Uncle Leon or anything that comes to your mind, Yzak." The gruff elder man interjected.

"Uncle," Yzak whispered uneasily looking at the big strapping man crowding the kitchen stove. His hair was thick and black, he sported a beard and his striking violet eyes seemed to shine every time he looked at him. "I'm wondering what my mother told you in the letter. Can you tell me what it is?"

Leon looked at him with a grin. "I'll tell you when the time is right. Right now let's feed you. I bet you are very hungry and tired from the travel."

"Yes." Leaning down on the cool surface of the dinner table, he let the delectable smell of the beef stew and casseroles engulf him.

"Boss! What did that short fused ash haired guy wanted with you? That guy was so bossy I tell you! It's a good thing I didn't argue with him further or his beautiful face will be swollen as if the bees played dart on his hauntingly pale face." Fynn slowly intruded the kitchen. He grimaced when he saw Yzak occupying one of the chairs.

"Maybe I'll take you on, I hate the color red and seeing it makes my fists itch." Yzak menacingly said as he charged towards Fynn. Leon stopped Yzak from further approaching Fynn and told him to sit down and cool down while he accompanied Fynn to the door. There he reprimanded the boy to always remember and practice good manners towards everyone whoever they may be. Fynn apologized for his harsh words and brash actions then bid good day to his boss as he return to work in the farm.

When Leon returned to the kitchen, Yzak was profusely sweating. "Yzak, are you not feeling well?" He placed a hand over Yzak's forehead. He was quite warm. A fever was coming. "You should have told me earlier. I'll call for a doctor. Can you walk?" Yzak nodded and sluggishly returned to the couch. Leon quickly rushed out of the door but he collided with someone.

*A*

"Father! Why are you such in a hurry? You could have ran over me." Shiho hugged her father tightly as he pulled her inside the house. There on the couch lay a person, a sick person. Shiho looked up to meet her father's eyes and angrily pushed him to the door. "You should have ignored me and went on your way to see the doctor. Hurry! I'll watch over her."

Leon nodded his head then suddenly looked over Shiho, "Shiho, did you just say her?"

"Yes, I did. Now Dad, stop stalling! Just GO already!" Irritated with her father's attempt to be funny, she tried to push him out of the house but he wouldn't budge. He was grasping the door frame.

"Shiho, that's a guy. You should say 'he'." Her father said in an amused tone.

"Fine, I believe you, go already."

"Okay." With that Shiho closed the door and tended to the groaning person atop the couch.

Brushing away baby soft silver colored bangs, Shiho checked his temperature. Definitely a fever, such soft and beautiful hair. I wonder if I can sell this. Getting side-tracked by being entranced by the sleeping person, Shiho slapped her cheeks and helped the 'beautiful person' whom she pertained to Yzak to, upstairs to the room located next to hers.

Yzak felt someone touch his forehead and now that person was coaxing him to stand up. Peering his eyes open, he saw a rough blur of the color brown. He complied with the person, his world was spinning and the comforting gentle warm caress on his back was lulling him to sleep. Just then, Yzak saw a black blur pass him by.

Shiho opened the door and helped Yzak to lie down on the bed. Yzak heard the person murmur about a basin of water and towels, then he heard the door lock click close. Trying to survey his surrounding again, Yzak noticed the simplicity and blandness of the room. He was lying down on a single bed with clean white linens. On the far left corner of the room was a dresser, near it was a wooden desk and a bedside table occupied the space in between the dresser and the bed with a simple pale yellow lamp on top of it.

Nothing decorated the walls, only the ecru paint and the two large windows with gossamer curtains decorating it. Looking out the window, Yzak saw the vast expanse of the acres. There was a red painted barn, a windmill, a large field of crops and to his surprise he saw somewhat like a greenhouse surrounded by a splash of colors. So many flowers... There was also a rustic well and pump. The boy with the red hair was running errands and Yzak saw him interact with other residents. After familiarizing with the geography of the place, Yzak sat down in the bed, his presence made the mattress dip. Shrugging off his now damp shirt, he lay shirtless on the bed. His dizziness slowly fading but was being replaced by his shivering.

He heard a distant knock. It was Leon together with a doctor. After being examined by the doctor he was diagnosed as fatigued and the acid levels in his stomach were too high. He was told to drink milk to level off the acid then get lots of rest and sleep. The doctor got up and bid goodbye to his patient and Leon. Sitting down on a chair beside the bed, Leon stayed as company to Yzak while wondering where Shiho was. The sick platinum blonde boy then felt drowsy and went to sleep.

Long haired woman knocked at the door, Leon got up and opened the door and saw Shiho with a water basin and a basket of towel. Giving way to let Shiho enter, he noticed they were crowding the small room making it feel like more of a broom closet than a bedroom. "Father, I'll take over in taking care of her – hi- him."Shiho swallowed seeing Yzak's perfectly muscled and white torso, she finally concluded she was wrong. He really was a guy. A beautiful guy. Leon chuckled and patted Shiho's head, leaving the room with the final words, told you so.

If I hadn't known better, I will really assume you are a woman. Clear white complexion, silky hair, soft skin, and beautifully shaped set of eyebrows, supple lips and very very soft hands. I envy you and yet you are a man. Shiho wrung the towel and delicately wiped Yzak's torso, starting his sponge bath.

I hope this will lower his fever. Getting a clean pair of nightwear, she carefully clothed Yzak's torso. Grabbing a brush from her room, she resisted the urge to brush away the knots forming in his silky mane.

Seeing that his fever lowered, Shiho arranged Yzak's things into the dresser. After hearing from her father about his condition and so called rehabilitation at their farm, she arranged his clothes in the dresser and placed his other paraphernalia's on the wooden desk. Humming to herself while cleaning up the basin and towels, she saw a pair of dazed ice blue eyes.

A note lodged in Shiho's throat as she was startled by the beautifully dishevelled appearance of the sick man occupying the bed. Recovering from the scare, she spoke up in her most gentle voice.

"Did I wake you up?" She subtly asked not sure how to act in front of the very attractive man.

"I-I-I'm" Yzak was at a loss for words. His throat was dry and his stomach was acting up again. Blinking his sleep dazed eyes he tried to focus on the mellow voice talking to him. It was a woman's voice he was sure about that. The figure approached him slowly. She was asking if he wanted something.

"I want warm milk." Yzak requested falling back on the bed, the springs of the mattress squeaking in protest. Curling on his side, his back facing the woman, he tried to soothe the pain in his belly.

Adorable. One word that occupied Shiho's mind after Yzak spoke. It ran through her head like a children's song. Repeating his words Shiho left the room with a promise to return with his warm milk.

*A*

"Did you drop Yzak off at the correct location?" Ezaria Joule asked distraughtly as she interviewed the family driver as soon as she heard the automatic gates open.

"Yes, madam. I have done what you have instructed." The old man bowed his head in reply.

Touching her chest, the heaviness slightly decreasing but the guilt was still there. "That's good. How did he take it? The letters? Did you give it to him?"

"Yes, madam. I gave the letters. The young master was still dazed when I left him, though as expected from him when I woke him up, he got a little bit angry and a little ailed."

"Ailing? Maybe from drinking too much? It's not serious is it?" A shocked expression grazed the platinum haired woman's distraught face. The word 'ailing' kept stabbing her chest, she was starting to lose her balance. "Maybe it was not a good idea. I feel horrible."

"Madam, don't worry. The young master is strong. He can take care of himself. You'll see... he'll change after all you gave him this chance to mature." The driver helped Ezaria back to her room to rest. She had been suffering from high blood pressure and vertigo with the news about Yzak's painting the town red recently.

*A*

Going down the stairs, Shiho left the basin and towels on top of bathroom sink. She then went to the kitchen to prepare warm milk for the guest. Getting a pan from the cabinet, she pulled a container of milk from the fridge. Pouring a cupful of milk on the warmed pan, she stirred the milk to a simmer. Pouring the warmed milk back to the cup, she then searched for some biscuits. I'll prepare soup after I deliver this to him.

Knocking lightly on the door, she saw the new border of their home had gone to sleep again. Not bothering the sleeping Yzak, she placed the steaming cup of milk and some crackers on the bedside table. It was getting dark out.

It's time to make dinner, I guess. Leaving the room silently, she wondered where her bundles of joy were.

*A*

It was already dark when he was once again rudely awakened by a scrapping sound. Something was scratching at the door. Reluctantly leaving the comfort of the warmed bed, he sluggishly opened the door. Something scurried in his room right after he opened the door. Looking left and right, he saw no one along the corridor. Turning back to get to bed, he opened the lamp. On his bed he noticed was a lump. A lump of black fur, carefully approaching the intruder, Yzak circled the bed. Tugging at the sheets, he startled the rascal who awakened him from his rest.

The proclaimed rascal was actually a big black tabby cat with languid yellow eyes. Yzak had a staring competition with the cat. It was unyielding. Yzak was first to forfeit the fight, seeing it was not rabid or harmful he sat down beside his new companion... He noticed a cup of milk and crackers on his bedside table. Downing the milk and chewing on a piece of cracker, he inquired at the cat "Is this your room?" The cat softly mewled and approached him, looking at him. I take that as a no then, you didn't scratch me. "I guess if you are civil with me, I can share my bed with you and my milk."

Turning off the lamp, Yzak drew the blanket over his form. He was still feeling chills. Just then the tabby cat seemed to sense Yzak's condition. It snuggled near his stomach and curled up like a big black silky pillow. Yzak moaned in relief and caressed the cat's shiny fur.

-to be continued-