RedFire195065: *laughs* Sorry about that. XD (It was a lot to type, too; my fingers had a real workout. XD) Thanks; it's going to get more interesting (I hope) as time goes on. ;) (Oh, and whether or not you've read the chapter below and the following one, I hope you enjoy it! :)) I'm glad it made you laugh, though; I can't guarantee that there will be more funny things on the way (because I don't even know myself; most of the time when I write humor, it's usually spontaneous and totally unplanned), but hopefully there'll be some more laughs to come. :) It is. XD (Jiro: *scowling* The things I go through because of you.) Thank you; I'm glad you like them. :D Okay; I'll try to update as quick as I can. :)

FBSchin: Thank you! :) There will definitely be more of Kluke and Andropov to come.

Thanks for your reviews, everyone, and I hope you enjoy this chapter! :D

Chapter 3: Wonders of the World

"Aniki…" Hibiki's voice has taken on a whining tone that is coupled with utter exhaustion. "How much farther do we have to go…?" The familiar pleas of the uninitiated adventurer. It's an odd feeling to hear that particular tone come out of someone else's mouth.

"C'mon, Hibiki, we've barely gotten started." Shu's gone so far, walked so many different paths; in terms of traveling, this is just another trip to him. In actuality, it is many things – being with Bouquet and Noi again for the first time in months (two for her, a little over three for him); the first journey that the trio has embarked on, and the responsibility he has to give them guidance that's at least as good as what he received three years ago; coming to Primula and Marumaro's aid, even if he doesn't quite know what's going on – but when it comes to how far they have to go and how used to it he is, for Shu it is practically a non-issue. Though it had once been him in that position, it seems so long ago that it isn't the easiest thing to recall. "This is only our second day, you know. We still have a lot ahead of us."

Shu is answered with three collective groans.

"Please." He hears Noi scoff somewhere behind him. "You three think this is a big deal? You should see him when he gets really bad. Hour after hour of walking without a break… No hope of lunch or sweets in sight… We'll be lucky if he takes a break to sleep."

The boys let out a loud wail.

"Noi." Shu shoots a look over his shoulder.

"What?" The younger boy shrugs. "It's true."

"You're exaggerating."

"Hardly." Noi waves a hand in the air. "You walk for hours like it's nothing. It doesn't even faze you."

Shu laughs a little. "Why sit around when you have places to go?"

"My point exactly." Noi shakes his head, but he's grinning. "Do you sleep when you close your eyes?"

"Sometimes." His reply is light. Something cynical in him wants to add that no, sometimes he has nightmares instead, but he rapidly pushes it away, ashamed that it even crossed his mind in passing. Maybe Blue Dragon's right; maybe I am depressed. Shu feels his Shadow stirring, and before Blue Dragon does something irritating – like telling him "I told you so," or some such nonsense – he quickly returns to conversing with Noi. "And we did stop for lunch sometimes."

"Yeah, sure. Once a week, maybe." Noi quips; it makes Bouquet let out a short laugh and causes the boys to whimper.

Then Bouquet joins in, "And dinner every other week!" The exaggeration sends her into a fit of giggles.

"Good God. Between the two of you, I sound like some kind of maniacal slave driver." His own sides jerk with held in laughter as Bouquet and Noi start snickering. He only manages to sound a little stern when he tacks on, "The two of you should be ashamed of yourselves, terrorizing my boys like that."

"Aniki…" The boy's unison is tentative, and just a tad fearful.

"You don't have to worry about anything." Bouquet tells them, relenting and trying to soothe them. "Shu always takes care of us."

Shu stops abruptly. He hears Noi call his name, but for the moment he pays it no mind. Chewing his lip, he mulls it over for a moment, turning the sentence over in his head. "Shu always takes care of us." Then he sighs reluctantly; he hadn't wanted to do this so soon, especially without eating. It can't be helped, though. He cares too much about the boys' discomfort to let his own tiredness stand in the way. He is unable to toughen them up the way they need, but there's nothing to be done about it now. He takes a deep breath, and then- "Blue Dragon!"

There's a swirl of blue light as his Shadow appears, and he's struck with a harsh wave of dizziness as his empty stomach lets him know that no, this is really not okay. Blue Dragon's red eyes train on him, seeing through him completely. Don't, he thinks tiredly, knowing Blue Dragon will hear. I'm not in the mood. He gathers his strength, and turns to face the others, and even through the pain in his abdomen, his grin is only half-forced. "So. Who's up for some flying?"

After all, he hasn't had the chance to show off for quite a while.


Tsubasa grits his teeth as Hibiki shrieks in one ear and Taichi howls in the other. Even though the piercing noise is making his making his ears ring, he can hardly blame them. If it weren't for the steady mantra going through his head about how he's the oldest of the three and he has to be brave, he'd pretty much be hysterical right now.

The wind whistles through his hair. He's terrified of opening his eyes and seeing how far above the ground they are. But he knows he can't hide from it forever, and so he forces them open…

The first thing he sees is Shu – and it's with no small amount of disbelief that he sees his older brother figure nonchalantly eating a roll.

He can't help murmuring aloud, "How could he possibly think about eating right now?"

"Isn't it obvious?" He startles when he hears the other boy speak. Noi is his name. There's something that is distinctly other about him, and that unnerves Tsubasa a little. But Aniki trusts Noi, so that's enough for him.

Then the words register. "Isn't what obvious?"

Noi's eyebrows furrow, and he opens his mouth to speak – but pauses as something seems to occur to him. Then his forehead is smoothing as surprise fills his face. "You… really don't know, do you?"

"Don't know what?" Frustration courses through him. He's miles above the ground and this kid he barely knows won't be straight with him. Tsubasa is beyond exasperated.

The other boy shakes his head. "Completely clueless." Before Tsubasa can even think of a retort, Noi is continuing on. "The primary way that a Shadow User replenishes their strength is by eating or sleeping. Bad things happen when you use a Shadow on an empty stomach or without sleep."

The reply cuts through Tsubasa's thoughts like a knife. An empty stomach…

"C'mon, kiddo; let's get moving. We've got a big day ahead of us, so we should get started. We'll eat later, okay?"

Tsubasa swallows hard. And Aniki… Aniki used his Shadow anyway. Because we were complaining about walking… His stomach knots with guilt and shame. The radiating pain that has been a constant presence in his feet and limbs since yesterday suddenly seems inconsequential in the face of everything else.

"You don't need to feel guilty." Tsubasa gives a start, hearing his thoughts voiced so openly. When he looks, Noi is smiling. "Shu didn't do what he did because he felt like he had to. He wanted to, because he cares about you."

"…How can you be so sure?" Even as he says it, Tsubasa is relaxing. There is a calm sureness about the other boy, and the certainty gives him some relief.

Noi chuckles lightly. "Let's just say that I'm speaking from experience."

Tsubasa is struck with a sudden liking for Noi, this strange boy with the impertinent attitude who is not of their world and who knows his older brother figure so incredibly well.

He never gets the chance to reply, though, as they suddenly enter a thick cloudbank.

The entire trio immediately begins to scream, their panic full-blown. Despite the wind surrounding them, Tsubasa feels like he's suffocating. The dark gray clouds press in on them so close that he almost feels claustrophobic, even though he's never really had that phobia before. He's hit hard with the inexplicable fear that the sky is going to crush them.

"Don't be afraid!" Noi hollers over the noise, loud but calm and collected. Tsubasa mentally grabs onto the other boy's voice like the lifeline it is. "We're going to be fine! Just trust him and you'll be okay!"

Trust him. Noi can only mean Shu. Tsubasa nods and shuts his eyes. It's the easiest thing that anyone could ask of him – trusting Shu is the one thing that Tsubasa has done for his entire life.

After a second or two, he hears Shu murmur, "Blue Dragon." There's a message in the words that Tsubasa can't decipher, and even though he's afraid, curiosity makes him open his eyes. He does so just in time to see that they're heading straight for a light up ahead-

At first, the only thing Tsubasa registers is the blue sky, and the brilliance of it makes his breath catch. But then he hears Hibiki choke out, "Tsubasa, look." And when he does, he gasps at the same time as Hibiki and Taichi. The trio moves as one, regardless of their fear, scrambling to get as close to Blue Dragon's shoulder as they dare in order to see the amazing sight beneath them.

The image instantly calls to mind Kluke's checked blanket at home. But instead of red and white cloth, what lies below them is a sprawling body of water that sparkles in the sunlight, broken up by uniform lines of greenery, the foliage creating almost perfect squares of blue lined with green. Running through the middle of it is a brown dirt road that curves and twists as intricately as a ribbon.

"See?" Shu's voice snaps him out of the reverie. Tsubasa shoots a glance his way, sees the warm smile that matches his tone. The gusts of air are causing the older boy's dark brown hair to hug the right side of his face and billow away from his left. "The world is beautiful. There's no need to be afraid of it." He gestures broadly, and there's something almost wistful on his face he stares out at the land beneath them. "One thing you could try is to think of it like the forge. The fire can hurt you very badly, but you'll be fine if you're careful and respect it. And if you keep at it, you'll find that even something as dangerous as fire can create something amazing." Shu turns his eyes on them again, and smiles wider. Tsubasa imagines that Aniki can read the awe on his and the boys' faces like an open book. "Does that make any sense?"

Taichi is the one who speaks up, although he's hesitant. "I… I guess so, but…"

"Not completely, right?" Shu grins, sounding amused. "I know." He traces the trio carefully with his gaze. Then he gives a single nod that hints of him having decided something. "Okay, then. We'll try that some other time." Suddenly, Shu stands, and Tsubasa makes an alarmed noise in the back of his throat. But he remains standing with perfect balance, and Tsubasa realizes that he must have done this many times before. How else could he stay upright with such ease? "For now, let's try a different approach." Shu turns just a bit, so that his back is facing his Shadow's head. "Not precisely what I was trying to tell you, but it's related."

Tsubasa opens his mouth to say that he actually does get what Aniki had been saying-

But he never gets the chance, as Shu closes his eyes before falling backwards off of Blue Dragon.

"Aniki!!!" Tsubasa, Taichi and Hibiki scream as one, practically tripping over each other in their rush to reach Shu.

And Tsubasa is just registering the sound of Noi chuckling as they peer over Blue Dragon's shoulder and see Shu being held in his Shadow's hands, calmly grinning up at them. Tsubasa's eyes get watery as relief hits him hard. "A-Aniki-"

"You're afraid again." Shu observes steadily, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why?"

"Wh- why?" Hibiki splutters. "You- you fell-"

"That's right. But I wasn't afraid. Do any of you know why?"

There's a momentary pause, and then Shu is answered with three quiet replies of, "No…"

Something soft enters Shu's expression as he says, "You remember how I've been saying that the world can be dangerous?" The boys nod and make noises in the affirmative. "I know it can be scary to be so far away from home. I used to get scared all the time when I first set out, and even though I'm stronger now, sometimes I still do-"

"But, Aniki-!" Tsubasa cries out.

"You don't get scared!" Taichi continues.

And Hibiki finishes, "You're brave and strong!"

Shu laughs; Tsubasa realizes with a sudden and surprising clarity that it is ever so slightly deeper than he is used to. But it's still Aniki's. "Everyone gets scared, little ones." Tsubasa doesn't have to look at his friends to know that all three of them are blushing; now that they're getting bigger, Shu has been using that endearment rarely. To hear it now is nice, but still embarrassing. "But I'm never afraid for long, and that's because I have people around me that I can rely on and that rely on me in return." He waves upward. "The reason I wasn't afraid to fall is that I knew Blue Dragon would catch me, because he's more than just my Shadow – he's my friend, and I trust him." Blue Dragon lets out a snort; Shu shoots him a fond look before continuing. "And I knew that if Blue Dragon didn't catch me, I could depend on Noi and Bouquet to help me, because they're my friends as well. And even if the three of you don't think you can do much, I still know that you would try to help me anyway if you could." Shu leans up on his elbows, t-shirt and hair being lifted by the wind. "I don't need to be scared, because I know that I have you three, Bouquet, Noi and Blue Dragon. And as long as even one of you is by my side, there's nothing that I can't do."

"Even…" Hibiki's voice sounds small coming after Shu's words. "Even the three of us?"

"Even the three of you," Shu nods at them. "Especially the three of you."

Tsubasa feels a large hand on his shoulder, knows without looking that it's Taichi. Feeling the tentativeness in the big fingers, he reaches around and finds the younger boy's other hand. "And… we can really do that? Make a difference like that?"

"I know you can." Shu lifts his head a little, and Tsubasa can see the sun reflecting in his black eyes. "Three months ago, I depended on all of the people I care about in order to do something that shouldn't have been possible. It was thanks to all of my friends that I did the impossible, and you three were just as important as anyone else. I needed everyone's support back then; I couldn't have done it without you." Lifting one shoulder in a half-shrug, Shu leans back to look up at the sky. "You said that you cheered me on, and I felt it. And because of that, this dangerous, amazing world is still turning."


"They say that a long, long time ago, this place used to be a gigantic rice paddy near a great kingdom," Shu says as he shrugs off his backpack. "And that after a time, nature overtook the field and made the place its own. This would've happened hundreds of years ago, though, so nobody knows for sure whether all of that is true or just a story."

Fiddling with a sweet biscuit that Bouquet prepared yesterday, Noi looks out over the watery land. Almost instantly, he decides that it doesn't matter. The place is beautiful, and that's all there is to it. Coming to that conclusion, he takes a bite out of his treat, feeling relieved more than anything else. It's the times that he sees places like this that he knows he made the right choice in joining Shu. He may have been considered a traitor by his own kind, but doing so saved this planet, and the beauty that it holds, from utter destruction. And along the way, he had gained not only an understanding of humans, but a bond with them (three, to be exact) that is irreplaceable.

"It probably doesn't matter too much, I guess." Shu stands akimbo, looking around at the water-flooded fields. "To most people, it's just known as the Green Waterscape or the Flooded Field now."

He glances at Shu. Yes, he hides a grin behind the treat. This was definitely the right thing to do. He wouldn't trade his friendship with Shu for anything.

Just then, a strong breeze sweeps through the area; nearly all of them respond with sounds of protest. Noi's field of vision is briefly obscured by blades of grass that have been plucked from the ground by the force of the zephyr. When the wind dies down, he immediately notices that Shu is gone. He quickly discovers that the taller boy has headed out into the watery landscape. He's already knee-deep and halfway across the square.

Noi can't help the short laugh that escapes him. "He's really something else."

"Who?" The smallest of the trio, Hibiki, peers over at him. "Are you talking about Aniki?"

"Mm," Noi nods in the affirmative. "He's a walking contradiction, really. He can be harsh and hostile in battle, yet he's gentle and open with people he cares about. He can be so naïve that the simplest things will go right over his head, but he can be wiser than people who are far older than him." He sees Shu stop suddenly, probably near the plant-line, and as the gusts start up again, Shu stretches his arms out to the side as the wind lifts his hair and outer shirt. From that one time Shu did it before, Noi knows that his eyes are closed as he lets the air roll over his face. And - also like back then - he's probably smiling, too. "I've never met anyone else quite like him."

"You look up to him, don't you?" Tsubasa, the oldest (but in the middle in terms of size), notes thoughtfully. Despite the inquisitive nature of the words, it isn't a question.

"Look up to Shu?" He feels his face heat up. "D-don't be ridiculous. I'm not a little kid; I don't need to look up to anyone." He hopes fervently that his face or voice isn't giving him away.

Bouquet's giggle indicates that he has failed in that regard.

"…Just mind your own business." Noi mutters, flushed and humiliated, returning his attention back to Shu, who is just now lowering his arms. He continues to stand there for a moment, utterly still save for the movement from his hair and shirt-

-and then he throws himself, back first, into the water.

Noi blinks in surprise.

Shu surfaces only a few seconds later, facing towards Noi and the others again. He's either sitting or crouching in the water; it's hard to tell from here. Then Shu starts to laugh, unbridled and without restraint, and even from the distance, Noi can see the joy that fills his face.

Noi has learned much about humans, but Shu is unwittingly teaching him more all the time.

Kindness. Wisdom. Recklessness. Bravery. And even those things can only begin to explain him. No, there is no one else quite like Shu. Even among other humans, he's one of a kind.

There's a splash, and Noi realizes that Shu has dived back under. With a sigh, he finishes the biscuit in one bite. He's only just swallowed it when Shu emerges from the water, soaked to the skin and grinning almost childishly; he's only a few feet away from land. Ancestors, he can swim fast.

Bouquet lets out an exhalation that is both resigned and doting. "I suppose I'd better get a fire started…" Without turning, he can hear her rustling through their packs.

"Noi!" He jumps slightly at Shu's yell, stunned at being called. "Come into the water with me!"

"Wh-what? No!"

"C'mon! It'll be fun!" In several smooth motions, Shu has crossed the short distance to the bank and pulled himself out of the Flooded Field. "You're not afraid of going into the water, are you?"

"I am not!" Noi bites the inside of his cheek. His tone makes him sound like a little kid. Which he isn't!

He squawks as Shu ruffles his hair. "I won't let anything bad happen to you." Noi is still trying to rearrange his hair when Shu drops onto his knees, so he's completely unprepared for it when the other boy nonchalantly plucks off one of his white boots.

"What are you doing?!" Noi shrieks at him. Shu moves too fast for him to save the second boot; both of them are placed to the side out of Noi's reach.

"Well, someone never tells me anything," Shu says it lightly, teasingly, but there's an undercurrent of hurt there that makes something in Noi's chest twinge. I'm sorry, Shu. It has nothing to do with keeping anything from you. It's just that I'm not ready to say it. "So I decided to take the initiative and choose for you before you do something dumb." Shu smirks mischievously and winks. "Like, say, refusing to go into the water."

"You- you can't just decide something like that!" Noi stammers, jerking back out of reflex as Shu rolls up the leggings of his uniform, bunching up the material just below his knees. "I already told you 'no'!"

"A clear sign that you don't know what's good for you." And, without another word, Shu scoops him up into his arms.

"Hey!" Noi grabs the taller boy's shoulders for balance, certain that his entire face is red by this point. "Put me down now!!"

"Not gonna happen." Shu is already heading for the water.

"Bouquet!" He tries to twist his head around, maybe catch a glimpse of her. When he nearly pulls a muscle, his eyes finally land on the girl. "Do something!" Noi feels relief course through him as she stands…

She cups her hands around her mouth and calls out, "Make sure you're back in time for lunch!"

I'll remember this, Paipai. "Let me go!" Desperate, Noi flails, even though it's pointless; Shu's grip is secure. "Let me go right now!"

"Yeesh." Shu is practically chuckling as he talks. "There's no need to be so dramatic about it."

"You're impossible, you-" And Noi breaks off with a startled gasp as he feels his shins being submerged in cool liquid. The gasp turns into a cry of surprise – it is not a squeak, and no, whatever Shu says later is not true – as they go in further and his knees dip under the surface. "Shu!"

"Hold your breath," Shu tells him, "but don't close your eyes."

There's no time to question it or give any protest - Shu is stubborn, and Noi would rather swallow his pride than drown because he wanted to give the other boy a piece of his mind. He does as he's told.

Despite Shu's instruction, his eyes close automatically upon their submersion. Noi quickly opens them, and is surprised at what awaits him.

It's… like a whole other world down here… Everything is tinted blue, no matter what it is – even Noi himself. Numerous plants that he doesn't know the names of sway with the waves. Just as he thinks he sees something move, Shu is pulling him back up and out of the water. Noi chokes a little bit as they break through the surface, gratefully taking in gulps of air.

Shu's arms drape around Noi loosely (yet are still firm enough that he won't go sliding back into the deep). Noi is just noticing that the other boy's shirt is plastered to his skin, transparent enough for the tank top to show, when Shu suddenly lays his cheek on top of Noi's head. Though both of them are still catching their breath, Noi is stunned enough that his stills momentarily.

When his breathing has returned to normal, Shu quietly says, "I missed you."

Noi shuts his eyes, then presses his forehead into Shu's collarbone. "I know." Me too, is what he doesn't add, but he knows that Shu will hear it anyway, even if Noi doesn't want him to. Shu's too close to him now, knows him too well, for any unspoken words or silent meanings to go unheard. How did this happen? Noi wonders; the thought is half-amused and half-despairing. How the heck did you become best friends with a human?

The way Shu's fingers press into his shoulder tells Noi that yes, the other boy did figure him out. I guess he always figures me out, eventually. "Noi…" He tenses at the way Shu says him name, so soft and sad, and a sort of anxiousness creeps up on him. Noi doesn't like talking about feelings or emotions, particularly his own. Superior Lifeforms feel things differently than humans – part of that is being a different race, but it's also because being emotive, especially as much as a human, is forbidden. At first, he hadn't even known he could have emotions like that, and had almost been a little scared when he started suspecting it was possible; throughout his journey with the others, it had begun to seem more and more plausible as he felt things he'd never experienced before (laughing with Marumaro about ridiculous things, warmth in his chest as Bouquet tucked him into an inn bed, a light feeling that he could only describe as happiness radiating through him as he shared apples with Shu, the odd skipping of his heart as he looked into Linda's gray eyes). He'd known it for sure, though, when he watched Shu and Blue Dragon nearly killed at Rudolf's hands; Noi cried real tears of sadness for the first time in his life, felt such excruciating pain in his heart. It had felt like he was dying.

We can feel emotions the way humans do, if we simply allow ourselves to. When he'd gone back to Valhalla – the first time since infancy – he had tried to tell them that, tried to get them to understand how incredible humans were and just how much Superior Lifeforms could learn from them.

…His reward was to have his position as chairman revoked.

Not that that was the only reason, Noi amends grudgingly, but that probably had plenty to do with it. I'm sure they were just thrilled at the thought of a human-loving fledgling brat leading the Sky Dragons.

He shakes the thoughts away; thinking about that now isn't helping. Plus, he thinks he knows where Shu is going with this, and he needs to head it off now. A change of subject should do the trick. "So, in my absence have you been as sappy and sentimental as you were in the sky earlier?"

The force of Shu's sudden laughter jerks through the both of them. When he settles, he says, "Only if it's necessary." Noi hears the smile in his voice. "Besides, they're still growing boys. They still have a lot to learn about life, and I'm the one who's supposed to teach them." He shrugs slightly. "And sometimes it has to come out as being overly sentimental. Some lessons will stick a little better that way."

Noi scoffs lightly. "Well, I hope you aren't thinking you can teach me like some little kid."

Shu abruptly tenses, relaxed arms becoming rigid. In the dead silence that follows, Noi knows that what was only supposed to be a joking comment in passing was very much the wrong thing to say. He swallows hard, afraid to look up and see whatever is in Shu's eyes.

He doesn't get a choice in the matter, because Shu pulls away – not letting go, but only so that they can look each other in the eye. Noi flinches at the pain in his expression. "No." Shu's voice is shaky and hurt. "No, I suppose I didn't think that. But I thought that you'd at least let me take care of you."

Oh, by the Ancestors, you idiot, what did you do? "Shu," even Noi can hear the desperation in his tone. "I didn't mean it like that-"

Then Noi feels it, and he shrieks. He scrabbles at Shu, hoisting himself up the other boy while Shu asks him what's wrong. He locks his legs around Shu's middle, heels crossed at the small of his back, trembling like a leaf. Shu grumbles something under his breath – what sounds like a curse and something about "bony ankles" – but Noi pays it no mind. "Oh," his fear is audible, and he doesn't bother to hide it. "Oh my God." Superior Lifeforms don't use that expression too often – the same way that humans don't usually use any expressions in reference to any of their ancestors – but after spending so much time with Shu, it slips out now and again.

"Noi?" Shu pushes a hand through Noi's hair. At least if nothing else comes from this, the hurt note in his voice is gone, replaced entirely by concern. "Noi, what is it? What's wrong?"

"In- in the water-" He gulps. "I-I felt it- it tried to- Oh, Ancestors-" The last bit is practically a wail.

"Calm down. Tell me what happened." There's urgency in his hold and his grip.

Noi forces himself to do what Shu says. Shu will protect you. Shu will keep you safe. You just have to trust him. "It… Something…" He takes a deep, shuddering breath. "Something in the water tried to eat me."

"Tried to…?" The other boy sounds baffled.

And then, much to Noi's horror and humiliation, Shu starts laughing uncontrollably.

"What are you laughing for?!" There aren't any words for just how furious he is right now. "It isn't funny!"

"I'm sorry," he's still breathless from the laughter. Noi fumes. "It's just… Well, look down and see for yourself." Shu nods at the water below them.

Terror strikes at Noi. Surely the monster that tried to devour him is lying in wait. It must look hideous and terrifying. He doesn't understand why Shu wants to frighten him so. But... The other boy always has his reasons for doing things; if he wants Noi to look, there must be a rational explanation for it. Sticking his courage, he looks down, preparing to stare down his frightening adversary with unflinching-

Noi chokes as he gazes down at the water – and sees a collection of little fish that are vaguely the color of a tomato. They're about the size of Shu's fingers.

…He's made a total fool of himself.

"They're called nibble fish," Shu explains, reaching his left hand – the one that isn't on Noi's back – into the water. "And like their name, they'll nibble on just about anything." As if prompted by his words, several of the little creatures swim towards his outstretched fingers and begin to do just that. "They won't eat you or anything, though. They're pretty friendly, and perfectly harmless."

"…Oh." Noi clears his throat. Perhaps he can get out of this with a shred of dignity still intact. "I… didn't know that."

"You don't have to be afraid of them." Shu tilts his head to the side so their eyes are level again. The kindness and sincerity in his smile make Noi relax. "It might tickle a little bit, but they won't hurt you. I promise."

Tentatively, he stretches his toes toward the water. Uncertainty flits through his head, and Noi's mouth goes dry. What if Shu is wrong? What if they don't attack humans, but will try to devour a Superior Lifeform? He shoves away his doubt; Noi owes it to Shu after the way he misspoke before. It's that thought that enables him to take the plunge, thrusting his foot into the water up to his ankle. Noi promptly yelps, jumping slightly, as the fish begin nibbling at his heel. But like Shu promised, they bring him no harm. His shoulders loosen as his mind is put at ease.

"See?" And his voice sounds like before, when he'd talked to the trio of boys that look up to him so much. "Nothing to worry about."

"Shu…" Noi fights off the urge to wince. He hopes this won't come out as awkward as he feels. "About… what I said…"

"Hm?" Shu seems entirely unconcerned; either he doesn't know what Noi is about to say, or he's trying to ignore it.

"You…" The words lodge in his throat. This shouldn't be this hard. "You don't have to teach me anything."

"Oh." All of the color drains from Shu's face at a rapid rate. Noi's stomach twists into a knot. "I- I'm sorry. I didn't realize- I guess I must've sounded like I was lecturing you when I talked about the fish, huh-?"

"No. Listen." His tone draws Shu's full attention, silences the pained and nervous words tumbling out of him. "You don't have to teach me… because you do it all the time. Every moment that I spend with you, with Bouquet and Marumaro and your friends… I learn a little more each day." He ducks his head down, embarrassed. "So... You don't have to put any extra effort into teaching me or anything. Because you're doing that all the time, just by being yourself."

There's a short pause. Then Shu lets out a laugh, happy and full of relief, and hugs Noi tight. "Now who's being sentimental, huh?"

"Just shut up," Noi feels his face heat up. "Crazy idiot, hugging everybody all the time." Even as he says it, Noi is returning the gesture.

"Only my friends." Shu is still chuckling a bit as he says it. Able to hear his steady heartbeat, Noi rolls his eyes and allows himself a reluctant grin. "I mean… Come on, I can't hug you now either-?"

That's when they both hear the scream.

And because his ear is so close to it, Noi hears Shu's heart skip, along with the hoarse whisper that follows. "Bouquet."


With a passing gratefulness that he was the Talta River Race champion two years in a row, Shu orders Noi to hold onto him tight and dives into the water, swimming like his life depends on it.

Adrenaline floods through him as he cuts through the liquid like a knife, mixing and mingling with the magic thrumming through his veins. Belatedly, with a rush of panic, he realizes that he didn't tell Noi to hold his breath. He spares a glance down, and is grateful to find that the smaller boy isn't imminently drowning. With that reassurance, he pushes his body to the limit, Bouquet's scream echoing in his head. I have to make it…!

He breaks through the surface with a gasp, fingers digging into soil that turns to mud from the wetness of his hands. He hauls himself onto the dirt path, blinking water from his eyes, trying to identify the threat-

Once his vision is clear, his eyes lock onto it immediately; the creature is too big to miss. The thing is humongous, nearly three and a half times his size; from its appearance, it can only be a jellyfish. Except… It looks like it has a staff stuck through its middle. A scrap of knowledge, half-forgotten and at the edges of his mind, nudges at his brain. Magic Jellyfish. Something he learned from school, maybe, but the important thing he recollects is that it has mastery over magic, particularly the elements. This might be tricky.

Then he remembers. Bouquet. He calls her name aloud, "Bouquet?!" His eyes dart around frantically, hoping to catch a glimpse of her or the boys-

"Darling!" He follows the sound of her voice, sees her crouched behind a large boulder with the boys clumped beside her. All of them are unhurt. Relief makes his knees weak.

Then he looks Bouquet over again. Her eyes are teary, she's practically pouting and her voice sounds childishly petulant as she says, "Go teach that thing a lesson right now!" She pounds the side of the rock. "It ruined the meal I was making!"

"It ruined the…?" He doesn't comprehend it right away. But when he does, he's filled with a boiling rage. "Are you freaking kidding me?!" Noi winces in his arms, probably from the volume, but he isn't inclined to lower it. "I thought-" I thought you were dying. And he had felt horrified down to his very bones. "I thought something terrible had happened to you-!!"

"Something terrible did happen to me!" Bouquet thrusts a finger toward the jellyfish, and he realizes that she's becoming more and more infuriated by the second. "That- that thing ruined the lunch I was working so hard to prepare!" She lunges slightly in his direction – he feels heat rise to his face as her breasts bounce, and for the first time he notices there's something familiar about the necklace she's wearing – and clenches her fists in front of her face with unrestrained fury. "So, go beat it up now!! Or else!!!"

What is it with girls getting mad over their cooking being ruined? He would wonder if she'd picked this up from Kluke, but back then they hadn't even met Bouquet yet. It's a strange mix of creepy, funny, and sad – though the last bit is probably just on Shu's part.

Irritation wins out over the other feelings, and Shu pinches his eyebrows as he mutters, "Fine."

His ears perk up at a sound, a sharp noise akin to whistling, and it's only from honed reflexes that he jumps out of the way in time as a razor-sharp Wind spell comes careening toward him. Shu lands in a crouch, glancing behind him and to the side; the monster is a little closer than it was before. Gotta stay on my toes for this one. He shares a glance with Noi, and the two of them nod at each other in perfect understanding before Shu lets the boy go. Thrusting his right arm in front of him and his left behind, he spins circularly toward the jellyfish, calling out, "Blue Dragon!" With a flourish of blue power, his Shadow summons.

"Che," Blue Dragon scoffs in disdain. Basically, he responds exactly the way Shu expected him to. "You called me out to deal with that?"

"Thought you'd be glad to get a little fighting done." Shu is only partly paying attention; his eyes travel up and down the jellyfish, seeking out any visible weak points. Unfortunately, nothing is particularly promising. Guess we're going to be winging it with this one.

"Well," he can hear the grin in his Shadow's voice, the eagerness for a good battle, "when you put it like that."

It's time.

Shu locks his knees, preparing to bolt forward. "Noi, flank it!" He feels a rush of wind at his right side, hears the call of the Black Dragon; barely a second later, dark wings are flying through the air, moving with purpose towards their target.

Noi tries a standard attack first, purple-black energy unleashed from his mouth like fire. It seems to have no effect on the creature, as the jellyfish simply begins to bat at the Black Dragon with its tentacles. Letting out a growl of frustration, Noi flies up, flipping in the air once, before dropping hard to hit it with a kick. At first, it seems like it has an effect, the clawed foot seeming to make somewhat of an indentation – but then he's bouncing back, forcefully thrown back as the jellyfish's skin wobbles.

No good. It's like he's kicking gelatin. "Alright, Blue Dragon," Shu shifts his stance. "Looks like it's our turn!"

"Got it!" Blue Dragon flaps his wings. Shu can tell he's just itching to start throwing punches. Let's try something else first, though.

Shu swings his arms wide. "Rusty Nail!!" Left, right, left, right- Quickly, swinging as quickly as he can-

Blue Dragon's speed is almost double of what Shu's is; his arm blades move like a blur. But like when Noi tried, only small quivers on the surface of its jelly-like skin indicate that there's been any contact.

It's gonna be like that, huh? "Fine," Shu pulls his arm back, everything from his elbow to his fingertips as straight as a sword. "Let's see-"

Blue Dragon finishes for him, "-how you deal with this!!" Shadow and User thrust their arms forward as one.

It seems like it might be working. The sharp tip of Rusty Nail digs into the jellyfish, and Shu feels hope rise in him; maybe they can puncture it like a balloon-

And then the gel-like flesh bounces.

The force of it throws both Shu and Blue Dragon backwards. His shoes leave skid marks on the dusty trail, and his joints twinge in complaint at the abuse. Noi lands heavily beside him, swearing mildly. "This is no good, Shu!" He glances at the Black Dragon, whose blue eyes are sharply locked onto their opponent. "It has an iron defense! We're not getting through!"

Shu returns his attention to the jellyfish, sizing it up. Electricity crackles around its body as it floats in the air almost casually. It seems completely unaffected by anything that he, Blue Dragon and Noi have tried to do. Weakness… What is its weakness…?

"Shu, watch out!"

Noi's warning snaps him out of it just in time; he leaps out of the way as a torrent of Water crashes into the ground where he and Noi stood seconds before. He regains his footing – then freezes, glancing back at the ground. Water…

Mind suddenly racing, Shu shuts his eyes, pressing fingers to his forehead as he thinks. "Water… Elements…" The element of the Magic Jellyfish and the majority of its variants is… water…

What did you learn about elements in school?

Water… Water…

Wait. There. The answer's eluding him, just of reach, but he's close now. What did you learn about elements…? Not in school…

Kluke. Nene. Chimera's forehead.

…Opposite elements.

What's the opposing element of water?

Shu's eyes open, wide with the realization. "That's it!" He swiftly looks about the impromptu battlefield, taking only a slight notice in an upturned pot spilling stew into the dirt, before spotting just what he needs – a boulder, not unlike the one that Bouquet and the boys are taking cover behind. Perfect.

He pushes off, twisting in the air so he'll face the right way, and manages to plant his feet firmly on the stone. He takes a second to gain his balance, then prepares to move into the correct position. Shu hopes he remembers how to do this; it's been a while. He lifts his arms, hands curled into tight fists, crossed at the wrists as blue aura flares up around him-

"Are you serious?" He tries not to flush at the incredulity in Blue Dragon's voice. His Shadow recognizes this particular stance; he'll probably never forget it. "That's what we're using against it?"

"Don't complain." His voice is somewhat short. "Blue Explosion isn't purely fire."

Shu takes a deep breath – then thrusts his arms down. "Fire Crisis!"

He'd been hoping that even though the attack is weaker than his usual ones nowadays, the full Fire-element would be stronger because of the jellyfish's base element of water.

Instead, the result is an enormous explosion of flames, swallowing the jellyfish in what is a borderline inferno.

"Holy…" Shu trails off, gaping in disbelief. He's so shocked that his mouth is hanging open. "…That didn't used to be that strong."

Finally, the fire dies off into embers. The jellyfish is scorched – but, much to Shu's frustration, it's still floating with relative ease. But then he notices it – the onslaught has pushed it back a bit. If we keep it up, we can try to toss it into the water. With the electricity, there's a chance that it'll electrocute itself… And even if it doesn't, that should be enough incentive for it to leave. There's no guarantee of either scenario, but it has to be worth a shot.

"Again!" He repeats the movements from before. "Fire Crisis!"

The sheer strength of the attack shocks him as much as it did the first time. Gee, it would've been great if it had been this strong two years ago, he thinks a little sourly. Would've made life a lot easier.

Snapping back to the present, he checks the position of the jellyfish – and grins. Almost there! "Alright, Blue Dragon!" He lifts his arms once again. "One more time should send it straight into the water-!"

"Shu, don't!!!"

Noi's panicked cry instantly makes him go still, breath catching in his throat. The hesitation is long enough to make the power that had been building around him start to fade. It seems like it may be a moot point anyway – the jellyfish, weakened from the repeated attacks, is starting to tip back toward the Waterscape. "What-"

There's a hurried beating of wings above his head – and then his heart is jumping towards his throat as Noi grabs onto the jellyfish, regardless of the electricity crackling around it. Any semblance of composure that he may have had snaps when the dragon boy yells in pain. "Noi! What are you doing?!"

"Shu-! The electricity, the water-" He lets out another cry, gritting his teeth afterwards. The words that follow are rushed and desperate. "Shu, the fish!"

The air stills in his chest. And this time, his heart drops instead, all the way down to his stomach.

"They're called nibble fish."

"You don't have to be afraid of them."

"It might tickle a little bit, but they won't hurt you. I promise."

It's foolish, it's ridiculous, it's childish- But his eyes are stinging and there's a sharp feeling in his chest, because something about that moment had been important enough to Noi – either Shu or the fish or both – that he'd risk his life for it-

Swearing, Shu hops off the rock. He doesn't know what he's going to do – even if Rusty Nail did work, which it doesn't, going on the offensive is no longer an option – but what he is sure of is that he can't just stand around when Noi needs help.

But he doesn't make it.

With a sudden burst of electric shock and a swing of its tentacles, the jellyfish knocks the Black Dragon off. Noi loses his dragon form mid-air, crashing to the ground as a young boy once more.

"Noi!" Shu starts to go to him – but has to jump away as the Earth is ripped up from a short distance away and crashes into where he'd been standing. He glares at the jellyfish venomously. "You…" He knows saying anything directed at it is pointless – the chance that it can understand him is pretty low – but he's too enraged to care. If anything happens to him…!

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Noi try to push himself up on shaking arms. For a second, it seems like he succeeds, but then falls back to the ground with a small cry.

"Noi-chan!" Shu hears movement, shoes scuffing against rock-

"Bouquet, stay where you are!" No way is he letting this thing anywhere near her again. Not after what just happened to Noi.

Blue Dragon flares his nostrils, breathing hard through his nose. "This thing is ours, kid!"

A corner of his mouth twitches. Equally true.

Shu stares the jellyfish down – and, strange as it sounds, it's inspiration that hits him. He takes in the shape of it with a new light. If you don't count the tentacles or the staff, the top of it is pretty round… A plan now in mind, his eyes narrow with determination. It's round enough.

Without a word, Shu dashes forward; from Shu's thoughts, Blue Dragon should understand his intent without any need for vocal communication. When they're close enough to the jellyfish, he shouts, "Now!"

And Blue Dragon reaches out and grabs it with both hands.

The pain is instantaneous; it's doubled for Shu, because he feels what damage is being done to both Blue Dragon and himself. Shadow User resistance and the fact that he doesn't have any conductors on him (thank God he'd left his dog tags – and Bouquet's seashell – in his backpack) is probably the only reason he doesn't get fried to a crisp. But he grinds his teeth together and tolerates it; he has to, or this won't work.

"Shu!" It's Bouquet, and she's afraid for him; he can hear it in the way she says his name. He doesn't think about it, doesn't look over, for fear that it will weaken his resolve.

"Blue Dragon," he forces out through his teeth. "Get its tentacles out of the way."

"I'm," his Shadow's hands slide awkwardly on the slippery creature electrocuting them, struggling to get a handle on it, "trying."

"Try harder." This is going to be difficult as it is. Though pain is another story, Blue Dragon's sense of touch is not directly passed over to Shu. Basically, he's going to have to grab onto air, and in order for this to be successful, he'll have to rely entirely on muscle memory. The whole idea of it is kind of chancy, but it's the only thing he's thought of. Gonna have to roll with the punches, here.

"Just about…" And Blue Dragon manages to pin its tentacles to its body, leaving the jellyfish practically balled up. "…Got it!"

Trusting Blue Dragon to follow his motions, Shu stretches out his hand, cupping the air like it's a ball. The Waterscape is your field. His eyes land on a mountain peak in the distance. It's far, but Blue Dragon's raw power – even without any input from Shu – should be enough to compensate. And that's what's going to be your home plate. It'd be easier to picture this if he was hitting the jellyfish with something – a stick would be ideal – but hopefully, this will work out anyway.

Taking a second to check his form, and making sure that he uses his shoulder, Shu pulls his arm back-

-and, for all intents and purposes, he and Blue Dragon pitch the jellyfish.

It sails through the air at an arc, shrinking steadily the farther it goes, before finally reaching the intended destination. It flops slightly upon landing before getting back up, hovering slightly, before spinning around and heading further into the mountains – just as Shu knew that it would. He doesn't know how it ended up here, but at least three different varieties of jellyfish make their home in that mountain range.

Once he's fairly certain that the creature is gone and not coming back, Shu unsummons Blue Dragon and sprints to where Noi is still fighting to sit up. He grabs onto him, afraid to let go. "Easy, kiddo," he murmurs. He can feel the tremors that wrack his body; Shu isn't sure if that's from the injuries or the electricity. He doesn't like the sound of either. "Let me help you up." Noi concedes with no argument.

When his head is resting against Shu, Noi says in a scratchy voice, "You know… If you did more fielding and pitching, you might actually win for a change." Eyes closed, the boy's mouth twitches into a grin. "You suck at batting."

"I do not suck at batting." His muscles tighten with agitation, teeth grinding together. "I hit a homerun in that game."

Noi shrugs tiredly. "Probably a fluke."

"It was a fluke that I lost!" Shu shakes his head. "What do you know about it anyway?! You didn't even know what baseball was!"

"Funny, that. Particularly since I beat you on my first try."

"That was the fluke!"

Noi chuckles a little. "I like to think of that as beginner's luck."


"Ow, Paipai, watch it!" As Noi shouts at the top of his lungs, Shu has to hold back a grin. The kid looks ready to bite Bouquet any second now.

"No one asked you to go and shock yourself on a jellyfish." Bouquet tells him reasonably. Having cleaned the wound on the boy's cheek, she begins bandaging it. "If you're going to get hurt like that, then afterwards you have to sit still and be taken care of."

"I don't feel taken care of," Noi huffs. "That stuff burns, Paipai."

"It burns because it's healing you." She presses the gauze square onto his face. "And Bouquet, by the way."

"Yeah, whatever… Ouch!" Noi flinches away from her as she begins taping it down.

Shu finds himself drawn to the necklace again. Even in the orange lighting from sunset, he recognizes it for what it is. Almost subconsciously, Shu reaches out and lifts it up. "You still have this?" Faintly, he realizes that he sounds a million miles away.

"Wh-what?" Bouquet freezes. He can't quite figure out why-

Then Shu comes back to himself, sees the rosy color flooding Bouquet's cheeks, the inquisitive glance that Noi is sending his way. Swearing mentally, Shu snatches his hand back. Mouth drying out at an alarming rate, Shu swallows, though it does little good. The two of them are continuing to stare at him, and Shu realizes that he won't be able to escape from this situation without saying anything. Feeling suddenly, inexplicably shy, he runs a hand through his hair as says to Bouquet, "You kept my anniversary present."

"Huh?" Bouquet is confused, but the moment passes quickly as realization dawns on her face. "Oh! Of course I did," She smiles down at the cord that hangs from her neck, her free hand reaching up to gently press the little blue disc a few inches below her collarbone. "It means the world to me. I almost never take it off." She giggles. "You probably didn't notice because my pink top covered all of this." She gestures at the general area where the necklace is.

"You wore it… that whole time?" Shu fights against the weird feeling in his stomach. He isn't sure that it's working.

"Pretty much. Well," she amends thoughtfully. "There were some times that I had to take it off, like if I turned invisible or took a bath. But I always put it back on afterwards. I only wore the bracelets once, though," she holds out her wrist; the bracelet is the one that matches her necklace. The one on her left wrist, the hand she's bandaging Noi with, was the present he gave her for her eleventh birthday. "It was back when we were at Bikinice…" She trails off unexpectedly, seeming a little melancholy all of a sudden.

Then it hits him. Bikinice. When I went to see Kluke. Shoot. "Well," Shu says quickly, "it looks good on you." And there's a part of him that isn't just saying that to change the subject; a part of him that means it.

And Bouquet hears it, apparently, because she's beaming at him. "That's so sweet of you, Darling." He feels awkward; some of it must show on his face, because Bouquet lets out a light laugh at whatever she sees in his expression. Much to his relief, she returns her attention to Noi. "Alright, Noi-chan. This should hold you for now." She pats the bandage on his cheek. "I'll change these in the morning, okay?"

"Thanks." Noi mumbles, looking a little flushed. Then, without a word, he gets up and starts walking off.

Bouquet shoots a worried look Shu's way. "Don't worry," he tries to be reassuring. "I'll go see what's up." She nods at this, biting her lip as she stares past him in the direction that Noi has gone.

Shu only takes a few steps before he sees Noi crouch down at the water's edge. With a knowing smile, he goes to join him.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Noi seems surprised and a little skittish at Shu's presence, like he's been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to.

"Relax." Shu chuckles, crouching down beside the other boy. He doesn't give any explanation (none is needed, really) when he leans forward and dips his hand into the water. Some of the fish that had been circling around Noi's already submerged fingers swim over to Shu's curiously. There's a short silence that follows; it's peaceful enough that Shu is reluctant to break it. Eventually, though, he does. "Why'd you do it?"

With his free arm, Noi holds his knees closer. "You know why."

"Almost," Shu allows. "But not quite."

"If you can't figure it out, that's too bad." Noi buries his head against his legs. "You're not going to make me say it."

"I know. Thought I'd try anyway." Shu pulls his hand out of the water, shaking it free of any remaining liquid. The fish that had nibbled at his fingertips swim in a circle. He knows the thought is silly the second it crosses his mind, but he can't help it – it's almost like they're waving goodbye. He stands and stretches, then places a hand on Noi's shoulder. "C'mon, Noi. We've got a little over an hour before night falls. Let's try and put some distance between us and that jellyfish. Just in case, you know."

Noi sighs. There's something wistful and reluctant about the sound of it. "Okay." As he gets up and turns from the water's edge, Shu catches the disappointment that briefly crosses his face.

Shu catches his arm quickly, faces the boy towards him. He kneels down so that their heads are level. "Tell you what. On our way back to Talta Village, we'll make a stop over here. Sound good?"

Green eyes light up, a mixture of joy and anticipation. And when Noi speaks, the dismissive tone he uses sounds only half-hearted. "Yeah, sure. If you want to."

The "nibble fish" seen here are a lot like the nibble fish seen in real life. However, ours usually just eat dead skin, while the ones I've used in the Blue Dragon world will – like Shu says – nibble at just about anything. Again, they favor dead skin, but the difference is that they'll readily nibble on anything put in front of them (though I don't know for sure, I think that the regular fish won't nibble on just anything).

The Magic Jellyfish here is a lot like the one in the game. Think of it sort of like a Boss!Magic Jellyfish.

In my headcanon, Bouquet wears that necklace pretty much all the time in Tenkai; it just never gets seen because she has her shirt on all the time, and when she doesn't, she's either invisible (where she'd have to take everything off) or bathing (would also have to take everything off). The only time it's possibly viewable and she isn't doing one of those two things is Episode 8, where we see the necklace in the first place.

1/1/2013 - Minor additions, edits and corrections have been made. Review replies added to the top. One more thing: Happy New Year, everyone! :)