Mieko woke up in Albedo's home, taking a deep breath. Was that the smell of food? She sat up, slowly going about her morning routine. She finally headed downstairs after tying her hair back in a ponytail, seeing Klee bouncing in her seat. "Big Sis Mie! Good morning!" She smiled wide.
"Good morning, Klee." She replied, walking over and petting the girl's head. "Are you ready to have fun today?"
"Yeah!" She giggled, Albedo bringing over breakfast for them both. "Big brother said he has to finish some work first."
"Oh, work?" She looked up at Albedo.
"An urgent matter. I promise I'll join you two later on today." He replied. Mieko nodded, sitting down with Klee as Albedo headed out. Mieko watched him go before turning to Klee, doing her best to eat even though she didn't at all feel hungry. Mieko went to change, Klee watching as the bluenette did her hair up.
"Shall I do your hair too, Klee?"
"Ooh, yes please!" Klee grinned, moving to sit next to the woman, smiling as she watched Mieko in the mirror. "Big Sis Mie?"
"Yes, Klee?"
"Who else is coming with us?" Klee asked. "I know Big Brother Albedo said he would join us later, but… He said some others were coming along too?"
"You'll see my dear." Mieko chuckled, clipping a couple of accessories in Klee's hair and placing a special hat on the girl's head.
"Is this… For me?" Klee asked, eyes shimmering.
"It is." Mieko smiled. "And I have some other stuff for you too, if you'd like it."
"For me?" Klee turned to Mieko. She looked with wonder at the red and white outfit that Mieko pulled out from the drawer. "I'll go change right now, Big Sis!" She exclaimed, getting up and hurrying to change, Mieko smiling as she left the room. She changed quickly while Klee was gone, throwing on a jacket as well. Once they were both ready, they headed out and picked up the others who agreed to come along.
"So this is the Golden Apple Archipleago?" Mieko asked as she looked around, smiling. It was a beautiful place, but it also seemed like a bit of a crazy place, considering the mode of transport. Klee immediately rushed off, Razor following to keep an eye on her. Of the people they brought with them, Mona was the only one to hang back with Mieko.
"It's quite a place." Mona said as Mieko sat down. "You went through so much trouble again, making things for us…"
"I did so simply to please Klee." She smiled at the astrologer in front of her. "Besides, I can handle things like this, at least." she mumbled. "If not, what use am I?"
"You're clearly exhausted."
"It's just a lack of sleep."
"Funny. Albedo tells me you're sleeping a lot more than normal." Mona stated, noting the woman averting her eyes. "Miss Mie… Are you well and truly alright?"
"I don't know, Mona." she stated. "Every doctor has been unable to give me a proper answer…"
"I'm no doctor, but… May I try something?"
"Scrying?" Mieko asked as Mona summoned her scrying glass, Mieko just sitting and waiting. Mona made a face, though, shaking her head.
"Why is it so blurry?" She grumbled. "It's like there's a dense fog in the way…"
"Ah, is there?" she asked, smiling. "Thank you for the attempt."
"I will try again later." Mona replied.
"Then for now, go have fun." Mieko said. "I'll get started on making lunch for everyone." She sent Mona off, taking a deep breath and shaking her head as she went to start cooking, hearing the record player start up.
"Well hello!" A cheerful woman's voice emerged from the record player, Mieko nearly dropping the ingredients and turning to the voice. "So sorry, didn't mean to startle you~ You must be Mieko~"
"Ah… Miss Alice…?" She asked, blinking a few times. "Yes, um, it's a pleasure to meet you…?"
"Well, I'm only sorry it couldn't be in person dear. I'll have to run shortly, but I wanted to at least get as chance to talk to you. Albedo told me you've been feeling unwell and have been very busy."
"Did he?" Mie smiled a little. "I'm sure it's nothing, though."
"And if I were to tell you that I am certain that it is something?" Mieko took a deep breath after Alice's words, shaking her head. "Oh, and I have to run, goodbye for now~" And with that, the noise stopped. Mieko put a hand over her heart, gripping the fabric covering her chest.
"Miss Alice is certain, is she?" She asked softly, shaking her head again. "Ahh, my nerves are frayed already…" She scolded herself before getting back to her cooking, trying to ease her own mind about the matter while she worked. After lunch was done, the woman went to lay down, the heat of the day starting to get to her. "Ahh, I used to be able to run around all day training with grandfather, and now this?" She asked herself. "What is wrong with me?"
"Mie?" She looked up and smiled when she saw Albedo standing there.
"Welcome." She said, sitting up slowly.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Albedo asked, sitting next to her.
"No, just… Thinking." She explained what had happened, Albedo nodding his head.
"I see… So Alice said something. Then it really must be abnormal." He sighed. Mieko nodded, the pair sitting in silence for a while before Albedo helped Mieko up from her seat. "Let's go find somewhere else to lay down."
"Oh?" She tilted her head. "Alright." They wandered to a remote corner of the island and Albedo sat down under the tree there, Mieko moving to sit as well. Albedo pulled her down suddenly, making Mieko gasp. "Is… Something wrong?" she asked.
"My lap isn't as comfortable as yours, but please lay down." He stated, taking out a book. "I want you to try your best to rest." He pet her head gently and Mieko smiled a little. He was trying to return the favor she did him a few times, way back when. She made herself comfortable, smiling up at him.
"You don't have to pet my head, I'm sure it's sweaty." She said as he continued to run his fingers through her hair. He didn't reply, but instead he said something that made her quirk an eyebrow.
"Did you know that recently there have been reports from mariners in the area about a giant crab?"
"A giant crab?"
"Yes, there's apparently a rumor that people have been seeing giant crabs roaming around the area as they sail ships by, and as they work on developing the sea routes around here." Albedo replied, teasing her hair through his fingers. "I have heard that it's around the same height as a standard ship is long, perhaps a bit larger."
"Eeeh, such a monster exists around here and you haven't seen it before?" She questioned. "Are you curious about it?"
"A bit, yes." He replied, flipping his book page. "Are you interested?"
"It sounds like it might be tasty~" She smiled happily. Albedo smiled a little at the answer.
"Will you be alright? It's quite hot out. I can always go and get you an umbrella."
"I'll be okay~ There's enough water around here where I won't overheat too easily, so long as I remember to utilize it." She chuckled. "Shall we ask the others to help?"
"It's been seen spewing fire, likely a Pyro type, so it would be best if we had means to fight that power…" He looked down at her, seeing that she had her eyes closed. It still baffled him, how relaxed she was able to feel in his presence. "You must still be tired…" He added.
"Don't worry about me so much." She opened her eyes, the purple duller than what Albedo was used to, but she seemed at least to be enjoying herself. "You'll get wrinkles." She chuckled. Albedo knew how exhausted she was, and he could see her slowly deteriorating. It upset him in a way he didn't understand. The one thing he knew and understood through all these strange, muddled feelings was that he didn't want to lose her.
"I don't think that's possible." He replied, still playing with her hair. "And it's clear you haven't been well. That's why the last doctor suggested that you come out on a vacation, isn't it?" He reminded her, covering her eyes with his hand. "Go to sleep, darling. I'll wake you later."
"Hmm, you're still worrying." She replied, smiling still. He felt her eyelashes brush against his hand. "Albedo, I promise, I'll be okay… I promise, okay?" She smiled. Albedo didn't answer, and soon she fell asleep again. He removed his hand and stared down at her. Even if the doctors didn't know what was wrong, Albedo kept trying everything he could to help.
"Potions, books… Nothing works." He had seen other people suffer through burnout, but this… Whatever this was, it wasn't normal. "If Teacher or Miss Alice were here… Maybe then I could find out what's going on…" He muttered. "Whatever this is… Don't slip away, Mie… Please…"
Mieko awoke hours later, jumping with a start when she realized it was night time, and… "Hey, bring the claw this way!"
"Make sure the fire is hot!"
"Ah, Big Sis is awake!" Mieko put on her glasses just in time to see Klee jumping up at her, clinging. "Big sis Mie, did you sleep okay?"
"Klee…?" She had to think about where she was, looking up when she realized that the others were dragging giant crab parts onto the beach. "What happened…?"
"You slept right through it." Mona said. "This giant crab came out of nowhere and attacked."
"I… What?" She looked around in shock, eyes landing on Albedo putting a bandage on Razor's injury. She put Klee down and went right over to them, Albedo catching her as she tripped over herself.
"Mimi, are you okay?"
"I…" Her hands shook as she took Razor's injured arm, tears starting to bubble over. "Damn it, I can't believe this…" She shook her head. "I'm sorry… I should have… Why didn't I wake up?"
"You needed the rest, Mie."
"I have never once slept through an attack, Albedo." She stated, Razor leaning against her arm in an attempt to comfort her. "And someone got hurt…"
"You can't blame yourself."
"I'm not blaming me, I'm blaming whatever is wrong with me." She retorted.
"Mimi, I got hurt to protect. Just like Mimi did for me." Razor replied. "No tears. Mimi is okay." He pressed his forehead against her shoulder. "Mimi is safe… We protect Mimi."
"We…?" She turned suddenly to Albedo, seeing that he was injured as well. It was minor, but even then. She bit her lip, taking a deep breath to settle herself. "I can't believe you two." She said, pulling Albedo into a one-armed hug, Razor with the other. "Thank you…" She said, holding her tears back as well as she could. "Thank you for protecting me."
After returning from the Golden Apple Archipelago, Mieko was working hard on preparing the shop to sell, shaking her head every time she thought about it. Her home of nearly 10 years… Her workshop… The place she poured her heart into. Her blood, sweat, and tears. The place that housed so many memories, the place she had met so many… She sighed, sitting down on the couch. "Do you want to bring that with us?" Albedo's voice made her jump, the blue-haired woman whipping around to see him standing there. "Did I startle you?"
"I thought you were working." She said, taking a deep breath. "I didn't even hear you come in." She was going to stand up when he came around the couch, sitting next to her. "Are you alright?" She asked, noting the look on his face.
"I should ask you that." He replied, tugging her gently into laying down on his lap. "You look like you didn't sleep again."
"I didn't." She replied. "It's too much to think about…" She made a face, making Albedo smile, just a little. "Plus. Since you were away for 3 days working, it's hard to stop myself from thinking too much…"
"Well, now that I'm back, take a nap." He said, taking her hand, and intertwining their fingers. "I'll be right here."
"But you must be busy…" She said, Albedo helping her lean back as he noticed her eyes closing.
"Get some rest, darling." He whispered, Mieko soon dozing off in his lap, Albedo letting out a held breath. She was so exhausted that all it seemed to take to put her to sleep was her being comfortable, and for him to be present. Sometimes she would sleep for a very long time, sometimes only for half an hour. He pondered this while she rested, leaning over to look at her face. Fast asleep, but he knew it wasn't going to be enough. "My Mie…" He stared at her for a while, admiring her. "Your trust in me still baffles me… How is it that you can fall asleep so easily? Though, I suppose I can't talk, since I do the same around you…" He leaned over, kissing her cheek, still holding her hand. "What about you makes me want to stay with you?" At this she made a soft noise in her sleep, squeezing his hand and mumbling incoherently. "Why is it that you fascinate me?" He asked once she had settled down. Albedo smiled as she shifted, pulling her onto the couch further, laying her down on top of him. "One day, perhaps, I'll find out… But I'm almost hoping I don't…" He chuckled a little as she clung to him in her sleep. "I want to keep studying you, Mie… I want to know everything…"
"Albedo, shhh, sleepy time." She grumbled, looking up at him.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" He teased, kissing her forehead. "Go back to sleep." He added, Mieko pouting at him.
"Only if you sleep too."
Once moved out of the shop, Mieko and Albedo had been quietly living in the same space for about a week when it started to happen.
"Mie, are you alright?" Mieko gave an incoherent grumble as she stood against the wall. "Dizzy? Here, lean on me." He let her lean towards him before scooping her into his arms. "Up you go. I'll carry you to our room, so you can lay down." She grumbled more, but clung to Albedo, clearly not feeling well. Albedo rubbed her back and carried her to their room, placing her gently down on the bed. She moved to lay down, Albedo helping her take her hair down and tucking her in. "Get some rest."
"I'm sorry…" she muttered, Albedo petting her head.
"Don't be. I love you, Mie, my darling."
"Love you too…" she managed before she went quiet, curling up in their bed. After she fell asleep, Albedo sighed softly to himself.
"Mie… My beautiful Mie… Please, please don't ever leave me." he said. Any affliction, any discomfort, it made him worry about her. She always pushed herself too hard, and was stubborn about taking breaks. Albedo wondered how she wasn't in worse shape when they met, if she'd been at her business like this for 4 or more years alone. By now it was nearly double that. He paused, realizing that it had been almost 4 years since they had gone on their first date, but that wasn't important at the moment. He only hoped that she would be able to rest well. But now her physical health was rapidly declining too, and still the doctors had no idea how to help. "I wonder if traveler might know?" He mused to himself.
((New chapter loaded~ Thanks for your patience~ I got sick and had a hard time writing for a while after because I couldn't stop coughing. But now that we're back, probably one chapter a month unless my writing brain gets really restless?
I hope you guys are enjoying this story, I promise I'll do my best to get more chapters out soon.
-Winter Cheshire))