Dreams of the Tempest

[Nayt]

So, then, they were roommates for awhile, and now they could not be roommates anymore. Made sense! She could completely relate, even.

"Ohhhh," Akizets trailed off and thought for a second, "Yeah, umm, it's really tough to be roommates like that! I remember when my dad was doing all this stuff to Reru's room and he had to stay with me for a week. It was super lousy. He never left me alone! He just kept botherin' and botherin' . . ."

Which really wasn't any different from now, as far as she was concerned. Sure, Oboreru grew up fast, but he never really stopped clinging to her. All the time, too! It was like she was taking their mom's place or something! Which was horrible, because their mom might've been a lousy cook, but Akizetsumei was even worse.

"Aaaaand then they had to push it back by a couple weeks I think," Akizets continued, "So Reru just kept living with me. He was gonna drive me crazy, so I stole Tou's room this one day, and maaaaaan, he complained sooo much. It was just-- it was constant! He just kept on grumping and whining and grumping, but what'd he know? He didn't have to stay with Reru for weeks. He grumped all day, and dad still made him sleep on the couch that night."

Akizets concluded that with a hand on her hip and a dignified look of victory. She didn't get her way around Toushikyo too often, after all.

[Zach Kaiser]

If it was possible for someone's speech alone to make you dizzy, it would have happened to Eld listening to that story. Akizetsumei had a habit of talking rapidly once she got a ways into something, and the way her pitch and tone shifted frequently, sounding almost like she was feeling what she'd felt at the time just as freshly as when she'd first experienced it. It was cute, but there were times when it made him feel like he was going cross-eyed.

At least it got her off the topic of why he and Etsu could no longer share a room.

"I think it's normal for kids to want to hang around an older sibling, I think." He didn't have any siblings himself, but while Emily may not always get along with her sister she still looked up to her, he suspected. (Though knowing her she'd never admit it.) "There was probably a time when you were tugging at Kyo, wanting him to play with you," he teased lightly.

[Nayt]

"No waaay," Akizets protested, "Tou has always been a butt."

Nope. No way, no how. She'd never cling to Toushikyo! Every single memory she ever had of him was him being mean about something or the other, even when she was really little . . .

"When I was five I think, he took all my toys," she recounted, "hid them everywhere through the house! He didn't play with them, just hid them."

So, she wasn't bitter about that anymore, but it was still pretty cruel to do to a five year old! (Again, though, Akizetsumei failed to see the truth of the matter regarding her big brother).

"He doesn't run, he doesn't climb, he doesn't hike, he doesn't go on walks; he never even played with toys when he was little." Akizets stated pointedly, paused for a second, then trailed off with: "Laina, though . . ."

She didn't have the chance to talk about her big sister, though. Just as she was about to start thinking out loud, she realized that they were at the ranch house already.

[Zach Kaiser]

Knowing Toushikyo that was probably his idea of playing with her, but he figured even if mentioning that would probably not make Akizetsumei feel any better about it.

He was actually kind of curious about her sister, as he'd been just a kid when she'd left the Terra household to travel as a musician, but as they'd arrived at their destination he was forced to shelve his curiosity for a later date.

Rather than knock on the door Eld simply went around to where the horses were, which was the most likely place where Sarah was, whom they needed to talk to about renting a horse. She'd probably know where Etsu was at, too.

[Nayt]

Akizets was a wee bit confused when Eld circumvented the ranch house altogether-- but hey, he knew where she was going better than she.

Sarah was out back, much to Eld's credit, but she wasn't alone. Etsu was out there, too. They were currently working on rounding up Stewart, who was out grazing a few moments ago. Etsu wasn't really all that useful; Sarah was the one that was skilled with animals, after all. She was still out there, though, and in dirty work clothes, to boot. Jeans, a sweater, and a dirty undershirt, just like Sarah (in fact, these were Sarah's clothes Etsu was wearing; Etsu had to wear a belt to get the pants to fit right).

Etsu noticed Eld and Akizets approaching before Sarah did. At first, she tilted her head in confusion. Then she saw that Eld and Akizetsumei was holding hands . . .

Once she got Stewart back into the stables, Sarah called for Etsu to come help her out-- only to peek her head outside and see Eld and Akizets, too. Rather than get straight to work, she hopped out of the barn and shut the gate behind her. Sarah grinned wide.

"Hey there, lovebirds!" she called out to them.

[Zach Kaiser]

Eld was more than a little surprised to see Etsu at work. Was Sarah making her work for some reason, or was she just that bored that she volunteered? He didn't mind physical labor if it was necessary, but it wasn't exactly his first choice for passing the time.

"Hi. Ho--w-wait, how did you...?" he trailed off, suddenly getting a little embarrassed. Had Kyo come by and spilled the beans or something? It seemed unlikely, but he wouldn't put it past Kyo to do that for the sake of making he and Akizetsumei feel awkward.

It did not occur to him that he was still holding her hand, or that it would be a tip off even if he did notice.

[Nayt]

"A-ah, ummmm, eh-- heh . . ." Akizets bashfully scratched the back of her neck with her free hand.

Sarah furrowed her brow and eyed Eld confusedly. Was he really so dense to not notice? Even Etsu noticed. Sarah looked to her right questioningly, and yep, there it was, it was pretty clear to her that Etsu noticed. Etsu would not look contemplative and borderline disappointed for no reason, after all.

"Tsukimono-kun . . ." Etsu whispered as she pointed between Eld and Akizets, motioning at how they were currently holding eachother's hands.

And not in a casual and friendly way, either. No, their fingers were interlaced and everything. Not to mention, Akizetsumei's face was beat red and she was smiling like she'd won the lottery. The way she carried herself, it was as if she was ready to burst into a fit of giggling at all times.

[Zach Kaiser]

"Huh?" Eld followed Etsu's pointing to his hand, still hold Akizetsumei's. While he had trouble believing they could just tell from that--it would make them suspicious, certainly, but it wouldn't be a guarantee--the way she looked he conceded probably would have made it obvious even if they weren't holding hands.

"O-Oh, right. Um...yeah." He wasn't sure what else to say about it, but he got the impression from Etsu's expression that he should probably talk to her later. At the very least, she'd be happy to know that Akizetsumei was cured. But for now, the message. "Etsu, your room should be finished by tonight. Oh, and sometime soon I'm supposed to take you to Galaens to shop for decorations and such."

[Nayt]

Oh, hey. Decorating! Akizets loved decorating. She considered chiming in and offering to help out, but it seemed Eld, Etsu, and Sarah were sharing a dialogue, and . . . well, Akizetsumei didn't want to interrupt. It would've been incredibly rude.

Etsu quirked a brow. "Sou desu ka?"

Her aunt and uncle were actually going to pay for decorations? That she picked out, specifically? That was . . . surprising, to say the least, especially considering how badly she yelled at Urikuse the last time she was in the house. Why they'd continue to go out of their way for her, she had no idea.

"Awww," Sarah frowned.

She reached over, wrapped her arm around Etsu, and much to Etsu's surprise, yanked her over. Etsu yelped meekly, but wasn't physically harmed or anything.

"Does that mean Etsu's not gonna stay with me anymore?" Sarah asked, pouting.

"A-- ano, n- no, no I wir-rr stir-rr stay here, ano . . . sometime," Etsu replied awkwardly.

[Zach Kaiser]

"You can always come visit if you have free time, too," he told Sarah. "Anyway, Ms. Vaerbond, I think we'd like to rent a horse for awhile. Actually," he said as he turned toward to Akizetsumei, "would you like your own, or do you want to ride together?"

It would be more of a boyfriend/girlfriend thing to ride together, but he wasn't abject to each of them getting their own if that what she preferred. Given the way she raced Sarah way back when (it was only, what, a month and a half or so ago? But it seemed like ages now) he figured it was possible.

[Nayt]

"We can ride together," Akizets said cheerily.

Naturally, this couple here would want to go horseback riding. Sarah couldn't think of a more romantic thing to do for a new couple, honestly. Sarah let go of Etsu and took a step back. She motioned Etsu towards the barn, and though it took a second of confusion, she finally got the hint, and went off to prepare a horse.

"Why certainly, Mister Tsukimono," Sarah said in a mock lady-like tone. She'd have even done a curtsy if the simple act alone wouldn't have made her vomit in her mouth. "That'll just be ten imaginary silver pieces."

Sarah put her hand out so that they may finish this exchange of imaginary currency, because she wasn't going to charge her best friend to ride one of her horses around. Sure, if he was going to Galaens, carrying any sort of heavy load around, or both, she'd charge him accordingly. But, what, two hundred thirty total pounds? That wasn't going to break any of her horses' backs.

Etsu brought Stewart back out by the reins. Once their exchange of imaginary money was done and over with, Sarah turned around, and wasn't particularly pleased with Etsu's choice in horses.

"Ahh, uh, yeah, probably not Stewart," Sarah cleared her throat.

But Akizets wasn't having any of that. She actually really liked Stewart. He wasn't the horse that Sarah taught her on, but Stewart was the first horse she'd ever ridden, and he was very receptive and calm until he was spooked.

"N-- no, it's totally fine!" Akizets protested innocently.

Sarah wrinkled her brow. Skeptically, she said almost under her breath, "But he . . . y'know . . ."

"No, that's okay. I really like Stewart. He's a sweetie," Akizets declared as she took a few steps forward to pet Stewart just above his snout.

[Zach Kaiser]

"It's not like I can't afford it," Eld mumbled as he pretended to give Sarah money. He would have argued the point further, but the fact was it would be an argument that had been repeated many, many times, and one he never won.

He too was a little nervous when Etsu brought Stewart out, but if Akizetsumei was fine with it then he didn't see a problem. "I'll be with her, so even if something spooks him we should be fine," he assured Sarah. Akizetsumei's problem was her lack of strength, which was going to give her trouble if the horse started to panic or otherwise didn't want to listen to her. Eld wasn't exactly Mr. Muscles himself, but he was still quite a bit stronger than she was.

[Nayt]

Eld's constant loss in those debates came from one specific issue: Eld himself did not have a job. He did not make money on his own. Instead, he pulled from a general savings that his parents established. Ideally, those savings were meant for Eld's college career. Sarah absolutely refused to take anything from that. If Eld ever really wanted to pay her back for something or the rather, he'd just have to do so without money. Or stop being so lazy and actually get a job. Either worked for her.

Though, if he went and got a job, became a working man and all that, it no longer mattered how attractive Sarah might have found that. Oh well.

"Well, uh, all righty, then. Just take it easy, okay?" Sarah requested.

"We will," Akizets said with a smile.

And with that, they hopped on up-- Eld, first, who then helped Akizets climb onto the horse's back. Stewart was used to this and accepted the two of them on his back. Akizets sat behind Eld and wrapped her arms around his waist. She might have taken lessons recently, but she kind of wanted to sit like that; behind Eld, where she could hold onto him, lean on him, and listen to his heart beat through his back. It was just an all around nice idea to her. So long as they were like that, it hardly mattered where they went . . .

[Zach Kaiser]

As Eld helped Akizetsumei up, he was mildly surprised that she wanted to sit behind him. With her interest in riding, he figured she'd want to be in control (Eld would almost certainly not be going as fast as she wanted) and he'd just end up steadying her in case something spooked Stewart. Not that he minded being the driver, but he hoped she wouldn't be bored.

He thanked Sarah for the horse, and said a temporary goodbye to her and Etsu, and started out. The Vaerbond Ranch took up a good amount of property; there certainly wasn't any lack of room for them to ride.

After a few minutes it, Eld recalled something that had stuck in his mind from earlier. "Hey, Akizetsumei...what's your sister like? I'm not sure I've ever met her." He might have seen her in passing, but by the time he would have been old enough to take note and recognize her she'd already left town.

[Nayt]

And indeed, Akizetsumei was happy to just be up there with him. They didn't even need to talk! She was there, he was there, she was holding onto him, and she could very easily hear Eld's heart with her ear pressed up against her back. After a couple of minutes, she even started to pat it out, tapping her hand upon Eld's belly every time his heart beat. She kept the rhythm quite well, actually. Soon enough, though, Eld broke the silence, and Akizetsumei perked her head up a bit. That was an odd question!

"Hm? Laina?" Akizets asked rhetorically.

But it certainly wasn't one she was outright unwilling to talk about. Akizets loved her big sister to death, and she missed her every day she was gone.

"Laina is suuuuper cool," Akizets exclaimed, "She's just . . . like . . . ummmmmm . . ."

Then she trailed off, as suddenly the girl realized she had a million and one ways to talk about her big sister, and she probably couldn't fit all that in one sentence.

"She goes wherever she wants and does whatever she wants," Akizets said, figuring this explained it the best, "And she was always like that, too. Eeeeven before she, umm, lefttobecomeamusicianwhichiscompletelyawesome. But yeah! She's always known what she's wanted to do, y'know? Like-- liiike-- like she's always wanted to play music, right? My dad told me she started playing violin just outta school. And she never let anyone tell her different, either! If someone told her she'd never make money doin' that, she'd say 'though I might be broke, I will be happy,' and they'd have nothin' to say about that! Oh! Oh! Aaaand-- and she taught me everything I've ever known to do, y'know? Like climbing and running and stuff. She loved to explore, and she'd always bring me along! She's just-- she's super nice and super cool; really talented and, um, and really strong, too. All around strong. No one can push her around."

Definitely someone for a thirteen year old girl to idolize, that was for sure. And probably for the better, too. A strong willed and self confident young woman was a very positive idol for a young girl.