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Two Fates Meet. Part Two: Welcome to Gaia |
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Ceencho looked down the road as they walked. "I don't recognize this area at all...I'm worried. What if we're in a completely different town?" She said, her voice shaking slightly. "SMT?" She said, looking back. He'd been silent for some time now. "Hey, where are you?" She asked, looking around now in confusion.
SMT was dragging behind. His hands were throbbing painfully, and he really wanted to get some ice to numb the pain. Even water would be nice. But, after a moment or two, he finally stopped walking. "Ice..."
"Meow?" A gray and white cat came over to him, then jumped onto a fountain nearby, pulling the "cat-walk" as if to say, "Hey, stupid. Look at this."
Looking at the cat, he smiled. "Kitty!" he exclaimed, almost child like. He immidealy followed it to the fountain, and smiled. "Thank you, kitty..." He stuck his hands into the fountain, and gasped happily. "Ahh... much better."
"Yo! 'Sup, babe?" A voice rang through the area as Ceencho looked aruond. "Do I know you?" She asked, looking at the strange man that'd come up. "Not yet, but why don'cha come along with me so you can?" He said, wrapping one arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him. "I....I must go!" She said, slipping out of his grasp and running off. As she reached a nicer looking area, she noticed SMT.
Once his hands started to feel better, SMT removed his dragon helmet, setting it next to the fountain. He started to splash his face with the cool water, sighing. "I lost Ceencho..." he said, as he sat at the edge of the fountain.
"SMT?" Ceencho said, walking up beside him. She could still feel the guy on her, even when he was far behind. Brrr.
"Hi!" he said with a wave. But, SMT could tell something was wrong. "What is it?" He looked around for anyone suspicious, as he put his helmet back over his head.
"...I ran into a weird blond guy. He was wearing pants that were really low-cut." She shivered. "Way too much muscle, too."
SMT gasped, knowing of a man that Ceencho was describing. "Was he really tan? Almost an orange color?" If she said yes, who knows what his reaction would be. But, it would probably be one of shock, going by the look plastered on his face at the moment.
"Um...yes, actually. And he was wearing a funny shirt and necklace." She shivered and said, "What's wrong?"
SMT blinked a few times, before he clapped a hand over his mouth, to stop from screaming. "Yamanba!" He quickly calmed down, before shaking his head. "That's the yamanba, Liam. He hits on anything that moves..."
"...Did he...hit on you, too?" She asked, watching the cat walk into a store.
"No, because he scared me and I ran out of the store. I don't know if he's that way... but I'm guessing," SMT stated, now rather calm. "He scares me either way, though."
"I ran into him on the street. He runs a store?" She shivered. "Better not go there, then..."
SMT nodded lightly. "Yeah. In Aekea. I only went there to buy some boots, but he scared me off before I could buy them. I managed to get my sister to go for me... I don't know what happened, but she came back, shaking her hand around." He shrugged. "He probably hit on her, and she hit back..."
"Ew..." She said, sitting on the fountain and playing with the water.
SMT shook his head. "No, I mean literally hit him. She hates it when she's hit on." He laughed to himself, as he looked around. "I wonder if we should ask for directions..."
"Hmmm...Well, I'm not going to talk to him." She said with another shiver. "Who do we ask?"
"Umm..." he thought for a moment, as he continued to look around. He spotted a young blond haired boy, dressed rather nicely, and with bushy eyebrows. "Him!" He smiled, as he skipped off. "I have met him before."
"Whom?" Ceencho said, following after him. "Whom do you speak of?" When they reached the man, she blinked and looked up at him. He did seem to be nice, but...who was this?
"Gino!" SMT shouted aloud, as the boy turned around, to reply back. "Yes?" he asked, a furry eyebrow raising, not knowing who SMT was, or at least not remembering him. "Who are you?" SMT sighed, shaking his head. "It's me, Sweaty Man-Thong. I met you before..." Gino thought for a moment, and then nodded. "I remember that name. Too weird not to remember."
"That's not very nice. And who're you?" Ceencho asked, crossing her arms over her chest. A chilly wind was beginning to blow.
Gino shook his head lightly. "I didn't mean it to be, and I am sorry if it did." SMT laughed, not taking the comment in harm. "I get that a lot, so don't worry about it, Gino." Gino nodded, before he looked to Ceencho. "I am Gino Gambino. And you are?" he asked, as his hair blew about in the wind.
"Ceencho Vazenia Holiness. Just call me Ceencho, Mr. Gambino." She smiled and nodded. "You are a friend of SMT's?"
Gino and SMT shook their heads, but SMT spoke. "No, just acquaintances. I live close to him. We spoke once, since his family owns the island I live on. And the house..." Gino nods. "That is correct. But I was younger back then..." He then smiled brightly. "Why did you call me, Mr. Man-Thong, and Ceencho?"
"Well, we were kidnapped, and we can't seem to find our way home, so we decided to look for someone we knew. Perhaps you might be able to help us?" She says, smiling.
Gino nodded. "Oh, well you're in Barton Town, now. The Isle is north of here, past the lake, and the port." SMT smiled, and shook Gino's hand. "Thanks!" Gino shook his head. "But, there won't be a boat there for at least an few hours, even when you make it to the port. Boats only come in the morning and in the evening... well, except for my personal boat." SMT sighed. "I have to get home, to feed my pets. And so Sparkly won't rip my head off about not being home all day..."
"Would she mind a visitor?" Ceencho asked. "Or, should I stay with Mr. Gambino, with his permission, of course."
"Oh, she doesn't live with me. She lives next to me," SMT said, almost nervously. Gino tilted his head. "You mean the blue haired girl with buck teeth? The one that is always screaming? She's your sister?" he said, rather shocked. SMT nodded. "Yeah. She's actually my twin..." Gino shook his head. "Not possible. She's too... mean to be related to you." SMT tilted his head, looking confused. "Okay..."
"I don't even know this girl, so I am not sure whom you speak of." Ceencho said, looking a little bothered. "Where can I stay, while I am unsure of where my home is?"
"Hey, babe!" The man from earlier ran up to Ceencho. "Why'd you suddenly run off, huh?" He asked, placing his hands at his exposed hips. "I thought that you might've gotten in trouble." Then he noticed Gino. "Oooh. Is she with you, sir?" He asked, looking at her and smiling.
SMT was about to say that Ceencho could stay with him, when he heard Liam. "...." He bit his lip, trying not to scream, but he couldn't hold it for long. "Eeeyah!" He ran behind Gino, and curled up. "Yamanba!" He pointed at Liam, shaking. Gino blinked a couple of times, watching as SMT ran around. "Huh?" He then turned his attention to Liam. "Umm... no... I think she is travelling with Mr. Man-Thong."
"Oh. Well, would you mind if I showed her around, 'Mr. Man-thong'?" He placed a hand on Ceencho's shoulder, making her wince. She'd never liked being touched suddenly.
SMT squeaked in fear, not being able to speak. Gino sighed, watching the entire ordeal. But, another voice piped up, a female voice. "Quit scaring my brother, yamanba." A skinny, pale female, clad in a elegant gothic shirt with ripped jeans and platform creepers waltzed over to the group. She had blue hair, red eyes, and an black umbrella in one hand, and a ciggerete in the other. "And by the look on her face, she doesn't like you." She held up her umbrella, holding it like a weapon. "So, remove your slimy hand, Liam, before I beat you down again."
"No, don't fight!" Ceencho piped up, blocking her from attacking Liam. Liam found this amusing. "You just got lucky last time, Sparkly." He said, letting go off Ceencho. "Let's do it! Right here, right now." He grinned. Ceencho stomped her foot. "No! No violence!" She glared at the two of them, then looked at Gino and SMT. "Do they fight all the time?"
Gino shrugged. "All I know is that she hates Liam." He then stepped to the side to reveal SMT, who was nodding. "Yes. Even more so when Liam hits on a girl, and it's obvious they don't like him." He stood up, and grabbed Sparkly's arm. "No fighting!" Sparkly shook him off, as she took a drag from her cig. She looked to Ceencho, shaking her head. "No! He needs to learn a lesson about not hitting on everything that has a chest. I guess last time he didn't get the message." She rolled up her sleeves, removing all her jewelry, and tossing aside her parasol. She took another drag, before dropping her smoke and stomping it out. "Just so you know, that wasn't luck last time. That was skill."
"Yo, who said I hit on 'everything who has a chest?' Only the pretty girls are my types." He grinned at Ceencho. Ceencho sighed and summoned up her staff. "Don't make me force you to stop." She said, starting up in a dancing pose. Liam grew interested. "Y'know, now I WANT to fight her." He said, turning to Sparkly. "Let's do this!"
"Shallow," Sparkly said, as she shook her head. "But, I'm not shocked that you would say that." Gino shook his head, becoming slightly irritated with the entire ordeal. "Stop it!" He grabbed Sparkly's arm, and Sparkly gasped. She became silent for a moment, before she shook her head. "Fine..." She closed her eyes, removing her arm from Gino's grasp. "Just this once." She sighed, and muttered to herself, as she picked up her jewelry and parasol. SMT tilted his head. "How in the...?" Sparkly backing down was obviously shocking to him. And it was, since she never did such a thing. "I think you don't have to cast a spell anymore, Ceencho."
"Okay..." Ceencho said, making her staff vanish and walking over. "Thank you for stopping them, Mr. Gambino. I don't like to use force, so I was reluctant to..." She smiled, and Liam shrugged and said, "Okay, cutie. But if you're ever in Aekea again, come by my shop, 'k? See ya." He waved and walked off.
Gino smiled, and rubbed the back of his head. "I didn't expect that to work, honestly." Sparkly opened her parasol, and held it over her head. She reached into her blouse, and pulled out a small metal box. "It won't work again." She pulled out another cig and lit it, before she walked past the Gambino. "Since I plan on killing that weakness." She looked to SMT. "Oh, and brother? Don't bother coming home. Consider yourself locked out for tonight." She put the cigarette between her lips and walked off. SMT started to whimper. "Aww... I knew I shouldn't have tried to stop her..."
Ceencho grew angry and walked after her, pulling out her staff. "Hey!" She said, walking in front of her. "He was only trying to help! You have no right to lock him out of his own home!" She raised her staff. "Allow him back inside, or I'll make you regret it." She said in a low tone.
Sparkly stopped, her parasol closing. "You're not from around here, are you, girly?" She sounded very upset. "Because anyone that remotely knows me wouldn't dare threaten me." With a smirk, she pushed Ceencho aside with her parasol. "Because of you and your mouth, brother is being locked out for the rest of the day tommorow, as well as tonight. If you keep talking, you'll be punished, too." SMT followed Ceencho, trying to stop her. But, before he knew it, it was too late. "Nooo!" he cried out, grabbing Ceencho. "Don't provoke Spark!"
She shook him off. "Don't threaten me, Ms. Sparkly. Because I will not be threatened." She started up her dance, growing a small wind tunnel as she did so. "If you punish him for what I do, you will only feel my anger!" She said, spinning her staff in a circle as she danced. People came out of their houses, curious as to who this strange girl was. And why she was fighting Sparkly.
SMT shook his head, whimpering. "No!" Sparkly shook her head, as she took note of the wind tunnel and the dancing. "A mage?" She quickly swung her parasol at Ceencho, aiming for her knees. "Spells take too long to cast. You should know that." Gino quickly arrived, shaking his head. "Miss Ceencho, if Mr. Man-Thong is kicked out tonight, he can stay with me... I have rooms to spare."
Ceencho avoided the attack, but then calmed as Gino ran up. "Okay. But, next time, I'm not letting her off easy." She glared at her, then walked over. "I'm sorry. I was just standing up for my friend." She smiled. A girl with purple hair and red eyes said, "That was so cool! " Among her were others who were complimenting Ceencho on her challenge. "Um..." Ceencho said, not used to this crowd.
Sparkly shook her head, as she headed home. "Two days, brother." SMT looked to Ceencho, and smiled. "Thanks for standing up for me." He quickly hugged her tightly. "And now, I have a place to stay, also." Gino, meanwhile, stepped back a bit from the crowd, not wanting to be noticed.
"You're welcome, SMT. Would it be too much trouble for me to stay with you as well, Mr. Gambino?" She asked, walking over to him. The girl with purple hair followed. "I'm Amani!" She said, holding out a hand. "Nice to meet you!" Ceencho blinked. "My name is Ceencho Vazenia Holiness. Please refer to me as Ceencho." She said, smilng and taking her hand.
Gino nodded. "Yes, you may stay with me." SMT smiled. "That's great!" He adjusted his helmet, as he sighed. "I hope Spark feeds Bai and Chuu... Muu doesn't need to eat..."
She smiled. "Thank you." Then she turned to Amani. "Maybe we can talk again sometime? I want to escape the crowd." She said in a low voice. Then she smiled and turned to SMT and Gino. "Shall we go, then?"
Gino nodded. "Sure, I'm done in Barton..." He started to head off to the port. SMT nodded, following along behind Gino. "Okay!" He skipped along, humming cheerfully.
She smiled and followed along, happy that SMT was so cheerful. "Where do you live, Mr. Gambino?"
Gino walked past a small shack, and huge lake. Turning to Ceencho, he smiled. "Gambino's Mansion, on the Isle of Gambino." SMT whispered to Ceencho. "Did I mention he the richest person around?" he said with a small giggle.
"No, you didn't." She said, looking up at him. "That's pretty impressive." She smiled and walked along, starting to dance as she did so, bringing up wisps off wind. Then she stopped dancing and looked up at the sky slightly and waved her staff around. As she did this, the clouds started to shape into dancers and dance. "It's better if I have music..." she mumbled.
Gino looked up at the sky, watching the dancers. "There are a varity of instruments at home." SMT nodded. "You collect them, don't you? At least that's what I heard." Gino nodded. "Yep. But the only one I really use is the piano." SMT nodded. "Ahh." The group finally arrived at the port, where a golden ferry boat with a huge 'G' on it was awating. Gino smiled. "Ahh, it's still here." He then looked at Ceencho and SMT. "I better warn you... if a huge man in a black suit tries to throw you off the ship, say 'The fish are better in the port of Gambino.' It's a security thing."
"Oh...Okay." She said, a little confused. Then she walked on board with them, humming to herself a song they didn't know.
SMT also walked on board. He looked to Gino. "Where is the center of the ship? I get sea sick." Gino pointed to a large 'G' painted on the wooden deck. SMT nodded, and quickly ran toward the 'G' and sat down. Gino shook his head, and looked to Ceencho. "Feel free to explore the ship. Just remember that quote."
"I know." She said, smiling and walking over to the railing keeping people on the boat. She looked up at the sky and watched as the clouds started to dance at her will again.
Gino nodded, as he headed off to his quarters on the ship. Meanwhile, a huge musclebound man with a black suit appeared from the bowels of the ship, once it started to move. He looked horribly tough, and more muscly than Liam. SMT meanwhile just sat there, trying not to move around too much, since he didn't want to get ill.
She had her mind on the clouds, so Ceencho didn't notice the man come out. She had the cloud dancers doing a gentle waltz as she hummed.
The man quickly walked over to Ceencho, looming over her. "You got somethin' to say?" he asked, with a booming voice. This was the security question of sorts that was used to tell stoaways from passengers.
"I was just noticing that the fish are better in the Port of Gambino." She said, breaking her concentration on the clouds. "It's very beautiful here." She added, smiling.
The burly guy nodded, and folded his arms. "Ahh. Carry on, miss." He started to walk toward SMT, who was laying down, not moving an inch. His skin was a sort of greenish hue, meaning a big jolt could cause him to just spew all over.
She blinked and sighed. "Oh dear...he's sea-sick. I only hope he's okay." She started to walk over to her friend, pulling from her bag a bottle of pills. "SMT, here's some pills to ease your sea-sickness." She said, handing him a few of the pills.
As Ceencho gave SMT the pills, the huge man looked down at him. "You got somethin' to say?" he asked. SMT nodded. "The fish... are better... in the port... of Gambino..." The big man turned around, accidently nudging SMT as he was about to take the pills. This set the boy's illness off, and he vomited all over the bodyguard's shoes.
She sighed and pulled out a rag. "Here. I'll clean it up, you just take the pills, friend." She said, smiling.
The man looked down at his shoes, shaking his head. "My shoes..." He shook his head, growling. SMT nodded, as he took the pills. "Thank you... I get really sea sick."
Ceencho cleaned his shoes then wiped SMT's face. "I thought so. That's why I gave you them. Another friend I traveled with had the same sickness, so I had some pills leftover." She smiled.
SMT coughed. "Ahh." He slowly sat up, holding his head. "Thanks, Ceencho."
She smiled. "Your welcome. Want to come and watch the Clouds play out the Nutcracker Ballet?" She asked, pointing up the sky. "It's about to start."
SMT nodded. "Sure. It'll help get my mind off the sea sickness." He stood up, and walked toward the edge of the boat.
As they sat down, Ceencho started humming a song from the Nutcracker, and the clouds formed into Dancers and started to dance the Nutcracker Ballet. It was a marvel to see, and most definately not normal.
SMT sat down. He watched the clouds intently, amazed by what he was seeing. He had never witnessed a thing like it before, and he thought it was absolutly spectacular. "Waa..." he gasped, shocked. Gino was working on a few papers, before he decided to look out the window. "What the?" He rubbed his eyes, as the clouds did ballet. "It can't be." Even though he thought it was impossible, and the fact that he has paperwork to do, he watched intently.
As the Ballet reached the end, she had started dancing as well, the wind making the dance seem real and not just an illusion. Even as they watched, they seemed to be seeing faces on the clouds. After the clouds finished dancing, they took their bows and then vanished from their dancer forms. Ceencho sat down slowly, breathing like she'd just had a long run.
SMT clapped as the dancing ended. "That was really neat!" He smiled, as he stood up. A second set of clapping could be heard, and it was from Gino. But, Gino went back to work with a sigh.
"Thank you, SMT. And you too, Gino. I guess I worked extra hard on that. I should've kept the extra detail out, I always grow tired after I do." She laughed somewhat. "But, it was still fun."
SMT nodded. "That was really great, Ceencho." He smiled brightly. "I hope other people saw it, also. They would have enjoyed the little show." As he said that, the ship finally pulled into a dock behind the mansion. SMT pointed at the mansion. "We're here."
Ceencho looked up at the large mansion. "It's very big, isn't it? Almost as big as the temple I lived in..." She said, almost wistfully. She put her staff away and looked at the clouds again before walking off the ship with the others.
Gino stepped out from his quarters, a folder now tucked under his arm. "And I live there." He walked off the ship. SMT nodded. "Very big." He also walked off the ship, following Gino.
She smiled as a little bird flew around the garden, then watched as a small stray cat wandered about the grounds. Happily, she started humming. "I think I'll like it here in this town." She said to her two friends happily.
SMT smiled, as he looked around the grounds. "It's a nice place." He watched as Gino walked into the house, before he looked to Ceencho. "But, very few have been in the house on a normal day."
"Oh...why not?" She asked, looking at SMT. "Is there something here that's not to be seen?"
"Because if people were allowed to roam the grounds, there would be many people here. Which is why they are allowed in on holidays, for a party." SMT walks into the mansion, and smiles. "I've never seen this place undecorated before. It's a nice change."
She also looked around. "Parties? Why, to celebrate the Four Gods?" She asked, turning to him.
Gino overhears Ceencho. "No. To celebrate Halloween, Christmas, New Years, the anniversery of Gaia's unification, and Easter." SMT nods. "That's right. We--" A loud ringing sound echoed throughout the house. Gino sighed. "Someone is at the door..."
"I'll go get it." Ceencho said, walking over to open the door. When she does, she says, "Hello?"
A young woman with long blue hair stood at the door. She tilted her head to the side, wondering who this girl was. "Umm... hello. Who are you?" She smiled brightly. "Where is Gino?" She held a basket in her hand. SMT followed Ceencho, and looked at the woman. "Rychi?" Rychi smiled. "Oh, hello, SMT. How are you?"
"Ms. Rychi, is it? My name is Ceencho. It's pleasure to meet you." She smiled and stepped aside so she could enter. "You are a friend of SMT's? Then, you are mine as well." She brought one hand to her collarbone as she spoke.
Rychi nodded, and entered the mansion. "Hello, Miss Ceencho." Gino spotted Rychi, and smiled. "Oh, hello, Rychi." He looked at the basket. "You have something for me, from the Harem?" Rychi nods. "Yes." He handed Gino the basket. "Various sweets, made by various members of the Harem. I made sure you knew who they were, by writing their names on the tag." She then looks at SMT. "How did you get in here?" SMT laughed nervously. "Spark kicked me out again, because I tried to stop her from fighting Liam." He shrugged. "Two days, this time. Gino was kind enough to let me stay here." Rychi gasped. "Oh, my. You're very lucky, SMT!"
"Next time she tries to lock him out while I'm around, I won't let her get away without dealing with me." Ceencho said. "He was only trying to do as I asked, she had no right." She smiled.
"She's very easy to upset." SMT sighed. "This is her first time here... I just met her today." Rychi nodded. "Ahh..." Gino opened up the basket, revealing a varity of baked goods and sweets. "Oh! How nice. And I actually have people to share these things with!" Rychi smiled. "I'm glad you like it, and everyone else will be glad, also."
"I'm not from around here. Very easy to upset? Well, she upset me bu locking him out of his own home. I'm afraid I threatened her with my magic..." Then she mumbled somthing that sounded like, "Don't do that, Ceencho. Don't do that again. You know they always come after you. Bad Ceencho."
SMT laughed, and patted Ceencho on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it." Rychi nods. "She's easily upset, but she forgets about it after a little bit. Unless it's something really bad for anyone." Gino nodded. "She's right. She may be easy to upset, but she doesn't hold grudges for long."
"Well...okay. I've just run into trouble with my anger before, so I don't like to get angry...at anyone." She smiled. "I'm glad you understand."
SMT nodded. "Besides, it's doesn't get that cold on the island at night. And when I do get kicked out, I usually manage to find a place to stay." Rychi nods. "Remember, the Harem is always open for you, SMT." She turns around. "Please excuse me... I must be going now." She walks out of the mansion. Gino waves. "Goodbye, Rychi!"
"Good bye, Ms. Rychi!" She said, waving. Then she turned to the two men. "Harem? What did she mean by that?"
Gino laughed. "My Harem. A fanclub, if you will. A nice group of people..." SMT nodded. "Gino's Harem, a place for Gino fans to congregate. It's on the island, also. Rychi is the leader."
"Oh. Maybe I'll drop by sometime." She said. "What does the building look like? Does it have a sign or anything like that?"
SMT and Gino looked at each other, and then at Ceencho. "You'll know which one it is," they said in odd unison. SMT nodded. "It's not that hard to pick out from the rest of the buildings." Gino smiled. "And it's the only building with my face on the sign."
"Oh...that's...interesting. We didn't have that where I come from..." She gave a sweatdrop and said, "I suppose you have your own cultures."
Gino nodded. "Mmhmm. Just as you have your's." He then looks at a clock, that is sitting against a wall. "Oh, it is almost time for dinner. Do you want to join me?" SMT nodded. "Sure." He was feeling a lot better after his bout with sea sickness.
"I would like to, also." She said, smiling. "I suppose I should learn your cultures while I am staying here."
Gino nodded. "Alright then." He walked toward the dining room. "We shall talk about that over dinner, then." SMT nodded. "Sounds good."
"It sounds good to me, as well." She said, following them.
Gino walked into the dining room, where dinner was just finished being served. Taking a seat at the head of the table, he pointed to two chairs. "Please, sit." SMT nodded, and took a seat at one of the chairs.
Ceencho also sat down, looking around curiously. This long table is another thing she wasn't used to.
The servants removed the covers from the silver platters of food that sat in front of each chair. Gino's revealed a roast, with a side of potatoes and corn. SMT's revealed a bowl of soba noodles, sushi, and mochi. SMT smiled, since he really liked these things. Ceencho's revealed spaghetti with hawaiian bread. Gino nodded, as he clasped his hands together, praying. SMT did the same.
Ceencho also folded her arms in prayer, and waited for one of the other two to say it.
Gino starts the prayer. "Gods, bless this food that we are about to recieve today, and we thank you for allowing us to recieve your gift." SMT remained quiet during the prayer.
Ceencho also was silent, but she thought, 'So, these guys worship the Gods as well...'
Once Gino finished the prayer, which was rather short, he looked to Ceencho. "You can add to the prayer, if you wish." SMT nodded, as he looked up. "Yep! I kinda wanna hear it..."
"...I don't have...anything much I can add that you would understand...but I suppose I can thank them for allowing me to meet such generous and friendly people like you two." She smiled softly.
SMT nods. "Alright." Gino smiles. "Thanks." They both look down once more. "Amen," they say in unison, then looked up once more.
"Amen." She said along with them, then uncrossed her arms to bring her hands to her lap. "Do you two have any plans for tomorrow? I was wondering if one of you two could show me around the island?"
SMT picked up his eating utensils, and shook his head. "I never have plans, so I could show you around." He ate a bit of his noodles, before he looked to Gino. "How about you?" Gino sighed, and shook his head. "I would join you, but I have an appointment that I must keep. I can send someone to accompany you, if you like..."
"Like whom?" Ceencho asked, picking her eating utensils as well and starting on her spagetti. "And I'd be delighted if you would, SMT."
Gino shrugged his shoulders, as he started in on his meal. "Not Bucho. He doesn't like Mr. Man-Thong after the incident on the ship. I'll send you off with another one of my bodyguards..." SMT nodded to Ceencho, and smiled. "Alright! I know the island very well." He then turned to Gino. "Tell him I'm sorry, and I'll try to replace the shoes if I can..." Gino shook his head. "Not necissary. He has many duplicates. I will tell him you are sorry, though, Mr. Man-Thong."
"I hope his anger dissapates soon. It wouldn't do to have him angry at SMT while he is staying here." She smiled and nodded. "Alright. And maybe we can drop by your friend Ms. Rychi's place, while we're out."
SMT nodded. "Okay. I haven't been there in a while. There are a lot of people there now, so it can be a bit crowded. Which is why I moved out." Gino nodded. "Some of them don't live there, even. They just go there, and then go home." He then looked to Ceencho. "He won't be angry with Mr. Man-Thong, I can assure you of that." He sounded unusually serious, as he continued to eat his food.
Ceencho noticed his seriousness and set her fork down. "Is there something the matter, Gino?" She asked, looking over at him worriedly. She'd never liked it when people were too serious. It normally meant something bad. Like when her father was telling of the attack before he...She shook the thought from her mind and smiled.
SMT also took note of the serious tone. "Why are you so serious? Is something up?" Gino shook his head. "Nothing at all. Everything's fine." He smiled, as he pulled a strand of his hair back.
She still was worried, so she said, "...Are you sure? If something's on your mind, you're welcome to tell me."
Gino laughed, and nodded. "I'm sure." He went back to eating. SMT nodded, and looked to Ceencho. "Gino doesn't lie all too often..." He smiled, as he ate away at his noodles.
"Okay..." She said, going back to her food. If he said it was nothing, then it was most likely nothing. She finished her food, then said "May I be excused? I'm very tired. It's been a long day." She smiled.
Gino nodded, as he finished up his food. "You may." He stood up, and pushed in his chair. "Just leave your plate here, the servers will get them." SMT nodded, as he continued to eat. He was always a bit of a slow eater.
"Where is my room located?" She asked, smiling at SMT. He was so cute, like a little child. "Will you escort me, Gino?" She asked, turning her attention back to him.
Gino nodded to Ceencho. "I'd be happy to. It's easy to get lost in this place, espically if one has never been in here before." SMT looked at Gino and Ceencho. "I think I can find my room. I've been here a few times..." Gino nodded. "Alright." He turned to Ceencho once more. "Shall we?"
"Let's." Ceencho said, nodding and starting to walk alongside him. As they walked, she said "Gino...what is on your mind? I also have things I'd rather not speak of, if it is that bad." She looked over at him, her blue hair brushing against her shoulders gently.
Gino shook his head, as he walked out of the kitchen, and toward the bedrooms. "Just all of the paperwork. I have to read everything that comes my way, see if it is correct and legitimate, before I sign off on it. I kind of wish I had a lawyer for all of this stuff..." he laughed, as he finally stopped walking, arriving at a large door. "Ahh, here you are." He opened the door, revealing a huge bedroom, decorated in blue tones. It looked as if it was ripped right out of a magazine.
She smiled and looked it over before turning to him. "I see. Well, thank you for escorting me. I'll see you in the morning, then?" She asked, setting her bag on a desk by the bed.
Gino nodded. "It wasn't a problem." He smiled. "And I will see you in the morning. Until then, good night." He shut the door behind him, as he headed off toward SMT's room, to see if he was there. Meanwhile, SMT had finished eating, and was exploring the mansion. However, he didn't know the place as well as he thought he did, so he quickly got lost. He managed to make his way into a room full of nothing but books. He did read on occasion, but he just couldn't sit there and read for a long time. He usually forgot where he was at, and if he did remember, he forgot the story that he read before it. But it still intregued him, so he started to poke around the library, out of curiousity. (Scene Change!)
"This town is such a hard place to navigate," a voice chimed out from the depths of a building. "Why did I bother coming here, if the job is so simple?" he asked aloud, to no one in particular. This man looked nothing like your average Gaian. For one, he had demon wings on his back. That was a sign he wasn't from around here. Another big difference was the weapon attatched to his arm--at least it looked like a weapon. His other arm was adorned with rune markings, at least the part that was visible. A necklace with a spider hung from his neck. He wore a long black robe, which hid the rest of his body, except for his fiery red hair, the crimson horns that protruded from his forehead, and his face. "I better get paid well for this." he muttered as he tapped his foot, waiting for his contact.
A man with blond hair walked into the dim lighting. He was wearing black with a black hat on, so it was hard to tell who it was exactly. "Ah, so you're here. Good." He sat down on a chair that had been set up and motioned for the man to sit as well. "Welcome. Here's the gig. You know of a man named 'Gino Gambino', correct?" He asked, his hat raised slightly so red eyes could be seen.
"No. This is my first time here," he stated darkly, as he showed off pearly white fangs, as he sat down. "So unless you supply a picture, or a description, I don't know who you're talking about, boy." He rolled up his sleeve, to reveal a mechanical arm, which was covered with sharp spikes. The fingers were almost like daggers. "As long as I get paid, I don't care who I have to lead into the great beyond," he laughed, as the arm flexed rather threatengly.
The man smiled and pulled out a picture from his coat. It was one from earlier, where Gino was with Ceencho and SMT. "This blond boy is the one you want. I don't care if you keep the other boy alive, but keep the girl alive. The boy and girl are currently residing at the Gambino Mansion." He handed him the picture. "Remember. Gino Gambino is priority."
The man snatched up the picture with his regular arm, and pointed at the blond with the mechanical. "Such a pretty face." He smirked. "I'm glad he'll be going home with me..," he stated, as he stood up. "I'll do it. He'll be going through the gates with me."
"Thank you. Don't worry, the reward will be worth it. Just as long as he dies." He grinned and then the room goes dark. (Scene change!)
Ceencho walked over to her window. She didn't know what it was, but she couldn't get to sleep. She placed one hand on the blue velvety curtains, running her hand down it absent-mindedly. She was thinking about Gino, SMT, and everything else that'd happened. 'I wonder...will I be here forever? Or, will I ever go home?' She thought, her eyes clouded over with deep thought.
SMT managed to find a book, and get interested in it. It was written in Japanese, and had a CD with it, since it was the book's 'soundtrack'. He listened to the CD as he read. Since he couldn't find any headphones, the music filled the room, and spilled out into the hallway. Gino managed to hear it, however, and walked into the room. Spotting SMT, he shook his head. "I thought you were going to your room." SMT looked to Gino, and shook his head. "Sorry! I found Izayoi no Tsuki by Minako... I've been looking for this book for a while..." Gino shook his head. "Isn't it in Japanese?" SMT nodded. "Yeah."
Ceencho was shaken out of her thoughts by a crash of thunder. "Ahhh!" She yelled, falling back. The wind was rough, and it'd blown the unlocked window open. "A bad omen..." She said, getting up to close the window, shivering from the cold rain hitting her skin. "Please, don't let this really be a bad omen..." She said, looking up at the darkened sky. It was too dark to see anything out there.
SMT and Gino heard Ceencho scream. "We should check on her," SMT said as he stood up. Gino nodded in agreement, and they both headed out of the room, heading toward Ceencho's room. Little did Ceencho know, that someone was waiting outside her window. It was the demon man from earlier, and he was the one that blasted the window open. Too bad the darkness cloaked him to the point of where he couldn't be seen, unless a lightning strike lit up the sky.
Ceencho fumbled in the dark for her book, then winced as once again the wind blew the window open again. At the sound of her friends entering the room, she looked towards them, fear evident on her face as lightning clashed again, revealing a figure standing at the window. Now more fearful then before, Ceencho stepped back, losing strength in her legs as she did. "...No..." She said, recognizing the figure as one of the Temple's attackers.
Gino and SMT stepped into the room, looking to Ceencho. "Ceencho?" the both asked the frightened girl. "Are you okay?" SMT asked, worried. Gino walked over to the window. "I should have locked this window, I'm sorry..." The demon, however, looked to Ceencho, before he spotted Gino. "Hello, Gino." His flesh arm shot forward, and grabbed Gino's head, covering his mouth, while the mechanical arm grabbed onto his stomach, digging into his flesh. Gino screamed in agony, and the demon released him, blood rolling down the metal hand. "Pretty boys die." Gino held his stomach, bleeding profusely. SMT rushed over to his side. He couldn't do a thing to help, because it all happened so fast.
"Gino!" Ceencho asked, frantically pulling out her book and staff to cast a healing spell. Or rather, attempting to. Someone, or something was gradding her from the back and she couldn't see in the dark. "No! Let me go! Gino! Ginoooo!"
(To be continued)
Ceencho Vazenia · Thu Jan 19, 2006 @ 04:52am · 0 Comments |
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