Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Sacrifice ❯ A New Start ( Chapter 13 )

Sacrifice

By: Melissa Norvell

Chapter 13: A New Start

The hot springs was a vast place, spanning what looked like a large lake's area. The water was mostly shallow, though there were some parts that would require swimming to get across. Scattered about, there were large to moderately sized rocks, which were smooth in touch. The land was fertile and two waterfalls poured into the springs below. Everyone decided to split up into groups and move to separate parts of the hot springs.

Keiji, Chichiri and Fife were in a shallow part of the hot springs. Keiji's back rested against a medium sized rock that Fife sat upon, holding a rag, ready to wash away any offending dirt that clung to his presence. He didn't want to get his bandages wet, so staying above the water was his best bet. After washing himself clean, he began to wash the drummer's back.

"This is relaxing," he continued to run the rag up and down Keiji's smooth, firm skin.

"What are you doing?" Keiji looked over his shoulder to the feminine boy.

"It's hard to wash your back, so I'm helping," Fife replied happily. He knew that when he bathed by himself, he had problems reaching certain areas. The boy could only imagine that Keiji probably had the same problem. There was no harm in helping him a little, right?

"What are we going to do about making money here?" Chichiri's form was chest deep in water.

"We could always play a few gigs," Keiji suggested. That was how they earned money before. Why not keep doing it? They could also get more people interested in what they do and gain potential fans.

"But we have to find a place to get a gig. Do you think we can get there in time? Usually, we get paid by the week."

"Or we get paid after each gig."

"Finding a job around here will be interesting," Fife's cheerful voice chimed in. There were a lot of unique and fascinating places to apply at. They could do something completely different from their usual playing music and stirring up fans. He had thought it would be beneficial or interesting to work at a magic shop. He could probably learn something about spells and magical objects that way.

"What do you plan on doing?" Keiji turned to the navy-haired boy, "You're still injured." The last thing that he wanted was for Fife to go off and get hurt again, have complications, or worse, die.

"I have something in mind. If I work hard enough then you won't have to worry about anything," Fife dismissed the subject. It was sweet that the green-haired boy worried about him, but he really didn't have to. It had been a while since he was attacked, and his wound was healing.

Green eyes burnt into navy ones, as if Keiji were trying to read his mind. He was suspicious of how Fife knew of a job he could do in a village they hadn't even been in for five hours yet. Either Fife had some sort of hidden power that he wasn't telling anyone or there was seriously something up.

"Nah," Chichiri waved his hand in dismissal. "We can't do that to you Feist…Er…Fife. Sorry about that."

"Okay…" Fife replied. 'But there is no need, Chichiri.'

XI

In another part of the hot springs, Ko and Azmy rested. Azmy sat on a large, flat stone with a long rag that covered most of her front. The only thing made distinguishable were her shoulders, hips, arms and legs. Ko was lounged back against a rock with her arms behind her head. Her white hair was floating on the water's surface, making streams against the clear substance.

"I guess I can get a job slaying the plants or doing some kind of gun work," Azmy told her.

"Yeah," Ko agreed, smiling in confidence. "You were awesome back there! You'd definitely be good at it."

"Thanks," Azmy was flattered by her comrade's words. "What are you going to do, Ko?"

"I'm probably going to figure something out with the band."

"Where is Undine?" The slate-haired girl asked. She noticed that Undine was no longer with them as she had been before. She probably slipped away as the two were talking. The other girl was so quiet that they hardly noticed she was around most of the time.

"I don't know," Ko looked around, trying to see if she could spot her, but came up blank. "She was standing here and then she disappeared."

The white-haired woman peered between two medium-sized rocks to see the girl stranding upon a flat rock in one of the separate parts of the hot springs. The water was perfectly calm and looked almost like a reflection pool. The two walked over to the rocks, and peered from the side of them. The nude girl stood straight and held one arm out as streams of water swirled around her tiny form. They looked like small water snakes as they danced about. Azmy looked upon the sight with wide-eyes full of wonder and interest as the water streams danced about the nude girl's body.

"Hm?" She was fascinated by Undine's magic.

"What is she doing?" Ko sounded a little suspicious of the girl.

"She knows magic," Azmy replied.

"Maybe that's how you she knew the things she knew. She could be telepathic."

"Yes, it does take a great deal of concentration and mental stability to control something as fluidly as she does," Azmy watched Undine control the water by use of slow, hypnotic hand movements as the streams began to flow tightly around her body, accenting her feminine curves. Her eyes shot open and water around her form exploded into rain, pouring down upon her form as she stood in the midst of it.

"I wonder if she's really a human," Azmy pondered. "I mean, maybe she's something else."

"I don't really know, but I'm suspicious of her."

"Why?"

"Don't you think it's a little weird that she seems to know everything?"

"I thought that maybe she was just really smart. I mean…She said that she knew Hiroshima, so she would know some stuff," Azmy noted.

"I have this feeling that that legend and Undine are screwing us over…and I don't like it," Ko scowled as eyes of a blue-slate slowly turned to see the two, talking amongst each other behind the shelter of the rocks.

XI

Tsurugi and Hiroshima were in a hidden cove of the hot springs. The steam was especially thick there as the two angels lay on the shoreline. Hiroshima lay against the sands of the shore; his upper back leaned against the slick surface of a large rock as Tsurugi lay atop of him, their bodies molded together and legs tangled.

"What a mess," Hiroshima complained a frown plastered to his face.

"Isn't that the truth?" Tsurugi replied in his usual calm tone that verged on sadness. "But at least we're all together now, so we can keep track of them."

"How the hell do they expect us to make money? No one's going to hire me."

"We can always steal it."

"It would be pathetic."

"But its living or we could always let those kids work for us," Tsurugi suggested.

"Then we'd be free loading," Hiroshima rested his head against the rock behind him. "Damn…"

The angel could feel two hands on either side of his face as his gaze came into contact with that of heavenly blue eyes. "Don't worry," his companion gave him a gentle smile. "I'm sure we'll think of something but in the mean time, let's relax."

"Of course, my love," Hiroshima kissed the other gently.

After five minutes, Tsurugi broke this kiss and spoke, lips grazing Hiroshima's, "I love you, Hiro-kun."

The two rolled over, flipping their position to where Hiroshima was now the one on top. Hands began to roam one another's body, caressing each feature gently as their legs became more entangled. The only noises that could be heard were the sounds of the water and sight shifting noises. Hiroshima's hand held the other angel's firmly.

"Remember not to make any loud noises. You'll make those kids come over here," he told his mate as heavenly eyes looked back at him.

"Right," Tsurugi smiled as the other angel began to kiss down his neck.

XI

After bathing, everyone decided to slip into a change of clothes. Keiji wore a long jacket with two tales, looking like something from the Victorian period. It was rimmed in white and had large, white cuffs adorned with gold cufflinks and golden buttons up the front. He had black pants and shiny black dress shoes on as well. Chichiri looked more casual in a blue button-up short sleeved shirt and a simple pair of jeans. Azmy wore a tight grey sweater with a V-shaped neck and two triangular pieces of material hanging out, as if to resemble a faux collar of sorts. It was form fitting and a single black butterfly was embroidered on the right front shoulder. Beneath that was a simple black skirt and mid calf black heeled boots. Fife's clothes were also reminiscent of an old Victorian period. His shirt was white and long sleeved. Buttoning up the front with a black ribbon tied in a loose bow around the neck and a pair of simple black jeans with a matching black belt and shoes.

Ko wore a V necked black shirt with no arms, two black belts that hung loosely in an X shape about her waist, a tight short black leather skirt and cloth that was on her arms and legs. It was black and lime green horizontally striped and extended from her knuckles to her mid-bicep on her arms and from mid thigh to the tip of her toes on her feet. Under the striped material, plain black Mary Janes adorned her feet. A black choker collar and loose chain necklace was worn about her neck and her snow white hair was partially up in two ponytails as it was when they first encountered Hiroshima, while the rest flowed freely behind her.

"We'll get good money if we work in the rich part of town," Keiji finally spoke.

"Hey, that sounds good, actually," Chichiri agreed as Fife looked at his watch.

"You coming Fife?" Ko asked, turning to the feminine boy.

"I'm sorry," the navy-blue haired one smiled. "I've already got a job. I'll see you later." He walked off and waved to the group.

"Hey!" The singer shouted after him. "We don't even know where we're meeting at."

"How about the market square?" Hiroshima suggested as Ko turned to look at him, perplexed as to why they would be meeting in the very place that almost got them killed by a plant.

"Good idea," Tsurugi agreed, he was another dark angel and the legend's mate. "We can find each other easily there."

"Someone should tell Fife," Ko informed.

"Why do you tell him?" Azmy asked innocently enough, looking toward the stoic Keiji. "He really likes you."

"No joke!" Chichiri jested. "He's stuck to you like white on rice."

"Fine," the green-haired boy almost huffed in irritation. "I'll meet you back here."

"You people had better make good money," Hiroshima threatened. "I'm not staying in some roach-infested hotel."

"You can't really be picky," Ko glared, "since we're dirt poor. We would have had a little money if you hadn't have wrecked out concert."

"Spare me," the angel retorted, nearly laughing. "There aren't enough people in that ratty town to make a dent in profit."

"Dude, the place was packed. They had to take people out," Chichiri noted sincerely.

"Don't flatter yourselves."

"We're actually pretty good."

"Then why aren't you famous?" Hiroshima inquired.

"It takes a while."

"Isn't that the truth?" Hiroshima muttered.

"Should we really be having a friendly conversation?" Ko asked. Time was wasting and at this pace, time was money.

"Okay, let's have a bitchy one," Hiroshima glared at Chichiri. "Blond fuck, get to work," he commanded. "Quit being an ass."

"I'm going…" Chichiri whined, twin rivers flowing dramatically from his eyes.

Tsurugi jumped back into the air, the loose and free fabric at the end of his coat flapping in the wind as his black wings spread, the chains jingling in the breezes. "Well, I'll go and look for a job."

"I wonder if anyone needs a professional assassin…" The glass-eyed angel pondered aloud. "Well, off to work." He said in a bold tone as his wings shot straight out to either side. The angel prepared to take off as he flapped his four slender wings they began to stir up wind and debris. With a 'heh' he took off, spinning around once on his way up to the skies, then spinning again, he took off in search for a job.

"I still won't trust them," Ko complained after the angels left.

Chichiri was still lamenting over his latest put-down. The twin rivers were still flowing. "We're not a bad band. He lies…He lies!"

XI

A few hours later, everyone happened to run into each other in the town square again. The same place they ended up when battling one of Flora's plants. It was crowded with magical beings doing some trading, purchasing and selling of items. There was always a mass of people in the town's square and getting lost could mean hours of searching before you could even find anyone who would get you back on the right track. Luckily, everyone managed to find each other and stick together to avoid being jostled around like pin balls.

"This is so stupid," Hiroshima said in a tone of irritation.

"Uh…What should we do next guys?" Chichiri was a little surprised seeing that no one had found a job yet.

Ko took her purse and tipped it upside down and gave it a few shakes as nothing but a small ring with one diamond in it fell into her hand. "We still don't have any money, and no one wants a job done."

"I wonder where Fife is…" Keiji mused, noticing that the feminine boy hadn't returned with everyone else.

"Maybe he found a job," Azmy suggested.

Tsurugi swiped the ring from Ko's hand and examined it. "We can always sell this!" He beamed.

"No!" Ko called out in dismay. The ring was sentimental and she had promised not to rid herself of it no matter what. She was desperate to get it out of the dark angel's hands.

"But I found it," he teased.

"No! Give it back!"

Tsurugi ran over to Hiroshima, who didn't look like he wanted them near him. Then the two began to run around him in circles. This caused the angel to produce an even more annoyed look. Tsurugi turned in mid-run as Ko tried to knock the ring out of his hands but missed, hitting Hiroshima right on the butt. It produced a loud smacking sound that allowed the legend to gain attention from everyone in the group. Ko looked utterly embarrassed and the dark angel had a hand to his mouth, trying not to snicker.

"What the fuck did you do that for!?" Hiroshima yelled, blushing and irritated beyond all belief.

"Crap," Ko muttered, blushing herself. "Sorry."

Tsurugi found the whole series of events hilarious and was cracking up laughing. "She likes you Hiro-kun!" He joked, as his mate continued to look pissed off and sweat dropped, and then punched his mate in the face, knocking him out. Tsurugi's body limply fell to the ground with a thud.

"Take that, you trouble-making bastard," Hiroshima was content with himself now that Tsurugi and Ko weren't bounding around him like idiots. He picked the ring up from Tsurugi's unconscious body and gave it back to the white-haired girl. "Here's your damned ring."

"I don't know what to do," Chichiri sighed.

"You need to get your sorry ass to work and get a job," Hiroshima spat.

"Someone got attacked by a mob?" Tsurugi asked, finally regaining consciousness.

"Why don't you get a job?" Ko asked.

"I don't need one," Hiroshima crossed his arms and frowned a bit of blush still clinging stubbornly to his cheeks.

"You look embarrassed, Hiro-kun. It's not like your butt's going to fall off," Tsurugi teased.

"I think it will."

The black winged one chuckled. "You're so funny, Hiro-kun!"

"When I get a job, you're not getting any of my profits," Hiroshima told his mate coldly.

"Well, we really should get back to job hunting. For a minute there, I didn't think anyone else would still be unemployed," Chichiri replied.

"We couldn't find a gig anywhere," Ko sighed.

"So, we'll see you later, huh?" Azmy asked.

"Mmm," Keiji nodded in affirmation.

"Let's split up in teams. It'll be easier if someone hires a couple of us rather than an army," Ko suggested.

"Do what you want," Hiroshima told them.

"Where do I go?" Chichiri asked.

"With me, dum-dum," Ko told him.

"Okay."

"Come on Azmy," Keiji looked to the shy girl.

"Okay."

"Guess I'll just wander around and see what I can do," Tsurugi stated.

"Likewise," Hiroshima agreed. "These damned kids are way too much trouble."

"There's a restaurant over ther,." Tsurugi pointed to a small diner across the street. "Opportunity knocks!" He beamed, running off in the direction of the diner, leaving his mate standing a few feet behind him.

XI.

"Your first job will be to clean my house for the evening. So let's get started." One of the townswomen told Tsurugi with a warm-hearted smile.

"Alright."

The man stood before Hiroshima held a look of fear as he gazed upon the legend. He could hardly utter a word as he felt his dark presence and foreboding image. It seemed to overpower the air around him, causing it to become thick with tension and very hard to breathe in. "Um…Your job will be to tend to the place for a while…" His shaky voice spoke unsurely.

"Whatever," Hiroshima was bored with this task already.

Chichiri and Ko stood outside of a quaint little shop. They were given jobs to clean the place. They walked into one of the rooms that appeared dusty and dingy, with several objects that were decrepit and in disarray. It would take a considerable amount of work, but it was well-worth the money that was being promised to them. It was just a simple shop, but it had a good couple of years of dust clinging to everything in the room, as well as a few stray tools lying around here and there. The task seemed simple enough and would possibly earn them some money to at least afford part of the payment for a room.

"Let's start by cleaning this shop," Ko suggested.

"Okay," Chichiri was happy to finally be employed and making money. He hoped that everyone else was doing well also and wished them the best of luck, wherever they may be.

To Be Continued…