Sorcerer Hunters Fan Fiction ❯ A Brother's Love ❯ 08 - Attack on the Qerada-Ehret Border ( Chapter 8 )

~Chapter 8~

 

 

 

The Sorcerer Hunters wandered through forests quietly since the battle with Celery; everybody seemed to have something to think about, and nobody seemed too vocal in telling anybody what it was they were thinking of. However, even if anybody had wanted to say what it was they'd been feeling, then it was likely that no-one would have been really listening, on account of their own thoughts. For once, everybody was lost in thought.

 

The trail was easy enough to follow. There were trees and grassland all around, but a slightly worn trail where not as much grass grew than anywhere else told the hunters - and Milphey, who walked in front of them all - where to go.

 

Eventually, the shape of the land changed slightly, and the group found themselves walking alongside a river. The rushing of the water sounded powerful, and Tira walked on the edge of the group to look down the near cliffedge.

 

Trees grew alongside the edge of the ground, but the drop from where Tira glanced down to where the river flowed was a good thirty feet; Tira went back to walking next to Chocolat, feeling slightly safer like that. Even so, the forest path was a tranquil place; the singing of the birds in the trees, the wayward unkempt grass, the rushing water of the river... dappled sunlight fell through the leaves of the trees up above, wind blowing against them making the light on the ground below dance as the group advanced through it. Trees overhung the river, and larger trees overgrew, so not even the area above the river had a clear path of sunlight; however, somewhere not too far up ahead, the sun sparkling on the river was visible. Somewhere around there was obviously where the forest ended.

 

Milphey stretched, letting out a slight noise of exertion as he did so.

 

"Well... these are the Qerada forests, guys... a pretty place, too... say what you like about Radish and Celery, they certainly have good taste when it comes to choosing places to set up homes. I wouldn't mind living somewhere like this, it seems peaceful."

 

Carrot just scowled, "People like them don't deserve to live in a place like this. Hell's too good for 'em."

 

Gateau nodded, "I know, I agree... I for one can't wait to leave a nice fist-shaped mark in the back of Celery's head..."

 

Chocolat sighed, "They're both dangerous, but somehow I'll feel a lot better once I know that Radish is definitely out of the picture. I mean, okay, Celery was pretty bad in that battle back there, but he didn't really conjure up anything that was too hard to get rid of, you know? Radish, on the other hand... well, I don't think Qeran'll be forgetting his visit for quite some time. Celery at least seems to have a bit of self control, Radish just likes setting stuff on fire..."

 

Milphey glanced over his shoulder, nodding in Chocolat's direction.

 

"I know what you mean. In a life or death situation, I can see Celery making a mature decision. Radish, though... in a life or death situation, I think he'd just end up creating a huge suicidal fireball or something."

 

"Yeah, he'd choose death alright. A sparkly and flashy one, but still death... maybe he's a bit, you know, twisted."

 

Gateau just let out a 'hmph', "Most Sorcerers we meet are, Chocolat."

 

He didn't sound too pleased. Milphey supposed that Gateau was still bitter from Celery's actions in the earlier fight, and decided it might just be best to leave him be.

 

"... Anyway, from my reckoning... we can't be too far away from Radish or Celery either way. That river... I seem to remember a river on the map that Dota showed us, remember?"

 

Agreement from the group; they were quiet until the trees eventually seemed to thin out; the sunlight grew stronger and stronger until barely any trees at all provided cover.

 

Chocolat indicated to the large bridge a few meters away; it looked sturdy, and it spanned across the width of the river. "I wonder where that leads?"

 

Milphey looked curiously thoughtful, "I don't know... I suppose it'd lead to the forests across the river, but that's obvious. Perhaps there's a town nearby. I think it'd be much better to notice that, though."

 

"Huh?"

 

Chocolat followed the guidance of Milphey's finger, then noticed, along with the rest of the group. Sitting in the sunlight, looking as calm and peaceful as any other place on the Spooner Continent, was the Salt household.

 

"... Wow, is that the place where Radish and Celery are?"

 

Milphey nodded, "It can't be anywhere else."

 

Carrot rushed forward, his hand on his swordhandle, ready to draw it and do battle.

 

"It's where Radish and Celery are... it's also where Marron is, so, c'mon, whaddaya waiting for!? Let's go!"

 

Milphey extended his hand with a "Wait, Carrot!!", but couldn't stop him. With a noise of annoyance he ran forward and leapt on Carrot with long-practiced accuracy.

 

"OWW, Milphey! This isn't the time or the place!!"

 

"Né, don't you remember, Carrot-chan? Why we had to go and get Hazelnut Brazil in the first place? The place is surrounded by a weird magic barrier, we wouldn't want Carrot-chan going and whacking into it and getting his pretty face all squooshed against it now, would we? Or absorbing the nasty magic-wajik and getting turned into a scawy beastie-weastie, hmm?"

 

Milphey prodded Carrot's cheek, he made noises of discomfort as he tried to extract himself from underneath Milphey's body.

 

"Okay, OKAY, I get the point, I get the point! Just let me go!"

 

Milphey giggled as he let Carrot go; Carrot picked himself up, brushing himself down, and glancing up at the house. It seemed altogether too bright, the sun reflecting off the white paint that covered the house... Carrot put a hand over his eyes, trying to shield himself somewhat. Maybe if he looked hard enough, he might see Radish, or Celery, or Marron, perhaps... he squinted against the sunlight, but couldn't see anything. He sighed.

 

"Dammit, can't see anyone in there. Can't see a barrier either, are you sure there's a barrier up?"

 

Milphey prodded the side of Carrot's head then folded his arms, "It's obviously going to be an invisible barrier, Carrot. They're barely going to make it bright purple or fluorescent pink, you'd see it for miles! People like them, I hardly doubt they're the type to make such blatant 'yoo hoo, look at us, here we are' signals to outside society."

 

Hazelnut stepped forward, "If you would like, I could try to nullify the barrier now."

 

Milphey nodded, "We'd appreciate that." He ran a hand over his hair, "If we can get rid of the barrier before Radish or Celery notice we're here, then all the better..."

 

Gateau punched one fist into the other, "Who cares if they see us or not? The sooner they know we're here, the sooner we can kick their asses..."

 

Milphey glanced delicately at Gateau, "Yes, but we don't know how long it's going to take to nullify the barrier... we should start as quickly as possible." He turned to face Hazelnut, "If you may..."

 

Hazelnut nodded, stepping forward. He had his hands extended, and after a few moments of slow walking, he seemed to encounter something; he stopped.

 

"It's here. This is where the barrier is."

 

The others just watched as the area of space around Hazelnut's hands seemed to glow suddenly... he took a sharp intake of breath, "This... this power..."

 

Chocolat ducked around to one side, "If it's too much for you you shouldn't force it..."

 

Opening one eye, Hazelnut turned to smile at Chocolat.

 

"N-no... it's not too much... it's just... it's wonderful..."

 

"Wonderful?"

 

"Yes... y-yes... this... this is the power that... should belong to me..."

 

Suddenly, Hazelnut threw himself against the invisible barrier, his body and the area around him seeming to glow; he sounded as if he was in pain, Chocolat was torn between pulling him away from the barrier and letting him be... Tira seemed to notice Chocolat's unease, putting her hand to her sister's shoulder. Chocolat turned to face Tira, who just shook her head. Chocolat took this to mean that she should perhaps just let Hazelnut get on with it, and so stepped back.

 

Both of his hands were pressed against the barrier; Hazelnut pulled back slightly, but as if something was forcing him back... he pressed back with as much force as he could muster, and the barrier above him seemed to waver - that is, it was as if the whole area inside it seemed to just sway for a few seconds.

Carrot noticed it, "Look!" pointing as soon as he could, but it was suddenly gone. As if on some kind of cue, Hazelnut redoubled his efforts, pushing against the barrier with such strength... a loud cry ripped itself from his throat, and - for a second - he glowed brightly, before falling forward.

 

Milphey stepped forward, "Hazelnut! Are you alright?"

 

Hazelnut remained still for a moment, coaxing Milphey into prodding him with his foot just to make sure that he was still alive... he opened his eyes weakly, but smiled.

 

"Y-es... I'm al... alright... I just feel weak suddenly, but... you might have noticed... the barrier's gone..."

 

Carrot glanced up at the house, still with the sun shining brightly upon it...

 

"Aa, so that's how come you fell forward... it doesn't look any different, though."

 

Milphey chuckled, "It wouldn't, would it? Not with an invisible barrier, Carrot. Né, Hazelnut... if you're feeling weak, maybe one of us should stay here with you?"

 

Slowly, Hazelnut picked himself back up, coughing lightly.

 

"No... I can fight..."

 

"Are you sure?"

 

"I have the power that they stole from me. If nothing else, I could barrier myself away until they could never even find me, letalone harm me..."

 

"Well, hopefully it won't come to that, Olive's still waiting for you back in Marata, right? Just don't push yourself."

 

Gateau glowered suddenly, "Look, there..."

 

Everybody looked up; sure enough, a figure was approaching across the lawn.

 

Celery pulled his collar up around his neck, really not feeling in the mood for facing the Sorcerer Hunters. However, they were perilously close to the house, Radish wasn't in the mood for fighting anything, Marron hadn't seemed to be in the mood for even waking up the last time Celery saw him, so he supposed that it was up to him to get the ball rolling. He sighed as he approached the group, eventually within speaking distance. He was met by six icy stares. Celery just stared back.

 

"I suppose... you're expecting my brother."

 

Carrot made to draw his sword, "And mine."

 

Celery regarded Carrot with... almost with sympathy, for a few moments. "Oh, Carrot..." Celery thought, "... if only you knew what'd just happened. ... I suppose you'd wish for me to fetch them?"

 

"If Radish is too scared to come out then someone's gotta make him."

 

Celery just turned his back with a flourishing swish of his cape, "Very well.", turning his back on the Sorcerer Hunters, hoping he wouldn't feel Carrot's sword through his back as he did so.

 

Carrot made no move to advance forward, watching with the rest of the group as Celery retreated back into the house.

 

"Weird... he seems so different as to when we fought him back there... sorta resigned..."

 

Gateau seemed unimpressed, "Probably just tired out 'cause we kicked his ass. Why don't we just go in there and get 'em while they're unprepared?"

 

Hazelnut drew his sword, jabbing it slightly into the ground and leaning one hand against the hilt, "It could be a trap; they might be waiting for us to go inside... they definitely know that we're here. I wouldn't risk it."

 

"Point..."

 

Inside the house, Celery was checking the rooms of the house, wondering if the Sorcerer Hunters were going to storm at any moment... he glanced out of a window he passed, he could make out their figures, still on the other side of the garden. Maybe they'd stay there after all.

 

Celery came to the conclusion that his brother wasn't anywhere downstairs; unless he was in the greenhouse, anyway. He'd wondered if Radish was perhaps watching the Sorcerer Hunters, but the orb was gone from the front room, and the room itself was empty. Radish was probably still upstairs.

 

Celery quietly made his way up the stairs, wondering if any of the three of them were in the mood to fight... either way, a battle was definitely imminent. They'd have to make the best of it that they could.

 

Radish was still in his room; Marron wasn't with him. Celery frowned.

 

"Where's Marron?"

 

Radish just glanced up from where he was knelt on the bed, quiet and still.

 

"He's having a bath. I took him through and started washing him, then he kinda woke up... he can't remember anything since like, last night. I guess that's for the best. He wondered what time it was and was shocked when I told him... so we came to the conclusion he'd had a little relapse or something... I guess they're closer now, huh?"

 

A nod from Celery, "They're waiting for you, Radish. They're waiting for you, and they're waiting for Marron... they're on the other side of the garden."

 

Radish's fist closed in an angry clench, "FUCK..."

 

Celery glanced to Radish's side, where some clothes lay folded.

 

"Those are...?"

 

"Oh, just some stuff of yours I found. Thought he could change into 'em once he got out of the bath."

 

"I see..."

 

Celery walked over and sat on the opposite side of the bed, holding up the topmost item.

 

"I kept this in a locked drawer, I was sure... well, I'm sure you have your ways. When did I last wear this..."

 

Radish answered without hesitation, "When we attacked Soete that time. Verrry successful haul that time. I wondered if perhaps it might bring us some luck... plus, it looks pretty damn intimidating, as the residents of Soete found out that time..."

 

Radish smirked slightly.

 

The outfit was in three pieces; black trousers with some kind of diamond-like intricate pattern covering it, a robelike top with a split down the side from the hip to between the knee and ankle, and an interesting cape. The cape had two spikes of stiffened materiel sticking up at the shoulders, over these hung a delicate lattice of some kind of string. Celery held up the capepiece, pulling it gently apart and fitting it over his neck and shoulders.

 

"It's more decorative than suited for battle, I would have thought..."

 

"And how much battling d'ya think we're gonna haveta do once we bring Marron out? They're gonna be so shocked, they'll probably go running right back to Big Mama! Hah!"

 

"I doubt that somehow, otouto. In any case, the Sorcerer Hunters are waiting for us."

 

He stood up from the bed, taking off the robe, folding it, and picking up the pile of clothes that Radish had selected.

 

"Would you like me to take these to him?"

 

"Sure... I'll wait downstairs. If we're gonna go out and get 'em, we might as well go out and get 'em together, ya know? Marron can... I guess Marron can come with us, no point in holding things off."

 

Celery was sure he detected some kind of nervousness in his brother's voice...

 

"Otouto, are you nervous?"

 

Radish looked up quickly, "N-Nervous? No way, no way am I nervous! Just... a bit worried for Marron's sake, that's all... I mean, okay, we've got him down pat with the Farra Kinju and all, buut... well, I mean, we're powerful, but..."

 

"You want to know what'll happen if he sees those Sorcerer Hunters and remembers them, don't you?"

 

"... I know what'll happen, oniisama. He'll get way pissed off and kill us before we can blink. That's what I'm worried about, okay?"

 

Celery just nodded quietly, understanding.

 

"Well... if they try and kill us... they'll have to cut through me before they can get to you. I'll protect you with my life, Radish."

 

Radish seemed unsure of what to say as he started towards the door of the room. He turned back for a moment, looking at Celery with those irresistible trusting eyes again...

 

"I... I know, oniisama..."

 

Radish made as if to go.

 

"Radish, wait..."

 

"Oniisama?"

 

Celery put the clothes back down onto the bed and walked hurriedly over to Radish. Radish looked up at his brother as Celery put his hands firmly on Radish's shoulders, looking down at him with... almost a kind of sadness? There was a sudden tense silence in the room as Celery lowered his head swiftly, closing in on Radish with a kiss. Radish was silent, letting Celery kiss him, feeling Celery's thumb and forefinger against his chin... he was pressed against the door as Celery kissed him with a little more passion, the door closing somewhat loudly in the quiet room; Radish's eyes flickered when he heard the sound, but Celery never stopped.

 

Eventually it seemed as if Celery had done what he wanted for as long as he wanted; he pulled back, still with that sad look in his eyes.

 

Radish frowned, putting two fingers up to his lips. Celery rarely (if ever) kissed him like that... no, usually it was Radish doing the kissing...

 

"Onii... sama?"

 

Celery was picking up the clothes as Radish spoke. Celery presumed Radish had left the room already; he looked up.

 

"Radish?"

 

"Why did you...?"

 

Celery's look seemed to fall fractionally, "In case I don't get another chance."

 

"Oh..."

 

Radish was unsure of what to say that time. He left the room without speaking.

 

Celery allowed his brother a few minutes, waiting with his head bowed. He heard Radish's step descending the stairs nearby. It was safe. Gathering up the clothes close to his body, Celery left the room himself.

 

Outside in the corridor, Celery took the opportunity to look out of the window as he headed towards the bathroom. The Sorcerer Hunters seemed to be waiting patiently, and though Radish was downstairs, he obviously hadn't gone to meet them just yet. He was probably waiting for his brother and Marron, Celery supposed... he sighed softly as he opened the door to the bathroom.

 

The bathroom in the Salt house was really two rooms joined onto one; the first was the room that was opposite Marron's room, and it had the things that most bathrooms had in them, a bath (with a simple shower attachment Radish had took favour on after seeing one in a Sorcerer's house), a toilet, a sink, some mirrors, soap and cups and other odds and ends that usually found their way into a bathroom. Marron wasn't in that room, though. Where the bath ended, on the wall to the right of the entrance, there was another door; this door lead upstairs a little, to an area that used to be part of the attic. One time when visiting the house, the two brothers hadn't had much to do, and so had set about converting part of the attic to fill their time. The area that led to the upstairs area had formerly been part of a chimney, but it was when Radish discovered he could climb up it one time, and that the area opened out, the brothers were sure they'd found some kind of secret passage. So they used it to their advantage.

 

Celery's footsteps seemed to echo as he ascended the dark staircase. Most of the attic was presumably cold, but the area where they'd installed the extra bath wasn't. Celery could feel the humidity meeting his skin as he walked closer to the source.

 

Opening the door at the top of the stairs, Celery was met by the warm room; it was generally dark, but surrounding the room were various lit candles; they gave the room a warm aura, and Celery was sure that the candles or the fire were bewitched somehow, no candle could continue in the humidity that existed in the room...

 

The bath itself was on foot level; if you walked across the floor and didn't know it was there, it would have been easy to fall into it. There was no mistaking it at the moment, though. It was full to the brim with water which whispered steam into the room, and also with... bubbles? Foaming bubbles. Celery didn't doubt that Radish knew of one way or another to form such a thing, but it was a strange sight to be suddenly presented with, all the same. Marron was currently sitting back, his head leaning against the floor, his eyes closed, surrounded with bubbles. He looked so calm, Celery mused on how it was almost a shame to wake him... he sniffed; the candles were scented, he presumed... it was either that or Radish's soap. Celery supposed that Radish had wanted to make an effort after what'd happened, and so had splashed out a bit, so to speak.

 

Loathe as he was to disturb Marron's quietly bathing form, Celery felt he had no choice. He coughed to draw Marron's attention.

 

"A-hem, Marron?"

 

Marron's eyes drifted open slowly, as if Celery had disturbed him from sleep. He smiled slightly for seeing Celery, his arms emerging from the water as he stretched, sounding as if he had been disturbed from sleep. The exertion required for such a stretch dragged him underwater for a moment, he emerged as some kind of foaming water creature... he laughed quietly as he attempted to brush foam from his face with his foamcovered hand; it didn't really work. He managed to clear a space of clear water in the bath, and eventually managed to face Celery, unclouded from view by foam. He sat against the edge again, his elbows against the side, giving Celery a nice view of Marron's chest, were he so inclined to look. Being as he was, Celery couldn't resist a little look, and was slightly saddened by what he'd expected to see there, being there. Radish's harsh handmarks still bruised Marron's flesh... Celery decided not to mention anything, though.

 

Marron just looked up, "Ah, Celery... was there something you wanted?"

 

"I'm not sure if my brother told you, but... the Sorcerer Hunters were on their way here... they're here now. I've already met with them, they want us all to go outside and see them. Me, you and Radish, that is. Radish set out some clothes, so..."

 

Marron sighed, "Radish did say that they might be here anytime soon... I... I suppose this is it, then? Us making sure that we finally get rid of Carrot and those others once and for all?"

 

Celery delicately nodded, holding the door open to let some fresh air in.

 

"... It might be. It might be."

 

Celery was about to ask if Marron wanted to be left alone while he changed, but Marron was already draining the water out of the circular bath and standing on the side. He didn't seem to have any care about standing there naked, so Celery tried not to show any care in return. Marron smiled, walking down the stairs to the other bathroom, where the towels were.

 

"Radish was telling me about the upper bath as he washed me... about how it's pumped up from the river to the side of the house, about how it's heated by magic... it's quite an ingenious system."

 

Celery nodded, "Y-yes, it is..."

 

Seeing the towels, Celery passed one to Marron, who proceeded to dry himself.

 

"Quite luxurious, too. I could quite get used to bathing there. Ah..."

 

Marron froze in brief pain. Celery bent down slightly, concern evident on his face.

 

"Marron? Are you alright?"

 

"Yes... just a momentary pain in my back... I felt something similar earlier, but while I was relaxing, I didn't feel so much..."

 

Marron turned his back to Celery, looking over his shoulder at him.

 

"Radish said that perhaps I slept awkwardly, or perhaps it was something to do with my attack this morning, but... can you see anything there? It feels as if I've been scratched by something powerful... are there any marks there?"

 

Celery could only too clearly see the marks that his brother had left on Marron's pale skin. They were dark against Marron's radiantly pink skin, pink and warm from the heat of the hot bath.

 

Marron urged him on, "Is there anything there?"

 

Celery resisted the urge to touch the marks, just standing up, shaking his head.

 

"I can't see anything there. My brother was perhaps right, maybe you did indeed sleep awkwardly on it."

 

"I suppose that must be it..."

 

Marron carefully held the towel's corners in his two hands, running the soft material over his back, wincing lightly as the edge happened to run across certain areas of his skin. Celery just remained silent as Marron did so. Eventually, Marron was free of any remaining foam on his body, and his skin had lost that sheen of moisture that covered it. He glanced around the room for a moment, Celery remembered the clothes that he'd been holding.

 

"Oh, Marron... my brother picked these out for you to wear for when we meet the Sorcerer Hunters..."

 

Marron nodded, taking the pile from Celery as he walked out of the bathroom, into his own room.

 

Finding the other things he needed, Marron proceeded to dress himself, Celery quietly watching as he did so. He had to admit, once Marron wore the robe and trousers, he did cut quite a striking figure... he was as calm as always, but his pale skin set against the darkness of the clothes was quite aesthetically pleasing. Marron pulled his hair back as he prepared to put the cape on, he was stopped by Celery.

 

"Hold on a moment..."

 

Marron turned around with a curious sound, looking at Celery, who was currently looking through a few drawers. He eventually produced a hairbrush, and smiled softly at Marron.

 

"Maybe it's a little tangled still from the bath. Would you mind if I...?"

 

Celery held the hairbrush up to illustrate his point. Marron sat down next to where the cape lay on the bed, "No, if you want to..."

 

Celery sat down behind Marron, feeling the light dampness that remained in Marron's hair. He was as gentle as he could make himself, parting the hair into sections, watching the brush as it smoothly sailed through... Marron just sat quietly. Celery smiled softly, knowing Marron couldn't see him, but unable to help himself.

 

"Those robes suit you, Marron."

 

Marron brought one hand up for inspection. The robe was quite tight-fitting, purposely made that way, and it hugged against his skin quite nicely. The cuffs flared outward, the material stopping just after his thumb started. He turned his wrist over, noticing the white material on the inside of the cuffs.

 

"Thank you."

 

"You'd probably suit anything though..." A soft laugh, "You'd make anything look beautiful, given the chance."

 

"Celery..."

 

Marron sounded halfway between being unsure and giving a warning. Celery just leant against Marron's ear, whispering quietly into it as he continued to brush Marron's hair.

 

"Don't worry, I'm not trying to suggest anything... I know when not to interfere in my brother's affairs. You are beautiful, though... I just wanted to make sure you knew that."

 

"I see..."

 

Celery continued until he was sure any knots or tangles in Marron's hair were long gone; Marron's hair felt dryer to touch, he let it fall against Marron's back. Celery smiled, parting two sections from the side and arranging them over the front of Marron's shoulders.

 

"There we go, just how you always have it. Stand up a moment, let me look at you."

 

Moving from the bed to stand beside it, Celery watched as Marron complied. He nodded to himself, motioning for Marron to turn around; the robes did suit Marron. Radish had also managed to find and set out a darker pair of shoes for Marron to wear; Celery wasn't sure if they exactly went with the rest of the outfit, but doubted that the Sorcerer Hunters would be observing Marron for his change in clothing in any case, and they fitted better with the outfit than the white shoes he'd worn formerly.

 

Celery held up the cape, "Did you want to wear this too? You don't have to if you don't want to; the robes look fine on their own..."

 

"I don't mind."

 

Celery paused, then walked behind Marron, holding his hair up in order to shift the cape around Marron's neck. He rearranged Marron's hair once he'd done so, and proceeded to tie up the front.

 

"Is that alright? It's not uncomfortable, is it?"

 

"No, it's fine... I assume this belonged to you, Celery?"

 

Celery nodded, "That's right."

 

"You don't mind that I wear it?"

 

"No, I don't mind... as long as it fits, it's fine with me. I don't mind sharing with you if you don't mind."

 

Marron nodded, "I see."

 

A pause, then he spoke again.

 

"When did you last wear these? It's quite ornate... you usually wear plainer clothes..."

 

"That's true. The last time I wore them... quite some time ago. I can't really remember. They're quite foreboding though, don't you think? It fits this kind of occasion, but usually I'd remain quiet while my brother did what he would. As you say, it's quite ornate... something that was really made to be seen. If it fitted my brother, I might let him wear it; it's the kind of thing that suits his mood better. No doubt I could be angry if given the chance, but..."

 

Celery was taken aback for a moment as he saw the look on Marron's face. Nothing really different, Marron was just quietly watching and listening to Celery as he spoke, but something about the younger boy's beauty seemed to suggest... almost innocence, to Celery. He couldn't help but remember events past, Marron, Carrot, Marron's feelings, the images that Radish had given Marron that continued to haunt him... Celery turned away, feeling, not for the first time, that the entire situation was just wrong. It was true that the robes suited Marron well, that they were foreboding, but why should someone such as him have to wear something like that? Why did he have to be in the situation at all? Celery recalled earlier on in the day, hearing Radish's angry cries, Marron's desperate cries... he still cried for his brother, who was waiting outside... Celery wondered if the day would result in death at all. Death of the Sorcerer Hunters? Of them? Of Marron?

 

Marron just looked at Celery, "... but...?"

 

Celery realised he'd been in the middle of speaking when he'd dropped into his thoughts. He shook his head slightly, "... nevermind. Radish is waiting for us downstairs; do you think that you're... prepared?"

 

"Prepared to face the Sorcerer Hunters?"

 

Marron shrugged lightly, walking towards the door.

 

"As prepared as I'll ever be, I suppose. After this, though... if we defeat them... we can live peacefully, can't we?"

 

"You can. Y-yes, we can."

 

Marron's warm smile made Celery's uncertainty increase.

 

"That's good. In that case, I'm definitely prepared."

 

He left the room, leaving the door open for Celery to follow. Eventually, he did.

 

Downstairs, Celery found Radish openly ogling Marron in Celery's robes.

 

"Oh WOW! Marron, those look brilliant on you! I knew they'd look cool but damn, they really suit you, ya know? Keh, I wonder if those Sorcerer Hunters'll appreciate it? Probably not. If they got you back with 'em, they'd probably get you back into the whole purity-and-innocence type stuff, which I guess is nice too, but damn, that just looks good! I feel even better prepared now!"

 

Celery couldn't help a hint of sardonacism, "Just because Marron underwent a change of clothes?"

 

"Hey, don't knock it!"

 

Celery just glanced at Radish, then turned to Marron.

 

"Marron... you think you're capable of the magic needed to disperse of these people? Your magic is... different to ours, somewhat..."

 

"I think I'm capable."

 

Celery nodded, Marron seemed confident.

 

"Now, the one called Carrot... otouto, remember that, if hit by magic, he turns into a monster. We might want to avoid such a circumstance so close to our own house. It'd make him lose his mind, and we might lose the house if he chooses to step on it."

 

Radish nodded, "Right. I'll try, oniisama."

 

Celery narrowed his eyes slightly, "I'd love to believe you but I'm not sure that's possible. Carrot's power is that of Zooanthropy, induced by the power of magic altering his physical form into something else... what he might turn into when hit by our magic, we can't be certain, for Zooanthropy has several different outcomes... however, a different kind of magic..."

 

A sidewards glance at Marron, who didn't notice it. Radish didn't notice either, clapping Celery heartily on the back.

 

"Oniisama's been doing his homework!"

 

"After we encountered the Sorcerer Hunters that first time, I was curious... and in Marron's subconscious... he is, or was, quite attentive to his brother's powers, it would seem."

 

"Yeah, well. What was that you said, though? A different kind of magic?"

 

The group started to walk towards the kitchen in order to leave the house, Radish and Celery continuing to converse outside of Marron's realisation.

 

"The magic that we carry within us is very different to the magic that Marron carries within HIM. Keep in mind, after all, that he IS a Parsoner, albeit a strong Parsoner. His magic skills are that which he's learnt, and that magic travels a different route in our atmosphere than that that our magic travels... if his does at all. Our magic comes from the world around us, from the atmosphere... his magic comes from... his magic comes from somewhere else, I can't be sure where. The minor details of Eastern Magic were never my strongpoint, having never encountered it before..."

 

"Couldn't you read THAT in Marron's mind too?"

 

"I probably could if I wanted to, but something like that would be hidden much deeper than information pertaining to his brother... besides, I thought you didn't want me looking into his mind now that he's with us."

 

"True, true... but, what you're saying is... we can't attack Carrot, but Marron can?"

"Something along those lines. His Zooanthropy has to be some kind of reaction against magic drawn from our atmosphere, but Marron's magic isn't LIKE that; his magic has a separate source altogether... I suppose Marron would never have attacked Carrot before given his temperament, but... this situation is so different..."

 

Radish nodded to himself, then smiled at Marron.

 

"Hey, Marron! When we fight Carrot, don't hold back on him, okay? Whack him with whatever ya want."

 

"I thought you said that if he was hit by magic, he transformed..."

 

"Yeah, he does, if me or oniisama hit him with magic. You've got the whole chanting n' ofuda thing going on though, we don't do that, it's different for you. That kinda magic just hurts him without turning him into a monster, or so oniisama's research would say, so... yeah."

 

They walked out of the kitchen's sliding door, Celery noticing the Sorcerer Hunters on the other side of the garden, wondering if they'd been noticed yet.

 

Something seemed to occur to Celery.

 

"However, if, somehow, Carrot does turn into a monster... Marron, you have the power to transform him back into a human."

 

"I do?"

 

Celery nodded, "Yes... something about the power you have has the power to absorb the power he has. I couldn't explain how it works, but you have that power. Some kind of chant that enables your ofuda to..."

 

Marron muttered something under his breath that Radish and Celery couldn't quite hear. Celery paused from his explanation, "What?"

 

Marron looked as if he'd been caught daydreaming. "Hn?"

 

"You said something."

 

He seemed as if he was still daydreaming, or half-daydreaming.

 

"The spell... the chant said... that which means I can... seal that power..."

 

Radish frowned, putting his hand to Marron's forehead.

 

"You feeling okay? You sound all dreamy suddenly."

 

Marron was quiet for a few moments, then seemed to shake away the strange feeling he suddenly had. Radish retracted his hand, Marron smiled slightly.

 

"Yes, I'm feeling alright..."

 

"Well, okay... so a-anyway... Carrot and that lot..." They were walking across the garden now. "... whatever they say, it's not true, okay? It's a lie, it's just them trying to get you back with them and stuff... so just ignore it all and stuff, okay? As I said... I'm your only truth, okay Marron? I... I love you."

 

Marron just made a vague noise of agreement, then they reached the edge of the garden, and by that point, it was too late to say anything more.

 

There was silence as Radish, Celery and Marron approached the Sorcerer Hunters. Immediately their eyes were affixed to Marron, more or less ignoring the two Salt brothers. Radish noticed this, and smirked.

 

"Oniisama said you kept wantin' to see Marron and stuff. He's right here, see? You've seen him, you can go now. Unless you wanna fight us?"

 

Carrot stepped forward, pointing a self-righteous finger at Marron, ignoring Radish.

 

"Hey, M-Marron! What's with the clothes?"

 

Marron just gazed levelly at Carrot; Carrot was too surprised to notice much, but Gateau noticed the quiet disdain in those eyes. He stepped forward, a hand on Carrot's shoulder.

 

"Oi, Carrot, be careful... there's something... something weird about him..."

 

Carrot turned around momentarily to Gateau, "You don't need to tell ME that!"

He turned back to Marron, running up to him, putting his hands on Marron's shoulders; Marron just stared back at him.

 

"Marron, Marron! Wha-"

 

Carrot noticed the contrary triangle.

 

"Marron, what the HELL!? You've got one of those triangle things! What are you doing here like this?! You're dressed all different, you're with these guys... what's... what's up with that?"

 

Marron just stepped backwards, rising one arm to shake Carrot away, "Don't touch me."

 

"Ma-... Marron?!"

 

Radish smirked still, his arms folded.

 

"You heard the guy, Carrot. Doesn't want you to touch him! So don't, okay? This isn't the guy you used to know. What he used to be... what he used to think he was... that wasn't quite the truth, was it, Marron?"

 

Marron carefully looked over the Sorcerer Hunters. Carrot was the closest, watching Marron with wide-eyed shock, not believing what was right in front of him, not wanting to believe what was right in front of him. Behind him, there were others... Marron tried to recall names, but they seemed clouded... the faces were vaguely familiar, but names didn't rise to his lips. They all seemed shocked, though. To various degrees. One girl seemed angry, another seemed tearful. The tall muscled male seemed both at the same time. The shorter male with the round brown hair didn't seem too affected, standing with his hand on his sword, ready to draw it. Marron didn't recall him at all, and passed it off as being unimportant. The other member of the group, the tall purple-haired... male, Marron's mind suggested to him... he seemed sad, but more resigned to that sadness. Just standing there with his arms folded, his eyes looking into Marron's own for a moment, then closing. Marron didn't quite understand that look, frowned momentarily, then turned back to Carrot and the other Sorcerer Hunters.

 

"Radish tells me that you are the Sorcerer Hunters..."

 

Chocolat stepped forward, "Yeah, and you're one too, so quit it with the dark stuff and just... just quit it already! Marron, you're... Marron, you're just joking or something, right?"

 

Marron blinked at her, "I wouldn't joke about this. I've been told about how I was cruelly torn from my companions here, how Big Mama somehow convinced me to go along with you... how I forgot my former life... I have returned to that life."

 

"Marron, QUIT IT! Don't you remember that... I mean... Marron, you grew up with us, with me and Tira and Darling and everyone! That's not a lie!"

 

Carrot nodded, feeling desperate.

 

"Chocolat's right, Marron... you're my little brother, you've always been my little brother..."

 

"That persuasion won't work on me, Carrot."

 

Carrot scowled, "Fuck, what the hell have you guys done to him!? Marron, they're the ones who're lying, Big Mama never did anything like that, I mean... don't you... don't you remember anything!?"

 

Celery noticed an opening, and cut into the conversation.

 

"Big Mama gave him a life that wasn't his own. How do you know that she didn't somehow engineer your minds alongside his? Fed you false memories, told you lies that you believed without question... how do you know that everything you've lived is true?"

 

Carrot quickly turned to face Celery.

 

"What!?"

 

"Perhaps... perhaps Marron belongs with us after all. Maybe my brother showed him the truth, and stopped him from living a lie..."

 

Celery smirked, but didn't feel it inside himself.

 

Carrot just looked from Celery to Marron again.

 

"No way! That's just a lie! Marron's my brother... Marron's my brother! Milphey, you're all pally with Big Mama and stuff, right? You tell these guys, tell 'em they're lying!"

 

Milphey opened his eyes.

 

"Mamu-sama indeed would not transport a Sorcerer from his native people and raise him as a Parsoner..."

 

Radish stepped forward, "Yeah, well, what if she wanted a spy or something?"

 

"And what would be gained from said spy by implanting him with memories not his own, wiping his mind of what had gone on before, letting him live a totally different life?"

 

Milphey had a valid point. This didn't please Radish.

 

"Well, I, I don't know, do I!? She's the big fucking goddess thing, I don't know how her mind works! Maybe she got bored one day and just wanted to fuck with everyone's minds a bit. How am I supposed to know?! The point is, Marron ain't Carrot's brother and he never was so there's no point in dwelling on it 'cause it's all a big lie set up to fuck with you, okay? Oniisama, can we kill them yet or what? They're pissing me off."

 

Carrot just snarled, "If anyone's gonna be killing anyone else, I'm gonna kill YOU!! I don't know what the hell you've done to Marron to make him like this, but I know what my brother's like, he wouldn't let something like that happen easily! What the hell did you do to my brother!? TELL ME!"

 

Radish shook his head, "Tch, Carrot. Marron isn't your brother! He's one of my... compatriots."

 

"Yeah, well, I'm not gonna believe anything you say! We have all our memories of our time together, all of us do, our childhood, all the growing up together we did, everything like that..."

 

"Carrot, haven't you been listening? Those were just lies..."

 

"Even if they WERE lies I don't CARE! Those memories are what made our relationship! Even if they were a lie, they're what I remember, right? They're what I remember and what I treasure... and even if they didn't happen... even if they didn't happen, I remember them like they did happen, and that's the most important thing! We all shared the memories, so even if they didn't happen it's like they did to us, and that's as good as them happening, I think... 'cause... we all remember them... right, guys?"

 

The others seemed to see the sense behind Carrot's rambling logic, and made noises of agreement.

 

Radish just growled.

 

"Yeah, well, whatever you think, it's obviously different to what Marron thinks, 'cause he's the one on our side, he's not on your side, is he? See, he's convinced that you guys were the ones who took him from his happy life here; 'specially you," Radish pointed an accusing finger at Carrot.

 

"You somehow made out like you were something special to him, you were special to each other... but yeah, that was all a lie too. And he's not too happy about that, so... we've decided, he's decided, it's his destiny to kill you, 'cause all those painful things he feels... all the pain he has, his nightmares... they're all traced back to you, Carrot. You bring him such pain, even now he's here and happy with us!"

 

Carrot frowned.

 

Marron had nightmares?

 

He was reminded of nightmares that he often had; nightmares of Sacher Torte, of Hakaishin... nightmares that Marron usually comforted him through... his mind had been too full of other things recently to even remember Sacher or Hakaishin, but even so... nightmares... he couldn't help but think of his own experiences.

 

"Marron, you have nightmares?"

 

He sounded almost kindly.

 

Marron just scowled at Carrot, "That's got nothing to do with this. It's true, though... from what I remember... the cause of those nightmares is you... perhaps if I kill you, my mind will rest easy. Once you die, we can live in peace. I can live in peace."

 

Carrot's heart hammered in his chest. Marron wasn't talking like this, was he? He couldn't be talking like that! That wasn't like the Marron he knew, who he was certain wasn't a lie, or a memory planted into his head... Marron was Marron was his brother. He was sure.

 

Chocolat's anger seemed to have been stirred again.

 

"Damn... Marron, this is... don't you remember that time when we faced the crystal magicians, or whoever those guys were? And they turned Gateau and Carrot evil, and Carrot stabbed you, and you were totally prepared to just let Carrot kill you, and I saved you, and you told me that you'd rather die than hurt Carrot! You'd rather die, you were totally prepared to die... you'd rather die than even RISK harming Carrot! You can't be serious about killing him, you just can't! And anyway, if you want to hurt Darling, you've... you'll have to get through me and Tira first."

 

Chocolat's voice was suddenly serious, trying to keep her temper. Tira looked up at being mentioned, Chocolat nodded down at her.

 

"Right, Tira?"

 

Tira looked up at Chocolat, then across at Carrot's back, and Marron beyond Carrot, what she could see of him. She looked back at her sister, who seemed so determined suddenly.

 

"Ri-right, oneesama..."

 

Chocolat stared directly into Marron's dark eyes, "Don't you remember... any of that?"

 

Marron spoke quietly, "That time was a lie, and I have forgotten it. Don't talk to me of such things."

 

The Sorcerer Hunters just watched as Marron flicked an ofuda out from somewhere, and glanced from Chocolat to Carrot.

 

"You are the one who has to die..."

 

"Marron?!"

 

"IKE! SEIRYUU!"

 

The group barely had time to jump away from Marron's attack; Milphey leapt across to knock Carrot out of the way, the others seemed to make their own way to safety. The attack carried across the river, the whisper of water falling into the river like rain audible, then the attack faded out as it hit into some of the trees on the other side.

 

Milphey realised that the position he'd landed in meant that he was halfway ontop of Carrot, but doubted that Carrot noticed the position. He shook Carrot's shoulder, "Carrot, are you okay?"

 

Carrot paused for a moment.

 

"Carrot?"

 

When Carrot looked up, he had tears in his eyes.

 

"Chocolat was right, Marron'd... Marron was... Marron wouldn't..."

 

He looked up at Milphey, his eyes shining.

 

"Milphey, Marron's serious about this... it's... I don't know what those guys have done to him, but... Big Mama wouldn'ta... done something like what they were on about, right?"

 

Milphey shook his head, "I've served Big Mama for almost all of my life, Carrot. I can say with certainty that what they speak of is a lie... and this would make sense with what she spoke about, a kind of... magical surge, a while ago... obviously Marron believes whatever they tell them, but what did they do to him in the first place to enable him to be like this?!"

 

"I don't know... I don't know..."

 

"Rhetorical question, Carrot. I don't know either, and I don't think those two are going to tell us..."

 

Tira and Chocolat were currently dealing with Celery; transformed into their dominatrix forms, they were swift enough on their feet to avoid the spells that Celery cast in their direction. Deadly in their precision, Tira's whip was cracked, Chocolat's garrotte was thrown, and Celery was displeased to find that his barrier magic didn't work quite as well as it had done in the past; he wasn't to know that Hazelnut had absorbed the majority of it's power, but supposed that it had something to do with the fact that Hazelnut had nullified the barrier around the house, something to do with that... Celery just snarled and attempted to put up with the attack. Fending off Tira's attack seemed easy enough, but Tira was just trying to distract him while Chocolat did her work; Celery was suddenly aware of a tight trapping around his body, the inability to move... had someone cast a binding spell on him? He froze, unsure of what was going on.

 

Chocolat emerged, holding the end of her wire with one hand, smirking.

 

"All I have to do is pull, and we won't have to wo-"

 

"SET THAT WIRE ON FIRE!"

 

Chocolat, Tira and Celery looked up with surprise, only to see Radish cast a sudden spell; Chocolat pulled away from the sudden flames. She looked at Radish with disbelief.

 

"You'd cast that spell on my wire while it's still wrapped around your brother?!"

 

Celery called out in sudden shock as the fire came just too close for comfort. He threw himself into a roll and managed to disperse of the flames and unroll himself from the wire, but the edges of his cape still smouldered a little. He brushed himself down, "She's right, otouto. Try and think about these things in the future..."

 

"She was gonna kill you!"

 

"That's true. And you saved me, in a... roundabout way, so I'm pleased with you for that... thankyou, otouto. Just... try not to set me on fire in the future."

 

Chocolat just growled, "I won't give you a second chance... HAH!"

 

"ONEESAMA!"

 

Tira yelled her shock as Chocolat leapt into the air, aiming for Radish; he managed to jump aside from the wire, not before throwing some kind of attack in her direction; she gasped, it hit, she fell to the floor, wincing. Tira was by her side.

 

"Oneesama, oneesama, are you alright?"

 

"Damn... ye-yes, I'm alright..."

 

Radish's cackle, "But you won't be in a minute. HAA-Uhgh..."

 

"Haa-uhgh?"

 

Chocolat looked up to notice Gateau standing where Radish had been just previously, Radish now on the floor a little way away. Gateau flicked his hair back and smirked, "Chocolat, you okay?"

 

Chocolat nodded, standing up as Tira helped her.

 

"Yeah... hey, did you kill him?"

 

Celery was already by Radish's side. He shook his brother by the shoulders, the others watching quietly as Celery did so; the battle was forgotten for a moment, concern for his brother was the most important thing to him at that moment.

 

"Oto-otouto! Wake up! Please?"

 

"Uhhnghh..."

 

"Radish!"

 

Radish's eyes flickered open, he looked slightly confused. "I feel like I fell onto a rock..."

 

Marron seemed to glide over, observing the situation.

 

"Who did this to Radish?"

 

Gateau glared carefully at Marron; this person had Marron's appearance, his voice... but was it really Marron? He stepped forward, "I did."

 

Marron nodded, "I see. And you are...?"

 

"Damn, Marron, it's me, Gateau! ... Gateau Mocha. You don't even recognize me?"

 

"... Your face is vaguely familiar... but that doesn't matter. Yo-"

 

"DIE!!"

 

"HAZELNUT, NO!!"

 

Marron turned around quickly at the shout; Hazelnut had taken the opportunity of striking while Marron spoke and had his back turned; he was in the middle of leaping at Marron, sword raised, when Milphey had jumped in the way, managing to deflect Hazelnut's attack. Hazelnut fell into a crouch, Marron stepped away from Milphey, confused.

 

"You... didn't let him attack me?"

 

Hazelnut glared up at Milphey, "I thought we came here to defeat these people, Mille Feuille! Why did you stop me?"

 

Milphey glared at Marron for a moment, then down at Hazelnut.

 

"We are here to defeat Radish and Celery, Hazelnut. Not Marron. If it's at all possible, I'd rather we ended this day without killing Marron; Radish and Celery are at your disposal, but Marron... must not be killed."

 

"I... see. I apologize."

 

Radish smirked, one hand held to the side of his head.

 

"You hear that, Marron? You can do whatever you want 'cause they're not gonna wanna kill you..."

 

Milphey turned to face Radish, "However, at the absolute last resort... only if there is no other option..."

 

Gateau waved one hand at Milphey, "Okay, we get the picture. So, while we're all gathered like this, you guys, why don't you just tell us what you did? 'Cause this isn't the Marron we were with back at Qeran, you've done something weird to him."

 

Celery knelt next to Radish, his arms around his brother's shoulders, supporting him and holding him. He glared at Gateau, angry with him for attacking Radish.

 

"We've already told you..."

 

"Yeah, but see, I'm not buying that. All that crap about his life being a lie and Big Mama implanting memories into us and stuff, she wouldn't do that, I don't know why she'd wanna. And like... Marron's parents, I guess they just had an illusion too? Why would Big Mama bother coming up with all this just to make him from a bad guy into a good guy?"

 

Radish leapt up, "Okay, so there are flaws there! I don't know how her mind works, do I!?"

 

Celery stood up also, quietly folding his arms. Radish was finding it hard to defend his lies, and was getting angry... Gateau just shrugged, walking over to Marron.

 

"Okay, whatever. So, do you believe them, Marron?"

 

Marron glared up at Gateau's taller figure, "O-of course, why wouldn't I...?"

 

"Hmm... well, I'll admit, whatever you guys have done to him, you've done it good. Whatever you've done, he's totally buying it... which is a shame, 'cause-"

 

Radish couldn't help a comment, "Cause you're in love with him, right?"

 

Gateau had had his back turned to Radish until he spoke; when Radish said that, he couldn't help but turn quickly, glaring over his shoulder.

 

"... What?!"

 

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. I know what you feel for him, me and oniisama both... you're totally at his feet, right? Totally and utterly gone for him... hurts, doesn't it?"

 

Gateau just glared, "Shut up."

 

Milphey could see anger boiling on Gateau's face and extended a hand, "Gateau, be careful, don't let them get to you..."

 

"They're not getting to me, Milphey..."

Radish walked over to Marron, standing behind him, behind and to the side a little. He swept out Marron's hair momentarily, "He is really beautiful, though. Don't blame ya for liking him so much. Only, he never really reacted, did he? Never really said anything back... and that hurt too, right? Hurt 'cause he was only so concerned about his brother..."

 

Marron frowned slightly, turning slightly to Radish, "Radish, what are you...?"

 

"Ssh. So, hey, Gateau, isn't that true?"

 

"Shut up! You're just... you're just making stuff up!"

 

"It hurt when he didn't pay attention to you back then, it hurt that he'd only pay attention to his beloved niisan, and it hurts now that he doesn't even know who you are. Right?"

 

Radish didn't notice the word 'niisan' ghost it's way over Marron's lips as Radish spoke it. Marron watched Gateau's reaction carefully; he certainly seemed emotional, as if he was unsure of how to react... Marron remembered Radish's sweet gestures, and how he'd concluded that Radish was someone who loved him; Radish was someone who loved him, that was undoubtable to his mind, but this other person, Gateau... was this somebody who loved him also?

 

All eyes seemed to either be on Radish or on Marron; Carrot's eyes especially.

 

Radish continued to talk to Gateau, walking around him now, but Marron wasn't listening to whatever Radish was saying; he wasn't listening, and Celery seemed to have noticed. He whispered across, "Marron?"... Marron heard the whisper, but didn't respond.

 

Carrot... those others... Gateau seemed to be getting angrier with each moment, looking as if he was about to punch out at Radish again at any moment... the two girls, Milphey and Hazelnut just watched the situation; Carrot just watched Marron.

 

Carrot was just staring at Marron. He never moved his look, never took his eyes away, seemed to be totally ignoring what was happening to Gateau... Marron stared back at Carrot, unsure of how to react. Carrot's stare was so total; he looked angry, but also emotional... Carrot... and that word Radish had spoken earlier, niisan... Carrot, niisan... and that, over there... that person was Carrot, was... his niisan?

 

No, but that was a lie. All of that life was a lie, those people were the enemy.

 

But even so... if they were the enemy, if they were as bad as Radish made them out to be... then why were they here now to take him back? He supposed that it was because of the memories that Radish said Big Mama had planted in their mind, but... why bother returning at all? He was a Sorcerer, they were Sorcerer Hunters; why didn't they just kill him? Was he really that important to them, as Milphey had said, that they weren't even allowed to kill him? ... Still Carrot stared... never moving those deep brown eyes from Marron's own... those eyes... had he looked into them before...? In a previous life? In a dream?

 

The dreams, the nightmares...

 

Marron wanted to stop himself before he thought about those; before he could even stop himself, he surprised everyone with a sudden attack; an attack aimed directly at Carrot.

 

"Su... SUZAKU... KAEN... GOKU!!"

 

Radish called out in surprise, jumping aside from the sudden fire attack, almost leaping into Gateau as he did so; Tira and Chocolat called out for Carrot, and Carrot himself wholly expected to find himself losing rational thought and turning into a beast at any moment.

 

The intense burning pain that still registered in his mind told him that he wasn't turning into his beast form; he cried out from the pain, and was sent flying over towards the middle of the garden. The attack dissipated, and a collision with a decorative sundial in the middle of the lawn prevented Carrot from disturbing Celery's roses that grew a little further away.

 

He lay there for a moment, groaning. That'd hurt. He opened his eyes slowly, seeing sky above him... he sat up, looking over at the group, who seemed equally surprised; even Radish and Celery, Carrot noticed.

 

"Ma... Marron..."

 

Tira and Chocolat rushed over, "Darling! Are you okay?"

 

Carrot rubbed the back of his head, "I... I think so... but... how come... how come I didn't... turn into a beast?"

 

Celery folded his arms, walking over.

 

"I believe Marron is a user of Eastern Magic, indeed? Eastern Magic works differently. If I were to attack you at this moment, no doubt you'd turn into a monster, but... I'd like to come away from this battle without losing much more than the sundial..."

 

Carrot stood up, Celery quickly walked behind him and propped the sundial up again. The pointer seemed a little bent; Celery tried to correct it, but it didn't seem to want to. He sighed, "That's regrettable."

 

The others seemed to be joining the Misu sisters, Carrot and Celery nearer to the centre of the garden; Gateau ran into Marron's path, stopping him with his hand on Marron's shoulders.

 

"Marron, wait!"

 

"What is it? What do you want?"

 

Marron glared up at Gateau; Gateau was taken aback by the malice in those eyes. Was Marron really malicious? He could be determined and downright psychotic at times, but... that cold feeling wasn't something Gateau'd seen on Marron's face in the past, and it worried him. He'd been right; whatever Radish and Celery had done to him, they'd certainly done their job well. But what had they done? Would he be able to find out?

 

"... You really don't remember, do you..."

 

"The past is not my concern. Get out of my way."

 

"Not yet... you're... really somebody different, aren't you?"

 

Marron managed to break Gateau's hold on him with an arc of blue light; Gateau was thrown to the side, and Marron continued to walk forward.

 

As Marron approached the others, Chocolat glared at him.

 

"Marron, how dare you attack Darling like that!? Your own brother!"

 

There was that word again... brother... niisan...

 

Marron fought the unease inside him, "That person... isn't my brother. I don't have a brother. Radish and Celery... they are the people who I..."

 

Radish urged Marron on, "Who you...?"

 

Marron seemed to have frozen. Staring at Carrot, Carrot staring back at him... Carrot was still sat on the ground, Tira and Chocolat to either side of him. They looked from Marron to Carrot, and Radish did the same; Radish waved his hand in front of Marron, "Marron? Marron?"

 

Marron didn't say anything. Carrot seemed... tearful? Emotional.

 

"... You don't... have a brother, Marron?"

 

Marron shook his head slowly, speaking as if he wasn't sure of what he was saying...

 

"No... no, I don't..."

 

Carrot bowed his head for a moment, "I see."

 

A pause, Marron narrowed his eyes. Then Carrot looked up again, smiling sadly, not caring to hide his tears as they fell.

 

"Even though you're wearing those different clothes and you're with these different people and you've got the weird thing on your head... and they've managed to do something to you to make you forget everything, and even though you attacked me, and everything... it doesn't matter if you don't... if you don't think you've got a brother anymore, or if you believe you never had one in the first place, or whatever... 'cause... no matter what anyone says... you're still my little brother, even if you're not... even if you're not who you were, you'll always be my little brother... Marron..."

 

Marron just frowned, not understanding Carrot's tears.

 

"You're crying..."

 

"Yeah, well, I can't help it, can I? Ever since that battle at Qeran I've been worried... 'cause... we thought you were dead... and we were so sad... I was so sad I couldn't even move half the time... then we found out you weren't dead, and we were happy, and it made us determined to find you... and we... well, it doesn't matter, you probably don't care or anything, but... we... I..."

 

Carrot's voice cracked with the strain of his emotion, "... I was worried about you. Couldn't stop worrying about you... was my little brother okay? Was he safe, was he in danger? Was he in pain? Was he... well, everything... I couldn't stop wondering and worrying and stuff... and... I know sometimes I've been an idiot and a moron and stuff, but... I couldn't protect you back in Qeran, and I feel bad for that, y'know?"

 

Carrot sighed a deep sigh, looking down slightly, seeming to stare at Marron's shoes as he spoke.

 

"I know I've probably been a bad big brother and everything, but so much so you'd really say that you don't have a brother? ... I'm sorry, Marron... I guess... what I'm trying to say... is that I love you, and even if you're all different like this and everything, I always will, and I'll always see you as my little brother even if you refuse to believe it. That's all."

 

There was another pause after Carrot finished, his slight sniff the only audible thing in the garden for a few moments. Radish looked from Carrot to Marron; Carrot had his head bowed, his shoulders shook occasionally... Tira and Chocolat were occupied with comforting him, their arms around him, looking tearful themselves.

 

Marron just looked frozen; he stared at Carrot with wide eyes, Radish noticed that Marron's fists were clenched tightly, and that he seemed to be... shaking?

 

"Hey... Marron? Marron, you... you okay?"

 

"... nii... san..."

 

The word was only a whispered one, but enough to make Radish's own eyes widen in shock.

 

"Hey, Marron! Remember what I said? Whatever these guys say, it's all lies! He doesn't... he isn't... Carrot isn't really your brother, right? Just 'cause he's crying... it's just a plot to get you back with them! You don't actually believe what he's saying, do you?!"

 

"SHUT UP!"

 

Radish was surprised when Marron actually lashed out at him, hit squarely across the chest by Marron's arm. He stumbled back slightly, "Ma... rron?"

 

Marron glared at Celery, then at Carrot, then at Gateau, who'd appeared to Marron's side. Gateau just glanced down at him, "You're even striking out at him now?"

 

"You... you don't even know-... ah... AH..."

 

Marron suddenly fell to his knees, clutching his head, crying out in the sudden pain that ripped through his mind and body. He looked up, he tried to look up, but things suddenly... they suddenly seemed... different?

 

"... Everybody else... Radish... Celery... those Sorcerer Hunters... wh-where...?"

 

The garden suddenly seemed empty, except for the figure that sat by the sundial; Carrot just smiled sadly at him, purple-tinted though he suddenly seemed... Carrot seemed like that, the garden seemed like that, the sky seemed to... rush by overhead? The dreams... the dreams... suddenly, they were...?

 

Marron cried out loudly; Gateau looked down, surprised. He didn't hesitate to crouch down next to Marron, his arm over Marron's shoulders... he frowned.

 

"Marron! Marron, what's wrong?"

 

Radish tried to force Gateau's hand away from Marron's shoulders, "Don't touch him! He doesn't want someone like you touching him!"

 

Gateau refused to move, just glaring up at Radish.

 

"I don't think he's in the right state of mind to even notice, do you?! What the fuck did you do to him? Jesus... Marron, Marron, calm down! D-don't do that, it'll hurt!"

 

Marron's hands were tightly clenched, digging against his head, against his hair... he couldn't hear Radish or Gateau, only able to see Carrot in his mind, only able to feel his own pain, shivering madly, calling out uncontrollably; he couldn't hear himself cry.

 

Celery rushed over, "Radish... what is he doing?"

 

Radish dropped to a kneel, ignoring Gateau for the time being, "I, I don't know..."

 

Celery pushed at Gateau's hand, "Move a moment, I want to take the cape off..."

 

Marron's breathing was coming rapidly now, his cries ragged alongside his breathing; Celery managed to sweep the cape off, but that didn't seem to help. Marron stared wide-eyed at the floor in front of him, seeming to see something that only he could see... he'd stopped crying, seeming to be listening to something that only he could hear. He'd stopped crying, but his breath never once let up. Celery put a hand to Marron's chest, feeling his heartbeat... Marron's chest rose and fell rapidly, mirroring his heartbeat.

 

Carrot leant up, "What's... happening to him?"

 

Celery shook his head, his hand on Marron's forehead.

 

"I really don't know..."

 

He tried to pull at Marron's hands, but they wouldn't move. Celery looked concerned, "... I don't know what's happening within him..."

 

Radish tugged on Celery's sleeve, "Oniisama, oniisama... why don't you... look inside his mind?"

 

Gateau glanced at the Salt brothers, "You can do that?"

 

Celery didn't take his eyes from Marron's trembling form, "Of course. How do you think we knew of your feelings for Marron? No, but... otouto, this... current state of his... it can only be because... if I go into his mind, I don't know what I'll find there..."

 

"Oniisama, is there anything else we can do?"

 

Celery momentarily turned to face his brother, tempted to ask him why he didn't look into Marron's mind if he wanted to know what was happening so much, but... Radish seemed genuinely worried. He supposed that there wasn't any other choice; besides, he was more skilled with magic than his brother.

 

Celery sighed, "I suppose not."

 

Gateau held Marron by one shoulder and Radish held the other as Celery dropped to one knee in front of Marron's shaking body. He held his hands out for a moment, as if unsure. Marron's hands still gripped his head, his breath shook, he seemed to cry slightly with each breath... and his eyes were almost scary in their blank lack of feeling. Celery bit his lip, slipping his hands to cup over Marron's shoulders. He leant forward, feeling slightly nervous as he pressed his head to Marron's, the memory of Radish falling back from seeing inside Gateau's mind always remaining at the back of his mind as he did so.

 

Something seemed to snap, and the world suddenly seemed so different; Celery had a feeling that he was somewhere strange. A field? Was he in a field? That was what it seemed like. The entire world seemed as if it was tinted with purple light... that caught his attention, he dismissed it as being something that Marron's mind conjured up. The next thing that caught his attention were the two figures in front of him; neither had noticed him, and Celery had a feeling that they wouldn't. One seemed to be dead. He stepped forward, taking a closer look.

 

Carrot lay on the floor, motionless, eyes closed, and... wings behind him? Angelic wings that spread along the ground, disturbing the swaying crop of the field. The wings seemed bloodied, though... Carrot's head was to one side, Celery noticed a trickle of blood down one corner of Carrot's mouth. Something told Celery that Carrot was dead.

 

Marron was knelt in front of Carrot, hand extended, crying his name and title with cries that shook Celery to hear them. Wings had also adorned Marron at some point, but they'd fallen to the side, bloodied and torn, deep gashes on Marron's shoulders assuring this for Celery. Feathers still remained there, blowing in the wind, traces of what once was.

 

"Niisan... niisan, NIISAN!! Niisan, wake up... wake up, please... your wings... your wings are... they've... niisan, PLEASE..."

 

"... fallen angels..."

 

Carrot still didn't wake up, and this fact seemed to weigh down on Marron slowly but surely. His eyes opened wide at the realization, he threw his head into his hands, sobbing suddenly. Celery watched with sympathy, hearing Marron's voice speak.

 

"... niisan... you were taken from me... and my wings..."

 

Celery wondered what this was; it was obviously inside Marron's mind, but... was it a dream? Was it a vision, an illusion? He could feel pain all around him, as if it was as much a part of the atmosphere as air was. Pain was always close by.

 

"... my wings were torn from me... like you were... niisan, please wake up... niisan... niisan! Nii-ah... AHHH... AHHNNNGH..."

 

Marron reared back suddenly, pulling his shoulders tightly, his hands clenched; he screamed with some kind of intense inner pain. Feathers seemed to swirl around him, and then... something else happened... something seemed to burst forth from Marron's shoulders where his wings had been previously; dark and shining, Celery couldn't quite make out what they were, not at first. They seemed to be as if they were something that'd just hatched; sticking with some kind of membrane, the wings spread; dark and shining, black, red... Marron caught with his head thrown back, tears streaming down his cheeks... the wings opened, catching the wind. They flapped, and Marron rose slightly.

 

"... my wings... and I... we're different... you... they... were ripped from me... and now... we're separated..."

 

Celery supposed he was watching some kind of heaven-hell comparison in action. Marron rose further into the sky, then he flew off, visible no longer.

 

Carrot opened his eyes, "Ma... rron...", the his head fell to the side, and, to Celery, everything went suddenly dark.

 

When he remembered to remove his physical hands from Marron's shoulders, his physical head from Marron's same, Celery felt disjointed. The world around him was normal again; the sun shone above, Radish and Gateau and Marron were still in front of him, the others were behind him... the displacement was quite unpleasant, however. He just paused, absolutely motionless for a few moments.

 

Gateau and Radish noticed that Marron had gone limp under their hold; he fell forward, his breathing some semblance of 'normal' once more.

 

Celery took a few moments to regain his own breath, which seemed harried suddenly. Radish looked at him with wide-eyed curiosity, "Onii... sama? What... what happened?"

 

"Radish...?"

 

"You were crying out as well as Marron... it was kinda scary, but... we managed to hold him back, and everything... you were totally gone, though... what... did you see?"

 

Celery shook his head, feeling disjointed still.

 

"I... I can't say..."

 

"What, it was so terrible that you can't tell us?"

 

Celery shook his head again, "N-no..."

 

He frowned.

 

"It's as if I suddenly... can't remember... but... that can't be, I was only there just a few moments ago... but I seem to have such a headache now..."

 

"Oniisama, are you alright?"

 

Celery felt slightly pleased at the concern in his brother's voice.

 

"Yes... I think I'll be alright."

 

Carrot's voice carried over, "And... Marron? Will he be alright?"

 

Celery turned around, watching Carrot as he stood up and walked over.

 

"I... I think so..."

 

Carrot walked over to Marron, lifting him up slightly. He seemed peaceful at least, even if he wasn't awake... Carrot's brow seemed to tremble slightly, looking at his brother's peaceful sleeping face.

 

"Marron..."

 

Radish pushed Carrot out of the way, "Don't touch him... don't touch him. You... you're the person who makes him like this, you're the person who brings him all this pain..."

 

Carrot's anger was roused slightly, "And who made him like 'this' in the first place?"

 

"Shut up! I bet you can't wake him up!"

 

"Can anybody?"

 

Radish glared, "I bet I can."

 

Carrot stood up, glaring disdainfully down at Radish as he spoke.

 

"I doubt it..."

 

Radish just smirked, "Watch me."

 

He leant down slightly, kissing Marron gently. His kiss was gentle, and enough to distract Carrot and Gateau at least, but the magic he was working on Marron wasn't quite so gentle. Anything to rouse Marron into wakefulness, anything to make him wake up, just to show those others that he and he alone had tabs on what Marron did and didn't do...

 

Celery seemed to sense this, sense what his brother was trying to do, and he quietly lent his powers to the operation; had Radish had the magical power spare to talk to Celery, Celery didn't doubt that he'd be berated for his assistance; it wasn't such a solitary victory if he'd had help, after all. Radish didn't have the magical power to spare however, and so accepted Celery's help without question. The amplification given by Celery, and his kind words to Marron's inner self eventually managed to coax Marron into opening his eyes; Radish sulked inwardly, Celery always had been better at getting Marron to wake up than Radish himself was.

 

Celery did delight in Gateau's disbelieving "Ma-Marron!", though. Oh, the pain of seeing the person you love in the arms of another, Radish thought.

 

Marron's eyes flickered open, saw Radish, and immediately Marron pressed himself to Radish, who happily took Marron in his arms.

 

"Radish... the dreams I have... I don't even know what happened... like this morning, I... I don't even know..."

 

"Shh, shh, don't worry, don't worry... I'm here for you. I'm here for you... I love you, Marron."

 

Holding Marron close to him, Radish couldn't resist glancing over Marron's shoulder at Gateau, who just stared. Radish smirked.

 

"Hurts, doesn't it? He's the person you love so much, but... oh, he loves me now. Sorry about that. But that's how life is, Gateau."

 

Gateau just stood up, walking over to Milphey and the others. He glared at the scene, talking quietly to Milphey.

 

"I think we've seen enough..."

 

Milphey nodded, "I agree."

 

He walked over to Carrot, who'd taken a few steps backward; he was currently watching Marron and Radish, unable to believe... Milphey put his hands on Carrot's shoulder, "I know you'd wanted to rescue Marron-chan, but... perhaps we should go. Leave while we can."

 

He added in a quieter voice, "We should tell Mamu-sama what we've seen. We can attack at a later date once we've drafted a better plan; now we know what we're dealing with..."

 

Carrot didn't say anything, but allowed himself to be guided away from Radish, Celery and Marron, back to the path they'd arrived on. Neither Radish nor Celery attempted to stop them; once they'd left the garden, they took Marron inside to his bedroom to rest, recover, and hopefully forget the events of the afternoon.