Sorcerer Hunters Fan Fiction ❯ Perpetual Thoughts ❯ Saint Mother's Day ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: Tabi

It's the yearly Saint Mother's Day festival and time for a short holiday for all Parsoners and weary Sorcerer Hunters. The alcohol flows freely and Carrot's aims are clear... other people have aims just as keen, however. Marron can never bring himself quite to enjoy such events, Milphey realises this... but, wouldn't this be a perfect opportunity to try to make something happen...?

Anime/Manga: Sorcerer Hunters Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Hentai / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.29.2005 | Pages: 28 | Words: 31.6K | Visits: 236 | Status: Completed

By any account, the day could have been seen as perfect, from what the morning had to show. Everybody had to be up early as usual, but for the first day in recent weeks, the Sorcerer Hunters were not up early in order to follow on a mission.

Marron, as usual, was awake long before anybody else. He'd more or less taken up residence in the room at the end of the corridor of the first floor of Eden; not that he usually chose to sleep there, but sometimes he did seem to fall asleep where he'd been meditating...

As far as the meditation went, things seemed to be, for once, going as Marron had planned. He'd spend his spare time in that quiet room, at first forcing his thoughts along that peaceful viewpoint away from lust and sex and incestual desires and other such things that wouldn't help him, and after some days, the thoughts seemed a little more natural. Perhaps it was chiefly because of the meditation, but Marron didn't see a lot of Gateau for those days, or Carrot either; Marron felt that that helped.

The days continued, and missions were partaken in; the distraction of a mission was enough to remind Marron of the important things; it was his duty as a Sorcerer Hunter to uphold justice in the land of course, and one couldn't easily uphold anything if they were too busy with their own agenda. Then of course it was important to protect Carrot, to cast spells, to seal magic... all of those things were so much more real and important than any confusion that Marron may have felt. After a week or so, the Sorcerer Hunters seemed to have a slight influx of missions; nothing especially important, checking up on a magic seal here, taking care of a cheerfully wayward Sorcerer there... nothing so important or serious, but enough for Marron to feel confident that he was back on track, that he'd regained that cool demeanour that he was so praised for. Life would be easier if it was taken day by day, after all; there wasn't any point in living and expecting massive jumps between one day and the next.

Carrot had been somewhat concerned at Marron suddenly more or less abdicating the bedroom they'd shared for so long, but there was little argument he could present against it. Marron would explain that he was busy with his meditation, and if Carrot asked why Marron was suddenly so set on meditating so often, Marron would just smile and tell Carrot that he had his own reasons. You couldn't argue with that smile.

Gateau, on his side of the situation, had been unsure on how to approach Marron for a few days. Eventually, Marron had sought out Gateau himself, and asked if he would like to join Marron for lunch down in the city; Gateau had felt painfully aware of himself at the time, wondering what he could or couldn't say, wondering just what might be construed as a flirtatious comment, hoping that when Marron said 'have lunch with me' he really did mean that, and that he wasn't using lunch as a mask for something Gateau couldn't know... but things were strangely pleasant. Marron did seem so much calmer all of a sudden... Gateau wasn't quite sure what Marron had been up to to achieve that, but after a while, he was able to relax in Marron's presence.

Currently, it was the morning of Saint Mother's Day. An important day on the Spooner calendar, it was regarded as a deeply religious day across most of the Continent. A day of peaceful contemplation of the blessings that one had in life, and prayer for those they didn't. A day of appreciation for the Goddess that seemed to hold the Spooner Continent together with her own hands.

In Facade, however... well. Any excuse for a big party. Appreciation could be shown in many different forms, after all.

Milphey stood at the doorway of Marron's little hideout. He'd been standing there for a good ten minutes thinking that Marron would notice him after a while, but Marron didn't seem to be in the mood for anything, and Milphey found himself having to resist the urge to suddenly jump into the room and scare the hell out of poor dear sweet Marron-chan. Marron would likely be angry, but the look on his face could be worth it...

However, Milphey found himself just watching Marron. It was scarily easy to do, he thought to himself... especially when Marron wasn't entirely attentive. The day for the celebration couldn't have been a better one - the day was sunny and bright, the sky was blue, there was barely a cloud in the sky save for the odd stray white puff lingering across the sky... there weren't any pressing missions to be taken care of, the Sorcerer Hunters could have a day off and have a party. Everybody enjoyed a party, didn't they?

Milphey couldn't help but be amused that even today Marron would start things off with his meditation. Everybody now knew that Marron spent a lot of time in his quiet contemplation in order not to disturb him, but Milphey wondered why even today... today was a holiday for the entire Continent, and surely Marron was composed enough these days...?

Still, some habits couldn't be shaken. If it was what Marron really wanted to do, then Milphey wouldn't stop him.

The room, being on the corner of the building, had windows facing the outer grounds on two of it's four walls. The room caught quite a lot of sunlight from this, and it appeared that Marron had taken up the spot of the sunlight meeting from both windows in the centre of the room. The room itself was quite sparse, it was too small a room to be used as anything anybody would really want to use it for, but there were two chairs and a bookcase going along the right-hand side of the room. Glancing over at the bookcase, Milphey saw it was full of books that looked not quite dusty enough to fit in with the rest of the room... they were likely books Marron had moved in himself, he supposed. It made sense.

Leaning up on tiptoe from the doorway, Milphey peered out of the windows to see what he could see. The grounds were already being prepared for what was, essentially, Big Mama's favourite garden-party of the year. The celebration was the closest she got to any kind of birthday celebration, and while the long-lived near-Goddess may not have appreciated being reminded of her age (she had her closer-to-human-nature moments every once in a while, after all), she certainly enjoyed it when everybody could enjoy themselves, especially if the reason for enjoyment was her.

From what Milphey could see, quite a few people had converged on the grounds already... the lawn was being set out with those large blankets, food and other such things would be sorted out soon.

Milphey remembered his purpose; he'd originally come to find Marron to help lay out food and drinks. Big Mama never did anything by halves, and it took all the help one could get to prepare everything on time... Marron was always quiet and somewhat reserved on these occasions, but Milphey was sure he wouldn't mind helping prepare, at any rate.

It did seem such a shame to disturb him, though... he sat with his back facing Milphey, his body perfectly still as he sat cross-legged... there were some books to one side, one of them was open but it seemed more like it'd fallen that way than a page Marron had specifically wanted to look at... Milphey sighed softly. Much as it was nice to stand and stare at Marron's meditating back all day, there was work to be done. Milphey walked into the room, crouched behind Marron, and suddenly threw his arms around Marron's shoulders.

"KYAAAA!!"

"AHH! Ah-... Milphey?! Milphey, what... what was that for!?"

Indeed, the momentary expression of absolute peace-broken surprise on Marron's face had been quite entertaining. Milphey pulled back into a seated position, and smiled happily at Marron.

"Marron-chan's being quite selfish, you know!"

"Milphey...?"

"Come on, don't say you forgot."

While speaking, Milphey picked himself up off the floor and got to work helping Marron up as well, whether Marron was willing to be moved or not was beside the point.

"It's Saint Mother's Day today, remember? Big Mama invites all her Sorcerer Hunters and most of the population of Facade into Eden's grounds for a big party. It happens every year. Remem~ber?"

Marron's facial expression was more subtly shocked, "Oh...! I knew that it was coming up, but... today?"

"Mmm, mmm. I would have thought Carrot-chan would have said something, but I suppose you were awake before him as usual, weren't you? Anyway, that doesn't matter, just as long as you're willing to help now. Better late than never, and all of that! I think there are things in the basements that require our assistance to be moved. Gateau-chan's moving all the big things of course, but there are smaller things that we could probably manage between us... so, are we going?"

Quickly looking over the room to make sure that there was nothing that couldn't be left in it's present state, Marron nodded and let himself be dragged out of the room. He closed the door behind the two of them, and wrest his arm from Milphey's own. Once the door was locked, Marron looked up at Milphey, who smiled. They started their way along the corridor.

"It's a lovely day for it, really. The last few days it's been quite cloudy, hasn't it? But today it's all sunny, which is good. Sunny days are best for parties! Why, I think even Shiffon and Kahlua are going to be out today. I think Cinnamon did some baking..."

Marron paused for a moment, a flicker of remembrance on his brow. Milphey peered at him curiously, "... Marron-chan?"

"... N-no, it's nothing. Ah... where is my brother?"

A happy smile, "I think he's outside helping set up shades and blankets and the wood for tonight's fires and things like that... I know Tira and Chocolat were doing that when I last saw them, they'll likely do whatever Carrot-chan is doing, either to help him or force him with his duties. Anyway, it shouldn't matter where Carrot-chan is, 'cause you're going to be helping me bring up the alcohol!"

"Ah..."

"I think we've got quite a lot of it this year. Should be quite interesting! No wonder we only open the gardens, the prospect of several hundred drunken Sorcerer Hunters is a difficult one to stomach, let alone the seething masses from Facade... but anyway, we can lock ourselves inside when everyone else is getting drunk. Right?"

Marron smiled a small smile, "I would have thought that you'd want to be at the centre of the party, Milphey..."

"Oh, I do, I do! Just, I know you don't, and I can't let you be on your own while everybody else is outside! I won't be a bother, I don't like to get drunk-"

"That drunk."

"Alright, alright, I like to get a little drunk. If you can't get tipsy on Saint Mother's Day, then when can you?! Besides, sometimes funny things happen. Do you remember that time a few years ago when I stole one of Dota's dresses and gave Kahlua a lapdance?"

"I don't think I can forget... I think you were lucky that everybody else was drunk, and that nobody else remembered it..."

"Oh, Kahlua remembers it. He doesn't say anything about it, but believe me, he remembers it. Anyway... the only thing more fun at these things than getting drunk and doing things you'd never imagine doing while sober, is staying sober and watching everybody else getting drunk and doing things they'd never imagine doing while sober! Don't you think?"

The two of them approached the opposite end of the corridor, reaching the staircase that led to the ground floor. Milphey led the way and Marron followed while the conversation continued.

"I don't have much choice, Milphey. Alcohol tends to have... adverse affects on me."

"Well, that's a good thing! You've got a perfectly well-honed body, there. Wouldn't want to spoil it with any of those nasty vices now, would we?"

On reaching the main hall, Marron paused at the bottom of the staircase. Milphey was already going forward to the corridor on the other side of the room, the corridor that would take them to the basements of Eden... Marron took a moment just to stand there and take in the atmosphere. It really was a lovely day, wasn't it...? The main doors, to Marron's left, were wide open. Outside seemed almost unbearably bright, Marron shielded his eyes; from outside, he could hear shouting and other activity... perhaps that was where Carrot and the others were. Yes, this was one of those days where everybody could be energetic... Marron took issue with the fact that everyone seemed to like celebrating days like those by getting drunk, but that couldn't be helped. That wouldn't be until later on, at any rate.

Milphey seemed to realise he wasn't being followed; he turned on his heel, "Hey, Marron-chan! Come on, did you zone out or something?"

"Oh? Ah, no, I'm sorry... I was just thinking, it's a lovely day...!"

Breaking out in a wide smile, Milphey nodded his agreement.

"Well, of course...! It's been a while since it rained or anything, at least. But yes, I know what you mean... even the air feels fresh just to breathe it... it's days like this that make everything worth it, don't you think?"

Such an earnest smile, one Marron couldn't hope to argue with. Smiling himself, Marron nodded and walked forward, joining Milphey to the lower staircase. Duty first, relaxation later. Casting one last glance towards the front entrance, Marron began to descend the stairs.

The corridor became darker the further the two of them travelled; eventually they reached a point where the corridor would have been impossible to navigate, had it not been for the torch affixed to the wall. Walking under a small stone arch, the enclosed area suddenly seemed to open out into what almost seemed to be an underground cavern; Marron supposed this opinion came from the fact that the further reaches of the ceiling were invisible from the lack of light, but even so, it seemed an incredible space to be underneath Eden so... other arches were visible across the room, Milphey walked forward confidently. Marron remained close behind him, he had no wish to get lost.

"It seems so quiet down here... I don't think I've ever been down here before."

For some reason, Marron felt the compulsion to whisper. Milphey had no such predisposition, and his voice seemed to echo somewhat.

"Well, no... there's little reason for a Sorcerer Hunter to come down here, is there? I'm sure there are lots of things down here that only Big Mama knows about... notice she always gives Carrot-chan all the outside jobs, I don't think she'd trust him not to get lost down here. I think Gateau-chan was down here earlier, carrying out the heavier things... it's alright to be down here if it's just on an errand, after all. Let's see, now..."

Running forward, Milphey lithely grabbed hold of one of the archways by it's edge, and poked his head into the corresponding recess. He turned back to Marron, nodding happily.

"Yep, in here."

Milphey pointed, smiled, then got to work taking out some of the smaller barrels. Marron followed after him, and came into the room to find Milphey deliberating.

"I could carry two if I had one under each arm, I think... but, if I tripped and fell over, I wouldn't be able to catch my balance at all...! So... do you think one at a time?"

"How many are there?"

Indicating to the stacked-up caskets, Milphey quickly made some mental calculations.

"I think there's probably about twenty here... if we could carry two each we'd only have to make about five or so journeys, but it could be better to be safer..."

As Milphey spoke, Marron was aware of footsteps echoing in the outer room; he turned around quickly, more through reflex than anything else. Of course, there was little expectance of malicious persons wandering around Eden's basement on the start of a day, it was just Gateau. Marron's body had tensed on hearing the footsteps, he relaxed once he realised who it was.

"Ah, Gateau..."

"I see Milphey got you up, then! You gonna help take some of these outside?"

"That's the idea. I suppose you were already...?"

"Yeah, I've been takin' the larger ones outside for the last hour or so now. Just one left, I think... yep, there it is. 'Scuse me."

Edging past, Gateau walked over to in front of where Milphey was standing. Next to where the smaller barrels were stacked was a larger barrel, about three times the size of the smaller ones in height, and much wider. With a grunt, Gateau wrapped his arms around it and lifted it off the ground, carrying it out into the outer room then hefting it onto his back. Milphey and Marron watched him as he disappeared up off the other staircase, Milphey letting out an impressed whistle.

"Whew, Gateau-chan makes everybody's jobs a little easier!"

Marron nodded as he occupied himself with picking up one of the barrels, "Indeed... his strength is an asset to us all."

"Ahaha, Ma-rro-n-cha-n, you sound so cold when you talk like that!"

"... It's not intentional."

Marron was already taking his barrel outside. Milphey looked up, quickly picking up two of his own and trying to hurry after Marron.

"Hey, I didn't mean that in a bad way, or anything! It's just, oh, I don't know. You talk about him so distantly...!"

"Would I have reason to otherwise?"

Milphey sighed heavily, "I suppose you two really are in the past now... you really dumped him? Let me up on the gossip, Marron-chan! I haven't heard much these days, indulge me here."

A few steps of relative silence as the two of them carried the barrels, then Marron shook his head.

"There's little to say, in all honesty. It's not as if we broadcast our status to everybody in Eden... it's just, I felt we were better off if we distanced ourselves somewhat. You couldn't say that anybody 'dumped' anybody else, because I couldn't be sure there was anything in the first place to initiate that... but for the time being, I've been focusing my mind on more important things. When we have missions, when we have a duty to stick to, it is better to go forth with a clear mind. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Well, when it's you, I suppose I agree. Half the time it's like you and Tira-chan are the only ones with your minds on the missions! And with her it's only three quarters of the time... you make up that last percent, okay? But, ah, anyway... so... it... he agreed easily, did he?"

Marron laughed humourlessly, "I suppose he was afraid to deny me, though he seemed unsure. I feel it was however for the best-"

"You don't want to let thoughts of Gateau-chan disturb thoughts of Carrot-chan, hmm?"

Marron twitched slightly as Milphey spoke, then said nothing. Milphey was right, in all honesty... just, in a situation where theoretically anybody could hear them, what could be said!?

Glancing up the staircase... the only person who'd be around would be Gateau, and he was likely already up in the gardens already... even so. Marron just didn't feel quite comfortable about talking about his brother with Milphey in what-could-be-public just yet.

"Milphey, I'd... I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh, oh. Alright. I'm sorry."

A slight pause.

"Was I right, though?"

Marron sighed, "... In a manner of speaking. Still, I... I feel it's better to concentrate on the things that are important, that are real, that affect our everyday lives. My feelings are just useless feelings that would cloud the more important things... nothing can be gained through lusting for more than is available to me. I've allowed my feelings to run away with themselves recently; I should like to gain control of my own self once more."

"Hmm-mm, I suppose I see where you're coming from, but still, it's a bit of a shame. I mean, you and Gateau-chan coulda had a lot of fun, you know?"

"Milphey, hush..."

"I know, I know. But, I... I guess you really felt you couldn't, in the end?"

"Indeed."

And that seemed to be all Marron was willing to offer on the situation.

That conversation lulled for a while as Milphey and Marron approached the main hall once more. The sunlight inside seemed altogether too bright after being in the basement, and the prospect of going outside, where the sun was even brighter...

Still, it had to be done; Milphey lead the way and Marron followed, and both looked around as they went over to where the alcohol was being gathered; Gateau was standing beside the large barrels, having hardly broken a sweat. He wiped his wrist over his forehead then saw Milphey and Marron approaching, he smiled and pointed at the pile he'd already created.

"Just over here, okay?"

"Thanks, Gateau-chan. Wow, I'm really impressed! You brought all of these barrels out yourself?!"

Gateau laughed, "Nobody else did!"

"Gosh. You really are strong... I can't even remember how we managed to get these out in the past, before Gateau-chan came along... I seem to remember it was a big group effort, in any case! As I was saying to Marron-chan, you do make our jobs a lot easier! Thank you, Gateau-chan!"

Never one to shy away from praise, Gateau smiled widely, "It's okay, I might as well just do what I can, you know?"

"Mmm! Ha ha, it's amazing to think, though... we have all this alcohol here, but by this time tomorrow it'll all be gone! Still, that's to be expected. Alcohol's always the first thing to run out, and you always get like, a trail of people from here to about halfway down the road to Facade attempting a Saint Mother's Day pub crawl. Unfortunately they will tend to miss out the pub part and just end up crawling before falling asleep, but it's always amusing to see who managed to get the furthest! Sometimes people even take bets, but of course, everyone's too drunk to remember what on earth happened the night before once we get to tomorrow. Ahaha, listen to me, rambling like this! We should get that last alcohol in before the day carries on too much further, don't you think, Marron-chan?"

Marron had remained happily out of the conversation until that point, perfectly happy to let Milphey flirt with Gateau as much as he wanted, just as long as said flirtation didn't involve him in any way. He'd drifted off somewhat, having been looking around at the rest of the activity going on... Marron snapped back, hearing his name mentioned.

"Oh, ah... what was that? I'm sorry..."

"I said, we should go get more alcohol!" Milphey grabbed at Marron's arm, "C'mon, let's go! Let's run there, get some exercise in. What with running from here to there and lifting all these heavy things, it's good exercise! Come on!!"

"Mi-Milphey! Ho-hold on!"

Gateau shook his head in wonder as he watched Milphey drag Marron off. Milphey was in such high spirits today... likely he'd be higher in some kind of spirit later on, given the alcohol consumption that usually went on at such events... but even Marron seemed agreeable, he'd been unsure when Milphey had dragged him off like that but Gateau couldn't help but notice that Marron had ended up running once he'd prised Milphey's arm away from him, the two had been laughing (well, Milphey had laughed loudest, but Gateau was sure he could have heard Marron at least a little) as they'd ran and Marron had beat Milphey in the end...

Shaking his head, Gateau supposed that wasn't a good way to be thinking. He hefted himself up onto one of the barrels, deciding to sit there for a while, take a break and look at what else was going on on the grounds.

Various tents and shades were erected across the grass as far as he could make out; some had little flags on the top of them, some blue, some red, some yellow... as Gateau watched, he could see Dota and Sirius stringing the lines of flags from trees to tents to other tents. He smiled, there really was a job for everybody.

Thinking on that, Gateau supposed there was probably something else he could be doing. Perhaps bringing up more of the barrels? Milphey and Marron more or less had that job covered, but a little help was always appreciated. Plus, it was also rare these days to see Marron in such a jovial mood, as well as being outside of a mission...

Well, 'jovial'... he hadn't said a lot, but he seemed happy enough to be with Milphey. That was probably just the mood of the day affecting Marron as it would affect everybody... how could somebody not be happy on a holiday, even if the holiday was only for one day?

Marron was being so happy with Milphey...

Sighing irritably, Gateau supposed he couldn't dodge his thoughts. Milphey was the kind of person who could goad anybody into a good mood given long enough, but it still hurt just a little to see him running around with Marron. It wasn't even as if there was anything specific between those two, but... Gateau just knew that he wouldn't have been able to persuade Marron into running around like that. Or maybe he would have been able to, just... he wouldn't have dared...

Milphey was gregarious, though. That was just the kind of person he was, it seemed natural that he'd be the one to try and coax Marron out of his little meditative shell for Saint Mother's Day. As well-lit as Marron's little room for that there was, it was good to get out into the real sunlight with real people, even if only for a little while.

Thinking along those lines, Gateau still didn't know how Marron could meditate for so long. After all, how long had it been, now? It had to have at least been a couple of weeks, though Gateau hadn't really been keeping precise count... even so, even if it was just for a singular week, Marron locking himself away and just meditating like that... how did he manage it? What was there to meditate on that really took so long?

Gateau couldn't help but be a little concerned; after all of Marron's previous behaviours seemed to more or less stem from him meditating and locking away thoughts he figured out he'd rather have, Gateau didn't know how healthy it was for Marron to start meditating again. What might he be locking away this time...?

Still, just as he couldn't help being concerned, Gateau also knew that it wasn't really any business of his. He and Marron... they'd agreed to let it alone for a while, hadn't they? It'd been a while already, but... Gateau doubted that Marron wanted to suddenly bring anything up again. Honing himself up, quietly and on his own... the recent missions, Marron certainly had had a little something about him, these days. Something a little quicker, he seemed just a little more alert, precise, deadly... not that he wasn't nearly always like that, but... Gateau wasn't sure, but Marron did seem to be a lot more dedicated to the cause in recent weeks. That wasn't a bad thing, and he'd grabbed chances that might not have been grabbed in the past, and quite a few missions they'd finished still with quite a few hours left in the day, thanks to Marron...

So Marron had gained some kind of mission-related prowess, that was good. When it came to Sorcerers, you couldn't be too lethal, in Gateau's opinion... but still, Gateau couldn't help longing for the past just a little. The times when him and Marron would go down to the city for lunch... not that that didn't happen at all, but... now when it happened, Marron seemed to retain a kind of distance, something Gateau just couldn't put his finger on... he wasn't surprised, but he wasn't sure he liked it. That seemed true of any situation, in actual fact... but Gateau supposed it was just vague envy, jealousy, something like that. He wanted Marron back to do the things he and Marron had done in the past, just without all the mind-screwing, anger, angst, deception, everything like that...

Well, Marron had never been like that in the past, unfortunately. It didn't stop Gateau having a slightly idealized version of events in his mind, longing slightly for something that just hadn't been...

Carrot, in the meantime, had spotted Gateau just sitting on one of the barrels, and was heading over. Maybe he was taking a break? Carrot smiled to himself, they could take a break together. Anything to get away from the Misu sisters for a few moments, they really had been working him hard...

As Carrot approached, he realised that Gateau really wasn't paying attention... he'd waved, but Gateau hadn't noticed, at all... he seemed to be staring off up at one of the trees now liberally decorated in flags, Carrot supposed he was considering that.

"Pretty, ain't it?"

"Huh?"

"The tree! That was what you were staring at, wasn't it? Are you taking a break just now? I am. I've been pulling stuff up and pegging stuff down and have had tents fall down on me and stuff for hours now, Tira finally decided we should take a break... man, I'm beat! What have you been doing this morning, then?"

"Oh, um. I've been bringing these barrels up, helping Marron and Milphey with stuff. Just got small ones left, now."

"Marron's up? I haven't seen him this morning... he was already off by the time I woke up. Jeesh, he amazes me... even on a holiday he decides to go off and meditate! I mean... I don't get it! Obviously it's one of those him sorts of things, but I so don't get what he manages to meditate about for so long!"

Gateau hefted himself off the barrel, nodding slightly.

"Mmm, you and me both. I guess he really is a mystery."

"Hm? Oh, um... oh yeah, you and him... uh... yeah, sorry. I, I didn't mean to mention Marron if you didn't want me to, or anything. Taking a break, I guess you wanna relax, huh?"

Carrot suddenly seemed so flustered, Gateau watched with amusement. He really did mean well, didn't he... Gateau smiled, reaching out to ruffle Carrot's hair a bit.

"Hey, I don't mind. What, I'm supposed to forget Marron ever existed? We all live in the same building, it's not like that can really happen. Besides, it's his decision, isn't it? I mean, even you were noticing that we spent a lot of time arguing, it's not good to argue so much. I only saw him a little this morning, but he certainly seems more relaxed... it's a bit weird, but I guess that's a good thing."

"You're really okay about it, then?"

Gateau folded his arms, a relaxed smile on his face.

"What's there for me to be not okay about? Marron needs space to sort his head out, that's what he's getting and that's what he's doing. I mean... he probably won't want to come to me afterward or anything, that's kinda painful, but... well, we don't hate each other. I just wish he'd talk to us, y'know? Tell us what's bugging him,-"

"- just who that person is he loves..."

Carrot had interrupted Gateau in the middle of a sentence; there was a moment of silence, then Gateau ruefully nodded.

"Well, yeah, there's that. I guess we all could sit around and guess as much as we wanted, but the only one who can really tell us what's up is Marron, and... I don't think he'll be doing that. We can be curious all we want, but if Marron's not telling then Marron's not telling and it really isn't any of our business."

A pause and then a slight shrug, "... I don't think it's that important, anyway..."

"C'mon, don't say it like you're not curious."

"Sure I'm curious, but then again I'm also curious as to how Tira and Chocolat change from normal to dominatrix-scary so quickly, I'm not about to be going to ask them, am I? So Marron's got feelings for someone. Don't we all? Sometimes you just don't tell people what you're thinking, and you know as well as I do how private Marron is, you should know even more since you're his brother!"

Carrot leant back on the barrel Gateau had been leaning on, shifting his arms back a little.

"Yeah, I know... but I mean... that makes it even more something I wanna know! I'm his brother and he's not even telling me anything, jeesh... I mean... from what he's told us, there... it can't be out of that many people!"

"I... think we all have our suspicions, Carrot."

"Yeah... I mean, someone in Eden, someone who's male... that's only me, you, Milphey, those two Haz Knight dudes, Sirius... uh... well, that's it, isn't it? And it's not you..."

"It's not Milphey..."

"Yeah, exactly! I woulda thought it'd be between you and Milphey, if anyone! It's really weird. I mean, anyone else, I woulda suspected bluffing going on there, but, I don't know... Marron just doesn't disguise the truth all that well. Either he's got better at lying or he isn't, and I can't tell which..."

A slight pause, then Gateau spoke again.

"As I said, we all have our suspicions."

Carrot moved around and leant forward over the barrel, turning his head to look at Gateau.

"I mean, it wouldn't be me of course. That's just stupid."

A somewhat uncomfortable silence followed that. Obviously Carrot was waiting for confirmation from Gateau that that suggestion had been stupid, it was stupid, wasn't it?!... Gateau wondered what Carrot thought about that. Had he brought it up because he himself was worried it might be him? Gateau wasn't sure, he just pushed gently at Carrot's shoulder, getting him away from the barrel.

"Well, whoever it is, we're not gonna get any more set up for the party if we're just sittin' here thinking about weird things. We don't know who it is, Marron's not gonna tell us who it is. So we should just forget about it."

"I guess..."

Another silence, then Carrot seemed to have hit upon the perfect subject change.

"Oh! Since this is like, the big party of the year... you think everyone else is gonna turn up? Like, all the other Sorcerer Hunters and stuff?"

"They usually do, don't they?"

Carrot nodded, "Yeah, but sometimes some of them can't make it. Still, there are usually like loads of cute girls, it's amazing! I mean, how come there are all these cute Sorcerer Hunters around and I get stuck with the ones who practice bondage as a hobby?! Jeesh. Let's see... I always like to decide who I'm gonna hit on beforehand, you know? Cause if I try and hit on everybody it just makes people pissed off. It's good to have a plan."

Gateau relaxed somewhat. It seemed that the conversation had been safely deflected, and that Carrot wasn't quite so worried that Marron might lust after him for the time being. That was never a safe subject to linger on.

"A plan? Riight..."

"So, this year... well, for the past few years too, but this year, I've decided I'm going to go for the fair lady Pear Limonade!"

"Oh wait, I think I remember her... doesn't she have like, blue hair...?"

Carrot nodded, "That's her. She's always coming around with that creepyass brother of hers, Peach... can't stand him but she's lovely enough. Plus she's friends with Tira and Chocolat so that means I don't have to go about finding her, plus she already knows us a bit so it's not like I'm hitting on a total stranger... it's kinda dangerous though, if I hit on her in full view of everyone not only do I get Tira and Chocolat beating me up but I also get Peach hitting me too! So, I gotta like, sneak Pear-chan away from everybody else, get her on her own a little... yesss..."

Gateau laughed, "Well, good luck with that!"

"Heh, thanks! I just wish Peach wouldn't always be around. He always just goes on and on and on and on about all the missions he's been on, all the Sorcerers he's killed, all the hot women he's got with... it's like, man, shut up, I really don't wanna know!... Then if he even has just one drink he goes all creepy and thinks that Marron's a woman and tries to hit on him. I think that's why Marron prefers to stay inside once everyone gets drunk, just as I've been after Pear-chan for years on Saint Mother's Day, Peach has been after Marron thinking he's a she... I keep saying to Marron, he might as well just let Peach grope him a bit, then he can discover that Marron's really a dude and run off and maybe never come back, but that's not Marron's sort of thing to do, unfortunately."

"Yeah, I noticed that. Marron never really comes out much on Saint Mother's Day, does he... early nights and all. I guess it kinda sucks when everyone else is drunk and you hate alcohol..."

"Well, it's not so much that he hates it, though I guess he does, more that he so can't handle it... still, someone like Marron, I guess he's gotta have some kinda weakness, ain't he? Nevermind, it's what he always does. Can't help it."

Meanwhile, back in the basement, Marron and Milphey were on their way to carrying up more of the barrels. Their conversation hadn't been wildly dissimilar to Carrot and Gateau's, and they'd taken a break of their own in the cool dark basement.

"Still, I think it's a shame if you're just gonna sit inside all day! I mean... it's a holiday, it's a party! Can't you at least sit outside for a little while?"

"Milphey, the longer I stay outside, the more chance there is that someone'll persuade me into drinking something that'll make me pass out, and the longer I'll have to watch my brother drunkenly flirting with anything with breasts that's still half-conscious. Such events are never my favourite to attend..."

A sigh, "I know, I know... still, I mean... I guess I just want to get you out there, I suppose. Maybe I could give you a lapdance this year! Or you could give Carrot-chan a lapdance, or something!"

Marron shot Milphey a glance, Milphey smiled.

"Come on, you know just as much as I do that Carrot-chan'll be too drunk to remember anything in the morning."

"Don't even suggest such things, Milphey. More than anything, I wouldn't want to take advantage of my brother in any fashion, and I wouldn't want to risk anything that somebody else might see or remember! It's not as if... it's not as if I haven't had such thoughts in the past, but... at least this year, I should like to concentrate only on my own thoughts..."

"Oh, boo. Marron-chan, you're so boring sometimes! It's Saint Mother's Day, it's the biggest scheduled party of the year, the kind of thing everybody looks forward to, and you're just going to stay inside and meditate? Or do you think you'll end up sitting in there wondering just what your brother might be getting up to, instead? If everybody else is going to be drunk, then there won't be anybody to watch him, and anything might happen... perhaps he'll finally manage to seduce a lady, or maybe Carrot-chan'll let himself be seduced... perhaps even Tira-chan or Chocolat-chan might manage something!"

"Milphey, be quiet!"

Milphey didn't seem to have any intention of stopping, his arms folded over his shoulders and his eyes closed as he walked slowly around Marron and the small barrels they'd put to the floor for the time being.

"Just imagine...! Say... Chocolat-chan, happily inebriated, and Carrot-chan, drunk out of his mind... perhaps he's tried hitting on some girls already, but they always hit him away... gosh, perhaps he'd be so drunk he wouldn't even recognize Chocolat-chan, but she wouldn't mind... all he'd be worried about would be that from below her neck, in any case... and in his mind, he'd be the best lover on the planet, and Chocolat-chan would be so drunk that she'd believe that too... and perhaps there, right on the grass with everyone around them, they'd fuck like demons! Can you imagine that, Marron-chan?"

Marron's expression was angry and tight, he was already making to pick up the barrels to carry on outside. Milphey bounded over to where Marron was standing, and leant his arms over Marron's shoulders to prevent him from going anywhere.

"Come on, just imagine it for me. Carrot-chan, your beloved niisan, all hot and bothered and haard like that... and Chocolat-chan, well, she'll have been wet for him since the start of the party. Even drunk, surely she'd be so happy to feel her love inside her, and maybe they'd even fall asleep like that, and wake up, and realise what had happened... and maybe what they had done could spur on deeper feelings, and Carrot-chan would decide that it was Chocolat-chan that he loved, or at least that they could have great sex..."

Marron tried to pull away from Milphey, "Milphey, please, would you just STOP!?"

"Oh oh, but that's only glossing over things, isn't it? Let's think about what it might be like, just for a moment. Stop struggling, I'm not going to let you get away just yet, I may not look it but I'm actually quite strong. Let's see, now... oh, I can just picture it! Can't you picture it, Marron-chan? Somehow I think she'd be quite shy, don't you? Perhaps... yes, perhaps they would have gone away from the main group, away from where the party was still going on... that little band of trees further down the garden, you've been there? Anyway, there..."

Milphey shifted around so he stood behind Marron, his arms still around Marron's neck. Closing his eyes, Milphey leant his head forward onto Marron's neck... Marron felt so tense...! That was to be expected, but he needed a little motivation, even if it wasn't the kind of motivation he wanted to hear. Marron wasn't the kind of person to leave a situation without caring about the resolution, and he certainly wouldn't leave Carrot in a precarious situation, or one that may risk personal loss... smiling gently to himself, Milphey continued.

"... So there they'd be, it'd be night-time almost, they'd both be quite drunk... she'd look at him so innocently, 'oh, oh Darling... I need you...' and he'd nod, 'oh Chocolat, I need you too...'... she'd stand a little closer to him, and they'd kiss... and they'd get a little more flustered by that kiss, and their hands would be at each other's clothes... such a private place, somewhere only for them, nobody would see them if they were naked...! Except for each other, of course. So, they'd be naked... and Carrot-chan would be looking at Chocolat-chan like he'd never seen her before, realising what an attractive and available woman she's turned into, and even more, she actually loves him...! So he'd dive at her, kissing her and touching her... breasts he could fondle without being told off, I'm sure it's something he could get addicted to, don't you think? He'd want to discover more, though... so... a little lower, he might kiss down her stomach, or perhaps he'd go straight for the important parts quickly, and-"

That seemed too much for Marron to bear; he'd been listening to Milphey's low voice with a glazed expression, Milphey was so easy to listen to and the scenario was one that was easily possible... Marron didn't want to hear anything further, and so had taken advantage of Milphey's grip loosening slightly as he spoke, and pushed himself away quickly.

Looking up in surprise, Milphey realised Marron was standing across from him, quite the angry scowl on his face. Milphey just stared evenly at him.

"Alright, so you don't want to hear that sort of thing, I know, I know. I'm just saying, though... it's all entirely possible that things like that could happen... you do seem to be your brother's keeper, in any case. We wouldn't want bad things to happen because you're not attentive...!"

Marron's expression didn't change; the barrels lay on the floor still, currently forgotten. Milphey softened slightly, stepping forward then patting his hand against Marron's arm. He sighed.

"Marron, look... I am on your side. I know you likely didn't want anybody to know about your secret, but... I want to do what I can to help you. I don't know how far we can take this, but as far as we can, we have to try. Don't you think? You're not somebody who accepts defeat, and I certainly don't want you entertaining the thought that you even might. You... at the moment, you're just sitting by and letting things happen... if anything bad happens, you can just meditate it away...?"

On that point, Marron's expression changed, though only slightly. A flaw to Marron's plan...? Milphey caught this, nodding.

"Isn't that it...?"

"That's... that's not what's it's supposed to..."

"Perhaps not, but that's how it seems. But, no matter what you try to do to yourself, you're still human, and you're still a teenager, so... it's natural that you're going to be up and down in all kinds of ways quicker than a yo-yo some days! Hormones and balances and chemicals and... things like that. Honestly, it's weirder to push feelings like those away than it is to embrace them to yourself... not healthy either, in my opinion."

Marron looked to the side, then his eyes drifted to the barrels again. The reason for being in Eden's basement clicked in his mind once more, he stepped away from Milphey and bent down to pick up one of the barrels. He did so, holding it tightly in front of his chest. He looked back at Milphey.

"There are many things that could be considered normal in this world. Perhaps there is any amount of things that people could do in their teenage years and have it blamed on hormones, other such factors... but outside of that... I have adored my brother for far longer than only my teenage years. Even if everything was unhealthy, then some things are more unhealthy than others... no matter where you are on the Continent, I can't say that incest has ever been considered healthy."

On that point, Marron started walking away, and Milphey didn't stop him. Perhaps it hadn't been a good idea to bring up such things, especially if Marron was trying to escape them, but... that wasn't a good idea, was it? It was better to confront things...! Even if Marron couldn't confront Carrot about anything, and Milphey understood how difficult that could be... even if not to Carrot, then surely Marron could at least confront himself...?

Still, he hadn't wanted to depress Marron, or anything. He'd sounded so heavy before he'd headed back up the stairs... his feelings really were his cross to bear, it seemed. Such a burden was heavy to carry, Milphey knew that. Could that burden even be lifted...?

Milphey sighed, taking one of the caskets himself, deciding to occupy himself.

He wanted to know...

****

"Aa! Chocolat, Tira! It's been so long!"

Tira and Chocolat looked up at hearing their names called; there was a moment of blank confusion, then their faces broke out in smiles of recognition when they realised that Pear Limonade was making her way over to them.

The party, as it was, was in full swing. Sorcerer Hunters from all over the Continent had come back to Eden in order to celebrate, the residents of Facade came and went as they pleased, and so many of them had invited friends and relatives over from other parts of the Continent... Eden's grounds were quite, quite packed. The ultimate garden party of the year, it seemed that every conceivable patch of ground for the entire near vicinity had people, blankets, food or drink on it in some way or another. Or all four at once.

Tira and Chocolat were sat with Marron, Carrot and Milphey underneath one of the larger trees of the grounds. Gateau had been with them for a while, but then Eclair had showed up with a desire to show off, and the two of them couldn't resist the urge to run off into the crowds and show everybody just what the Mocha siblings were capable of!

Pear Limonade was quite a pretty woman, if Carrot's reaction was anything to go by. Probably around Chocolat's age, she was tall and slim and had blue hair that came down to around her neck. Her clothes were perhaps unnecessarily tight, but it was probably what she was used to... she approached the little group, and sat down next to Chocolat.

"You remember me, right?"

"I REMEMBER YO-uuuughh..."

Carrot had made a leap forward only to be countered by Chocolat's fist. She coughed lightly, glared at Carrot, then turned to Pear with a smile so carefree it was as if nothing had happened at all; Pear just continued smiling, she was quite used to Carrot's behaviour by now.

"Of course we remember you! It's just a shame we don't get to meet up so much, isn't it? You should come back to Eden more often..."

"Well, yes... I would if I could, but me and that brother of mine have been stationed up on the western coast of the Continent for the past two years... it's a long way from here to Naiproza, we can't really make the journey back too often. Not when there's so much going on there."

Chocolat waved a plate of sandwiches at Pear, "You've been busy, then? Here, get eating, you're probably hungry!"

"Ahaha, thank you. Yes, quite busy... we've probably been travelling for about a week or so, on and off... we got into Facade yesterday, we stayed at one of the inns. Figured everyone here was probably getting set up for now... but yes, there's been a lot going on over in Naiproza. I'd talk about how it seems like a total melting-pot for the worst kind of Sorcerers on the Continent, but... sometimes, can't you say that about anywhere?"

She shrugged lightly, "We do what we can."

"HOWEVER, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET ANYTHING DONE WITHOUT ME!!!"

Everybody looked up in shocked surprise at the sudden yell; Pear's face fell in expected disappointment when she realised who it was.

"Oh, for-... Peach, just sit down, don't attract so much attention to yourself..."

Peach Limonade was, for all intents and purposes, Pear's twin. However, his arrival to the group was received with little of the warm welcome Pear had had... he stood a few feet away (on the edge of another person's blanket), hands on his hips and triumphant expression on his face. He'd pointed at Pear when he'd spoken, but seemed quickly chastised by her when she'd growled at him. He sat down quietly next to her.

"So, Pear! What have you been telling these lovely ladies about me? Did you mention that time when we fought the dreaded four-headed dragon of Urza?"

Pear patiently nibbled on her sandwich, "No, I didn't."

"OH! Well, I simply must tell you all about it... you see, there was Pear and I, right? And we heard that there was this terrible dragon in the next village, and it was kidnapping Parsoners, and we were like, wow, is that what dragons do? BUT, it turned out that the dragon was actually something created by a Sorcerer! Of course, I managed to find the sword that would slay the dragon and killed the Sorcerer, all so quickly... that Sorcerer never knew what hit him! I was so brave and fearless, wasn't I? Oh, Miss Tira, if only you could have seen it! I'm sure you would have been so impressed! Oh, the village girls certainly were, if you know what I mean...!"

Tira, Chocolat, Pear and Carrot just glowered slightly at Peach. Sighing deeply, Pear leant back on her hands and looked up at the sky, at the large tree that hovered directly over them.

"Alright, alright. Yes, there was a dragon... can't remember why the Sorcerer created it, probably just one of those cases of 'I can so I will', you know? Anyway, we went to find this dragon, and it was a big beast of a thing, easily as big as any of the houses here in Facade. This one here was petrified and ran away, it was up to me, as usual, to sort it out... we couldn't touch the dragon, but once we killed the Sorcerer, the dragon disappeared."

"Siisterr, you're not supposed to tell them that...!... Can't help it if I got a bit scared, I mean, it was such a big dragon...!"

"A bit scared?! I found you later on back in our house hiding under the kitchen table!"

Peach coughed lightly and beckoned Pear lean in close; she did, he whispered into her ear.

"Sister. This is the only time of the year I get to meet those Misu sisters, I would appreciate it if you didn't try to belittle me at every opportunity!"

"Riight..."

The situation was a familiar one. The Limonade siblings were at least interesting, and Pear could always be counted on to deflate her brother's quite impressive ego. Chocolat and Tira were likely anything but impressed by his hot-headed rambling, but if Pear could endure, then they could also. After all, they didn't live with him.

Milphey clapped his hands with a wide smile, "So! You two live in Naiproza now? I used to know someone who lived there. How is the place?"

Happy to be talking to somebody of sense, Pear smiled.

"Oh, it's alright. Well, as alright as it can be... the sun still shines and the grass still grows, it's physically lovely even if Sorcerers try to break the atmosphere... most recently we had a pretty scary job going, usually it's just one or two Sorcerers trying to do this or that, but a few months ago we had a whole family regime come in on us..."

Nodding, Milphey gasped, "Oh no...!"

"I know... seemed that some Sorcerer family believed they were the rightful rulers of Naiproza through inheritance or something... they killed the former inhabitants of the manor there, we didn't mind that, but when they suddenly march in and tell the Parsoners how to live their lives, well, something has to be done..."

Tira spoke up, "Isn't it dangerous having a house there...? If the Sorcerers know where you live..."

"Oh, any Sorcerer who's a threat to us won't be living for too much longer. The day they see the Limonade twins is usually their last day breathing, I'll put it that way."

Pear suddenly whipped a sharp, shiny blade from somewhere around her waist and flicked it expertly up into the air; it twinkled in the daylight, she caught it deftly by the handle.

"Can't talk for my dear brother, but I at least am quite skilled."

"Hey, I can do things like that too! Gimme that knife, I bet I can flick it just as well as you if not better!"

"No way, you'll only end up cutting yourself again. Here, let me at your hand... see, you've still got that scar from that time before...! See guys, he tried to flick my knife, but panicked before he could grab it, and it came right down into his hand just here! He fainted. Pretty nasty, but we managed to get it healed up."

Peach wrested his hand from Pear's grip, "Okay, okay, you don't need to remind me or tell them..."

Marron quietly watched Carrot as Pear and Peach fought. Carrot seemed to be watching Pear with rapt attention... apart from his initial comment, Marron was surprised that his brother hadn't made any further attempts to the fair lady Limonade just yet. Anything that saved Carrot from the fists of the Misu sisters was a good thing, but then that suggested that Carrot was planning something, which didn't quite put Marron at ease. Not that Carrot's plans ever really amounted into anything, but sometimes it was just better if Carrot didn't think about things too deeply...

Milphey noticed Marron's line of sight, then turned back to Pear and Peach.

"So... these Sorcerers who tried to take over Naiproza... anybody we might have heard of?"

"I wouldn't have thought so. It was the La Orange family, you've heard of them...? No...? Wouldn't have thought so. There were... six of them, yes. Still, it's hard to be intimidated of an enemy when his name is 'Duck', to be honest. Took us a while, but we managed to dispose of those Sorcerers eventually... maybe it's sad to see a lineage end, but when it's such an unpleasant one you can't help but wonder if it's for the best, really. Though, it was quite interesting... once we'd got rid of the La Oranges, the manor got burgled... I suppose the robbers wanted to wait on the crest of our wave of destruction, but still. I mean, there's subtle, and then there's just, well, sheesh... we got Peach on the trail though, the thieves came and went quickly, figured there wasn't any point in investigating. They obviously got what they came for."

"Strange..."

"I know... actually, I've heard something like that. Two thieves that go around and take what they will, and destroy what they can't... can't remember their names... I think Big Mama has her eye on them though."

Milphey nodded, "I'm sure if it's something you have to know, it'll be made clear for you..."

"Mmm..."

A slight lull in the conversation. Pear looked up at Milphey, smiling.

"So, you're a Sorcerer Hunter too? I don't know if I've seen you before..."

Milphey smiled back and blushed a practiced blush, "Oh, me? Well... yes, something like that. I tend to mainly help out these guys here though, gotta look after my favourites!"

"Oh right, you live in Eden too, then?"

"Yep, I do. My name's Milphey-Yu, everyone calls me Milphey, you can too, you're cute. My main area of expertise is zombies, the undead, the living dead, the dead that won't stay dead, you get the idea. From your weapons and accounts of battle, I'd guess... you tend to go for the more subtle attacks? Attacking by night when your opponent can't see you...?"

"Ahaha, you're very observant! Well, it's easier, isn't it? Might be seen as playing dirty, but compared to half of the things the Sorcerers get up to, it's nothing. Gotta kill 'em in any way possible, you know? I just pick the way easiest to me."

Carrot grumbled quietly as Milphey and Pear carried on talking. Why did Pear have to seem so impressed with Milphey? Why was Milphey even talking to her in the first place?! Carrot knew Milphey at least had an interest in the fairer sex, but wasn't he almost always going after guys? Milphey was so charismatic when he wanted to be, likely if he wanted after Pear then he could go after her quite happily... surely he knew that she was the one Carrot was after!? Carrot growled, then interrupted the conversation.

"SO! Pear-chan! You remember me, right? I'm Carrot Glacé! We met last year and the year before that and probably a few years before those years too. Anyway, I've been looking forward to meeting you again since the very end of our last meeting! You brighten up my day! You brighten up my life! You're so beautiful. Does anybody ever tell you you're beautiful? If not they should 'cause you are!"

At the end of that little outburst, Carrot realised he had six pairs of eyes on him. He coughed lightly, "What? What is it?"

Pear smiled, a little embarrassed.

"I'm... glad you think so highly of me, Carrot... unfortunately I have a boyfriend back in Naiproza though, so..."

Carrot leapt over and took her hand, "You needn't worry about him, Pear-chan! Nobody can love you as much or as greatly as I do... oh, my heart has been in pain for all the time we have been apart! You just see, the more time you spend with me, the more time you'll realise that that boyfriend really isn't right for you, you'll realise that you and me were DESTINED!"

"I know places I could stick my knife into your body that'd kill you in under two seconds, you know."

Ignoring Pear's rapidly deteriorating mood (and ominously twirling dagger), Carrot just nodded with rapt attention, "Really, really? Gosh, that's amazing! I know something I could stick into your body too, yo-"

"DARLING, STOP BEING SUCH A PERVERT!"

"CARROT, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT!"

Carrot found himself pressed quite firmly into the ground by the combined strength of Tira and Chocolat. He groaned loudly, then looked up to see Chocolat's smiling face.

"Oh, and Darling... while you're up, would you mind going and getting us all something to drink? I'm sure Peach and Pear would like something a little nice to have. Right?"

Picking himself up, Carrot nodded, "Right... right..."

Chocolat laughed lightly as Carrot made his way to find where the alcohol was being kept. She turned back to Pear, "I'm sorry about him, he can get quite... excitable, sometimes."

"Oh, it's alright, I know what he's like. So, anyway, you've heard about the things we've been up to on the other side of the Continent or so, but what have you guys been up to? I mean... you live in the capital of the nation, doesn't this place get attacked a lot?"

"No, Facade doesn't get as attacked as you'd think it would be... actually, it's only very rarely we have to cope with something so nearby, most of the time Big Mama's sending us off all over the place. I guess Sorcerers know that Facade is where Big Mama is, it'd be stupid to attempt something right under her nose, they know she'll arrange for their deaths. Doesn't stop some people of course, but then again, some people are just stupid."

"Mmm... it's good to meet you again after all this time, though. Our line of work... it's pretty tricky, isn't it? I mean... a while ago... maybe it was more than a year ago, can't remember where it was in time since I last met you, but weren't there a group of Sorcerer Hunter Killers, or something like that?"

Recalling the memory, Chocolat nodded.

"Yeah... yeah, we fought those, didn't we Tira?"

Tira looked up from her sandwich, and nodded also.

"Oh? Oh, yes... we ended up fighting them, yes... they were quite tough, weren't they...? Four of them, I think. I can't remember their names, but... they were difficult. Ah, didn't even Marron-chan have problems defeating one of them?"

Milphey ruffled the top of Marron's hair, "I remember that. It was because that guy wasn't actually alive, so those little gremlin things of yours didn't work... I had to bail you out of that one, didn't I?"

"Yes..."

"It's always the neck they go for, isn't it? That guy, then when we fought the Necromancer... maybe our opponents just like Marron-chan's neck. It is a nice neck, after all..."

Marron shifted slightly as Milphey punctuated those thoughts with a few light strokes to Marron's neck.

Pear looked serious suddenly, "I'm... glad that you guys managed to get rid of those Sorcerer Hunter Killers... I mean, Big Mama has a lot of Sorcerer Hunters around the place, more than you'd maybe think of posted all over the Continent, but... I knew quite a lot of the people who were killed. I wish I could have done something myself, but... nobody ever knew where they'd be, usually anybody who went up against them ended up dead themselves..."

Chocolat winked and made a peace sign, "Hey, we're just that good. We couldn't let them kill anybody else, could we? The more of us able to meet up at times like this, the better."

Relaxing slightly, Pear couldn't remain sad against Chocolat's confident smile. She nodded, "You're right, you're right. Even if we have perverts like your Carrot and my brother, it's still good to be alive to be able to meet. I'm glad that we can."

"Hey, I brought the drinks..."

Carrot returned with several cylindrical caskets and six cups stacked precariously on top of each other. Marron looked up, "Ah... niisan, I'll help you with that..."

"Thanks, I've been wobbling all the way over here. I didn't bring you a cup, you don't mind, do you? I mean, I know you don't like alcohol and all..."

"That's alright, I don't mind..."

Marron took the cups from Carrot, and handed them out to the others in the group. Carrot poured everybody's drinks (starting with Pear-chan, of course), then poured himself some. He left the flasks in the middle of the blanket that everybody sat on, leaving them for people to refill as they saw fit. Carrot downed his cup quickly, laughing afterward.

"Wow, this stuff's really good! Really hits the spot 'specially if you drink it really quickly. Marron, y'sure you don't want any?"

"I'm very sure, niisan."

Carrot busied himself pouring himself some more, "Fine, fine, your loss."

Milphey leant over and whispered in Marron's ear, "It starts..."

Tira sipped at her drink slowly, watching Carrot warily.

"Carrot, you shouldn't drink so quickly...! You'll get drunk before you realise it..."

"Tira, that's the point! C'mon, why don't you drink quickly too? I know, we can have a drinking contest! Chocolat, you count how many cups me and her can get down in a minute. Winner... um... the winner gets drunk first! Yeah! I dunno."

"Carrot..."

"Tiiiraaa! C'monn. It's a party, the whole point of being at a party is to get really reeeally drunk! You don't wanna just stay a bit tispy... tispy? Ti... tipsy, for the whole night, do you?"

Feeling someone yank at his tanktop, Carrot looked up to see Peach staring right back at him. He pulled away, "Don't scare me like that!!"

"Aa aa, but but, Carrot! I'll drink with you! And, the winner... the winner will get a kiss from the delightful Miss Chocolat!"

Neither Chocolat nor Carrot seemed too keen on this idea. Carrot came up with his own plan.

"I know! Sure, I'll drink with you... the winner... if you drink more than me, you get to kiss Chocolat. If I drink more, I get to kiss Pear-chan!"

"DARLING, you can't just decide something like that while sitting right in front of the person you're deciding about! If you win, I'll kiss you! I'll kiss you anyway, ahaha!"

Carrot blithely ignored her, "That okay, Limonade?"

"I don't know about you kissing my sister, but... that's okay! I, the illustrious Peach Limonade, shall be the one who wins! I'll win and I'll get to kiss Miss Chocolat, you'll see! Here, here, somebody time us. Sister, would you time us?"

"I want no part in this."

"Oh. Well, um..."

Milphey pounced forward, "I'll time you guys! Okay?... ... GO!"

The two of them started drinking eagerly. Once they began, Milphey picked himself up and went back to sit next to Marron.

"I think they'll be okay for a while like that, don't you?"

"I'm not sure I like you encouraging their behaviour..."

"Oh, come on. The prize each one wants, neither of them are gonna get. Even if he's drunk I don't think Carrot-chan would let Chocolat-chan kiss him. Hey, what are you glaring at me like that for...? Marron-chan... Marron-chan, where are you going?"

While Milphey had been talking, Marron had been picking himself up from the floor and making his way to the other side of the blanket. He looked over his shoulder.

"I... I'm starting to feel a little dizzy. Probably because of the alcohol... I think I'll go and take a walk. I may go back inside, actually... you know where to find me if you need me."

Milphey just blinked as Marron walked away. He'd thought that Marron would stay around for just a little while longer... it wasn't as if anybody had got really drunk just yet, in any case. Frowning to himself, he supposed it couldn't be helped. If Marron was really so uncomfortable with the situation, it was best not to try to force him into anything... and he could be easily found, if he was going inside. There was only really one place he was going to be, after all.

Turning his attention back to Peach and Carrot, Milphey reverted back to the party mindset and smiled.

"Okay, time's up! Who drunk the most?"

"Uhh... I... I dunno, I lost count... Peach?"

"I thought someone else was counting... uh... so... does that mean we should do it again? I mean... we gotta save some alcohol, don't we...?"

"I dunno... there was lots when I was last getting some... so... uh... wanna go again? And remember to count this time...!"

Leaving the boys to do their own thing, Pear had moved to sit with her back against the tree, closer to where Tira and Chocolat were sat. None of the girls could be bothered to encourage Carrot or Pear, Milphey supposed the two of them could drink through the night if there was enough to keep them supplied... then, around that time, Gateau reappeared.

"LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

"Oh? Oh! Gateau-chan! There you are. How are you? Carrot-chan and Peach-chan were just having a drinking contest..."

Gateau was clad only in his thong (as was usual for these events) and had obviously consumed quite the amount of alcohol himself. The girls were occupied with themselves and Carrot and Peach were occupied with drinking, Gateau decided to seat himself next to Milphey, since he was there to be talked to.

"M'okay. Was with Eclair for a bit but I dunno where shesh gone now... did I just say shesh? Man, I forgot how mush I drunk. Me and her went around for a bit but I dunno where she ish now. Wheresh Marron gone?"

"He... went for a walk to clear his head, I think. Alcohol fumes getting to him, you know how he is."

"Mmm..."

Milphey watched Gateau slightly warily. Gateau seemed to be keeping his head around Marron quite admirably recently given the situations that had happened, but now that Gateau had been drinking... he'd certainly been drunk enough to begin to slur things, anyway. It'd been a good thing, in retrospect, that Marron had gone back to be inside already... Milphey remembered one Valentine's day from the past... Gateau had got drunk and pinned Marron to the floor and hadn't moved for three hours. Not that anything had happened, he'd ended up falling asleep, but it'd taken Marron and Milphey's combined strengths to shift Gateau once Milphey had found them. Gateau could be quite the dead weight when he was drunkenly sleeping.

"Milphey, I LOVED HIM!!!"

"Um? Oh, ah, Gateau-chan... I know, I know. There there."

Gateau had Milphey by the shoulders and was shaking him, "No, but really! Like, really! I really loved that guy, Milphey! But, you know what? He was a BASHTARD!"

"A bashtard? I'm, sure he was. Yes."

"He wash lovely too though. And he was GREAT at oral sex! Cush that's all we ever managed to do but it was fucking awesome 'caush y'shee... oh, wait, Carrot'sh there!"

Milphey blinked at Gateau as he went over to where Carrot was. Yes, Gateau was quite, quite drunk. Drunk, emotional and jilted was never the best combination.

"Oiii, Carrot?"

"Gateau, I'm drinkin' here!"

"I know, I know."

"I'm having a contesht!"

"You seen Marron anywhere?"

"He was here! Oh! He's gone! I dunno where he is then. Oh, fuck, I think I lost count... Peesh? Peeesh? I-... oh, he's not... awake..."

Indeed, Peach was lying on his back, groaning up at the sky.

"... n'dta drinken so much..."

"I WON!! PEAR-CHAN, GIMME A KISS!!"

Pear looked over from where her and the other girls were, taking the moment to glare then look away with a loud "NO!"

"Awwww... and I drunk so mush, too..."

Gateau was shaking Carrot by his tanktop straps now, "I wanna know where Marron is!"

"He's probably... not here! Cause... he... probably didn't wanna... he didn't wanna be where there was going to be people who were drinking and stuff! Cause he doesn't like alcohol! I think? Yeah, that's it. So I dunno where he is, let go of me!"

"D'ya think you'll shee him before I next do? Cuz I got things I wanna tell him!"

"I dunno, I dunno if I'll shee him... she him... she... what?"

"Well, if you do shee him before I shee him I want you to tell him, he's a BASHTARD! A lovely lovely BASHTARD! And he'sh sho lovely... 'cause see... I... Carrot, have you ever been in love? Cause... I LOVED THAT BROTHER OF YOURS!"

"But he didn't love you!"

"I KNOW!"

Milphey gently sipped at his own drink, watching Carrot and Gateau's conversation, then deciding to go and join the girls and their conversation. He had a feeling that Carrot and Gateau could go on in that vein for quite some time.

****

An hour or so later, the party was in full swing. Gateau had recovered from his drunken angsting, and Peach and Carrot were still attempting to out-drink the other. Out of the six underneath the tree, Milphey believed that he was the only one still sober... the three girls had retreated somewhere to the side, but seemed to be quite pink and giggly. Probably tipsy, Milphey supposed.

Marron had left, of course... Milphey wondered if he had gone back inside. If he had, he was missing quite the party... of course, it wasn't as if Marron really ever agreed with parties, but that wasn't the point...

The point was, Milphey was feeling slightly bored. At least with Marron around it meant there was somebody else to talk to, somebody who could be relied on to remain sober for most of the time... the girls had been caught up in their own conversation for quite some time, and Carrot and Peach were too busy being competitive to really notice anybody else. Gateau was currently quiet, but that was only a recent turn of events; he was obviously drunk in any case, and Milphey wasn't sure how far a conversation with Gateau, in his current state, could be taken...

Silently, Milphey stood up. If Marron was still around, Milphey decided to find him. Yes, it was still daylight (more or less), the party was still going on - Milphey wouldn't let Marron sit around on the inside for so long, thinking about pointless things!

Determined, Milphey skipped away from the blanket the others were gathered on, or near to. Gateau looked up and let out an "Uh?" when Milphey left, but apart from that, his absence wasn't noticed.

If anything, Milphey at least enjoyed the atmosphere of walking around. There really were a lot of people around this year, weren't there...? Most of them occupied with their own conversations and picnics, but that didn't stop Milphey from wandering around and looking at them all as he went. It was one of those days that he couldn't help but let warm his heart... the Spooner Continent, when looked at in the right way, could be such a hive of deception and evil and Sorcerery... but then you had days like this, days when everybody could just sit back and relax and not worry about anything, and... that, just by a degree or so, made everything a little more worth it. If the people of the Spooner Continent could find hope on this day, then perhaps it would make their otherwise oppressed lives that bit more bearable... Milphey held his hands behind his back as he carried on. Everybody looked so happy!

"Aa, Milphey!!"

Milphey looked up at hearing his named called. Glancing around, he realised Dota was flying towards him, a wide smile on her face. He smiled back, "Dota-chan! It's nice to see you. Having fun?"

"Oh, yes, I am! Me and Sirius... it's so much fun! I think I may have had a liddle too much to drink, but... well... who cares? That's exactly why this day exists! Ahaha, but it's so nice... I'm not sure where Mama is, but I know she's been looking forward to today for a while."

Dota's happiness was so genuine... and somehow, it was easy to imagine that the event would be one Big Mama would look forward to, also. Milphey smiled, almost looking wistful.

"I suppose she would, wouldn't she...? Come on, let's walk for a bit. But still... this Continent, with all of the bad things that keep happening, and her overseeing all those events... today's a day where she doesn't have to worry, and she can watch while nobody else has to worry, either. I imagine she must be quite happy right now... wherever she is... where is she?"

"I'm not really sure, I kinda went off with Sirius for a while and haven't seen her. I think she was with Kahlua and Shiffon though..."

Milphey nodded, that made sense.

"Maybe I should find them later... I don't really spend as much time as I could with those two, perhaps they'd appreciate it."

"You're not with Carrot and the others?"

"Oh, I was until just now. They all seem to be doing a fine job of getting drunk, though! Marron-chan decided to go for a walk... I thought I'd try to find him. He's always so solitary, and he's so adamant about not drinking anything... I think he'd be even be suspicious of fruit juice today. You haven't seen him, have you? I wondered if he might have gone back inside..."

Dota thought for a few moments, then shook her head.

"Haven't seen him, no, sorry... but, maybe you could help me find Sirius? Only, I sort of got talking to some people I knew and I think he got a little uncomfortable and went off somewhere. He's... he might not look it, but he is quite shy with new people sometimes, especially if I know them so well... I want to find him and make sure he's alright."

"Okay! I'll help you find who you're looking for, and you can help me find who I'm looking for. Sounds like it could be fun!"

The two of them continued to walk around for a little while. Milphey couldn't help but look at Dota and wonder why she hadn't tried flying over the garden in search of Sirius... there certainly couldn't be that many people wandering around with wings as large as Sirius, anyway. Maybe she had her reasons. Milphey wondered if the thought of wanting to walk amongst the crowds was a thought too deep for Dota... perhaps she just wanted to stay on the ground where everybody else was, perhaps she just hadn't thought to fly. Maybe she was staying on the ground out of consideration to Milphey. Milphey wasn't sure.

Eventually, they reached an area more to the edge of the garden; most of the centre grounds were overtaken by blankets and picnics and picnicking Parsoners and Sorcerer Hunters, but as you walked to the edges of the garden, the frequency of people became a little more sparse. There was an area where the land dipped down and created a lower garden, less people were gathered there, but Milphey did spot Sirius.

"Ah, Dota-chan! There he is!"

"I see, I see!"

With that, she took to flight and quickly swooped over. Milphey watched for a few moments... Sirius appeared to be talking to a girl, a slim, attractive, blonde girl... oh, so he was so shy, was he...? A little curious, Milphey decided to invite himself into the conversation. See just what Dota had to say about Sirius talking to strange women.

"A-ah, Dota...! I wasn't... I wasn't sure where you'd be..."

Dota grabbed at Sirius's arm and hugged it tightly, as happy as she usually was.

"I was thinking the same about you! I wondered if you'd got lost somewhere... anyway, um... I'm sorry, you two were having a conversation? I interrupted... I'm Dota, what's your name?"

The girl smiled somewhat shyly, "My name is Bomber... I, I'm organizing the fireworks for a little later on. It's just, sometimes you need a little extra help... I wondered about asking Sirius here, since he can fly quickly, but... I mean, I was just curious, I... don't want to trouble you or anything."

Milphey chose that point to invite himself in, "Ooooh, fireworks! I just love fireworks! Oh, oh, wait... Bomber... I'm sure I've heard your name before, somewhere..."

She laughed shyly at the sudden attention, "Well, it's possible... I tend to organize a lot of fireworks, though it's mainly closer to the beach where I live. Just, this year I got invited to organize the Saint Mother's Day celebrations! I was flattered... it's a little scary, too. But, I think that we're all more or less prepared! It's just tricky to find somebody to light the fuse. Somebody mentioned that Carrot-san might be around, but... I'm not sure if I'd want to ask him again... though he did help me in the past..."

Milphey clapped Sirius heartily on the shoulder, "Well, I'm sure you can ask this one here, he wouldn't let you down! Né?"

"Ah, that is... I'm... not sure..."

"C'monnn, you can just fly in and out, can't you?"

Bomber nodded her agreement, "It'd be so useful if the people on my team had wings! Then we wouldn't have to make last minute arrangements... but the people I know are always so unwilling... they'll do any job I ask them, except for lighting the fireworks. I should really work the courage to light them myself someday, but... I'm not sure about that..."

"No, no, that's alright. A pretty girl like you, you shouldn't have to risk yourself like that! No, there's no doubt about it, this is obviously a job for a strong man. Like Sirius, here! See these muscles? And this serious serious face! Why, you're perfect for the job. You wouldn't refuse a lady, would you?"

"Umm..."

Sirius looked towards Dota for assistance; she just nodded too, "I think it's a great idea! After all, you are capable of it... don't you think? And, you'd be able to say afterward, I lit the fireworks at the Saint Mother's Day party! Won't you? It'll be fun!"

"Ah, well, I suppose if you want me to... y-yes, I'll do it, then."

Bomber clapped her hands together with joy, "Oh, that's wonderful! Here, I should show you the procedure so you'll be ready... you don't mind, do you? You don't have anything else you'd rather be doing...?"

Dota shook her head, answering for Sirius.

"We don't mind at all! Come on, Sirius...! Sounds like it's gonna be fun!"

Milphey giggled to himself as Bomber walked off, followed by Dota, who was still grabbing hold of Sirius. Those two were quite sweet... and it was quite obvious that Dota was the one with the upper hand in the relationship. That in itself was amusing.

However, Dota having found Sirius meant that she wouldn't be able to help Milphey find Marron... but as it turned out, Milphey didn't have to search altogether far. Just a little way away from where Sirius and Bomber had been talking, was Marron. He was hanging around the border of the garden, he was currently leant against one of the trees. Happy to see Marron still outside, Milphey bounded over, "Marron-chan, Marron-chaaan!!"

Marron turned around quickly as he heard Milphey behind him; glancing over his shoulder revealed Milphey, who threw his arms up in greeting. Catching Marron-chan by surprise like that... Milphey smirked to himself as he ran over with his arms outstretched. Perhaps he could have a little fun with Marron.

"MAAARRON-CHAAAN! Aaaa, it seems like so LONG since I last saw you! I wanna give you a kiss. C'mere and lemme kish you! Yer so preddyyy..."

Marron couldn't quite dodge Milphey's enthusiastic glomp; he found himself against the tree he'd been leaning against previously, distastefully trying to push Milphey away. Milphey was drunk? If Milphey was drunk, then... had he been able to keep an eye on Carrot?! Might anything have happened...? Would Milphey remember if it had? Marron couldn't help a degree of slight panic as his mind wandered over the possibilities.

"Né, Marron-chaan... have... have you ever sheen Gateau do that trick he doesh when he takesh his thong off?! Cause I have! Really impressive!"

Marron continued to glare and push at Milphey, "... You're drunk."

Milphey held still for a few seconds, then couldn't keep the pretence up any longer. He giggled a deep giggle then looked up at Marron, his gaze suddenly clearing into a sneaky smirk.

"Nope, but you believed I was."

Letting go of Marron, Milphey stood beside him and leant against the tree he'd previously been pressing Marron against. Marron just stared at Milphey incredulously.

"Milphey... why pretend something like that!?"

A light shrug, "Oh, I just thought I'd have a little fun with you, that's all. After all... it's awfully easy to pretend to be drunk, you know? Especially when everybody else is drunk. I remember I heard of a party or something one time where the guests all got so completely drunk, but... not one of them had touched alcohol for the entire night...! I don't think it's only the drink that gets people in the mood, it's the atmosphere of the party itself, you know? I've been quite giggly at times myself, and I've only had one cup, from past experience I know that's not enough to get me drunk."

"Aa..."

Throwing one arm over Marron's shoulders, Milphey prodded at Marron's cheek with the forefinger of his other hand.

"So... if I can pretend to be drunk and you believe that I am, who's to say a drunken Carrot-chan wouldn't think your actions out of the ordinary...?"

"Mi-Milphey!?"

He pulled away quickly, "Just a suggestion."

There was silence for a moment. Marron coughed self-consciously, "Did you... want me for something?"

"Oh, only to see where you were. Everybody else was getting drunk, I couldn't really talk to anybody, I was getting a little bored. I thought I'd come and find you and see how you were getting on... so, are you alright?"

Marron nodded with a slight smile, "Quite, yes. I got talking to a group of Parsoners who came all the way from the southern coast of the Continent to be here for this festival...! Most of the food they brought with them was prepared with fish they'd caught themselves, they were a fishing family... they allowed me to share with them, it was very pleasant."

"Well, I'm glad Marron-chan's getting around and talking to people! That's more than I've been doing. Though, I was just talking to Dota-chan and Sirius... there's going to be fireworks later! This girl's organizing it, her name... oh, what was it... Bomber, that was it. I was sure I'd heard her name somewhere before, but I'm not entirely sure where...?"

The name seemed to hold some recognition for Marron also, "I seem to remember we met her once before... though I don't think that you were with us at the time..."

"Well, if it's somebody you've met I probably heard her name through one of you, don't worry about it. But, anyway! Fireworks, Marron-chan! Why, don't you think fireworks are romantic?"

Marron frowned, "I-... where did that come from...?"

"Well, if you were to come back over... you and Carrot-chan, sitting there under the tree... the fireworks going off in the sky above you, light falling faintly down on your faces... perhaps Carrot-chan would be asleep by that point, and he'd be snoozing gently on your shoulder - you'd look at him with such a warm smile...!"

"You love to daydream, don't you..."

Milphey laughed and took one of Marron's hands in his two, "Oh, indeed. Fills the space where I could be thinking of nothing at all. Anyway, so how about it? Oh, but Gateau-chan turned up... he's somewhat drunk, and seems to have developed a penchant for rambling on about how you're a lovely bastard. So if we get back and he starts ranting at you, well, don't take it personally, it's just the drink talking. Well, I mean... you know what I mean. He's drunk, he doesn't know what he's saying."

"He does grow quite distastefully drunk, doesn't he..."

"Oh, come on, Marron-chan. You can't really blame him, he has been more or less tossed aside by his lover in the favour of his lover's brother, let him be a little upset when he's drunk. Though, just be glad that Gateau-chan doesn't, you know, know... I think he'd be a little more volatile while drunk if that were the case."

Marron's mind ticked back to Gateau's reaction on thinking Milphey and Marron had slept together... if that reaction had been volatile and it had formed through a misunderstanding, then just how might Gateau react if-

No, Marron chastised himself. This wasn't the time or the place to be considering such things.

Milphey sighed, "If you do come back with me you're just going to end up sitting there until it's time for you to go again..."

"Hm?"

"I want you to try something on Carrot-chan!", Milphey pushed lightly at Marron.

"Milphey, I... I couldn't do something embarrassing like that...! That's... that's more something that you would do, I-"

"Alright, then."

"- Uh?"

Milphey came to a halt a few steps away from Marron, his arms folded and his back turned. He looked over his shoulder, his look just a little too crafty for Marron not to feel a misgiving for...

"If you won't pretend to be drunk and hit on Carrot-chan, then I will. After all, you just said that that's the sort of thing I would do...! Carrot-chan is adorable, you know what I think about him... hmm, and since he's drunk, I barely think he'd notice! Mmhmhmhm, a little... friendly rivalry, what do you think?"

Marron just stared incredulously at Milphey, not knowing what to say. He'd been put in a corner... it was easy enough to do nothing at all, but...

He quietly cursed himself for ever having let Milphey know about his feelings for Carrot in the first place. Not that he'd intended for that to happen in the first place, and he supposed that it was better that Milphey knew than anybody else around, but... that wasn't the point! The point was, Marron was currently quite comfortable in his routine of peaceful mind-blanking and meditation. To try and tempt Carrot at all... that would only be tempting himself...!

"I, I can't!"

"And why not?"

"I..."

"If you come back with something about your meditation then I will have to pinch you somewhere where it hurts, because I'm not going to accept that as an excuse! There are lots of ways of dealing with things, but turning yourself into a zombie is not really one I'd recommend. So, do you want to easily let me at Carrot-chan, or do you want to put up a bit of a fight...?"

The moments of indecision ticked by. Milphey watched Marron carefully; he was currently staring at the ground a little to the left of Milphey's feet, obviously he was thinking the offer over carefully...

Perhaps it was a little unfair, but Milphey felt he had to do something to make Marron act. It seemed like the perfect chance! Carrot would be inebriated, everyone else would be too, nobody would really notice, and even if they did they wouldn't remember...!

Besides, even if they did remember... it really wasn't the kind of thing Marron would do, was it? Even if somebody remembered, they'd likely pass it off as an imagined memory the alcohol created. Marron, hitting on Carrot? What a silly and preposterous idea that was. No, that would never happen!

Marron sighed deeply, "Milphey, you're quite malicious sometimes..."

Supposing that that meant he'd won, Milphey giggled and put his arm around Marron again, leading him slowly back in the direction of the others.

"I wouldn't say malicious, as such... manipulative, yes. Malicious... you really think I'm malicious? Why, I'm hurt, Marron-chan. Besides, I had to say something to get you in action! I won't have you sitting aside for your whole life watching as other people do things you want to do! Especially not when it's such a good chance, like this. You really don't have anything to lose! Nobody'll remember today come tomorrow, and even if they do nobody would seriously believe that you, of all people, would be drunk and hitting on somebody - and especially not Carrot-chan! It's all so perfectly unbelievable, so you can do what you want!"

"And what about Gateau? I'm supposed to act so flirtatiously right in front of him?"

"Why not? After all, you've sure screwed with his mind enough until now, no harm in messing with him a little more!"

Marron sighed again, "Now I'm the malicious one..."

They were back on the main gardens, walking back to the large tree now. The tree was in sight but nobody else was just yet... as they walked, Milphey watched Marron. He'd probably need a little encouragement before he did anything... and he still looked so uptight! Uptight and unsure. Milphey quietly pondered for a few moments...

"Wait a minute, Marron-chan."

"Hm? What is it?"

Milphey was in a thinking pose, walking around Marron, eyeing him up and down.

"Oh, nothing much... just, I was thinking... if you're going to go back there for the intention of seducing-"

Marron glared pointedly.

"Alright, alright, if you're going to go back there for the intention of trying anything on with that brother of yours... perhaps... hm, I don't know. I'm tempted to go back inside and find some of my makeup, but that could take a while and would probably make you less inclined... unless you want some makeup? Some eyeshadow might look nice!"

"I'm not wearing makeup."

"I thought you'd say that. But, to make you look a little... mm... a little less stiff, I suppose. Mmm... what about this? What does this do?"

Milphey had reached for the sash tied over Marron's waist and was tugging it lightly.

"It keeps my robe together, if that came undone, then-"

Not waiting for Marron to finish his explanation before acting, Milphey quickly worked on the slight knot at Marron's stomach, and pulled the sash away from him. Marron's lower robes fell from their usual arrangement, falling open beneath his waist and trailing on the floor. Marron just blinked, Milphey still looked thoughtful.

"I was almost hoping your trousers would fall down, but I suppose I'm not that lucky. Right, so we've got you with a robe that could double as a dress if you hitch it around right, that's a start. Perhaps if you... mm, I don't know..."

Milphey was working at the catches of Marron's robes at his neck and chest, now. Marron put his hand to Milphey's wrist, thinking about pushing him away but not entirely decided.

"Milphey, what are you doing now?"

"Getting you to show a little skin, of course! So we can see your legs now, trousered as they are... shame, Marron-chan has nice legs. So... a little chest never hurt anybody! Perhaps if you pulled this part back a little, showed some shoulder... hm, maybe just leave it at the chest for now, you can show more as you decide when we get to the others."

"I'm still not sure about this..."

"I know you're not, that's why I'm here. Let's leave... yes, that'll do. Two buttons still done up enough? Stops your robe falling entirely off, though shirtless might be nice... maybe just a little forward, though. Now... ah, I know."

Without any warning, Milphey leant forward and held Marron tightly by the shoulders while kissing him suddenly. Marron's eyes opened wide and he let out little noises of protest, but Milphey remained for a few moments before he finally let Marron escape. Milphey just laughed softly.

"You should really relax, Marron-chan!"

"Wha-... what... why-... Milphey, what was that?!"

"You're blushing now! Trying to bring a little colour to your cheeks. Besides, a little kiss never hurt anybody now, did it? That can do in the absence of any blusher, a real blush is just as effective. Let's see, anything else?"

Milphey walked back over to beside Marron and mussed up his hair a little with his two hands. Marron just stared patiently up at the sky, "Surely that can't help..."

"Oh, you'd be surprised at how sexy the ruffled look can be, on the right person. You're the kind of person who looks beautiful no matter what, so don't worry about it. I'm also wondering if... mmn, I'm not sure... though it would probably help quite a bit... it'd certainly make the two of us look different..."

"Milphey, what are you planning now...?"

"Mmm... okay, don't be too shocked now."

A moment of deliberation, then Milphey reached up to undo the white ribbon that was keeping his hair in place. He pulled it free, letting his hair fall down around his shoulders; Marron couldn't help but watch in vague amazement... he didn't think he'd ever seen Milphey with his hair loose... Milphey ran his hands through his hair a couple of times to help loosen and free it, then looked up to see Marron just staring at him. He smiled.

"Didn't I say not to be too shocked? Ohoho, close your mouth, you'll catch flies," Milphey nudged Marron's chin with one finger.

"A-ah, I was just surprised, that's all..."

"Well, that's to be expected. Like this I prefer to keep my hair up, but... just for the next little while, it can't hurt to have it down. I can look just as tousled as I can make you look, you know! Anyway, the reason for that, was... Marron-chan's going to wear his hair up!"

"Ah-? I am?"

"Come on, why else would I have taken my hair-ribbon out. If you wear it up like I do, it'll only make you look more different to how you normally do, won't it? So you'll be just that little more exotic to Carrot-chan. Come here, I'll tie it for you."

Marron remained quiet while Milphey tied his hair up. He still retained a little hair coming down each side of his face, but apart from that, his hair was tied up and back; Milphey pondered the look, then nodded.

"Yes, that's quite nice! Mmm, you should tie your hair back more often, the look quite suits you. Makes you look different, somehow... yes, I think that'll do. Ahaha, I'm quite looking forward to this! So, come on, let's go find the others!"

Marron found himself with his wrist grabbed and Milphey running off before he could argue to the contrary.

Underneath the tree, the Sorcerer Hunters gathered there were only getting progressively drunker. Tira and Chocolat were snoozing slightly against the tree, and Pear was sat beside them, looking drowsy; Carrot and Peach had stopped drinking for the moment on seeing how sleepy the girls were (there wasn't any point in having a drinking contest if the girls they were trying to impress weren't awake enough to notice), but were quite incoherent themselves. Gateau was flat-out on the floor a little way away, snoring loudly.

"... sho you shee, when your shister ish more awake, she'll be sho impresshed that she'll COVER me with kishes!"

"N'yr so sure 'bout that when y'keep shlurring everything you say...?"

"Whaddaya mean, I'm not shlurring anything I shay! I'm perfectly cohe... co... corehent!"

"Sucks that Miz Chocolat's sleepin' though cause she, now she would be impresshed by me!"

"Yer free to have her! Shesh alwaysh after me and shcreaming and yelling and hurting me and then shaying she loves me and it's like WHAT THE FUCK caush she makesh no shense, you know? If a girl ish gonna be a girl then shesh gotta be like... girly, doeshn't she? Not alwaysh hurting a guy! I'm shure there are guysh out there who'd get off on that kinda thing but that ishn't me, she just hashn't figgered that one out yet even though we known each other for like, mosht of our livesh... sho... if you can get her away from me I'd be very very very happy! Caush she's nishe and all, jusht painful. And I don't like the painful bit. Tirash worsh though, she'sh more whip-happy, can't you take the both of them? I'd be sho grateful..."

"Nrrrr... well'm, my sister's only th' same, I mean, she'sh my sister so du'go makin' any funny connections or anythin' from that, but she's always hittin' and whackin' and shoutin' and half th' time I just wanna yell at her back or summat but I know that if were gonna go do that she'd only hit me harder 'cause she's like that."

"Well, yer not supposhed to be intereshted in your shishter, are you? Cush that'd be weird..."

Peach fell on his back, sighing deeply.

"Y'know, there are lots of girls out there, Mr Carrot... n'there are lots of girls who're really really nice! So why can't we get 'em?"

"Ahdunno. I blame the Mishu shishters. They wreck my chanshes with every pershon I meet!"

"Well... they're n'sleep now, aren't they...? Sooo... mebbe... we could..."

"Aaaaaaaah!! I think I know what yer gonna shay!"

Peach sat up again, he and Carrot grinned at each other while hitting their fists together.

"We could look for girlsh ourshelvesh!!"

"While th' people who stop us can't even know! That's, that's, that's such n'great plan! Is just the sorta plan that I woulda thought of... n'... n' I did thinken it! So... it... it can't fail! I'mn'so clever!"

"Shomehow I feel I can trusht you. Where should we go firsht?"

Peach glanced around for a few moments. The groups nearby didn't seem to hold any possible targets... the Misu sisters were quite an attractive prospect, but they were quite asleep. So, not the Misu sisters... perhaps that meant getting up and actually looking. Peach wasn't sure about the whole standing up part, his legs felt a little numb... however, just as he was looking around, he just happened to spot Milphey returning. Milphey, who didn't make a habit of looking especially masculine on the best of days, and... who was that with him...?

"Oh oh oh oh OH! Mr CARROT! I think I've'n spotted a target or two comin' right this way!"

"You HAVE? GREAT!"

Milphey squeezed Marron's wrist as they approached and whispered, "I think we've been spotted. Oh, come on... you still look so uptight! You want to make a good impression, don't you? Relaax... kick back a little... let's go."

With that, Milphey let go of Marron's wrist; he clapped his hands together with a wide smile, "I've come back, and I've brought a friend! Peach-chan, Carrot-chan... oh, what happened to everybody else?"

Carrot looked up, looking at Milphey and... and... that person Milphey had brought. For some reason, the thought of Marron occurred... but Marron didn't wear his robe like that, his hair like that, and he never stood around looking so coy like that!

"Uh, uh, they're ashleep at the monute... unh... Mi, Milphey... whossha?"

Peach attempted to leap up, failed, and fell down.

"We were JUS' lookin' for two pretty girls'nlike yerselves t'come along! Cause... 'cause... 'cause we're Sorcerer Hunters! Isn'tn'that'n impressing?"

Milphey chuckled and sat himself next to Peach; Marron quietly sat down slightly behind Milphey, still not entirely sure about the venture. He was aware that Carrot was staring at him... why was Carrot staring at him!? He looked up at Milphey, but he wasn't much help.

"Why, I'm glad you think I'm pretty, Mr Limonade. I'm sure I could show you a few things that could surprise you... but oh... oh, Carrot-chan... you've always been the one I've loved!"

Milphey leapt from his seated position over to where Carrot was; Marron looked to Milphey incredulously - what was he doing!?... Milphey caught Marron's line of sight, nodding quickly before looking back to Peach with a smile.

"I'm so sorry, Mr Limonade... but Carrot-chan is quite the-"

"I'd... I'd rather you didn't hold my-... ...Carrot like that."

"Oh...? Could it be that I have competition?"

Milphey smiled, deliberately misunderstanding Marron's hesitation.

"Your Carrot? Well, I should just let you have him then, shouldn't I..."

Carrot said nothing, feeling twice as light-headed as he had a few moments ago. Peach had talked about finding attractive women, not Milphey! Though if that was what Peach went for, Carrot wasn't going to argue... and then there was the second pair of hands sliding their way around Carrot's neck. That voice had been deep, but if this was Marron then he was acting just like one of the Misu sisters would, and, well, Marron just wouldn't act like that. Carrot tugged himself away from Milphey a little and looked up in confusion at Marron.

"You... you look awful like my brother... kinda... uh..."

"Hush, hush..."

Milphey noticed that Marron was getting flustered, though he was attempting to keep his cool. He leant past Carrot and whispered into Marron's ear, "Don't forget, he probably won't remember anything by tomorrow. Anything he does remember, you can pass off as something you wouldn't do, if it's strange enough to seem like you really wouldn't..."

With that, Milphey let go of Carrot, and made his way over back to where Peach was. That left Marron alone with Carrot... and Carrot was still staring at him...

"M... Marron, isshat you?"

Marron wasn't sure what to say to that. If he said 'no' he didn't know if Carrot would believe him, and if he said 'yes', well, what could happen after that...?

Thinking back over what Milphey said...

If something was strange enough to seem like it wouldn't be something he'd do...

Marron decided Carrot would be best silenced with a kiss; that wasn't something he'd normally do, was it? He found himself kissing Carrot almost before he could realise, and felt somewhat dizzy once he found that he was actually kissing his brother. Of course, Carrot had been drinking more than his fair share of alcohol, the taste still remained on his breath and clouded Marron's senses somewhat, sensitive as he was to such things... he was determined, though. He wanted to preoccupy Carrot with something more than the thought of 'is this my brother?'...

Regaining his thoughts and determination, Marron held Carrot close and kissed him deeply. Keep him occupied, keep him away from the line of questioning that Marron couldn't dodge... and oh, his body was warm. His mouth felt warmer... he seemed confused by the kiss and reluctant to react to it, but Marron's thoughts and actions were drifting along quite nicely.

Marron shifted against Carrot's body as he kissed. Being so gentle with that kiss, yet so claiming also... licking against the ridges of Carrot's mouth, feeling him moan... just those slight vibrations brought Marron pleasure to hear them. Hearing Carrot's voice, muffled like that... the reason for it to be muffled... Carrot tasted strongly of the alcohol he'd been drinking for half the evening, but Marron fancied that part of that taste was Carrot himself, strong and heady...

It went against his previous line of thought so terribly. Keep away from those feelings of Carrot? Not let himself get tempted? Staying away from temptation never usually ended up with one kissing the drunken object of temptation, but... thinking about it, Marron supposed that perhaps that just meant that he was weak against temptation. So weak against Carrot... and Carrot felt so weak in his arms. His heart was racing... indeed, how had he not even allowed himself to think about such things for so long? He couldn't help but be reminded of that time that seemed so long ago, back when they'd visited the beach... more had happened on that day, more that Marron knew Carrot couldn't remember. Would this time be like that time?

Might more happen on this time?

Marron pulled back slightly, "You're... you're so unresponsive..."

"M'... m'confushed..."

Making his voice deliberately husky, Marron felt a flush come over him. Oh, but he wanted Carrot... he wanted to be kissed by Carrot... could Milphey's plan work at all? If it did... oh, that was such an attractive idea, wasn't it...?

"Don't be confused... you don't have to think anything, just... just do what you will... I... I want you..."

"Nnn... but... pretty girlsh don't ushually... they... ushually hit me..."

Marron shifted his arm over his chest to attempt to hide his lack of feminine assets, smiling sweetly at Carrot.

"Well, this time... I wouldn't hit you, n-... Carrot. I... you think I'm a... a pretty girl?"

Carrot nodded enthusiastically, the will to flirt waking up again.

"Mmm mmm! You're... you're very pretty! B-but... I dunno, it'sh weird... y'... you're sho like my brother... but I dunno where he ish..."

Still blushing, Marron leant in to nuzzle at Carrot's neck, nip at his ear. Vague memories played at Marron's mind... thoughts of the past... Carrot's skin felt so soft. So soft, so warm... Marron wished to mark it as his own, even if that ownership could only be for the short time they had together. Just a few marks, deep and red... perhaps they'd last, perhaps Carrot would be confused as to their origin come the morning, but still they would exist, and Marron would know the reason for their existence even if Carrot didn't... Marron sucked powerfully at Carrot's skin. He let out a slight moan then a cry, and Marron shivered. He could get used to such sounds, such reactions... however, he couldn't resist the line of conversation, either.

"Your... brother... he's... also pretty, is... he?"

"Mm, he'sh really pretty."

"You'd admit that, even being his brother...?"

"Well... anyone could shay he wash pretty! Caush he ish and even though I'm his brother I can shay that, you'd haveta be blind not to shay he wash pretty! My brother'sh gay!"

Marron blinked at that quite random aside, "He... is, is he? That's... that's nice. However... don't... think about your brother if it makes you uncomfortable... it's only you and me, Carrot. Isn't this just the kind of thing you want to happen during a festival? I... we could..."

"Nnn... I... I dunno..."

"Oh no?"... Another series of light kisses at Carrot's neck. Perhaps that would help to persuade him.

"... I dunno 'caush you look sho much like my brother... n'shound like him too... it'sh... it'sh too weird..."

Marron felt Carrot's hands push at him, and quickly lost his nerve. Obviously Carrot's mind was far too soaked to make the obvious connection, but... while his brother was in his mind, Carrot was going to be unresponsive, it seemed. So, that was the effect his brother had on him? Marron couldn't deceive his brother like that...! He didn't want to deceive Carrot, and he couldn't bring himself to lie about his identity... it didn't matter if Carrot wouldn't remember come the morning, the point was that Marron would, and the fact that the deception had happened at all... it would always be there...

"... I... I'm sorry..."

"Uh?"

Quickly standing up and walking away from Carrot, Marron made to address Milphey, "I'm... going to go back insi-"

Turning to face Milphey, it seemed Milphey was quite preoccupied with Peach. Peach now had his shirt off and was attempting to grind against Milphey, and Milphey wasn't trying to stop him at all... Marron raised his eyebrow, "Mi-Milphey!?"

"Hm? Oh, we're going back now, are we? That's a shame, it's fun to play with people when they're drunk."

Prising Peach away from him, Milphey hopped over to where Marron was. He smiled and leant on Marron's shoulder while whispering into his ear, "I thought it'd be amusing to see how he'd react when he found out I had a penis, but oh well." He wrinkled his nose, "...maybe next year."

Marron was silent until he and Milphey were suitably away from Peach and Carrot's line of sight, and then he stopped.

"Marron-chan? Marron-chan, you look upset. Are you alright?"

Still saying nothing, Marron pulled Milphey's ribbon out of his hair, and did up the buttons of his robe. He made to do up the front of his robe also, but he didn't have his sash and it didn't seem that Milphey had it either... perhaps he'd dropped it, Marron wasn't sure.

"You... you go back if you want. I... I can't feel comfortable like that... he kept talking about his brother..."

"Well, that's you! Isn't that a good thing?"

"He felt he... I don't think he could do things like that with somebody so similar to his brother... the thought is... naturally somewhat disturbing..."

"Marron..."

Leaving Milphey to his own devices, Marron walked off quickly in the direction of Eden. Milphey just watched him, then rearranged his hair to put it back up again. Perhaps it really had been unfair to assume that Marron could do something like that... the idea was a good one, but it all depended on the conditions of how drunk Carrot really was... Milphey sighed. Perhaps it would have been better if Carrot had been so drunk as to not recognize Marron, but on the other hand... would Marron want to do anything with Carrot if Carrot didn't even know who he was...? The emotional significance would be lost...

Despite the fun he'd had teasing Peach until that point, Milphey couldn't quite bring himself to go back to beneath the tree. Perhaps Dota and Sirius would be around somewhere to talk? Or Shiffon and Kahlua... even Big Mama, perhaps? Milphey did quite want to go after Marron, but... sometimes people did just need to be alone.