Heathcliff was almost done with the store table he'd set up on the street, grumbling to himself, when he saw Buwaro and Kieri approaching. "There you are, where were you?" Heathcliff asked irritably. "Little help?"
"Sure!" Kieri almost chirped, and she and Buwaro helped with the last bits of setup.
Heathcliff stared at the two of them as they finished. "Why are you so chipper this morning, Kieri?" he asked them. He then blushed as a thought occurred to him. "D-don't tell me you snuck off and..."
"Um," Buwaro said, quickly realizing what he'd meant, "okay, we won't...?"
Heathcliff facepalmed. "Oy," he groaned.
"We are aware of the potential consequences, Heathcliff," Kieri said. "We...agreed it was okay, for now."
"Not sure you made the right decision," he grunted, "but I guess it's a little late now." He walked to the wagon's back door and knocked on the door, saying, "Come on, your friends have already been up and banging this morning."
Rhea groaned. "I'm getting up, don't worry."
Buwaro blinked. "She is sleepy," he said quietly to Kieri, "if she didn't get that." Kieri giggled quietly.
It was almost an hour into their sales when Rhea blinked. "Wait, you said something earlier," she asked Heathcliff, now fully awake. "Something about Buwaro and Kieri being up and doing...something or other?"
"Each other," the grumpy Human grunted.
She stared at the two, shocked. "No way," she murmured. Kieri nodded, smiling, and Buwaro laughed sheepishly. "Oh wow, so what'd he look like down there?" she asked Kieri with a perverted grin. Heathcliff and Kieri alike balked at the Jakkai girl's words, the former none too pleased that they were talking about that in public, at his store front. "And did you guys enjoy yourselves?"
Kieri was more than surprised at her forwardness on a matter that private. "That first one is...a little too private to ask," she stated, a bit stiff in speech. "As for enjoying it," she admitted, smiling as her expression warmed again, "neither of us lasted long. We were both so nervous and eager that we...r-released not long after he first slid in."
Rhea giggled, Buwaro blushing but grinning anyway. "Wow," the Jakkai grinned, "guess you two need practice." Both lovebirds blushed bright red while Rhea fell over from the force of her laughter at their expressions of embarrassment.
"Alright, enough," Heathcliff sighed. "I'm not going to get any customers if you're busy being perverts."
"Sorry," Rhea chuckled as she managed to recover.
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In time, the shop had its customers, and the three earned their keep. The day was fairly long, and almost a bit boring, though there were plenty of folk around to see and talk to. Buwaro had attracted a few stares, which he managed to take in their stride.
At least, he was able to, up until one Human, an older male, probably in his mid-60s, dressed in a plain set of monk's robes, came up to the table, staring intently at Buwaro and Kieri. He quietly watched them for a moment, his amber eyes examining them very closely. His stare, though gentle and nonthreatening, was enough to make the couple nervous. Finally, he said, "I never thought I'd see this day."
"Huh?" Buwaro asked. Kieri nervously fingered her sword under the table.
"I have seen strange things," the man said, "things that many would never believe. Things that boggle my mind to this day. But I had hoped this day would come – when a shadow would learn to dance with the light." He smiled sadly. "I am blessed and cursed to live in these times – blessed to see that the bitterest of enemies can truly fall in love, and cursed because times are about to become far too interesting for these old bones."
Kieri blinked. "Interesting?" she asked quietly.
"An old curse from another land," he said, "is to say, 'May you live in interesting times.' That's besides the point, though." He straightened a bit, as if preparing to speak of something of a weighted nature. "Young lady, young man, I have seen your peoples suffer from the conflict you have. More than that, I have seen a future where you finally allow each other's wounds to heal, and even help each other to recover. I had feared the day would never come for you, but it seems that it will finally happen."
Buwaro blinked. "Then, you're a prophecy?"
The man paused. "I believe you mean prophet."
"Yeah, that," the boy replied sheepishly.
The man stared at the boy for a moment, then finally chuckled. "Yes, of a sort. In any case," he said, "you, boy, will need a title. Any nobleman worth their salt has one, and a Duke such as yourself has power in his title."
"A title?" Buwaro asked. He wasn't sure if he should ask how the man knew about his "position."
"It is said that each Duke had an elaborate phrase that was associated with their power and status," Heathcliff said slowly, "one that could strike fear into their enemies just by announcing it. It was said that any who served the Duke could also draw on that name's power, with their master's blessing." He watched the prophet closely, obviously concerned.
"More than that," the prophet stated, seeming to ignore Heathcliff's nervousness. "The Duke's title could bring the weight of destiny itself onto his promises, and bind the land to his will that he may have a home where his power was greater."
Kieri shivered slightly. "That would be incredible. How...?"
"I do not know, myself," the man shrugged, "but the boy could find it out himself if he had his title."
Buwaro closed his eyes, thinking. "You said," he murmured, "that I was a shadow that danced with light." All eyes turned to him as he said that. "The Shadow that Dances With Light," he replied, more firmly.
The prophet nodded, before seeming to understand. "Destiny will be a difficult thing to stand before, with such a title," he said quietly, smiling sadly. "I wish you the best of luck, and the blessings of all the Gods," he said with a bow. With that, he purchased an irregular pearl that Heathcliff had and left them to be.
Rhea had deliberately not spoken until he left. "Weird guy," she muttered.
Buwaro found the phrase on his mind often for the rest of the day. He was sure this was meant to be his title. But how exactly did it work? He supposed he'd find out eventually.
Hopefully not too soon – it sounded like he'd be involved in stopping the Stupid War, which meant he'd be involved in the War itself. He shivered to think of it.
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As the day ended, Buwaro found Kieri was thinking again. Seeing the dark expression on her face, he cuddled up to her, wishing silently he could take away whatever pain she was feeling inside. She blinked as she saw his own expression. "What's wrong, Buwaro?" she asked.
"Wishing I could make it so whatever was hurting you stopped."
Rhea glanced up, nodding quietly. "You've got friends here, you know," she said. "If you have something that you need to get off your chest, say it."
Kieri sighed, explaining that she'd had an argument with Kazai before they got separated, and that they hadn't gotten a chance to make up before Lazuli attacked. She had begun to feel some doubts, that perhaps she was looking for someone who didn't want to see her again.
Buwaro grimaced. "Kieri," he said quietly, "do you think your...experience with your mom is making you think these things?"
Rhea nodded. "I'd say so. I dunno much about psychology, but I know that the guys who do know it say that your childhood shapes you, for better or for worse."
Kieri hesitated, thinking about that. "You think...I'm wrong?" she asked quietly.
"If you're right," Buwaro said, "then I'd say you're better off without him, or anyone else in your family. But I'm gonna bet – and hope – that you're wrong." He smiled sadly. "Don't give up on yourself."
@@@@
The next day began, with Rhea explaining the power of her nose to recognize people to Kieri. In that moment, she found Jake, who had apparently fallen asleep under the Sinclair wagon. Buwaro had to take a moment before he remembered where the boy was from. "Oh yeah, the guy from the clothing shop," he smiled. "So what was that suit that Rhea had a freak-out over? I got attacked for it by these two guys with axes."
"Bandits thought he was the guy with the money," Rhea snorted.
"Oh. Oops," Jake chuckled. "So yeah, what's with you being dead for a year?" Rhea froze as Jake continued, "Ramirez said that in his letter – first time I'd heard from him since, apparently, you died."
Rhea fidgeted nervously. "Yeah, I did," she muttered. "Let's just say I actually met Buwaro here first."
Jake quickly realized what she meant by that, and just shook his head. "Well...you got out, somehow, right?"
"Yeah," Rhea replied, sighing. "Still, I...bleh, I just don't like talking about it."
"Well duh." Jake shrugged. "Anyway, want some help around here?"
"Sure," she replied, "might as well. Heathcliff probably won't mind too much."
In time, the group had set up shop again, Heathcliff placing the Rainbow Reverie out on display. Customers came and went all day, word having spread of the potions themselves.
About mid-afternoon, after a glaring Wind Demon walked past their shop in the street, an Earth Angel with an ornery expression came to the stand, glaring at Buwaro. Buwaro stared back, frowning, not feeling very intimidated, though still nervous that this one would try something violent like Denevol originally had.
The two boys held their gazes to each other for some time, Buwaro grimacing as the Angel continued to glare at him. He was starting to actually get angry. Finally, Heathcliff stepped in. "May I help you?" he asked evenly.
"What is this Demon even doing here?" the Angel asked, not taking his eyes off of Buwaro.
"Earning his keep," Heathcliff replied.
The Angel snorted. "You are risking a lot by keeping this monster here."
Buwaro frowned as he stood up. Much to everyone's surprise, he walked around the stall and slowly stalked into the Angel's space, pushing the would-be attacker back with merely his intrusion, his huge, black wings slowly flaring out to his sides. The Angel became more and more intimidated as Buwaro drove him further back. Finally, Buwaro stopped driving the Angel back about fifteen strides from the booth. He then retracted his wings, turned around, and walked back to take his seat again, smiling pleasantly at the passersby. A few passing folk chuckled at his attitude of dismissal.
The Angel blushed, feeling humiliated. Angrily, he prepared to storm back over, and was stopped by a friend, a Wind Angel. <You shouldn't push him any further,> the Wind Angel said, grabbing his friend's shoulder. <I think he's actually trying to not hurt you.>
<Why would it do that?> the Earth Angel asked incredulously. <It's a Demon, for crying out loud.>
<And he has been nothing but kind to me since he's met me,> Kieri retorted. <Unlike you, he's a complete gentleman.>
"You need to teach me how to speak Angelic sometime," Buwaro chuckled nervously.
"I'd like to learn too," Rhea piped up.
The Earth Angel snorted. <You just wait, fool,> he told Kieri, <that monster will turn on you eventually.> He turned to walk away, nose high in the air.
And then a fireball smacked him in the back of his head. <Ow!> he griped, glaring at Buwaro.
The young man's arm was outstretched, and he was standing, walking in front of the table. "I understood the word 'monster' at least," the boy snapped. "Now apologize and go away."
The Earth Angel growled, a Light spell forming along his fingers. Buwaro lunged around the spell's energies and rushed forward, skidding to a halt behind the Earth Angel, much to the bully's surprise. Grabbing one of his foe's arms, Buwaro hoisted the Angel's hand up between his shoulders and placed a knee in the small of his back, pushing forward and down. The Earth Angel crashed to the cobblestone path with a gasp of pain from the Demon atop him, and Buwaro held him still.
Kieri looked a bit proud at how quickly and easily her boyfriend had disabled the attacker. She was apparently quite the teacher.
"I'm going to ask you once," the Fire Demon said lowly, "to quit being a jerk. If you can't stop on your own, then I'm going to make you stop. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to. Understand?"
"G-get off of me, monster!" the Angel snarled, much to his friend's dismay.
Buwaro gripped his foe's arm harder, cutting into the fabric and flesh and letting a little blood flow. "Let me try this again," he growled, hoping this worked as he tried to calm his voice and his nerves. Finally, in a normal volume and tone, he stated, "I am the Shadow that Dances With Light, and I will not let some jerk without a brain hurt me, or my friends."
He could feel the power in those words as he spoke, and apparently, so could the Earth Angel – and the crowd that had gathered. People began to whisper, but there was nothing for it now. The pinned Angel shivered heavily, as if the temperature had dropped to freezing, and continued to shake as Buwaro got off, letting him scramble to his feet. "Now get," the Duke of Hell snapped, and the Angel hastened to comply.
The Wind Angel that had tried to stop his foolish friend audibly gulped. "Th-then...you are a..." he started to say, then clammed up.
"So long as you mean no harm, I mean you no harm," Buwaro said, mimicking the bow he had seen Kieri do many times before. "Fair?"
"...fair," the Angel replied in surprise, bowing in return, before hustling after his friend.
Buwaro walked back, smiling at Kieri. "Thanks for teaching me that wrestling stuff, Snowy," he grinned.
"No trouble," she replied, hugging him. "You did that fantastically."
"Probably should have let him go without the fireball," Heathcliff shrugged, "but he kinda deserved that, from the sound of things. Hopefully it doesn't come around to hurt you."
