The Take off

The piano started playing, and a woman stepped on the stage. Along the piano, she started singing.
"Howling wolves, I hear them at nights. So far away, still they cry.."
Her black silk dress left her legs and arms visible, and her short raven hair was tied to a ponytail.
"Leaves turned red, birds went away. The rain was calling me, light turned grey."
Iisai sat in the crowd, not believing his eyes. His mouth was hanging open, seeing Teo in a situation where he would have never been able to imagine her in. Her voice touched his mind with well chosen amount of melancholy, echoing slightly.
"Enter to the tomb of kings and queens, there they lay in a silent stream.."
Drake was staring too. He wasn't that much surprised tho, after all, Velocies were people who loved to sing and dance, but surely, this was peculiar. The crowd seemed to love her, apparently she'd done this many times before.
"Pretty lass, eh?" A man spoke next to them. Drake looked at him but Iisai was unable to move his eyes.
"Dream was endless, mountains so far. My road was led by a wolf pack in dark.."
"Mm.. Does she perform often?"
The man grinned gently.
( "And let the rain pour down, content my soul.. So when I return I�ll return to you.." )
"No.. only when she's in the town. Most time of the year she is following the winds of this world, but when she comes back.. �
Iisai was hardly listening, his eyes followed her every dancing step, every stretch and movement of arms. But most of all, what really caught his attention was the amount of simple grace in her moves.
"The rain falls for you, I know you�re going away. Tears of heaven, may they be, by love of gods, could they be?"
"Do you know her?"
Drake asked the man. He shook his head.
"No, but I sure would like to..."
He winked his eye.
"If you get what I mean."
("Tears of mine, at least they are. Falling down, the sky is dark.")
Drake felt sudden disgust towards the man. With uneasiness in his eyes he walked to the other side of the room.
"Wind made gale, flame was dead. I could feel the rain fall inside me, erasing that was said."
Their eyes met. Drake looked into them, and suddenly got a notion of something not being quite right.
Where have I seen those eyes before? And why.. didn't I notice earlier?
He thought by himself.
(So let the rain pour down, calling for peace. So when I return, I�ll return for you..)
The piano was slowing down. Her steps started leading to the end of the stage.
("And let the rain pour down.. Content my soul.. So when I return� I�ll return to you...")
The piano stopped, and she had vanished behind the green velvet curtains.

Aikatherinee had been watching from the corner or the club. It would have been hard to explain what she had felt when she saw Teo's performance. The crowd was still clapping, but it seemed she was not going to perform again. Then, she spotted Drake and smiled. He seemed to notice her too and started walking towards her and they smiled to each other. Meanwhile, Iisai had slipped behind the stage. It was dark and cramped in there, he almost tripped to some piles of junk laying on the floor.
"Hey boy! What are you doing here? This for the staff only!"
Came a scolding woman's voice from behind. Iisai almost jumped to the ceiling.
"Uh, Um.. I'm sorry, I was just.. Um.. looking for Teo.. I'm sorry, really.."
He started as he turned around to look at the woman. He was startled by the woman's height, they were just as tall. Her long brown hair was tied back, revealing that she was another Velocy by her ears.
"For Teo, you say huh?"
She gazed Iisai with her red eyes from toe to head and smiled.
"You're that boy. Wait.. It's almost on my tongue... Iisai?"
Iisai gulped and nodded. The woman smiled.
"I am Tinto Vine, the owner of this nigh club."
"Pleased to meet you.."
Iisai managed to come up with.
Tinto nodded.
"Teo is upstairs. Just go to the end of this hall and you'll find stairs. Go up, and her door is the first door on the left."
She winked at him.
"But remember to knock first."
With that, she walked away, towards the stage. Iisai hesitated for a while but then found the stairs and climbed up. There was even less light in the upstairs. Barely, just barely, he saw the shapes and found a door from the left. Carefully, he knocked on the door and stepped back a bit. A dim path of light was casted to the hall, when Teo opened the door and was set face to face with Iisai. She looked just as surprised as Iisai nervous. There they stood, both rather speechless.

Teo walked around her room with long strides, Iisai sitting on the bed, looking at his feet.
"So, you're telling me I should keep on working at the risk of your and my own health?"
"No, no, I just... I'd just want you to come along."
Iisai rose his head.
"I don't want to go without you."
Teo sighed and turned around.
"Why not?"
"Well...."
Iisai avoided looking Teo in the eye.
"You just make me feel safe.. you know, and important."
Teo sat down beside him.
"Iisai, I can't come. Remember when I told you I've been working too long already?"
Iisai nodded with a disappointed look on his face. As Teo turned to leave, Iisai remembered something.
"Hey, Teo, you wouldn't be alone in charge, there's this guy called Baron and-"
"What, Baron?"
Teo turned around so fast Iisai was sure she'd fall over.
"Hmm.. I should have known.. but I didn't. He's really coming along?"
Iisai smiled.
"Yeah, as far as I know. You could take it a little easier then."
Teo scratched her head and thought for a while. Iisai put his hand on Teo's shoulder and smiled.
"I'll go back to the castle now, the guards are waiting outside. You stay here and think about it, ok?"
Iisai was already at the door when Teo turned to face him.
"Wait, I� I guess I might as well come with you. If it means that much to you� But I definitely can�t be alone then. Baron needs to be there."
I�m insane� We are both going to die�
But realistically thinking, there aren�t too many unoccupied Atracs right now due to the war�
Still�. You�re mad� You just got rid of him, and now you are already hooking up again!?
Excuse me, dear conscious, did you notice how I couldn�t get any rest out of worry for him!? If I wanna rest, I need to see him safe for good�.
Fine� Fine�
The smile on Iisai's face was most likely the widest Teo had ever seen. Iisai wanted to say thanks a million times, but even the first thanks wouldn't come out of his mouth. He just left as fast as he could. Teo leaned against the door and listened to Iisai�s bumbing steps down the stairs. Teo smiled as she heard Iisai singing.
"Es qui enla ist, ech ing enuend, wil oncheg bur- oh, gee, umm..... hi again Tinto."
"Good night, Iisai."
And then it was silent. After a while, Tinto knocked on Teo's door.
"Teo, did you know you have strange friends?"
"Yes, I think I'm aware of it" She smiled.

Sun shone harsh to Iisai's eyes when he tried to focus on looking at Drake.
"What? You invited Kathy? Excuse me? What do you think his highness will think?"
Drake smiled.
"What, don't you want her to come along? And Soko's fine, he said that she can work as the defence mage. He'll pay for her, besides, she said she'd love to tag along. Apparently she needs to get to Malbo anyways."
His grin grew wider. Iisai let his eyes wander in the garden.
"No, I think it would be definitely cool for her to come. Teo won't be very pleased thought.."
"So she approved?"
"Yeah! It's really great! We can all go.."
Iisai's hand visited the butterfly around his neck.
"Speak of the Devil.. Myooji! How are you on this glorious day? Totally loved your show last night!"
Iisai followed the direction where Drake was waving to, and indeed, Teo was walking towards them. She grinned a little embarrassed and a whole lot of tired.
"Just doing my second job.. You look well, Lizmaer. Excited of our little quest?"
"You bet woman! So nice you decided to tolerate us a bit longer!"
Iisai was unable to remove his eyes off her. Or, maybe more like of her outfit, due to it�s oddness. She was wearing a long-sleeved light blue shirt, dark blue pants and her normal violet boots, but what made her outfit so out standing was the red cloth put around her waist. It was like a long skirt but with only one side, reaching her ankles, tied into her left tight with a leather strap. Teo felt Iisai's stare, and uncomfortably tried to ignore it.
"You are.. blue rank.. captain level?"
Drake asked eyes widening as he took a closer look at her clothes too.
"But.. doesn't that make you a-"
"Yes, Lizmaer, yes it does. Don't make a fuss about it!"
Ugh� I keep forgetting he can of course interprete this stuff� He IS a Velocy� damned� I don�t want Iisai to realize these things� I don�t want him to change his attitude towards me�
She turned her eyes to Iisai, subdueing to face his questions.
"Umm.. what's with the outfit?"
His voice was slightly nervous. Teo shrugged.
"Well I talked with commondore Baron and according to him I have been 'called on duty to ensure the security of Mr. Thales'. And this, Iisai, is my actual working uniform."
She smiled weakly, as if not sure what to say. Iisai's heart skipped a few beats, when he heard the incoming beeb from the girl's wrist band.

It was fast and it was blurry. It came high and it came strong. Iisai flew to the ground, for a moment it was all black. Then the sun came stinging into his vision again, and earth and sky regained their positions. He heard Drake shouting something unclear right next to him, pulling him up. His eyes searched desperately for Teo, and indeed there she was, taking on a...person with incredible speed. They danced around each others, dodging and striking. To his fair surprise Iisai noticed that this person dodged her whip rather effeciently, without greater trouble. But something else looked different as well. And that was Teo. For the first time ever Iisai realized that Teo was really a professional. It came to him what kind of an opponent she might have been in her full strength. She gained no hit, and seemed not bothered by the strength they were using, by the speed they were moving with. A flash of light. Another and then another. Series of explosions, all formed of simple chants. She jumped over him, and succeeded in slashing the whip across the man's back, tearing his cape and shirt. Upper body exposed, the person appeared to be a man with now rather deep cut in his back. Iisai was sure he caught a glimps of bone from his spine. Nevertheless the man did not stagger or seem in even in pain.
What is he.. WHO is he? Iisai wondered in his mind and then looked at Drake.
His eyes were focused on the fight, not remembering surroundings anymore.
"She's slowing down.." he mumbled.
"What?" Iisai asked.
Drake slowly looked at him.
"She needs to finish the battle while she still matches his speed. That man is a werewolf."
Iisai almost choked in the words he tried to form.
"Is a WHAT!?"
But both of their attention was turned back to the fighting to when Teo's plasma whip rolled in their feet. Iisai paled. He picked it up and planned on throwing it back to her but she didn�t seem to have hands free enough to catch it. Instead she was mumbling a chant, and for a blurry second the ground trembled and a light stronger than the sun blinded them. When Iisai's vision slowly started obeying him again, she was standing right in front of him, focused and looking wildly around. But there was no one else.
"Darn it! He fled." She looked rather enraged.
Panting, she turned to look at them. And then, Iisai felt it. The swallowtail she had given him was burning hot under his shirt. He yelped.

Iisai sat in a cool shade on the dark side of the castle, hanging the swallowtail from his hand, staring at it. It had left rather painful burn on his chest, which Teo had cured with her miracle salve. The more he stared at the swallowtail, the more it troubled his mind. Of course he had always known it wasn't just any piece of jewelry, but this was too much for his mind. Iisai heard guards patrolling the garden, trying to find that werewolf, in vain. Drake peeked behind a corner and noticed Iisai hiding, as always.
"Hey, mate, whatcha sitting in here for? Why don't you come inside?"
."I'd rather be alone, thank you." Iisai sighed.
He turned his head away as Drake sat down next to him.
"Come on, Teo said she has something important, and you being as important as you are, you naturally belong with a thing such as that, eh?"
"Not funny, Drake" Iisai snorted.
He didn't feel like moving at all, now that he had find a perfect hideout. He hung the swallowtail back around his neck and rose his eyes.
"Does Teo know I'm here?"
"No, and she's furious. You really shouldn't avoid her, it's not gonna do any good to anyone. Especially not to you" Drake said with a very serious tone in his voice. After a deep sigh, Iisai stood up and started walking towards the main doors and heard Drake following him.
"Hey, mate" Drake grabbed him by his shoulder.
"I don't know if it helps at all, hope it does, but I'll be here for you, in case you need some brotherly advices."
Iisai turned around and grinned.
"I know, Drake, I know."
They stepped inside and went to look for Teo and the rest of the team.

"We're leaving tonight! I don't care what Soko and others think, but we're leaving tonight and that's the final!" Teo shouted.
"We've wasted too much time already. Two hours to the take off. Drake, go get Aikatherinee if she must come along. Aqva, Amarel and Angie get the ship ready to go! And Iisai, you.. you stay with me. If i lose sight of you again I'll finish you off personally!"
She was in an exceptionally bad mood.
Aqva, Amarel and Angie, three simblings in charge of the airship given to them quickly excused themselves. They seemed to be familiar with her and knew it was best to stay away when she was like that. Baron was sitting in the small corner chair. For being such a big guy, it looked funny how modestly he actually acted. A smile was lingering on his lips.
"Now now, lady Myooji. I suggest you calm down a bit."
That was a mistake. With four long steps, Teo was standing right in front of him, grabbing him from his lapels.
"Say that again, commander!?"
Iisai decided to lurk in the shadows of the fire place and watched Drake wave his hand to him as he went off to get Kathy. The swallowtail ice cold again, Iisai slowly unwinded from the previous experience and focused on closing out Teo's angry voice. Until it came from right next to him.
"I want a word with you. Now. Before the others come and we must go."
Iisai looked at her, and noticed Baron too had taken his leave.
"Umm.. Alright."
She wandered to the window sill, Iisai following after her. She sat down and looked at the boy who quite nervously was hiding behind his bangs. For a moment it seemed she was going to yell again, but the she suddenly calmed down and said on a steady voice.
"Iisai.. we need to clear out a few things. First of all, if you truly wish for me to accompany you on this era of war, you must understand this. You cannot. Simply cannot. Hide or disobey my orders anymore. I know we had a quite a trip to get here.. and I haven't quite lived up to what I should have as your Atrac, but you have almost methodically ignored my orders. And that can't continue. Where we are going now, Iisai.. you don't afford to slip out of my reach of vision for one second. Do you wish to stay alive, Iisai?"
There was something big and hard stuck in Iisai's throat when he looked at the girl.
"..Of course.."
She smiled him a little.
"I also want you to know.. that even tho we've had it rough.. I've been tired, and at loss of my strength to fight.. And I know I've been edgy and distant.. I did not wish you close to me.. it is not our roles to gain real knowledge of each others.. however, it is my role as your Atrac to be your confident, be your carrying strength and secure. So from now on, Mr. Thales... I want you to ask me what you have in mind. I want you to know it's okay to ask, when you really want to know, and against for that, I expect utmost trust and immediate obedience to commands. You are not alone in this struggle. I will make sure of it."
She looked so serious when she placed her hand on his shoulders, that Iisai had to look at her, straight in the eyes an could find an apology. She seemed truly sorry of pushing him so far away. He could warmth spread inside him, and tried again to thank her. He couldn�t get the words out, but she understood.

Drake threw one more backpack on the airship and took a deep breath.
"Guess that's the last of them."
Iisai was sitting on the side of the ship, looking at the busy people below him. His beloved squirrel was sitting on his shoulder, as it made him feel more confident. It had been in his back all this time but now he had felt it was alright to take it out. Teo was trying to organize the whole operation, even though his mighty emperor did not quite approve it. Iisai was afraid of leaving his place, since sitting on the ship's rail made him visible to the entire staff, including Teo, who often peeked over her shoulder. People started to leave the area since the idea of getting hit by off-taking airship did not strike to anyone. Teo and Drake climbed aboard and the ship operators started yelling commands back and forth. Teo walked to Iisai and leaned against the rail.
"How do you feel, Iisai? Nervous?"
Iisai smiled.
"Yeah, that too. Mostly I'm just confused. You know, this all is kinda lot for me."
Teo nodded quietly and turned around.
"You should jump down from that rail before we take off, I'd hate to see you fall to the wrong side."
Iisai jumped down and followed Teo below the deck to check the place out. Right at the end of the stairs was a door.
"Teo, where does that lead?"
Iisai asked and pointed at the mysterious door.
"That one takes to kitchen, which is Angie's domain. And under the stairs, see that table,"
Teo pointed at the long table,
"Is dedicated for emergency meetings and dining. Ok?" "Ok, got it" Iisai nodded.
Then they peeked into the hallway, of which on the left side was four doors.
"The first room is meant for Baron, the second one for Aqva and Amarel, the next for Drake and Kathy and the last one's for us."
Iisai scratched his head.
"Should have guessed we're in the same room again" he smiled.
Teo shrugged. "
It's for your own good. Besides, you've already gotten used to my presence, haven't you?"
"Sure I have" Iisai's smile widened a bit.
There were still one staircase at the end of the hallway, leading down.
"And those last stairs take to the cargo hold. Got it?"
"Yup, I'll try to remember this all."
Teo focused her gaze on Iisai.
"This'll be your home for the upcoming weeks, so try to make yourself comfortable."
Iisai's squirrel climbed on his head and curled up.
"I don't think we have any problems with that" Iisai grinned, looking happier every passing second.

Aikatherinee's book slipped from her hands as the mighty engines of the ship were turned on and slowly it started to rise in the air. She picked it up, placed it on her bed above Drake�s and slipped to the deck. Aqva was steering the ship, Baron standing next to Teo and Iisai and Drake showed up behind her. The wind blew her long hair high in the air and she grabbed hold of Drake to stay still.
"Enjoying your stay?" He shouted to her over the loud noise of the wind and engine.
She nodded at him, smiling charmingly.
"I'm positive I'll find what I'm looking for from Straves"
Drake smiled back.
"I'm certain too.."
Iisai held tight onto the squirrel and carefully peeked over the edge to see the darkening garden get smaller and smaller under them. Teo's tight grip held him from his neck, not allowing him to go further. Then they were high on the sky, and Iisai backed away. He looked slightly nauseated. He slipped back inside where he caught the delicious smell of something being cooked. Baron came behind him and shoved him to the meeting table.
"Sit there boy, we need to hold a meeting so everyone will be clear on our destination."
Rather quickly everyone had gathered there except for Aqva who couldn't abandon the steering.
"Listen up, people. Does everyone know each other and their duty here? Does everyone know where we are going?"
Baron asked looking at everyone.
"Personally of course, I know lady Myooji here, she is my co-worker. Angie is in charge of kitchen, Aqva steering and Amarel of navigating. We all five know each others from before. And in my better understanding, lady Myooji, Mr. Thales, Mr. Lizmaer and lady Aikatherinee know each other already as well. Therefore we all now know each other."
There was agreeing mumble.
"So to our destination then. We are to arrive in Straves of Malbo in four days starting tomorrow. We shall stop in Maue of Forte to regain ourselves, and continue rather immediately. Is there any question? Yes, Mr. Thales?"
Iisai moved uncomfortably on his seat..
"Um.. so we will actually land in Maue?"
Baron nodded.
"That is our plan. Taking to count the urgency of our task we do not however have much time to wander around as I'm sure you'd like to do. We must continue as soon as possible. Yes, Mr. Lizmaer?"
Drake grinned.
"Do we really need all these formalities?"
Baron smiled condescendingly.
"No, Mr. Lizmaer. Simple habit of mine."
"Anyway, big bosses, if you have no further important talk to do, now would be dinner time"
Angie interrupted.
They dined with small talk, and then withdrew to their cabins. It was getting late.

Iisai was laying in his hammock above Teo's, staring at the ceiling while his squirrel was exploring the corners of their cabin, Teo stretching her body. The engine below them made steady low noise. Iisai took a deep sigh and turned on his side.
"Teo, when you said I can ask anything, did you really mean it?"
"Of course I did, what makes you suspect it?"
Teo took a good look at Iisai between her arms that she was stretching at the moment.
"Nothing, I just.. before this, you haven't been really happy to answer my questions. I don't want to piss you off anymore."
Teo stretched her neck and sat down on her own hammock.
"Well, that's just part of my nature, that's all. It's nothing personal, you believe that, don't you?"
She saw Iisai smiling at her.
"I do, no doubt about it, I'm just making sure since you're not such a pleasant enemy."
This remark made Teo laugh, even thought there was nothing funny about it. It had better be true, just for their own safety. Teo looked out the window into the darkness and laid down on her back. After a while Iisai's squirrel jumped on her stomach and made a cosy little nest for itself. Unconsciously Teo pat the little critter and left her hand above it.
"Hey, Iisai.. Does this little thing have a name?"
Iisai was silent for a second.
"Huh? You mean the squirrel? No, it hasn't got a name, since I'm not sure if it's a he or a she. And I'd hate to offend it."
Teo closed her eyes and smiled.
"Iisai, you do understand that it's a machine, do you? A machine has no feelings."
"I know, I know, it's just so real, like a real life squirrel"
Iisai laughed and leaped down from his hammock and sat down next to Teo's.
"I'm sure it's fine without a name"
He smiled so widely his eyes glimmered. Teo turned to face him and smiled back.
"You seem a lot happier than a while ago. What has gotten into you?"
"Hm, maybe it's just you. I enjoy your company when you're not being angry"
Iisai's smile turned shy and he picked the squirrel in his hands.
"I just... I appreciate your presence, I really do. And I appreciate all the trouble you've gone through for me."
Iisai reached out and took Teo's hand very gently. She noticed small red spots rising on Iisai's cheeks. "Just... Thank you, Teo, thank you!"

While holding her hand, he noticed it was wrapped in a bandage.
"What..?" he started, but then remembered how her whip had rolled to them.
"The werewolf?"
Teo nodded to him, and sat up. Iisai hesitated for a while as he noticed that the bandage was stained in dried blood from the other side of the hand but then stood up.
"Would you like me to change it for you..?"
Something quickly passed Teo's eyes.
"No no, it's fine.. thank you."
"But.. are you sure? I have some bandages in my back bag, hold on!"
He hurried to his pack and came to her again with it.
"I can do it myself.."
She started, but didn't actually seem too against of the boy's offer of help. Besides, Iisai was already undoing the one in her hand.
"It's harder by your self. It's no trouble at all.. Just let me do it please.."
He took a water canteen from his bag and poured some on the rather nasty slashes embedded in her hand and wrist. Teo gritted her teeth at the stinging feeling it gave out, but didn't pull back. Carefully Iisai wiped the dried blood away, stroked there a new layer of her miracle salv placed a new bandage.
"Is it too tight?"
She shook her head.
"No.. but Iisai.. you don't really need to tend to me.. It is not your job. Your job is to obey my commands and keep your ass out of trouble."
Iisai smiled faintly.
"I know.. but in my logic, you are my Atrac, therefore I want to take care of you.. You know.. we never made a new contract.. "
Teo looked slightly taken aback.
"Well technically Iisai, we don't need a contract now that you have not hired me, but I have been called on duty to ensure your safety by a third party."
Iisai looked puzzled.
"I recall you said that.. but what is the actual difference?"
Teo smiled condescendingly.
"The difference is that it is someone else paying to me for keeping you safe.. also, where you last time could free me of my duty by stopping paying me, this time, you are on my charge for amount of time that is not up to you."
With that said, she pulled her hand off Iisai's who had forgotten to let go. The boy climbed back up to his hammock, to think about all he had heard. Under him, before falling asleep, Teo unconsciously caressed the bandage he had put there, still unaware of the strange warm feeling it had given her.

Chapter 7 - Chapter 9