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| Ivy Dewshine: | Ryouko Hirosue |
| Adonis: | Ueda Yuuji |
| Randoruun: | Ryoutarou Okiayu |
| Quinn: | Ota Shinnichirou |
| Manasse: | Koyasu Takehito |
| Hiko: | Hekiru Siina |
| Jonothan: | Masami Kikuchi |
| Arlen: | Akira Kamiya |
Ivy shivered as the summer night’s
wind blew through her damp hair. Her feet began to drag on the
dirt road. She looked ahead of her. All of the men-Arlen, Hiko,
Quinn, Randoruun, and Adonis-walked ahead of her Randoruun and
Adonis were softly holding a conversation.
I wonder what they’re talking about .Ivy watched her feet as she continued walking, I know this sounds bad but I wish that they were talking about me her thoughts were interrupted as she rammed head-first into Randoruun.
Ivy jumped a bit, blushing, and Randoruun turned around, "Hmm?"
Ivy blushed a deeper red, and stammered, "Sorry! I-I wasn’t looking!"
"We’re stopping for the night," Randoruun put his hands on her shoulders, and rubbed her arms, "You look cold."
Adonis and Arlen looked around for some firewood. Quinn generated a small ball of fire in his hands. Once the other two men built the firewood up, Quinn blew the fire into the wood.
Randoruun led Ivy to the fire. "Here this’ll warm you up."
Hiko came over next to Ivy, and hugged one of her legs, "What if the vampire comes again?"
Ivy couldn’t think of how to answer him.
Quinn took a twig off of the ground, and traced a circle around the campsite, chanting. Once he completed the circle, he went inside, and knelt. He clasped his hands together, and closed his eyes and chanted quietly.
Randoruun unfastened Ivy’s necklace and collar-piece, and took it off, "You’re soaked," he wrung out her collar-piece and shook it. He brushed his fingers across the fabric, "This is a lovely piece. Who made it?"
Ivy looked at her collar-piece groggily and touched it, "I forgot I think my sister got it for me "
"Hmm?" Randoruun’s eyebrows rose, "You have a sister?"
Ivy nodded, "A younger one. But she certainly acts older " she cracked a smile, and turned to Randoruun, "When we get back, you can meet her if you like."
Randoruun smiled warmly, "That sounds nice, Ivy."
Quinn let out a sigh of relief as he sat down next to Ivy, and stared at the fire.
"Hey, Quinn " Adonis studied the circle and the arrangement of stones and twigs, "What exactly is this?"
"Hmm?" Quinn looked up from the fire, "Ah, just a mandala to seal out any evil spirits while we sleep."
Randoruun "hmm"-ed, and casually stated with an almost deadly-serious tone, "But what if there’s evil inside?"
Adonis sat across from Randoruun, and folded his arms, as a sudden silence came over the camp.
Ivy shifted a little as Quinn, Adonis, Randoruun, Hiko, and Arlen all remained a deathly still. The silence was broken when a piece of wood broke in half in the fire.
"Well!" Arlen sat next to Adonis, across from Ivy, "I’m sure that Ivy can defend herself long enough for one of us the wake up," he smiled, "But I highly doubt that will happen."
Ivy watched the men loosen up. Hiko yawned, "I’m sleepy "
"C’mere, hon " Ivy stood up, "Hiko and I will be turning in for the night."
"G’night, Ivy," Arlen smiled.
"Sleep well," Randoruun turned to bid her a good night.
"Thank you, sweet dreams, Adonis," she yawned, and walked into the shadows.
"Huh?" Adonis perked up for a moment, "Uh, yeah. You, too."
In a few hours the fire died down, and Arlen sat on a log, staring into the fire.
Randoruun walked to him and sat down next to him, "Was Ivy alright after that accident?"
Arlen smiled and turned to him, "Ivy thinks a lot about what others think of her. It’s not really insecurity, but self-consciousness."
"Hmm " Randoruun looked at Ivy’s necklace entwined in his fingers, " but why ?"
Arlen shrugged, "It could be a number of things parents never praising her for her good deeds, maybe friends teased her or maybe a disastrous occasion with a member of the opposite sex," Arlen rose his eyebrows.
Randoruun sighed, "So what do you do about it?"
"Give her just a bit of attention," Arlen looked to Ivy, "Not too much of course. An inflated ego just won’t do."
Randoruun nodded, "Of course, of course. She certainly is an entertaining girl never seen anything like her."
"She does have some nerve," Arlen chuckled, "Especially for someone who can’t fight."
"Right, right " Randoruun chuckled quietly, and sighed again, "Do get some rest, Arlen. Hopefully we can take a break tomorrow. We should be approaching hot spring country in the afternoon."
"Of course," Arlen watched the young man stand up and lay down a few feet away from the others.
Arlen stood up and sat on the dirt, resting his head on the log. He stared at the stars in the sky for a minute, and finally shut his eyes, and drifted to sleep.
Hiko moaned deep in his throat as he turned on his side. He threw his arm across Adonis’s face, and continued sleeping.
Adonis quickly sat up and yelped, rubbing his face. He sent a deadly glare towards the little boy, and looked around at the camp. Randoruun and Arlen were the only other people up.
"And we’ll be stopping in the next town, which I heard is a great resort area," Randoruun said, "We’ll stop to eat first, and then we can all go into a nice hotel and take a bath."
Arlen nodded, "Sounds good to me."
Adonis looked over to Ivy, who was scrunched up against a rock, sleeping.
Adonis stood, and walked to the two men awake, "Do you want me to wake the others?"
Randoruun looked up, "Good morning," he smiled, "Sure. Wake them up."
Adonis walked to Quinn, and nudged him, "Hey."
Quinn moaned as he sat up, "I’m up, I’m up "
Adonis walked over to Ivy, and knelt next to her. Ivy’s mouth gaped open, and her arms were sprawled across the ground. Adonis evilly grinned, and pinched her sides and screamed, "WAKE UP!"
Ivy shrieked hysterically and waved her fists in the air. She accidentally hit Adonis across the nose.
"OW!!!" Adonis held his nose, and breathed through his teeth.
Ivy sat up, "Wha--? Adonis--!!!" Ivy pulled away his hands from his face to see blood dripping from his nose, "I’m sorry!" she paused, and a smile spread across her face, "Now we’re even " she giggled.
Randoruun ran over to Ivy and Adonis, "What happened?"
Adonis turned to look at Randoruun, a dark glare on his face.
His best friend cracked up. Adonis growled deeply in his throat as Randoruun held his stomach, laughing.
Arlen sighed, and bent down to look at Adonis’s nose, "Looks like Ivy pulled the same stunt on you."
Hiko stirred, and woke up. He turned to the others, who were making a huge scene.
Quinn "hmm"-ed, "Would you like me to heal it?"
Adonis sighed, "Sure."
Quinn put his hand a few inches from his nose. A faint glow generated from his palm. The bleeding stopped, and the redness ceased, "There. It might be a bit tender, but otherwise okay."
Ivy felt a tug on her shoulders as Hiko leapt to her and hugged her, "Morning!"
"You’re awake. Good," Arlen stood up.
Randoruun’s laughter finally calmed down, "Let’s scatter the ashes from the fire, and we can be on our way."
Ivy looked around for her collar-piece. She spotted it over a tree branch across the camp. She walked over to get it, and spotted her necklace on the ground beneath it. She bent down to pick it up.
Randoruun was sleeping here what was he doing with my necklace? Ivy wondered as she fastened on her collar-piece.
"Come on, Ivy! We need to get going!" Adonis called from the dirt road.
"Coming!" Ivy fastened her necklace, and ran to the guys.
"They’re heading towards the Hot Springs area, my lord," Pilot once again was reporting to his master. He shifted a bit as he saw his master clenching his fists.
"I still haven’t heard why Manasse was not successful in apprehending the girl " the voice of Pilot’s superior was quite agitated, "Bring him to me."
Manasse stepped next to Pilot, "I am already here, sir."
"Explain yourself."
"Of course," Manasse looked to the ground, "A mage appeared just when I was going to apprehend her. He has strength in white magic, which is almost impossible for me to defeat. I was surprised I was able to survive."
"You retreated in vain, vampire. In failing me, and daring to return in failure, you walked out of the frying pan straight into the fire!" the voice growled.
"Please, sir! Allow me a chance to redeem myself! I have discovered where she will be staying tonight!" Manasse bowed on one of his knees.
" alright." Their commander said after a long pause, "And you can let her become unconscious if you prefer. But still the same rules before otherwise."
"Of course, sir " Manasse stood, and left, "I will not return until I have her."
"Be sure of it."
"Eeeh?!" Ivy gasped happily, "Hot springs? Really?!!"
Randoruun chuckled, "That’s right."
"LUCKY!!!" Ivy chimed, leaping into the air, "I’ve been dying for a bath!"
"Why?" Quinn smirked, "You had a shower at the restaurant yesterday."
Ivy elbowed him hard in the ribs, "Which was your fault, may I add."
"But won’t Ivy be all alone bathing?" Hiko asked.
"I didn’t think about that," Arlen admitted, "What do we do?"
"We could sneak her into the guy’s side," Adonis suggested innocently.
"Pervert!!!" Ivy bapped him upside the head.
"What?!" Adonis rubbed his head.
"I’m sure that there will be other women at the bath," Randoruun said, "Ivy will be fine."
"I hope so " Arlen sighed, "We should be there soon, right, Randoruun?"
"Yeah " Randoruun quietly affirmed.
"But not soon enough " Adonis stretched, "I can’t wait to cut loose at the springs!"
"Tell me about it! I haven’t been to a spring bath in ages!" Quinn smiled, "And I’m dying to change out of these clothes."
Ivy blushed as she tried to shake the image of the men bathing, Ivy, you sicko!
"Enough of that," Arlen noticed Ivy’s red face, "There will be plenty of things to do besides bathe where we’ll be going," he smiled slightly, "I’d personally like to see what restaurants they have."
"I’d like to get some shopping done while I’m there," Ivy took her money pouch and opened it, "I don’t have much to shop with, though "
"What do you need to get?" Adonis asked.
Ivy grinned mischievously, "Stuff."
"Aww " Adonis folded his arms, "Stingy "
Ivy smiled and stuck her nose in the air, "Hmm!" she looked to the side of the road at the bright wildflowers. The men talked amongst themselves, and it wasn’t long until Hiko cried out.
"Look, look!" Hiko tugged on Ivy’s sleeve, and pointed to the huge town ahead of them.
"That didn’t take long at all " Quinn sighed, "But perfect timing. It couldn’t get any hotter "
"I’m ready!" Adonis put a fist in the air, "Let’s go!"
The group looked at the wooden sign of a slightly fancy inn.
"Well?" Randoruun looked to the others.
Adonis nodded, "Let’s go."
They all walked in. A middle-aged woman turned around and greeted them warmly, "Hello there!" she walked to them, "My! What a bunch! Are you all together?"
Randoruun spoke, "Yes."
"Alright. This way please," the woman led them through a doorway, "Jonothan!"
A young man with a dark black braid lifted his head. He pushed up his glasses. He was behind a large wooden desk with a bulky book and a pen.
"We have five men " she drifted off, and turned to them, "I’m sorry, I forgot to ask will you be staying?"
"If you have the room " Randoruun was interrupted by Ivy.
"Excuse me!" Ivy tried to push through to get to the front, "You did see me, ma’am right?"
Jonothan looked up, "There’s a sixth..?" he dropped his pen as he got eye contact with Ivy.
"Oh, my! It’s been awhile since we’ve had a girl visit!" the woman smiled, "What a treat! Right, Jonothan?"
"Mother !!" Jonothan furiously blushed, "I’m sorry, Miss. Don’t let her scare you. Our hotel is on a popular army training route."
"Don’t worry, it’s okay!" Ivy smiled.
"Come, dear! My hands have been itching to give a make-over for ages!" Jonothan’s mother urged her into a room, "This way! Jonothan, show these nice young men to their rooms!"
"Yes, Mother " Jonothan chimed, "This way, please " he led them down a hallway.
"But Ivy !" Adonis looked over his shoulder.
"Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. My mother has training in this. We’ve been running this hotel for over thirty years." Jonothan looked behind his shoulder as well to steal another glance at her.
He took his keys and unlocked two rooms, "The second room has a third bed. The bathing area is the hall your friend went down."
"You mean Ivy," Randoruun added.
"Yeah " Jonothan’s voice lowered, and his large, soft eyes gleamed behind his glasses, "Pardon me for asking, sir but what is she?"
"She’s a singing fairy in elf form," Randoruun suspiciously rose an eyebrow, "Why?"
Jonothan was quick to jump to defense, "Sorry! I didn’t know she was your girlfriend or anything !!"
"She’s not."
"Huh?!" Adonis jumped into the conversation, "Ivy is whose girlfriend???"
Jonothan turned red in the face, "Nothing! Nothing!"
"I was just saying how Ivy is not my girlfriend," Randoruun kept his poker face.
"Hmm " Adonis looked to Jonothan, "What brought that up?"
"Oh, so you’re her boyfriend," Jonothan held his chin observantly.
Adonis turned a bright red, "NO WAY!!! NOT THAT ATTENTION-CRAZED BRAT!!!"
Jonothan’s glasses slid down his nose, "S-sorry " he nervously peeped.
"Now, now " Arlen came up behind Adonis and Randoruun, freaking Jonothan out due to his huge size, "Stop picking on the poor guy."
"Why d’ya wanna know?" Hiko asked with his typical bluntness, "Are you planning to be Ivy’s boyfriend?"
There was silence as Jonothan blushed, and pushed up his glasses, "Don’t be silly. I haven’t even spoken to her."
"Then why are you so interested, my friend?" Quinn teased.
"Is there anything wrong with being curious?!" Jonothan became tense under the pressure, "E-excuse me! I have some work to do " he turned on his heel and ran down the hallway.
Adonis grinned widely, laughing, "I think we gave him a good scare."
"Poor girl," Quinn smiled, "She’ll never have a boyfriend with us around."
"I certainly don’t have a problem with that!" Hiko retorted, "I don’t think I can stand her getting all lovey-dovey with a guy "
All the guys laughed and began teasing Hiko. Randoruun looked down the hallway Jonothan ran down.
Ivy gasped as the cold air penetrated her skin. She wrapped her arms around her bare chest.
Jonothan’s mother rolled up Ivy’s bodysuit, "I’ll get this all washed for you."
Ivy hugged her knees tightly to her chest as she sat naked on a bed, "Uhm, ma’am "
"Ms. Quimby is okay, dear " the woman handed her a towel.
"Thank you," Ivy wrapped the towel around herself.
"Take your time, dear," Ms. Quimby smiled, "I’ll have this cleaned for you by the time you get out. Then I’ll take you shopping, alright? You’ll need something to wear for dinner tonight," she took Ivy’s boots, skirt, collar piece, and socks, "It’s not proper for a lady to come to dinner in such casual clothes."
Ivy nodded, "A-alright. Thank you " she looked in a mirror before heading towards the bathing area. Her nose was slightly blue, her hair was dull and flat. Her face was shining, and the sides of her face were smudged. There were red scratches on her arms and legs, and bruises on her knees and shoulders. She sighed and walked down the hallway. She came to a curtain that read "Ladies". She slid it open and walked in. There was a robe hanging to her right, and in front of her were some steps that led into the bath. She looked to her left and saw another stepping area, It looks like the men’s area isn’t as secluded as I thought she blushed.
"Hey, Ivy!" she heard a voice.
Ivy looked around, "Huh?"
"Up here!" another voice called.
Ivy looked up where a large boulder was. Adonis was looking over the boulder that separated the two sections of the bath.
"Hi!" Quinn popped up behind Adonis smiling, "Looking spiffy in that towel of yours!"
Ivy blushed furiously as Quinn and Adonis laughed.
Randoruun climbed the rock, "Stop it, you two. If you get caught, who knows what Ms. Quimby would do " he tugged them off of the rock, and smiled, "Have a nice bath, Ivy."
Ivy blushed as she observed the men’s tone bodies, "Th-thank you ." She then walked into the water. The warm water felt scalding hot on her cold toes. She paused to let her feet adjust to the temperature.
She stepped in a bit deeper, and sighed as she felt her muscles melt. She took off her towel and held it as she immersed her head under the water.
"Hmm?" Jonothan walked down the hallway when he saw the woman’s curtain open, he stopped to close it when he heard a loud gasp for breath, and a splash. Instinctively, he turned his head to see Ivy wringing her hair out.
His face turned red as Ivy sighed.
"Ahh that felt great " she tilted her head back, and closed her eyes. Jonothan watched her shoulder blades as Ivy twisted her hair up. She turned around and opened her eyes, " spring bathing is something I’ll definitely have to do " she stopped in the middle of her sentence when she spotted Jonothan.
Jonothan turned redder as he felt blood run out of his nose. He cupped his hands over his nose and ran for it once Ivy screamed.
Ivy began shouting names at the boy as she wrapped her towel around herself and ran out of the bath and threw one of her sandals straight at him.
Jonothan was hit in the back of his head, and fell to the floor.
Ivy stood on the other side of the hall, taking heaving breaths.
The other men ran up behind her in their robes and sandals.
"Ivy, what happened?!" Arlen asked.
Ms. Quimby knelt next to her son and gasped, "Jonothan!"
Quinn roared with laughter as the four other guys, Ms. Quimby, and her son, and Ivy all sat in the living room in robes.
Ivy was pouting as Ms. Quimby sighed, putting ice on Jonothan’s injury.
"So that’s what happened " Randoruun folded his arms.
"Boys will be boys " Ms. Quimby sighed.
"You really haven’t had any girls here, have you?" Adonis quietly muttered to Jonothan.
Ivy bapped Adonis with her fist, "Watch it."
"Are you alright, Ivy?" Arlen asked.
"I’ll be fine. I think I’m going to finish my bath," Ivy stood and walked out of the living room, "By the way " she stopped at the doorway, and turned around, " at least have the decency to turn away next time. You’ll never get a girl to like you like that."
Jonothan blushed and muttered a remorseful, "I’m sorry."
Ivy walked down the hallway back to the bathing area. She hung up her robe and pinned up her hair. Pervert I don’t feel safe here anymore she wrapped a clean towel around her, Maybe now I can relax she slowly stepped back in the bath, and sighed, This water sure is warm she wiped some sweat off of her forehead, and blinked, It’s almost too warm she sat on a small boulder and took off her towel. She took a bar of soap and began to wash herself. After getting a thick lather around her skin, she stepped back in the water and rinsed off, dunked her head under the water. Once she surfaced again, she rubbed her eyes, Odd I could have sworn I saw that vampire she pushed back her soaked hair, "Mm must be the steam playing tricks on my eyes " as she rubbed her eyes and looked at the same spot, Nothing’s there Maybe I should get out she turned around to grab her towel when a hand wrapped around her wrist.
Before she could cry out, Manasse silenced her with a deep kiss. Ivy struggled and made a muffled cry for help as Manasse brought her closer to him.
Ivy’s eyelids grew heavy, My my energy! She felt darkness envelop her as she went unconscious, Help me ! Her arm dropped from Manasse’s shoulder that she was trying to push away.
Manasse smiled after he released the kiss, "Perfect."
"Ivy! Ivy, is there something wrong in there?" Ms. Quimby called from outside the bath.
"Damn!" Manasse set Ivy against the boulder and disappeared into the shadows.
Ms. Quimby walked into the bathing area, and gasped, "IVY!!! Jonothan! Come quick!"
"So? What is it ?" Randoruun stood over Ivy next to Jonothan.
"All I can conclude is she got over-heated and passed out," Jonothan wiped his glasses.
"I wonder why non of us passed out while we were bathing " Adonis walked up to the examining table in Jonothan’s study.
"Maybe due to your larger size " Jonothan sat back on a chair, "That wouldn’t explain why Hiko didn’t pass out, however "
"Hmm " Arlen leaned against the wall, "Approximately when will Ivy come to?"
"Not that I’m in any rush I’m enjoying the peace for a change," Quinn folded his arms.
"Will Ivy wake up soon?" Hiko asked, standing on his toes to see Ivy on the examining table.
"Sure," Jonothan got a small bottle off of a shelf, "A whiff of this and she’ll be awake," he opened the bottle, and held it under Ivy’s nose.
Ivy opened her eyes to see Jonothan and Randoruun looking over her, "Mm ?"
"Hey," Randoruun softly greeted with a smile.
"Do you remember anything?" Jonothan asked.
Ivy tried to think, "I just remember that the steam was getting to me "
Jonothan nodded, "She got over-heated."
"I’m so glad!!!" Hiko grabbed Ivy’s hand, "Can you sit up?"
Ivy sat up, "It seems so," she looked at the loose sash around her robe, and tightened it. She let her legs dangle off of the table.
"Are you sure you want to try to walk just yet?" Jonothan asked, taking her left hand to stabilize her, "You might still be weak," he placed his other hand over her left hand, "You’re in no rush."
Ivy blushed, and hurried down, "I’m sure, I’m fi--" she lost her balance and fell, being caught by the young doctor.
Hiko’s brow furrowed as he ran to Ivy, "Ivy, are you okay?"
"I’ve got her " Jonothan held the embarrassed Ivy up to her feet, "Let’s give that another try, shall we?"
Blushing, Ivy nodded and feebly walked towards the other side of the room. Jonothan let go of her arms, and she successfully walked to the other side of the room. She slipped again, and was caught this time by Arlen.
Ms. Quimby walked in, "Why not let me take care of her? She can lie down in my room while I iron her clothes."
"Sure, Mother. But don’t let her on her feet for at least twenty minutes." Jonothan put the bottle back away.
"Alright, dear. The rest of you relax until dinner," Ms. Quimby winked, "I’ll have something special prepared."
Ms. Quimby took her iron off of her stove as Ivy sat on a chair, "Do you think you’ll have the energy to shop for a dress?"
Ivy nodded, "Yeah, just gimmie a sec "
Ivy put her hand on her forehead, I don’t get it the water was hot but not that hot
"Anyway " Ms. Quimby began.
"Hmm?" Ivy looked up.
"Tell me about yourself! Are any of those men anything special to you?" Ms. Quimby cheerfully queried.
"Eh?!" Ivy straightened up and blushed, "N-not really " she looked to her knees, "I kinda take care of Hiko Arlen’s like a father Quinn’s just there " Ivy stated flatly.
"And the other two? The best friends?" Ms. Quimby smiled.
"Well " Ivy sighed, "Adonis kinda saved my life and Randoruun is his best friend, so he hangs around with us, too "
"I see " Ms. Quimby nodded, "Which one is your fiancée?"
Ivy laughed, "I’m not engaged! No way!" Ivy waved her hands in defense, "Arlen and Hiko are obviously not! Quinn flirts with everything that moves, and as for Adonis and Randoruun--" she got quiet, "First off, I’m unsure of their sexuality to begin with "
Ms. Quimby gasped, "I see "
" and besides Adonis may be cute, but he’s very immature " Ivy blushed, " and Randoruun might be handsome, but he is not very emotional " she began to innocently poke her fingers together, "Besides, none of them find me attractive " she peeped.
"Well--!" Ms. Quimby handed Ivy her bodysuit, "I’ll change all that!"
Ivy blinked as Ms. Quimby ironed Ivy’s skirt.
"Hurry! Put it on time is limited!" Ms. Quimby quickly irons her skirt and collar piece.
Ivy untied the sash on her robe, and slipped on her body suit. She put on her socks and her skirt as it was handed to her. Once she fastened her collar piece on, she slipped on her boots and pulled back her hair. She snapped on her necklace and looked in the mirror, "Much better "
"JONOTHAN!" Ms. Quimby called down the hall.
Jonothan ran down the hallway, "Yes, ma’am?"
"Take Ivy shopping. Buy her a dress for dinner," Ms. Quimby put a few curling irons on the stove.
"Huh?!" Jonothan asked.
"Really, I can pay for my own dress !" Ivy stepped into the conversation.
"Nonsense. I’ll pay for it," Ms. Quimby said, and turned to Jonothan, "You understand?"
Jonothan nodded, smiling a little, "I understand perfectly."
"Now go on, you two " Ms. Quimby pushed them out of the room, "I have some cooking to do! Try to have fun, alright?"
"Yes ma’am!" they both chimed in unison, and walked down the hallway.
Ms. Quimby folded her arms and watched the two, smiling.
"So where would you like to go first?" Jonothan asked once they were out of the hotel.
Ivy passed him as he stopped to look down the streets, "I don’t care the first store that sparks my interest, I guess."
Jonothan jogged a bit to catch up with Ivy, "By the way are you feeling better after that fainting spell?"
Ivy sighed, and looked at the window of a store she passed by, "Yeah, I’m fine .say, do you mind if we stop to get something to eat?"
"Sure " Jonothan shrugged, "Find a place and we’ll stop."
"Hmm " Ivy began to walk a steady pace again, "I really want something sweet "
Jonothan watched her stop in front of a coffee shop, and look in the window.
"How about here? Is this place any good?" Ivy looked at all the couples inside.
"Oh, yeah. They make an excellent cup of vanilla coffee," Jonothan opened the door for Ivy as she walked in.
"I don’t drink coffee " Ivy said as she looked around at the cozy shop, Besides, this looks like a date spot .she thought as Jonothan pulled out a chair for her at a table, "Thanks."
"Really? You should " Jonothan sat across from her, "But my favorite dessert is served here, too ."
"Hmm " Ivy opened the small menu, "How neat .they’ve got everything."
"Order whatever you like," Jonothan said, "I think I’ll get their baked apple " he looked at a menu.
"I’ll get their cheesecake " Ivy folded her menu, "I love cheesecake."
"Really?" Jonothan set his menu down, "You’ll love theirs."
"What’s your favorite item on the menu?" Ivy asked.
Jonothan smiled as his glasses reflected the sunlight outside, "Guess."
"I hate guessing " Ivy groaned.
"Just three guesses, then I’ll tell you," Jonothan promised.
"Fine " Ivy sighed, and opened her menu again, "Uhm baklava?" she looked at Jonothan shake his head, "hmm .what about chocolate mousse?"
"No," Jonothan rested his chin on his fist, "One more."
"Okay " Ivy looked at the menu, "Hmm ." She looked up at the waitress who walked to their table.
The blonde waitress smiled, "Hi there! Looks like I’ll be your waitress today!" she looked to Jonothan, "Hey, Jonothan! Long time no see!"
"Hi, Joy," Jonothan smiled, "Good to see you. How’s Adam?"
"Pretty good, I’d say. He just got hired to re-decorate the church," the girl lifted her pen, "So what can I get for you? Your usual banana flambé?"
"Not today. I think I’ll try the baked apple instead," Jonothan looked to Ivy, "And she’ll have your cheesecake."
"Okay " Joy jotted down their order, "Is raspberry sauce okay on the cheesecake?"
"Sure," Ivy leaned back on her chair.
"Say, Jonothan .." Joy whispered, "Is your mom still ratting on you for not getting married yet?"
Ivy sat up as Jonothan sighed.
"Yes, but his isn’t the case, Joy " Jonothan rubbed his temples.
"Just checking. Be back soon!" Joy punched him lightly in the arm.
Ivy and Jonothan watched her walk into the kitchen.
"I miss working " Ivy said, not looking away, "I feel so useless now."
"Hmm?" Jonothan looked at Ivy, "What did you do?"
"I was a clerk at a general store," Ivy looked to him, "But someone attacked the store so I had to run " her eyes lowered a bit, " .though I don’t know what from "
There was silence for a moment, until Ivy spotted Joy again.
"Who is she? Your girlfriend?" Ivy asked.
"Not quite," Jonothan smiled slightly, "She got married before I could ask her."
"Mm I’m sorry," Ivy’s tone remained calm.
"Ah, that was about two years ago !" Jonothan laughed softly, waving his right hand in front of his face as though to dismiss the subject.
Ivy stared at Jonothan for a moment, How sad she thought.
Joy set a clear plate with a beautiful piece of white cheesecake in front of Ivy. "Here you go! This is my favorite dessert! Enjoy!"
Ivy picked up her fork, "Thank you!" she cut off a piece and tasted it.
"And here’s your baked apple, Jonothan," Joy set down a small porcelain bowl with his dessert, "You enjoy, too."
"I always do," Jonothan got his knife and fork and cut off a piece.
Once Joy walked away, Jonothan put a piece in his mouth, "AH--!! HOT!!!" he gasped, his eyes wide.
Ivy smiled as she tasted the raspberry sauce, "I didn’t see a ring."
"She doesn’t have one. Adam—her husband—has a bad leg, so it’s difficult for them to make ends meet," Jonothan cut up the rest of his apple, "And he’s bedridden right now, so Joy’s working part-time again."
"Wow " Ivy stared at Joy, It’s so sad but what a love story she felt a sharp pain in her ankle. She looked to Jonothan, who sent her a deathly glare. "Stop staring, will you?!"
Ivy looked to her cheesecake, and took another bite.
Ivy stretched as she and Jonothan walked out of the coffee shop, "Well, let’s hope that snack doesn’t affect my dress size.
"I doubt it will " Jonothan followed her down the street when his eyes lit up, "Oh!"
"Hmm?" Ivy turned her head, "What’s wrong?"
"I know the perfect dress for tonight!" Jonothan grabbed her wrist, and went back the way they came, "This way!"
"HUH?! H-HEY!!!" Ivy almost lost her footing as Jonothan tugged her into a boutique.
Jonothan walked up to a sales clerk, "Excuse me where is the formal dress you had on display last Thursday?"
The clerk thought for a moment, "Oh! This way please!" he led the pair to the back of the store.
Jonothan spotted the dress he was looking for, and lifting it up to Ivy, he nodded in approval, "What do you think?"
Ivy felt the plum-colored material, "It’s lovely do you think it’ll fit?"
"If it doesn’t, I can alter it before dinner," he folded it loosely and went to pay for it, "Look for the shoes to go with it "
Ivy looked at the assortment of shoes, until she came across a pair of a similar plum color, "There " she slipped one on, "It’s a little tight, but I’ll manage for an hour or two " she brought them to the register.
"We can have you try on the dress when we get home, okay?" Jonothan tied his money pouch shut as he held the wrapped package containing Ivy’s new dress and shoes.
Ivy nodded as they walked out.
Ivy sat on the examining table in Jonothan’s study as he untied the package.
"Here," he handed her the dress, and turned around, "Go ahead and put it on."
"Right " Ivy tried to get in the dress as quickly as possible, "Done!"
Jonothan turned around, and blinked.
The plum color of the dress went perfectly with Ivy’s fair skin and brown hair. The braided neckline and bordering on her waistline where quite elegant. The dress fit perfectly, except for---"Let me tighten the waist just a bit." Jonothan took a few needles off of his desk, and pinned them on the seams, "There. Now I need the dress again let me get you a robe real quick " he ran outside of the study, and returned quickly with a robe, "Here."
She took the robe and changed out of the dress into the robe.
Jonothan took the dress and walked over to a desk on the opposite side of the room. It wasn’t a normal desk it had some sort of gadget attached to it.
"What’s that?" Ivy sat on the floor contently.
"Oh, it’s a desk I built to make sewing faster. My mother enjoys it a lot," Jonothan moved the dress along the table as a needle attached to the gadget sewed the seam.
"Hmm " Ivy watched Jonothan, "What is with your mom and marriage, by the way?"
Jonothan sighed, "I don’t know maybe because she married late, and father died kind of early .I think she wants me to be able to spend a longer time with my wife when I get married," he held up the dress and stood, "I think I’ve got it!" he held the dress up as he walked to Ivy.
Ivy saw her clothes in his way, she opened her mouth to warn him, but it was too late. He tripped over her collar piece, and fell forward. Ivy unfolded her legs to either try to catch him, or get out of his way, but instead his knees hit the ground first next to her thighs, and his hands second.
Jonothan found himself staring at the sash of Ivy’s robe. He lifted his head and looked straight into Ivy’s hazel eyes.
Ivy stared blankly at Jonothan, hovering over her, and felt a drop of perspiration drip off of her chin onto her collarbone.
Jonothan felt frozen stiff, This is a close encounter he looked to Ivy’s lips. Her mouth was slightly open from shock.
Ivy’s mind was blank. She felt Jonothan’s knee on the outside of her thigh.
Jonothan felt his heart pound, as he leaned closer to Ivy.
Their faces began to burn when they heard the door open. Adonis called in, "Hey, Jono--!" he stopped in the mid-sentence when he saw the two.
"A Adonis " Ivy felt as though her ears were on fire.
Jonothan turned his head to see the furious glare in the golden eyes of the dragon in man form, " .."
Randoruun sipped his goblet of wine at the dining room table. Hiko was sitting across from his, tapping his fingers on the table impatiently. Arlen was sitting on the right side of Randoruun, politely conversing with Quinn.
Adonis loudly burst into the dining room, and sat down next to Hiko in a huff.
Quinn and Arlen looked up from their conversation.
"What’re you all worked up about?" Quinn eyed Adonis.
Jonothan quietly sat on the opposite of Quinn.
Arlen rose his eyebrows as he saw the black eye Jonothan had on the right eye, "Wow what happened?"
Jonothan sent a deathly glare in Adonis’s direction.
Randoruun looked straight into Adonis’s eyes, "What happened?"
"Ask Ivy. She had front seats," Adonis said angrily.
Ms. Quimby stood at the doorway, "Alright, dear. Everyone is seated," she stepped aside as Ivy walked in.
There were a few gasps of awe as Hiko smiled widely, "You’re so pretty!"
"Oh, geez ." Ivy blushed, flattered. Her hair was wrapped in a braid, with the remainder of it curled, lightly draped over her shoulder along with tendrils in front of her ears.
She sat on the right side of Hiko, as Ms. Quimby sat at the head of the table, "Oh! I forgot napkins! I’ll be right back!" she stood and walked into the kitchen.
"So, what happened here?" Quinn pointed to Jonothan.
"The bastard forced himself on Ivy, that’s what! And I came in just in time!" Adonis smugly folded his arms.
"Watch your language around the woman and child," Arlen warned.
"That’s not true! I slipped on Ivy’s clothes and fell!!" Jonothan defended himself.
"Please, could you save this until after dinner??" Ivy tried to calm the men down.
"Shut up, Ivy!" Adonis snapped.
Randoruun stood, slamming his open palms on the table. Still remaining quite calm, he spoke, "Adonis, I highly recommend for your own good that you refrain from speaking that way to this woman."
Ivy gasped at the elf’s outburst. Something next to Randoruun’s hand caught her eye. His fork’s handle is all bent up .she looked to Randoruun’s poker face, No way is Randoruun angry ?
Ms. Quimby walked in with some napkins, "Here we are!"
Randoruun sat back down, and looked to his fork, and began to unnoticeably straighten it back out.
Ivy felt relieved that Jonothan’s mother came out before any arguments arose.
Once Ms. Quimby passed out the napkins, she sat back down and put one on her lap, "Well, everyone dig in!"
Ivy looked at the lavishly garnished main course-pork roast. The side dishes were steamed asparagus (one of Ivy’s favorites), wild rice, and spiced peaches.
"This looks fantastic, mother!" Jonothan smiled, and put a slice of pork on his plate.
"It’s a new recipe I was saving for a special occasion," Ms. Quimby took a slice and passed the plate to Quinn.
"It smells wonderful. What spices did you use?" Randoruun handed Ivy the plate of asparagus.
"Thanks," Ivy took three stalks and put them on her plate, and passed it to Quinn after putting two stalks on Hiko’s plate.
"It’s a spiced mustard, actually ." Ms Quimby smiled, "And the peaches have cloves, if you’re wondering."
Once everyone began eating, Ms. Quimby broke the silence again.
"So how long will you all be staying?" she asked.
"For only tonight, I’m afraid," Arlen cut off a piece of pork, "We’ll be leaving tomorrow at around noon."
"Oh, what a shame!" Ms. Quimby frowned as Jonothan dropped his fork on his plate, "Do you have an already-scheduled event you must attend?"
The six strangers were silent, until Arlen spoke again.
"You could say that," he put a piece of pork in his mouth.
"Can’t you stay a bit longer?" Jonothan quietly asked.
"I’m afraid not," Randoruun ate a forkful of rice.
"Oh " Jonothan looked down at his plate and took a forkful of rice and ate it.
Adonis angrily glanced at Jonothan through the corner of his eye.
Ivy cut a stalk of asparagus, and ate a piece, I gotta break the silence
"Can I have some peaches?" Hiko pointed to the plate of peaches between Ivy and Randoruun.
"Oh, sure!!" Ivy quickly answered as cheerfully as possible. She took the bowl and set it in-between Hiko and herself. She gave him two spoonfuls, "Is that enough?"
"Yeah!" Hiko began eating the peaches.
"Uhm " Jonothan spoke again.
"Hmm?" the men and Ivy looked to him.
"You wouldn’t—by any chance—need a medic, would you ?" the young doctor asked, "I mean—the roads out of here are dangerous. There are lots of thieves out by the Northern Trails "
"We’re traveling the Western Trails," Adonis flatly interrupted Jonothan.
Jonothan nervously resumed what he was saying, "A-and there are evil mystics and gypsies plaguing the Western Trails "
"But my magic can he—OW!! Quinn hissed as Arlen kicked him in the shin.
"Oh I see " Jonothan’s eyes lowered, "I wish you all a safe journey, then " he stood, and smiled, "I really should turn in for the night " he turned to his mother, "Mother, thank you for the meal," he pushed his chair in, "Goodnight, everyone."
"Goodnight," Ms. Quimby, Ivy, Arlen, and Quinn said.
Adonis scornfully watched Jonothan leave. Hiko polished off his last peach, and Randoruun silently watched the door close.
Jonothan sighed as he slipped into the hot spring water, Think, Jono, think he splashed his face and rubbed his eyes, This’ll all probably pass besides, if I did go with them, I’d be the oddball the only one without supernatural powers I’d probably just get in the way he leaned back his head, Besides, I can’t just leave Mother no matter what she tells me
Jonothan recalled how many times his mother told him the same thing: "You need to go out, have fun, meet someone you can’t expect Miss Perfect to walk in and fall in love with you."
At least half of that is true Jonothan sighed, and immersed his head under the water.
In his nightclothes, Jonothan walked into his bedroom, and sat at his desk. He looked at a pocket watch in the upper right corner, and looked through the crack at the bottom of the door. The hallway light eventually went out. He stood and put on a suit instead of his nightclothes, and quietly slipped out of the inn.
The full moon lit his way to the southern side of town. Once he arrived in front of a small, run-down house, he quietly knocked on the door.
After a few minutes, he saw a faint glow at the window. The door opened a bit, "Who’s there?" a hushed voice queried.
"It’s Jonothan," he whispered back.
"Jonothan?" Joy opened the door more, "What are you doing at such a late hour?"
"I need to speak with you," Jonothan avoided making eye contact with the woman, "It’s important."
"Come in " Joy opened the door wider so Jonothan could come in.
"Thank you " Jonothan walked in to see a man sitting in a beat-up chair, his legs resting on a stool, "Good evening, Adam."
"Evening, Quimby what brings you here?" the man’s voice was deep and rough, but sincerely kind.
"I’m torn between two decisions .and I want your insight on it," Jonothan sat on a chair Joy offered him.
"Is this about that girl you introduced me to today?" Joy sat next to her husband.
Jonothan nodded.
Joy happily smiled and gasped, "Alright, Jonothan! GO FOR IT!!!"
"You don’t even know what I meant by that!!!" Jonothan blushed slightly.
"What? What girl?" Adam asked.
Joy and Jonothan told Adam about Ivy, and Jonothan fully explained what he was worrying about.
"Hmm " Joy sighed, "It sounds like you really like her " she took her husband’s hand.
"I say go with her," Adam suggested, "You can’t let someone like that pass you by."
"I know, but " Jonothan sighed, "What if she doesn’t like me? I dunno if it’s worth the risk."
Both Adam and Joy were silent.
"Well, I should get back before anyone notices I’m gone " Jonothan stood, "Sorry to bother you."
"Goodnight, Jonothan," Joy sighed, "I’ll walk you to the door "
"Good luck, Quimby." Adam called.
"Thank you " Jonothan called back as Joy opened the door.
"Jonothan, you know that we’re behind you no matter what you decide," Joy smiled.
"I know," Jonothan stepped out, "Thank you."
Jonothan quietly hung his clothes back in his closet, and put on his nightclothes. He quietly crawled into his bed and closed his eyes.
I want to follow her .this may be my only chance I should take the risk he turned on his side, But what if she doesn’t return my feelings? His brow furrowed, I’d be rejected .then what reasons would I have for being there?!
Jonothan tensed up as the door opened.
"Since you’re back, I guess now’s a perfectly good time to speak to you," Randoruun’s voice was calm and cold, "I don’t know what your true objective is, but if you truly wish to help us, I freely invite you to join us."
Jonothan relaxed, "Thank you."
"But keep in mind--"Randoruun added as he closed the door, "All of us are dedicated to protecting Ivy. We will not hesitate to kill anyone who threatens the security of her safety," he shut the door.
Jonothan’s eyes widened with fear and shock, and sat up quickly to only see the closed door. Not taking his eye off of the door, Jonothan lied back down.
End Installment Four