"Uhh--Hi Azu" a shy Bartholomew, his righteous stance and face of dignity squeezed down to a sight of a an old companion, fear or a lover's freight in not keeping up ties.
Marcus and Zudi watched at their captain - chuckling at the sight of Bart losing composer.
"Hi? is that all you have to say Bartholomew Dekadora???" said an angry Azuri walking towards Bartholomew.
"What i told ya Al, she's the man, wahahah!" laughed Wadu pointing at how Azuri walked towards Bartholomew, "Ye-yea!" said Al.
"Ohhh~~ here comes the angry husband!" said Marcus and Zudi, chuckling at their captain who as of now looked like the -helpless maiden- instead.
"Captain! act cute HE might soften up", " An-and if that doesn't work, look the other way and go 'iyaa', " teased Marcus and Zudi, Bartholomew starstruck at the dangerous beauty coming close yet scared of what's to come, to add to the burden of mix emotion fighting, the constant teases from his subordinates irritated him to a point of him shouting, "Haaa???" at them but the shout taken as a 'WHAT?' by Azuri, who in turn looked more pissed than before, "uh-o captain did an oopsie!" further added the teasing duo.
Bart was in a trance of mix emotions enveloping him whole - leading to a sweating state of panic.
Hothor ever the wing man, erased the two teasers from the scene, grabbing one in each arm he walked away with them, "Oye you big lump, I wanna see the chaos", " Gorilla let us go, the best parts coming!" they said, Hothor with a smile, "Captain, I believe in you" shouted at Bartholomew - who now was simply closing his eyes, then he felt a soft breathe of Lilac scent, an angel - heaven sent - the pleasant scent woke his eyes, opening them up and what he saw was indeed an angel but appearances are disguises that often trick the beholder, and trick it did, as this angel was that of one who really wanted to vent out her pent up frustration. Bart gazes at the purest of blue, more free and soul-capturing than the blue of the sky or even the sea which imitated the same adding it's own flavor. A pure blue eyes of an angel but as Bart focused his gaze on the other aspects of the angel, first her eyes showed disappointment and anger.
Her arms folded so firm as it appeared as if they themselves hold each other back for a smack, her face beauty was a given but anger still exists in beauty too and that's what Bart saw. "Not even a letter for?" Azuri spoke after a moment of silence.
"H-huh?" replied Bart, lost in place.
Azuri didn't bat an eye nor did she feel the need to repeat herself completely and simply with a stern, strick, commanding tone - like that of a Drill Captain "For????"
"5 years" slowly replied Bart.
"5 years, 5 years, 9 months, 19 days" she said.
Bart shy and now he slowly decent to a state of feeling apologetic and pathetic, slowly and weakly he said, "I'm so--".
Immediately a slap - it left a red mark on the Captain's face.
"Just try and say it again you shit" grunted Azuri, her hand still up and ready for another one.
"I'm sor-" another slap, "I can do this all day" she said, "Who are you?" she asked. "Huh?" Bart replied confused. Slapped again, his cheeks turned red, as though giving out a warning.
"Whelp! that's enough for us" said Wadu, "What are they doing?" asked Al.
"Lover's quarrel, Kid"
"Huh??? women are scary"
"Especially her right? a total man! wahahah".
All the while the faint whipping sounds from the palm to the cheek sounded painful even to the ear, and on and on it goes on.
" Do you think I will forgive you?"
"Not even a word"
"5 years you....asshole"
"5...yearsss" said Azuri with tears in her eyes, some falling on the ground, Bartholomew just stood there, taking it all. His eyes were sad and it too holds contempt but not for -else- but himself.
"You got hurt and then you were quiet all of a sudden?"
"Soldiers gets hurt, that's what we do"
"You pathetic"
"Yo-you"
"Say ..something!"
"You..weak piece of shit"
"Say....some...thing" Azuri, still venting out her anger - breaking down in between - with tears, Bart's cheek now bleeds, rashes and bruised yet he stood still.
"I always loved you" said Bart, finally, his eyes on the ground.
"Wh-what?" the slaps stopped it's turns. Azuri surprised with what she heard.
Bartholomew now gazed at her beautiful blues, Azuri turned red - not of anger but of something else.
"I always have and always will" said Bart.
"Jerk! just because you said it, doesn't mean I'll just forgive you"
"I know but you should know, I've never stopped thinking about you"
"Liar! " exclaimed Azuri taken aback, the Lieutenant showed signs that she too succumbed to the emotional roller coaster.
"I just couldn't show myself to you, I was weak then and I still am now, I'm sorry Azu, this time I'll be stronger, I'll be capable"
"I don't care about how strong you are dumbass,... D-do you know how long I've waited for you... I've missed you jerk"
Bartholomew took a chance, but the steps and actions wasn't from his brain nor his body's reflexes, a pure motive of emotions - he hugged the maiden, they embraced for long, a 5 years worth.
"I'll never ever lost sight of you again" he said.
"Liar," said Azuri slowly.
They let go, and stared at each's, "Screw people deciding for me, I am myself and I chose you, I'll grow strong for you, I'll fight for you, I'll die for you" Bart gave a series of promises from the heart.
"Foolish Prince, I only want your heart..... and... I .. I've missed you" said Azuri, her demeanor changed, a pure innocent maiden, with a slow quiet - frail yet elegant tone she said, "I love you too, jerk"
The two shared a passionate kiss. A start of a reformed relationship, as their future still unfolds - by every pages.
The northern - small yet still a - wildlands of Guards-hold, even it being under the tall walls and being hugged by the wide and tall mountains from the west all the way to the north, partially descending in the east - holds animals and outlaws made camps, it's the widest part of the town. In it, the lake named Hateru, a group of people made a bridge leading to the island in the middle part of the lake, "So this what the noises was about"
"Yes, Mafu!"
"They may have goods, let's rob them!" said a group of bandits, one being the leader.
"How are they building that fast?".
"Look closely,that fat kid's the one doing it, amazing"
"You dipshit, you have those eye power thing"
"Oh yeah! a couple of hotties too, and one's bending down, showing us her goods, this is too good.. Mafu, let's go get them"
conversed the bandits, hiding in the trees.
In the island, Post nearly finishes his building, "Wow amazing lil Post, it kinda looked like some evil wolf blowing away the top of the house" said Szlick looking at the topless construction- almost finished whilst reminiscing Wadu's face particularly when he said 'wolf'.
"Master?? The House's almost done" yelled Sako, her pinkish lips on the water.
A bubble comes after, - from way down, which pops and Sako said, "Master said Got it".
" Woah! That's some telekinetic powers" said Huncho.
"It's distinctly exclusive to a master and his servant" proudly declared Sako, who in her gaze assaulted Lucy. The latter replied, "Master and servant is not a love relationship though!".
"*ahem* jealousy" said Sako, intentionally coughing.
"*Ahem* maid to be" Lucy did the same. A back and forth rivalry war.
"Ohh!" remarked Elone, while Huncho was confused.
"Right??" said Szlick to Elone. The duo laughed, and as they comversed, Huncho almost finishes his construction, it's always an amazement seeing a huge construction while the builder is fixed at a place and his hands on the ground, nevertheless the time he took was a mere 5 minutes.
The bandits arrived at the bridge and immediately Szlick spotted the lot.
"Ohhh! look some kind visitors, everybody stay put I need to know if they have some bounties" Szlick aching for a little action with profit in mind.
"I can take them all on, I need to show you all what I can do too, Szlick" said Sako.
"Woah! determination lil lady,, I like it but hold on until we know their bounties.... if they had one" said Szlick.
"Hmph! acting tough and useful, I can do it too" Lucy rolling up her sleeves still with her blue uniform on.
"Hah! What'll you do? Shout at them to death?" laughed Sako.
"Easy,, easy ladies. He ain't here ain't he" said Szlick, interrupting them.
"We'll call him then" said the ladies.
"Woa, woa, woa.... I hate to deal with severed bodies again" Szlick's arms waving 'No'.
"Severed bodies?" said Huncho, the young boy was surprised and with a +10 respect at Lu.
"A literal beast eh?" remarked Elone. With a rub in the head Szlick said, "Yeah!! he's a bit on the 'You're already dead' side."
"Hmmph! I'll let you handle this one MAID" Lucy looking away.
"Whatever LIAR" the other replied.
"Don't you dare MAID!!, Lu's calling me that is one thing"
"Whatever just watch Liar, their almost here"
"Look at them arguing!"
"Bet they're scared" said the bandits walking closer and closer.
Just then Post finished his construction. The group in awe.
"Where's Big bro Lu?" signed Post.
"Wait wait, he can't come out yet" said Elone, pointing at the arriving bandits.
"What do we do?" he signed.
"Enjoy the show!" signed Huncho smiling.
"Interesting" signed Post, walking towards the group.
The bandits then arrived and Mafu the leader said, "Well well, what a fast and amazing power you have their fatty?!"
"And what's this? a family picnic?"
"Ohhh! look guys a soldier is here with us"
"Ohh! please don't arrest us miss soldier" said the bandits , playing the part of a worthless thugs.
The group, however we're busy praising Post, none of them bat an eye to the thug-like bandits.
"How dare they ignore us" said Mafu, angry and embarrassed to his peers.
"Let's just fuck them up Mafu"
"Yeah we only need the ladies, kill the rest"
"That masterpiece is ours too" said the bandits, looking at the new house.
A total masterpiece, like a miniature castle, a castle of wood and cobblestones merging with a giant tree, on the top part lies a flat platform with leaves as it's roof and a 360 degree view of the surrounding, stairs ran round the main body of the tree down to the main building, which resembled a classic castle with a tree popping out.
"You hear that scums?" asked Mafu with his best terrifying voice.
The group still didn't acknowledge the bandits, they laughed and praised Post, excessively.
"Why I oughta..." Mafu tried lashing out but suddenly stopped by Szlick, "Oh hi! Didn't see you there." he said, smiling and standing right in front of them.
"Fuck off runt"
"Yeah! it's too late for begging"
"Kill him Mafu" said the bandits.
"Oh! so you're their lackey" a quick witted Szlick said to Mafu.
The latter turned and gave a menacing look, which caused the other to gulped.
"I'm the boss, Mafu is the name"
"Oh right!! I thought you're the big dumb guy who do the chores and stuff, sorry sorry Matu is the name!" Szlick apologizes, further teasing Mafu to complete anger.
"Dick head! I'll smash your glasses" he said.
"Do it Mafu go go go" said the lackeys. Mafu turned again and gave them another look which silenced the lackeys.
"Oh dear anyone, I am at wits end, just please let this man, my killer to be, of a high bounty" an act, a beautiful performance from Szlick. Lucy and the rest just watched the show with covered snickers.
"I am Mafu with a 1000 deins bounty" replied and declared his standing.
"1000? bummer" Szlick with a look of contempt.
"What's with that look?" asked Mafu.
Szlick without even Acknowledging him anymore, cued Sako to go cause her -mayhem-.
"Right! I wish master could see this but... here I go, watch closely Liar!" said Sako.
Lucy gave her signature *hmph* and a tongue.
"How brave sending a girl to die for him" said a bandit.
"Awww such a tease" replied Szlick, pretending to blush like a maiden.
"Why that little-" said the bandit.
"Hold up maggots! You're gonna help me show them a presentation" Sako with her green gas of unknown properties - covering her entire body, her -whole- was entirely green for a second and then the gas liquified- like water they ran-poured- formed towards her hands, finally making curved blades in each hands which looked gaseous in the outer layers and a solid like blade in the inner.
"Woah! a real ninja Post" signed Huncho.
"Awesome" signed Post back.
"Let's dance" sneered Sako, with a speed - seemingly breaking the sound barrier she disappears leaving a smoke of gas behind and suddenly she slices a bandit from his back, the cuts were precise - on the arms and legs, disabling the bandit to move without killing him, so precise that blood flow was kept to a minimum.
"The fuck?" they said in a panic.
"Everyone stay close,Only I can see her move" an advice and a command from Mafu. The bandits dived all at once but with a smile Sako erupted a smoke bomb of green, the gases inhaled by the bandits immediately made them paralyzed, however Mafu struggling to keep his sanity, fighting the poison's effect.
"Hmm? that's only a mere point one percent of my poison but very good" commended Sako.
Mafu turned his body silver, likely holding the poison's effect in check. He lashes out at Sako - who in return dodged bob and weaved gracefully, "Wow!" goes Post, Huncho and Elone.
"It's like a dance" remarked Lucy.
"A dance of death!" added Szlick.
"I'm getting bored bandit" Sako dodging all the hits.
"Lemme hit you, you shit"
"That's not how you talk to a lady" said Sako. The blades of green likely evaporated turning back to gas which stayed afloat at her arms.
Sako with her arms crossed -forward- she then made a circle from the gas, summoning a plethora of it forward masterfully controlled it floats in place- blinding Mafu.
The later immediately lashes his silvered arm at the gas, but to his dismay nobody was home, in a flash and to the awe of the group Sako appeared from behind - as it turned out her arms and the circular gas she made was a distraction - when that was put on play Sako let some gas out from her foot - which moved forward and stayed put behind Mafu - which when the big fool strikes the distraction, Sako then turned her whole body into gas and transported through the gas she emitted from her foot and in a flash of green - she appeared from behind, a true assassin's skill in display.
"With her powers,,,stealth is a given" Elone gave a comment.
Sako then had enough messing around - she turned her gas into glaives in each hand and slices and dices Mafu - like a dance, she performed and in a flash she dishes out a knock out from poison. All 7 bandits handled in mere seconds.
"Wow! awesome, Miss ninja." Huncho complimented her.
From signs by Post, Huncho translated, "Big bro Lu would love you, Miss Sako, he loved Ninjas too, you know"
Hearing this Sako realized the fact that Lu loved ninjas and she thought 'It's in the bag now Lucy...I win'.
"Hmmmm.... She look more like an assassin not a ninja" bickered Lucy, a cute little jealous -with a pout- directed at the two kids.
"Sometimes we can't hear or read lips!" said Huncho, slowly him and Post turned away.
"You were dancing out there" a compliment from Elone, looking at her chest yet again, "Puuu not you too!" Lucy pulled him away by the ear.
"Nice moves out there" said Szlick.
"Thank you, If only Master could've seen it too" said Sako with a little sigh.
"Get that idiot up, let's check out the house" shouted Lucy, who - her, Elone and the twins- stood near the door of the new house, and then there - at the top of the door with an extra big letter - reads - FUN INC.