King Kindred — Roleplayer Guild

Alias watched as the others left one by one in preparation for the incoming storm. He felt the Paopu Fruit in his pocket. It was surprisingly still fully intact, though not all that surprising. They always seemed pretty durable as they consistently dropped from their trees. Hoshi started to follow. This was his chance. It was now or never. He reached out to grab her hand to stop her while simultaneously taking out the fruit the tree had gifted him. “Wait. There's something I want to say or do before we go.”

“Huh?” Hoshi felt a tug of resistance as she moved to follow the others to the raft. She turned to see Alias’ hand firmly but gently wrapped around hers. In his other hand he held a fruit off of the Paopu tree; she avoided looking at it directly, trying to come off like she didn’t notice. She turned, and wriggled her hand free. With the now free hand she brushed her hair behind her ear. She returned his gaze, locking eyes. “Oh? Is everything ok?”

Her eyes. Her green eyes. He hadn't started taking notice of them until somewhat recently. They looked so deep. Like there was a world inside of them. He gave her a nervous smile. “Yeah… Everything's okay. For as long as I could remember you've been the one constant in my life. We've gone on so many adventures together. We've grown together and now we're about to embark on the biggest adventure of our lives to find Kitsu.” He paused to turn around to face the incoming storm. It was getting closer. He hoped this wasn't a bad omen. “I don't know what tomorrow may bring, but I know I want us to remain connected through it all.”

Alias turned back around and lifted the Paopu fruit to hand it to her. He couldn't help but recall the picture Levi drew of them doing this very exact thing. He was starting to think it was less of a joke and the possibility of their friend having the ability to see the future.

Hoshi’s heartbeat picked up pace as the fruit leveled between her and Alias. The flood of red filled her face unlike any time before. She thought back to the drawing on the cave wall, and the words of the cloaked man. Cursed. As if drawn to the fruit, her arm raised, and her hand held the starpoint opposite Alias’. “Are you sure?” She asked, her voice trembling as she did; in a way, she was asking herself as much as she was asking him. “We’ll always be connected, whether we share the fruit or not. You know that.”

Alias nodded. He noticed the red flooding to her cheeks. Did she really feel the same way about him? “I know and I'm sure. We're going to be traveling to other worlds and according to Zac it's pretty dangerous. With this fruit we can guarantee that no matter what happens out there we'll always find our way back to each other.”

Hoshi fell to loss at making objections; Alias had made a valid point. The dark hole in his heart will swallow all he holds dear.  “Tsu wouldn’t want us to be separated out there. He wouldn’t want us to lose each other just to find him.” She gripped her corner of the star shaped fruit more firmly. The quiver of her hand and waiver in her voice both stilled. “We’ll do it. On three?” 

She recalled the ritual from an old story: to share the Paopu, the two people had to pull from opposite star points with precise timing and near perfectly even force. The goal being to split the fruit into even halves. If one person got too small a piece, their share in the binding of destinies would be fated to anguish by the other… one way or another. 

Alias felt as if he was going to be the third person to pass out today, but he resolved to stay conscious and see this through. He gripped his corner of the star shaped fruit with a wide grin. They were actually going to do it. “On three.”

“1.” They began counting in unison.

“2…”

“3!” 

Their time together and connection reflected in how in sync they were. They pulled at the fruit at the same time with surprisingly the same amount of force. When they pulled their pieces back the two appeared to be even. Alias let out a sigh of relief. This good fortune. This moment of joy. The incoming storm no longer mattered to him. His heart and life would never be empty thanks to Hoshi and the people he's gotten to share them with.

Good Hoshi’s nerves settled completely when the fruit pulled apart into seemingly perfect halves. She stopped briefly to take in the moment passing her eyes between her half and Alias’. Slowly, she brought the fruit to her mouth. The shocks and surprises of the day washed away like an outgoing tide as her teeth sunk into the fruit. The sweet juices cleansed and renewed her from the experience in the cave; any idea of Alias being cursed faded from Hoshi’s thoughts. 

Alias continued to smile, staring at his piece of the fruit for a moment longer. Nothing could ruin this moment. With this gesture his feelings were conveyed. This tree, this fruit, this island. It connected him with everything he held dear. He didn't care about what he lost in the past, the mysterious stranger who brought him here, or why he was brought here in the first place. He was just happy that he did. He found family, he found adventure, and he found love. All he wanted to do was look forward to the horizon and what it'd bring. He finally brought the fruit to his mouth, taking it in and savoring both the flavor and the moment.

As he ate the fruit Alias thought of Kitsu and what he had missed, but also what he might have been experiencing out there in other worlds. He hoped he was okay and that he was having fun. Once the last piece fell down his throat he turned to walk over to the tree. He jumped on top of the natural bench and walked over to the fruit, jumping up and grabbing another one. He landed gracefully and jumped off the tree to walk up to Hoshi. “For Kitsu when we find him. To bring him a little taste of home. If we're lucky he hasn't gotten too far yet. He's probably trying to secure his own ship.”

 “He’d enjoy that. And all of the stories we’ll be able to share when we see him… think of all of the stories he’ll have for us.” Hoshi leaned her back against the tree and watched the clouds rolling in from beyond the village. “I wonder if he’s been trying to find his way back to us. It’s been four years.” 

The ever so hopeful Alias wanted to believe that, but she was right. It had been four years. Did he forget them? Amnesia seemed to be a common theme among world travelers. “I hope so. Or maybe he got amnesia like Morgan and Taivas. If he did we'll just jog his memories when we see him.”

A gust of wind kicked and subsided. The storm would be on them by nightfall. “We should go and help the others secure the raft; gotta get it done so we can be home before the storm hits.” She pushed off from the tree and started across the bridge. Despite the gathering clouds, the future seemed bright. 

Alias put Kitsu's fruit in his pocket and yelled out, “Race ya!”, before following after Hoshi and catching up to her. Their real adventure was just about to begin.

While Lucian went to get the raft under shelter, Levi dropped off the bridge, dropping into the shack to get the 550 cord he kept in here. The shack was where most people left their wooden swords, balls, assorted flotation devices, and he even remembered there being a volleyball net in here somewhere. But this shed that Kitsu had built while he was still around was where he, and now Levi, kept some assorted supplies for emergencies. He made his way through to the back of the shed, past the improvised rack where swords were put when they weren't in use, to where he kept what he was looking for.

It wasn't much, just a simple rucksack that had been improvised out of a tarp, a few planks for the frame, and some 550 cord to make the straps and tie everything together, tied shut at the top with yet more 550 cord. He quickly untied the knot with practiced efficiency, pushing aside his spare clothing and first aid kit as he grabbed one of the two bundles of cordage. While he started to tie the bag shut, he was hit with a wave of nostalgia, remembering briefly when Kitsu had helped him to make the rucksack in the first place. "Still not as fast as you were at tying these. You were always the best with knots." He said, despite being alone in the shack. He took one last look around the shack, before getting up and starting outside.

As he opened the door and stepped out, he could clearly see the silhouetted figures of Alias and Hoshi, and noticed something familiar in their hands. A Paopu fruit. He lingered for a moment, and simply watched in silence as the two each took a bite of the star-shaped fruit, before turning back towards the beach with a smile, slightly pumping his fist, despite having nothing to do with that. "Well, would you look at that. Took them long enough, eh Tsu? Looks like you won that bet." He said to the empty air, before he started down the beach.

He and Tsu both had known how the two felt about each other, and he figured Lucian and Morgan did too. As well as anyone with half a brain who'd seen the two together for more than five minutes. Tsu had bet him a hundred munny that those two would share a Paopu fruit before they turned eighteen, something that Levi used to doubt. Even if only because they seemingly refused to be honest with their feelings regarding each other.

"Well, you definitely got the last laugh on that one. I'll give Hoshi the munny I owe you before I go. I'll just tell her I lost a bet, and won't elaborate further. I think it's for the best they don't know I witnessed that."

With that, he quickened his pace down the beach, intending to lash that raft to a rock or sufficiently sturdy tree before it ended up at sea.

Out of sight of either Hoshi or Alias as well as Levi, another person waited in silent observation. In the shade of the tree near the secret place, the lone form of a man in a black coat stood unnoticed in the shadows of the gathering dusk. “Too close,” he muttered, grinding a heavy boot into the sand. The dark haired girl had nearly walked in on him scouting the Door that afternoon. Had he not sensed her approach, she’d have seen him; an unacceptable prospect for his mission. 

As if nearly being exposed hadn’t been enough of an edge for him to be on, the guy in the brown cloak seemed interested in the Door as well. What was his deal anyways? ‘Black Coat’ tried to wrap his head around  it. The cloaked man seemed knowledgeable, almost as much so as the boss. Adding in the Gummi pilot who appeared more alert and aware than the average wayfarer, the situation on the Islands was shaping up to have more pieces than Black Coat cared for. He debated not saying anything to The Boss, but thought better; he could explain a mystery man, a keen-minded traveler, and the amnesiac in his report, as they were well beyond his control. 

The girl on the other hand… Something about her struck him as important. He clenched his chest as he watched her and her friend run off. The feeling from that morning struck deep into the pit within him. He had felt it when she wandered into the cave behind him. Now it was somehow even stronger; the core of his body rippled with a heavy pain he couldn’t remember ever feeling before. Was she the reason why he was having such a hard time on these Islands? If so, how? He’d have to figure that out if he saw her again. For the time being, however, he could keep her a secret. 

A rumble of thunder on the horizon brought him out of his own head. He looked out across the sea to the rolling blanket of clouds besetting upon the Islands. Almost time. He turned on his heels, opened a portal and was gone.

Alias paced back and forth around his living room. His dad was still unconscious on the couch and thankfully so, because he still had no idea how he was going to explain all of this. Before he could come up with a solid lie he heard the faint sound of groans from where he left his dad. He turned his head to see the old man waking up.

"Huh? Alias? Why am I home? Weren't we both on the beach? Your friends were there and some strange fellows and a... a giant machine?"

Oh crapbaskets. He remembered it. Alias realized he couldn't lie to him. For all he knew this would be his last day on the island. He couldn't leave him wondering what happened to him. Not after all he had done for him. Alias sighed. "Dad... We need to talk."

He walked over to the couch and sat down next to him. He didn't want to lift his head from the ground to face him. He was honestly afraid that his dreams would be crushed right here. He found the courage within his heart to look up and face the Mayor and tell him the truth. "Yeah. You saw a space ship and passed out. We learned a lot today. There are a few ways to travel between worlds, that ship is one of them. Morgan can actually use magic and Kitsu is really out there." Okay. That last bit was a bit more hopeful than a certain fact, but Alias was determined to keep his faith.

The Mayor was silent. It was... to say it was a lot to take in would be an understatement. "Okay... So I wasn't hallucinating or having wild dreams. And now that you know all of this there's no way I could possibly stop you from leaving, is there?"

Alias shook his head. "Honestly... I'd knock you out again just to make sure you don't."

The Mayor laughed, a bit nervously. "I know you're too serious to be joking. I'm not laughing at that. I've always known the time we'd have together would be temporary. You always needed more than our island could provide."

"No. This island, my home, provided me with everything. Family, friends, a purpose, and so much more. I wish I could do more for it. But something out there is calling me and I need to know what. I'll come back and bring all kinds of souvenirs from our adventures. I won't forget about you or what you've done for me."

The Mayor couldn't say anything. He had a lot of words to say, but all he could manage was tears. They started pouring and the sight caused a reaction in Alias's eyes. The two embraced each other in a hug, crying into each other's arms.

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