Aish*teru (I Love You) Aki XLVI: Suigan- A FFXI Love StoryFollow

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Got a Starlight idea in mind…gonna try to write as much as quickly as I can in order to make it all happen by Earth’s Christmas…

Plot chapter.

I rewrote this chapter a few times…why it took so long.

Previous chapters, aki, and Interludes

(Chapter XLV): http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1131636452150807743
---
Part I - Connection (Enishi)

Kasho II - Kodoku (Solitude)

Part III - Reunion (Saikai)

Kasho IV- Suriyoru (Closer)

Part V- Secrets (Hiou)

Kasho VI- Hanarebanare (Apart)
---
(Chapter XLV)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35;mid=1131636452150807743;num=4;page=1

(Interlude IX)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35;mid=1133800951265217703;num=2;page=1
---
Bonus Story: Rainfall Memories

Dedicated…to the two Mikaru in my life.

First…to the one who stripped away one of my feathers, making it so I could not fly…

And second, to the Mikaru who is unknowingly helping to replace it.

I owe you both.
***
Aki XLVI: Suigan
***
A blue suited officer came out from nowhere to escort me away, but I just waved him off.

“I don’t need an escort but thank you for the kind offer sir. I still remember where the Alchemy military branch is for the Marquisate from my last trip here.” Faintly, I noticed that I was starting to feel a bit tired most likely as a result of the long chocobo rides and the processing by the machin-esque military here.

“Very well then. The alchemists at the guild will then show you to your quarters when you get there. Once again” -at this the General gave me a slight bow, which I returned- “Welcome to the Marquisate. Please enjoy your stay here.”

With that, I turned around and strolled out the door, and I noticed that it was still daylight. Taking care, I strolled down the street in my armor suit, once again ignoring all of the various people that I passed that chose to gawk at me. Taking a left at the panamas stand, I started to pass a local bar when I finally stopped.

Maybe just one drink before I go to my new home…

Pushing open the antiquish swinging San d Orian doors with one hand, I quickly took in the room as I stepped in and then stopped. It was a local dive, certainly, but it had an air about it that I could tell appealed to the middle and lower-upper class people of the state. The tables were made of what looked like to be varnished mahogany, and the bar itself made from some of the finest ebony wood I have seen in a long time. Behind the wooden bar was a large sheet of reflective glass, with all sorts of bottles lining clear shelves backed against it. I could make out most of the imported brands of liquor from there, ranging from selections from the Marble Bridge in Jeuno to some of the finest firewater from the Far East, but I could easily tell that the most popular by far was some local brew that the other patrons there were downing with some relish.

Stepping across the wooden floor that creaked with every metal footstep, I found myself a quiet booth in the back of the place, away from the few other customers there. It took only a few minutes, but finally a cute lil‘ thing came over to take my order which I promptly gave her. Surprisingly, once my order was taken, it only took a couple minutes longer for me to get my drink.

Tilting the visor of my armor back a bit, I took a long, hard pull at my drink, feeling the fiery substance coat the back of my throat as it went down. It must have been a potent brew, for I could already feel a slight buzz happening in my head. I smacked my lips with a bit of satisfaction, when I heard rather than felt a dull tingling of someone rapping on my armor.


“He‘...you...tha’s mah table...ge’ up…”

I turned around slightly in my seat to see a rather pitiful sight. He was a hume of medium build, who’s eyes were clearly bloodshot. He had the appearance of someone who hadn’t slept in days, and wobbled around as if he was drunk also. I could tell that he was trying to forget something, but at the moment...

I couldn’t give a damn about him.

“I’m sorry, but I was here first. You will have to find another table.” I replied coolly, turning back around in my seat.

The man ignored what I said and then slipped into the seat opposite of me, and held a single finger up in the air. It must have been some signal for the waitress, for only a moment later was some imported ale brought over to the table and placed in front of him. He grabbed it greedily, drinking it down as quickly as he could without bothering to wipe the suds away from his face.

“No’ you list’n her‘…I been ‘ere ever’ night for the pas’ week…I hav’ a right to tis table…” His two ruined eyes tried to focus on me, but failed miserable at doing so. He leaned in close, no doubt to try to get a better image of me, and I could then smell the cheap liquor reeking on his breath.

“Why is that?” I replied, idly curious as to whether this man was a beginning alcoholic or not.

“’Er…” He whispered, before sinking back into the seat.

“Her?”

My heart started to pick up in rhythm, my hearing growing quicker and my breath getting a bit shorter. I looked down at my glass, seeing the table ripple in appearance through the golden liquid.

“Yes…‘er. A year an’ a half wasted on ‘er…only to find out that she ‘ad a boyfriend for four years…” His body shivered slightly at that, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for the man. He then pointed a quivering finger at me.

“Tell meh, military dog, do you hav’ a girl in your lif‘?”

I blushed a bit inside my helmet. “No, not anymore. She lied to me about her parents…” I said quietly, not really wishing to go into it, or even exactly what I meant by “parents”.

He stood up in his chair as best as he could, and overshadowed me. “That’s it?! You lef’ her b’cause she lied ‘bout ‘here she come from?!” The man’s voice rose up, drowning out all of the other noise in the bar for a moment, before quieting down.

“You list’n to meh…some people ‘re ‘shamed ’bout where they come from, ‘nd do not wish to be judged based on ‘here they come fro‘. If you are gonna judge someone, you bettah do it based on WHO they ‘re now and what they do now…”

The stranger’s words struck a nerve with me and the liquor settled in my stomach like cold stones.

The man got up from the table, tossing a couple gil on the table to cover his drink costs.

“Keep mah words in mind, y’ hear?” He took a couple steps further before turning around again. “Also…nevah date a mithra…it'll jus' 'urt you in the end...” He then stumbled so much as walked out of the place, everyone’s eyes on his back. As those twin doors swung with his passing…

I realized…

That he was right…

And that I had made a huge mistake.

-fin Aki XLVI: Suigan


Edited, Sat Dec 17 12:29:52 2005 by Nightsintdreams

Edited, Sat Dec 17 14:10:56 2005 by Nightsintdreams