For What We All Strive For (Gracie)

[Librairian]

OoC: Forgive me, Gracie, but I wrote this mostly for me. As a result, the contents may be a bit vulgar. Ignore it. I kind of just wanted to bring these two characters into Shisho canon. I didn't do a good job, but I did it for me. Enjoy as much as you can.

BiC: Black Shisho looked up to the sky. There was nothing but clouds, gray clouds. It was the kind of weather he liked, because it meant there could possibly be rain. The rain was nice, especially since he was unable to get wet. Water just glided right off of him. His soul told him that the only thing he didn’t like about the rain was that he had to walk around with wet clothes. “By the Goddesses, I hope it rains,” he said. At that point, he hadn’t ever felt rain for himself. His soul couldn’t tell him what raindrops hitting his skin would sound like. He shook his shoulders and hoped.

“What should I do now?” he asked himself, as he admired his surroundings. He had recently come into an area his soul had never been to before. It was called the Valley of the Earth. And even though the place was unfamiliar to his soul, he felt he knew the name from somewhere. He admired the unique geography of the place. It was, in fact, a valley, but it was a very, very large valley. The people who lived within found it big enough do declare themselves an independent nation. It was, as the locals called it, a mini-state, complete with it’s own form of government.

It was his kind of place. The Shisho clone liked everything about the place except for the mud. The nation’s activity centered around a pair of rivers that ran the length of the valley, down to the sea. Coupled with the rain, it made everything muddy. He liked the way the people of the valley used the rivers. They powered a number of waterworks that took care of most of the valley’s labor. It was the kind of place he loved to see. They were blessed to have something that made their lives easier. Water really showed it’s power. He imagined that the wind must have been jealous. But where was he going to find a valley of the wind?

“What should I do now?” he asked himself. He couldn’t think of anything. It was a mellow place, so there really wasn’t anything to get mad about. And he knew he would destroy something if he got mad. There were too many things he liked in that place to get mad there. Perhaps he could find a nice woman to lay with. He had seen a few women whilst coming into the valley, though they were nothing but normal. He needed a particular kind of woman to get him in the particular mood he needed to be in. His rather specific tastes spared most women his wrath.

He sniffed the air. It all smelled like mint to him. He looked ahead. A few people were around. From behind a house, a little girl ran out into the street. She would have been a nice little lady to lay with. Flat chested, blue haired, an angel. His eyes didn’t follow her, though, but only because her presence was too brief. “Hey, Penny,” he said as she passed by. Suddenly, a look of shock would have come over his face. What did he just say? He turned around to look at this young girl that he apparently knew by name. She herself did something of the same.

“Cousin Shisho?” she asked, tilting her head in a cute way. “Penelope?” he responded, “Oro’s little sister?” A feeling was triggered inside of him. The urge Shisho would have had to rush up and hug her was brought out in him. Black Shisho scurried up to her and scooped her up into his arms. “You don’t look like Shisho,” she said innocently, seeming indifferent to being carried by someone who was not technically only a stranger, but also looked like he did. “Well, I’m kind of him, and I’m kind of not. Hm, but I’m enough of him to remember how many times I got hit on the head because of you.”

She giggled and reached in to return the hug he had already given her. “It is you!” the little girl cried, “I knew I’d see you again.” Had he a face, he would have smiled. Had he restraint, he would have kept himself from fondling the girl’s rear. “It’s nice to see you, too, little cousin,” he replied, “I see you’re still as cute as ever.” She giggled as she looked up at him. “You’re teasing me, aren’t you.”

“Not at all. Oh, but have you gained weight on me?” Another little laugh. “That’s because I got taller. I’m a whole inch bigger.”

Were it not for one thought that stuck to his head, he would have thrown her down where they stood and made love to her. Just holding her made the urge nearly painful to suppress, but he did it regardless. His soul told him he had fallen in love with her older sister, the goddess Geomancer, Oro. For a chance with her, he would have held the sky in place. Besides, molesting the little girl would have destroyed any kind of relationship he had with the sisters. For their kind of companionship, their kind of friendship, even the incarnate of a depraved man’s lust could restrain himself.

“How’s your sister doing?” he asked as he adjusted his grip. “She‘s back home!” Penelope replied, describing what she was doing as opposed to how, “We‘re on vacation.” His soul recalled a memory. “Did Master Kenjin give you two some time off?” She giggled. “Yep. We’re visiting mom and dad for our vacation.”

“Ah, very nice. Can we go see her?” She let another little laugh escape. “Of course we can, silly. She’ll be really happy to see you. She used to talk about you a whole bunch.”

Had he blood, it would have been pumping rapidly. “Well, alright then,” he said, “Upsie, daisy.” Without any effort, he lifted her up onto his shoulders and started to walk. She giggled. “You put me on backwards!” she squealed, “How are you gonna see?” He giggled. “I’ll walk backwards, and you tell me when to turn. Now, ho!”

“Ho!”

Carrying the little lady along, Black Shisho walked the muddy paths of the Valley of the Earth. In what to him was too short of a time, they approached a wooden house. “This is the one, this is the one,” Penelope sounded as she kicked her feet. Her shoes were muddy, but the mud she scattered simply slid right off of his surface. A less preoccupied him would have made a non-stick joke. He, however, couldn’t take his mind off of the blue haired girl. Letting her down off his shoulders, he gave her a quick “Thank you.” After returning his gesture, she led him into the house.

“I’m home, sis!” the girl in the blue dress called out, “And I found something you’ll like!” The instant she finished, he heard footsteps coming from another room. He eyed the nearest door, hearing the steps stop on just the other side. It slid open. There she was, the goddess. Long, flowing blue hair, alabaster skin that just seemed to glow, thin and curvaceous body below her airy blue dress. Were the black one actually purple, he would have stood to admire her radiance. He was no such thing. “Oro!” he exclaimed as he sped at her. Before she could say a word, he picked her up by the waist and started spinning around.

Though taken aback, she was able to say one word to the part of the head that wasn’t pressed against her chest. “Shisho?” she asked. Once he heard his name, he lowered her to the floor. Penelope was laughing at them. “In the wax,” he replied, stepping back to give her a dramatic bow. Just as he imagined, she did not look convinced. “I found him on top of the hill,” the little one said as she skipped over to her sister’s side. Even with her sister convinced, the older of the two still did not look at him like he remembered she did. “Penny, go upstairs,” Oro said cautiously. She resisted for a second, but quickly acquiesced.

“You’re not Shisho, are you?” the Geomancer asked, though it was obviously more of an accusation. “No, I’m not,” he answered, “But I’m more like him than I look.”

“What do you mean by that?” She was as serious as he had ever seen her. “Do you remember that story he told you? About looking for a song that could heal troubled souls?” Her countenance loosened somewhat, but there wasn‘t anything to suggest she trusted him. “Yes, I remember that very well. How do you know about it?”

“I have that memory. I don’t have every memory of his, but I remember most of the things that happened to him before I got my half of his soul.”

No sooner had he said that, her face lit up. “Oh, I get it,” she said, a more familiar tone coming to her voice, “He made you, right? You’re a copy of him.” Had he a face, he would have smiled. “Exactly right,” he replied enthusiastically, “I knew you’d get it.” Right on the mark, she gave out one of her signature little giggles. “Please, have a seat.” She motioned toward a squat table that sat in the center of the room. “We have so much to catch up on.” With a kick in his step, he walked over to the table and took a seat. Just like the last time Oro sat with a Shisho, she took one side, and he took the opposite.

“We haven’t spoken since I saw you off from the Dome, have we?” she asked cheerfully. He liked hearing her voice that way again. “I wish I could answer you,” he replied, “But I can’t. The last thing I remember about that place was getting past that giant metal door. Everything from there to the gateway forest is a complete blur.” She let out one of her little laughs. “Don’t strain yourself trying to remember. I can recall the whole thing” Just as she said, she could recall the whole thing, and she told it. It came from her perspective, though, so even the parts he was actually there for kept his attention.

“…And then the door started to fall down,” she continued, reaching the point where his memory turned fuzzy, “You got out of the way right when I was about to step in and save you. I remember you landed right in Penny’s hands. After that, I took you to the entrance of the my teacher’s castle. It’s a shame you can’t remember. His castle’s room is such a beautiful place.” He did, in fact, remember what it looked like after she mentioned it, but didn’t want to interrupt her story. “Anyways, after I introduced you to Dom, I had to leave. I had a few students learning under me at the time, and it was time for my class to start.

“After class, I went to your room to check up on you. I was shocked to find out that Master Kenjin had actually denied you training. You didn’t seem too upset though. Then you tried to quote him by saying…” The black one cut her off. “’You’re progressing into a fine scholar without anyone’s help. Walk your own path, and you’ll reach the place you’re trying to go.’ I think that’s what he said.” She let out one of her little laughs. “That’s exactly what you told me he said last time. You left right after that. I remember walking you to the beginning of that hallway, and then watching as the doors closed behind you.

“You know, my teacher left a little while after that. I think that’s why he let you go. Besides, nobody really likes the one he chose to replace himself. Master Chronos is a bit strange.” Black Shisho was the one to giggle that time. “Thank you very much,” he said, “I can remember it clearly now. Oh, but you talk like I personally did all that. Regular Shisho did all of those things.” She gave out one of her little giggles. “You can’t help being who you are. Just because you’re a copy doesn’t mean those aren’t your experiences. If you remember doing them, then you’re the one who did them.”

Had he a face, he would have grinned at her. “Thank you,” he said, resting his elbow on the table, “I appreciate it. I find your insight to be very attractive.” She giggled. “You’re not a perfect copy, are you?” she asked. “No, I’m not. I’m what you’d call ‘Shisho Unleashed.’ I let out everything he’s afraid to. For example: Did you know you’re extremely beautiful? If you were someone else, I would have forced you into the bedroom by now. I wouldn’t do that to people I like as much as you and your sister, though. I may have more courage than him, but I wouldn‘t do that to a friend. I love you, you know.”

She blushed. He couldn’t believe it, but she blushed. Could she have possibly found what he said flattering? “That’s nice of you to say,” she replied, sounding embarrassed, “But that reminds me of something, and I think you can help me with it.” From out of left field. “You see, I need to get something for a spell I’m trying to cast, but no one I’ve asked so far was willing to lend me any. I need a lock of maiden’s hair.”

“Are you trying to use a divination spell?” he interjected, happening to know the common use for such an ingredient. “Yes, I’m trying to increase the power on a Crystal Ball.”

“Why not use your own hair?” he suggested, “The very vision of Nayru that you are, I’m sure your hair would give your crystal endless sight.”

“I’ve tried that,” she explained, brushing her hand against a lock of hair that hung over her shoulder, “But The Aberration effects it.” He knew what that meant. It was the same principal that prevented the Magi from healing themselves. Being half Mage, it affected her, too. “So, I was thinking. If you’re Shisho Unleashed, then you could get some maiden’s hair for me.”

“Absolutely. But I’ve got just one question for you.”

“What?”

“If I get the hair, would you do it with me?”

“Surely.”

And he was gone in a flash. He was back just as quick. “Two things,” he said, looking into the house through the doorway he left open, “One, I’m going to ask why you said yes afterwards, and two, where’s the nearest maiden?” She giggled. “Try the docks, where the valley meets the sea,” she answered. And he was gone in a flash. He was back just as quick. “Could your…” She cut him off. “NO!” And he was gone in a flash.