"Alrighty, Mr... Suerta," Peach instructed his attention as he straightened his posture almost immediately. Her voice seemed daring, ready, and yet throughout all else, it held its kind pique. Her voice didn't stir suddenly, didn't absolutely change without reason. It held one tone, one steady, melodic course with every word she spoke. Just merely hearing the princess told you she was one of kindness, one of art even. "You're going to have to begin to lead us all into this... mere forest."
Alexis looked around, looking to Matt. His complexion hadn't improved by much, he still looked puzzled and shocked. Although, she immediately recognized his look of regret for one moment. Then he noticed her glancing to him, pulling out a smile- maybe it was more to comfort himself. She returned it nonetheless.
"Where exactly are you wanting to be led to, ma'am?" Suerta almost felt ashamed; his voice wasn't much of a treat, at least to himself, and all he could manage was proper respect and politeness, if you counted the two separate.
"Well... I'm not quite sure where Mario and Luigi are.. I guess you could just give me the easiest trail through this little place, then, hm?" And now she was asking of him the impossible. Suerta didn't want to lie to her, but he didn't want to watch her face curl into one of disappointment.
"Yes, yes, I'll pick the easiest path." And now he had to hold his word... which was more of a lie.
"Suerta, can I speak with you?" Alexis asked as he looked up. Had she read his doubt? Had she sensed his fear?
"Yeah, sure." And with that, she led him a little ways out of earshot of Matt and Princess Peach.
"Suerta, what is your real name?" she insisted as he looked oddly to her.
"Look, is this that important? Tell me this isn't the reason you led me away from them now, right?" And he had read her like a book.
"You're right... I just... I wanted to tell you... Do you know what you're doing? Lying to Princess Peach? You don't know this place... do you?"
"I'm not lying," Suerta insisted as she looked oddly to him. He kept his face straight, for sure, but finally broke down. "You're right... But I really didn't want to tell her I'm useless."
"Sheesh... We're all gonna die, aren't we?" And now Suerta was the one in shock.
"You said I can't talk like that, now, perk up. We're gonna live... Really." His eyes filled with concern as she nodded.
"I dunno, Suerta... I don't know."
"Don't fret, come now... You told me I can't behave this way..." It really hurt to see this defeated expression upon her, even if it were in the slightest manner.
"Yes, I know." She then began to walk away, back towards Matt. He took note she had the oddest way of just leaving in the middle of things. It was almost as though she were scared... Suerta sighed, heading back to them as well. He would begin this little journey, with all of hopes, with no thoughts of how twisted things would really become...
_
" S-S-SYROSHI!!!" a small girl bellowed hysterically, her Yoshi fists beating the floor as her mother bent towards her, picking her up.
"Reema, come now, you aren't honestly going to let me leave with those words, now are you?" a taller male Yoshi asked as he took the little girl from their mother. She was seemingly two, though not very nieve. "I must go, Elder's orders. 'Member when I told you I'm gonna be the best ninja ever? Remember, Reema?" His voice was gentle, persuasive even. The little girl nodded, remembering it quite vividly.
"It happened on a Tuesday a long, long, long time ago!" she exclamed as Syroshi smiled.
"It did, indeed. But I told you before, I have to go on journeys like this. I want to be the best ninja ever! Do you understand that?" Their mother was watching, packing some things in a rather large backpack. She couldn't help a defeated smile...
"But I don't want you to go, Syroshi, you're my brother! What'll I do without you? HOW DO I LIVE?!" She seemed as though she were going to start the waterworks again. Syroshi then smiled another gentle smile- care lit up his face- and then crossed to his backpack. "You're only tweeelllvvveeee!"
"I'm thirteen, Reema, and people don't treat me like it. I'm older, now... I must prove it. Reema, I don't want to leave you here-"
"THEN WHY ARE YOU?! IT'S NOT FAIR! I HATE THE ELDER OF THE NINJA TRAINING SCHOOL!!!" She then clenched her fists, her brother instantly picking her up as though she were even smaller than she really was. His grasp was tight, but gentle.
"Reema..." He paused, looking to his mother. "Wait a moment." He then set her down, going into one of the smaller pockets upon the backpack. He dug out a small necklace of some sorts. Reema leaned over, trying desperately to see what was up with what her brother held in his paws nimbly. He seemed to be pulling some things apart, adding a few others.
"Sy, what you got?" she asked, her eyes widening. He swerved around, a huge grin upon his face. He held a necklace with many beads of all different colors though all the same shape. A smile immediately blossomed from her face. "IT'S SO PRETTY!"
"Yes, yes it is." Syroshi smiled, not able to help himself from seeing her happy. "It's for you. You can borrow it. Do you see the number of beads upon it?"
"There are many, many beads!"
"Indeed. But I said you can borrow it. And If I don't return in the amount of days that numbers those beads, you get to keep it. And if I return, you can keep it too because I love you and I'm going to return for you, Reema." Syroshi bent down, kissing his litle sister on her forhead. His black hair swayed, his blue eyes the only thing, aside from gender and age, that didn't match his sister. They could have been twins even, if they were the same gender and age. There were many similarities between the two.
"I get to keep it! Look, Mom! Syroshi gave me a nacklace! ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL!" She seemed joyed- that made Syroshi smile even brighter.
"It's wonderful," she replied, smiling at Syroshi. "Your brother loves you very much, Reema."
"I know," she replied, her eyes still bright with happiness.
"But I must leave now, Reema, I must." His tone seemed relentless. He would rather stay here, but he had many things to prove. No choice, otherwise even his sister wouldn't look up to him anymore. Her opinion was easily swayed, he knew all too well, and after too many negative opinions, he knew she would never want to be with him again.
"Syroshi... I love you, Brother."
"I love you too, Reema, remember that now, and remember I will return. For you." He smiled. "Until then, don't get in too much trouble. Take care of Mommy and Daddy, Reema."
"Who will take care of you?" Reema asked as Syroshi smiled.
"I am always watched over."
"Should I take care of Teela, too? She is very small still. She's not even two, like me!"
"Yes, take care of our friends and family. And Teela will be two, just like you, in another month, Reema. Remember?"
"Yes! BIRTHDAY! YAY! Ok, Brother, I'll do that as I wait for your return."
"And don't forget," Syroshi smiled again. "I'll be back before the beads run out of numbers."
"Yes, you will be back!" She jumped up excitedly as Syroshi smiled, grabbing the backpack. He took note as Reema was trying to put the necklace on- it was a bit too long on her, as it stretched down to her knees. It was definitely meant for a Yoshi, though older.
"Here." Syroshi then took it and looped it around her once more. Now it went down to her stomach and she would be able to walk without tripping. "Don't want you getting hurt while I'm away."
"Ok, Syroshi. I'll miss you." She gave him a big hug- he already felt the loneliness. He never spoke a word of where he was going, and wouldn't. Not to small Reema... He wouldn't worry her more than he already had. Tears swelled up inside of him as he embraced her in return, slinking to his knees to give her a full goodbye hug.
"I'll miss you too. Reema. Be strong, for me. Ok?" he asked as she nodded, tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes.
"Yes, I'll be strong, for you, Brother." And with that, Syroshi kissed little Reema upon her cheek, she returning it. He didn't show his emotions, as he'd been trained not to. And thus he would not cry. Syroshi kissed his mother, hugging her, and beginning away. Reema sat there, repeatedly speaking her goodbyes, tears being fought back. "I love you," she called, tears unable to be held in any longer.
"I love you too," he called back, finally shutting the door. And as he did, the tears began to seep out of him. His eyes held that defeated look, though it wavered as he fought it. He walked on regardless of the tears, heading for the exit of the village. He didn't know he wouldn't return for a horribly long time, if at all...
To Be Continued...
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