The Knight and the Duck

~6~

// Video in top is a Fakiru Animatic I made! pls check it out//

Following Fakir's gaze, the two came upon a dress shop.

It was a light pink on the outside, and upon squishing her face to the glass she saw the inside was a teal. Dresses and trinkets and clothing lined the inside.

But the star of the show was the white dress in the window, small wings adorned the front chest and hips. Light pink lace ruffled the bottom.

Ahiru breathed on the glass, her face lighting up. She turned excitedly to Fakir.

"Wow it's so so beautiful." Wistfully, Ahiru twirled, pretending to be Tutu for just a moment.

She looped her arm in Fakir's afterward. "Okay let's go"

"You don't want to buy it?" She looked up at him, trying to pull him away from the dress shop.

"I don't have any money? I've been a duck! Come on Fakir even you aren't that stupid." Duck tried to pull him along again but he wouldn't budge.

"Do you want it?" His green gaze was steady.

Duck's blue eyes met his. "Fakir, I don't need a fancy dress."

"But will you be happy?" He looked at the dress intently.

She huffed. "Fakir- I'm happy right now. I really don't need some special tutu. No matter how beautiful."

"Besides, if I'm only a girl for a day I don't need some silly dress."

"But will it make you happy?"

Duck gave him a good long stare.

"I'm confused, are you trying to buy happiness for me?"

Fakir took a step back, eyes looking away. I mean, not really, but if the dress will make you happy ..."

Duck frowned. "The dress is pretty but I don't need it Fakir. Let's go to the school, and try and enroll maybe?"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure come on!! I can't wait to see Peke and Lilie again and we'll maybe not totally but HAHA it'll be nice to see everyone. Although," Duck pondered as they walked to the school, "I'll miss Rue and Mytho."

"Me too." Fakir added.

They arrived to the school.

It was the same, with bushes and things and students milling about. One thing Ahiru noticed was that the uniforms were different. The sleeves were frillier, knee socks and bows were part of it too.

No sign of Peke and Lilie. Duck wondered if she'd have to room with Fakir, or if she could get her top floor room back and feed the birds.

"Duck." Fakir grabbed her hand and tried to pull her up "What are you doing? we gotta go."

Duck realized she had been crouched behind a bush, almost spying on her classmates. She spring upwards, brushing off her overalls.

"QUACK! AH I'm sorry I'm sorry HAHA I didn't mean to do that force of habit hehe."

Fakir shook his head. "Be more careful, will you idiot?"

"Yes Fakir" Duck sighed.

"Okay, well, first things first we probably have to talk to Mr. Cat. I'm already enrolled here, and while I've missed school I can easily say its a medical condition. probably. Or-"

"What if you wrote about it?" Duck asked politely, sucking in a breath. Last time she'd asked Fakir to write it'd been really hard for him, and she didn't want to illicit the same response.

Fakir snapped his fingers. "I could," He looked at her. "Do you think it'll work?"

"Well uh, I wouldn't know but since you've got your power and stuff I'm sure it will!!" Her exuberance didn't totally rub off on him but Fakir was open to the idea.

"Hey Fakir..." Duck stopped, unsure about coming into the school.

"Yeah?"

"Is Mr. Cat still a cat? And are Peke and Lilie going to be my friends do you think?"

Fakir held out his hand and Duck took it. "That might just be something you figure out. It can't be too hard, making friends. You're a good person things will be okay. Probably."

Ahiru nodded. "Yes!! I'm sure."

The two stood at the edge of the school, unmoving, just staring at it, hands tightened around each other.

So many things had happened since the last story.

"Maybe...I could just tag along with you? In case I turn back into a duck." Ahiru said quietly.

Fakir squeezed her hand.

"Don't be an idiot Ahiru, I'm sure things will be just like how they were." Fakir answered, his voice equally quiet.

They still didn't move from the schoolfront.

"We could go back." Duck swung his arm like a little kid.

Fakir stopped the swinging, his usually annoyed expression turned towards her.

"Are we going in or not?"

She frowned and grabbed her hand away from his. "Stop doing that"

Fakir scoffed. "Doing what?? You're the one waiting outside the school"

"Closing your heart out to avoid being afraid :( " Ahiru stuck her toungue out at him and took a deep breath.

She walked forward, and knocked at the doors of the school