The Knight and the Duck

~8~

On the way back to Fakir's they had successfully acquired Ducks new uniform, but were given no info on getting her a room.

So she was set to stay with Fakir. This wasn't too bad? Are least Fakir didn't mind. As long as she had somewhere nice to stay.

Duck was worried she would do something like snore or make a weird sound or have a nightmare or something that would wake Fakir up.

She wasn't concerned exactly?
What was it she was thinking?
Duck wished for a moment that Miss Edel would show up, offering advice or a charm

"Hey Fakir? What happened to Uzura?" Duck missed the little drummer doll.

Fakir shook his head sadly. "When we got you back Uzura went with Drosslemyer. She's off somewhere."

"oh."

They walked in silence.

"Do you miss her incessant banging?" Fakir asked her.

The two went into Fakir's house and Duck shook her head. "I Don't miss her banging, but I DO miss her. I hope she's okay."

"I'm sure she is, don't worry about it okay?"

"Okay." Duck went into the door and promptly tripped hard over the step
"QUACK" THUNK Ahiru landed hard, and just like what Fakir had written, Ahiru the girl turned into a duck.

She got up, shaking off her clothes. "quack."

Fakir picked her up. "Don't worry there's a solution! Its just the same as before you know? You make those silly duck sounds, and Poof ! back into a duck."

"Quack. Quack quack QUACK quack."

Fakir did not understand her and instead tried to stall.

"Basically I wrote in my book that this would happen but eventually I'll figure out a solution to fix this. Again, not too hard."

"QUACK QUACK???"

"Well not every story can be perfect!" Fakir said exasperatedly.

Duck was frustrated, mainly on the grounds that she was back as a duck, but she was glad that Fakir was taking care of her. What she couldn't figure out was why he hadn't turned her back yet if the solution was "oh so simple"

Then it hit her like a wave. He had to kiss her didn't he?

Kiss her to turn her back into a girl.

Was this really her knight in shining armour???

Fakir was still talking, unusually talkative, more in Ducks range of flustered nonsense that really never totally related back to the point.

"Quack?" "Fakir?" She asked

Fakir turned, all tired from talking. "Ah, you've figured it out haven't you by now."

Ahiru nodded.

Fakir held her gently. "To avoid me...seeing you as you are, I'm gonna set you in the bed, and then when you turn back I can not look. okay?"

Duck nodded. "quack quack quack " "or you could close to eyes?" She asked. Duck realized this was hard for Fakir. He wasn't the type to show so much affection, even if he did care for her.

Once they'd gotten settled in a safe way to fix the dilemma, Fakir leaned in, sweating bullets, and POOF Duck turned back before his lips had hit her.

And as quickly he was turned around, facing the wall so she could get dressed.

"Why didn't I choose water???" Fakir grumbled, inching out of the room so she could change

"I mean, you haven't had to kiss me yet?" Duck said back. "So you haven't lost yet." She finished getting dressed. "All done!"