Clear Skies

Chapter 5: Outlaws

            I hummed old sailor tunes and embroidered a black dress. A big funeral was soon to occur, so the town's formal blacks were tossed at Charis and me all at once. I smiled while finishing the design, and I moved to the lace.

Charis was restoring a pair of navy loafers. I guessed the poor sucker who owned them mistook them for black. I laughed at the thought. She commented, "You're awfully chipper."

I kept on with my work without speaking. By closing time, we'd finished the rush of repair requests. Charis locked up. "You were extra efficient today, too! Whatever you're doing, keep it up!"

I smiled and gave a thumbs-up. We parted ways at the crossroads. On the way to Klaus's, a familiar voice stopped me. "Wait up, Rain!"

Toru jogged towards me and matched my pace. The sun was halfway beyond the horizon. A light breeze unsettled the sands, which I had learned meant the oncoming of a cool desert night. Toru said, "Want to go for a walk? Just the two of us."

"Sure," I said. He walked northward, and I followed. We faced Crash Town's pride and joy: the Malcolm-Ramon, Dyne-filled mountain. The rocks of its spire were cast red by the sun's last light.

We reached Nico and West's hideout. The crescent moon rose behind the mountain, which was a blot against thousands of stars. I lifted my hat and held it against my chest so I could see more of the glittering night sky.

"Is that new?" Toru pointed at my head. I touched the headband, grinned, and nodded. Toru leaned back against the hideout and said, "Huh. You've been weirdly happy since that Satellite trip. Why won't you tell us about it? West won't shut up with asking, as if I know. He's so caught up in it he even tried asking Klaus!"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Kids can't stand secrets."

Toru tucked his fingers in his jeans pocket. "I didn't ask you here to bug you about it again. I finished my runner thanks to those parts you brought back. I'm about to apply to become a New Domino citizen, and I was wondering..."

"Yeah?" I asked. Toru stared at the sands, stars, the mountain – anywhere but at me. "Um, is something wrong?"

"Nah. I- I was wondering if... Rain! Will you go to the City with me?" My eyes widened. The question couldn't quite register for me. More questions spawned but I found myself unable to voice them. Toru continued, "It's easy for us Crash Town residents to get City passes. My duel runner has enough room for two, so we can both take the boat off the island!"

I clenched a fistful of my skirts in one hand. "You're forgetting why I came here in the first place."

"Oh, come on! Whoever this guy is clearly isn't coming, Rain!"

"I'm sure he is." I sat in the dust and kept my gaze angled towards the stars. "It'll be a while, but I'm sure of it."

"Face reality," Toru said. "Crash Town's gonna crumble because of Malcolm and Ramon's feud. Staying means getting caught between those two! No one's worth putting yourself in that situation, especially not someone who would keep you waiting!"

I watched the crescent moon and traced my criminal mark. I recalled a time when I could watch the spare few stars New Domino City allowed through a barred window. "It could be a thousand sunrises and a thousand sunsets. I'd still be content to wait."

Toru's expression was so pained. "Come on, please! You're making a mistake!"

"Nope! Your dream is to become a turbo duelist in the City, and you'll reach it." A smile stretched my lips. "My dream, though, is here."