Chapter Thirty-Five
“Oi Jakko, you alive there?” Blie asked, shaking him gently. He had become so engrossed in his thoughts he had stopped eating and had sat around immobilized for a moment.
“Yeah.... I was just thinking....” Jakko said, his head throbbing. There was a strange weight in his chest, one he had experienced before and just tried to forget. It had gone away for a while but once again it was back.
“About what?” Blie asked. “Not fantasizing over a girl you like were you?” she asked, a bright gleam in her eyes.
“Wha-?” Jakko jumped, staring at her. “Why’d I do that?”
“So there is somebody you like... oh Jak you womanizer.... Gee must have rubbed off on you,” she crooned, holding her cheeks in her hands and shaking her head in denial.
“I am not!” Jakko exclaimed.
“Don’t deny it Jakko-“ she laughed. “It’s written all over your face....” she waggled her eyebrows at him.
“Is not!”
“It is, and old people don’t lie,” Blie winked.
“But what about Gee? He lied all the time.... And you just lied too!” Jakko exclaimed.
“Now no pointing fingers Jak,” Blie teased, waving a finger in disapproval.
“Yeah, yeah,” he sighed, remembering to eat before his food got cold and becoming lost in his memories again.
It seemed like it was just yesterday he had been to the cottage hidden in the forest for the first time.
“How lovely-“ Gilliam almost sang.
“I know! I wouldn’t live here if it weren’t!” Blie said matter-of-factly, crossing her arms.
“Still, I think a grander house would suit you better Blie,” he grinned.
“Gee, stop flirting, we have business to take care of,” Hugh sighed, massaging his forehead.
Lain and Jakko had been quiet the whole time. Jakko was carrying the buckets Blie had brought back, but now full of water and watched the group as it walked on ahead of him. He was walking extra slow so nobody would have to see his face, which showed his guilt.
“You know, I only let you come along because gau Lain knows that weird fellow in the back. If he’s her gau and you’re his gau then I guess it should be all right....”
“What is a gau?” Gilliam asked, earning himself a nasty look from Blie.
“It’s a term the Moribito use to speak of a person’s acquaintance; somebody they see as an equal....” Lain interjected, so Blie would not have another outburst.
“Well said jyn,” Blie nodded. “That’s friend by the way, for you ignorant folk,” she added, glaring at Gilliam while she spoke.
“Hey, it’s not our fault we don’t know what you’re saying,” Gilliam sighed, running a hand through his damp hair.
“Che!” Blie tossed her mass of curls over her shoulder and into Gilliam’s face, who just continued grinning stupidly.
YOU ARE READING
Ashes
Mystery / Thriller"Once a being has been named, it has power. Be sure to take care of yours. I'd know how important it is, because I lost mine." Joshua is always fretting over the "what ifs" in life, but never trusts his gut feeling because it's always wrong... at...
