Earthbound: Champions of the Future

Chapter Thirty Two

~ Syo's POV ~

Unlike what I had originally thought, Gaius was not looking to be paid with money. Instead we found ourselves back in Sathamborn, sat outside a cafè with the cool night air lightly whipping our faces, Gaius giggling to himself like a schoolboy with all of the candy Naoma was forced to buy for him at the nearest candy shop.

Chocolates, lollipops, bourbons and mints lay scattered all over the table as Gaius organized them away into his pockets, of which there seemed to be a lot. "I really appreciate this, Blue, I honestly do." Gaius said, not looking up from his little organization game. "I was running out of sweets today and now here I am. You're like my saviour or something."

"Where do you put all of that...?" Naoma questioned, sipping her tea. After a moment's pause, she shook her head. "On second thought, don't answer that. I don't think I want to know."

After Gaius had finished sorting away his newly replenished stash, he turned to us. "Right, well, you've filled out your end of the deal. I'd better fill out mine. What do you want to know?"

Naoma opened her mouth to speak, but Gaius raised a hand to stop her. "No, wait, hang on. Before you say anything, I got a question. Where in the world did you find a guy like Ciar?"

"He just randomly showed up one day and wanted to come along. We were in Cathwaite and there he was, almost waiting for us." I replied, resting gently atop Azura's head. "Thinking back, it does seem a little strange..."

"Trust me, you don't want to be associated with that guy." Gaius warned. "He's dodgy; he's been involved with tons of stuff you don't want to get involved with."

"He turned six people against me in one fell swoop, Gaius." Naoma reminded him. "I think I know what he's like by now. Right now, all I want to know is what happened to everyone else."

"Hold on," Azura began. "Gaius, do you know Ciar in some way?"

Gaius paused. "We met once or twice. Official business, nothing too bad. What I do know is that he's a lying, cheating, two-timing scumbag."

"Yeah. I get that." Naoma responded. "But we need to know where the others have gone. Kireina and Akuro left together, Gandamu... did a thing, while Ciar left with Emi and S'yan. Laurent left on his own."

"So we need to find Emi and S'yan first!" I cried. "They're in the most danger!"

"But they're also the most dangerous." Naoma sighed. "S'yan could rip us to pieces very easily, while Emi doesn't even have to move to kill us. Ciar made sure he chose the people that would be most beneficial to him."

The four of us sat in silence, Naoma finishing what remained of her tea. "It's late." Azura eventually said, rising from her seat. "We need to rest before we can decide to do anything. Tomorrow, we shall put together a plan as to our next moves. Does this sound acceptable to you two?"

"Sure thing, blue lady." Gaius shrugged. "I would kill for some sleep right now."

Naoma nodded, although I could sense that she was still uncomfortable, that something was still bothering her. We entered the nearest hotel and paid for our rooms (the price to which even Azura's eyes widened with shock). Gaius carelessly waved us goodnight and entered his room, but Azura and Naoma spoke a little before they parted ways.

"Are you nervous?" Azura asked the younger girl.

"N-Nervous?" Naoma repeated, jumping slightly with shock. "N-Not at all! I'm fine!"

Azura knelt down to Naoma's eye level and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be fine in the end. We just need to find the rest of our friends and convince them that we were in the right all along."

Naoma nodded. "I know. Thanks, Azura."

Azura smiled and left Naoma and myself in the corridor, slowly shutting her room door. With a sigh, Naoma threw herself onto the bed in her own room, face crashing into the soft pillow. "I can't believe today happened..." she muttered from the huge pillow.

I settled on the mattress next to her, untying my hair from it's usual bun, allowing my green hair to fan out. "You heard what Azura said. Everything's going to be fine in the end. I know you're not the type of person to give up at the first sign of trouble."

"I'm not, but..." Naoma sighed. "There's something else. Something that's been bothering me for ages now..."

"Like what?" I asked, sitting up.

"I can't stop thinking about him." Naoma replied. "It's frustrating me. I just want to get him out of my head and go to sleep, but... I'm thinking about him and I don't know why...!"

I crossed my arms. "Naoma, there's no point dwelling on the past, okay? Ciar isn't worth all of your attention. Just as Gaius said, he's a lying, cheating, two-timing scumba-"

"Um, I know, Syo." Naoma interrupted. "Thanks for the speech, but... I wasn't talking about Ciar."

I blinked. "What?"

"I wasn't talking about Ciar." Naoma repeated. "I was actually talking about Gandamu. I can't get him out of my head for some reason. I feel like I just... like I just want him to come back..." Her eyes slowly widened and she shot up. "Don't tell me... I actually miss that guy?!"

I giggled. "I bet you do! You miss Gandamu! You miss Gandamu!"

Naoma looked horrified; her reaction was so priceless, I wish I was big enough to carry a camera! "I can't believe this..." she muttered. "Why did it have to be him...?!"

Naoma faceplanted the pillow while I continued to giggle, my sides beginning to burn with how much I was laughing. Naoma groaned and flicked me off the bed, sending me tumbling to the floor.

"Hey!" I squeaked. "That hurt!"

"If you dare tell anyone about this, I'll tear off those pretty little wings of yours." Naoma threatened. "I don't need anymore problems."

I sighed and fluttered back up to the mattress of the bed. "Fine, fine, my lips are eternally sealed and all that. Just get to sleep."

Naoma turned away from me, a frown on her face as she closed her eyes. I smirked to myself; I knew something would happen with those two!!

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nerds

AceAttorneyFan over and out!