STORIES
150 - Crush
2009
Syrrah and Vanni’s sitting room ...
SYRRAH:
Husband, you have forgotten someone? Where is our daughter?
VANNI:
She's spending time with her Auntie Chinatsu.
SYRRAH:
Why is it that you so easily surrender Pica
to any other women?
VANNI:
Chinatsu's not other women, she's my sister. Besides, she thought you
might want some time alone with me. Something about guests?
SYRRAH:
Yes, three of them, but only one concerns me. Phae, an ambitious
girl with plans to marry my brother.
VANNI:
Oh? What does Zyfan think of her?
SYRRAH:
He does not know, yet. I need to know more about her first.
have already contacted sources in my realm. Of course,
I could just ask you.
VANNI:
Me?
SYRRAH:
Yes, my time traveling husband. You have all the answers I seek.
VANNI:
That’s quite possible wife. On the other hand, the information
you want is of the Elvin realm. In the future, I live in Tokyo.
What makes you think I was even aware of your homeland?
SYRRAH:
I will tell you. Since we have wed, you have twice jumped forward
in time to visit your family. I am quite certain, my inquisitive husband
would make it his business to look into the Elvin realm, given
that his daughter is next in line to the throne there.
VANNI:
That's a good point wife. However, let me remind you that we decided it
would be best if I didn’t reveal any information about the future to you
or anyone else. You'll just have to rely on your sources.
SYRRAH:
You are speaking of the Seers? They are unreliable,
always open to interpretation.
VANNI:
What are you doing?
SYRRAH:
Using other means …
VANNI:
That’s not going to work.
SYRRAH:
I beg to differ …
SYRRAH:
... I believe this course of action shall soon grant me all
the cooperation I need.
VANNI:
You're cheating.
SYRRAH:
You are being difficult. I am only concerned for the safety of my family.
VANNI:
I'll tell you this - if the future progresses as it did in my past,
everyone you love will be safe.
SYRRAH:
And Phae is not dangerous?
VANNI:
Very, but not to us.
SYRRAH:
Interesting answer, but it provides me with what I needed to know, and now a reward for easing my mind ...
Meanwhile in the bathroom ...
ZAM:
Hey ‘Chi-chi, water’s nice, ain’t it?
SHICHI:
Blessed mother! What are you doing in here?
ZAM:
I felt like a bath too, is all.
SHICHI:
You’re not bathing with me. Get out.
ZAM:
How come? You said you wanted company. You invited those other two?
SHICHI:
I said get out!
ZAM:
You don’t mean that.
SHICHI:
OUT! And magic your legs back on.
ZAM:
Aw shucks 'Chi, I just wanted to stretch my fins.
ZAM:
... Let me back in.
SHICHI:
There isn’t enough room.
ZAM:
Was plenty of room till you got in. Anyways it's not
natural for a Puki to have his feet on all the time.
SHICHI:
And it's not natural for a Puki to follow an Elf through the realms.
Now be quiet. I need to think.
ZAM:
Go ahead and think. I’m not stopping you.
ZAM:
... What’re we thinking about?
SHICHI:
How to explain to Phae that we’re leaving first thing in the morning
- with or without her.
ZAM:
We can’t leave her. We promised to stay with the youngster
till things got settled.
SHICHI:
She’ll be fine.
ZAM:
But things ain’t settled.
SHICHI:
They are for me.
ZAM:
You made a promise.
SHICHI:
I promised to get her to the prince safely. I did.
ZAM:
The youngster still needs you, us.
SHICHI:
Fine! You stay. I’m going.
ZAM:
But ‘Chi, a promise is a promise!
SHICHI:
Shut up.
Back in Syrrah's sitting room ...
SYRRAH:
Come in Chinatsu.
CHINATSU:
Thank you. I think Pica misses her mother.
SYRRAH:
The feeling is quite mutual.
VANNI:
Chinatsu, have you spoken to any of our guests?
CHINATSU:
Yes. Although Shichi did most of the talking. I find I'm curious about him.
SYRRAH:
He intrigues me as well.
VANNI:
Should I be jealous, wife?
SYRRAH:
No husband, your place is quite secure. I only wonder why Shichi,
of the Sea Clan, would escort Phae, of the Forest Clan, here,
to marry one of the Mountain Clan. The Sea Clan is not
part of the United Elvin Nation.
CHINATSU:
Maybe he came to see Karanthir? They knew each other once.
I like Phae. She seems genuine. She’s just a little …
VANNI:
What?
CHINATSU:
Did you know she has a crush on Zyfan?
SYRRAH:
I noticed. When she spoke to me of him, it was
obvious that she is completely enamored with him.
Much later ...
SHICHI:
Phae? Phae where are you? This place is like a maze.
I’ll never find her.
CHINATSU:
May I help you?
SHICHI:
Oh sorry. I was looking for Phae. Do you know which room she’s in?
CHINATSU:
I do. I can take you there.
SHICHI:
Thank you, I need to speak with her.
CHINATSU:
How ... surprising. This way.
SHICHI:
What’s ... surprising?
CHINATSU:
It was my understanding that she is here for Zyfan.
I didn’t realize that you and she …
SHICHI:
Wait one moment. There is nothing going on between Phae
and me. I was hired to escort and protect her. She’s just a child.
CHINATSU:
A child? She’s older than me.
SHICHI:
Elves age slowly. If she were human, she’d be about fifteen.
CHINATSU:
If she’s considered a child, then why is she here to marry Zyfan?
SHICHI:
She’s here to get betrothed. They won’t marry for
another thirty to forty years.
CHINATSU:
Please forgive my ignorance. I have only encountered your kind
recently and know so little. You seem to know much of humans.
SHICHI:
I’ve traveled between the realms often. Please forgive my
curiosity but - what do you think of us Elves?
CHINATSU:
I find yours to be a confusing race.
SHICHI:
How so?
CHINATSU:
The male elves are only interested in other male elves. This
makes me wonder where little elves come from … Maybe that’s why Syrrah married my brother. She needed a human to procreate.
SHICHI:
Not at all. We are encouraged to go either way.
CHINATSU:
Isn't that confusing?
SHICHI:
No, we just have more options.
CHINATSU:
Too many options can make choosing difficult.
SHICHI:
I disagree. If I see something, someone I want and
I think they feel similarly ...
SHICHI:
- I just …
CHINATSU:
I see. We have arrived.
SHICHI:
Huh?
CHINATSU:
Phae’s room, it is there. Didn’t you need to speak with her?
SHICHI:
Maybe not. I didn't realize how late it is. She’s probably asleep.
CHINATSU:
Yes, probably. Shall I show you to your room?
