********* (I Love You) Aki XL: UedingudoresuFollow

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Fun chapter, probably one of the last before I start driving towards the end of the story. I hope you all enjoy it^^

Previous chapters, aki, and Interludes

Part I - Connection (Enishi)

Kasho II - Kodoku (Solitude)

Part III - Reunion (Saikai)

Kasho IV- Suriyoru (Closer)

Part V- Secrets (Hiou)
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(Chapter XXXVII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1124889122641444604&num=1

(Aki XXXVIII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=112531765691425700&num=6

(Chapter XXXIX)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1125492417125977233&num=1
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Bonus Story: Rainfall Memories

Dedicated to Yekan, Ele, and Awi...

And poor Ishi...
***
Aki XL: Uedingudoresu
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Dawn broke by the time that I could see the walls of the Republic of Bastok from the base of Vomp Hill. Looking around, I could plainly see that security had increased by a millionfold since I had last come here, right after the first beastman attack on all the cities. Makeshift wooden guard towers had popped up everywhere around the city’s parameter, with as many galkas as possible manning them. It was quite obvious that there was no way that anything could get in -or out- of the Republic without being seen, and possibly more elaborate than was needed to protect a city.

Looks like they heard about the attack on Windurst...

Undaunted by this, I continued walking foward towards the city, my blood-stained boots kicking up fair dust clouds along the way. When I was finally in quite visible range of the watchtowers, I faintly noticed that a galka scrambled down the one closest to me with his weapon drawn, causing the whole tower to shake as he traveled down the outside stairwell.

Flimsier than I thought...can barely hold a galka. The republic must have been really pressed for time to make these.

The galka closed in on me, just barely staying out of my arm’s reach.

"Identify yourself elvaan." he said, his deep voice carrying quite far past the two of us. His enormous red and black harness made from a rather poisonous scorpion glittered in the morning sun made it quite hard for me to look him directly in the eyes, so I slightly turned my head away from him as I reached slowly into my pocket to pull out my identification card and then held it out to hand it to the galka. The galka only snorted and yanked it from my hand rather rudely, almost taking a couple fingers of mine along with it. He opened the small leather cover, and then as he read my name he did a quick double take.

"Well well well...," he said, "it looks like you are actually welcome into the Republic of Bastok today. Momiji had let the Iron Musketeers know that she was expecting your arrival today, and to make sure that you got into the city unhindered."

That took me by surprise, even though I was careful enough to keep it from showing on my face.

Did Gilgamesh tell her?...He did say he was in the area...

"Please follow me to the city gates. Once you are in the city, Momiji instructed us to ask you to please head directly to the goldsmithing guild over there on Gold Street."

The galka turned around in a precision turn on his heel and marched out towards the large gates in the distance without waiting for me. Finding that I didn’t really have anything to say I quickly followed him, finding that I had to practically run in order to keep pace with him. It only took a few minutes to trek underneath all of the watchful eyes of the other tower guards, and we arrived at the huge town gate itself in record time. There, the galka pulled out a gray linkpearl, and spoke into it quietly for a moment before putting it away, whereas the gates instantly snapped open with a rather loud creaking sound.

"Your leave sir." the galka said as he pointed towards the inner city of Bastok. I nodded to him in thanks, before stepping inside and seeing two more galkas, with no slight physical exertion, snap then back close as quickly as possible.

Instantly, I noticed that the city was a little bit different from last time I had come here. The air was still as dirty as ever, and judging from the rotten bird egg smell in the air, it seemed like the war hadn’t stopped Cid’s engineers in Metalworks from creating more and more inventions. However, it was rather obvious to see that the various humes and galkas of the city were not shying away from a blood-covered person, as several made mumbled greetings towards me as started to find my way to Gold street via my memory.

I was almost to the turn to where I remembered the guild being when suddenly three small girls ran in front of me, causing me to almost trip and fall over them. My head turned towards them to see exactly what caused them to be in such a big hurry, and I saw them proceed to plaster their faces against a glass plane in order to oogle whatever was laying behind it.

"I want that one!" one of the two blondes shouted.

"I want that one too!" the long black-haired girl then said, the volume of her voice matching what I assumed were her friends.

"Me too!" said the blonde third girl, her hair short and bouncing up and down as she hopped excitedly from foot to foot.

Just then, a lone black-haired boy came trudging past me, and to where they were. He appeared to be carrying three different colored purses in his arms, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him as he finally came to where the three other girls where.

Man...its never gonna get any easier for you...might as well get used to it now. I said in silent telepathy to him.

The three girls then turned around to him all at once, and yelled in unison while pointing at the display: "We want that!! Buy it for us...pleaaaassseeee??" All three girls then turned towards the shop door and scurried through it, letting it shut with a bang. The boy only sighed and nodded as then maneuvered the purses over to one arm as he made his way to the shop also and opened the door to let himself in.

For no particular reason (and because I didn’t really want to see Momiji right now), I decided to follow them in and just see exactly what they wanted. Striding over to the door, I opened it with a soft chime from the gold bell over head...

And realized that it was a wedding dress shop.

"We want that!"

"Yeah, we want the Opaline dresses!"

I could see the three girls all pressing the salesclerk hume up against the wall, her hands desperately out to her sides as she searched with her eyes for a way out. The lone boy hung out near the door still holding all three purses, obviously wishing that he was somewhere, ANYWHERE, other than in that shop.

"Opaline?...aren’t you a little young?...And they are quite costly..." the saleswoman said, her voice clearing showing that she afraid of what they might do next.

"NO!" the black-haired one shouted in front, looking like she was on the verge of pouncing upon the poor clerk.

Rolling my eyes, I stepped forward and interceded in order to save the saleslady’s life, or at least her sanity.

"Here, let me buy them those dresses." I said quietly.

As soon as I did so, all three girls turned around, went wide-eyed and then hugged my long legs.

"Thank you!!!" they said in unison, before grabbing three boxes stacked up in an aisle and running off towards the dressing rooms to go change.

The salesclerk, who’s name tag I just noticed said Evelyn, smiled weakly at me as she went behind the counter and started to total the cost of the three dresses. "That comes out to be...forty eight thousand, and fifty nine gil. Will you be paying that in cash today?," she said sweetly towards me after a moment of adding.

The color drained out of my face as I heard the total, and I stumbled out "Cash." I then reached into my pocket, and pulled out a thick wad of gil, and dropped it onto the counter. As Evelyn started to count it out into neat little stacks everywhere, the three girls stepped out of the dressing rooms and came back up to the front of the store.

"We finally got our Opaline dresses! Thanks again mister!" the blonde on the left said as she dropped her clothes, along with the other two girls outfits, into their poor guy friend’s already overloaded arms to carry also.

The black-haired girl then stepped forward, and raised a clenched fist towards the ceiling with a look of sincere determination on her little face.

"Yes! With our dresses...we are now...DEATH’S MISTRESSES!!!!" she shouted in excitement.

Both me and the saleslady froze.

...

...

Oh my goddess...what have I just created?...

The girls then bursted into giggles and then rushed towards the door. As they left, they dragged that poor boy out of the shop by his arm, a look of helplessness across his face. As the door slammed shut, a sudden thought struck me.

I hope that boy doesn’t wind up hanging around them when they get older...

He might not survive it.

-fin Aki XL: Uedingudoresu