The Crying Traveller (Part 5)

Kito: *is on the shoulders of Melly, helping pick apples* Heads up, bro! *he tosses a few down*

Raito: Got 'em! *runs under with the basket, catching 'em* Whew.

Melly: *points at one* I think that's ripe too

Kito: *grabs the one Melly was refering to* Thanks Melly. *kisses him*

Raito: I can't believe it! We're gonna be parents!!

Melly: *blushes* Yeah, I knw. And I don't have to worry abt who it belongs to. My body enables me to carry both ur kids

Kito: If it's one, we're fine with it

Raito: Yea! I mean, Kiba nii-san is having one too!

Kiba: Did someone say my name? *is on the shoulders of Elly, waving to them*

Twins: Kiba nii-san!

Elly: Hey guys. *pats Elly's head* Hey, sis

Raito: Whatcha guys doing here?

Kiba: We're just getting some fresh air

Elly: Yup. Though Kiba needs it more than I do. It's good for the baby

Melly: *chuckles* You guys are such a cute couple

Kito: I agree! They were gonna be together one day, since they always were together as kids

Raito: And they always looked after us too.

Kiba: We sure had some adventures in those days.

Kito: Hey! Did you see Papa lately? He's getting pretty biig

Elly: I knw. He seems almost due

Raito: It's great to see him happy again. Uncle Kal finally coming clean with Uncle Nakh...Papa getting over the loss of his previous carrying....

Melly: Yeah, I'm glad I can stop pretending right now. You have no idea how much I begged Mom to let me come clean

Kito: *kisses him* And we were finally able to snag you

Raito: All to ourselves

Kiba: *rubs his belly* I'm glad the three of you are finally happy

Melly: Sorry for being so mean to you guys *holds Kito and Raito* If I had known u guys were reli serious, I wouldn't have let you be hurt by that werewolf...

Kito: Hey, it runs in our blood to protect those we love. Remember the tale of how Dad protected Papa from the water ghost?

Kiba: Ooh! I loved the story

Elly: Eh? I nvr heard of that story before

Raito: Oh! It goes like this. It was Papa was two months along with us. He was just fishing a bit until a water spirit came out of the water, angry that someone was defiling his river. Then Dad came in and tried to warn the spirit off

Melly: How did he do that?

Kito: He managed to make peace with the spirit in return to help protect the river

Elly: Wow. Your dad's reli brave. I almost thought he had a death wish

Kito: Almost seems like it, doesn't it?

Raito: I agree

Kiba: I used to get the shivers when I heard that story

Melly: Was the spirit reli creepy n stuff?

Kiba: I heard it almost looked human, despite being all water

Elly: I'd reli like to see that

Kito: We actually can! It's right near by

Melly: Are you sure? It won't harm us, right?

Raito: Naw, We've known him since we were kids!

Elly: Then let's go. I wanna chk him out

Kiba: Forward march! hehe

*all of them made a move towards the area where the water spirit is*

Kiba: Hello?! Spirit are you here?

*a huge loud sound was heard and a huge wave rose up in the air, then materialized into a human shape*

Kito: Hey, Spirit!!

Spirit: Well, well, well, if it isn't the Dangerous Duo *emerges frm the water and circled the group like a huge snake until his face was in front of the twins*

Raito: How's it going, Spirit? It's been a while

Spirit: It's been a loooooooooong while, boys. I see you got yourselves a Mundockian giant here

Raito: This is Melly ^^ He's expecting

Kito: ^^ Yep. *points to Elly and Kiba* Remember them?

Spirit: Expecting, you say? You boys been busy, ain't ya? *circles Elly and Kiba* Hmm, I haven't seen you two either in a long time. You've been busy as well, have you, Ellokh my boy? *pointed at Kiba's belly*

Elly: Y-You knw me?

Kiba: Of course. He saw you as a baby

Spirit: I knw everyone here in the clan. I suppose you don't remember me, since u were sooooooo young bk then

Kiba: See hon? He's known you

Elly: Cool

Spirit: Of course *looks knowingly at Kiba* I wouldn't have known him if you hadn't come here and let him fall into the river. He was could've drowned if it weren't for me

Kiba: Aw man >.<

Kiba: We were playing tag and he tripped

Elly: I don't reli remember falling into the water though. Guess I was reli young bk then

Kiba: Yea, but what's passed has passed.

Kito: So how have you been SPirit?

Spirit: Pretty alright, guarding this plc n all. Tho it does get lonely

Kita: Doesn't it always? *Waddles in, wearing his maternity robes*

Twins: Papa! *hugs him*

Kita: Whoa-whoa! Easy boys

Kiba: Uncle Kita!

Melly: Be careful, guys. He's almost due, you knw *picks Kita up and puts him on his elbow* How're you doing?

Kita: Really good. Feet are getting kinda sore at the moment

Elly: Then you shouldn't be walking ard. Why don't you get Daddy to carry you?

Kita: He's busy, showing his clan around. Ever since they dropped the bounty, this place has become a tourist attraction, a free one

Spirit: Free? You should charge them. It's soooooo much more rewarding

Melly: Besides, it's the least they could do, for what they've done to me *says grudgingly*

Kito: Papa's not like that, Melly. Papa doesn't believe in rewards like money and jewels

Raito: Yea, he's selfless

Kita: *remembers* Oh yea! *whistles for a familiar face to Melly* Cmon out now!

Melly: *backs away frm him, giving him a death glare*

Takai: Melly...*kneels to him* I'm sorry for the hell I've put you through...*he starts to shed real tears, holding a blue stone*

Melly: *looks at the blue stone he was holding to him. It was very valuable but he knew it was not enough*

Kita: Melly, he was one of the few giants who protested torturing you....

Melly: Can this gift get rid of my pain and suffering you guys put me through all these years? Can it remove all the bad memories and all the night terrors that still haunts me even today? Can it bring all the babies you made me lost? Can it?

Elly: Sis...

Takai: *drops the stone, crying* I didn't mean it!!! They made me do it!! Or else...

Kita: They would've killed him. I've confirmed this with the elders of the tribe. Takai was threatened to take advantage of you or he would've been executed, and marked as a traitor

Melly: If the threat of death made you do all those terrible things to me, then I don't want it. *picks up the stone* You can keep your goddamn stone. I DON'T WANT IT! *throws it at Takai tearfully before running away*

Kita: Melliath Hadurakh!! *Shouted at the top of his lungs, stopping the young giant in his tracks*

Twins: Uh oh...he's serious

Melly: *stops for a while* You don't understand. You all don't FUCKING UNDERSTAND!!! *runs off again*

Elly: *stops Kita frm giving chase* Let him be, Kita ji-san. He's been through too much. I agree to his thoughts a little. A valuable blue stone just isn't enough

Kita: He doesn't get it. *picks up, opening it*

Elly: What do you mean?

Kita: The same thing happened to me those months ago...they kidnapped me...tortured me...but I didn't hate them for it *looks at the note inside the stone* It's an ask for forgiveness...signed by the entire clan... *goes to where Melly is hiding* Melly? *taps the young Mundockian's shoulder*

Melly: Go away! You don't understand! You have no idea what it's like! Go away!

Kita: Melly, listen to me. *sits down* No one knows this but your father and I...They kidnapped me months ago

Melly: So?

Kita: They beat me...tortured me...thinking I brainwashed your father to join my clan.

Melly: Nothing compared to mine

Kita: *takes his top off, revealing a long scar on his right side, which was made by a spear. I know it wasn't as bad as yours...but, they left a spear in my side, for one day...leaving me to bleed

Melly: *shocked to see the huge scar*

Kita: I told them the truth what had happened...and they took it out...they realized who I was and... *gives Melly the note* This was inside the stone

Melly: *sees the note and the signature, then throws it away* Sorry is not going to make my nightmares and pain go away. Sorry is not going to bring my babies back

Kita: Melly, what's done has been done. There's no going back...What do you want from them? They're begging for forgivness...let the past go Melliath....live in the now. Hatred leads down to more hatred....and it'll haunt you for the rest of my life

Melly: It's just... *cries, tears pouring down non-stop* It's just so hard... All the pain, all the hurt... All my babies... It's so hard to let go...

Kita: Hey...you have Kito and Raito to help...*pats his son-in-law's stomach* And you got a whole new generation inside you. That will make up for it

Melly: *hugs Kita and wails, crying his heart out*

Kita: Sshhh, let it all out, Melly...my son-in-law

Melly: *sobs, holding Kita close* O...Oka-san...

Kita: Will you accept his apology now? And the Clan's?

Melly: Well... *sniffs as he wipes his tears* If they buy our babies a new crib, I might consider...

Kita: They've done more than that. *Escorts the giant Mundockian to a private villa* This is yours and the twins'. It's got everything, including a playpin and a crib...built by your father's clan *Shows Melly the inside* See?

Melly: *admires the handiwork*

Kita: So, what do you think?

Melly: It's...It's reli nice *his heart seemed to feel a little relaxed knowing what the giants had done to make up for hurting him*

Takai: So, do you accept now? *Appears behind them*

Melly: *turns to Takai, stomps up towards him and slaps him hard across the face*

Takai: Ouch-kabibble!

Melly: Do you knw how much pain you caused me? Do you knw that thanks to your cowardice, you made me suffer?! I had your baby once! I was pregnant with your child and your ppl took it away frm me! You know how painful it is?! Did you know how painful it is to watch myself bleed as our baby and many other of my babies died n I can't do anything abt it? Do you?!

Takai: *starts to cry, nodding in acknowledgement...understanding what Melly is saying to him...* Why do you think I didn't want to hit you!

Melly: I don't care if you all treat me like shit! I just wanted to have a child of my own. To at least have some comfort. Someone to love. Is that so much to ask?!

Takai: *there is a scar on his wrist. * I...I tried to kill myself after I heard you miscarried my child....

Melly: *out of the blue, hugs Takai close* I know...I didn't want to believe it because of what you did to me, but deep dwn inside, I knw you're the odd one out, the only one who cares...

Takai: *hugs him* I'm sorry...I made this *shows a pair of stuffed wolves for the baby MElly is carrying*

Melly: *takes the toys and hugs him bk* Will you come visit me during my birth? I don't mind if u be my babies' god father

Takai: *gasps at the request* Really? You sure?

Melly: I'm not going to repeat myself again. Will you or will you not visit me during my birth?

Takai: *bows* Yes, I accept! I mean...I will.

Melly: Good. If you don't show up, I'm giving u bk these worthless toys *has a pretend angry face*

Takai: I will make it. I'm living here now *that surprised Melly, He has dark brown hair with a golden streak in the middle where it parts. And he has ruby-colored eyes.*

Kita: I adopted him. His parents died in a war a long time ago. He's been an orphan since

Melly: You're just so soft-hearted now, are you? You gonna adopt every orphan you see?

Kita: IT's who I am, Melly. *hears Nakh coming in* Hey Nakh nii-san

Nakh: Hey, Kita. I see you're making friends with Takai now, Melly

Melly: He's not my friend *looks away, his face still in denial, bt more or less not grudging*

Nakh: Riiiight...

Kita: Just no mood swings, okay?

Takai: ^^ Hi Mr. Nakh *bows*

Kita: so polite, isn't he

Nakh: Hey *pats Takai's head* It's been a while since I seen you. You were still a little boy last time

Takai: Hehe, I remember.

Kita: *gets onto Nakh's shoulder*

Takai: You'd always let me giving me a piggy ride every day!

Nakh: Yeah, n your mom always scolds you for bothering me, saying that you shouldn't be bothering the high ups

Melly: The high ups?

Nakh: Well, Melly, bk home warlords are considered aristocrats of the clan, so basically I'm like a hierarchy higher than anyone else

Kita: So, it's smililar to royalty like we have here?

Nakh: More or less. We serve the Head of the Clan, so to speak, so yeah, a little bit royalty does run in our blood. Takai here, before his parents were recruited and died, was the son of a weapons-maker, a class lower than mine

Kita: Whoa, a weapon's maker? So that's why he's good at crafting things

Takai: Yea, after my parents died, I started making stuff like pots, jewels, and other kinds of valuables

Kita: ooof *rubs his stomach*

Nakh: You OK?

Kita: The baby just kicked, that's all

Takai: May I feel?

Kita: Sure, Takai. *opens his top, letting the young giant feel with his finger* Wow! How are yours, Melly?

Melly: They're alright. The occasional kick n all that but technically they're as quiet as a mouse. I feel quite big though. I guess my babies will be born giants

Kita: Giant wolves, to be exact. The same as Kiba

Melly: Yeah, that. I've lost so many that I don't knw how it might feel but...would it hurt? Giving birth, I mean?

Kita: As a matter of fact....it does...but it's worth it. Ask your father, he's been there when you were born and when Elly was born. Hell, I even crushed his fingers when I was having Kito and Raito

Melly: Did he really?

Nakh: Yup, almost broke them

Takai: *taps his fingers together*

Kita: I remember you saying that I was the closest to snapping them off

Kyo: Ain't that the truth

Takai: Kyo-sama

Nakh: Hey, Kyo. What brings you here?

Kyo: Just checking on my brothers and my nephews ^^ *he's a bit periker than usual*

Nakh: You seem like you're in Cloud 9 today

Kyo: Sure am! *jumps onto Nakh's back* I'm gonna be a grandfather

Nakh: Makes you feel kinda old, don't cha?

Kyo: Naw, I'm only 50 years older than Kita

Kita: Oh yea, make me feel older, why don't ya?

Kyo: ^^ hehe sorry

Nakh&Melly: LOL

Takai: From what I've seen, Kita does act older than he usually is

Kita: hey!!

Nakh: I agree. But he can't help it. He is the Prince and Head of the Clan after all

Melly: That's one thing that bugs me. Why Kita ji-san? Why not Kyo ji-san? I thought it's always the elder brother who takes over the throne

Kyo: I gave it to him.

Melly: Eh? Why?

Kita: It's true. Kyo was chosen to be head of the clan, but he felt he wasn't worthy of being it. What made him decide was when I settled the fight at the infamous Tall Ice Valley. I'm sure you heard of it?

Takai: I heard. It was nearly a bloodbath

Kita: It was between the blue-eyed clan and the coyotes

Nakh: I vaguely remember it a little

Melly: Tell me abt it

Kyo: It was Kita and I. We were caught in the middle of a thunderstorm. So we headed into an inn to stay for the night. The minute we got there, a blue-eyed giant and a coyote were arguing. First it started into a rumble and then swords were being drawn. Only one guy got hurt on each side.

Melly: Oh dear. What were they fighting for?

Kyo: A girl, which is ridiculous. Kita, couragously goes up to them, asking to settle down. HE said if they don't stop this, then it'll spread through the inn and cause even more violence. Before they could react, he healed the two injured people. That's when I knew he was better suited than me as PRince of the Wolves

Nakh: Still Prince, eh? Not yet a King?

Kyo and Kita: That would be our father.

Takai: How old is he?

Kyo: I think he's 3000

Kita: You'd be amazed, he still looks 25. Same with mother

Melly: You will be King, right? Eventually?

Kita: I dunno. I'm comfortable with who I am now

Kyo: Same here. If he does become king, I take his place. That's how it goes.

Nakh: That shouldn't be too bad

Kita: You guys get things settled here, I'm gonna look for Kalana. *He heads off to the next villa, which is Kalana's and Nakh's* Kal? Ya here?

Kal: I'm in the kitchen *making mini tarts*

Kita: *Goes to his best friend* ^^ How's it going?

Kal: Pretty good. I'm making tarts for the giant clan who are here. Though I'm not sure it's enough. They do have a big appetite like Nakh

Kita: Don't forget, you got three pregnant people among us

Kal: *blushes* Make that four

Kita: Four? Kal, no way...you're...

Kal: *nods* I just went to see the midwife yesterday. She confirmed I'm abt 1 1/2 mths along

Kita: well, at least I'm due in two more months

Kal: I didn't think Nakh would forgive me so easily for doing the deal with the Shinigami. I still feel bad for that...

Kita: *puts his hand on his shoulder* What's passed has passed

Kal: I knw. But what I don't understand is why wasn't Nakh upset for what I've done? Why is he not angry that I have slept with someone else other than him? I was expected a little scolding frm his part but...

Kita: You know Nakh. He's never hard on you. ever

Kal: I knw. * caresses his slightly protruding belly* Gods, I'm having twins now. As if giving birth to one baby giant wasn't hard enough *chuckles*

Kita: Are you saying I am lucky? *rubs his belly, protruding from his kimono*

Kal: Maybe. I'm going to give birth to giant twins. Not exactly a walk in park

Kita: Yea. Hey, do you want to go the bathing pond?

Kal: Um, yeah sure. But why?

Kita: *points to his best friend's ankles* Your ankles are swellin' Cmon

Kal: *LOL* yeah I guess. Alright *follows Kita*