A Journey through Kingdoms

CHAPTER 41- IM NOT SPECIAL

"Derrick, is there something going on with you?" Cherry would ask, which Derrick would obviously reject and say was nothing, but she knew just by his mannerisms alone. not like she herself wouldn't do the same things and not notice it. "Oh, look, our order is here! Let's focus on that!" he tells her as he points towards the server coming in with a big tray full of Cherry's order and a tiny plate full of chocolate croissants for Derrick. "Oh, the sweets are here! Gimme!" she would say as she began feasting upon them once they were laid down on the table by the waiter. Derrick, seeing her gobble the sweets down like there was no tomorrow, decides to eat himself as he takes a bit out of the chocolate-filled croissant.

As he did so, a flurry of sugary taste filled his mouth as the bread crunched under the bite and chocolate started to spew. filling his mouth with delicious chocolate. "Oh wow, this is really good," Derrick would say afterwards as he took a second bite. Meanwhile, Cherry was wolfing them all down like a hungry woman, as she found all the sweets to be just as good as what Derrick thought of them. "I know, right? its so good!" she would say as she bounced in her seat. "Oh, it looks like you have a little smudge there," Derrick would say as he reaches over to her face and rubs a piece of jam off from the side of her mouth. This sudden act gave her quite a bit of embarrassment, as she blushed on the spot. "Oh, thanks for that," she would say meekly, which he chuckled at. not like what he did was anything special. was it?

who knows. All they did now was enjoy their treats for the day as they ate every single one. By the end, it was already past afternoon, and the two exited the shop like they were filled for the next two weeks. more so, Cherry. Derrick was just happy to have had a chocolate croissant. "Well, where to next, Cherry?" Derrick would ask as he looked at her. Cherry thought about what to do next after having eaten. Maybe walk a bit more. but that wouldn't really be fun. especially for him because she knew what made him tick. and then a blast of inspiration-a flyer that was stapled onto a bulletin board posted on the side of the street with many others like it. It presented to her in bold letters, 'sky watching exhibit'.

"How about we go sky watching?" Cherry would suggest as she points him towards the flyer she just saw. "A sky-watching exhibit... well, isn't that interesting?" Derrick would say for sure. Despite being a lover of rocks and all earthly things, he had yet to explore what was beyond their skies. So for him, he was equally interested in it as she was. "Let's go check it out!" Cherry would say as both of them, now walking side by side, made their way to the exhibit. As they walked through the streets, the night slowly crept into the night sky. but thanks to the kingdom and its income, it was able to light the streets well, like it was daytime still. It was never a dull moment, as Derrick guessed as they passed through.

"So... are you going to talk about it?" Cherry would try to bring it up again. Seeing as he rejected the notion the first time, she wasn't going to take it as final. "What do you mean?" he asked. not really sure what she is talking about yet. "I mean, are you going to talk about what you were mulling about earlier?" she would say as they both stopped on the sidewalk a bit to properly have this conversation. "I told you, Cherry, nothing is on my mind." He would try to defend again. but she wouldn't falter easily. "Derrick, I know something is bothering you, so just spit it out," she would tell him. She knew bottling it up inside was going to end badly for him, so as someone who would list it, it was important that he tell her now. Derrick, on the other hand, was unsure. He didn't want to be mean to Pyxis, but he and Tetsuga were getting so close, you'd even think they were inseparable. It stung him every time he thought of it.

"I don't... I don't know what to say," he would tell her as he rubbed his arm. He didn't know what to do about these feelings of his. Was this the inadequacy he was feeling? that someone who appeared all of a sudden was going to outdo him in terms of being Tetsuga's right-hand man. All he saw from Pyxis was as if he were looking into a mirror that made you better. "Then just tell me what's going on with you," Cherry would urge as he struggled to let her know. "I just know Pyxis is going to replace me in Tetsuga's life," he would say. as if ashamed by that. but Cherry didn't think so. "What and why would you think that?" she would ask. "You and I both know he just showed up on us, but now he's being all chummy with Mr. . Tetsuga, and I'm worried. Something is clearly going on, and you know it too," Derrick would tell her.

"What? Is that what you thought I knew? No, all I was suggesting was that he was suspicious, that's all," Cherry would say as she cleared up that mistake. "But why would you ever think Pyxis would replace you? He's been in this group for how long?" she tried to assure him, but it didn't really work all that much. "To put it frankly, Pyxis is just me but better. He likes rocks, he's composed, he's older, and not to mention the fact he doesn't need Mr. Tetsuga to save him when he's in a pinch," he would tell her as well as he begins letting it all out. "Derrick, just because he's all that, that doesn't mean that he's better," she would say as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You are special," she would say. but suddenly Derick would go and swat her hand away in a fit of irritation. this gave her quite the scare as her eyes widen. "No, I am not!... and neither are you, Cherry; none of us are," he would say as he hung his head low. "I've come to accept that life, and you should to," he would say before he started walking away. "D-Derrick!" was all that came out, but Derrick didn't respond; all he did was walk away from her while she stood where she was at the moment. letting it all sink in. those words, Derrick's smile. It was an understatement to say that she was just hurt. Her eyes water as the words he said reverberate in her head like a choir. but, no! She was a tough young lady. Despite what was said, she was going to turn Derrick's frown upside down so she could see him smile again. But first, she needed to find where he went.

as she runs through, finding the boy. Derrick was sadly walking through the streets alone. He reflected on his words to her. he knew he hurt her with those. He knew he shouldn't have said it that way, but it was true. At least that's what he thought. He would try to look up and go back to Cherry to apologize for his outburst, but then something coughed in his eye. He looks to his side and sees a window, which shows Tetsuga drinking merrily with Pyxis. For some reason, he couldn't help but think that he had been replaced by him. I guess being a drinking partner for him was another thing he was able to do, among other things. choosing not to see anymore of it, he leaves his spot to find a better spot to be moody at. Fortunately or unfortunately, Pyxis managed to catch a glimpse of him when he left.