Ep.39: On Deaf Ears, Part 3

“Ummm… you sure this is the right way, Fukai?” Maka glances around a corner on the left side of the palace.

“Come on, it’s me we’re talking about,” I say with confidence as I put my arm around Maka’s shoulder. “When have I ever let you guys down?”

Shrugging off my arm, Maka walks up to Anaea and whispers, “Do you-” Anaea shakes her head while Maka, in turn, expels a massive sigh of air. “Ummm…Fukai, do you mean, like, just for today or…” Maka seems hesitant about finishing his question. Like he’s not sure he wants to hear the answer.

“Oh! I see how this is…” I accuse, bitterly, as I stride up to the wall. “You guys don’t believe in me!” I say with frustration while pushing on the wall.

“Ummm… do you need any help?” Maka asks cautiously.

“No… Maka! I’m doing just fine, Maka! All-by-myself, Maka! See! Easy as pie.” I declare fiercely as the wall I am pushing on opens inward, striking something on the other side with a loud metallic Bong. “Huh?” I gasp in surprise.

“What was that sound just now?” Anaea looks at me.

“I’m not sure…” I peak my head in. “Hmmm… everything looks…” I look down and discover a guard that is sleeping on the job. “Wow… I see the guards here are lazy.” I quip.

“Is everything okay, Fukai?” Maka looks into the opening and notices the guard. “Fukai… umm, did you do what I think you did?”

“If my memory is right, I’m pretty sure we go this way!” I say, avoiding Maka’s question as I begin to run away in the direction I’m pointing.

“Come on, Anaea, before Fukai leaves us behind,” Maka says.

“Coming!” Anaea shouts.

“Be quiet,” I instruct them as we go around a corner.

“Fukai, are you sure this is the right way? I mean, it looks like we’re lost.” Maka looks at me with expectation.

“Kekekeke. Fear not, Maka, it’s not my first time here. I know exactly where the throne room is…” I declare with confidence while running past two huge, slightly ajar doors.

“Wait, Fukai, I think I hear someone in this room,” Anaea says while looking inside.

I pause for a second. “Huh?”

Maka walks up to Anaea and looks in as well. “I think that’s Ramsey… Maybe this is the throne room?” Maka suggests.

“No, no… Fukai was confident about where we needed to go…” Anaea looks over at me and smirks. “Fukai wouldn’t be wrong… right?”

Maka coughs, trying to keep from laughing. “I’m sure… ahem… they had some remodeling work done since the last time you were here, right?” Maka says, snorting and snickering.

Thoroughly embarrassed, I quietly walk to the doors with my nose in the air, giving a soft, high pitched, “Hmph!”

“Listen, Ramsey. We have a responsibility to uphold, and a ruler that has their subjects walk all over them isn’t a ruler at all!” King Al’Jun shouts while sitting on the throne.

“What do you know, anyways.” Ramsey mumbles under his breath while on one knee. “Look, Father, I do agree with what you’re saying, but in this case if I hadn’t listened to my friends, and followed them, I wouldn’t have discovered something horrific that requires addressing,” Ramsey states, his voice firm.

“What did you say?” King Al’Jun asks sharply.

“Father, we saw something in the Deep Jungle.” Ramsey stands up. “It was not…” he continues to argue his case.

“Like I was saying, guys, this is the throne room,” I say while pointing into the throne room, hoping Maka and Anaea will forget my mistake.

“Umm… if you say so.” Maka snorts, trying not to laugh.

“…” Anaea remains quiet, holding back the laughter.

“I’m sure these are the right doors! They’re humongous!” I whoop as I burst through the king’s throne room doors. “Yo! How’s it going, Ramsey?!” I call out with a bright smile.