Title: A Vice-Captain's Tale - Suggestion #6
Fandom: The Legend of Sun Knight
Words: 1,816
Summary: The vice-captains of the Twelve Holy Knights never thought that their jobs would differ so vastly from their expectations. Tyler has really been missing out.
Notes: Tyler is too cute. I don't characterize him right, but here, have some more of Tyler. (I should really be writing my Parallels assignment asjdf;asjfda;)

Sugestion #5: Enjoy Your Food

Suggestion #6: Save Some Money

The next day at the training grounds, I felt someone stare at me with an unwavering gaze, making me feel overly conscious of myself. I haven't even started wearing the leotard yet! I finished the last of my drills and turned to my latest interrupter -- Vice-Captain Leaf.

I was, unfortunately, getting used to the interruptions.

He had a bow on his back and looked as windswept as ever. He ran his hand through his messy hair and frowned at me. "Vice-Captain Hell, did you buy new clothes?"

I glanced down at myself. I was wearing the outfit that Vice-Captain Moon had bought for me. After wearing it more than once, it was actually starting to feel more comfortable to wear. I answered, "Yes... well, sort of..."

It was new, but I wasn't the one who had paid for it.

He frowned some more and crossed his arms. "Well? Is your answer yes, or is it no?"

"Vice-Captain Moon bought it for me a few days ago," I explained.

"Phew."

Phew?

He waved one hand in the air in dismissal. "If you were a hopeless spendthrift, then there would really be no helping you! Come along!"

Do I get to say no?

Perhaps it was because his captain never said no, but Vice-Captain Leaf was quite forceful, with a temperament completely unlike his captain's.

I once again found myself in a forest, this time with the Leaf Knight Platoon. The moment we entered, the leaf knights all scattered, some even leaping up trees. I hoped they did not expect me to follow them!

From time-to-time, I could hear them shouting, "I love nature!"

Truly worthy of being leaf knights!

To my surprise, even Knight-Captain Leaf was there. He was sitting on a boulder and had a knife out.

"Did my vice-captain force you to come? I'm sorry," he apologized.

"Um, no, it's nothing..."

Before I could finish my sentence, a pile of branches appeared in front of Knight-Captain Leaf. He blinked and returned to cutting off the bark from the branches. Unsure of what I was supposed to do, I walked along the vicinity and gathered some long sticks similar to the ones by Knight-Captain Leaf's feet.

All of a sudden, Vice-Captain Leaf jumped down from a tree, landing softly before me. I jumped too, out of surprise!

"Oh, sorry," Vice-Captain Leaf said with a lopsided grin. He shook leaves out of his hair. He looked a lot less stiff than he had been at the training grounds. Maybe he feels more at home in the forest?

"Are you going to explain what I'm doing here now?" I asked, as I was no great lover of nature. "If not, I'm heading back."

"No, no, wait!" he called out. He gestured around him. "I just wanted to show you what we usually do."

"You do this a lot?"

By now, I'd concluded that they were making their own arrows, which was quite remarkable of them. Both the Blaze Knight Platoon and the Leaf Knight Platoon were very skilled with their craftsmanship.

He nodded. "You know how the Pope is."

I blinked. "How is he?"

"...You..." He looked at me in astonishment, mouth dropping open. "You... seriously don't know?"

What is he going on about?

I ventured a guess. "You mean, how he looks very young?"

He shook his head.

"How he's rumored to be able to perform Resurrection?"

He shook his head again.

I frowned, not knowing what to say.

Unable to help himself, Vice-Captain Leaf yelled, "He never gives us enough funds!"

I blinked. "...Really?"

Then, I stopped to consider his words. It was true that our salaries were not very high, and the funds allocated to the Hell Knight Platoon were only just enough for equipment and short missions, but even then, I had some money saved up. Lately, I had even been able to save up more than before. Ever since my captain returned, I stopped having to use my own money to replenish the Hell Knight Platoon's funds.

Wait...

Don't tell me my captain is making up for the deficiency?! That... wouldn't do at all!

Vice-Captain Leaf shook his head in disbelief. "Tyler, you might not know the terror of running out of money, but it will happen to you one day, I swear! So be prepared for it!"

"How do I prepare for it?" I asked in a hurry.

"By making money on the side!"

I stood behind a stall in the marketplace, a smile frozen on my face.

"What are we doing?" I mouthed to Vice-Captain Leaf.

"Selling all of this," he answered and gestured at the boxes and boxes of arrows before us. They were all hand made by the Leaf Knight Platoon. I had also made some arrows as well, but most of mine were still unfinished and would be sold next time.

"Isn't this... against some sort of law?" I asked.

We're holy knights! We can't do things like this, right? Aren't we disrupting the marketplace or something like that?

He shrugged. "The Pope doesn't care. In fact, he's ecstatic that we're doing this! Since he's backing us, we have nothing to fear! And look! The citizens adore our presence!"

I didn't know what to say. The citizens really did adore our presence. The line to buy these arrows was so long that it curled around the corner and disappeared into the alley.

I gave in and helped the Leaf Knight Platoon with their sales.

As I helped sell, I noticed a box of what looked to be dolls among all of the boxes of arrows.

"What are those?" I asked and pointed.

Vice-Captain Leaf glanced in the direction I pointed. "Oh those! Those are straw dolls made by the captain! They're very popular."

Your captain makes dolls?

I held one up. It was quite exquisitely made. I could actually see Knight-Captain Leaf making these, patiently stitching them together. It was a fitting pastime for one as kind as he was.

"The truth is, we've all received one from the captain before." He pulled a doll out of his pocket. It had a mini bow on its back, like a miniature version of Vice-Captain Leaf. "Captain has quite a collection in his room. He's made one of each of us, one for us and one he... keeps."

Vice-Captain Leaf's expression turned strained.

I'm more surprised that you carry it around with you...

I stared at the doll in Vice-Captain Leaf's hand.

It seemed to stare back at me.

I quickly turned away.

"How much is it for twenty arrows?" a teenager asked Knight-Captain Leaf with stars in his eyes. This youngster no doubt held Knight-Captain Leaf in high regard.

"Five silver ducats," Knight-Captain Leaf answered with a smile.

The teenager dug around in his pouch. When he raised his head once more, his starry eyes had become just the bit moist. "Um, I only have one silver ducat... Could I please have the arrows for one silver ducat?"

I'd heard that Knight-Captain Leaf never said no, and faced with a teenager who looked like he was about to cry, I doubted he would be able to refuse! Knight-Captain Leaf's face softened, and he opened his mouth--

Only for his vice-captain to interrupt.

Full of smiles, Vice-Captain Leaf said, "Boy, you have one silver ducat? Perfect! It's enough for you to buy four arrows!"

Cheeks flushing, the boy instead took out three silver ducats and bought twelve arrows, barely enough to fill up his quiver.

Shaking his head, Vice-Captain Leaf turned to his captain and said, "Captain, you have to refuse cases like that! He was obviously trying to trick you!"

Off to the side, I watched as a vice-captain kept on berating his captain... But after the long spiel, all Knight-Captain Leaf did was smile and pat his vice-captain on the shoulder.

"I have you looking out for me, so there's really nothing to fear!"

"Captain..." He looked pained.

Perhaps this is why Vice-Captain Leaf prefers forests... There's no one he has to say no to there for his captain!

As our sales wound down, most of the platoon was now counting money instead of playing salesmen. Based on how much money we had made today, I was fairly sure the Leaf Knight Platoon must be one of the richest platoons among the twelve. They were very good at making money. They relaxed their smiling expressions... Actually, they were still smiling, but instead of business-like smiles, their smiles were now a lot more genuine.

"I love nature!"

Makes sense, they're the Leaf Knight Platoon.

"I love making arrows!"

Makes sense, they're archers.

"I love money!"

Makes sense... what?

"Now we don't have to be dirt poor anymore," sobbed one of the leaf knights.

"But it's not going to stay that way for long..." another leaf knight said.

"No! Don't say it!" wailed another.

What...?

Vice-Captain Leaf handed me a small pouch full of ducats. "Here Tyler. This is your share. Thanks for coming along. I hope you learned something from this."

I gave him a nod. "Are we heading back to the Holy Temple now?"

He shook his head, face pained. "No... we have one more stop."

I watched Knight-Captain Leaf excitedly visit one stall after the next with his vice-captain trailing fretfully after him. From time-to-time, I could hear Vice-Captain Leaf's voice rise, shouting things like, "No! We won't buy your seasonings for three silver ducats! Two silver ducats, or else we're leaving!"

"Eh? But three silver ducats seems reasonable..." Knight-Captain Leaf said.

"No, Captain! The next street over, there's a stall that is selling the same spice for only two silver ducats!"

"Is there?" I asked one of the leaf knights next to me.

"Nope," he answered.

I stared in awe. Vice-Captain Leaf was very, very good at haggling.

A moment later, both captain and vice-captain circled back to us, arms full of jars and bags. The leaf knights around me hurried to help their captain with the goods.

"Sorry for borrowing money again," Knight-Captain Leaf apologized. "I'll be sure to pay you back."

...What happened to all the money you just earned, Knight-Captain Leaf?!

"It's fine, Captain," Vice-Captain Leaf said tonelessly, hand grabbing at his hair, messing it up even more. He turned to the rest of us. "Has anyone any money to spare? Captain still needs to buy ink and paper."

Since we had just finished selling arrows, it was obvious that everyone had some money to spare, but they were all reluctant to part with their hard-earned money. Still, they did it anyway, each dropping a silver ducat into Vice-Captain Leaf's pouch.

"I'm sorry," Knight-Captain Leaf said and clasped his hands together in apology. "I'll be sure to pay all of you back!"

"No, it's okay, Captain, really!" the leaf knights protested with tears in their eyes.

The bonds of the Leaf Knight Platoon were truly strong for them to support their captain in such a way. Was my Hell Knight Platoon not disciplined enough after all?

Vice-Captain Leaf glanced over at me. I gazed back solemnly and nodded my understanding.

I get what you're trying to teach me, Vice-Captain Leaf!

I looked down at the pouch of money in my hands and inwardly made a decision. After making sure the Hell Knight Platoon had enough funds...

I should buy leotards for everyone!

We had to bond more!

The Sixth Suggestion for Serving Your Captain: Save Some Money (You Will Definitely Need It, Especially When Your Captain Comes Borrowing Money)

to be continued

This has got to be one of the most disjointed chapters ever. XD;;

I'm sorry, Tyler. OTL

Suggestion #7: Jot Down Notes