NOTE: I don't own anything in this story except for Siena and Corine. The rest are from Vagrant Story and Saiyuki. At least in this chapter it's just Vagrant story. The next will introduce some Saiyuki characters. Anyway, this kind of has a video to introduce it. If you'd like to watch it, here's the link: I spent plenty of time working on that video before I ever started on the story, so please enjoy both and comments/reviews will be welcome.

Chapter 1: The Prophet's Vision

My name is Siena. I'm from America, an American Indian whose parents had taken her to France at the age of six, six years before they had died. They were murdered before my eyes, though I was hiding. My mother had the gift of foresight. She knew they were coming and why, but she couldn't let anything happen to me. She saw me as the future of our people, of our family. Things had happened in America, our tribe had been attacked and she had talked my father into getting us out before anything could happen to us. Too bad she couldn't find a way to save herself and father in the end. Of course I ran when it happened. I was afraid of what would happen if they had caught me. My parents had done so much to keep me alive. I wasn't going to let that go to waste. I ran until I couldn't run any more, becoming so tired that I tripped on a branch and stumbled to the ground. The sound of French bandits grew louder, indicating how close they were getting.

It was then I first heard the calming voice of a man who would become like a brother to me. "Stay down." He said softly, making me look up at him. "You'll be safe as long as you're out of range." He added, looking down at me with his beautiful blue eyes. His face was that of a seventeen-year-old with soft blond hair. He was awfully thin, but that wasn't the strangest part. His arms weren't made of flesh, but metal.

As I watched him, he raised his right hand, palm facing out, and started chanting words I had never heard before. Something told me to look behind me, where the bandits were. What I would see, would be the start of this new life. At first I didn't know what was going on. They had stopped and fallen to the ground in pain. Their cries and groans made me want to turn away, but I couldn't. Something held me fast, facing them and watching what I had wished was a dream, one I would wake from soon. It wasn't to be. They suddenly burst into flames, their skin pealing, revealing the burned flesh and caramelized blood that was pealing off with the skin. Their faces were twisted in such agony, and the smell. Would it ever go away?

How long had it gone before they had finally fallen, their screams silenced? I didn't know, and I'm not all that sure I cared; especially not once I had found myself in cold arms that were somehow comforting. "Let it out." He whispered to me. "You've suffered enough, let the tears fall and wash away the pain."

Was it his words that forced me to cry? Or was it that he had reminded me that I hadn't had the chance to until now? Either way, my tears flowed from my eyes like small rivers. Rivers of tears that would dry soon enough before I'd find the relief I yearned for. The relief I found in this man who had saved my life.

Once my tears had stopped and my sobs had silenced, I looked up at him, my eyes glassy enough to reflect his face, his eyes. "Who are you?" I asked in a soft, broken voice. There was something about him that seemed to whisper that he was one I could trust. This was something that had never happened before. I had only trusted my parents. I had no siblings, no one else, especially now. Yet I knew I could trust this man, that he would never harm me.

He smiled, and moved like he was going to caress my cheek and stopped, glancing at his metallic hand. Instead, he let me go and stood, holding out the same hand for me to take. I noticed they were like claws. That didn't matter. I trusted what I had felt and took his hand, seeing in his eyes the amazement that I hadn't shrunken away in fear and disgust. "Sydney Losstarot." His answer and the name I would call for whenever I needed help or guidance.

I was told everything about what he was doing in France, and all about the Mullenkamp cult which he was the leader of. My first night there had been unusual enough. I met so many of Sydney's followers and had even made a few friends that first night. None seemed to mind I wasn't like them with my long dark hair, red-copper skin and dark brown eyes. They accepted me, probably because Sydney had.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to the new-comer?" A female voice asked. I turned to see a girl about my age with red hair like fire and emerald green eyes. Her eyes almost seemed like a feline's, like a hunter's eyes. She looked at me welcomingly while Sydney stood behind me, tense even though he hid it. I could still feel it and became cautious because of it. "I'm Corine." She explained, holding out a hand that seemed like it was sculpted from marble.

"Siena." I answered, shaking her hand.

She smiled and started pulling me away. "I'm sure Sydney has some business to attend to. I'll show you around instead." Her eyes went to Sydney, such playfulness and yet something else. What was it, desire? "We girls will go talk while you men discuss matters of war." She added playfully before trotting away and dragging me along with her.

"I have to show her where she's sleeping." Sydney suddenly said, stopping Corine from going any farther. She looked back at him, pouting like a child before nodding and letting go of my hand. She didn't do all of this without whispering something to me, though.

"We'll hang out after Sydney has shown you around. I'll find you, don't worry." She then turned and ran away, going off to some guy.

I watched her curiously when I felt a cold object gently light on my shoulder. "Come with me." I heard Sydney whisper, his voice so soft and comforting that I would have had no choice but to nod and follow him.

Moments later we were in a small tent with two beds. I looked at Sydney, obviously a little confused. He chuckled and walked over to one of the beds. "You'll be sharing a tent with me until we feel it'll be right for you to be on your own. In the mean time, this is my bed and the one farther from the door is yours."

My eyes went to the farthest bed, noting that it was far enough from the door that if someone was going to come in while Sydney was there, he'd know before I did. Was this to protect me? Or was it for something else?

"Don't worry, Siena. You'll be protected, not attacked. I won't stand for a young girl to be treated like a common whore." He walked to me, his movements smooth and hypnotizing, and his footsteps soundless. I looked into his eyes, drowning in that blue sea that I never wanted to leave. At that moment I would have rather been lost in those eyes for all eternity, but he looked away, breaking the connection and canceling the spell he had inadvertently cast on me. "The celebration tonight is one for life." He started. It wasn't that I had asked. I hadn't spoken a word. I think there was something he had seen that he hadn't expected. "There will be dancing, dancing I'm sure you'll want to avoid. If you want to stay here or go for a walk, you'll be welcome to it. I'll also come with you if you'd like, though I'm sure you need some time to adjust to all that has happened."

Saying that I understood why he was telling me all of this would be a lie. I didn't understand why he was telling me I could leave this celebration. I was only 12 and had never really been taught much about the world. My parents were purely religious, having believed everything the priests told them. Was this something they had preached against? "I'll come to the celebration." I answered. This would be my chance to break away from the bonds my parent's religion had put on me. This was my chance to become who I wanted, even if I was so young. I didn't have anything to hold me back.

Probably sounds strange that my parents had just been murdered and now I'm talking about breaking free of all they had raised me to believe. The fact is my mother had always told me I was to make a new path once her and my father had gone. "Don't look upon our deaths as the ruination of life." She had said. "Look upon it with the knowledge that we had given you a guiding path, and now it is time for you to follow the path built by your heart." Would she have been disappointed that I had joined a group of cultists? Probably; I know my father would have. He had been blinded by the white men. The only thing that had convinced him they weren't all he had believed was my mother. She believed in their religion, but not the people. She still understood the greed they felt, the pain they would inflict. If she had met Sydney, I believe she would have looked to me to decide if I would follow him or not. Either way, I would have still been her daughter. She never would have rejected me, even if my father had. This is why I was breaking away. I was following the new path of my heart with the memory of my parents held deep inside me, making my heart drag and yet float as easily as a feather. Even if a feather falls to the ground, it's still picked up by the wind and taken along to its destination.

I didn't just watch the dance, I was being taught. The women had led me from Sydney and into the ring of belly-dancers. They all showed such kindness as they showed me how to move, how to hold my hands, shoulders and head. This was a dance my parents would have forbidden, which didn't stop me. I watched how they moved and did my best to move with them, my hips swaying, my body twisting. After a while I started to dance as smoothly as they were, and in the same rhythm. We all moved as one, arms held out and moving in twists that would have drawn in men too easily seduced. We leaned as trees in the wind, our arms the branches that caught the force and waved like water. We were one with the world, yet separate from everything. This was the moment I knew this was my new home, my sanctuary. With these cultists, I felt I belonged.

After the dance, Corine had led me aside, her eyes reflecting the smile on her lips, so joyful and yet secretive about something. "You did great!" She exclaimed excitedly before pulling me into a hug. "I'll have to teach you more. I am, after all, the best dancer here." She posed proudly, though it was obviously a joke. We both burst into laughter before she became serious and asked, "Will you stay with us?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

She looked into my eyes hopefully before saying, "Please stay. I want us to be friends. We could be like sisters. Please say you'll stay with us."

How could I refuse? I smiled and looked to the ground. "Okay." I answered before looking back to her. "I'll stay."

She gave me another hug and started jumping with joy, nearly knocking me over. "We'll go through training together and at night we can stay out late and talk." She seemed like her world was now complete, yet mine felt like it had been trapped again.

"Corine."

We turned to see Sydney. Corine automatically bowed to him before walking up to him and looked into his eyes. "Is there something wrong?" She asked softly.

"It's time for Siena to sleep, and you as well. Both of you will start training in dance tomorrow." He looked to me. "I'll be teaching Siena." He held out his hand to me again. I was so focused on Sydney that I didn't notice the look in Corine's eyes. If I had seen it, maybe I could have done something to keep our moment as happy as it had started by saying I'd walk to the tent with her instead. Yet I took his hand, missing the jealousy in her eyes, the seed of hatred.

He drew me to his side and looked to Corine. "One of the priestesses will be teaching you. You'd better be going to bed so you'll be able to listen to her." With that, he turned and led me to our tent.

Nothing happened, of course. I think Sydney was just trying to keep me from being afraid of anything by keeping me close. We hadn't known each other for long, even if he could gain my trust as easily as he had done; he wasn't going to do anything that would destroy that trust.

With most of Sydney's followers, he had used magic to convince them to follow him, all but three. His close friend, Hardin, who I had come to think of as a big brother right from the start, Corine who had given no reason for her joining Sydney, though you could see it in her eyes, and me. I was often asked why I had chosen to follow Sydney. My only response was that it was fate.

The next day, after waking up, I went to a small pond to bathe, something Sydney had suggested. He had made sure I was going to be the only one, in case I wasn't used to bathing with other people. To tell the truth, I was glad to be alone. It was how I felt inside. Maybe to be alone for a while, I'd see that it wasn't entirely true. There were people I'd return to, a man that had taken me in and given me a new home.

Once I had finished with my bath, it was time for Sydney to teach me how to dance. He didn't dance himself, but he knew the moves. When I didn't do it right, he'd put his hands on my hips or back and position me before saying, "Remember this. This is the position you should start with before going through with the move." Then there were times when he'd keep his hands on my hips and actually move them for me. Maybe this was what had made me start to love him, his gentle touch, his calming voice, and his sense in how to guide me. I was young, but his gentleness was still drawing me in, as was his closeness.

With my back against his chest, he gently swayed my hips with his hands after having told me to keep my back from moving too much. I closed my eyes and leaned against him before tilting my head back and to the side, looking up at him if my eyes had been open. I wanted all of this to continue, but he stopped and backed away. "It's getting late." He said softly, caressing my neck hesitantly before walking away.

Things had gone like that for a while, Sydney teaching me how to dance and leaving once we had gotten too close to each other. After going through this for a few weeks, I noticed that Corine was treating me differently. It now seemed like there was something she was holding against me, what I didn't know. She had also tried to get Sydney's attention more than ever, something that hardly seemed to work. He'd congratulate her on how well she was doing with her dancing, having surpassed me by far. She was the one everyone went to watch while Sydney stayed with me. He had even been questioned about it, though he never gave an answer.

I was 14 when our training had finished. Corine was 15. Two years had passed, spring had come once again, and I had grown to love Sydney even more, though he seemed to try keeping his distance. The last day of our dancing lessons had come, and Corine and I had agreed to dance together while seeing how many of the people we'd have watching us. It would be our own little competition, a test of our abilities and talents. We decided we'd separate about half way through, going into our own dances and drawing as many people as we could.

Corine's dance was more about seduction, her movements reflecting more of her desires for a passionate touch, a lustful kiss, the desire she felt reflected back to her. Her green eyes continuously went to Sydney, who only watched me with a sense of pride, but why? Compared to Corine, I was hardly even in the same league as her. She was the best out of the two of us, yet Sydney focused on me instead of her. I seemed to be his pet, while she was left in the cold. At least as far as how he treated the two of us went.

My own dance was more sad and innocent. I danced the story of my parent's death, the pain I felt as I watched the horror of them being stabbed, their valuables taken from their lifeless bodies as well as locks of their hair. There was a sense of hope in the dance, moves representing the moment Sydney had come to save me. He had never really known how thankful I was for him doing that, at least that was what I had thought at the time. I still didn't know all the power he held.

Corine had most of the people watching her, everyone knowing the desire she felt, especially the men. She knew how to draw them in, how to play on their own desires. She reflected the women's desires for the man who led us, all of them wanting to be close to him but knowing they couldn't. It was torture for every one of us. I admit I felt pretty close to the same as they did, but I had an advantage. I was with Sydney nearly every waking moment. It was so much that we had become close. He never touched me as a lover would, only as a brother or close friend. And that seemed strained at times. I was becoming wary of the fact that maybe he didn't want to be with a woman in any way. I guess that was why I had chosen to dance for the past instead of my love for the man who had protected me for years.

The dance was over and Corine had all but two of the cult members surrounding her, Sydney and Hardin. Hardin was caressing my shoulder as he watched the crowd hug and congratulate her on how great her dance was. "You have something Corine doesn't. Something she would kill for." Hardin whispered to me. I looked up at him questioningly only to see him motion to Sydney.

That night, after eating, I went into the forest to relax and think of what had happened during the day. I wasn't alone for long, though. I was joined by Hardin; he had come to tell me about my next training. "Sydney has decided it's time for you to learn some spells. He has a few selected for you now."

I looked at him with surprise. "Me? Learn magic? Do you have any idea how much trouble I'd get into for that if my parents were still alive?"

Hardin sat next to me and looked off in the distance before asking, "Have their teachings ever held you back before? You've done so much since you've first joined us. Would you stop now that you've truly become one of us?" He looked into my eyes and I realized it was just my own fear that I'd disappoint Sydney.

Sighing, I shook my head and looked away. "I'll learn what he chooses." I said softly. It was what my heart had said before, but I hadn't listened, not until now. "I'm guessing it starts tomorrow, in the morning." I sounded more serious than normal. In some ways I was still the young girl Sydney had found two years ago, yet I had moments where I was older, at least mentally. This was one of those moments, and it made Hardin smile to know that I wasn't the simple girl Sydney had brought to our first camp two years ago. We had to move in order to keep from being found by the church with their hounds hunting us down each passing day, every hour drawing closer. This was the danger of being a part of the cult, yet it wasn't all that dangerous. We were still safe as long as we had Sydney..

Five years had gone by, Sydney had taught me everything he thought I would need to know, and the true war against the church was soon to take place. I sat in Corine's tent after having just learned of what Sydney was going to do, what he wasn't going to allow.

"It's okay, Siena." She said softly as she comfortingly rubbed my back, too bad it wasn't enough. What I was told, that next week everyone would be going to this war Sydney had been orchestrating, everyone would have the chance to either die at the hands of the churches men or live to see the fate of their leader. And I….I wouldn't be there. "Sydney's reasons are his own. He won't tell anyone why unless he feels it's right. You know that more than anyone."

I glared at her, my mind swimming through all the reasons as to why this would be happening. He had saved me and I wanted to repay him by being there on the day everything would be happening. I didn't want to feel I had abandoned him. Even though I was being forced to stay behind. "He knows why I want to go." I answered my voice low and full of anger. "You can't tell me he's doing this because he thinks I don't want to help him. That I'm afraid to die."

"I didn't say any of that." Corine said, now becoming angry herself.

"Leave us, Corine." A soft voice spoke from the entrance of the tent. We looked up to see Sydney. "There's something that I need to talk to her about." He added.

I heard Corine sigh and walk out, though my eyes had stayed focused on Sydney. "You're going to give me reasons as to why I have to run while everyone else is going to fight?" I asked before turning away.

"I'm going to tell you what you need to hear." He answered before sitting down beside me. "The reason you're going to run is because you're far too innocent to take a life. I want you to stay as you are. You have a pure heart and soul. I can't let any part of you be corrupted."

"Is that why you've refused to show any love for me?" I thought before looking at him. By now I knew he could read minds, but I also knew that I could block him from my own. I had learned it so I wouldn't have to worry about him hearing a thought he wasn't supposed to. "Then you're making me flee so that I'll stay pure?" I asked.

Sydney sighed. "Not only that. I'm going to make you my life. If you die, I die. It'll be the only way I can come back to you after all of this has ended. Will you be this for me?"

How could I answer him without thinking about it for a moment? I understood what he was saying. There was a spell he could cast to bind his life to mine. Once his life had ended, he would still survive because of me. As long as I was alive, he would be untouchable. Most of the women would have answered him immediately, telling him they would be honored. I saw it as not only an honor, but a responsibility possibly too great. I would be the one link to life that he would have, a link that could easily break. Why had he chosen me? Yet I still had to decide, and my answer wouldn't be one led by desire or fear.

I looked into his eyes before slightly nodding my head. "I'll do it." I whispered before offering him my hand. In order to make the spell work, blood had to be spilled.

He took my hand before looking into my eyes and caressing my cheek. At that moment, I felt that I had gained the very thing I had always wanted from him, the love I had felt for him returned to me from his heart.

Moving one claw over my palm, he pressed the tip into my skin, making me flinch, close my eyes, and try not to cry. The pain was only momentary as I felt soft lips touch my hand, followed by the hiss of a sharp breath taken in. I looked into his eyes, knowing what he had done before putting my hand on his chest. He then looked into my eyes, his own seeming to glow as we both chanted the spell, our blood seeming to take over, running together as our voices did in this river of magic. I could feel how strong he was, how powerful. It would have scared me if it didn't seem so comforting to me that he would fight to keep me alive, not just because his life depended on mine, but because that was what he had always done. He would sacrifice himself to save me. A sacrifice I would be afraid to give.

My hand fell from his chest, my wound and blood glowing for a moment before dimming and disappearing. Sydney caressed my cheek and whispered, "You have to leave tonight. You're my greatest weakness now. You must live in order for me to succeed."

I nodded and looked into his eyes before kissing his forehead. "Does Hardin know about this?"

Sydney nodded. "He has a horse waiting for you, and directions for a safe-house. Tell no one where you're going. I'll be there once this is all over. Please, Siena, promise me you'll keep this secret, even from those you trust."

"I will." I answered, looking at him one last time before turning and leaving. I went to the edge of camp, finding Hardin in the darkness with our best horse.

"Hurry, girl." He said as he took my hand and pulled me to the horse. "We can't let anyone see you leave."

Without warning, I hugged him before getting on the horse.

Hardin smiled softly before handing me a piece of paper. "Read it once the sun has risen. In the mean time, ride east. You'll reach a lone cabin deep in a forest of violet and lavender flowering trees. There are supplies there for you. Ride hard and tell no one who you are."

I took his hand for a moment, tears in my eyes, tears that would never fall. "I'll see you again, Hardin." I said, though I wasn't sure I believed it. I looked away and urged the horse into a run, leaving all of them behind as I rode east.

Sweet Siena,

I know Sydney wouldn't have told you this himself, but he has been proud to have you among us. He's even felt certain affection for you. He told me he intended to use the spell to bind his life to yours and send you away so he would be sure to come back to you and protect you for even longer. No one else knows of this, as he intended. Don't let this gift be wasted, girl.

Kind child, you were the life of us both. I know we never said such things, but I figured I should let you know in some way in case we never meet again. If not, don't cry for me. I'm a warrior. Honor my memory by fighting in every way you know. Fight to live, to continue what I have helped in preserving.

In short, remember all of us. You were our sister, our friend, our confident. Don't let us down by giving into the hardships you'll face. Fight until you can fight no more, and then fight until your spirit has left.

Hardin

After having said goodbye to Siena, Hardin walked back to Sydney's tent, walking in silently to find him sitting on his bed with his head in his hands. He crossed the tent to where Siena's bed had been and sat down when Sydney had suddenly said, "I'm going to lose her, Hardin." He looked up at him, his blue eyes seeming to search for a way to keep his statement from becoming true. "In the future, I'll lose her to a man with purple eyes as bright as the flowers in her sanctuary. How can I stop it? How can I hold onto her and keep her as she is now, innocent and untouched?"

Hardin sighed and looked to the floor. "You can't." He whispered. "You know as well as I do that changing the future is pointless. If it's meant to be, it'll come whether you fight it or not." He wanted to tell his friend that he didn't have to worry, that Siena would always love him, but how could he? She followed her heart, not words. If she was to fall in love with another man, there would be no way to stop her. "All we can hope for is that this man will treat her as she is meant to be treated, that he will keep her pure. As pure as she's always been."

Sydney chuckled darkly. "Maybe this is one reason why I sent her away, to avoid the possibility that this man would come here. The truth is, though, that he's far from here. He's in another land, one with a name I don't know. I saw symbols that I didn't understand. He wore white robes and a scroll over his shoulders. The one thing I know would attract Siena is his eyes. They were sad, full of pain. If she sees him, her instinct will be to sooth that pain." His eyes went to Hardin, from the shadows of his own mind. "She'll go to him because she'll want to save him from the past, and that will be what traps her, though she won't see it that way. She'll come close to death for him, only to be saved by this man I've come to despise for what hasn't happened yet. She'll show him love from her heart, and he'll return it through actions he wouldn't normally consider. I'll lose her forever after that moment, the moment she's overtaken by his love. And there'll be nothing I can do. I'll only be able to watch it happen. This is what I'm living for, yet also for the chance that I can take her beyond this future that still runs in my mind, for the chance that I can be the one to save her again and remind her who her heart has belonged to for all these years."

That night, Corine listened in the darkness as Sydney spoke of this prophecy. Maybe she could take Siena's place in his heart. After having watched him treat her as a queen, her own heart breaking because she knew Siena was the only thing keeping her from having the man she dreamed of every night, she would have her revenge. If she couldn't hurt her by taking Sydney, she'd hurt her through this man she was meant to fall in love with. She would make her suffer more than she ever had before. This she vowed as she walked away, her red hair catching the breeze and waving as flames that had yet to burn out.