Summary: Miyuki Leanova, a half elf from Flanoir, is taken captive by the Pope's men to help with summon spirit research. She hates the discrimination surrounding her and she's sick of people looking at her oddly in the streets, but when she tries to run away from her captors, and, indecently, her difference, she ends up in an organization of people just like her, yet they are so different…
Disclaimer: I own Miyuki and Reid. Namco owns the rest.
A/N: so, this is my first ToS fanfic. It's also my first attempt at a non-humor fic, which is odd because I usually write non-humor original stories… just not fanfics… oh well! Now's a great time to start, right? So, I'm not asking you not to flame me. Flame me all you want… I know that some of my writing is complete crap, especially these fanfics, since I don't spend as much time editing them as I do my other stories. I would, however, like to ask you to review. I love constructive criticism and I find it helpful, so if you see anything I should improve on… PLEASE tell me
Chapter One
Downpour of Sorrow
Shadows danced around a small campfire. The rain was coming down in thick sheets and the minute flame could not survive. The trees of the Gaoracchia forest provided little shelter from the downpour, but Miyuki Leanova had seen, or rather felt worse.
The moon, full and bright, was nearly at its climax and shone through the leaves above Miyuki, casting a dim beam of light down on her. Violet hair, which faded into lilac at the tips, fell halfway down her back and she had sad, grey-green eyes framed with long eyelashes. The cuffs of her baggy olive green capris were caked in mud and her feet were covered in dried blood and calluses.
Shivering, Miyuki snuggled into her bedroll and yawned. She hated being the night watch, especially in the tyrannical rain, but she knew better to complain. It wasn't particularly the cold that bothered her, as she had grown up near the Temple of Ice and the temperatures here were almost tropical, to her. The rain, however, was a different matter. In Flanoir, where it rarely stopped snowing, she had never experienced rain. The feeling could only be described as, well, wet.
She had been the night watch for the past two nights and had gotten very little sleep because of it. I'll just lie down. I won't go to sleep; I'll just lie down. She thought, flicking a strand of hair away from her face. Nothing can be wrong with being comfortable while I watch, can there? She yawned.
Before long, Miyuki's eyes were drooping and she found herself thinking, maybe I could just listen… but it was hopeless. She wiggled farther down into her bedroll and had one last though before dozing off, surely they won't hurt me to badly… she sunk into a dream of being normal, of being home, and of being needed, wanted and loved.
Miyuki woke a few hours later, but she felt as if she'd just closed her eyes. A sharp pain suddenly struck her knee and her eyes flickered open to see a booted foot swinging back. Another blow jolted her knee, making the kneecap crack slightly.
Miyuki sat up and slowly raised her eyes. A short, chubby, mow hawked brunette stood before her. "You stupid, stupid half elf!" The man shouted at her. Miyuki was slightly confused at first, but then remembered the night before. "How could you possibly fall asleep on the night watch?" as she did not respond, he continued. "We're bringing you to Meltokio for a chance at a job. You should be grateful! Not many half elves your age have jobs! You should be thanking us, but, instead, you fall asleep on your shift!"
Miyuki lowered her eyes; "I like my life just fine until you came." she said in a soft quiet voice.
The man kicked her knee again, which buckled, and he snarled, "what did you say, you little slimy, scummy, half elf?"
"Leave her alone, Vharley. She'll need time to understand that we're doing her a favor. We did destroy her home, after all." A black haired man cut him off, smiling ironically.
Vharley threw Miyuki a look that said all to clearly, I'm not done with you and he waddled over to the other man.
He gave Vharley a little bow in greeting, but he was still a head taller than him. Even though they spoke in quiet voices, Miyuki's excellent hearing was able to pick up every word.
"You'll hurt her if you're not careful." The tall man said
"And if I do? She's half elf, for goodness sake, Reid!" Vharley said exasperatedly.
"Half elf or not, she's our only hope to complete project Corrine! The Pope won't be happy if we bring his prize back broken and mangled."
Miyuki didn't know what Project Corrine was and neither, judging by Vharley's response, did he.
"Project Corrine? The pope told me they were for exphere research!" Vharley fumed.
"He would say that, wouldn't her?" Reid laughed, "You, Vharley, are an exphere broker. Tell me, would you have agreed to do this if there hadn't been anything in it that would profit you?" He looked doubtful.
"Do you mean to tell me that there will be no exphere research done with these?" he gestured toward the other half elves in their makeshift camp.
"Oh, no! There will be some exphere research done, but this one here," Reid indicated Miyuki "she'll be helping us, in the research laboratory, with Project Corrine!"
"What is Project Corrine?" Vharley asked, confused.
"It is not my place to tell you. If the Pope has not chosen to inform you, then I would assume he does not want you to know."
"Vharley drew himself up to his full height and said, "I'm sure he will tell me when we deliver these specimen." He indicated the, now waking, half elves.
Reid shrugged, ending their conversation. Vharley went to terrorize a small, 9 year old, half elf, child.
Shaking his head in disapproval, Reid disappeared behind a bright purple tent flap.
Miyuki stood and looked around. The rain had slowed into a persistent drizzle. Testing her damaged leg, she winced and hobbled over to her bag and pulled out a new set of clothes to change into.
Emerging from behind a tree in her clean clothes, Miyuki stepped backwards in surprise. Reid was leaning against the tree, back to the trunk, arms crossed. He smiled at her, swishing his jet-black hair out of his eyes and holding out a slice of bread and cheese.
Miyuki shook her head and backed away. She had been taught at a young age by her mother, Shiori, to accept nothing from humans, for it might be a trap.
Reid chuckled and sad down in the dirt, in between two large tree roots. "Come on, take it." He smiled, revealing brilliantly white, straight teeth.
Miyuki shook her head again. She had also been taught to avoid interaction with humans.
Reid laughed again and said, "you think I've poisoned it?" he raised his eyebrows "now why would I do that?"
Miyuki looked down at her cut, bloody feet.
As she did not respond, he said, "Look, dear, a one way conversation isn't going to get us anywhere." He beckoned for her to move closer and said "come over here."
She would have rather stayed as far away from him as possible, but Miyuki dared not dis-obey a direct order. She moved a few steps nearer but could not go further, for her leg was wobbling violently beneath her, threatening to give way at any moment and making her feel quite faint.
Mistaking her queasiness for a feeling of unease, "I won't hurt you." He looked over at the rest of their group, "I'm not like Vharley," he said with disgust. He smiled back up at Miyuki "will you at least eat something? With the little sleep you've gotten and the way he's been treating you, "Reid jabbed a finger in the direction of Vharley, who was now beating an old woman, "it'll be a wonder if you don't fall down while we're walking across the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge. The least I can do is give you some decent food!" he said exasperatedly, patting the earth beside him.
Miyuki took the hint and sat down. She didn't think she could've stood for much longer, anyway. Reid held out the bread again and she took it. "Why are you being so kind?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know." He said shrugging his shoulders "most people would just ignore you, huh?" he sighed, "I guess it's because of my sisters. They're both half elf and there doesn't seem to be much wrong with my younger one, although I don't know about the older one, as I've never met her." Apparently he though he had said enough and stood. "Well, you'd better get ready." He said and walked off into his tent.
After nibbling on the cheese Reid had given her, Miyuki set off hobbling with the rest of the group.
Soon they arrived at the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge. It was giant! Miyuki had heard rumors of its size and power before but she never would have suspected this. She heard another half elf telling her son, "It's run on expheres. Hundreds of them!"
Miyuki, her fellow hostages, and their captors soon began the long process of walking across it and, by the time they'd reached the other side, the sun was setting. She was so exhausted by the time they set up camp that she didn't even remember opening her eyes.
Miyuki woke suddenly, not quite knowing why. It was silent in the camp, for the rain had ceased during the night and Miyuki felt as if she were deaf. Before she knew what she was doing, she had gotten up and was making her way to the edge of the camp, weaving in-between the many sleeping bodies. She slipped in-between trees, silently, hardly knowing what force drove her onward.
Breaking into a run, Miyuki heard to voices. They were far away but she could hear them as well as if they were only a few feet away. Stopping dead, as much for the interest of listening as the pain in her leg, she listed and sharply drew breath, for she recognized one of the voices.
"Yes, we're headed for Meltokio. Why?" the voice belonged to Reid.
"No particular reason, it's just that-" Miyuki did not recognize this voice but she could guess he was young, no more than 15, for his voice cracked and wavered, like that of an adolescent. "Oh! My lord!" he exclaimed.
Miyuki hurried on, still listening to the conversation,
"Oh! This must be the esteemed leader of the Renagades." She heard Reid say.
Miyuki was quite a ways from the camp when she came upon a clearing. Three people stood beneath the trees. Reid, of course, was one of them, anther was dressed in red and black and had a helmet, she assumed this was the youth, and the third, she did not know, for he wore a cloak and his face was hidden in shadow.
The cloaked man bowed in acknowledgment, but said nothing.
Reid also bowed but then said, " I must be getting back to camp. We will speak on another night," he turned to see Miyuki's face peering from behind a tree. His eyes widened in surprise, but then he relaxed.
Miyuki tried a half smile, trying not to look guilty. Reid strode over to her and taunted, "running away are we?"
Miyuki said nothing and lowered her eyes.
"Come on, we can't have escaping yet." He smiled putting his hand in the small of her back, Reid directed her back to camp. Miyuki said nothing the whole while, but Reid lectured her on the dangers of leaving without outside help.
