Disclaimer - Silver Sayian does not own Suikoden II or its characters or I
would have tried to make a movie.
Sacrificial
Step into the darkness, a place with hidden light. A young man pauses searching for any sign of why he is here. Though there is no visible ground he uses the darkness as his pathway. A sixth sense alerted him to another presence, a soft voice of a young girl echoes through the dark.
The words to her song were in a language that the boy didn't understand. It sounded ancient. As he turned he saw the back of the girl, she wore a light blue dress and the white ribbon of an apron was tied in a neat bow at her waist. She continuously sang seemingly unaware of the boy until he spoke.
"Hello?"
The girl stopped singing, "Mommy told me not to get my dress dirty. Will you tell mommy I didn't mean to? She can't hear me anymore, but you can. you can."
The air was frighteningly still, the boy felt his heart slow but the beats were loud his feet frozen in place. The girl slowly turned to face him her long wavy hair covered her face momentarily.
"AAAAIEEE!!"
Though her cherry lips did not move her terrified high pitch scream filled the air. The boy felt his heart pounding out of control.
The girl's eyes were gone, blacked to a point where you could see only dark holes as red tears soaked her ashen white face. The loss of emotion written on the girls' expression frightened the boy as her scream continued to echo in his ears.
^*^End dream ^*^
"Riou?"
"GAHH!!"
As his heart began aching in its attempts to leap out of his chest Riou shot up in the small bed slamming his forehead into his friend's jaw
"Ack!"
"Owei."
Jowy rubbing his jaw cocked an eyebrow at his childhood friend, "Owei?" Riou looked up into Jowy's gray eyes and gave a playful glare. Jowy grinned in return, then went serious.
"Riou you were talking in your sleep." Riou kicked his legs out from under the sheets and gave a cat like stretch; "Well I guess we can safely say it would be better to throw a pillow at me next time."
Jowy gave one last rub to his slightly pained jaw before he continued, "I'm serious, you looked like you were having a nightmare. What were you dreaming about anyway?"
As red tears soaked her ashen white face.
"Nothing."
Jowy looked at his friend oddly, "Nothing?"
Riou shrugged, "Probably something I ate."
Jowy glared obviously knowing it was something more but decided to let it drop, "So in the morning we'll be in Kyaro."
Riou smiled, "We'll be able to see my sister and you can see your family."
Jowy jerked his thumb towards the exit of the tent, "Since your up, care to go for a walk?"
"Sure," Riou slid on his toughened leather boots that lay beside the small white cot where he had been resting. As he stood up, Jowy gave him a quick look over; "Already changed out of uniform?"
Riou nodded, "You too, can't wait to get home."
Taking a deep breath Riou wrinkled his nose at the smell of musty foods and dried sweat from unwashed uniforms, "definitely can't wait to get home."
Jowy laughed as Riou looked at him oddly, "What? Did I say something funny?" Jowy shook his head; "the face you made was funny." "Oh," was the only reply Riou gave as the two exited the tent. The tents weren't in the best of shape anymore either. Their once before sun yellow coloring had faded over with toughened streaks of soot mud and rain. The tents had never been fully waterproof, before they had only leaked in heavy rain. Now something as light as the accumulation of morning dew on the tents caused them to teem water in the night or day.
Timothy looked over at the two as they left their tents and smiled, "Hey you two, anything the matter?" Timothy spoke in a mollified voice to take caution that the Captain wouldn't hear. The Captain who wouldn't have hesitated to lash any of the boys he felt was being lax in duty.
Riou, who could generally enliven an occasion, smiled back, "Nothing wrong, just going for a walk."
"Right, just don't let old man Rowd catch you."
Riou smirked as Jowy replied, "And don't let him catch you talking like that."
"Aww, no worries I've got eyes on the back of my head there's no way that old."
Timothy was suddenly cut off when Riou coughed loudly; then Timothy noticed both Riou and Jowy were at attention.
/Oh crud.../ Turning around, heart beating fast, Timothy also stood at attention only to find no one there. "Hu?"
Riou was holding his mouth closed with one hand while trying to keep a straight face. Jowy, didn't have a problem laughing quietly. "Sorry Tim couldn't help it, but you should have seen the look on your face. You were totally scared that onerous captain of ours was behind you."
Timothy turned back around. He had a sense of humor so no hard feelings as he saw the joke and smiled, but turned serious and made a harsh shushing noise under his tongue.
Jowy put a hand on his hip, "Tim you know the joke only works one way."
Riou not caring if he was going to hear it from Timothy looked over his shoulder as Jowy continued, "I'm not falling for it, that pompous," -Riou kicked Jowy's ankle lightly enough so it wouldn't bruise but hard enough to sting. - "Ow, Riou what was that for?"
"Jowy Atreides, well, well, well. I never would have expected this behavior of you."
Jowy froze. The warm, hazed night sent shivers down his spine as a look of mortification crossed his features. Turning around slowly as if the man would vanish if he took his time Jowy blinked and swallowed hard; his mouth had suddenly gotten dry. "Sir."
Jowy stood facing the taller man at attention; Rowd didn't look impressed. Jowy noticed the horsewhip in the Captain's hand, /isn't that just perfect. He must have just come from overseeing the perimeter.../
Rowd looked at the three spread out youths in disapproval, "Line up!"
Jowy stood to Riou's right while Timothy didn't waste a second to move to Riou's left. Rowd's frown deepened. "Messy, unorganized and dysfunctional, is this how a brigade is supposed to work, Atreides?"
"Sir, no sir!"
Rowd began to pace in front of the three fingering the whip, "and how is a brigade supposed to function, Riou?"
"Sir, a brigade acts as a unit. Each person in the brigade is responsible for himself and his fellow comrades-in-arms Sir!"
Rowd continued pacing, "and is that how you were acting, Cleats?"
"Sir..." Timothy choked on his own voice; as his mouth was dry as sweat beaded down the back of his neck, "...no Sir!"
The Captain stopped in front of Timothy; "You hesitated soldier."
Timothy looked at the Captain, "No Sir!"
"So you're saying I don't know what I'm talking about."
"N... No Sir, I was."
"You were what soldier! Stop stuttering like an imbecile and say it already!"
Riou gave a quick glance at Timothy who looked scared stiff at the whip "Sir, Timothy was simply saying that we were acting inappropriately Sir. He is agreeing with you fully, Sir!"
Rowd moved from Timothy to Riou, "And what about you soldier."
Riou felt the horsewhip on his collarbone; the Captain hadn't applied any force but lodged the tip under Riou's bright yellow scarf lifting it a bit as if the material was under inspection.
"Why are you not in uniform soldier?"
Riou determined not to submit to any of the emotions that wanted to overtake him. Nor was he going to yield to the Captain; keeping his posture body erect, arms to the side, heels together and eyes to the front.
"Sir, I was happy for the fact I would be going home tomorrow and changed out of uniform early, Sir."
Timothy took a breath about to say something but slammed his mouth closed again as Riou, as discreetly as possible, kicked him. Rowd noticed, despite how careful Riou had tried to be. The man began to stare down the youth. All were silent while Riou continued looking straight ahead. Jowy glared at Rowd's back, anger rising as the Captain continued to glower at Riou. It turned to mortification and animosity as Rowd tightened his grip on the horsewhip he had been carrying. Timothy looked away and to the ground biting his lower lip as Riou tightened his fist waiting for the upcoming blow; but to the surprise of the youths Rowd laughed, "Well, it is the last day I suppose I can overlook some minor insubordination."
The three went to a rigid attention at those words; Riou found his breath caught in his throat as the Captain placed the tip of the horsewhip under his chin lifting his head up and tilting it toward him. The Captain continued to stare into Riou's eyes as he spoke in a surprisingly soft voice, "now get back to your tent."- The tone changed to being harsher, "You too Atreides. Dismissed!"
"Sir!" The three spoke in unison as soldiers not daring to breathe until the Captain had disappeared back under the flap of his own tent. Timothy bent over leaning on his own knees catching his breath as Riou gave an exuberated sigh and Jowy ran a hand through his hair thanking their lucky stars. The gray-eyed youth then turned to Riou; "You okay?"
Riou nodded. Timothy shakily stood up, "I'm sorry Jowy but that guy has it out for you."
Riou didn't say anything but knew it was true. Jowy nodded grimly, "I have no idea why though. Riou, I think we better head back in. What do you think?"
Riou looked at Jowy running a hand across his golden circlet and through his hair, "no kidding."
Timothy stood up, "Yesh, there's never a dull moment with you two around. I'll see you in the morning."
Riou gave a forced smile, "Night Timothy, don't let the State bugs bite."
Timothy gave a genuine smile, "hardy har. With the peace treaty I don't think you have to worry too much Riou."
^*^*^Later ^*^*^
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
Opening his eyes Riou lazily sat up, "Attack?"
Looking over to where Jowy slept. Jowy startled by the outburst had clean fallen out of his cot, sheets and all. Wasting no time now that he knew it wasn't a dream, Riou pulled his boots back on and nabbed his tonfar running just ahead of Jowy as the two left the tent.
Looking around Riou took note of a few crates that had been set aflame as the fumes spread from burning plastics. "Timothy!"
Jowy had been checking the path ahead was clear when he heard Riou turning back. He saw Timothy lying deathly still on the liquid red dirt. There was no rise and fall of the chest to signify life; Timothy's right hand lay across a dagger. The blade was embedded under his ribcage. Depending on the type of dagger it was most likely pushed inside the lower chamber of the heart. But to do an attack like that would mean the attacker had a hand on Timothy's shoulder to apply the necessary force. What didn't make sense since Timothy's sword hadn't even been unsheathed.
The fire was spreading towards the fallen youth; Jowy snatched Riou's wrist and began to run east. They didn't get but fifteen meters at most before the two found the brigade Captain.
"Captain! Sir what's happening?"
The Captain with a soot-covered face was breathing erratically as if he had been fighting with his sword drawn, "It's an ambush by those State scum. Take the mountain path to the east and save yourselves! Hurry!"
Jowy needed no encouragement; the two brigade soldiers began to run. As the two made it towards the entrance of the camp Riou noticed Dean leaning over someone trying to wake him; Riou was unable to tell who the mangled form belonged to. Jowy continued to pull him along before the image would be imprinted into his mind.
Jowy continued running fast he saw a few others ahead of him entering the woods already, 'it's the home stretch. I just have to get to the woods and then. wait a sec.' Jowy stopped a few meters before the shelter of the trees watching them, waiting for answers, "Jowy?"
Looking over at Riou, only now realizing he was still holding his friends wrist in a death grip and release him, "Riou, don't you think it's strange? This forest is the only way off this pass; the enemy must know that as well. We have to go back and tell the Captain! He'll know what to do."
Riou looked at the forest then watched Jowy and nodded, "You're right, let's go back."
The path back was worse; no longer any battle cries. The only noise made were harsh moans of dying breaths. A few called for their mothers, others for the lovers they knew they could no longer see in life.
Jowy stopped running when he realized Riou wasn't behind him. Looking frantically on the archway of stone for his friend, fear clasping at his heart; had Riou been shot down? "Riou?!"
Jowy took in a sigh of relief as he saw his best fiend leaning over one of the fallen; Jowy ran over to Riou. "Riou we have to get to the Captain, now." Riou had taken his scarf off and was covering an arrow wound. The fallen soldier gave raspy breaths, the arrow had pierced the armor and dug it's way to the heart, "It hurts, it hurts."
"Shh," Riou lowered voice so no harsh tones could escape even though he could feel his eyes glossing over, "Marcus it's okay, no worries. Just hold on and."
"Who is it?" As Marcus opened his eyes Riou worked harder to hold back from crying for his friends. Marcus's pupils were white and the iris' were graying over. "It's Riou, don't worry you'll be fine Marcus."
Marcus opened his hand Riou took it, "don't worry; it's just a bad scrape you'll be fine." Marcus gave a faint smile as he opened his mouth as if to argue but no words came as his breathing stopped.
Jowy grabbed Riou by the arms pulling him off the ground, "He's dead Riou, and we have to get to the Captain!"
"But maybe." Jowy half-running, half-dragging Riou along by the wrist turned to look at him. "There is no, 'but maybe', to the matter. He's dead and there's nothing more we can do but get to the Captain!"
Riou nodded in grim understanding as Jowy let go and ran beside his friend. As they reached the tents Riou grabbed Jowy by the shirt before he could run into the opening. Jowy was obviously starting to get flustered at this point, "WH."
Riou covered Jowy's mouth giving him a sharp shush. Once Jowy calmed a bit Riou let go and pointed just past the opening outside of the tents where they had been sleeping. Captain Rowd was with a number of full grown Highland soldiers but in front of all of them stood a man, over six feet in height, in white and gold armor.
Jowy motioned Riou to follow as the two crept as close as they dared, staying hidden behind a few large crates that had still not caught fire.
Rowd, the Captain of the Highland Royal Army Unicorn Brigade, stood relatively calm among the bodies of his former charges. Riou had to cover his mouth as his nose wrinkled as the putrid stench of burning flesh wreaked havoc across his senses.
"It's just as we planned, Prince Luca. Everyone fled east through the woods. The ambush worked perfectly."
The shoulders of the wild haired man in white armor began shaking. At first glance it looked as if he were going to cry, then a soft rumble as the noise grew. The man wasn't crying, he was laughing, a sound that would frighten children and send soldiers on guard. As the man turned, his blue cape billowed behind him. He brushed a few of his pasty bangs away from his eyes; eyes that held no depth. "All poor victims of the State's 'betrayal', eh? I wish I had joined the ambush. All I've had to fight lately is that old man. I'm getting rusty."
Rowd lowered his head, though his eyes never left Luca, "Y.. yes.. I mean no, no. Your swordsmanship is truly unmatched. My men would look like fools."
Luca looked down at the man then at the carnage surrounding them, "Yes, well the young men served their country well enough. Now we don't need a peace treaty with those State weaklings. I'll prove they're no match for the power of Highland."
Rowd nodded, "I agree, sir. With you in command, Highland can finally earn the glory it deserves!"
"Wha. What the hell."
Riou turned his head a little so he could see Jowy who and taken three steps back then anger took him. "Come on Riou we need to have a chat with our Captain."
Jowy spit the word out like a curse as he started marching over to the group, "Captain!" Riou rolled his eyes as he hurried to catch up to Jowy. Approaching the larger group to within a couple of meters they stopped.
Rowd as saw them a look of shock overcame him, "What! Why didn't you two punks run east through the woods like I told you!"
Jowy's raised a fist in front of him looking angry enough to shatter stone. "Captain, what the hell is going on!? Why did you tell us too.? And who the bloody hell is that psychopath!"
Jowy looked fully ready to fight as he pointed at the man in white armor; the unknown figure began to laugh. "You don't recognize the face of your country's royal prince?"
As Jowy's anger changed to one of unbridled confusion, Rowd took the opportunity. "Hurry! Grab them!"
Riou lunged forward to meet the attack, tonfar ready. The first guard went down to his knees with the blunt edge of the left-handed tonfar. Riou followed up the attack with a blow to the head; sending the opposing soldier to the ground.
Jowy wasn't a slacker, and once Riou took the first guard down he snapped back to reality. Spinning his staff trough the air he felt the teeth of the dragonhead on the end of the staff catch hold of the second guard's unprotected neck. The drizzle of blood stained the blue and silver staff, though a look of remorse crossed Jowy's face, it lasted only a second.
/They are the ones who killed my friends, which makes them my enemies. /
Riou bashed the face in of another guard; the years of training before he was even in the army serving him well.
/They killed my friends; they're trying to kill Jowy and me. They are my enemies; all my enemies must be erased. No more enemies. /-Riou took down another guard, -/means no more pain and everyone's suffering will be stopped. /
The battle site was silent; Jowy and Riou were back to back. Jowy holding his staff in both hands watching Rowd. Riou stood still as stone, arms appearing almost crossed but he was ready for the slightest sign of another attacker. Watching Luca, the two were trying to stare the other down.
Jowy was the first to speak. His voice was a whisper, so no one other then Riou could hear him. "Let's go Riou. We can't go east or we'll be killed. Maybe if we go north we'll be able to escape."
Riou nodded even though Jowy didn't see him. A moment later, the two dove away and ran out of sight. They could hear Rowd barking orders for more soldiers to get over there. But his voice faded as the two continued up the steep mountain path diving behind a path of pines for cover. The two only stopped when they came to a dead end; breath a little uneven from running, Jowy looked Riou over.
"Are you okay Riou? You're not hurt? Good, but why would the Captain."
A sudden voice startled the two, as they turned they could see their former Captain, with him more soldiers. All of them ready for the upcoming fight. "You'll never learn the answer to that. You'll die here; victims of the State's 'surprise attack'. Your future ends here."
Riou felt his anger rise, he thought about his friends in the brigade, slaughtered, by their own Captain. The landscape blurred slightly as his eyes glossed over. He was aware of his heart beating steady and hard; he could feel his pulse beating through his neck. He could have sworn his blood was on fire. The feeling of the adrenaline pumping through the veins, blocking the pain, stopping anything but the need for battle. It was a song heard only at the pinnacle of emotions, he liked it.
"No!"
Riou felt the pulsing rhythm through his body. His heart screamed for revenge. A craving for battle, a lust for the revenge that would come, his body was demanding it. "No, you killed Timothy you killed Dean. You murdered those who had called you Captain; you tried to kill us. Don't you have any remorse you heartless bastard! Why did you do it! Tell me! Why!"
The wind abruptly kicked up, becoming stronger by the second; forcing both the soldiers and Rowd back up. Jowy held his ground; never before had he seen Riou this angry. "Tell me! Why did you sell us out! Why! Why did you betray us?!"
By this point the wind had gained enough strength to throw one of the guards off his feet and into a pine, after which he slumped to the ground.
Jowy didn't understand it. The wind was barely touching him. Although, he could plainly see it wasn't so with Rowd or his new soldiers. /Riou doesn't have any runes attached. So how is he doing this? /
Rowd, with his arms defensively over his face spoke, "I'll tell you why."
As he suspected the wind started slowing, "The reason is that I no longer want to baby-sit a bunch of punks. I wanted a fighting brigade with men not boys, and by dealing with a few minor problems Prince Luca has seen that this will happen. Now I will have my dream come true."
The wind was practically gone now. Riou seemed to be in a state of shock; Jowy didn't look much better. Rowd smiled and put his arms down; "Not what you expected to hear was it."
One of the soldiers went forward his fist connecting with Riou's gut causing him to double over. The guard raised his elbow for another strike but was tackled down by Jowy, "Riou?!"
Standing up Riou twisted his tonfar through the air as Jowy dodged a swipe from a sword by doing a backhand spring and landed beside Riou. "Jowy, you think you're up for our classic attack?"
Jowy smirked and nodded, "Let's do it."
As the guards closed in Riou and Jowy both gained a green aura that began lighting up the mountain pass, "Ready?" "You bet."
The two darted forward; Riou smacked the closest guard in the face with the right-handed tonfar. Distracting the group, while Jowy streaked his way behind. Another guard made a grab at Riou who sharply kicked the offender in the shin and then dodging a dagger by performing a backward jumping somersault. Now with the distance he needed Riou ran forward with a series of techniques some using the tonfar. Others were consistent with the martial arts his Grandpa taught him and a few were a mix of both.
Meeting up with Jowy, the two twined through the guards then skidded back to their original positions by the cliff side. Rowd didn't move as he watched his soldiers stand still, "What are you waiting for?!" Without warning each of the soldiers slumped over to the ground leaving Rowd alone to fight.
"Damn you. You persistent little. Stay there!"
Rowd ran back down the cliff; Riou tilted his head questionably. "Does he think we'll actually stay rooted to the spot while he finds more soldiers?"
"Riou?"
Riou went over to Jowy, "What is it? Are you hurt?"
Jowy shock his head, "No but we can't keep this up forever. Riou there's no other way. We'll have to jump for it."
Riou was silent as he listened to the crashing waves below the cliff face, then to the shouts of the guards down the path. "I guess there's no other way."
Jowy sighed glad for the lack of argument, "Okay." Pulling out a dagger he walked over to one of the standing boulders and slashed the knife across it.
"If we make it but somehow get separated. let's return to this spot. That way we'll be reunited. Promise me. Riou."
"We'll make it together Jowy!"
"Just humor me then."
Giving an exasperated sigh Riou unsheathed his well hidden dagger and slashed against the rock; the stone easily chipped away under the powerful blade revealing the completed X. Riou turned back to Jowy, he put the dagger back in it hidden sheath beneath his tunic. "Okay."
The two stood at the edge of the cliff looking down at the river, taking the other's hand the boys nodded and jumped. Fate perhaps, if one believes in such a thing, decided to change at that moment. Instead of falling with his friend, Riou felt the rough hands of an older, more experienced soldier grab him by the legs; the callused hands nabbed his ankles to receive a better grip.
The rushing water pounded against the rocks a few meters beneath Jowy's feet, at first he thought Riou got his foot snagged by the root of one of the nearby trees. As he recovered from being smashed face first into wall of stone he looked up, "What happen. Oh cr."
With a brief attempt at tug-of-war Riou knew the guard wasn't letting go. That wasn't all, the fully trained Highland soldier was actually starting to pull both Riou and Jowy back up the cliff face. Riou wasn't about to risk Jowy's life; "Jowy let go of me!"
Jowy's look of distress increased, intermixed with a hint of surprise, "Wha!? I'm not leaving you!"
"Don't worry Jowy; we'll see each other again."
Riou opened his hand Jowy tried to hold on tighter but without Rious aid he lost his grip. Falling the last few meters into the pounding river. Riou watched as Jowy tried to fight the river's fury but was ultimately swept away.
With the weight of only one, the soldier was able to hoist Riou up with ease. But Riou was prepared to attack. As soon as he was on the cliff face he smashed his fist into the soldiers jaw -spli cra-the sound of blood swishing then smashing the jaw bone, broken as the highlander fell to his knees clutching his jaw in attemptive screams.
Riou's left leg was set afire as a trail of three nerve daggers fulfilled their purpose. His leg refused to do anything but scream in his mind, and cloud his vision with unbearable pain. Stoically using all the strength he could muster into his right leg he sprang at the attacker who was ready with another set of nerve daggers. Riou managed a headbut into the gut of the soldier. Two of the daggers missed but the third struck home into Riou's right shoulder. A foot smashed down into his back with the force of the weight applied pushing him to the ground. Someone took his still sheathed tonfar while another guard's arms snaked around his chest holding him in a bear hug.
Struggling against the grip proved a futile mission. Riou watched helplessly as the guard who had taken his tonfar threw them into the river below. Rowd remained emotionless as he walked over to Riou. Rowd held the youth's chin up so he would be able to look directly at Riou's eyes.
Riou watched his former Captain; Rowd finally broke the silence. "Those daggers, you know what they do, don't you? First they paralyze you by igniting all the nerves in the body, afterwards they poison you. It only will be a matter of hours Riou."
A soft icy breeze crept by the former Captain, /Murderer./
"What?"
Rowd felt his breath slow as the air became cold raising the hairs on his skin. As he looked into Riou's eyes he felt as if he were drowning in hazel swamps. /Murderer! Monster. He's nothing but a killer.Why did you do it, Captain? Why? /
No longer was Rowd by the cliff but standing on a plain on land golden brown in color as far as the eye could see. "Captain..? They told me you did it, that it's your fault. Tell me it's not true."
Rowd turned and saw Dean, but that was impossible. "Dean!?"
"I always knew you were a lousy human. Arrogant, and even back-stabbing at times but I never thought you would betray your own platoon."
Behind him, Marcus stood, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar of amber. Marcus always standing up for the other soldiers being the oldest recruit there. He had always shown resentment towards the Captain. Marcus always did have a thing against authority figures.
Then there was Timothy who stood closer to Rowd then Marcus. Timothy, light hearted, always joking to make someone laugh. /Whatever time it takes to make a person laugh, it's always worth it, don't you think? /
Timothy stepped toward Rowd and handed him something. "I think this is yours." Rowd looked down in his hands at a dagger, his dagger. The one he had used to eliminate Timothy before the recruit had been able to warn his fellow soldiers of the attack.
Fear, pure fear is something very few feel. It grips at your heart, it tears your mind, and it causes you to lose control. This was what Rowd was experiencing, sane, insane. Neither one exists when one is truly afraid, when one is truly afraid; they become irrational, emotional and feel no pain. What would be pain only adds to the fear.
Rowd gripping the dagger with such a grip his knuckles began changing to white. Looking from one boy to the next in a manner that was similar to that of a caged animal "Your not real none of you are! You are dead!"
Rowd slashed at Timothy, much to Rowd's surprise he felt the dagger catch yet no blood came from Timothy. The former Unicorn soldiers looked as if in shock, and hadn't been expecting Rowd to attack. Marcus looked enraged, but Timothy was fine so Rowd didn't understand. Looking at the blade he saw the blood dripping down the metal, Rowd looked up as he noticed movement. Marcus was lunging forward with a killing intent toward Rowd. "You bast."
The land vanished and he was back at the cliff, looking around frantically, trying to see his former charges. The soldiers holding Riou released him; Rowd didn't have time to yell at them before Riou, the second last Unicorn Soldier, fell to the ground. Beneath him a pool of blood began to swell. The Captain looked in his hands where his dagger rested. It's silvery metal glimmering beneath the crimson flow of blood. Rowd wanted nothing more then to throw the dagger in the river, but would not. For Rowd would not show a sign of weakness in front of his new soldiers. Turning; he said his first official order to four of his new soldiers. "Move out."
^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The crashing waves caused Riou to wake from his almost eternal sleep, /.so cold./
Riou forced his depleted energy to surface just enough so he could lie on his back to perhaps see the stars. Once accomplished the only thing left was to open his eyes. Dark lashes struggled to open but he soon found it required too much energy.
Riou could feel his breath becoming shallower as time went by. He couldn't feel the pain that he felt earlier; instead his whole body was numb. Testing if he could move he tried to flex his fingers but he was unable to tell if they were actually moving. A small sad smile crept over him, /So this is what it's like to die. I wish I could have seen Nanami one more time. /
"Hear my voice."
/Who./
"Listen to my voice. This isn't your time, Riou listen to my voice and pull yourself away from darkness."
A soft hand touched his cheek and the numbness began to fade, "Come back to the light."
Her voice now in a whisper, so close that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his face. "Come back to me."
Breaking the sleep spell Riou forced his eyes to open. Everything was blurred, then went dark as Riou closed his eyes again, realizing his sight must have been damaged in the fight. Soft unmarred hands went over his closed eyes causing them to sting at first, but as it spread and became stronger it felt more like the sensation you get when a limb falls asleep, and you try to wake it.
"Riou I want to meet you. You must come back to this world; I was lonely till I saw you. Come back."
His eyes opened again and the first thing he saw was a woman kneeling over him; Riou blinked as his eyes adjusted to the moonlight.
The woman brushed her hand over Riou's bangs. She smiled at him, then seemed to fade into the light of the moon. Looking ahead he could see the stars glimmering with their fires.
A light shimmer caught his eyes as he saw a gold winged butterfly with soft white fur covering its body. The small creature was flying in random patterns above him towards the river. Just behind the small creature was a massive sphere of light with vines of gold. Focusing on the light further above him he could see the moon shining in its splendor. It was the last thing he remembered seeing before a blackness enveloped the land, stars, and river.
Sacrificial
Step into the darkness, a place with hidden light. A young man pauses searching for any sign of why he is here. Though there is no visible ground he uses the darkness as his pathway. A sixth sense alerted him to another presence, a soft voice of a young girl echoes through the dark.
The words to her song were in a language that the boy didn't understand. It sounded ancient. As he turned he saw the back of the girl, she wore a light blue dress and the white ribbon of an apron was tied in a neat bow at her waist. She continuously sang seemingly unaware of the boy until he spoke.
"Hello?"
The girl stopped singing, "Mommy told me not to get my dress dirty. Will you tell mommy I didn't mean to? She can't hear me anymore, but you can. you can."
The air was frighteningly still, the boy felt his heart slow but the beats were loud his feet frozen in place. The girl slowly turned to face him her long wavy hair covered her face momentarily.
"AAAAIEEE!!"
Though her cherry lips did not move her terrified high pitch scream filled the air. The boy felt his heart pounding out of control.
The girl's eyes were gone, blacked to a point where you could see only dark holes as red tears soaked her ashen white face. The loss of emotion written on the girls' expression frightened the boy as her scream continued to echo in his ears.
^*^End dream ^*^
"Riou?"
"GAHH!!"
As his heart began aching in its attempts to leap out of his chest Riou shot up in the small bed slamming his forehead into his friend's jaw
"Ack!"
"Owei."
Jowy rubbing his jaw cocked an eyebrow at his childhood friend, "Owei?" Riou looked up into Jowy's gray eyes and gave a playful glare. Jowy grinned in return, then went serious.
"Riou you were talking in your sleep." Riou kicked his legs out from under the sheets and gave a cat like stretch; "Well I guess we can safely say it would be better to throw a pillow at me next time."
Jowy gave one last rub to his slightly pained jaw before he continued, "I'm serious, you looked like you were having a nightmare. What were you dreaming about anyway?"
As red tears soaked her ashen white face.
"Nothing."
Jowy looked at his friend oddly, "Nothing?"
Riou shrugged, "Probably something I ate."
Jowy glared obviously knowing it was something more but decided to let it drop, "So in the morning we'll be in Kyaro."
Riou smiled, "We'll be able to see my sister and you can see your family."
Jowy jerked his thumb towards the exit of the tent, "Since your up, care to go for a walk?"
"Sure," Riou slid on his toughened leather boots that lay beside the small white cot where he had been resting. As he stood up, Jowy gave him a quick look over; "Already changed out of uniform?"
Riou nodded, "You too, can't wait to get home."
Taking a deep breath Riou wrinkled his nose at the smell of musty foods and dried sweat from unwashed uniforms, "definitely can't wait to get home."
Jowy laughed as Riou looked at him oddly, "What? Did I say something funny?" Jowy shook his head; "the face you made was funny." "Oh," was the only reply Riou gave as the two exited the tent. The tents weren't in the best of shape anymore either. Their once before sun yellow coloring had faded over with toughened streaks of soot mud and rain. The tents had never been fully waterproof, before they had only leaked in heavy rain. Now something as light as the accumulation of morning dew on the tents caused them to teem water in the night or day.
Timothy looked over at the two as they left their tents and smiled, "Hey you two, anything the matter?" Timothy spoke in a mollified voice to take caution that the Captain wouldn't hear. The Captain who wouldn't have hesitated to lash any of the boys he felt was being lax in duty.
Riou, who could generally enliven an occasion, smiled back, "Nothing wrong, just going for a walk."
"Right, just don't let old man Rowd catch you."
Riou smirked as Jowy replied, "And don't let him catch you talking like that."
"Aww, no worries I've got eyes on the back of my head there's no way that old."
Timothy was suddenly cut off when Riou coughed loudly; then Timothy noticed both Riou and Jowy were at attention.
/Oh crud.../ Turning around, heart beating fast, Timothy also stood at attention only to find no one there. "Hu?"
Riou was holding his mouth closed with one hand while trying to keep a straight face. Jowy, didn't have a problem laughing quietly. "Sorry Tim couldn't help it, but you should have seen the look on your face. You were totally scared that onerous captain of ours was behind you."
Timothy turned back around. He had a sense of humor so no hard feelings as he saw the joke and smiled, but turned serious and made a harsh shushing noise under his tongue.
Jowy put a hand on his hip, "Tim you know the joke only works one way."
Riou not caring if he was going to hear it from Timothy looked over his shoulder as Jowy continued, "I'm not falling for it, that pompous," -Riou kicked Jowy's ankle lightly enough so it wouldn't bruise but hard enough to sting. - "Ow, Riou what was that for?"
"Jowy Atreides, well, well, well. I never would have expected this behavior of you."
Jowy froze. The warm, hazed night sent shivers down his spine as a look of mortification crossed his features. Turning around slowly as if the man would vanish if he took his time Jowy blinked and swallowed hard; his mouth had suddenly gotten dry. "Sir."
Jowy stood facing the taller man at attention; Rowd didn't look impressed. Jowy noticed the horsewhip in the Captain's hand, /isn't that just perfect. He must have just come from overseeing the perimeter.../
Rowd looked at the three spread out youths in disapproval, "Line up!"
Jowy stood to Riou's right while Timothy didn't waste a second to move to Riou's left. Rowd's frown deepened. "Messy, unorganized and dysfunctional, is this how a brigade is supposed to work, Atreides?"
"Sir, no sir!"
Rowd began to pace in front of the three fingering the whip, "and how is a brigade supposed to function, Riou?"
"Sir, a brigade acts as a unit. Each person in the brigade is responsible for himself and his fellow comrades-in-arms Sir!"
Rowd continued pacing, "and is that how you were acting, Cleats?"
"Sir..." Timothy choked on his own voice; as his mouth was dry as sweat beaded down the back of his neck, "...no Sir!"
The Captain stopped in front of Timothy; "You hesitated soldier."
Timothy looked at the Captain, "No Sir!"
"So you're saying I don't know what I'm talking about."
"N... No Sir, I was."
"You were what soldier! Stop stuttering like an imbecile and say it already!"
Riou gave a quick glance at Timothy who looked scared stiff at the whip "Sir, Timothy was simply saying that we were acting inappropriately Sir. He is agreeing with you fully, Sir!"
Rowd moved from Timothy to Riou, "And what about you soldier."
Riou felt the horsewhip on his collarbone; the Captain hadn't applied any force but lodged the tip under Riou's bright yellow scarf lifting it a bit as if the material was under inspection.
"Why are you not in uniform soldier?"
Riou determined not to submit to any of the emotions that wanted to overtake him. Nor was he going to yield to the Captain; keeping his posture body erect, arms to the side, heels together and eyes to the front.
"Sir, I was happy for the fact I would be going home tomorrow and changed out of uniform early, Sir."
Timothy took a breath about to say something but slammed his mouth closed again as Riou, as discreetly as possible, kicked him. Rowd noticed, despite how careful Riou had tried to be. The man began to stare down the youth. All were silent while Riou continued looking straight ahead. Jowy glared at Rowd's back, anger rising as the Captain continued to glower at Riou. It turned to mortification and animosity as Rowd tightened his grip on the horsewhip he had been carrying. Timothy looked away and to the ground biting his lower lip as Riou tightened his fist waiting for the upcoming blow; but to the surprise of the youths Rowd laughed, "Well, it is the last day I suppose I can overlook some minor insubordination."
The three went to a rigid attention at those words; Riou found his breath caught in his throat as the Captain placed the tip of the horsewhip under his chin lifting his head up and tilting it toward him. The Captain continued to stare into Riou's eyes as he spoke in a surprisingly soft voice, "now get back to your tent."- The tone changed to being harsher, "You too Atreides. Dismissed!"
"Sir!" The three spoke in unison as soldiers not daring to breathe until the Captain had disappeared back under the flap of his own tent. Timothy bent over leaning on his own knees catching his breath as Riou gave an exuberated sigh and Jowy ran a hand through his hair thanking their lucky stars. The gray-eyed youth then turned to Riou; "You okay?"
Riou nodded. Timothy shakily stood up, "I'm sorry Jowy but that guy has it out for you."
Riou didn't say anything but knew it was true. Jowy nodded grimly, "I have no idea why though. Riou, I think we better head back in. What do you think?"
Riou looked at Jowy running a hand across his golden circlet and through his hair, "no kidding."
Timothy stood up, "Yesh, there's never a dull moment with you two around. I'll see you in the morning."
Riou gave a forced smile, "Night Timothy, don't let the State bugs bite."
Timothy gave a genuine smile, "hardy har. With the peace treaty I don't think you have to worry too much Riou."
^*^*^Later ^*^*^
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
Opening his eyes Riou lazily sat up, "Attack?"
Looking over to where Jowy slept. Jowy startled by the outburst had clean fallen out of his cot, sheets and all. Wasting no time now that he knew it wasn't a dream, Riou pulled his boots back on and nabbed his tonfar running just ahead of Jowy as the two left the tent.
Looking around Riou took note of a few crates that had been set aflame as the fumes spread from burning plastics. "Timothy!"
Jowy had been checking the path ahead was clear when he heard Riou turning back. He saw Timothy lying deathly still on the liquid red dirt. There was no rise and fall of the chest to signify life; Timothy's right hand lay across a dagger. The blade was embedded under his ribcage. Depending on the type of dagger it was most likely pushed inside the lower chamber of the heart. But to do an attack like that would mean the attacker had a hand on Timothy's shoulder to apply the necessary force. What didn't make sense since Timothy's sword hadn't even been unsheathed.
The fire was spreading towards the fallen youth; Jowy snatched Riou's wrist and began to run east. They didn't get but fifteen meters at most before the two found the brigade Captain.
"Captain! Sir what's happening?"
The Captain with a soot-covered face was breathing erratically as if he had been fighting with his sword drawn, "It's an ambush by those State scum. Take the mountain path to the east and save yourselves! Hurry!"
Jowy needed no encouragement; the two brigade soldiers began to run. As the two made it towards the entrance of the camp Riou noticed Dean leaning over someone trying to wake him; Riou was unable to tell who the mangled form belonged to. Jowy continued to pull him along before the image would be imprinted into his mind.
Jowy continued running fast he saw a few others ahead of him entering the woods already, 'it's the home stretch. I just have to get to the woods and then. wait a sec.' Jowy stopped a few meters before the shelter of the trees watching them, waiting for answers, "Jowy?"
Looking over at Riou, only now realizing he was still holding his friends wrist in a death grip and release him, "Riou, don't you think it's strange? This forest is the only way off this pass; the enemy must know that as well. We have to go back and tell the Captain! He'll know what to do."
Riou looked at the forest then watched Jowy and nodded, "You're right, let's go back."
The path back was worse; no longer any battle cries. The only noise made were harsh moans of dying breaths. A few called for their mothers, others for the lovers they knew they could no longer see in life.
Jowy stopped running when he realized Riou wasn't behind him. Looking frantically on the archway of stone for his friend, fear clasping at his heart; had Riou been shot down? "Riou?!"
Jowy took in a sigh of relief as he saw his best fiend leaning over one of the fallen; Jowy ran over to Riou. "Riou we have to get to the Captain, now." Riou had taken his scarf off and was covering an arrow wound. The fallen soldier gave raspy breaths, the arrow had pierced the armor and dug it's way to the heart, "It hurts, it hurts."
"Shh," Riou lowered voice so no harsh tones could escape even though he could feel his eyes glossing over, "Marcus it's okay, no worries. Just hold on and."
"Who is it?" As Marcus opened his eyes Riou worked harder to hold back from crying for his friends. Marcus's pupils were white and the iris' were graying over. "It's Riou, don't worry you'll be fine Marcus."
Marcus opened his hand Riou took it, "don't worry; it's just a bad scrape you'll be fine." Marcus gave a faint smile as he opened his mouth as if to argue but no words came as his breathing stopped.
Jowy grabbed Riou by the arms pulling him off the ground, "He's dead Riou, and we have to get to the Captain!"
"But maybe." Jowy half-running, half-dragging Riou along by the wrist turned to look at him. "There is no, 'but maybe', to the matter. He's dead and there's nothing more we can do but get to the Captain!"
Riou nodded in grim understanding as Jowy let go and ran beside his friend. As they reached the tents Riou grabbed Jowy by the shirt before he could run into the opening. Jowy was obviously starting to get flustered at this point, "WH."
Riou covered Jowy's mouth giving him a sharp shush. Once Jowy calmed a bit Riou let go and pointed just past the opening outside of the tents where they had been sleeping. Captain Rowd was with a number of full grown Highland soldiers but in front of all of them stood a man, over six feet in height, in white and gold armor.
Jowy motioned Riou to follow as the two crept as close as they dared, staying hidden behind a few large crates that had still not caught fire.
Rowd, the Captain of the Highland Royal Army Unicorn Brigade, stood relatively calm among the bodies of his former charges. Riou had to cover his mouth as his nose wrinkled as the putrid stench of burning flesh wreaked havoc across his senses.
"It's just as we planned, Prince Luca. Everyone fled east through the woods. The ambush worked perfectly."
The shoulders of the wild haired man in white armor began shaking. At first glance it looked as if he were going to cry, then a soft rumble as the noise grew. The man wasn't crying, he was laughing, a sound that would frighten children and send soldiers on guard. As the man turned, his blue cape billowed behind him. He brushed a few of his pasty bangs away from his eyes; eyes that held no depth. "All poor victims of the State's 'betrayal', eh? I wish I had joined the ambush. All I've had to fight lately is that old man. I'm getting rusty."
Rowd lowered his head, though his eyes never left Luca, "Y.. yes.. I mean no, no. Your swordsmanship is truly unmatched. My men would look like fools."
Luca looked down at the man then at the carnage surrounding them, "Yes, well the young men served their country well enough. Now we don't need a peace treaty with those State weaklings. I'll prove they're no match for the power of Highland."
Rowd nodded, "I agree, sir. With you in command, Highland can finally earn the glory it deserves!"
"Wha. What the hell."
Riou turned his head a little so he could see Jowy who and taken three steps back then anger took him. "Come on Riou we need to have a chat with our Captain."
Jowy spit the word out like a curse as he started marching over to the group, "Captain!" Riou rolled his eyes as he hurried to catch up to Jowy. Approaching the larger group to within a couple of meters they stopped.
Rowd as saw them a look of shock overcame him, "What! Why didn't you two punks run east through the woods like I told you!"
Jowy's raised a fist in front of him looking angry enough to shatter stone. "Captain, what the hell is going on!? Why did you tell us too.? And who the bloody hell is that psychopath!"
Jowy looked fully ready to fight as he pointed at the man in white armor; the unknown figure began to laugh. "You don't recognize the face of your country's royal prince?"
As Jowy's anger changed to one of unbridled confusion, Rowd took the opportunity. "Hurry! Grab them!"
Riou lunged forward to meet the attack, tonfar ready. The first guard went down to his knees with the blunt edge of the left-handed tonfar. Riou followed up the attack with a blow to the head; sending the opposing soldier to the ground.
Jowy wasn't a slacker, and once Riou took the first guard down he snapped back to reality. Spinning his staff trough the air he felt the teeth of the dragonhead on the end of the staff catch hold of the second guard's unprotected neck. The drizzle of blood stained the blue and silver staff, though a look of remorse crossed Jowy's face, it lasted only a second.
/They are the ones who killed my friends, which makes them my enemies. /
Riou bashed the face in of another guard; the years of training before he was even in the army serving him well.
/They killed my friends; they're trying to kill Jowy and me. They are my enemies; all my enemies must be erased. No more enemies. /-Riou took down another guard, -/means no more pain and everyone's suffering will be stopped. /
The battle site was silent; Jowy and Riou were back to back. Jowy holding his staff in both hands watching Rowd. Riou stood still as stone, arms appearing almost crossed but he was ready for the slightest sign of another attacker. Watching Luca, the two were trying to stare the other down.
Jowy was the first to speak. His voice was a whisper, so no one other then Riou could hear him. "Let's go Riou. We can't go east or we'll be killed. Maybe if we go north we'll be able to escape."
Riou nodded even though Jowy didn't see him. A moment later, the two dove away and ran out of sight. They could hear Rowd barking orders for more soldiers to get over there. But his voice faded as the two continued up the steep mountain path diving behind a path of pines for cover. The two only stopped when they came to a dead end; breath a little uneven from running, Jowy looked Riou over.
"Are you okay Riou? You're not hurt? Good, but why would the Captain."
A sudden voice startled the two, as they turned they could see their former Captain, with him more soldiers. All of them ready for the upcoming fight. "You'll never learn the answer to that. You'll die here; victims of the State's 'surprise attack'. Your future ends here."
Riou felt his anger rise, he thought about his friends in the brigade, slaughtered, by their own Captain. The landscape blurred slightly as his eyes glossed over. He was aware of his heart beating steady and hard; he could feel his pulse beating through his neck. He could have sworn his blood was on fire. The feeling of the adrenaline pumping through the veins, blocking the pain, stopping anything but the need for battle. It was a song heard only at the pinnacle of emotions, he liked it.
"No!"
Riou felt the pulsing rhythm through his body. His heart screamed for revenge. A craving for battle, a lust for the revenge that would come, his body was demanding it. "No, you killed Timothy you killed Dean. You murdered those who had called you Captain; you tried to kill us. Don't you have any remorse you heartless bastard! Why did you do it! Tell me! Why!"
The wind abruptly kicked up, becoming stronger by the second; forcing both the soldiers and Rowd back up. Jowy held his ground; never before had he seen Riou this angry. "Tell me! Why did you sell us out! Why! Why did you betray us?!"
By this point the wind had gained enough strength to throw one of the guards off his feet and into a pine, after which he slumped to the ground.
Jowy didn't understand it. The wind was barely touching him. Although, he could plainly see it wasn't so with Rowd or his new soldiers. /Riou doesn't have any runes attached. So how is he doing this? /
Rowd, with his arms defensively over his face spoke, "I'll tell you why."
As he suspected the wind started slowing, "The reason is that I no longer want to baby-sit a bunch of punks. I wanted a fighting brigade with men not boys, and by dealing with a few minor problems Prince Luca has seen that this will happen. Now I will have my dream come true."
The wind was practically gone now. Riou seemed to be in a state of shock; Jowy didn't look much better. Rowd smiled and put his arms down; "Not what you expected to hear was it."
One of the soldiers went forward his fist connecting with Riou's gut causing him to double over. The guard raised his elbow for another strike but was tackled down by Jowy, "Riou?!"
Standing up Riou twisted his tonfar through the air as Jowy dodged a swipe from a sword by doing a backhand spring and landed beside Riou. "Jowy, you think you're up for our classic attack?"
Jowy smirked and nodded, "Let's do it."
As the guards closed in Riou and Jowy both gained a green aura that began lighting up the mountain pass, "Ready?" "You bet."
The two darted forward; Riou smacked the closest guard in the face with the right-handed tonfar. Distracting the group, while Jowy streaked his way behind. Another guard made a grab at Riou who sharply kicked the offender in the shin and then dodging a dagger by performing a backward jumping somersault. Now with the distance he needed Riou ran forward with a series of techniques some using the tonfar. Others were consistent with the martial arts his Grandpa taught him and a few were a mix of both.
Meeting up with Jowy, the two twined through the guards then skidded back to their original positions by the cliff side. Rowd didn't move as he watched his soldiers stand still, "What are you waiting for?!" Without warning each of the soldiers slumped over to the ground leaving Rowd alone to fight.
"Damn you. You persistent little. Stay there!"
Rowd ran back down the cliff; Riou tilted his head questionably. "Does he think we'll actually stay rooted to the spot while he finds more soldiers?"
"Riou?"
Riou went over to Jowy, "What is it? Are you hurt?"
Jowy shock his head, "No but we can't keep this up forever. Riou there's no other way. We'll have to jump for it."
Riou was silent as he listened to the crashing waves below the cliff face, then to the shouts of the guards down the path. "I guess there's no other way."
Jowy sighed glad for the lack of argument, "Okay." Pulling out a dagger he walked over to one of the standing boulders and slashed the knife across it.
"If we make it but somehow get separated. let's return to this spot. That way we'll be reunited. Promise me. Riou."
"We'll make it together Jowy!"
"Just humor me then."
Giving an exasperated sigh Riou unsheathed his well hidden dagger and slashed against the rock; the stone easily chipped away under the powerful blade revealing the completed X. Riou turned back to Jowy, he put the dagger back in it hidden sheath beneath his tunic. "Okay."
The two stood at the edge of the cliff looking down at the river, taking the other's hand the boys nodded and jumped. Fate perhaps, if one believes in such a thing, decided to change at that moment. Instead of falling with his friend, Riou felt the rough hands of an older, more experienced soldier grab him by the legs; the callused hands nabbed his ankles to receive a better grip.
The rushing water pounded against the rocks a few meters beneath Jowy's feet, at first he thought Riou got his foot snagged by the root of one of the nearby trees. As he recovered from being smashed face first into wall of stone he looked up, "What happen. Oh cr."
With a brief attempt at tug-of-war Riou knew the guard wasn't letting go. That wasn't all, the fully trained Highland soldier was actually starting to pull both Riou and Jowy back up the cliff face. Riou wasn't about to risk Jowy's life; "Jowy let go of me!"
Jowy's look of distress increased, intermixed with a hint of surprise, "Wha!? I'm not leaving you!"
"Don't worry Jowy; we'll see each other again."
Riou opened his hand Jowy tried to hold on tighter but without Rious aid he lost his grip. Falling the last few meters into the pounding river. Riou watched as Jowy tried to fight the river's fury but was ultimately swept away.
With the weight of only one, the soldier was able to hoist Riou up with ease. But Riou was prepared to attack. As soon as he was on the cliff face he smashed his fist into the soldiers jaw -spli cra-the sound of blood swishing then smashing the jaw bone, broken as the highlander fell to his knees clutching his jaw in attemptive screams.
Riou's left leg was set afire as a trail of three nerve daggers fulfilled their purpose. His leg refused to do anything but scream in his mind, and cloud his vision with unbearable pain. Stoically using all the strength he could muster into his right leg he sprang at the attacker who was ready with another set of nerve daggers. Riou managed a headbut into the gut of the soldier. Two of the daggers missed but the third struck home into Riou's right shoulder. A foot smashed down into his back with the force of the weight applied pushing him to the ground. Someone took his still sheathed tonfar while another guard's arms snaked around his chest holding him in a bear hug.
Struggling against the grip proved a futile mission. Riou watched helplessly as the guard who had taken his tonfar threw them into the river below. Rowd remained emotionless as he walked over to Riou. Rowd held the youth's chin up so he would be able to look directly at Riou's eyes.
Riou watched his former Captain; Rowd finally broke the silence. "Those daggers, you know what they do, don't you? First they paralyze you by igniting all the nerves in the body, afterwards they poison you. It only will be a matter of hours Riou."
A soft icy breeze crept by the former Captain, /Murderer./
"What?"
Rowd felt his breath slow as the air became cold raising the hairs on his skin. As he looked into Riou's eyes he felt as if he were drowning in hazel swamps. /Murderer! Monster. He's nothing but a killer.Why did you do it, Captain? Why? /
No longer was Rowd by the cliff but standing on a plain on land golden brown in color as far as the eye could see. "Captain..? They told me you did it, that it's your fault. Tell me it's not true."
Rowd turned and saw Dean, but that was impossible. "Dean!?"
"I always knew you were a lousy human. Arrogant, and even back-stabbing at times but I never thought you would betray your own platoon."
Behind him, Marcus stood, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar of amber. Marcus always standing up for the other soldiers being the oldest recruit there. He had always shown resentment towards the Captain. Marcus always did have a thing against authority figures.
Then there was Timothy who stood closer to Rowd then Marcus. Timothy, light hearted, always joking to make someone laugh. /Whatever time it takes to make a person laugh, it's always worth it, don't you think? /
Timothy stepped toward Rowd and handed him something. "I think this is yours." Rowd looked down in his hands at a dagger, his dagger. The one he had used to eliminate Timothy before the recruit had been able to warn his fellow soldiers of the attack.
Fear, pure fear is something very few feel. It grips at your heart, it tears your mind, and it causes you to lose control. This was what Rowd was experiencing, sane, insane. Neither one exists when one is truly afraid, when one is truly afraid; they become irrational, emotional and feel no pain. What would be pain only adds to the fear.
Rowd gripping the dagger with such a grip his knuckles began changing to white. Looking from one boy to the next in a manner that was similar to that of a caged animal "Your not real none of you are! You are dead!"
Rowd slashed at Timothy, much to Rowd's surprise he felt the dagger catch yet no blood came from Timothy. The former Unicorn soldiers looked as if in shock, and hadn't been expecting Rowd to attack. Marcus looked enraged, but Timothy was fine so Rowd didn't understand. Looking at the blade he saw the blood dripping down the metal, Rowd looked up as he noticed movement. Marcus was lunging forward with a killing intent toward Rowd. "You bast."
The land vanished and he was back at the cliff, looking around frantically, trying to see his former charges. The soldiers holding Riou released him; Rowd didn't have time to yell at them before Riou, the second last Unicorn Soldier, fell to the ground. Beneath him a pool of blood began to swell. The Captain looked in his hands where his dagger rested. It's silvery metal glimmering beneath the crimson flow of blood. Rowd wanted nothing more then to throw the dagger in the river, but would not. For Rowd would not show a sign of weakness in front of his new soldiers. Turning; he said his first official order to four of his new soldiers. "Move out."
^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The crashing waves caused Riou to wake from his almost eternal sleep, /.so cold./
Riou forced his depleted energy to surface just enough so he could lie on his back to perhaps see the stars. Once accomplished the only thing left was to open his eyes. Dark lashes struggled to open but he soon found it required too much energy.
Riou could feel his breath becoming shallower as time went by. He couldn't feel the pain that he felt earlier; instead his whole body was numb. Testing if he could move he tried to flex his fingers but he was unable to tell if they were actually moving. A small sad smile crept over him, /So this is what it's like to die. I wish I could have seen Nanami one more time. /
"Hear my voice."
/Who./
"Listen to my voice. This isn't your time, Riou listen to my voice and pull yourself away from darkness."
A soft hand touched his cheek and the numbness began to fade, "Come back to the light."
Her voice now in a whisper, so close that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his face. "Come back to me."
Breaking the sleep spell Riou forced his eyes to open. Everything was blurred, then went dark as Riou closed his eyes again, realizing his sight must have been damaged in the fight. Soft unmarred hands went over his closed eyes causing them to sting at first, but as it spread and became stronger it felt more like the sensation you get when a limb falls asleep, and you try to wake it.
"Riou I want to meet you. You must come back to this world; I was lonely till I saw you. Come back."
His eyes opened again and the first thing he saw was a woman kneeling over him; Riou blinked as his eyes adjusted to the moonlight.
The woman brushed her hand over Riou's bangs. She smiled at him, then seemed to fade into the light of the moon. Looking ahead he could see the stars glimmering with their fires.
A light shimmer caught his eyes as he saw a gold winged butterfly with soft white fur covering its body. The small creature was flying in random patterns above him towards the river. Just behind the small creature was a massive sphere of light with vines of gold. Focusing on the light further above him he could see the moon shining in its splendor. It was the last thing he remembered seeing before a blackness enveloped the land, stars, and river.