A/N: I finally updated! I've had a hectic time, but I finally got chapter three done. Enjoy!
And Happy Holidays. :)
I do not own Xenosaga. I would love to say that I thought up these lovely characters, but I'm just having fun with them and the awesome storyline However, the young lady is my character. You may use her, but do ask for permission.
To the fans...
Zen: I'm not that good. :) Thanks for the comment!
Reicheru: Sorry I kept you waiting!
Speak No Evil: Chapter Three - Brother Of Mine
"Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them." John Updike
Gaignun Kukai turned in his sleep, trying to find a decent position that wouldn't be too uncomfortable. His rest was plauged by deadlines, appointments, schedules, and everything else related to running a large coporation. It was not unusual for the director of the Kukai Foundation to get three and a half hours of sleep a night at best during some weeks. "Dammit..." He sighed, grabbing the covers in a fist and throwing them off, getting out of bed. He plodded over to his bathroom and flicked on the light. Grabbing a glass from the counter, he filled it up with cold water, and took a long drink. As he drank, he glanced in the mirror.
The face of a young woman stared back at him.
Gaignun spat out the water in his mouth, giving the mirror an impromptu wash. He whirrled around. Nothing. "What the..." Gaignun muttered to himself, rubbing his forehead. "I'm starting to see things." Grabbing a nearby handtowel, he dried off the mirror. He stood there for a while, towel in hand, gazing at the mirror. "...I really need to get some sleep." He threw the towel into the sink, put the glass on the counter, and flipped off the light. Walking back to his bed, he flopped down rather ungracefully, and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't shake the image he had seen in the mirror. Was it simply a delusion, the result of not getting enough sleep? He thought back to the haunting image he had glimpsed.
She had stared at him from the mirror, grey eyes filled with sadness and pain. Silver hair framed her childlike face like a halo, making her seem ethereal. Pale lips moved in a soundless whisper, a silent plea. What was she asking for, and why had she been there?
Gaignun closed his eyes, sighing into the silent room. "Could it be, after all this time...? No, it's impossible..." He rolled over and tossed the blankets over his head. He shut his eyes, determined to salvage some sleep.
The sky was a dull, oppressive ceiling over a sullen world.
The wind whispered through the trees, scattering fallen leaves across the dry earth. A small, silver-haired child sat underneath a tree, hugging her legs to her chest. She looked up to the sky, the leaves dancing in the wind in a slow ballet, one final glory before becoming disregarded for eternity. A small whimper escaped the child's lips as she hugged her legs tighter. Her lips moved, forming words, but no sound came out, other than a toneless breath. The child started to cry weakly, bringing one hand up to her throat. A young blond-haired boy walked up to her, and looked down at her with no emotion on his face. The silver-haired child looked up at the boy hopefully, reaching her hand towards him. The boy stepped back from her, and walked away, leaving the girl to cry alone.
Gaignun let his breath out in a helpless sigh, his head bowing with exhaustion. He felt terrible; he hadn't got any sleep at all. And that dream... or was it a memory? He knew that girl; it was his sister Alka. But he was confused; hadn't Father disposed of her? The dark-haired URTV dug his fingers into the desk slightly. The last time he remembered seeing her, she had looked like a ghost. Her eyes had been dull and lifeless, and she seemed so frail... Gaignun took a deep breath. 'URTV number 670, variant 5, designation Alkaline.' Gaignun couldn't ignore the bitter taste that was brought to mind as he recalled her 'official' name. His sister had suffered the greatest from their father. She was the youngest of the variants, and the most gifted; she had been created with the goal of combining the strengths of the other variants. Gaignun closed his eyes and leaned back, sighing. When she was healthy, she had been lovely, even beautiful; she had eerie silver hair that seemed to glow, and grey eyes that overflowed with love and compassion.
But all of that had changed once their father started experimenting with Alka's psyche. She was subjected to numerous dives by herself. Gaignun didn't know what those dives entailed, only their results. As the days went on, Alka had become more and more withdrawn. Her once simmering hair lost its luster, and her eyes sparkled less and less, becoming the shade of a stormy day. And then one day... Gaignun couldn't completely supress the cold feeling that formed in the pit of his stomach. She had cried all day, despite her brothers' attempts at comforting her. After one of her many dives, she had been rendered mute; a terrible blow to Alka, a girl who loved to talk to everyone, even plants and animals. Gaignun could still remember how she had sobbed helplessly. Gaignun opened his eyes and stared up at the bland ceiling. "Why... why these thoughts now? Is she really alive?"
The silver-haired young woman stared out mutely through the window, the glorious stars glittering like so many diamonds carelessly tossed onto a field of deepest black velvet. Her stomach gave a grumble of discontent, and she released her breath in a sigh. Her warm breath connected with the window and fogged up, obscuring a small part of the endless vista for a brief moment, before vanishing without the slightest hint that it had ever been. -Is that me? Just a flicker?- the young girl thought.
In the window, her sullen grey eyes stared back at her, haunted and lonely. Wearing one of his tunics, she felt small and useless, like a child putting on its parent's coat and realizing they have no hands. Except for her, it wasn't in jest or childish delight that she wore clothes not meant for her. Her stomach growled again, more persistant. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten anything; she felt hollow. She looked again into the window, the pain of lonliness wrapping itself around her heart like an icy python, slowly crushing her.
But instead of seeing her own dull eyes, she saw eyes that seemed to pierce into her mind. They glinted with green fire, full of intellect and calmness. She felt her heart break free of the python's grip, and she placed a hand on the glass, staring intently into those emerald eyes. In her heart she pleaded that he could see her, that he could understand what she wished she could tell him. But his gaze faded. She was left staring into her storm-cloud eyes, that spilled a rain of sorrow onto a barren steel ground.
He came up behind her, amethyst eyes softening slightly in concern. He placed a hand on her shoulder. That simple touch broke the facade of the young girl. She whirled and pressed her face into his chest, mouth open in a silent cry of torment. She wept bitter tears, not only for herself, but for the one that held her, whispering meaningless sounds into her ears. She knew it deep in her heart; they were both doomed.
I'll try and get the next chapter up soon, but no promises, sorry!
So, roses or ninja stars? Praise, or rotten fruit? Please review and tell me!