Chapter 4: Feida
"Hey, Saryuu!" Reize smiled as I entered the room. I gave him a nod and he politely left the room so I could be alone with Iora.
"…Saryuu…?" she whispered. For a second I thought perhaps her memories returned, no such miracle. "Please, tell me who I am!"
I didn't know how to answer the question. "Why are you asking me? How do you know I'm not lying to you?"
She pulled out the stone around her neck. Iora, the name of the jewel which I gave to her 5 years ago. "I've been having dreams about my memories when I was about 7. You and…" she paused for a second, "that boy who brought me here, you were both in them."
Those words gave me hope. I unconsciously hugged Iora. I quickly let go when I realized she didn't hug me back. "Sorry…" I apologized. Awkward…
"You're Iora Sonoa, we were abandoned by our parents when they realized we were Second Stage Children. We were always together… until they took you away…" I trailed off.
"They?" she asked.
"Hey SARU!" Garo stormed inside suddenly. "Hm? Who's this girl?" he walked up to Iora.
I did my best to keep my rage inside. I forced a relaxed smile, "Garu, what are you doing, walking into my room without my permission?"
However, he didn't stop. I could tell Iora was feeling uncomfortable. I quickly thrust my hand forward, pushing Garo with a shock wave away from Iora.
"Kya!" Iora screamed, surprised from Garo being suddenly blown back.
"SARU…you…" Garo growled.
I stood over him, staring him down, "It's an order, leave before I decide something else…"
Garo gasped and quickly left the room.
"What was that?" Iora whimpered.
She was afraid; afraid of me! She looked at me with those eyes; the same eyes as my parents when I first used my telepathic powers. Fear. It was too much for me to bear, the first person who was kind to me betrayed me. I ran out, leaving Iora, no… Aoi alone.
POV change
"Saryuu…!" I tried to stop the white-haired boy from leaving, but he was soon gone. I remembered the shocked expression on his face. I hurt him. I don't know him that much, but I felt guilt fill my chest.
I waited a bit longer in the room alone. I wondered if Tenma was alright. If everyone in Raimon were alright. I couldn't be here longer. I decided to go look for Saryuu and then find a way back to Tenma.
"Are you sure you're alright?" I heard as I walked out of the room. I found myself quickly hide behind a pillar. In the distance, a young blond boy with glasses knelt down in front of a long purple haired girl, holding her hand. His eyes were filled with worry.
"Aw Giris…" the girl blushed, "You know Garo has no chance against me…"
The boy squeezed her hand, "Yes Meia, but if anything happened to your beautiful face…"
"Giris..."
"Meia…"
…I decided to use another door and leave those two lovey-dovey couple alone. Saryuu is friends with some weird people…
POV change
Aw shoot. I'm aware that she doesn't have her former memories, so it's normal that she'd be afraid when I used my telepathic powers. But it hurt me far more than I guessed. I know it's not her fault… I know that…
"What's the matter SARU?" I didn't notice Fei's presence until he spoke up.
It was obvious from his tone, that he really didn't care what I was worrying about. So I answered what he wanted to hear, "Nothing."
"No, you're lying," Fei smiled.
Huh? He actually wants to know? I looked at him doubtfully, but seeing his worried face, I decided to tell him. About Iora; about her lost memories.
"Hmm, so even you have a love interest, SARU?" Fei said in a disappointed voice. I shouldn't have told him anything…
"I don't think it matters whether she has her memories or not," Fei smiled, "You can start making new ones now."
I didn't expect such advice from him. New memories… normally that's persuasive, but… "Fei, we're second stage children, we don't have much time left. That's the reason we challenged El Dorado to the Ragnarok."
Fei frowned, "There is one way, SARU. To live longer."
I pricked my ears, "How?"
"To get rid of your second stage powers."
POV change
This building's bigger than I thought. I've wandered so long, that I couldn't find my way back to the room I was in originally. Having nothing else to do, I just kept walking straight.
"I haven't seen you before…" I turned to see a pale slanted-eyed boy. He was about the same height as me.
"Yuuchi, who're you talking to?" a tall slender blond girl, no judging from the voice a boy, walked up from behind Yuuchi.
"Do you know her, Chet?"
Chet took a better look at my face, "Nope, never seen her before."
"Um… do you know where Saryuu is? I kinda got lost…"
"Hm? Saryuu? Ah, you mean SARU." Yuuchi smiled, "It's unusual for him to bring a guest, especially a girl…"
Chet frowned, "How do we know she's telling the truth?" he violently grabbed my arm.
Yuuchi sighed, he put his hand on my head, "Stupid, if you use our powers, it's easy." He closed his eyes as if he was looking through something. He suddenly gasped, moving his hand away from me.
"Yuuchi?" Chet asked.
Yuuchi just stared at me, trembling, "S-she's teling the truth…but…"
"Hm? Iora, what are you doing here?" Reize suddenly walked up to us.
"R-Reize…?" Chet exclaimed immediately letting my hand go.
Reize then lead me away from the two boys, "don't worry about her, guys." He whispered to me, "I'll lead you back to SARU's room."
I glanced back. Yuuchi kept looking up and down from me. But he didn't say anything else.
POV change
Reize brought Iora into the room. Huh, what were they doing together? ! And they're holding hands!? I quickly stood between them, pulling their hands apart. I faced Reize.
"What are you doing…?" I whispered angrily at him.
Reize backed away a bit, "Don't get the wrong idea, she was aimlessly wandering around the building."
"What? Did anyone else see her?"
"She was talking to Yuuchi and Chet when I found her…"
Hm. Those two are alright… I guess. I think they're part of Fei's team, Garu… Huh? Why am I trusting Fei and his team this much…?
"Saryuu?" Iora suddenly yelled. I turned to face her. "Take me back!"
"Huh?"
"Back, to Raimon, to Tenma!"
Tenma? Tenma!? Why would she want to return… no, that's normal. She only remembers her time with him. He's the one in her memories, not me. I'm a complete stranger to her now…
"No." but that doesn't mean it's the best choice to bring her to him. I promised her.
I'll always protect you,
Even if she starts hating me.
We'll never be apart.
She belongs here, in our time. Not Tenma's.
POV change
When I saw the determination in this eyes I didn't argue; I couldn't argue.
I was led to a bedroom and I spent the night there. However I was unaware of the battle, Ragnarok, which was about to begin the next day.
To be continued...