A/N: Finally the next chapter, thank god its longer this time. I finally finished Kuroshitsuji I&II, yeah I know I'm late LOL! But its a wonderful anime, you should totally watch it! School is finally mellowing out so I should be able to post two chapters at a time hopefully, we'll just have to wait and see. If you read though please review, as I writer I really need feedback so I know that people actually appreciate my work and I'm not writing for myself. I'm not planning on going through the story without a single review so please, your feedback is greatly welcomed and appreciate it, I don't even care if its bad I would love any type of criticism. I worked really hard on this chapter so thanks and enjoy!

Chapter playlist:
Si deus mi relinquet: Kuroshitsuji

Don't Stray Here: Frames

Yearning: Mono

Pure as Snow: Mono

Past is Prologue: Tycho

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"Hey Ranine… how come we leavin'?"

My answer was nothin' but aqua and tawny eyed stares; the only sound I was given was silence. It had all happened so suddenly and yet I didn't want to admit why. It had been a few days since anyone had said anythin'. The only sounds I had heard were the cries of my father and the phone call my mother made after he had said the word. It was unusual, even more so that no one said a single word to me. I stared back at my older brother and sister, my hands grippin' around the moogle Torben gave me a few weeks ago. Its red pom pom danced in front of my eyes as I squeezed it harder and harder. I begged for this all to end. I wanted things to go back to the way they used to be. The days were we would play every day, where Ma would cook a delicious breakfast and Pa would go to the mines and work, where I never had a care in the world.

"What's wrong?" I questioned again but received no answer; just watched as Ranine and Torben packed my belongings one by one. Strippin' the bed, breakin' it down, packing my toys, and my clothes; gutting my room from the inside out. They did it with an almost panicky haste and not once was a single word said. It bothered me to no end, the silence ate at me. No matter how many questions I asked I was never answered. I wanted to know why they were so silent, what was the deal? Why was this goin' on…?

"Please..?" I whimpered again as I ran up to Torben, a tiny hand tuggin' on his navy v-neck tee. It was as if I had tugged on the ears of a hibernating bear because I got nothin' but rage in return.

Torben turned his eyes on me, his cold amber stare piercing my small body. "Get him outta here…" He exasperated in a semi-controlled growl. Ranine hadn't heard him though; she was still packing my stuff, her face filled with sadness.

I tugged once again, unperturbed by his growing anger, "Torben… you okay?"

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. It was as if all the stress he had been holdin' in unleashed itself at that very moment. He grabbed a hold of the box he had been so carefully packing a few seconds ago and hurled it in Ranine's direction, his eyes full of rage. The veins in his neck and face pulsated with fury as he grabbed another box and tore it in two with his bare hands, "Get him the fuck outta here Ranine!"

She moved quicker than a chocobo makin' a break for it. She hustled me up in her arms, a quick, "Sorry.", passin' from her lips as she did so. I could hear Torben breaking out into a sob as we left; the sound of many of my belongings bein' hurled at the walls echoing throughout the house. They broke upon impact, leaving dents in the walls. He screamed furiously, almost desperately it seemed. It was like he was cryin' for help in a way. But no one came to help him, at least not immediately.

Ranine sat me on Quorra's bed, without even askin' her, and walked right out of the room to go comfort Torben. Before she left she passed a nod to Quorra and was given one back, like they understood what the other was thinkin'. It wasn't long before she was at my side, her fingers wrapping a blanket around my small body. She reached a hand to my face, her flowing flaxen mane spillin' over her shoulders,

"It's gonna be okay honey, it's not your fault. Big sis' here… "

I hadn't realized it at first, until she wiped the water from my face that I was cryin'. This was all too much, way too much for me to handle. Everyone was sad, everyone was hurt, and I couldn't help but feel it was my fault. I wanted to ask her why Torben acted the way he did, how come Pa hasn't said anythin' in days, and how come Ma was almost comatose when it came to any of our questions… but I knew I would never receive an answer.

"Midgar took my mother! What makes you think I wanna go back Ranine!?"

Further screaming from Torben and the sound of more of my belongings bein' broken bellowed throughout the house.

"I'm sick and fuckin' tired! Why can't we stay!? Why do we have to leave because of one monster in the Mines!? Why Ranine, why!?"

"Because its too painful too be here! I can't even look at his room anymore! We need to go Torben!"

"But I don't wanna… he promised he'd never leave… after mom died…. He promised he'd never fuckin' leave me!"

"Torben stop! Please STOP!"

I put my hands over my ears and shut my eyes with a shriek. I couldn't take the noise, the sadness, and the despair any longer. I wanted to get out of here. I needed to get out of here.

Without a second to lose Quorra picked me up and hauled me out of the house. On our way out I could see Torben in tears, as he tore a gaping hole through my bedroom wall. Ranine was at his side, trying to stop his onslaught of anger.

As we walked down the hall and down to the front of the house I could see my parents over by the living room window. My Pa was staring off into space, his dead amber hues locked on whatever waited for him outside. Ma tried to talk to him, as he sat in his chair, paler than death itself.

"Please honey, just talk to me…." She whimpered, begged him as rivers flowed from her beryl hues. But he said nothing, didn't even acknowledge her presence. He just sat there, lost in whatever tragic event he had witnessed.

I didn't know why my family was fallin' apart but I felt partly guilty. I knew deep down it was in the memories I had repressed within me. I didn't want to remember. I didn't want to accept it. There was no choice though, I had to. Just like every obstacle that was goin' to throw itself in front of me. But it wasn't just us who were affected by this unseen terror. As Quorra and I walked through the town the only thing I could feel was pure sadness. There were no smiles, no laughter, just silence. It was exactly like my house, like somethin' had come through and ripped everyone apart.

"You wanna go to the candy shop?" Quorra asked me, her cerulean hues sparkling with what seemed to be the beginning of tears. I wanted to hug her but I knew that would just make her cry. She was already tryin' her best to hold it back, and I didn't want to break the damn she was so desperately trying to keep intact so I just said,

"Yup."

It had all happened so quickly and next I knew we were leavin'.

But in the back of my mind it made sense. She had warned me, the woman with radiant eyes the same color as the Lifestream. A part of me knew why this was goin' on and yet a part of me felt guilty. Why we were packing, why everyone else in the peaceful town of Kalm were disturbed, and the undeniable fact that no one walked out to the Mythril Mine anymore. It was because I couldn't stop it. I was powerless. All of it made sense. And when I think back to the day that started it all, I can't help but resent the fact that I didn't put two and two together sooner.

A place where the shine of Mythril is bright….

The day started like any other:

"Wake up brat! Breakfast is ready!"

I awoke to the slap of a pillow against my tiny body and the feeling of my feet bein' tugged on. I held onto the bed with a smile and a small giggle. The dawnin' sun filled my room, its orange-pinkish hue tinting everything in sight. Viridian hues cracked open, only to lie upon the dark ominous shadow that stood above them. Whoever it was, they had a tall like stature. He stood firmly even, his amber hues after-glowin' in the sun. I could see the muscles in his arms tighten as he yanked the covers away, a slightly annoyed smirk sliding across his face…

"Get up brat…"

"No..." I pouted back as I twisted away from him."

I turned my head to look at him, and was greeted by a raised brunette brow and an irritated grin.

"What did you say?"

"I said… no." I retorted back with a smile and before I could say another word I was hauled upside down by my ankles.

Torben lifted me up so that we were at eye level, a playful grin on his face, "You play too much kiddo." He chuckled as he hurled me over his shoulder, bringing out nothin' but giggles from me. I climbed atop his head, my legs resting on his shoulders as my hands ruffled through his spikey, caramel tinted hair.

"Gigas…"

"Shut it kid, you're pushin' it."

"Quorra said it!"

"Well Quorra's a retard."

"Quorra's a what?" Torben stopped walking, as soon as he heard her cool voice. He stared forwards and met her gaze as she stood in the kitchen. The pot that was locked in her grip steamed all the way up to the ceiling, and if it was possible steam would probably be comin' from her ears too. Her golden shirtwaist dress, flowed as she took a step forward, a couple of wayward strands of her blonde mane fallin' over her shoulders.

Ranine poked her head out from behind the taller and older Quorra, her icy hues glaring Torben down. She dove from behind her without hesitation as Quorra took another step forward, her face not that far from her younger but bigger brother.

"Take it back…"

"No you said I look like a Gigas… how do you even know what one looks like...?"

"It's what everyone calls you behind your back..." Ranine interjected between the two of them as she took the pot from Quorra's hands and to the table. "But then again everyone says she looks like a bipedal cuahl." She snipped back at Quorra with a sneaky mirth on her face.

"They say what about me?" Quorra raged back at Ranine, her face bearing the same cat-like snarl a cuahl would make.

"Heh... You do look like a Cuahl…."

"Take it back Torben!"

"You guys stop fighting…" Next I knew I was bein' lifted off Torben's shoulders and into my Ma's arms as she waltzed inside the kitchen. I stared up at her as she sat me in a seat right at her side. It wasn't long before everyone else sat down and immediately began eating. The plates had already been set, eggs, bacon, and some porridge like cereal was on everyone's dish. The only thing that could be heard was the clinging of silverware against ceramic. It was like this all the time… no one ever really said anythin'. But it wasn't like we hated one another, it's just that well. No one really talks when they're enjoyin' food.

"Is Pa at the Mine again…?" Torben was the first one to break the silence. He turned to face Ma, a piece of bacon hanging out of his mouth as he spoke. Quorra and Ranine laughed at him as he did so, their bodies contorting just enough so they could secretly whisper in each other's ears.

Ma just stared at him with a sweet smile, her hand reaching out to rub my hair out of my eyes as I ate. "Yes he is, with your older brother. He tried to wake you this morning but he figured it'd be better to let you sleep."

I gazed at my Ma, as I forked an egg, my eyes watching her with an edge of curiosity. She continued to push the hair out of my eyes, her voice never waverin'.

"He said he wanted you to meet him there later if you could."

"I can, it's just that… I don't want to."

"Why is that?" Ma turned to face him, an air of perplexity shadowing her face.

It wasn't long before I tuned out of the conversation. Eventually Ma stopped messin' with my hair and I found myself starin' at my full plate. I didn't really understand the grown up conversation, didn't want to. It was somethin' I just felt like I wasn't supposed to. All it was, was that Pa went out to the Mythril Mine to work just like every man in Kalm did to make a livin'. It wasn't much for some people dependin' on what you did. But if you got lucky you could make somethin' of yourself. Most people who were shop owners in Kalm had at one point worked in the Mines. It was how they had earned the money to sustain their business, well at least get a foot on the ground to.

"Psst…."

I could barely hear the whisper that inked across the table and into my direction. I found myself starin' at the table, lost in my own world. Everyone else was talkin' about what, I didn't care. A part of me didn't want to be at this table, I wanted to be in my room in my bed sleepin' the day away. I reluctantly stared at my plate, the egg I had forked earlier still attached to my silverware. By now I knew my food was cold, there was no point in eatin' it. But I knew if I didn't Ma would get upset, she would want me to at least some of it. And if I didn't I knew she wouldn't let me go outside to play later.

I couldn't have that….

I started shoveling my breakfast into my mouth, not even botherin' to taste a single bite. I just put it in my mouth and swallowed with closed beryl hues. "Whoa… look at him go… Slow down Reno, for ya choke!" Torben screamed at me, his large arm reaching across the table to snatch my fork right out of my mouth. "Jeez… if I'd let you, you'd kill your damn self." He sighed with a disgusted look on his face as he threw the fork behind him.

"Torben! What did I tell you about cursing? Go pick up that fork…" Ma semi-yelled at him, her hands attempting to cover my ears.

"Jeebus such the bully Torben…" Ranine laughed as she kicked her boots up on the table. Ma screeched at her, frantic hands slapping her shoes away.

"Ranine! What is with you, and go put on a dress! You know I hate you dressing like a boy!"

"But I hate dresses Ma!" She whined back, her hands clenching the tan short sleeve shirt she wore.

Ma grasped her denim jeans, her face full of disdain as she did so, "Those are so unbefitting of a lady. Now shoo…"

"Fine….." She snipped back as she got up from the table, her shoulders slumped in defeat. Torben snickered as she walked off, a yelp of pain emanating from him as Quorra smacked him across the head with a snarl.

Ma turned to face me, her palms resting on my cheeks, "Are you okay angel?"

I just nodded back eyes wide, as she wiped the excess food from my face. Her other hand rubbin' against my short crimson spikes, "You can go play outside honey, if you want to."

"Okay!"

I exclaimed as I jumped up from the table, not even botherin' to push in my chair as I ran towards the front door. I dove for the entranceway, my hands immediately lockin' on my shoes and my navy jacket, and out the door. If Ma saw what I did she would kill me, but I could care less at this point. I've been waiting for this moment all week. I hopped into my shoes as I ran through the town, my navy jacket making a temporary home on my head as I did so. My crimson spikes danced in the wind as I ran full speed towards the exit of the town with a grin on my face. I waved at many of the shopkeepers as I sped by, my smile never waverin' from my face. I had my day planned, I was gonna go out of Kalm and adventure. I had been talkin' it through with Ranine for days. All I had to do was meet her at the spot at the hill near the edge of the tiny little hamlet we called home. A home that could never truly be replaced.

I waltzed right out of Kalm, my aqua hues searching for anythin' out of the normal. I knew this was dangerous; after all there were monsters out here bigger than me. But I didn't care, even though I was a kid I was tough. I practically laughed danger in the face; well… at least I thought I could. My feet guided me to the bottom of the hill, it didn't take me long to find a place to sit. Next I knew I was sitting on a giant rock as I waited for Ranine to show up exactly as she promised. It would only be a matter of time now.

"Reno…."

I turned my head in the direction of the voice that crept in my direction. It was sweet almost melodious, the way the owner said my name. I had heard it earlier at the dinner table back at the house, I had thought it was Ranine but it wasn't. No, it was someone way different.

"Reno….my child."

My name was sung again, the owner definitely a woman, behind it I could hear the chirpin' of birds nearby. I stared in the direction of it, my eyes waverin' over a certain spot in the brush of the area. There was nothin' to be seen, nothin' to be heard. But I knew that behind that wooded area there was a person watchin' me, lurkin' in the distance. It made me slightly paranoid, so much so that it willed my feet forward. I wasn't stupid but curious. I knew deep down that this was foolish in a way but I just reassured myself that it was curiosity at work. That's all it was, and nothin' more. But I couldn't let go of how afraid I was, I tried to laugh, and call out to the person,

"You're not funny y'know…" I retorted back to the beckonin' of my name as I walked closer and closer to the brush, my viridian hues pulsating in fear.

"You are my child… everyone on this earth is..."

I gazed back in the voice's direction, my eyes wide as I stepped closer and closer to the concealed area In front of me. It was shrouded by trees taller than any building in our small town, dense with bushes thicker than a wall of cement, and foliage so compact that it was hard to even step through. A hand paler than any I had ever seen reached out for me as a pair of glowin' mako hues stared back at me. They pierced my soul, twisting this unfamiliar fear within me. I dove back with a yelp almost immediately as I fell on my back, my hands diggin' into the ground as I scooted away from whatever it was. I cried out for help, my nails scraping at the dirt beneath me as I howled aloud for anyone to hear.

The first thing I laid my eyes on were the winding brunette curls that spilled over her shoulders, her lustrous icy blues never wavered from me, her long flowing white gown twirling all the way down to the ground. She sent a beautiful smile in my direction, her brunette brows rising with the beam on her face. She reached out to me, her slender fingers intertwinin' into mine. Her grip was gentle as she pulled me up off the ground, her eyes showing no intent to hurt me whatsoever.

"Do not be afraid my child, I mean no harm."

I just stared at the woman, my beryl hues wide with disbelief. This woman was otherworldly, almost alien like. It scared me in a way, brought up that fear in me once again. "Who are you…?"

She chuckled at my question, another sweet smile creepin' on her face, "I am Gaia, little one. Do not forget your purpose."

"Gaia… Pur…pose..?"

"Yes, your reason for bein' here. I gave you the option to change your life… now you are bein' given that chance."

"The chance? What's goin' on?"

Her feet guided her in my direction, her palm wrapping itself around my cheek. Her frosty blues seemed saddened against the melancholy smile she gave me. I stepped back in response, my fists clenchin' in doubt. There was no way that the woman who stood before me could be who she said she was. Gaia was not a person who walked the earth like every human here. There was no way she could be her, Gaia could not be on this earth! She was an entity, guardian of the Lifestream, not flesh and blood like me. I had no idea what she meant by this 'chance' she spoke of. But in her eyes was nothin' but truth with an edge of sadness, as she closed the distance between us once again. Tears fell from her eyes, her face still bearing that same forlorn quality.

"If you do not take action, many of my children will die."

"What do you mean? I don't understand!" I cried out to Gaia, my face full of perplexity. Children… death... chances… I didn't understand any of it. I refused to understand it. But she would show me, she would remind me. The hand that reached for my face and pulled me into the darkness would assure me of that.

"I've let you live in peace long enough… it is time for you to understand."

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The birds in the sky…

Panicky ocher hues barely hidden behind dark shades…

Overwhelming regret…

It was all too familiar but I wasn't dyin' this time, I was observin' from a distance.

Shattered goggles, tattered clothes, a crimson mane spread out from my fading body. I didn't need to be told that was me, it was obvious. Those were Ranine's goggles, that was my hair, down to the bangs I could never keep out of my eyes, but the person that kneeled over me was still a mystery. He watched me with a blank expression on his face, his emotions hidden by the sunglasses that sheltered them. He called out my name and to Gaia, his hand nudging my body repeatedly. Beggin', prayin', pleadin'… none of his small cries were heard. I could tell that he was the quiet type, but my death had brought out some emotion in this man.

"Please..."He uttered one last time as a single trail of water crept out from his shades. But I said nothin'; the only response I gave was my final breath. I was motionless, no longer breathin', my aqua hues opened up to death; their gaze forever locked on the sky above. The bald man passed a hand over my eyes, shielding them from the living world forever. It wasn't long before a blonde haired woman ran towards the bald man and I. She stopped dead in her tracks, her auburn hues fixated on my body as a Wutaianese man appeared right by her side. She dove for me, her piercing wail echoing throughout the forest as she held me close. The Wutainese male seemed just as shocked as she was, but unlike her he stood in place, eyes wide and brows furrowed. He directed his gaze at the bald man, anger burning in his obsidian orbs.

"Rude, what happe-!"

"Tseng…"Rude cut him off with a sad shake of his head; it was obvious he didn't know. He had walked up on me just like they had. "Elena… please…" He begged her as she held me close, rivers pouring from her tawny hues.

"I can't… he can't… he promised he wouldn't… He said he wouldn't! Reno… wake up! Say something, I don't care if it's a joke or you're hitting on me just say something! Just please let this be a prank!"

But it was no prank. I lifted up from her arms like a stringed puppet, the life force given to me from the Lifestream fading into the sky. She held on, tears flying from her eyes as she shook her head.

"NO! RENO NO!" Her hands tore at my blazer, the grip she held forceful enough to tear the clothes from my torso. She cried out, as she let the weight of her body drag me back down to the earth.

"I won't let you go! You can't leave!"

Rude and Tseng were right by her side; they grabbed at her waist and pulled her back, tryin' their best to get her to loosen her hold on me.

Tseng pried at her fingers, his face filled with an emotion I couldn't read... "Release him Elena, Please!"

But it was as if she didn't hear him, her grip became stronger, more desperate.

"You have to let him go! He has to go to the Lifestream!"

"I can't! He can't go!"

"Elena listen to me; this is an order. Let him go!"

"No I can't, I just can't! Reno can't leave us!

"He can't stay here! Do you want him to be trapped!?" Tseng called out to her again, his fingers intertwinin' with hers allowing her to pull away.

She stared back at him like a child who had just released their favorite balloon, her face forlorn as she let me go. It wasn't long before I faded into the sky, my life force dancin' in the wind and up to the heavens.

Elena fell to her knees, her eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She appeared defeated, and it wasn't long before Rude and Tseng succumbed too.

"Kuso!" With a kick of the foot my stun baton flew across the forest floor, and right into the puddle of blood I left behind. Tseng stormed off with a growl and out of sight, leaving Rude and Elena behind. It would be awhile before he came back, the façade he so desperately tried to hold up through this entire event was nothing but a mirror. All the cracks from every repair could be seen in that one action.

Rude had lost his shades in the battle to let me go, it was the first time I had seen his eyes in a while. They bore a saddened and pained expression as they watched what was left of me float upwards. The only sound that could be heard was Elena's weeping, and the sound of broken branches as an angered Wutaian tore the forest to shreds. Rude fell to Elena's side, his hands rubbin' her back comfortingly.

"He was our family…" She exasperated between sobs, her desolate auburn hues starin' off into space. "He'd call me rookie; laugh at me because I made mistakes, but when I needed him he was there. He was always there…. Now he's…" She gazed up at the sky, her hands clenching her pants legs, "He's gone…!" She dove into Rude, her body heavin' with tortured cries; he made no hesitation petting her head. Now was not the time to worry about appearance, about the fact that they were Turks. I had died and they were mournin' me… they were actually mournin' me.

"He… was my partner. No, he was more than that. All those times we stuck together: AVALANCHE and the Remnants. He never left my side, not even for a second." The pain in his ocher hues deepened as his russet brows furrowed,

"I leave his side… and…"

"It is not your fault…" Tseng interjected as he sat down right next to the two, his shadowy hues staring off into the distance. "I want them killed… whoever did this. We are Turks and no one… hurts our own."

Rude and Elena just stared at their boss, both of them nodding their head in agreement.

"After all…," He began as he picked himself off the ground, his free hand reaching over to grab my goggles as he stood erect. "It is what that… bakayarō… would want us to do." For a moment I could have sworn I heard Tseng's voice crack as he spoke, his eyes hidden behind pale lids. He walked off without saying another word and the others followed; they all turned back to stare at the sky one last time. No one said anythin' but the silence was enough. And with that they all walked away, never to return.

"You have to save my children in order to change your future. Deep in the earth is where it all begins, where the shine of Mythril is bright."

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"Reno! Reno!" I awoke to a jarring sensation and the sound of my name. I gasped as if I had forgotten to breathe, my hands grabbing my chest.

"Are you okay! Say somethin'?" Ranine screamed as she shook me as hard as she could. I opened my eyes, my hands wrapping themselves around her wrists. I felt dizzy and disoriented as I stood off of the ground, my knees weak. My viridian orbs searched for that woman but she was nowhere to be found. I stared off into the distance, dumbfounded and perplexed. What had I been shown…? It wasn't soon before my own question was answered. My head pulsated, throbbed painfully as I fell to my knees.

Sector seven… the cries of pain and despair, and the horrendous feeling of the hands of the dead on my skin.

Rude's ocher hues and the sadness within them…

Me pleading with Gaia for a second chance.

"You can finally be that 'someone special' your sister wanted you to be."

"Reno… you're scaring me."

"I'm fine…" I answered back with widened eyes as I picked myself up off the ground once again. I remembered it now; I know why I'm here. I have a future to change. I gazed at my open palms as I close them shut, my eyes flittin' over to Ranine with a smile. "You wanna play?"

Her eyes lit up at my words, a grin brighter than any light filling my view. "Yeah!"

" Deep in the earth is where it all begins, where the shine of Mythril is bright."

I wouldn't forget…

I would never forget the place where the shine of Mythril is bright.

"Let's go!" Ranine giggled as she grabbed my hand and whisked me away. We ran without direction, through the hills, pass the flowers, and amidst the trees. I was so happy, but in the back of my mind I couldn't help but think of what destruction was goin' to happen. It wouldn't be long before all this happiness died away leavin' nothin' but sorrow and agony behind. I would be left in the darkness all alone, without a single soul to help me. I would live alone, die alone, but I wouldn't leave this world alone… I could at least count on that.

"You are loved my child…."

'But what's the point of bein' loved if everyone you coulda ever called your own is dead?'

"You'll soon see…"

We continued to run, never stopping. We laughed through the hills, through the forest, all over until we couldn't laugh anymore. We made it far, so much so that we didn't know where we were. But Ranine stopped, her hand reaching up to the sky. "Is that a fire?!" Ranine screamed out as she pointed in the direction of the Mythril Mines a plume of smoke taintin' the sky, her eyes full of fear.

It all came rushing to me; Gaia, her children, the tears…. My chance, my chance to change everythin'.

"Where the shine of Mythril is bright…" Fell from my lips as I jerked her hand away and ran towards Kalm. I had to tell everyone, I had to do somethin'!

"Reno! Where are you goin'!?" She hollered as her feet ran after me.

But I wouldn't listen, couldn't listen… what the hell was a six year old supposed to do?

My lungs burned and ached with each and every breathe, the muscles in my legs and arms screeched in pain as I ran, and in my mind I was hopeless. No one would believe us; we weren't even supposed to be out here. Ma would kill us if she found out. But what about Pa? I couldn't let anythin' happen to him, I would never be able to forgive myself… ever.

It wasn't long before I made it back to the town, the tiny peaceful hamlet we called home. "There's a fire! The Mines!" I bellowed loudly, like a madman as I ran from shop to shop. It wasn't long before I reached home, screamin' the same words. Torben was right in the doorway, a plate fallin' from his hands and to the floor, smashin' into a million pieces.

"A fire… Pa!?" He dashed right past me without hesitation, pushin' me out of his way and onto the floor.

Quorra immediately ran to my side, Ranine skidding to a halt behind me. "What are you talkin' about Reno! Nows not the time for games!" She roared as she snatched me by the shoulders.

"No! I saw… it too!" Ranine huffed out of breath as she fell to the floor, her tired eyes fluttering with fatigue.

"A beast! A beast!" Those very words echoed throughout the town, shrieks of misery filled our ears as we walked outside to witness the commotion.

"Many of my children will die… where the shine of Mythril is bright."

Blood poured into the town, clingin' to the men who stumbled into our home. Moans of suffering, bodies of the dead, the dyin', the injured. They were Mythril Miners, the very men who had helped this town run. Cuts embedded themselves deep in their flesh, some missing limbs, others burned beyond recognition. Howls of pain and sorrow filled the area, it was unlike anyone had ever seen. No one here was accustomed to misery and angst. Everyone just stood there in surprise as they barreled in. But out of all of the men one stood out, his amber orbs were wide with shock, his tremblin' arms heavy with another young man's body that was halfway torn to shreds.

Ma ran towards him, her hands covering her mouth as she realized who it was. "What happened!" She yelled at Pa, her shaky hands attempting to reach for the young man in his arms. But Pa just turned away from her as he fell to the ground, as he pulled the remains close to his chest.

Tears filled Pa's eyes, his lips shaking with doubt, "It tore him to shreds….. Zolom tore Baron to pieces…."

So much for a peaceful town.

By the time Quorra and I made it back from the it was dark in the town of Kalm. It matched the gloom that blanketed itself over us. The sun would no longer shine here like it used to, the birds would never come back, and a smile will never show itself upon any of our faces again. The happy days here were over and they would never return. At least… not in my lifetime.

I walked down the hall, my tiny feet guidin' me to his room. It was left untouched, just as he had that mornin' when he left for the Mythril Mines a week ago. His sleeping clothes were still strung out on the floor, his bed poorly made, and his slippers were overturned by the door. It was as if it was trapped in time. I felt so guilty, but I hardly knew him. I wasn't as close to Baron like I was to Ranine, but that didn't mean I was indifferent to him. Seein' him like that, in pieces… I could only imagine what Pa was goin' through.

I turned away from Baron's room, closing the door behind me. I couldn't react fast enough… and in the end many people died. I stared at my small hands, my eyes consumed by hatred. Here I was a twenty three year old man stuck in a helpless six year olds body. How was I supposed to save them?

'Are you happy with this?'

"Every wound, every tear, every sorrowful event must be repeated once again… would you like to restart?"

Gaia appeared right before me, her mako orbs illuminating in the darkness. She reached a hand out to me, a sweetened smile passing her beautiful features.

"I can give you another chance."

I glared at the hand before me, my own reaching to smack it away. "You can keep your chance…"

The next morning we left for Midgar. The silence lingered with us the entire way there; I could only anticipate the ruin that laid in wait for me. Was six years of peace really enough? Did it really have to be this way?

As we drove away, from the once peaceful place we used to call home I couldn't help but regret not takin' that second chance. I coulda probably stopped Zolom from destroying Kalm's peace. But what about Sector Seven? Who woulda dropped the plate then… if I stayed in Kalm it couldn't have been me.

No. It had to happen… there was no way I coulda escaped it.

I had to stop that plate from fallin'… if I didn't more people would die. Even if that meant I had to sacrifice my own happiness I would do it, even if that meant I would be left alone I had to be able to do it.

I was the only one that could stop it.

No one but me.