I woke up the next morning with my eyes feeling dry and itchy, I had a few strains and bruises from what had happened yesterday and they twinged as I sat up in bed. I hadn't had a very restful nights sleep either; in my dreams I'd been fighting doppleganger after doppleganger and they'd just kept coming. I killed them all and the bodies started piling up around me; blood spurting at me from all directions. Or I'd be running in my dreams, like a rabbit trying to get away from a predator. I woke up around dawn feeling exhausted and when I'd fallen back to sleep I hadn't had any dreams that I could remember.
Now awake, I waited for the tears and shaking to come on again but... nothing. I didn't feel empty or numb like I had yesterday where nothing had seemed to faze me through a cloud of numbness, but instead I felt clear-headed and steady; much more like my usual self. I shrugged a little and stretched up to work the kinks out of my back. My body felt achy and bed-sore from all the tossing and turning I'd done last night; and there were still those aches and bruises from the fights. Other than that I felt... normal. It was just another day. My stomach rumbled at me and I felt a little bemused that something so mundane could happen after all of that. I'd faced people who had wanted to kill me; and I'd killed them in order to live. And now it was another day. I was alive.
I dressed myself in comfortable blue-jeans and a teeshirt that said "I think, therefore I am single" on it and ran through a few stretches to get rid of that achy morning stiffness. My stomach rumbled again so I departed my sleeping quarters and went in seach of the cafeteria. My internal pendant didn't steer me wrong and soon my nose was treated to the exotic scents of Freidian cuizine.
"Morning Yukari!" I called as I grabbed a bowl of rice and a plate of something that looked safe enough to eat. Millerna, Amano Allen and Dryden were all there as well and they stared in wordless shock at me as I sat down and started eating. I hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon so I was pretty hungry.
"Hitomi...?" Amano said hesitantly.
"What?" I asked, looking up at him from my bowl of rice. I was forced to eat it with a fork instead of proper chopsticks, but who was I to complain?
"Are you okay?" asked Yukari.
"Yeah," I said nodding my head a little. "I think I am. I feel... fine. Oddly enough."
"Are you sure?" Millerna asked.
"I think so," I replied. "I know I was wigging out last night but this morning I woke up and I felt normal."
"You might still be in shock," said Amano.
"I really don't think so," I said. "I know what happened. My mind doesn't deny that I... killed those men." I was having a little trouble saying the word but I managed to get by with a minimum of trouble.
"But it was them or me," I went on. "Worse; it was them or Chid and me. I didn't have much choice but to fight because there was no where else I could run to. My father once told me that Martial Arts trains the body to fight with the hope the knowledge will never be needed; well it was needed yesterday in order to save my life and Chid's. But yesterday was yesterday and today is today. I'll accept that, and enjoy the rice."
"Enjoy the rice?" Yukari said, looking at me strangely.
"Yes," I said. "It's good rice."
It did taste kinda good. It was ordinary enough rice, but there was a sweetness to it that I hadn't appreciated before. I think that this might have been the best bowl of rice I'd ever tasted. My friends were all looking at me rather strangely, all except for Allen who seemed to understand it for some reason.
"Are you sure you're not-" Millerna said again.
"It's common enough in warriors after they've been blooded," Allen said quietly. "The world seems more alive and every sense is heightened, sharpened. It just a natural reaction, a natural way of coming to terms with the fact that you've lived another day and celebrating that."
He handed me another bowl of rice.
"Enjoy your rice," he said, and rose with a bow to all present to go check on his sister.
Without comment I finished my first bowl and moved on to the second. With a final worried look in my direction my friends turned the topic to normal things and let the conversation drift. Millerna wanted to look in Drydens library for some obscure medical text. Dryden, as captain, would be at the helm keeping us on course. Yukari was all for spending the day on deck sunning herself and I decided that this sounded like a plan to me! Amano would be nearby ogling us but as long as he did it quietly it was not a problem.
So after brunch we two ladies went to our room to change into our sunbathing bikini's. I was wearing a sarong over it but Yukari was always more outgoing than me and just wore her skimpy thong proudly unaccompanied. I think she liked the attention, I had to admit, she did have a great figure (and her chest was larger than mine too) but I wasn't entirely uncute myself. I had great legs from all that running, nice and shapely; my hips were curvy too which gave me that whole hourglass thing going on. The two of us laid out our towels on the main deck and Yukari switched on the stereo. Now this was what a vacation should be! No running for your life, no fighting off attackers to protect people; just a girl, her skimpy ass bathing suit and lots and lots of sunshine!
The sun felt good, and I was looking pretty pale from the long winter. I could use some color. The two of us lounged at the side of an actual swimming pool installed in the top-most deck of the air-palace Dryden called a ship. I had to admit, the guy was ahead of his times, or maybe he just enjoyed swimming. Anyway, Yukari and I soaked up the sun in the lounge chairs while Amano manned the drink station mixing drinks and ogling our legs. We two girls were busily ensconced by ignoring him and flipping through the pages of one of her fashion mags and discussing the fashions in it; whether the models were in fact too pale and skinny to make the clothes look realistic on a person of normal proportions and whether or not it was a good idea to loose weight by consuming only yogurt for a month straight. It didn't sound healthy to me but Yukari swore that yogurt was the new nectar of ambrosia.
After an hour or so, the two of us basted ourselves again with SPF 15 and turned over to brown on the other side. I was quietly reading a book with my sunglasses on when a shadow loomed over my pages. I looked up to go chase Amano off from offering to rub more lotion on our legs (he'd offered three times, the little perv) but instead it was Allen. It was Allen looking shocked and mortified.
"What are you... Were are your clothes!" he demanded sounding like he was going to have a fit of apoplexy at any moment.
"We're sunbathing," Yukari said.
Uh-oh... she had that look in her eye. She was about to have some fun with poor Allen. I had to admit, I kinda did want to see what would happen so I didn't say anything.
"You're in the public wearing practically nothing! There's not even enough there to be considered an undergarment!" He gestured to both of us. I was dressed just a little more modestly than my best friend, who rather liked to tease people by putting it out there and then making out with her boyfriend. My sun-bathing suit did cover both of my cheeks and the top was a band with tying around the neck and a strap around the torso instead of two cups held together by a string (I didn't quite have the cleavage to support that). Yukari had a miniscule thong and the afore mentioned cup-and-string model.
"What?" Yukari said, winking subtly at me, I barely held in my grin. "You don't like it?"
"It's indecent," Allen said firmly.
"Well in that case I suppose I should remove the object of your objections entirely." Yukari said devilishly.
She was grinning. Allen looked caught like a deer in the headlights. I could see it written on his face: "she wouldn't seriously...?"
"All these strings," she said, snapping the side band at her left hip. "Too uncomfortable!" I kept a straight face on by the barest of margins. It looked like Allen wasn't certain whether he should avert his eyes or continue staring in fascination.
"And this strap here," she said tugging a little on the string that went around her torso. "It digs too much." I almost snickered; the little minx! Cruel and unusual treatment of Allen. Death by Mortification.
Teasingly Yukari fingered the front clasp to her suit top, hefting up her breasts until they nearly popped out of the top.
"Oh! And it's chafing me!" she cried dramatically. I couldn't hold it in any more. I burst out laughing. Yukari continued to pose as if in an agony of discomfort, each one worse than the last as far as exposure went. I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt while Allen just stood there looking myopic and horrified. The look on his face was priceless. Out came the camera.
Yukari snickered, turning to me.
"Listen to this guy."
"Allen," I tried explaining. "On our world it's considered somewhat normal for women to sun themselves in bathing costumes like these during the summer. It's fashionable to have some color. We don't walk around like this all of the time, only in certain times and certain places. The poolside being one of them. It's summer after all. Now do be a dear and move, you're blocking my sun."
He didn't look very mollified by that, but it wasn't his lookout so I turned back to my book.
"And since you're just standing there, go fetch me a drink," Yukari said waving him off like an attendant. "Tell him I want more ice in the daq."
"You are bad girlfriend," I said grinning after Allen stormed off in a huff. "Just completely evil."
"It was kinda fun though wasn't it?" She said conspirationally.
"Absolutely," I said.
"Hey babe," said Amano, looking hopeful. "Do you need some more lotion yet?"
Yukari nodded eagerly and sidled over to her amore. After about half a minute, rubbing lotion was the last thing on their minds.
"Oh man," I said ducking my head. "Get a room you two."
"Can we use yours?" Amano asked bluntly. "Allen is probably sulking in mine."
I really didn't want to picture the two of them getting it on in the place where I sleep but...
"Don't use my bed," I stipulated. "And don't forget your condoms."
As their nominal chaperone it was my job to be responsible.
The hot sun soaking into my skin had made me drowsy and I was halfway between sleeping and waking when Dryden came to ask me about the next course heading. He didn't seem bothered by my costume, or if he was he didn't make a big production out of it. I pulled on my sarong, but then thought better and took out my mumu; sure it was mostly known as "the fat lady dress" but it gave me full coverage.
We had already passed over the canyon and were nearing the river. I remembered most of the details from my vision but it was a little fuzzy around the edges. I was going to need to dowse to get an accurate location.
"Does anyone have a necklace, or something on a string?" I called out to the men working on the bridge. They were men, so I got "no" for an answer; men did not wear necklaces. I couldn't go back into my room to fetch one of mine, perhaps Millerna...
"Here," Dryden said a little uncomfortably. "You can use this."
From inside his long big-sleeved robes he pulled a ring on a gold chain. I nodded solemnly as I recognized his wedding ring. He'd given it back to Millerna, but probably had had a copy made to keep with him or something. I could tell that it meant a great deal to him by the way his eyes never left it.
I walked over to the map spread across the table and centered my powers. I hadn't done much location dowsing since that time I'd used it to rescue Van and that had taken me hours. This time however, the dowsing pendant pulled after only a little while. Over the river, heading east past the red dunes out towards the sea, down the coast just past the Rang Caverns. We made a little dot to mark the location where the pendant stopped.
I asked to have a word with Dryden as I returned him his ring and delicately explained to him that Amano and Yukari would prefer to have the same room and was there anyone he could switch me out with? It looked like I was rooming with Celena and or Millerna. The princess had a suite on board the vessel and her Ladies Maid roomed with her, they'd probably be happy to make room for me if I asked.
I debated on what I wanted to do next. Since I was dressed for it anyway I might as well enjoy a little swim. The pool was still waiting for me when I got back to the upper deck so I dove right in and swam a few laps for a little while, thinking that maybe I'd missed something by not joining the swim team. I was taking a small break just floating on my back and looking up in the sky when all of a sudden I felt and odd current tickle along my side. Thinking that somehow either Amano or Yukari had snuck into the pool and were about to grab me and dunk me under, I abruptly swiveled upright and started treading water. I looked at the space in front of me in puzzlement at first, not able to comprehend what it was that I was seeing...
It was water. But... it wasn't... I looked again, blinking and rubbing my eyes. It was still there. Facing me directly nose to nose was a human-shaped woman made of water. Yes, water. She was clear and I could see right through her, like an ice statue just starting to melt. It was like a CG image I'd seen in a movie only it was real... or I think it was real. Maybe I'd fallen asleep and drowned or something. Yes that was it, that was probably it. I blinked again. It was still there.
Curious I reached out to touch the water being. I felt warm water for a moment and then she just... disappeared. The water splashed back down into the pool in rain droplets like it had never stood up in the air. I looked at the ripples in front of me.
Weird, I thought, immediately ready to dismiss it as an hallucination.
But then it happened again. The water suddenly rose up in an amorphorous blob and morphed back into the shape of a woman; her features were perfect in a rippley, watery kind of way, and I could see her smile at me. Seeing water move into a smile when you can see right through its head was really weird.
"Er.. ah... Hello," I said weakly.
The thing laughed at me with a strange sound, a little like an echoey watery bubbly laugh. I blinked again. Still there.
Maybe I'm losing my mind, I thought.
"Lovely day," I said. Why not? I was accustomed to seeing things no one else saw, what was one more hallucination?
Great, just when I though my life couldn't possibly get any weirder.
"Well; dragons, mermaids, floating rocks, people that are half animal... why not water spirits?" I mused to myself.
The water spirit looked at me with a curious expression on its face; a hungry, pleading expression like when a dog sees you eating at the table and wants some of what you're having. I closed my eyes once more. Surely this time...
Still there.
The being of water looked at me one last time but I couldn't tell what it wanted. It disappeared and did not return.
Okay well, chalk that up as a ten on my weird shit-dometer.
Okay... moving on now. I realized that I was all by myself right now for possibly the first time since this adventure had started. Immersing myself in the culture of Freid at the city of Godashim, keeping busy by sparring with Yukari, and readying for the party had kept me occupied for the last three days in a whirlwind of activity. This was not by accident but by design. I didn't want to be alone, I didn't want to have time by myself somewhere quiet because I knew myself too well. I was a chronic worrier. I knew if I found myself alone with nothing to do or distract me, I'd start thinking about what I really wanted, thinking would lead to brooding would lead to worrying would lead to trouble. I did not want trouble. However, everyone else was already doing other things and I didn't want to intrude.
I just have to keep from worrying, I told myself. There was one sure-fire cure I had recently discovered in my new pursuit. It was called meditation. It's specific purpose was to clear the mind of all thought (in my case of all the thousand tiny little nagging worries that buzz around me like flies) and train it inward. It could create what psychologists call a state of altered consciousness. It could also create a sore lower back and achy knees if you weren't careful. The altered consciousness I could vouch for (as well as the achy knees) it usually had the unfortunate side effect of awakening my powers with unusual clarity. Still, I had discovered that if I really worked at it, really concentrated, it would show me what I wanted to see instead of something that usually made no sense to me.
I sat down in the lotus position at the edge of the pool and stared out into the ripples. I just needed to calm myself, find my center. I clapped my hands once then lowered them to my knees, closing my eyes. I inhaled deep breaths down into my diaphragm, slow, measured. I felt my muscles assume a feel that was at once completely relaxed and yet ready to move at any moment. Be silent, be still. I concentrated on my breathing trying to empty my thoughts of everything. Just clear my mind and focus on nothing. Relax.
There was only one thing I really wanted to see right now, and only one thing I really wanted to know about... Van, of course. I could just try to take a quick look, just to see how he was doing.
Closing my eyes I emptied my mind; it was harder than it sounded... a lot harder. To be empty was to exist in a perfect state of concentration and relaxation, to in effect become potentiality. The mind was always going, going, going on my world, there were always so many distrctions. It often seemed like my modern life was made of nothing but distractions all of the time. Television, video games, movies, commercials, manga's, massive books in print, radios, CD's; the list just went on and on. Even when you ignored all of this stuff the mnd was not an easy thing to make completely quiet... there were always thoughts to distract you. I'd try to sit still and think of absolutely nothing, but my mind usually just would not shut up, or if I could manage to empty my thoughts enough I'd soon grow bored and my attention would wander. I'd start to worry about the scores on the latest test I took or how I was doing in my english class or I'd start thinking about what I was going to do on that weekend or what I'd eat for dinner or any other stray thought that just popped into my head.
Clearing the mind and reigning it into silence took effort and real focus of will. But only when there was stillness could I hear that small, quiet voice inside of me. So I steadily and methodically relaxed my muscles one by one, then concentrated on my breathing while maintaining a perfect state of relaxation. Then once my attention had been turned completely to this I endeavored to empty my mind of even its concentration on the form; to let go of my thoughts, let go of my intellect and concentrate. I felt my mind sink into that comforting lull; psychologists called it an altered state of conciousness.
In that stillness there was a feeling of peace and freedom unlike anything else; I felt in balance and at peace with myself. This time was a little different however... after a moment of suspended peace that usually came when I had at last achieved meditation there came something utterly different. A Vision. A Vision of my own calling no less.
I saw Van. I couldn't control that my heart picked up its pace a little and my stomach fluttered. I suddenly understood completely what Naria and Eryia had meant when they'd said that being near their beloved was the only thing they needed to feel happy. Just seeing Van filled me with a sense of well-being and utter rightness, like I had finally found the one place in all of the universe where I truly belonged. I eagerly drank in the sight of him, committing every detail every line to memory like parched earth soaked up the rain.
He was tall now, possibly even taller than Allen, and had lost that gangly half-finished look that all adolescent boys had.
He was walking down a long hallway with Merle walking beside him. He looked so grim, but resigned; Merle looked worried. Well, Merle usually looked worried; when she wasn't getting an attitude that was. I couldn't quite make out their voices just yet but from what I was seeing she was asking him about something in a concerned tone. Van replied back and I could just make out his voice drifting down to me.
"...know you don't like it Merle but by ancient law and tradition they have this right. I'll just have to face them."
"But Lord Van!" Merle tried again. "What if something happens to you?"
"Don't worry Merle," Van said reassuringly. "At least not before the fact. If I do get injured then you can worry all you like, until then try to have faith."
What's going on? I wondered. Folken spotted me. Even as a ghost he was still hanging around Fanelia to keep an eye on his little brother. I just hoped I didn't run into Varie; I was afraid that I would give her too much of a piece of my mind now that I was older.
:Hitomi: Folken asked, looking surprised. :Are you dead:
:Not exactly: I replied. :I'm Visioning... if that's even a verb.:
:I see: he replied.
:Can you tell me what's going on: I asked him. Merle looked worried and upset about something, and whenever she wore that look it usually meant Van was about to go and do something dangerous or stupid (or both). And I wasn't there to keep him out of real trouble this time. She was right to be worried.
:It's a King of Fanelia thing: Folken said cryptically.
:You can start explaining: I gritted. :I can be here all night if I have to.:
:Very well: Folken said resignedly. :Fanelia is a very old kingdom; it is said that only Freid is older.:
I was beginning to patch together a history of life on Gaea from the bits and pieces I'd gathered here and there. Perhaps I would go over it later with Dryden and get a more detailed accounting. Whether I liked it or not I seemed to be involved with Gaea and it might be helpful to know more about the place I was involved in.
:According to legend: he continued. :The first king, Fanel, united all of the Samurai Lords by defeating them one by one in sword combat. But simply defeating them was not enough for the proud Samurai Lords, they forced him to meet a final challenge; Fanel had to go out alone into the forest and using only a sword slay one of the mighty fire-breathing dragons that lived there and bring back its energist as proof of the deed, thus showing them all that he was strong enough to defend his people. The warrior thus slew the dragon and became the first king of Fanelia.:
Folken suddenly gave a small quiet laugh and looked nostalgic.
:You know: he said. :I used to read Van that story when we were younger. He always thought that it was mean of the first king to kill a dragon that had never harmed him.:
:I do know actually: I said. :I saw you read to him once in a vision. I only caught the end of the story however. I suppose this is why Van had to go out and kill a dragon as his Rite of Passage then.:
:All those who would be king of Fanelia must: Folken said a little sadly. :Anyway, the tradition of the Rite of Dragon Slaying to prove ones worth to be king is a time-honored and cherished tradition in Fanelia. There is another tradition however that stems from this same legend although it has been honored more in the breach than the observance. The thirteen Warlord Samurai that Fanel had to face in the legend were made into Lords upon his Ascension, they were given lands and titles and a position of honor in the first King's court; but there was a final caveat made upon the king by the proud warlords before they would bow to him; that at any time within their history they or their descendents might challenge the king to combat by sword if they felt that he was not a good king.:
:I suppose that explains why Van received a sword with the royal crest on it and not a crown like I'd expected: I said.
Personally I thought a crown was a more fitting representation of rule; a good ruler ruled with his head and not by force of arms or so I was brought up to believe. The whole "might makes right" mentality suggested by the sword kinda bothered me. I know Van would never abuse it, he is too good inside, but that doesn't say anything about his descendants or his ancestry. There's a bad apple in every tree; just look at some of the Emperors from ancient Rome.
:Yes, and it shall soon see the use it was forged for unfortunately: Folken said. :The warlords met in convocation this last spring as Van was just finishing off the rebuilding and tallying the debts he owed for resources borrowed. He hated every bit he had to borrow too, thinks it's a sign of weakness.:
:I can imagine: I said wryly. Van was very much the picture of Solitary Warrior. He still wasn't much on accepting help when it was offered, even if he needed it. I'd have to talk with him about that.
:They decided: Folken said. :That such a young boy who had allowed Fanelia to be overrun by an invading army just after he'd Ascended while he'd escaped in Escaflowne was cowardly and thus unfit to rule.:
:But Van didn't run away: I protested. :He went back to fight despite the fact that I told him he was out of his mind to think he could take on that many people with only one suit and no real idea how to pilot it. The only reason we got away at all was that damned pillar of light:
:I know that and you know that: Folken said. :But the Lords have taken their own view of events. They also noted that he was not quick to return to his homeland. They think he was a coward.:
:Like bloody hell: I swore, incensed on Van's behalf. :He tried to go back at first. He even took me with him to get Escaflowne away from Allen so he could return to Fanelia, but Zaibach attacked and Van had to fight again. Van's no coward, don't these men know he's a war hero! Every nation from Freid to Ceasario is indebted to him for his bravery on the battlefield.:
:The Samurai Lords spend all of their time sequestered away in their own Halls in the mountains, attending to their own affairs: Folken said calmly. :They only see what directly affects them. The absence of their King and their trade city affected them, they think that Van is weak and has lost the right to rule. They decided in the spring that they would come down from their lands with their best warriors to challenge Van to Trial by Combat. As the first king was tested, so too shall they test Van.:
:He's going to have to meet thirteen warriors in sword combat: I said, aghast at the idea. :What if he loses:
:Then the one who defeats him will become the new king: Folken said. :And Van will be outcast.:
:That's not fair: I protested hotly. :They don't even know the whole story behind everything that happened, how can they pass judgment on him like that! Well it doesn't matter; Van's more than good enough to defeat all of them and send them scampering home with their tails between their legs.:
:The Warlords may be an insular lot: Folken cautioned. :But they spend much of their time honing their skill. Van is an excellent swordsman... but still a young one.:
:My father always said that experience and treachery trumps youth and enthusiasm every time. Well, minus the treachery part in this case. Samurai Warriors consider that sort of thing beneath them... they do don't they: I asked suddenly, not reassured by Folken's silence.
:Yes Lady Hitomi: a deep booming voice said from behind me. I turned (figuratively of course since none of us were actually there in the physical sense). :A samurai of Fanelia never lies.:
:Balgus: I said. I hadn't known him for very long unfortunately, but I'd liked the old man. He'd been very kind to me when I'd first come to Gaea and was feeling a little afraid and uncertain. The fact that he'd been mentor to both Allen and Van and they'd turned out fine also spoke well for his character.
:A samurai of Fanelia may never lie: Folken said quietly. :But I wouldn't put it past one of those lords to tip the odds in their favor.:
:Do you think Van is in danger: I asked anxiously. I was already in the middle of something in another part of the globe so unless I summoned a pillar of light I wouldn't be able to help Van out any time soon. Still, I couldn't imagine a guy my own age about to face off with thirteen hardened warriors, some of them old enough to be his father, not being in some form of danger; the only question was, was it the kind of danger he could live through.
:And he wasn't exactly what you would call an enthusiastic pupil: I reminded Balgus, remembering Van's reluctance to enter into mortal sword combat.
:His skills have improved greatly since I left the world: Balgus defended. :He's Allen's equal certainly, and Allen is the best in all of Asturia... of course he was my pupil as well.:
So Balgus had pride too, I noted.
:What are his chances do you think: I asked.
:That will depend on him: Balgus said cryptically. He was frowning a little, more of a worried frown than a displeased one.
:You think he's got something on his mind: I said, making it more of a statement than a question.
:He does: Varie said fading into existence beside us. Great, the queen had joined in to dole out more pearls of wisdom. Grrrrr.
:Hitomi: she said turning to me. :You should not have contacted him.:
Wonderful, so now this was my fault too? Hows about you blame me for there being no air in space while you're at it Lady? I checked my temper and tried not to glare at her.
:I needed help: I said. :Excuse me for being mortal and imperfect.:
:Uh-oh: siad Folken, obviously recognizing the look on my face.
:But now Van is distracted in worrying about you: she returned with perfect equanimity. I wanted to slap that bland look off her face. Elder or not.
:So I'll contact him tonight and tell him everything's okay: I growled.
:You must be more careful in making wishes from--:
:Don't help: I said shortly. :I think you've helped me more than enough already. Telling a fifteen year old girl in that kind of a situation that she's responsible for everything bad happening is not only unreasonable but unkind as well. So how about this? Unless you've walked a mile in my shoes, keep your opinions to yourself.:
Varie looked shocked and affronted. Good.
:You are at the nexus of great change; Gaea needs you: Varie said. :And you, obviously, need guidance.:
:If I want your help I'll ask for it: I said. :But frankly I don't think you're qualified.:
:Now now you two: Folken tried to intervene before it could get ugly. The result was only to be predicted. We both turned on him.
:Stay out of it Folken: we both snapped at the same time. He raised his hands and retreated. Smart man. That's really the only thing a guy could do in the middle of an incipient cat-fight; get out of the way so they don't decide to take him out before starting in on each other.
:You dare speak to me of qualifications: Varie said disbelievingly. This could get ugly, but hey... we were both "alpha bitches" so there was only two ways things could go; we respect each other and get along or we hate each other and duke it out.
:You, who have the ability to see the heart, the past and the future, yet can't seem to pick up on a simple and obvious thing such as the fact that my son was in love with you? You dare accuse me of being insensitive:
:If the shoe fits, wear it as we say on my world: I replied back. :And leave Van out of this.:
:You are too young to appreciate the delicate position that your powers have placed you in: Varie replied.
:Even if I am: I said. :It's not your place to tell me so, especially if you can't do so with any tact. Lady Varie, don't think I don't respect you as my elder or that I don't appreciate the suffering you have endured, but you can't advise me on what I should or should not do based on the way you see things. You don't even know me and I'm under enough pressure as it is. My world is peaceful, and in it I'm still considered a child; expecting me to be prepared to handle situations with equilibrium that would rattle an adult is unfair and unreasonable.:
:Prepared or not, reasonable or not, this world needs you and your gifts: Varie said without pity. :You have to maintain poise and control in the face of the unexpected.:
"Poise and control: I exploded. :Poise and control? How the hell am I supposed to be poised and controlled when all this weird shit is happening to me:
:Tone, young lady: she admonished.
It was on the tip of my tongue to shout that I'd show her some tone but I reigned myself in barely in time. I had a temper and this woman got on my nerves but that was no excuse to yell her out about it; she was after all my elder. I needed to call in my lifeline.
"Gramma!" I yelled. I could always count on her for wisdom, strength, and balance. My grandmother materialized at my side.
:Hitomi... deep breaths: she advised. I obeyed feeling a little better.
:What seems to be the trouble: she asked after a moment.
here we are, brand new chapter. I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed my previous one, Silver Blossom, Avelyn Lauren and my two new ones Majka and Miss Rule, hope to see everyone leave a note on this one.
Van gets a big mention here and this will be important later on in the story, but the main thrust of the story comes in the next chapter. Sorry everyone, no Van in that one, but all things happen in their own due time. I promise that when they finally do meet; it will be well worth the wait. Until next time!
Nightheart