Wild Memories

Wild Memories

Lynn and Kairo reached their private little cliff just as the sun finished crawling its way over the horizon. Lynn dove down to the edge, changing back to human form feet up. Her feathers folded back into her flowing black and neon-blue hair, but most were carried toward the sea with the wind. Toward the wild with David and Tally. Except for a little Marilynn Monroe moment with her black smart matter night gown, she lighted down on her bare feet with perfect grace.

At least the genetic mishap was good for SOMEthings. (like an incognito morning escape, although Lynn's free fall defeated the purpose entirely) She and Kairo had been injected with the genes of a hawk and a tiger. It was supposed to be for survival instinct purposes only, but a lab accident had engrained too much, apparently. That was the price of a voluntary experimental operation, though. She thought it was worth it, whether they were were-animals from pre-Rusty myth or not.

Lynn sighed as Kairo de-morphed and sat up next to her and they swung their legs over the edge. They didn't need to say a word knowing they both felt the strange beaconing of unwanted memories boiling to the surface it their veins. The pain kept them alert as they embraced the call of the wild.

Then Zane (dropping the aliases in the wild) broke the uncanny silence,"Do you think we'll ever find Tally-Wa?" Aelita wrapped her arm around his shoulder and looked him in the eye,"I don't think. I know. And if it makes you feel better, I have a gut feeling that time we've both waited 4 years for is going to come very soon. You know my guts are almost always right with things like this." She smiled, but Zane still looked distant and depressed.

"I know it's hard for you Zane-La. For god sakes it's hard for me! She's with my twin brother, David, after all." Aelita still felt a ping run through her every time she said that name. She had seen him only once before, as a littlie. But she had pictures and memories of her family, and that's all she needed to push on. She'd show her aunt and uncle and cousins. She was more than just that red-headed step child. She felt it in her bones. And her purpose she knew now was in Zane. Her reason to live She refused to let him suffer. Not without her. Did he not know she was in pain, too? Her love from the Prettytime was dead, at least his was still alive. Brain-missing or brain-warped, which ever term fit better, or not. She felt like she would vomit as the name and mental image of his face ran through her head. Hikaru...

"It's not about that," Zane shook his head. "I know that. But I also know well and good that there are still feelings inside to for her." Aelita said, Hiding her own pain with a sudden frustration... or was it jealousy? He was going to see his old love again. Her Hikaru was gone forever. What made it hardest was Zane. She couldn't help but love him more than she had ever loved Hikaru, yet she still couldn't forget... "But-", He started, but Aelita cut him off."You should never forget them, but just let go. There's a difference", she said half speaking to herself, half to Zane,"If you can't do it for yourself or me, than at least do it for her."

"We need to find them before Tally or I can truly let go and move on. I know she's having it just as hard as I am," Zane knew. She had to feel it. The inability to move on. The longing to be together. The guilt of falling in love again. How could he have the right to fall in love when Tally thought he was dead. But Tally had left him. Aelita had risked her life more than Tally would have ever done, even with her Pretty mind. She thought her way out to. But there was something about Aelita that was just so... perfect... Something that made his love feel so right. maybe it was that understanding in her, beings she was going through the same thing. That she needed him the way she needed her...

Aelita stopped trying to catch his gaze and looked at the cat puke pink sun rise. She hated pink. "Don't forget that I have my own past to work out. My family... Hikaru...", Then somehow she just lost it,"YOU HAVE IT GOOD! AT LEAST YOU'LL SEE TALLY-WA AGAIN! HIKARU'S GONE FOREVER!" She looked at Zane, aware of how much she'd hurt him. Somehow, the tears had come out. Surge or not, there they were pouring out on to the mountain. "All I want is for you to stop acting like it's all you. I can help. The only way to get through this together. Hikaru and Tally... They've moved on. I don't think our love will hurt them. I want you to learn to trust and rely on me the way I do you... You're not that special, to be the only one with problems, and I'm here to carry you when it feels like you are the only one. All I want is you to love me. Without any guilt or pain or regret. Please..."

Zane swept her up in her arms,"Aelita..." He was crying to. Somehow the angels let them. For real pain was worth tears."If only you could know how much I do love you." He held her out and brought his lips up so caress hers. Aelita basked in the warmth and let her arms fall around his neck as he held her to him, hands digging into her back with special strength. It was going to be a good day.