The Crying Planet
A Blood+ Sequel
By Michiyo Ichimaru
A/N: I don't own .hack//SIGN or the songs Fake Wings, Aura, or To Nowhere. They belong to their respective writers. I don't own Blood+. Blood+ belongs to various people including, but not limited to Aniplex, since I really don't know who all owns it. I am not making money of any sort, because it's really just about fun, and of course, to show what I think. So, I hope you enjoy it and will take the time to leave a review for me! hint, hint Thanks for the ones that I've already gotten! Keep leaving them! Love, all.
Chapter Seven: Voices in and Beyond the Darkness
Darkness… a completely unending void that was not solid… incomplete. Shadows leapt up here and there, curling like living snakes. Sounds like wind passing over the lips of a monster… ragged and dangerously close. Warmth crept in, like fire licking at her very being. In the furthest corner, beyond the farthest reach of the abyss, something sat untouched by anything…. In a world all its own…
Can you hear the calling of the raving wind and water?
We just keep dreaming of the land 'cross the river
We are always on the way to find the place we belong
Wandering to no where, we're paddling
Down the raging sea
It was a simply enigmatic voice, singing in high operatic tones with all the beauty and emotion of an angel, but the foreboding of something dark and sinister. Stranger than anything, it was unreachable… not of this world. Saya was sure that no matter how far she traveled into the abyss, she would never find the source of the singing voice. But its words were still loud and clear.
Who can cross over such raving wind and water?
On the rolling boat we sit, shivering with coldness
Come by an island, come by a hillock,
It's just another place, we paddle on
Down the raging sea
Saya began to shake filled with a sudden chill that overpowered the fire behind her. It was if she had plunged into a lake of ice. Even her blood seemed to freeze over. But touching her skin, she realized that there was nothing physical about the chill… it came from within her. Looking out into the darkness she knew what lie beyond the space that she may not cross. "Diva…" she breathed, barely a sound at all.
But in one morning we'll see the sun
Bright and shining morning dew singing
They who will search will find the land
Of evergreen
She was not standing, for there was nothing to stand on. It was just space which she seemed to float gracefully on. And nothing existed but that infernal song that she tried so hard to block out. Her ears burnt at the sound, and her stomach seemed to overflow with sickness. Worst of all was the feeling of metal claws that seemed to reach out and squeeze her until the sharp protrusions began to rip her to shreds. But it was all in her mind…
Can you hear the calling of the raving wind and water?
We just keep paddling down the sea, up the river
No destination, but we are together
In the silent sadness we're paddling
Down the raging sea
Down to nowhere
In an instant, she had the sickening feeling of the gap between them slowly shrinking. "No… stay away!" Saya shouted, gripping at her own face, trying to cover her ears and eyes, and at the same time, digging her nails in painfully with frustration. She was scared… so scared. She could practically feel Diva at her side, strangling her until her breath was depleted.
"I will kill you. Are you scared, sister? You shall not feel rest until I have crossed over… we shall play a game then. Oh. What fun!" Her laugh resounded in the space until it was so loud that Saya couldn't hear her own scared thoughts. "But don't forget… I love you, sister. I'm doing this for your own good."
Saya woke up in a panic, looking around frantically and grabbing at her neck, trying to pry Diva's invisible hands from her throat. When she realized it was only a nightmare, she broke down in choked sobs, practically throwing herself out of her bed and slumping down the hallway. She needed to talk to someone… anyone… The first door she came upon, she opened.
When she saw the children curled up in their beds, Saya felt the acid in her stomach rise again. Ayame was turned towards the door, and Saya could see her face perfectly. Her smile seemed devilish, and Saya wondered if she was the reason for her nightmare. Quickly, Saya threw herself out, closing the door softly behind her and panting. The next room was Kai's. Quietly, she entered, not wanting to wake him abruptly. "Kai?" she called softly, shaking him gently.
"Saya?" Kai looked around groggily. "What the heck are you doing up at this time of night?" He looked over at his clock. "No one gets up at three in the morning… for ANYTHING." When he saw the sad look cross her face, he sighed. "Damn. I'm sorry… it must be important. I know you wouldn't do anything of the sort otherwise. So… what is it?"
Plopping down on the edge of the bed, Saya began to fidget. "I… well… had a nightmare. It was about… Diva." Kai's eyes widened and he propped himself up on his elbows to get a closer look at her face, which was contorted in pain and sadness. "She… talked to me. She told me that she was going to… kill me. I think… she's going to… come back somehow."
Now she had Kai's full attention. "WHAT?!" he shouted. Sitting up, he pulled Saya into a hug. "That's silly. I think you're just being paranoid. You did just wake up after all. Maybe it's just your mind being unable to deal with all the pressure. It is a lot really fast, and what with all you've had to deal with in the two days you've been back, well… I don't blame you. But if you need some more convincing, I know one guy who never sleeps who would be glad to hold you in his arms and tell you that everything is going to be okay, and that you're just over-reacting." Kai said, winking at her and yawning.
"Kai!" Saya blushed, pushing him back down. "Thanks." She said, smiling sweetly. "I needed that. But… maybe I will tell him. We're in this together, so I shouldn't hold anything back from him."
Rolling his eyes, Kai rolled back over onto his side in bed. "You just want him." He said, yawning again. "Have fun you two… just don't be too loud. I wanna sleep." He said, pulling the covers up to his neck. Saya turned an even darker shade of crimson and threw the extra pillow at his head and stormed out, practically steaming. Kai just laughed, grabbed his extra pillow and went back to sleep as if nothing ever happened.
Pausing to gather her wits about her, Saya slowly went to stand in front of Haji's door. Saya knocked softly and patiently waited. It wasn't long before Haji answered the door. But to say that he looked shocked was more than an understatement. Blushing, Saya scratched the back of her head nervously. "Umm… sorry. Can we talk?"
He moved to the side to let her in and quietly shut the door behind her. "Saya… what's wrong?" Hesitantly, Saya told him the whole story. Knowing full well that he was completely awake and willing to listen to her, she told him many of the details she left out in her half-talk with half-awake Kai. The entire time he had on a serious, contemplative face. He let her talk even after her story was finished. She told him about all of her fears… all of the feelings she got… everything. When she was finished, she felt drained, but a huge weight was gone.
Moving over to her side, he raised one hand to her face and cupped it gently. "Do you believe it?"
"It seemed so real…" She muttered, snuggling close to the warm hand and taking his bandaged one in her own. "It felt like somehow… it was connected to everything that is happening now, even though she didn't say anything of the sorts. And that song… it was so creepy…"
Haji frowned. "You said it mentioned traversing a river…?" Saya nodded. "If you want to asses the validity and possibility of this… then consider that possibility that she might have been referring to crossing the River Styx." He said flatly. Saya's eyes widened in fear. Now there was a real connection and it scared her. It was okay to believe that it was a possibility and then have it turn out not to be true, but… if it was true… he saw her begin to shake.
Pulling her into his arms, he embraced her. "There's still no proof that she's involved in Visigard's work." It was more of a mental thought out loud than an argument, but Saya ate it up happily, nodding into his chest and wrapping her own arms over his back tightly. "We can deal with it when the time comes. I will protect you." He said simply, smiling softly at her.
"C-can I stay here… with you?" Saya asked softly, afraid to return to her own bed to sleep. She was afraid that if she closed her eyes, the song and the nightmare in its terrible entirety might return. But if she was here, with him and in his arms… Saya felt completely and totally safe, even in complete abandon. She knew that being with him was the safest place in the world.
Haji lifted her in his arms and laid her on his bed shortly before lying at her side. Once he was in, Saya happily put her arms around him and waited patiently as he pulled the covers up over both of them. Content, Saya lifted herself up long enough to give him a quick peck on the cheek before lying back down. But it still wasn't without embarrassment. Yet, she didn't bother to hide it. With him, she wasn't afraid to expose herself. She didn't feel like she had to be anything other than herself.
She had no more nightmares that night.
"Come to my side."
"What do you want?"
"Don't be so shy… you belong to me."
"You are nothing to me."
"I will be EVERYTHING to you soon. You want your sister to live, don't you?"
"……."
"You're so predictable. So nice."
"What do you want?"
"I need you to go talk to him one more time."
"And what am I to say?"
"Tell him that he's no longer needed. We're going home."
"……"
"Now, be a good boy and give me a kiss."
"……."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. No more resistance. You and I are one. My happiness is your happiness. We will be happy…"
"Can we? Is there anything left for us?"
"Yup. We're almost there. I can see the edge of the waters now. We're going home."
"Home…?"
"…my new home…"
"……master?"
"Yes?"
"I'm not happy."
"Me neither… not yet."
"You seem pretty happy."
"You should know me better… I'm never happy until someone's screaming. Or dead."
"……"
"This is going to be hell…"
"Yes. And it will be ours… ALL ours."
"….."
"Now's no time to lose your voice. Be proud. I chose you."
"…right. Sorry."
"Apology accepted. I love you, you know that. You're so sweet. I'm glad I chose you."
"…um… thank you."
"Now you're getting it. Go now. You have a job to do before we get home."
"Yes….."
Sunlight poured in from everywhere. Saya tried to bury herself deeper, but to no avail. Someone was pulling her away from the warmth. "SAYA! You naughty girl, making me worry about you!" Mao shouted. "Imagine what I thought when I found your bed empty and couldn't find you anywhere!" Saya groaned and sat up, remembering where she was and blushed. Lucky for her, Haji had disappeared sometime between when she laid down with him and when Mao entered, because Mao kept rambling about 'Haji getting weird ideas' and 'weird to find you here without him.'
"Sorry Mao." Saya apologized sweetly, standing up quickly. It was still pretty early, but she felt her stomach calling and smiled. "You make something tasty for breakfast?" she asked with wide eyes blinking cutely. Mao tried to keep a straight, stern face, but it broke and she laughed and just kept smiling instead of trying to scold her more.
"Yeah. Same ole Saya. Food is always going to be the first thing on your mind, isn't it?" Mao giggled, poking her in the stomach. "I don't know where you hide it all, but I think it has to be part of those powers of yours. 'Cause it just ain't human." She sighed. "Come on. There's food waiting downstairs. Kai was worried about you for some reason. He wanted to make sure you were okay. Something about a nightmare. I figured that's why you were in here. No shock that he went and hid, either. You can tell him I don't bite, you know." She scowled.
"Haji did it for my sake, I know that. He didn't want me to feel weird. I know he didn't say it, but I just know him that well. That and I know he trusts you. If he had any doubts at all I'd know about them. Haji isn't the type to hide his judgments. It's part of his protective nature. So don't worry."
Mao grinned. "Good. I thought I might have scared him with my little warning." Saya's eyes snapped opened.
"What…? What warning?" she asked nervously.
"Oh, nothing… just… a friendly warning." Mao smirked wickedly, sticking out her tongue playfully and running downstairs. "Come join us for breakfast Saya!" she shouted, not slowing down a bit. Saya smiled softly and rolled her eyes. But her stomach won out and she ran after her as fast as she could, laughing and smiling.
"He's thoroughly scared… you happy?"
"Oh yes. Now the real fun begins. Are you ready?"
"…sure. I'm not getting any older."
"You're hilarious! I love that about you. Let's go!"
"….."
Keep your eyes on me
Now we're on the edge of hell
Dear my love, sweet morning light
Wait for me, you've gone much farther
…too far…
Knowing the song I will sing
Till the darkness comes to sleep
Come to me
I will tell bout the secret of the sun
It's in you, not in me
But it does not mean a thing to you
The sun is in your eyes
The sun is in your ears
I hope you see the sun
Someday in the darkness
But you can't see the sun
Ever in the darkness
It does not much matter to me
Okay. Hooray. This was a mentally challenging chapter, because it's meant to be a little psychological. The songs I used are from .hack//SIGN and match perfectly, no? If you've never heard the songs, you should listen to them. They are in English, and quite beautiful. Anyway… I hope you liked this chapter and will review again! Thanks. Next chapter is in the works. Give it a day or two… three at most, if I become stuck. Until then… sayonara!
Michiyo Ichimaru