Author's Note: To be honest, I wasn't gonna make this a "supernatural" type of story. I wanted to keep it as close to realistic as possible, but after introducing the heart crystals (which I still have yet to give a name for...) I thought, oh what the blob! (Yes, I said blob.) Let's just do it! Is it random? Is it weird? Do you like it? Mehhh, let's just see how this plays. I have to admit, I started rushing through the end... Oh well... Enjoy!


VIII.

The Last Word

The current was strong. Too strong. Even with my sudden boost of energy, I couldn't fly through the ocean water fast enough. I could sense the boat steering further away from Van and me, which to my disdain was understandable. I would've told Dryden to leave as well if I were still on that boat. We could not risk the lives of many for the life of one, though that one life, I knew no matter what I would stay behind and save.

I never thought of myself as a hero. Just responsible. Responsible to do what was necessary, that's what I thought.

But how does one decide what was necessary? I could easily turn my back and pretend my past didn't exist. I could lead as much of an 'ordinary' life as possible for someone, or rather, something such as myself. I could die the way I wanted to. But why, why couldn't I do that? Why must I be here, at this very moment, searching for Van? Why?

There! I thought as I spotted a glimpse of Van ahead of me. He was still unconscious and tumbling through the rapid ocean water, looking weak and vulnerable, both characters he had never displayed since the day I met him. I guess we're even now... I thought. He'd seen me in my own embarrassing state of weakness and vulnerability. And now, I saw his.

The task was not over yet. I focused my strength and energy into reaching him, and when I did, I clung onto him tight. Surely, wherever this... power... was coming from, it wouldn't last for long, and I wasn't going to waste anymore time. Blasting to the surface, I was gasping for air. How long had I been under? I couldn't even remember.

I squinted through the harsh rain, softly slapping Van's face. "Van! Van, wake up!" But his head just rolled down without a response. Suddenly, a wave overcame us. We were swept under water for a moment, a moment that was beginning to become much too long for me. When we emerged once more, I tried to check his breathing and pulse. My sharp senses felt nothing, and for a moment, I panicked. "Damn it, Van! Wake up!" I screamed and pounded his chest.

Another wave overtook us, and I knew immediately that yelling at him wouldn't solve anything. Even if I were to swim to the nearest form of land, I knew he'd be dead by then. When we rose from the water once more, I stared at the blurry image of his face. Was it drops of rain or drops of tears that were running down my eyes?

I was taught never to get attached to a mission, especially if it involves a person. I was taught to control my emotions. I was taught to act and react. But at this moment, I was hesitating, for a pang of fear had shot through my heart. What if I couldn't save him? If I couldn't save her when that happened, surely this time wouldn't be any different... Had I lost all confidence in my abilities? Was I useless?

Was I worthless?

"Damn it, Hitomi!" I scolded myself as I quickly positioned Van as best as I could to perform CPR. We were never trained to do CPR under such circumstances, but I had no choice. Van, whether he was aware of it or not, was dying. And I was his only hope for survival.

I wrapped my legs around his waist to steady my hold of him. Pinching his nose shut, I held up his chin and sealed my lips around his. Breathe... I needed him to breathe. I needed his heart to beat. And I needed to get the water out of his lungs. I wrapped one arm around his back and placed the palm of another on his chest. It was a bit awkward, but I was able to thrust hard enough to make his heart beat.

Ten seconds... twenty... thirty... soon, another minute went by, and I was still performing CPR. Van showed no sign of regaining consciousness. It was then that I looked up and saw a massive wave curling over our heads. "Van!" I called out to him, like that was going to help. I looked back at the wave, and before it came crashing down, I pulled him as tightly against me as possible and dove under while sealing my lips over his once more.

I didn't know why I did that. It's not like he could breathe anyway... but then I noticed it.

My chest had begun to feel warm, since when, I wasn't sure. My heart crystals were glowing. They only glowed intensely when the need for its power was necessary, and my need must had been extreme, for my heart began to feel like it was on fire. It got so hot that it started to hurt. I wasn't calling upon its power, what's happening to me?

I felt the bodies of Van and me tumble through the ocean's current, thinking that soon, I may be alone in that massive body of water. And though I hated him for some unknown reason, I certainly did not want him to die.

Van... you can't die, I prayed.

While we were still under water, I placed my palm on his chest once more and pushed down as hard as I could to get his heart beating. It was then that I noticed something else. My palm began to feel warm. Or rather, what I was touching was beginning to feel warm. What... I stared at his chest.

Suddenly, my eyes grew wide open. It couldn't be... I thought in disbelief. A light, though dim it was, had begun to shine through Van's shirt. It grew brighter and warmer under my hand, and the more that it did, the hotter my crystals burned. Soon, it burned so hot that I couldn't help but let out a scream. And in a split second, the heat turned cool, yet I could still feel a flame in my chest like that of fire. Surely, a cold flame doesn't exist... but whatever it was, a surge of power electrocuted from my heart to my veins, and then, back again. Reaching my center, I felt it blast through my hand into Van's chest.

I froze. What just happened? I couldn't understand it myself. But whatever happened, it worked, because Van's eyes began to flutter open. Impossible... I thought. Surely, a miracle as ridiculous as this one did not really exist...

But no matter. It was still not a time to think, but to act. And though Van was beginning to show signs of life, he was still far from recovery.


It happened so fast. Too fast. I had been able to sense the nearest form of land closest to us. It was a small, uninhabited island that rested far from the mainland with a sandy cost, some wooded areas, and a mountainous landscape. Somehow, I found the strength to bring both Van and me to this place, and though he was drifting in and out of consciousness, he was breathing to my relief.

The storm had left a wake of hard rain that found it difficult to find a dry place to rest and recover. With Van on my back, I had hiked for miles until I spotted an empty cave that ran deep enough to hide from the rain. I had set him down on the ground and collapsed beside him as to think of what to do next.

Even if the storm died out, attempting to swim such a long distance with someone on my back was risky. And I was certain that a rescue crew wouldn't be able to search for us in such weather. Who knew how long it would be until we were rescued...

As exhausted as I was, I pushed myself up into a seating position. "Van?" I called to him. He was asleep, but looked troubled. With furrowed brows, I laid my palm on his forehead and felt the beginnings of a fever, something he was already quivering from. It was cold and dark in that cave, and if he was to live through the night, I'd have to change that.

I left the cave to salvage whatever dry wood was left to make a fire, but couldn't find any. Settling for wet wood and leaves, I used my heart crystals to spark a flame until it was strong enough to warm up the entire cave, a little trick I learned before I ran away from Zaibach. We had learned how to use our heart crystals for basic survival and defensive needs, and I couldn't help but feel grateful that I'd learned that much at least before I left.

"Ugh..."

I heard a soft moan come from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and my face fell. Van was curled up like a fetus in a womb, but without a mother's warmth to protect him. He was shivering hard now, and it wouldn't be long before pneumonia attacked his weakened body.

I closed my eyes and slowly let out a deep breath.

Upon opening them, I climbed to my feet and walked over to Van. Crouching down, I whispered, "I guess I have no choice, do I? I hope you forgive me for this."

And then, I started rolling up his shirt. His clothes were soaked in a mix of acid rain and salty ocean water, weighing down the cold fabric. His skin felt damp and cool from being stifled under his wet clothes. I paused to lift up his arms before pulling his shirt over his head. When I did, I froze.

"You're..." I began. In the midst of my shock, Van started to wake up. "You're..."

"Hi...tomi?" he whispered weakly.

"You're just like..." I couldn't even finish it. My eyes traveled from his chest to his eyes. Why couldn't I say it? What was holding me back? Was my shock that great?

"Hi…tomi," he whispered once more.

That one word that sat on the tip of my tongue refused to slip out.

"You're just like… me."