Chapter 9: A Meeting with the Past
Saya leaned back in the pillowed seat of the train car she was in and sighed. This was her second train ride ever in her entire life and she still wasn't sure if she enjoyed it or not. Yu sat across from her staring out the same window she was looking at though he seemed to only be staring out it because there really was nothing else to look at while she was trying to enjoy some of the scenery that rushed by. She rolled her neck and shoulders before she finally turned her attention back to Yu.
"Tell me again what we're doing…? Please?" She asked as she stared at him.
Yu sighed as he turned away and looked Saya in the eyes before he answered. "We're finding one of the five generals to request that he returns to the headquarters due to some alarming information that Komui has."
"I didn't know there were any generals in the Black Order…" Saya mulled as she brushed the hair from her eyes again. "Is the one we're going after the general you served under?"
"No…" Yu said as he turned to look out the window. "The General I was under has already been brought back to the headquarters."
"So, what's the name of the person we're finding?" Saya questioned as she pulled her legs up onto the seat and rested her cheek on her knees while she continued to stare at Yu.
Yu turned his attention back to Saya and narrowed his eyes at her. "Kevin Yeegar. He's the oldest general. Is there something on my face that interests you?"
"Mmmm…" Saya thought as she lifted her cheek off her knees and rested her chin on them instead. "Nothing on your face…"
"Then why are you staring at me?"
"I can't just look at you?" Saya asked as she faked being hurt.
"No, you cannot because whenever you do I have this urge to do something to you." Yu answered through gritted teeth as he turned away from Saya's unwavering attention.
That perked Saya's interest. She let her legs down and put her hands on either side of them while leaning forward. "Do what…?"
Yu stiffened as she moved and glared at her from the side. "It doesn't matter."
Saya pouted before she got up and moved to sit next to Yu. "Do I really bother you that much?"
Yu ground his teeth together as he tried to ignore Saya's presence next to him. It wasn't easy, she was leaning slightly forward to try and get a good look at his face but at a particularly sharp turn she let out a little yelp as she slid into him before teetering off the seat. Yu grabbed her without thinking to keep her from falling. She blushed, her cheek against his chest as she tried not to move too much but he just sighed and leaned back against the seat, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.
"I don't know what to do with you…" He muttered as he closed his eyes.
Saya just sat there quietly, resting against his lean frame with her head on his chest. She didn't want to do or say anything because she didn't want to move away from the position that she was now in. She liked Yu and from what she had ascertained he liked her too but there were times where she wasn't so sure. What seemed to bother him the most was when she decided to be a loud mouth. She talked a lot when she was nervous or the silence seemed to be too weighty or uncomfortable and that appeared to bother Yu a lot. Finally, it appeared that Yu wasn't going to make her move so she settled in against him, tucking her legs against her on the seat and gently resting her hand on his chest. He opened his eyes for a moment and gazed down at her which caused her to turn her attention up to him.
"Ah…" She started as she blushed. "I can move…"
"It's fine." Yu answered as he closed his eyes again and rested his arm on Saya more comfortably.
Saya smiled and closed her eyes to listen to the sound of his heart beating against her cheek. She listened to his breathing as it slowed to deep calm breaths; it appeared he had fallen asleep. After a long moment of just resting against him she sat up carefully in hopes to not wake him and stared at his face as she thought about something.
"Are you really going to do this again…?" Yu asked without opening his eyes.
Saya blinked. "I thought you were asleep."
"Do you think I can honestly sleep around you?"
Saya pouted though he couldn't see it. "You sleep just fine at the Inns."
"You're not awake to harass me at the Inns."
"So, you think I'm harassing you?"
"You're staring at me, aren't you?"
"I was thinking about something." She answered in defense.
"And what could you possibly be thinking about that requires you to stare at me?"
Saya pursed her lips as she thought about how to answer his question and decided it would be better to get forgiveness instead of permission. So she leaned over him carefully, putting one hand on the other side of his legs and before he had a chance to do or say anything she pressed her lips against his softly.
At first, he was stunned and didn't react but it only took him a moment to recover and grab Saya's arms to move her away. "What do you think you're doing?" He sounded angry.
"I-I… well…" She stammered as she sat back on her legs and looked down at her lap. "I'm sorry…" She stood and began to move to the other seat.
"Tch…" Yu growled before he reached over and grabbed Saya's arm, pulling her back onto the seat beside him where he looked at her, her eyes a little wide with shock and a bit of confusion. He gripped her chin lightly and tilts her head back before he leaned down and kissed her. When he pulled back he smirked at the surprised looked on her face. "That's what you wanted right?"
Saya blushed and for the life of her couldn't think of what to say. "Uh… Y-yes…" She stumbled as she tried to grasp at what had just happened. "I didn't think you would want to kiss me though…"
He made a noise before he let her go and leaned back against the seat. "Just go to sleep so I don't have to deal with your constant staring."
Saya pouted. "I wasn't staring I was contemplating."
"Whatever you say…" He smirked and closed his eyes, his arm resting on the back of the seat. It wasn't how he normally rested and it took Saya a moment to realize it was an invitation for her. She smiled and moved in against him, resting her head on his chest while he moved his arm to rest against her side. Even if this was just while they were on the train she was going to be sure that she used every minute of it.
It didn't feel like it had been very long after Saya had fallen asleep when the train made noises of coming to a stop. The conductor walked through the car's telling the passengers what stop they were at, the stop that Yu and Saya were looking for. They stood at the doors and when they opened a blast of chilled air hit Saya full force causing her to huddle into her coat.
"Cold…?" Yu asked as he watched her out of the corner of his eye.
"No." Saya answered as she straightened up. "Just caught me by surprise."
"If you can't handle it you should stay at the Inn. I don't need you slowing me down."
Saya made a face as she walked along the platform. "If anyone is slowing someone down it'll be you slowing me down."
Yu made a noise in disagreement but didn't try to continue the argument since it wouldn't get either of them anywhere. He led the way through the town, heading to the Inn that the Black Order had made a reservation for them at. It was almost a disappointment for Saya when she heard they had separate rooms but she kept her mouth shut and followed Yu up the stairs and into one of the rooms.
"So, what do we do now? Should we go out and start looking?" Saya asked as she walked over to the small window that looked out at the town.
"Yes, we should start looking so we can return quickly." Yu answered as he watched Saya gazing out the window. "Whatever information Komui has is the top priority and we should find Yeegar as soon as possible so as to return to the headquarters quicker."
Saya was nodding in agreement when something caught her attention. She paled visibly as she threw open the window and leaned out. "That's not possible…"
"What's not?" Yu asked as he tensed for whatever Saya was about to do.
Saya opened her mouth to answer but instead let out a startled sound. "It's him I know it's him but that just can't be possible!"
"Who is it? Why can't it be possible? Saya!" Yu shouted as the girl leapt out the window without warning. She used the awning over the first-floor window to roll and land on her feet before she took off after the unknown man.
Yu growled debated whether or not he was going to follow her but their mission took precedent; Saya could take care of herself and if she wanted to go running after someone for unknown reasons he wasn't going to chase her down. He left the window open but closed the blinds and walked out of the room, intent of finding out where Kevin Yeegar was last seen.
"Wait!" Saya cried as she followed the man she had seen from the window. He was a smaller man, about her height, with white hair and a bandana around his head. With his back to her Saya couldn't see his eyes but if she was right they would be a milk chocolate color. The hair had thrown her off but she was certain; this was a boy from her village.
It shouldn't have been possible; no one else had survived the attack on her village except her and Emiko, yet she couldn't deny the fact that the person she was chasing was a boy from her village. He almost seemed to be running from her, leading her somewhere and she couldn't help but follow; it even felt the same but it had been her who had been running away, not him.
"Stop it Wata!" Saya cried as she ran around the small village square where many of the villagers would gather for celebrations or set up stalls when wealthier people would come to look for animals or produce. "I don't want to play with you!"
"Why not?" The boy called Wata called as he chased after Saya. "We're supposed to play together because our parents said so."
"But I don't want to!" Saya answered as she dodged around a house and slid under the floorboards.
"Come on Saya!" Wata called when he rounded the corner and couldn't find her. "It's not like I have cooties."
Saya covered her mouth as she watched Wata look around for her before finally giving up. The sun was setting and it was almost time for everyone to be indoors for the evening. Finally, he turned around and walked away, leaving Saya alone in the growing dusk. She waited awhile longer before she crawled out from under the house and brushed the dirt off her pants and hakama the best she could. She shook out her short hair and then huffed with satisfaction, she was as clean as she was going to get. She trekked back to her own home on the far side of the village by the rest of the poor farming families.
"Saya!" Her mother snapped as she watched her daughter saddle up to the house with a cheeky grin. "If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times, you are not supposed to go romping through the dirt. We're trying to make you look respectable for Watanuki's family."
"I don't understand why…" Saya whined as she wandered into the house, kicking off her ratty shoes at the door before walking over to the fire and sitting down; her stomach growled.
"I've told you why Saya, we need this arrangement." Saya's mother sat down and scooped some stew from the pot over the fire. "You are to marry Watanuki so that we can move up in this village. They are willing to give us money so we can buy more seed for our land for you to marry their son."
"I don't know why you can't just buy seed from the town up the road. Why do I have to marry Watanuki for that?" Saya grabbed the bowl and gobbled down the food quickly.
"It's not just the seed Saya." Her mother sighed; they had had this argument many times before. "There are other things we would get out of this marriage and you don't have any say in it anyway. We need what they're willing to give to us, for a price. Now that your sister has passed on we need this more than anything. You will do as you're told, do I make myself clear?"
Saya grumbled but she wouldn't say anymore, she knew she didn't have any say in what her family decided for her, she was just a girl. So she ate her food and unrolled her sleeping pad as she undressed and got under the covers. She waited for her parents to fall asleep and then carefully she unfolded herself from the covers and dressed quietly before sneaking out of the house. She ran through her little village in silence, sticking to the shadowed areas even though she knew how to sneak around without catching any attention.
"Emi!" She hissed as she slipped up the small tree outside of her destination; a window in the side of one of the more respectable houses in the village. "Are you awake?"
In response to the girl outside the window slid open and illuminated by the sliver of moon was Emiko. They smiled and Saya slid inside the house, careful to only step where the dirt from her feet could be brushed away.
"I heard you having a fight with Watanuki in the village." Emiko said as she sat down on her bedroll.
"Yeah… he wanted to play and I told him no."
"Why not…? He seems so nice." Emiko asked, confused. "I'd play with him…"
"Yeah but I'm not allowed to play with my other friends anymore because I have to play with him. I can't go running around in the woods or the dirt over on the south side of the village because I'm supposed to play with him…"
"That doesn't sound so bad, you won't get so dirty anymore."
"I like getting dirty. How else are you supposed to do anything around here?"
"I don't get dirty…"
"Yeah but your parents are silly and you have to stay inside the house." Saya answered as she yawned widely. "I wish you could come outside and play, it would be some much more fun with you there."
Emiko nodded as she yawned as well. "I would like to go outside sometime, but I think for now I'm going to bed."
"Okay," Saya agreed as she got up and went to the window. "Maybe next time we can meet outside and I'll show you my favorite spot in the forest."
Emiko pursed her lips, not sure if she really wanted to go to the woods but nodded anyway.
"Good night Saya."
"Good night Emi."
The next morning found Saya standing in a foreign house wearing a brand-new kimono that her mother had sown. She had also been washed and scrubbed beyond recognition; she couldn't remember the last time she was this clean. She sat quietly on a pillow in a separate room while she listened to her parents discussing with Watanuki's parents the deal of the arranged marriage. She couldn't hear the exact words but it didn't really matter to her, she didn't have a say in the matter anyway. So she sat quietly on her pillow while Watanuki sat on the other side of the room staring at her.
"Why are you so glum?" He asked after a long silence.
"Because I would rather be out running around with my friends instead of in here doing nothing." Saya answered.
"It's not that bad in doors, at least you don't have to work in the field."
"I'm not old enough to work in the field my father says." Saya, who was nine, was only four years younger than Watanuki but from how they talked they appeared to be lifetimes apart. "I don't even know why we have to do this."
"Because your parents want what my parents have and my parents would like something in return."
"It's just silly." Saya muttered as she looked down at her hands. Silence fell over them again as they waited to find out what was going to happen. After what seemed like hours her parents opened the partition to the other room with big smiles; it appeared that the arrangement met with a good outcome.
"We shall tell the rest of the villagers to start preparing for a celebration." Saya's mother said as she walked through the partition. "Saya tell Watanuki that you will see him again at the festival and thank you."
Saya sighed as she stood up and bowed to Watanuki. "I will see you at the festival when it's ready and thank you for having me over at your home."
Saya's mother smiled as she led Saya out while her father was shaking hands with Watanuki's father. "This will benefit both our families, I promise." He was saying as he was leaving.
Saya felt as her life had just ended as she realized that she would be marrying Watanuki in at most a week, depending on how long it took to get things ready. She was going to hate every minute of the next week since she was no longer allowed to run around in pants and get dirty with her other friends. Now she was to wear kimonos and be measured for her wedding garments while staying as clean as possible.
By midday the word about the wedding had spread like wildfire. Everyone in the village did what they could to prepare for the big celebration. The little village was bustling with activity while Saya sat at her house staring out a window. A knock came from the door, a well-wisher probably; they had been coming in droves. She went to the door and slid it open only to be surprised by the person on the other side; it was Emiko.
"Em, what are you doing here?" Saya asked as she stepped aside to let the girl in. "I thought you weren't allowed to leave the house."
"I'm not." Emiko huffed, she was both out of breath and completely flustered. "But my parents were talking about some wedding festival preparations and when I heard your name and Watanuki's I had to come talk to you."
Saya blinked and opened her mouth to respond but Emiko cut her off.
"I can't believe you're getting married to him! It's not fair! I've always liked him! I like him more than you, you want nothing to do with him and yet you're the one getting married to him. Why can't I be the one getting married to him? This is completely unfair you're supposed to be my friend!"
"I don't have a choice…" Saya answered quietly. She was surprised by Emiko's wild outburst, she had never raised her voice before or said anything negative to her; it was shocking in both good and bad ways.
"You shouldn't be allowed to marry him then!"
"I don't want to!" Saya shouted and was about to say more but a high-pitched shriek came from the village. She ran to the door and wrenched it open just in time to see a man, who had been running across the field towards them, be beheaded; it had been her father.
Both girls stood there in totally surprised from the scene before them. They had no idea what was going on but suddenly their village was under attack. They stood for a moment longer before Saya shook herself and grabbed Emiko's hand.
"Come on!" She cried as she dragged the girl from the house. "We need to get to a safe place!" She led Emiko through the village, using the shrubs and the sides of houses to hide when one of the attackers, a monstrous looking creature, came within view of them. Finally, they made it to a small-dilapidated shack where Saya rounded the house and stopped at the back of it.
"Get in." She hissed quietly as she pulled back a weed-covered door that led to a cellar. "Don't argue, just get in."
Emiko stared at Saya wide-eyed as she tried to decide if she really wanted to get into the hole in the ground but after a moment she slid inside as silently as she could. Saya turned to follow her but caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Watanuki just walking through the village, a look of pure evil on his face. She was confused, even scare of the look on his face but before she had any time to react one of the monsters passed in front of her view of the boy and he disappeared. So she slid into the safety of the cellar and closed the door behind her.
"Watanuki!" Saya cried as she left the confines of the town. "I know it's you Watanuki!" Sliding around the corner she came to a halt before she could slam into the back of Yu.
"Yu?" She questioned only a little confused. "What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask the same to you." Yu snapped as he turned his attention to Saya. "I'm doing our mission, what are you doing."
"I… uh…" She stopped and bit her lip. "I thought I had seen someone from my village… I'm sorry…. I just had thought that… well… I thought everyone was dead and then I saw that guy…"
"What guy?"
"The guy that just came around the corner. You didn't see him? I was following him until I almost ran into you. I thought you might have seen him."
"The only thing I've seen is that…" Yu pointed in front of him.
Saya walked around him to see what it was that he was pointing at and stopped. Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth in horror, there before the two exorcists was the body of a man who had been mutilated and crucified upside down. Tears filled her eyes, how could someone do something so horrible to another person? She felt sick at the sight of the bloodied corpse and wasn't prepared for the attack that came next.
Three Akumas rounded the corner while the two were staring at the body of the man they had been searching for. They cackled at the look of horror of Saya's face.
"Exorcists!" One shrieked as they readied to attack. "You'll die just like your friend!"
Saya wasn't ready for the attack, hadn't seen it coming even when the Akumas had announced themselves so the explosion from one of the attacks rocked her hard, flinging her into the air and back several feet where she slammed into a boulder just on the other side of the corpse. She gasped from the shock, coughing as she tried to clear her lungs awhile blood slid down the corner of her mouth. She slumped to the ground and closed her eyes.
"Get up!" Yu snapped as he pulled Mugen out of its sheath. "Get up and fight or just lay there and die without doing anything."
Saya stood slowly as she tried to clear the fog that covered her brain from the attack. Her ears were ringing from the explosion and her legs felt weak but she was determined. Anger boiled through her as rage cleared her mind; they would die for what they had done to Kevin Yeegar. In seconds, she pulled her bow from its place under her coat, activated it and released a volley of arrows into the Akuma.
"You will pay for what you've done!" She cried as she pulled the string of her bow back. "Explosive arrows!"
The arrows struck one of the Akuma, exploding on impact but not doing enough damage, it seemed to be heavily armored. Yu attacked then, aiming for the same spot that she had hit with her arrows but it wasn't enough. The Akuma attacked and all Yu and Saya could do was brace for the impact. The explosion hit Saya the hardest, she hadn't wanted to move to minimize the damage she would take, part of her had wanted to keep any more harm from Yeegar's body.
"Saya you idiot!" Yu snapped as the smoke cleared. "If you want to die then do it on your own time."
"I can't let them hurt him anymore!" Saya answered as she tried to get to her feet again from the attack.
"He's already dead!"
"No one deserves what they've done to him!" Saya cried as she felt tears sliding down her cheeks. "This is just too cruel."
Someone laughed. "You're so pathetic Saya…"
Saya's eyes widened as she turned her attention to where the voice was coming from. There standing next to the Akuma was the man she had been chasing earlier.
"Watanuki…?" Saya questioned as she stared in disbelief. The man's hair was white, his eyes were yellow and his skin was gray but even with those differences she knew she was right; he was Watanuki. "What… What's going on? I thought you were dead! I thought everyone was dead…"
Watanuki sneered. "I haven't heard that name in a very long time. But you're right, Watanuki is dead, my name is Waizurii now. It's been so long, I'm surprised to see you're wearing a kimono and you've let your hair grow out. You actually look like a girl now."
Saya gritted her teeth. "What's going on? Why are you with those Akuma Watanuki? How did you survive the attack on our village? Did anyone else survive?"
"So many questions, you never did know when to stop talking. I'm surprised myself to see someone survived the attack. I was certain everyone had died like they were supposed to. Tell me, did anyone else survive?"
"I don't understand… Why do you look so different? Why are you standing there with those monsters? How come they aren't attacking you?"
"He's a Noah…" Yu spoke up finally as he glared that the man before him. "I hadn't heard of any in this war before now but it's obvious what you are. You're a Noah, someone who controls the Akuma."
"Controls…?" Saya asked confused as she looked back and forth between Yu and Watanuki. "I don't get it… What's a Noah? Why is Watanuki one of them? He's just a human!"
Watanuki laughed and shook his head. "Oh Saya, just as dense as ever. Noah's are humans with the memories of the true descendants of Noah. The Akuma are our weapons, they can't hurt us and we can control them."
Saya's eyes widened as she stared in disbelief. "So the attack on the village…"
"It was all me." Watanuki smirked. "Does that surprise you my dear wife?"
Yu looked over at Saya with slight confusion and anger but Saya's eyes were all for Watanuki as she glared at him.
"I was never your wife." She hissed between her teeth. "You attacked our village… slaughtered all those innocent lives and for what? What did you gain from all that?"
"The destruction of humanity of course. All humans deserve to die just like that man behind you." The look on Saya's face amused him and he laughed. "Does it really surprise you to find out that was also me? You really are so naïve."
Saya howled with rage. "How dare you do something like that to a human? I will see you dead!" She charged him, rage fueling her movements where her body wanted to collapse from the earlier explosions, but she wasn't fast enough.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" Watanuki said as he moved forward and slammed his fist into her gut, sending her flying back where she hit the ground, bounced, and then skidded to a halt. "You were always doing things without thinking. Maybe it would have been easier for you to die when the rest of the village did." He turned and walked back to the Akuma
"Watanuki!" Saya cried as she pushed herself to a sitting position. "I swear on the lives of those who have died by your hand I will see you dead!" She pulled her bow back and let the power build. She had never done this before but now she poured every ounce of pain, regret and anger into the one arrow that was forming on her string. Just as she felt herself losing control of all that power she released it, sending it flying straight at Watanuki.
A moment of panic flashed across Watanuki's face but it didn't last long as he moved one of the Akuma in the way of the arrow. It sunk into the Akuma's body where it exploded. The shockwave obliterated anything standing and the light blinded all those in the area. When they could finally see Saya and Yu were the only things still alive in the area but she knew that it wasn't enough; Watanuki had survived.
Saya laid where she was, everything in her body hurt and she didn't think she would be able to get up on her own. Tears stung her eyes as they slowly worked their way out of her closed eyelids and after a few moments she just didn't care anymore. A sound caught her attention but she didn't open her eyes, she was too tired to care.
"He's your husband… You're married to a Noah…" It was Yu's voice and it had taken on a cold, biting edge.
"We were never married…" Saya answered slowly. "It was an arranged marriage. I was nine and he was thirteen. Our parents arranged the marriage the same day the village was attacked… I had been arguing with Emiko at my house about it when it happened… I can't believe it was all him… He murdered our entire village as if they never even mattered… Then he brutalizes the General because it's fun and I failed to kill him… I'm a failure…"
Yu stood there for a long moment before he just sighed. "When you're done wallowing in self-pity I'll be back at the Inn contacting Headquarters about this mess."
"I don't think I can get up…" Saya answered. "I'm sorry Y… Kanda… I didn't think there was anyone else from the village… I didn't think I needed to tell you everything about what happened before that day… I didn't think it mattered…"
Yu stiffened; he knew she only used his last name anymore when they were around others so to hear it now meant she had felt like she didn't deserve to use his first name. He wondered for a moment whether he was happy the emotions they had for each other had just been crushed by the news of her former betrothal or whether he should be concerned. At this moment he didn't care either way but he sat down next to her anyway.
"I'm sorry Kanda…" She murmured as fresh tears slid down her cheeks. "I don't know if you can forgive me… but I'm sorry…"
"Just shut up and rest so you can get up and start moving. As soon as you're up we're contacting the headquarters and heading back" Yu answered as he sat there and waited.