Chapter 10: To Forgive and Forget

"Kai, how are you feeling?"

"Ugh" I felt myself slowly waking, but it seemed like a dream. I heard a child speaking to me, a little girl. I couldn't make out the voice. I sat up from my bed, everything swoozing around as if drugged with some kind of toxin. I see a little girl holding onto something close to her chest. Her hair seemed lavender but picked up in a pony tail. She looked rather adorable while holding what I believe was a basket. I lift my hand to wipe my eyes to see if the blurriness would go away. To my astonishment, as I rubbed it, I heard a sharp voice, angry and cold shout to my side.

"I'm fine, what the hell do you want?!"

I turned to face this arrogant kid as my eyes furrowed of his sharp tongue. Here this little girl is offering him a nice gift and he's treating her like shit. As I finally saw the child behind me, I couldn't even believe my eyes. I never recalled such an event but apparently I was starting to see what it was I missed out in my past. As I gazed so evidently at the boy, I realized the arrogant sharp tongue kid was in fact…me. How was I able to see this? Am I really dreaming? And…was I really that much of an ass to this girl?!

"I…I just thought…" the little girl said as she looks down on her perfectly made basket that was obviously made with much care and love. I looked closely at her and finally understood what was going on. My memory was starting to remind me of what had occurred that day Leira ran off crying. A part of me told me to look away, but I couldn't. I wanted to know for sure what really happened, and why I never remembered any of this.

"That's the problem with you, you just don't stop thinking. I told you already, I don't want you here anymore! Can't you see I'm tired of seeing your pathetic excuse of a face?!"

"WHAT?!" My head was completely blown away, what the fuck did I just say to this girl?! Was that what I really said to her?! I felt my mouth opened wide as with my eyes, still furrowed with how arrogant and rude I was as a child. This could not be true. Why on earth would I say something like this to her? I felt as though I couldn't think straight, as if my body was about to explode or simultaneously combust with how furious and greatly heated I was to see this, let alone hear it. This…this kid who resembled me, embodied me as a child, he didn't even stop there. It was as if what he already said was not enough. I looked onto the little girl with grief as I can see her eyes tear up, but held a poor smile as though trying to show that it didn't hurt. But I knew better, and obviously the child side of me knew even more as he continued to make it worse.

"I mean look at you, what I am supposed to expect to come out of you when all you do is come around to interrupt me, and further more bring your hideous stench to linger in my room after you leave in such a pitiful state! Just get out and never return, all you do is…."

It finally hit me. That last part he was about to say…I somehow, in some sort of way, knew what he was going to blurt out. I clenched my shirt with a fist in hopes he wouldn't say it. I was hoping for too much. My heart sank as I grieved inside my soul. I couldn't bare to look at her, but none the less I did. She was already starting to walk away slowly through out that whole ordeal of hurtful words. I walked up to follow her and saw her tears finally flowing down her rosy cheeks. Her smile was starting to fade away and curve to a silent, painful mourn. She stops and clenches tightly onto her basket at the doorway to my room. I can see how pained she is as she hunches her shoulders tightly, almost trying to embrace herself upright with her body, preventing herself to fall on her knees in tears.

"...disgust me!"

Those words had gone far enough. She dashed out of the room crying. Her mourns were quit hearable even after she left the house. I felt myself burning in heat. How could I have done this to her? I swerved my body to face my childhood self, asking myself with bitter anger as to why I never remembered this. I just wanted to shout it out at the top of my lungs, when it suddenly happened.

A quick blow to the top of the head with a clenched fist from my younger, healthier mother at the time. Before she became very ill.

"What the hell is wrong with you!? I did not raise you to grow up into a good for nothing boy who makes little girls cry!"

In doing so, I saw my childlike self hold firmly his head, swirling in circles till finally falling back into sleep…or better yet, unconscious. I narrowed my eyes as I can feel a nerve twitching at my brow as I can see her poking onto my child like self with her finger while calling out my name…

"…That would explain everything." I thought to myself.

As luck would have it, I was beginning to feel myself, in a physical way being pushed down. I held my chest tightly as the vision before me was starting to turn black. I slowly open my eyes in the real world as I can sense the warm sun light above my face. My father hovered beside me, lifting my head with his arm, trying to pull me up to sit.

"Kai, wake up son, you're not as light as you think,…sit up already"

Aruhulu helped my father as well on my right side. I felt a bit dizzy but I pulled up my composure to meet them with their worried expressions staring at me. My father grinned lightly at me and rubbed my hair with his heavy hand.

"Wh-what happened?" I asked as I looked at them both with a bit of daze.

"You didn't seem to take the news well son, you practically fainted after what I told you" His hand that patted my hair finally then turned to pick up something from behind my back. "You ended up bumping your head on this". A medium sized rock was what my head landed on when I guess I fell to the ground. I thought to myself, that perhaps the sudden blow to the head, like my mother's when a child, could have triggered my memory to return. Would make perfect sense to me, and so I kept that theory to myself. I took the rock from my father's hand and yet still, I didn't know how to react about it.

I thought of telling them what had just happened to me in my dream, but I fear my father would just make an emerald dream joke about it and I would not hear the end of it. Aruhulu suggested I be taken to Darnassus to get myself checked. I was going to oppose because I wanted to ask more questions but without hesitation my father insisted and agreed on it. He still had to remain in his post and felt that Aruhulu was enough company for me to get there. He ordered her to stay with me till I was done being seen. She nodded and pulled me close to her. I can feel my arm pressed against her breast. I swore I would enjoy them sooner again, but for now, having her close to me like this was rewarding enough. I grinned wickedly to myself but she caught on and smirked wickedly in return.

She led me to her two seated chopper. I thought we would go on a Hyppogryph but her theory made more sense.

"No points in having you pass out in mid air and falling to your doom" Aruhulu said as she helped me get into the small carrier part of her chopper. "You will be much safer in the road".

She gestured to put on a helmet from under the compartment box inside the carrier seat, when I saw she then put her helmet on herself with these huge goggles. For a second there she looked more alien than what she would be considered, being that she came down in a ship that crashed in the Azuremyst Isles. She looked at me, gave me thumbs up and smiled. I put on the helmet she suggested I put on, but I left the goggles off.

"You're going to regret not putting on the goggles Kai, I don't ride slow and certainly….I enjoy a rough trip"

I swear I could have sworn I saw her wink at me from underneath those dark goggles of hers. That sheepish grin of hers, making her looks almost devilish. There is just something about this woman that makes my heart bump and rev up. "I am so taking you on that trip one day, my sexy space goat"…ahem….I only hoped I hadn't thought of that out loud. But I was certain she didn't as the engine to her chopper roared louder even for my thoughts.

"Are you ready, pretty boy Kai?" Aruhulu shouted as she clutched the pedals. I didn't even get a chance to say yes well enough when she started to hit almost 90. Not once did she try to ease in and my voice trailing off with the burst of wind as I screamed out

Yyyyyessssssssssssss…ahhhhhhhh

"Hahahahahaha…."

Damn this devil woman

Along the way to Darnassus, she damn nearly ran over a few travelers who were on their way to Astranaar. She beeped her horn, not even giving them enough time to move out of the way as they were on heavy carriage. Swerving around them like a mad woman, still with a grin in her face, telling them to move out of the way. I held on for dear life as she sped off even more now hitting 119 miles per hour on the small hill path leading to Maestra's Post. Then after finally about to past Bathran's Haunt, Aruhulu reaches over me, opens a hidden glove compartment in my side, pulls out what looked like a sting gun. Pointing it at one of the troll warlocks guarding his post, for whatever reason may be. She holds the gun inches away from my face.

"Stay still Kai, I have been wanting to do this for a decade now….wait for it…..wait for it…."

"Aruhulu, what the fuck are you trying to pull here?!" I had no idea what her plans were or why she had the urge to do this.

"NOW!"

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"Aahhhhh, what'cha do dat fer, ya crazy bitch!"

I literally heard her cackle insanely, shouting back to him on how pay backs a bitch. Turned out that troll warlock was the one that had hinged her hair when she first came to Azeroth as a new traveler. Heading for the first time to where father works in his post. It seemed she had taken a wrong path and was confronted by that troll in her past. Only the Gods can possibly know how long she has wanted to do that. I on the other hand just kept my mouth shut. Behind this chopper she was truly a devil as her horns could possibly put her out to be. When we finally reached Darnassus, I was simply thrilled to be there in one piece.

As we got to the First Aid trainer, he had suggested us to go to the top level where a bed will be assigned to him by his apprentice in training. We went up the ramp leading up and there the apprentice was, prepping the elven bed. The bed seemed almost like the one my mother would normally sit on, but less cushioned. I sat on it and the apprentice handed me a form to sign, giving the practitioner permission to examine me. I had no issues with it and simply signed it. I handed it over to the apprentice and the First Aid trainer finally came up after handing in some training materials to a few of his new students. He came close, took a good look at my eyes, and pondered to himself.

"Hmmm…" He then asked "…Why exactly are you here?"

"I fainted and landed on a rock. I bumped my head hard enough that I didn't come to for quite a while"

"And how long was quite a while?" He seemed to ask Aruhulu the question but I answered instead.

"I think maybe, a couple of secs?" in that instant, I heard Aruhulu chuckle lightly to herself and responded

"No, it was not a couple of seconds as my dear Kai would believe, he was unconscious close to an hour" She then points her finger on the back of my head "Here is where he landed, and if you can feel at this very spot, you will see a scar he had when a young boy."

The first aid trainer placed his hand to touch behind my head and again I hear him. "hmmm…I see"

He stepped back, opened a drawer to pull out a scope of some sort and brought it up to my eyes. The device was rather peculiar and obviously gnomish made. I was somehow expecting it to explode in my face, but thankfully it didn't. He peered at my eyes; I wasn't sure what he saw after he grunted. I was wondering if something was wrong. He then stood up, check the back of my head once more, exhaled heavily.

"Am I alright doc?" I asked in hopes to get an answer from him.

"Well, I have good news and I have bad news. Which would you prefer first?"

Sigh…"I think with everything that just been happening to me, I'm pretty sure I can handle the bad news first. So, lay it on me doc."

"That being said, I will do just that." He walks over to Aruhulu as I turn to face him from behind me. "Kai…it pains me to say this, but, if I do not I will not surely know exactly how bad it is. So, here goes nothing….Your going to die in three days"

"What?!" I got up on my feet so quick. Die? "Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"Yes, in fact I am, and I am proud to say that you're absolutely fine. Your reaction was quite pleasant able to acknowledge the nerve on the back of your head isn't fully damaged."

I think my body froze in time. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. My mind was still in the shock of dyeing in three days that it really hadn't caught up with the good news that I wasn't going to die at all. Was I really ok if that was the case? And seriously, what kind of doctor would do such a thing to his patient? I like to live long enough to maybe one day have a family, not have a near death experience through a sudden heart attack at my age. The doctor gets close to me and pats my shoulder, nods with a friendly smile and walks away telling Aruhulu that I should get more rest. He stated that I have high stress levels and should take a break with a minimum of eight hours of sleep or more. Adding that stress is one of the main causes of health risks. Aruhulu bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing it up seeing how she knew my constant dilemma, but I knew she wanted to.

I cussed in between my teeth knowing full well he was part of that stress level by playing that cruel trick on me. Rest?…who could rest with all these troubling times. I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly and thought to myself that maybe tonight things will be better once I get back home. It was starting to get dark, so once we left the trade district, I decided I wanted to take the flight path back home. I could always talk to father there once he was done with his post. Aruhulu did not give me that option though, before I could even tell her anything she was out of my sight. She then rears in to my side with her chopper of doom. I felt my heart jump but not in a good way.

"Come on Kai, I'll drive you home"

I leaned back and slowly tried to walk away…I emphasize the try, because before I even had the chance to walk away, she leaned up and grabbed my tunic, pulling me inside the choppers carrier seat. God Damn this woman is stronger than she looks. I found myself almost in fear, but this time, I found the seat belt. It was torn but I made the utmost effort to tie it up tight enough. With the way this woman drives, I fear I would not make it home in one piece.

Finally getting home, I think my skin was paler than its normal ivory color. My head hung back as I breathed in relief to being home safe. Sonia seemed to have returned from her errand as she was hanging clothes on the clothes line in front of the house. I thought I was going to heave my food out of my stomach as I barely hung over the choppers carrier seat. Sonia rushed over to grab me in time, worried she asked if I was ok. I looked at her with eyes in full fear and whispered to her softly enough for us to hear.

"Never…Ever…and I mean EVER, get on that bike with her. You will lose a part of your life".

Sonia just smiled as if she already knew the type this devil woman was who sat on the bike of terror. She helped me sit in the bench mother was sitting on earlier and I looked around as I didn't see neither her nor Yuki. So I asked about them.

"Sonia, where is mother and my hatchling?"

"Oh well, your mother was so infatuated with the little darling that she took her inside and their both asleep on her bed. I got to hand it to you Kai, if you hadn't brought that little cutie I would still be struggling right now to get your mother to rest. This would have to be the first time I have ever seen her sleep this long and so soundly."

I pondered about what she said. Mother hasn't been sleeping? What on earth is mother not telling me about? Is father even aware of this? I sneered of the thought. He has been so busy with his post and watching Aruhulu that he probably doesn't care enough to know. I looked away lost in my thoughts. Sonia suddenly snapped a shirt in front of my face, it startled me a bit.

"Wake up, your daydreaming again." Sonia chuckled lightly to herself when I crossed my arms and closed my eyes trying to ignore her. "hehe, so Kai…"

I opened one eye to look at her. "…When do you plan on getting married and giving your parents some grandchildren?"

"What?!" I stared wide eyed at her and she started to laugh out loud. I don't see what is so funny all of a sudden. "I'm still young, why would I want to do that?"

"Considering how your mother has been feeling, I'm not sure how long it will take for her to pass on. I know it's not something you and I want to hear, but let's face it. You know perfectly well something is not right with her health. She may be strong, or at least not letting herself be put down as someone weak, considering her reputation and status with the King, but…"

"I know, I saw it too."

"…So if you know, then…why not try for your mothers sake. Let her see her grandchildren as she is now before she is unable to hold them?"

"I...I don't know Sonia…I mean I am interested in someone but it's rather complicated right now."

"Well if that doesn't work out, you can always look for another. You're rather dashing in your own way" Sonia giggled as she covered her lips with her hand and gave a sneaky look.

I narrowed my eyes as she went on. "Who knows, there's probably one right now and you're just blind to even notice it. She'll come around sooner or later and you wouldn't even know it because your too busy checking out the more complicated one" Sonia said as she winked.

"Yes, I'm sure it will, and so what...You think she's just going to fall from the sky and I'm supposed to just catch her?"

I lift my arms as though I was carrying something when suddenly a portal above me opens. I look up and out of nowhere someone lands on my arms. Flinching and very angry the person flares up her arm and yells to the top of her lungs before the portal closed.

"Havien you jerk, you did that on purpose!"

A cackle from behind the portal was heard as it finally closed. I looked to see who it was and couldn't believe my eyes.

"Leira?" What on earth was she doing here? I asked myself. She peered to me by the rear of her eyes, seeing she was in my arms she blushed wildly and Sonia walked up to us.

"You were saying Kai?" smug grin and all, I just let go of Leira quickly as per our conversation earlier.

"Owww Kai, what the hell?!" Leira said as she rubbed her behind while getting up on her feet. "What you do that for? Oww"

Sonia just laughed and went back to her hanging the clothes and without me realizing I was wiping my hands for whatever reason on my tunic. Leira stood up staring at me doing this. She glared at me. When I noticed her stare and what I was doing I stopped.

"Why are you wiping your hands Kai? Are you saying I'm dirty?"

"uh…" I took a quick second of looking her over to see what I could use, I saw she was holding onto something on her hand "…Oh hey, what's that you're holding?"

"Hm?" Leira's expression finally changed and she gasp as she tossed the metal pod to my hands. "Here, I almost forgot. I was told to give this to you by the Headmaster himself".

I looked at it and seemed to be something an engineer would make. I pressed the red button in the middle and the sides slid out with glowing lights facing up to the sky. A projection came up, but unlike a recorded one, it seemed to be live. It showed the image of the Headmaster speaking to one of the gnomes. He then looks up and notices I was watching.

"Ah Kai, I see you finally received my Hollotronovoip."

"A hollo..what?"

"Don't worry about. How are things with your mother? I hope she is doing much better now that your there."

"Well, yeah I guess…but…"

"You're wondering why you are being summoned?" Before I could even answer, the Headmaster beat me to it "Kai, now that I see you are able to get the Hollotronovoip to function, I would like for you to activate it tomorrow at 3pm. No sooner than that and especially no later than it as well. Understood?"

"But Headmaster…I"

"No buts, tomorrow you can access the trial and everything will be alright".

"uh…ok"

"Oh, and Kai, don't think that just because you're taking time off from within school grounds doesn't mean you can't continue with your lessons. Leira has been assigned to assist you in your module work for all your classes. Pay much attention to her as possible as she is one of top students in your class. Good luck Kai".

And that was that. The screen dissipated from view and did an auto shutdown. I hope it would work just fine the following day. Even though things were not as bad as before while in the academy, I started to feel a little better knowing a few facts here and there, but now, the nervousness is starting to build up again for tomorrow was coming soon and it was starting to get dark. Leira walked over to me, placed her hand over the Hollotronovoip and smiled.

"Don't worry Kai, I'm sure the Headmaster has something good to say about your trial tomorrow."

I was about to snap at her and tell her how all of this started with her, but then I remembered that dream. I hesitated because I didn't want to be that person again.

"Kai…are you alright?" Leira placed her hand over my cheek; I looked up to her with furrow eyes. She flinched slightly and pulled away thinking I was probably mad at her. Before her hand went down I grabbed and held onto it. She began to blush but I paid no mind to it. There was something I needed to tell her. I looked at her with sorrow and asked her nicely to come with me. She didn't resist at all and just let me lead her into the forest where a small ground road led to the lake. The sun was beginning to go down and its reflection lit the lake into black and golden colors. The sky and clouds were mixed with red and orange. It was very calming as the breeze was light. I took a moment, still holding her hand she approached closer to me. I looked over her and I began to tell her.

"Leira, a long time ago, when we were kids I said some things I shouldn't have…" Even though I had looked away the minute her eyes widen, I could tell she knew what I was saying was true. I continued one. "…What I said after you did so much for me…trying to help me feel better…I..."

I felt her hand grip my own tightly. It felt strange at first but at the same time, it also felt natural. As if we had done this many times before. Probably did when we were young, but being older now, it somehow felt weird and all the while just right. I wanted to finish but this feeling almost prevented me from going on. She spoke up to me as she wanted to hear more. I glanced at her and I could see some glint of hope in her eyes. I had to finish what I was saying.

"…I'm sorry Leira, for everything that I put you through when we were kids. I don't know what came over me….I was just…I don't know, dumb. Will you…ever forgive me?"

She seemed as though she wanted to cry as her breathing was somewhat rapid. She smiled and leaped over me so suddenly. I didn't expect it so she caught me off guard. She held me by wrapping her arms over my neck.

"Yes Kai, yes I'll forgive you" she pulled away to look at me with a great smile "I'm just glad you remembered…" she then took a moment, a brief moment and pulled away as if she realized something important. "…You…remembered…Oh my God Kai, you remembered. That means you remember about what you said, about us being…"

"…Betrothed?" I completed her sentence, as she nodded her head. I wasn't ready for this conversation, but she already brought it up, I might as well have my say in it. "Leira, I do…know about it. My father reminded me, but…I can't"

"You…can't? Can't what?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't be betrothed to you if I'm already falling for someone else. It isn't fair for you or for Vella…"

"Vellamoon?!"

I moved back a bit as I can see her mood change so dramatically. I didn't let this stop me though; I had to make this clear, at least this much for her to understand what it is I am trying to say.

"Yes, Leira. I think it would be wrong of me to try to betroth myself with you without feeling any kind of love. Would you want me to be with you for life without feeling the slightest amount of love for you? Are you seriously going to be ok with that, knowing how I truly feel about Vellamoon? Is that what you really want?"

It took her a moment to think about it but she then nodded her head no.

"Then you understand what I am saying or at least trying to say to you?"

"Yes, I understand…I understand your being blinded by someone who never be anything more to you than student peer, I understand that the reason why you can't see me more than this is because you won't allow yourself to…and…I also understand that you can't love someone you really haven't spent time with, even though you knew me since childhood, but your memory was lost to me. Yes…I understand perfectly well everything that you are trying to say. But there is just one minor problem You obviously do not seem to understand."

"What is that?" I was about to pull back but she held my tunic and put her face close to mine, almost scared to wonder what was running through her head.

"Vellamoon is a minor setback, and I don't intend to give you up that easily. Remember Kai, I saw you first and I don't plan on giving up." She pulls back and starts to walk away but before doing so she didn't leave without having a last word to her opinion and determination. "Always remember Kai, no matter what you do, She will never be a part of the Alliance and bring you nothing but doom, and I will Not stand by to let you fall for her trap".

There seems to be no end to my drama with woman and I'm starting to believe that the trial should actually be the least of my problems.