Yo, I'm back…Some of you probably thought that I fell off a cliff or something. :P
Anyways I'm sure not many of you actually 'missed' me. SO no harm done, right?
Well…Thanks for clicking the link to this page. I much appreciate it. Thank you to everyone out there who love/hate me.
Vezarius Inferno
crystal-mist
Chapter 11
Dan dipped a cloth in water and drained it before placing it on Alice's forehead. She hadn't woken up since the 'Silver wheel' ordeal and what's more, she had a horrible fever. The wound on her arm looked deadly and as of now, she was draped in bandages.
Runo let herself in "I'll take over for now. You should get some rest…You've been at this for two days now."
Dan smiled at her "Thanks for your concern."
Runo blushed and turned away from him. "I was not THAT concerned." she snapped taking a seat next to Alice bed.
For the time being Inferno was crashing at Vezarius headquarters mainly because Baron insisted on it.
Later that evening Gehabich had come to visit Alice. He stared at his unconscious granddaughter and placed a hand on her forehead. "You seem worn out, my dear…I'm sorry. If only I'd sent reinforcements in time…."
His eyes fell on the hoard of bandages draped around her arm. He eyed it suspiciously before unwinding the bandages to reveal the scar. He stared at it long and hard- those marks.
On the way out, asked to be personally escorted by Shun. Shun instantly sensed the tension that radiated from the Doctor's behavior. "I presume that the wound on Alice's arm was your doing?" spoke Gehabich.
Shun gulped; he hadn't thought that he'd be busted this easily.
"Seems that I've made a mistake..." he spoke.
"No…You're…you're right." muttered Shun; accepting the accusation.
"Why?"
"I'm sorry…I didn't do it intentionally. I…" he paused, wondering why his heart was pounding so fast. "I would never hurt her on purpose…."
Gehabich stared at the boy's face for a few moments. Please be more careful in the future." he murmured before leaving.
Shun stared blankly at the door that had just banged shut. The doctor's voice, it seemed almost as if he felt betrayed.
'You're NOT a monster.' Alice's naïve words echoed through his mind and he couldn't help but laugh out in sarcasm. "All just a bunch of lies" he muttered regretfully.
Two days later, Alice finally awoke, having fully recovered from her fever. She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
"You better be." declared Ace. "Because of you, Baron forced Inferno to stay over here…You won't believe how much trouble you've caused me an-"
Marucho nudged Ace painfully in the ribs (he had to stand on a chair just to reach Ace's ribs.) "The girl's only just woken up, for heaven's sake." reprimanded the little blonde.
"Insensitive as always." jeered Dan.
"Some jerks never change." muttered Mira quietly.
"Repeat that it you have the guts, witch." threatened Ace.
"Who's the witch here, pine-face idiot?"
"Well, I'm not the one who had a teddy bea-"
"Listen Mira-" Ace stopped short as pain shot through his ear.
"..ow." chorused Mira and Ace. "Enough!"declared Runo as she pulled both their ears.
"Ooooh… you guys harmonize very well together." exclaimed Julie and then she narrowed her eyes deviously. "PERFECT! Clearly made for each other…"
Ace glared at Julie. "Say another word and I'll electrocute you and- Ow…Runo STOP that! I'm the leader, darn it."
In an instant Alice's crystal clear laughter echoed through the room. "You guys'll never chance…" she spoke amidst her giggles.
Joe smiled. "But you wouldn't have it any other way, right?"
She nodded and sat up straight. There was still that residual pain that remained from the scar on her left arm- the wound that Shun caused her. That reminded her. "Where's the lone wolf?"
"Up on the rooftop as usual." answered Joe.
"A man of few words…Seriously, how can he survive all on his own like that!" exclaimed Julie.
Alice laughed. "You're right."
"Anyways, we'll leave and let you rest now." declared Baron ushering the others outside.
After about an hour the door slid open and Julie's head popped in. She flashed a toothy grin and Alice immediately knew that she was up to something. "You've got a visitor." she declared.
Alice stared at girl skeptically. "Who…"
Julie only giggled as she disappeared. There was the sound of pushing and shoving and in the end Shun was sent hurtling into the room.
Julie shot a victory symbol before skipping away happily. Shun stood up and dusted his shirt, he was officially displeased. Alice ended up laughing at the expression on his face.
He stared at the orange-haired girl. She stifled her laughter as she gestured him to take a seat. He didn't know why he sat down on the chair without protest.
"Feeling better?
She nodded with a smile. "Much better, thanks."
"You'd better put a leash on her." said Shun indicating Julie. "I'm still confused as to 'how' I ended up here."
"She's one of Inferno…We can't do that." spoke Alice amidst her giggles.
She found that Shun was staring at her injured left-arm regretfully. "Listen…Stop moping. What's happened has happened." She said raising her bandaged arm. "Understand?"
"…"
"Shun… you can't change the past-"
"No…You think I do not know that! Listen, you might forgive me for hurting you, but I sure as heck won't forgive myself." he snapped before walking out the door and banging the door behind him.
She stared at the door and sighed. "What do you mean by that?"
The next day Alice set out to headquarters to visit her grandfather. Presently she was frowning at the elderly man. "What do you mean I should be careful of Shun?" she questioned.
Micheal sighed as he sat back in his chair. "Alice…There are some things that you must be made aware of…"
"Such as?"
"Listen to me patiently…Alright?" he paused to take a sip of water. "Shun Kazami, he's not your average Wexos. He has a whole different personality sleeping within him… Once he transforms more than a certain percentage of his body into a demon's he looses control of himself and he…goes berserk. He isn't able to control that demonic 'thing' that takes control of his body."
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"His past isn't the pleasurable one…Seen as a 'monster'; despised by every living thing around him. Circumstance turned him into a problem child. He became a delinquent- picking fights, hurting others, always utterly alone… He's lost control- gone berserk plenty of times before, each with disastrous consequences…Accidentally he even kil-"
"Please stop." interceded Alice. "I'd already figured that his 'past' was why he's so embittered." she muttered in a low tone. "But…It's not right; me learning his past like this… It's almost sneaky. I shouldn't be listening to his past unless he tells me himself."
"I figured you'd say something like that." said Micheal nodding. He looked straight into her granddaughter's eyes. "But you've seen for yourself, haven't you? You've seen Shun Kazami's 'other self'."
"…."
"You probably witnessed the malice in his eyes…."
"…."
"Just be careful Alice… He already sees himself as a monster. I don't want that child to suffer anymore, to hurt anyone, to experience pain all alone…That's why I took him into the academy."
"Understood." Alice stood up and saluted at her grandpa before leaving.
Inferno soon went back to their own headquarters…They were by now tired of putting up with Mira and Ace's open war. However, neither Vezarius nor Inferno had any idea that yet another storm awaited them.
"What do you mean 'they' want me back!" exclaimed Mira into the receiver of her phone.
Hearing Mira's tone Joe pushed aside his book and listened to something that might give gim a clue about 'what' Mira was so ticked off.
"I won't…I don't want to." she cried. "I DON"T want to leave…" She then listened to whatever the person on the other end was saying. "It's absurd that they should suddenly want me back… Please , if you were in my shoes you wouldn't want to go back either…"
She listened for a bit to what the other person was saying and then finally tears rolled down her cheeks. "Please I do NOT want to leave Vezarius! No matter what!" she snapped, throwing her phone at a nearby wall and then breaking down into tears.
Joe walked over to her. "Mira…what happened?"
"Uncle and Auntie…Apparently they want me to drop out of the Wexos Foundation and go back to live with them…"
"And leave Vezarius too?"
"Obviously… You want to hear their excuse? 'Mira's Wexos powers aren't dangerous are they? So we figured it would be alright if she lived with us from now on'." She spoke bitterly.
"But…They still want you back… For people like me and Ace who've been thrown out of our homes, it's a dream come true."
For the first time in a month Mira didn't react violently hearing Ace's name. She sighed. "Joe… But I still don't want to leave. You guys are my family."
The Vezarius main room was unnaturally quiet despite being packed with the members of team Vezarius and Inferno. Mira stood in the centre, with her face to the ground. "I don't want to leave." she begged for the umpteenth time.
Alice looked at Mira sadly. "But you know the contract. Wexos Foundation is just an institution…The families of the Wexos in question always have a final say in whichever matter."
"They're lying…I'm sure of it… I mean, they've always known that my powers weren't dangerous. They've alwaysknown…But after my father's death they didn't hesitate even for a second before 'discarding' me. So why now why this sudden realization/decision? Why now!" she cried, her eyes flooded with tears. "Why now?"
Baron was already sniffling childishly. "We'll miss you."
"Stop saying that!" exclaimed Dan. He placed his hands on Mira's shoulders. "If you don't want to leave…We won't let them take you."
Mira stared at Dan in awe. "Seriously?" she muttered breaking out into a watery smile.
"Wait…" spoke Joe. "Maybe you should just go back for a bit…I'm not implying that you should stay there or leave Vezarius. But a little holiday to find out what brought about this sudden change in their point of view won't hurt, will it?"
Mira considered for a bit then shrugged. "Well…I don't know."
"Come on Mira, think about it…You can have a normal life."
"You won't need to be an outcast."
"You'll be accepted in society."
"We'll be happy if you can live without regrets."
Mira gazed at her friends. She knew that they were only concerned for her own well-being…But why couldn't they see how much they meant to her? Why couldn't they see their significance in her life?
"FINE!" she declared. "If you guys want me out of the way that badly then I'll LEAVE!" she cried out, her voice cracking in desperation. "Goodbye." She stalked out, slamming the door behind her.
She loathed her sudden temper…But, now there was no turning back…
The room was as quiet as a graveyard… The silence was interrupted by Marucho's crying. "I don't want her to leave!"
"None of us do, Marucho…" spoke Alice softly. "We don't want her to leave." She spoke as tears flowed softly down her snow-white cheek.
But if she stays with her family it'll be for her own good. She can bury her history as a Wexos and start afresh." stated Joe matter-of-factly.
Runo nudged Ace in the ribs. "You know you want to." she muttered knowingly.
Ace, who was quiet until then stared at Runo. He then stared at the door. "I can't…It'll only make things worse."
"Go." Alice said almost authoritatively, her brown eyes staring deep into Ace's grey ones.
"Fine." The door once again slammed shut as Ace went after Mira.
There she was standing on the balcony adjoined to her room. Ace took in a deep breath. This time he'd have to be downright specific. He walked towards the balcony and stood right beside her.
Mira froze in obvious surprise as she saw who the person was. No witty insulting remark would escape her lips. She stood there, looking at the setting sun, ignoring the green-haired guy beside her.
"You're seriously considering this?"
"It's none of your-"
"Mira…" he muttered seriously. "Answer me." His eyes were grave as they gazed into hers.
She gulped as she looked away from him. "Maybe."
There was a long silence. Mira was desperately trying to ignore the fact that her hear was beating so fast, almost painfully against her chest. Without warning more tears cascaded down her cheeks.
Ace moved closer to her. He pulled her face to look directly at him. "Don't leave." He muttered plainly.
He gently brushed away her tears with one arm while he held her hand with the other. "Please don't leave." He repeated as he interlaced his fingers with hers. All the while, he looked deep into her eyes with that excessively sincere emotion."Please don't leave." He whispered yet again. His actions only induced more tears, each of which he immediately brushed away.
"Ace…"
"Oh…" he muttered almost regretfully. "I almost forgot that you despised me." He pulled away from her with a hopeless smile on his face.
"Ace..wait-"
"Since you hate me…You'd probably do just the opposite of what I just asked. Being the stubborn person you are, you'd probably leave just because I asked you 'not' to…" he said sighing heavily. "In that case…" he paused, still staring at her with that same intense gaze. "I want you to leave…no matter what."
He then turned away from her and walked out of her room.
"No Ace wait-" she called out after him too late. He didn't hear her and so Mira was left standing there all alone. 'Please don't leave'. That tone in his voice, it haunted her for some reason.
"I…I don't hate you Ace…" she whispered to herself in vain. "I…I don't despise you."
Phew…Got that one down.
I wonder if this chapter was too long. Oh well…
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