Kai: Hi people ^-^ man you guys are like packs of dogs XD 'Update update update soon update update update soon as possible' I'm going as fast as I can XD -sneak on computer type- Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed the last chapter ^-^ as sad as it is o.o. This one I think is going to be short.
Chapter 11: Realizing the Truth
Hope groaned as he felt his eyes flutter open. Before he had felt cold but now was a bit warmer. He glanced around, there was a slight glow that hit the walls that showed wood that surrounded him. His back was against the wooden wall and as he looked around he saw he was in quite large circle that looked like the inside of a hallow tree. There was a blazing fire in the middle, the entrance just the other side of it. He noticed something red around him and also noticed someone was sitting at the entrance, looking out for any danger. That when he finally realized it was Lightning. He noticed she was missing her red cape that hung from her left shoulder armor and he guessed that was the red thing around him. He stared at Lightning for a long moment, wondering how she had managed to find him and save him once again.
"L-Lightning?" Hope said quietly as he watched her turn her head to look at him then stand up and walk over to him. Kneeling down beside him and looking down at his face.
"How did you find me?" Hope asked as he looked into her blue eyes.
Lightning looked at him and blinked slowly. "No one saw you for awhile so I went out to bring you back. I found those two idiots, from before, snickering about how funny it was to send you here. So I grabbed them, kicked their ass, and forced them to tell me where did you go. So I came here and followed the trail you made." she answered just as blunt as before.
Hope slightly smiled in amusement yet it was a weak smile. "Well.... thank you again for saving me.... I'm sorry you had to do it again. I guess I'll never be able to be as strong as you." he said with a sad sigh.
Lightning looked at him for a long moment before she said something. "You already have gotten stronger." she said and Hope looked at her in confusion. "Slowly, but it is showing. You stood up against Nupo, you managed to outrun monsters and survive a fall from a waterfall. Your a strong kid and you still keep that smile. Despite things that have happened." she said with a calm face but it was obvious she wasn't use to complimenting others.
Hope stared at her and smiled gratefully at her then saddened at his memory of his mother. "My father lied to me...." he said sadly and Lightning looked at him with slight confusion.
"Is it about your mother?" Lightning asked him.
Hope blinked and looked at her in surprise. "Yes but how did you---" he started till he was interrupted.
"You were mumbling her name in your sleep." Lightning answered coolly.
Hope nodded then slightly looked at the fire. "I was here before.....along with my mom.... she protected me from those same type of monsters and....and she died....she died and was killed because of me....I couldn't do anything... I lost my memory and my father told me she died in a car accident... why would he lie to me? Maybe it was so I didn't have to think about how much I failed that day." he said in depression.
Lightning looked at him and thought for a moment then moved so she leaned against the wall beside him and stare at the fire. "When I was young, during the Great War, my parents died during a skirmish between PSICOM and the Guardian Force. I failed to protect them and I almost lost Serah. I was ashamed of myself, and so I became Lightning, the one who would protect Serah from any danger. That was only when Lightning blossomed though. Near the end of the Great War, I had lost a dear friend of mine because of my immaturity, stubbornness, and being blind. I wasn't strong enough and I lost him. Still yet, I seem to fail at what I do. Since then, me and my sister haven't been that close because I am 'heartless.' So I guess... we both have failed in our duty." she said as she stared into the fire.
Hope looked up at her. Was that her way in.... comforting him? What a odd way yet.... he felt himself cheer up a bit. They had both lost a parent, he had lost his mother while she had lost them both. Yet his father lied to him in his face, he didn't quite know why but he would find out, sooner or later. Here was Lightning, talking about herself and trying, in her own way, to cheer him up. He smiled softly at her as he slowly sat up to sit beside her.
"Thank you." said Hope with a small smile.
"For what?" answered Lightning slightly glancing at him.
"For everything..." Hope answered with a brighter smile and pulled the cape closer to himself, in a attempt to keep warm.
Lightning closed her eyes to avoid looking at him. "Get some sleep. We head back at dawn." she said calmly and her usual self.
Hope smiled then looked at her shoulder. It was tempting to lean against it and use it as a pillow. Something told him to do it, or at least ask. His heart beating faster at the thought and he gulped a bit as he felt his face start to flush. He swallowed his timidness down though and looked at her.
"Um... Lightning?" Hope asked, his voice slightly shaky.
Lightning didn't open her eyes but she answered with a, "What?"
Hope gulped again. "D-Do you mind if I use....your s-shoulder to rest on?" he asked and almost jumped up when she snapped her eyes open and looked directly into his jade green eyes.
Hope almost panicked and broke eye contact by looking down at his gloved hands that shaking a bit. "Well.... just for the night so I can get some good sleep.... and warmth... but you know you don't have to I'm just saying that... you know... uh..." Hope kept stuttering around panicky but when he noticed that she didn't say anything. He blinked and raised his gaze to look up at her and noticed she had her head faced back toward the fire and her eyes closed. Her closest leg, her left, laying straight out while her right was bent and the foot was flat on the ground. Her right arm was wrapped around her sword, hand on the handle and was ready to get up and strike anything that came near, her left arm rested on her lap. Hope stared at her calm face for a long moment till she opened her left eye to look at him then closed it again and gave a brisk nod. That, he understood, was her approval. He smiled brightly then he hesitantly leaned against her shoulder comfortably and pulled her red cape closer to himself. His face was burning red and his heart was beating a mile a minute. Still, sleep soon came over him, so he closed his eyes and got comfortable.
"Thank you Lightning. Good night." Hope whispered with a soft smile. He might actually really like Lightning, she was cold yet.... she actually had a kind heart deep down in that cold exterior.
As sleep overcame him, he never noticed a soft smile creep up on the soldier's lips.
