Part III

Trace the World

5974

Tomochika looked down fondly at the child laying in the bed. Normally she could play it cool. She would never let the beast out. But something about the cyan haired boy made her restless. Even in the unconscious state that he was in, she wanted to devour him, and leave nothing behind. With him around she felt like everything she had worked so hard to hide was slowly being taken out of the darkness and displayed for everyone to see. But as she looked at his worn out face, she felt bad for snapping at him.

Maybe he really wasn't like her ans trying to take her home from her. Maybe there was some other explanation for why he knew so much about Haruka. Some other reason why her feral side wanted him gone so much.

She shook her head. It wasn't something she could just understand. There was never this urge before. She had never wanted to kill so bad in her life. Was this urge to hurt this boy only to protect herself or was it something else? She just could comprehend what was happening. Almost, in a way, she felt like if Syo and Otoya weren't sleeping a mere 5 feet from where she sat, in the wooden chair with plush white pillows covering the back and bottom, next to Ai's bed, she would probably end him before he could open his eyes again.

When he fell to the floor she had smiled. She didn't know why. It just happened. She had even joked about how she couldn't play because of Ai. This boy, who had never done anything to her, she felt pleasure knowing that there was something wrong with him. She was losing her mind trying to figure out what she would do when he woke up. Would she accidentally threaten him again? Or would she, the person inside, maintain control?

"What are we to do?" She uttered under her breath. Her hands intertwined holding up her chin as she rested her elbows on her knees. This was all just to much. "What am I supposed to do, Van?"

"Otoya." The hushed whisper came from below the machine, that Otori called a truck.

They had halted their movements for the night and the brunette soundly slept in the cab of the vehicle. Since Otoya was from Xetune, the man decided that he could withstand the chilled air of a spring night outside in the bed where he was chained.

"Otoya." He said again, rousing the redhead from his sleep.

"Cecil?" his blurry eyes didn't want to open, voice muffled with sleep.

"Big brother!" The four year old child vaulted himself up onto the bed of the truck.

"Cecil!" He said in shock, moving back slightly as the chain giggled delightfully with each movement. "You have to go home."

The younger of the two kits tilted his head. "But I came here to save you." He announced loudly.

"Shh." Otoya hushed him. "You have to go home and find papa."

"but Oto-nii." Cecil whined.

Otoya tried to look stern, but he couldn't hide the relief that washed over him. For the longest time he feared the worst and hoped for the best. Now he knew his brother was alive and well, he could only fear the worst again. His red eyed glanced at the thin glass that separated them and his captor. The last thing he wanted was for Cecil to get caught too. But his brother showing up had given him the worst thing possible. It gave him hope. And the more hope he had, the more horrible it would be once his dreams of escaping were crushed.

"Listen, Cecil, go home and get papa." He said lightly.

"But I want to help."

"You can't."

"No you can't." Both of their heads snapped at the deep voice.

Otoya looked at the window in fear. He turned his wide eyes to his brother. he wanted to shout and scream, but his voice wouldn't come out above a hushed whisper. "Run."

Otoya opened his eyes. Sweat running down his pads, breathing fast, he pushed himself off the floor of Ai's room. Next to where he had been laying was Syo, curled up in a little ball. Walking on all fours, he made his way around to where even Tomo had fallen asleep, her head resting on the side of his bed just below where his hand rested.

Swishing his puffy white tail first, the white kit jumped up onto Ai's bed. He nuzzled in close to the cyan haired teens outer thigh and laid down next to him. Even with there being a sheet between them, Otoya could tell that he was cold. His skin probably felt like ice. And he smelled faintly of wet soil, a dewy petrichor scent that was hard to miss. He hadn't noticed before. Otoya had just assumed that Ai didn't have a smell. How had he missed that? Everyone had a scent. Syo smelled of warm sunlight. Tomochika strangely smelled of blood and gore (which Otoya never wanted to ask about and never planned to). Haruka also had a strange smell to her, with a single whiff she smelled of dandelions and oil, probably from working on the ship for so long, but beneath she smelled of somewhere between salt and limestone.

"Otoya."

He jumped, he had been lost in thought. Picking himself up, he walked up to where Ai could easily see him.

"Can you get Haruka?"

Otoya willed himself back. The white fur shrinking into his flesh until all that was left was red hair. "Of course."

"One more thing." Ai said before Otoya could even climb off the bed to run out of the room.

Otoya winced, realizing that most thought it was strange for him to not wear clothing. "M-my pants are on the floor by Syo, I'll make sure to grab them."

"That's not it." Ai said softly while shaking his head. "I was just curios. Are you a red head or an albino?"

The redhead looked at him perplexed. He didn't know how to answer. So instead, he put his head down and muttered. "I'll be back soon."

Haruka stomped through the corridor on her way back to the navigation center. She couldn't believe what she was about to say so how was Masato? Sure he had been with her for the longest time, other than Tomo, but this... this sounded like suicide.

Shaking her head she told herself she had to stand strong behind her decision. If she didn't show weakness or sign of hesitation then no one would dare to openly doubt her. And if they did, she would just kill them. She told them that often. To go against her was to go against god. She held their fate in her hands.

"Masato!" She slammed through the metal door, almost breaking it off it's hinges. "Set a course."

"To where captain?"

"Into the Obsidian Abyss."

His blue eyes looked at her as if she was nuts. Mostly because that's what it seemed like. The Obsidian Abyss was riddled with wormholes and black holes. There was no sun, no way to navigate since it was virtually uncharted. His lips pressed into an thin frown. "Yes captain."

She sighed.

"Everyone out!" She yelled waking the two sleeping guests in the room up. She was in no mood to play. First this kid plays mind games with her then just falls over? She didn't know what to think. And not knowing made her pissed off.

It didn't take long for Syo to scurry out, with Otoya (and his shirt he hadn't grabbed earlier) close behind. Tomochika had traipsed out as slowly as she could, like it didn't matter if it took her all day to cross the small bedroom. She also eyed the boy cruelly as she left. Haruka slammed the door the second both of her feet were in the hall and locked it before anyone could think of a reason to disturb them.

"You're even madder than I thought you would be."

"Do you see a reason for me not to be mad?"

He thought about it. "No."

"So." She took a seat on the edge of the bed, where Otoya had been about to fall asleep. "Where are we going? You're not going to find your way home like that."

He frowned at her. "I told you before you won't believe me."

"Try me." She leaned in closed, ignoring any personal space he had left.

"Head into the Obsidian Abyss."

"No." She deadpanned. There was no way in hell she planned on going in that dead zone.

"There's a planet called Mal-Terra."

"The Abyss doesn't contain life." She told him. "It doesn't have a sun."

"there's a city-" He stopped saying whatever he was going to say. "Just because it doesn't have light doesn't mean there's nothing there."

"Yes it does."

"No it doesn't."

"YES IT DOES!"

He shook his head at her. "I can give you coordinates to get around every black hole. That should be enough proof."

"This little game of yours needs to come to a stop."

"For someone who grew up not knowing what night was, shouldn't you believe a little more?" He titled his head.

She faltered. "I-I don't know what you mean."

"After everything you've seen, just believe me."

Her eyebrows arched. He didn't know everything she had seen. He had no right to say that, even if it seemed that he knew more than he was supposed to. "It's not about believing you or not believing you. I just want to see if you're a liar like you accuse me of being. Mal-Terra's probably just part of your imagination."

"Sure, prove me wrong." He smirked at her angry face in satisfaction.

Was he teasing her? One thing was for sure; he sure knew how to get on her nerves. Was this just another one of his mind games? She couldn't tell if he was being serious with this planet in an abyss of darkness like that galaxy. She and every other traveler knew how dangerous it was there. How could he even claim to be from such a place?

Haruka bit down on her thumbnail. How could she risk the lives of all the people on her ship for this? What was she even risking them for? For food, or was it for something else? She hated how little Ai was telling her. He wasn't even telling her what was really going on. Syo and Otoya were worried sick because they didn't know what was wrong with their, not quiet, friend.

"Haruka." Masato stood from his seat. "We're currently on course. Mind if I have a word?"

"What is it?" She folded her arms.

"In private." He said blankly.

Rolling her golden eyes, she lead the way to the hallway, where nobody seemed to be. When she turned back to him, the bluenette was frowning at her. Blinking at him in surprise she asked. "What?"

"I think this is foolish. What are we even doing going to the Abyss?"

She frowned at his words. Out of all the crazy things she had done over the years, he had never once spoken against her. "Out of everyone, I never thought it would be you to doubt me."

"You've done a lot of shit, but this is one I can't turn my head at." His voice far to serious. "How can I fear you killing me when we are going to die in uncharted territory? I have a little sister that I support off of the money that you give me. She depends on me. Do you know how she's going to feel when She has to imagine that we are dead, because our bodies will never be found? Or how she might feel when she thinks that I've abandoned her?"

Haruka's face darkened. "You won't die unless I kill you."

"If we don't die," He paused. "I want out after this. I'm going home."

"I'm not taking you back to Otheren. I hate the thought of even entering the Vortex Star System."

"No need." He said. "My sister is currently in Lenus as a transfer student."

Haruka looked at him. His cold blue eyes watched her every movement too closely. She let out a sigh. "I feel for that look in your eyes again. I'll take you to Lenus, but remember you and your sister are always welcomed among my crew. And-"

"And your sources run deep so if I ever tell you'll take whats most important first and make me watch as you skin her alive before doing the same to me."

"Good boy." She smiled at him. "I think out of everyone I've ever let leave, I'll miss you the most."

"Run." Otoya whispered. He wanted to shout it to the world. He wanted everyone to hear him. He wanted somebody, anybody to come to their rescue. But most of all he didn't want Cecil to be staring wide eyed as the door to the metal beast opened darker skinned brother could easily run away. He could just start and not look back, it was probably best that way. But the kit sat frozen until Otoya pushed at him. "You have to go. Now!"

"Otoya, I-" He didn't finish. The dark brown boot met with the blue grass. One leg out and a hand latched onto the outer side, using it to steady the rest of the body.

"Go." Otoya begged him.

"O-okay." His little brother looked at him with wide green eyes. As fast as the young changeling's body would let him, he shifted, jumped down and started to flee.

Otoya closed his eyes. Cecil was getting away. Good. He was so tired, so ready. Sure he still wanted to go home. He wanted to eat the rabbit his father would bring home after a long day of business, in a stew that his mother painstakingly made from scratch. He wouldn't pick and complain out the small bits of leafy greens in it like he usually did. There were so many things he still wanted to do, but his responsibility as a big brother came first.

'As long as Cecil was safe. As long as Cecil.' He chanted over and over again in his head. 'As long as Cecil is safe, it will all be worth the pain and suffering.'

"So he finally showed up." Otori yawned loudly.

Otoya's eyes snapped open at how close the voice was to his ear. red orbs couldn't even look at the person holding the weapon. Only the sleek wooden grip and the finger already on the trigger.

"Please no!" She shouted, flying to his feet. His chain jiggled happily as he tried to reach over the side of the truck to obscure the man's view or distract him or something. "Please! I'll do whatever you want."

Taking a purple eye away from the scope, he clicked his tongue. "Is he really that important to you?"

"Yes!" Otoya said, his eyes tearing up in relief. "The most important person."

"Good." The brunette looked back through the scope. "Then you won't have a reason to try to run anymore."

"No!"

At first his mind froze. What was the sound he just heard? Then he realized what had happened. The ginger was surprised. He didn't know a gun shot could be so loud. So overwhelming. Once he recovered from his momentary shock, he whipped his head around, hoping that by some small miracle the man had missed. Perhaps he should have considered himself lucky that he couldn't see.

"You understand now kit? You're mine, and I'm going to find a way to put you in your place so you remember that."

Otoya felt the color drain from his face. He knew what the warmth coming from his eyes was. Tears. He hadn't realized that they started to flow though. But he knew why they did. He had failed poor Cecil. He had failed at being a big brother.

"Cecil?" He called one last time, legs failing him and letting his fall to the plastic covered bed, as Raging Otori got in the car and fell back to sleep. In that single moment, Otoya knew it was over. There would be no help, and he would never be able to smell the gentle lavender, touch the spiky grass, or see his beautiful home of Xetune again.

"Otoya." Haruka woke him without realizing it, pulling him from his awful memory. She lightly stroked his red hair back, away from his face. Her voice was sweet and soothing.

He wouldn't have known he was in the observatory if not for the small fact that the first things his hand touched was cool glass. His head rested on Nanami's lap, but his red, teary, eyes stared blankly at the nothingness. No stars, no moons, no suns. Only nothingness of a dark void.

"Where are we?" He asked, voice raspy from his nap.

"Somewhere between implausible and impossible." She said. To most people it would have sounded like her just trying to be cryptic, but to Otoya it sounded like she wasn't sure either.

As his eyes adjusted, he could make out the faint outline of something circular below them. "Are we?" He began to ask.

"At Ai's home planet?" She nodded, taking her hand from his head and helping him to sit up. "The planet within the Abyss. Mal-Terra."

"Is Ai-"

"He'll be back soon." She said. "Then we'll go somewhere nice and sunny and take a few days off from traveling.

He nuzzled his face into her stomach. He knew she just wanted to comfort him. "That sounds nice." He said softly before falling back to sleep. This time he'd have a pleasant dream of a red haired, fierce, woman who under the moon's watchful eyes took him away from a dreaded place.

Crystalized Flowers- It's funny, I have notes on every world, such as foods they eat and sicknesses, but I just kept forgetting to add that kind of thing. I will try to remedy that in the next two chapters. And as always thank you for reviewing!

Guest- I'm really glad you are enjoying it. I hope you continue to be enthralled and that I don't fail to disappoint you. Thank you for reviewing!

I still haven't decided if there will be a pairing to this story. I feel like it's better off as having that family vibe than throwing in a relationship. Ugh but I can't decide.

SK