~Reviewers' Corner~
KHShay, Rialga: Thanks for the feedback.
Gitah-Muttan: Thanks to my beta-reader of course XD
zecross: It's a power he obtained after he left the Royal Garden. Details will be revealed soon.
Zer0Faith: I have made a decision regarding that question; I only wanted to know what the readers want, that's all. In case you haven't noticed, he let himself beaten up earlier in the story because he knew someone was watching him and it wouldn't be very nice if Hinagiku knew he's strong so early in the plot, would it? As for the running away part, he was cornered to that alley and he can't escape. As for my OC, I'm still trying to make him less Gary Stu-ish but progress has been very slow. And no, I don't consider this as a flame. I wished more people would give reviews like this XD
thyrokio & J.: Thanks~3
Chevalier Silencieux: Goof?
Wow...it's almost four months since I last updated the story. I really didn't expect for it to be this long for me to publish this chapter.
Hinagiku: I'm sure if you hadn't been watching pointless TV ads and sleeping all the time, I'm sure you could've finished this chapter earlier.
Author: Well...*silent*
Hinagiku: Please enjoy the story while I'm going to teach the author a little something about time management.
Author: Oh come on... we already had this nag- I mean... conversation before...
Chapter 14: Farewell
The two were locked into each other's eyes. Athena suddenly realised that she was in a very embarrassing position, being held in Hayate's arms. She tried to struggle her way out, but Hayate held onto her shoulders firmly and landed his cheeks onto hers. A warm sensation ran down her cheek. It was a tear. But the girl knew it wasn't hers.
"A-tan, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Athena regained her composure again and gazed upon the teenager's face. His eyes were red from the crying and his cheeks were lined with streaks of tears. Athena raised her hand and just like a mother soothing her child, she stroked the boy's hair gently. She spoke softly, as soft as the calmest wind. "What's wrong, Hayate?" Her face was filled with compassion and empathy, so much that it struck him to the deepest parts of his heart.
"It's just," the teenager sobbed. "I've made you sad. I've hurt you so-" Hayate was instantly silenced when the girl places her finger on his lips.
"It's okay, Hayate. It's okay. You don't have to be sad. Look," said the girl as she let out a smile. "I look happy now, don't I? And that's because you're here."
The young blonde wiped the tears from his eyes and got up before going down one-step on the floor and sat down again. Her face flushed with the brightest shade of red. "Did I really say that? H-h-how embarrassing!" She quickly hid her face before the teenager realized that she was turning red from embarrassment.
The two remained in silence for what seemed like an eternity for both of them. Neither of them made any attempt to start a conversation, as both were lost in their own thoughts.
"Hey, Hayate…" Athena finally said, breaking the silence between them. "My back is a bit cold." The young blonde said with her face downwards. She could feel steam literally rising from her head.
"Here, take my coat," said Hayate in respond to her statement. As he slid his left arm out from his coat, he felt as if a bee had stung his thigh. "OUCH! A-tan, why did you do that?"
"What are you doing trying to make me wear a guy's jacket? I don't want that. I…well…there's…you know…" Athena began to fluster. Seeing this, Hayate couldn't help but to smile. The once proud Athena that he knew is turning red before him. What a sight. Hayate decided to playfully tease her a bit more.
"In that case, would you mind telling me where your room is? You must have a stole or something to keep you warm- OUCH!"
"Geez Hayate! A girl's room isn't a place you should enter so easily…"
"But we used to be sleeping together, in the same bed too- OUCH!" The pinch she gave him this time was so hard that Hayate was almost sure that the mark would never disappear.
"Geez…There's already something nice and warm…and it's right behind me…" The young blonde said with a fading voice.
Hearing that, Hayate slowly extended his hands and wrapped it around her shoulders. He could feel his cheeks starting to warm up.
"Is…is this okay with you, A-tan?"
"Yes…this is fine…" she said while blushing.
"A-tan, there's something I need to…"He let his words trail away as her head suddenly rested on his shoulder. She was fast asleep.
"How cute," said Hayate to himself. He pulled Athena a bit closer and swept her hair aside to have a better look at her face. "Poor girl, having to endure all those years alone without anyone at your side must have been very hard. But don't worry. From now on, nothing bad is going to happen to you. I promise."
Hayate lifted his head as he hears the sound of a person opening the door. A dark, white-haired teenager in a butler's uniform enters the room. It was Machina.
A younger version of Kyousuke Mizuhashi Alexander Mikhailov at probably around 6-7 years old stood at a pier. He was trembling nervously, stealing glances towards the man beside him. The man, dressed in black, wore a look of disgust on his face. He pulled his hand out from one of his pockets and pointed towards the end of the pier. The boy, Alexander, ran towards the said direction.
All of a sudden, he froze as he saw two figures lying down on the wooden floor, shrouded in thick morning fog. His instincts told him not to go any further, but his curiosity had won the fight. Alexander took one step at a time while examining the two figures. Suddenly, he gasped. The two figures in front of him were actually a boy and a girl, and both of them had their mouths gagged and their faces were full with bruises and cuts. Both of them were covered in blood.
"Lily! Hendrik!" Alexander cried. He ran towards the two and helped them up. The boy was unconscious, but the little girl wasn't any better. She was terribly weak. The boy pulled out the clothes that gagged the mouths of the two children and tried to release the two from the rope that was restraining them, but had no success. Alexander noticed the tapping sound of someone walking towards him. He looked back and saw the man in black glaring down at him. "Sér, please help them. They're injured." He begged.
The man however, raised his hand and gave Alexander a hard slap across his face. Alexander was sent sliding across the floor. His face was cut as it collided with the hard wooden floor. "Alex-…no…47, do you realise that you have made a serious offense against the Organisation? Do you know who those two are?"
Alexander looked in confusion at the man. He then slowly stood up and answered the man's question. "I do, sér. They're Lily Hansworth and Hendrik Kercher. They're my partners at the Academy-"
"Do you realise that both of them came from the British MI6 and the Germany KSK Kommando Spezialkräfte?" The man asked in a straight yet threatening tone. His face was as cold as a corpse.
Alexander looked in surprise at the man. He shifted his sight from the two children and the man alternatively. "N-no sér. I…didn't."
"What a stupid mistake you've made, 47. We gave you the task of guarding the Organization's secrets as a test to determine your loyalty to us. A test which you have most certainly failed."
Alexander looked down uneasily. He knew the magnitude of the mistake he made. The only thing standing between him and his impending death is just an uncertain amount of time before the man in front of him executed him. Alexander closed his eyes and trembled ever more than before. It's just a matter of time…
"But fortunately for you," The man continued, "your mistake has been contained. You have now been given a chance to redeem yourself." The boy looked up in shock. He had been forgiven? How could that be? No one in the Organization ever lived to see daylight again once their blunders were exposed. And yet here he is, given a chance to reprimand himself? It didn't make any sense at all.
The man took out a handgun from his coat. It was a double-action Serdyukov SPS, or more commonly known as the Gyurza. Alexander knew very well that this gun was one of the best pistols there is from the wide variety of handguns offered in the Organization's vast armoury. It's the preferred choice in nearly all the secret Russian operatives like the KGB and the FSB for its capability to deal with targets such as those with bulletproof vests or ones that hide in vehicles.
The man handed the gun to Alexander. With shaking hands, he slowly accepted the gun and held it firmly in his hands. He was already accustomed to the weapon as this was one of the pistols he had trained most with at the Academy. But somehow, he had a very bad feeling about it this time.
"Kill those spies."
Alexander froze. All blood was suddenly drained from his face, making him look deathly pale. He didn't see that coming. He was given the order to kill two of his best friend, his only friends. It was just too impossible to be done by him.
"B-b-but sér, they're…my friends." He tried to argue.
"Are you questioning my order, 47?"
"N-no sér…but-"
"Then I'd suggest for you to do as I say."
"B-but…"
"ARE YOU DISOBEYING ME?"
"ОТЕЦ (t/l: father)!" In that instance, he felt a hard object hitting his cheek. Alexander was once again thrown to the floor. He touched his cheek, trickling with blood. The man he called father stood before him with the gun pointed at him.
"You are not worthy of bearing the Mikhailov family as your name. We don't need someone as weak as you are. Useless. Pitiful. Pathetic." The man spits to the ground. "I have no son. Don't you dare to call me your father ever again, understood?"
"Yes sér."
"Good. Now, take this and finish the job," ordered the man. Alexander obliged. He took the weapon and aimed to the two people in front of him.
"Alex, please, don't kill us. We're your friends." The girl begged.
"Lies!" He cocked the gun. It was ready to be fired.
"No, it's true! You told us you've never felt happiness in our life. If you help us, we can leave this place together."
"Shut up! 47, kill them now!"
"Alex, please…"
Alexander trembled. He closed his eyes and finally…
BANG!
The little boy's body jerked slightly and he fell into the lake with only the sound of splashing water. The girl beside him let out a whimper when the gun was fired, which then turned into silent sobs. She lowered her head; as she had given up all hope of surviving this. Alexander cocked the weapon again, and aimed at the female. But this time, he was having a conflict within himself. He had just shot the person who had ever noticed him, the person only whom had ever supported him in hard times. And now, he was going to do it again.
Alexander dropped to his knees. The gun clanked beside him. "I can't do it. I just can't. She's my friend." Alexander let his tears out, unable to control his emotions anymore.
In that instance, he felt a kick on his ribs. Alexander rolled to the side, clutching himself in pain. The man picks up the gun and pulls the trigger. With a short cry, the little girl fell and the surrounding turns silent. He places the gun beside Alexander and bent down before he whispered. "If I were in your place, I would shoot myself right now." He then stood up and walked away.
Supporting himself with one hand, Alexander began to stand up slowly. He felt something different than what he thought he should be feeling right now. He felt…nothing. Not sadness, not remorse, not anger, just nothing. He lifted the gun and pointed to his chin. One pull, just one pull and everything ends now. He kept telling himself that again and again. He pulls the trigger slowly and closes his eyes.
Suddenly, he let out a smirk. And a chuckle followed soon after that. The ma n, who wasn't very far from the boy, turned on his back. His eyes were widened from pure horror.
BANG!
Alexander lowers his smoking gun. For the first time in his life, he smiled. He felt happy. He was contented. He let out a laugh and looked up to the dark sky. "Mama," He whispered, "omец is on his way to meet you now." The rain falls and Alexander raised his hands, as if trying to embrace them.
*Scratch*
His ears caught a noise, different than the sound of falling rain. He turns back and saw the little girl, barely alive dragging herself towards him. Alexander walks up to her and stood before her. His cold eyes looking down at the girl without any emotion whatsoever. She was gasping for air desperately. Alexander could see a trail of blood behind her and notices a huge bloodstain on her back. Apparently, the bullet had missed her vital organs. The
"Alex…please…" The girl coughed some blood out of her mouth "help…me…"
He remained silent for a few moments, not reacting to her plea for help. The boy than raised his gun and pointed it at the girl's face. He looked straight into her desperate eyes with blank expression on his face.
BANG! BANG!
You filthy being, don't you dare lay your hands upon ojou-sama." The teenager glared upon the blue-haired boy furiously. Hayate laid Athena beside him gently, taking care not to wake her up. He walked a few steps forward to face the butler.
"Machina-san, what are you talking about?"
"I am talking about your hidden past, the present, and your future."
"What are you-"
"How does it feel for a human like you to obtain something as powerful as the Power of Royalty?"
Hayate's face turned as white as a sheet in an instant. His breath became shallow, his fingers trembled and cold sweat drops from his forehead. Hayate was for the first time in so many years, scared. "Who are you?" hissed Hayate. He compared the face before him against thousands in his mind, but found no match.
"The question of 'who I am' is not an important question as 'who you are'," answered the butler, "Or should I say were?" He paused for a moment to observe the boy's reaction to his words. Hayate displayed nothing but pure fear in his eyes. Yes, there's no mistaking it, Machina thought. This is the person that had started it all. "Tell me, Ayasaki Hayate, if that's your real name," said the teenager in calm, yet threatening tone. "How does it feel like to be in power? Does it amuse you, to be controlling the lives of so many people, people who would sacrifice their life for you, people who would die just so that your unending lust for power could be satisfied?"
"Stop it-"
"Or to have the wisdom of other people who had lived their life before you?"
"Don't…"
"Or to betray people who loved you and-"
"ENOUGH!" The blue-haired boy howled. His face turned red from anger and he glared at the butler right in his eyes. Every part of him screamed, telling him to just cover his ears and run away from the teenager. But Hayate found no strength left inside him to allow him to do that.
The manservant smirked and continued. "And to take their life even though you swore on your own that you would protect them?"
Hayate fell to his knees, his face hidden behind the palms of his hands. He began to sob and shook his head from side to side. "Please…no more," Hayate begged. Machina walked past him and lifts the sleeping girl into his arms. "Stay away from Athena if you know what's best for her. She does not have to suffer the consequences of what you did."
The blue-haired raised his face and gazed the butler. "Who are you?"
"Erichtonius."
"*grunts* Dammit, stop kicking me will you?" Moaned Alexander in a half anger, half conscious state. He flailed his hands with no avail to search for the person who had been kicking him for quite a while now. The kicking soon stopped and Alexander, thinking it was over, rested his hands. He was proven wrong by another hit in his ribs, this time a lot stronger than before.
"When I get you, you're so dead you motherfuc-" Alexander failed to finish his sentence as he felt his face being stomped by something heavy. The Sanzenin butler promptly opened his eyes and saw Hayate practically standing on one leg, with the leg itself on his face. The latter bent his body forwards to have a clear look at the butler's face. "Why you as- OWOWOW!" Alexander felt like his cranium was going to explode from the sudden increase in pressure. He could only glare at the blue-haired teenager furiously.
"Mind your language, Alexander," said Hayate simply before stepping down. Alexander sat up and dusted his dirtied shirt. "Wait, did I just sit up?" thought Alexander to himself. Just now, he was bleeding to death and was barely alive. However, he could sit up with ease and no bloodstain could be seen anywhere near or even on him.
"What did you do Ayasaki?"
Hayate threw a vial over his shoulder in response to that question. Alexander caught it and took a look at the vial. It was small, around the size of two adult-sized fingers. Its transparency allowed Alexander to see what it contained; a small volume of viscous red liquid-like substance. "Finish it. I'll see you again at the villa."
"Wait, this stuff ain't gonna make me turn green or something, will it?"
"Ha ha, very funny." Hayate halted his movement and looked back at the teenager. "Oh, and when you get back at the villa, I expect a full report on why a US vessel stationed at the Aegean Sea launched a Tomahawk missile to this very spot from you."
"Crap, how did he find out about that?" Alexander made an obviously faked laugh. "What kind of a moron would launch a Tomahawk at a densely populated city as this? Everybody knows that you should use a smart bomb for that." Hayate stared at him, but he knew that a poker face would let him off the hook, at least for now. "By the way, what happened to that missile? I don't think I've heard any booms around here."
"I had butler took it down," answered Hayate as the door closed behind him.
Alexander let out a relieved sigh. "Mental note; don't mess with Ayasaki and his butler." He laid his head back and shut his eyes. His back was starting to hurt again.
The teenager left the room and began to walk down the ruined corridor. His mind was on its limit trying to figure out something for him. The events that unfolded before him were something that he truly did not anticipate, much less be prepared for. He was thinking about his encounter with the demon, the butler, and the warning from the latter. Everything was getting out of hand and he had neither the answer nor the means to solve the problems that were rushing through his mind.
In pure frustration, Hayate punched the wall beside him. It made a small crater on the solid wall. Hayate pulled back his hand and looked at his knuckles. Blood trickled from his fingers. He suddenly remembered something.
The teenager ran back to the room where he had come across the demon. He slowed his pace as he reached the center of the area. There, he closed his eyes and began to breathe in a much calmer and lower intensity than before. Hayate emptied his mind.
Hayate detected a dim pulse from his surroundings. Hayate concentrated his mind to it and all of a sudden, a powerful force jolted him. At first he experienced feverish heat, then bitter cold. "Yes, this is it." He smiled. As he allows his mind to wander and slowly grasp the overwhelming force, his body was numbed with a tingling sensation. His entire body overflowed with a potent energy and each and every one of his cells did not know how to react to it other than to tingle pathetically. If a normal human being was subjected to this level of power, they would surely be dead by now. However, Hayate was no normal human being.
The air buzzed with power and several white electrical bolts crackled around him. And almost abruptly, as if time itself were halted, the entire scene came to a standstill. A voice came from Hayate, but it wasn't his. It was a voice of pure magic layered with undeniable power.
"Come to your master, Black Camellia."
BTW, if you guys don't remember what Black Camellia is, it's actually a sword (refer to The End of the World Arc-forgot which chapter ;P). Before I end this chapter, I have an announcement to make. Since I've began writing my second fic 'Pride, Love and Dreams', I'm going to take even more time to write the two stories as I've decided to publish both stories i.e. this one and the one mentioned above at the same time. Don't forget to read & review XD