Secrets, part 25

As everyone focused on Yona at Van's loss, only one person saw the devastation of another. The dragon slayer had shrieked at her friend and team mate in the heat of the moment. "Stop pissing around and do something!...How could you let him die?!" Those words had destroyed their target. Blythe was still getting used to magic. It wasn't his fault that he was simply too late. Still, he'd been a wreck since Kavi got him home. He'd cried, he vomited, he'd berated himself, and even had thoughts of dark actions upon himself. Now, Blythe weakly sat in the floor. The bucket beside him had been filled and emptied several times as he emptied his stomach. Kavi had tried everything to soothe his beloved, but his words didn't seem to reach. Thus, he silently sat next to his love and gently wiped the sweat from his brow.

Blythe's amber eyes looked so hollow. He had no energy after so much purging. Every kind word from Kavi was drowned out by the memories of Yona's tears and horrid words. Kavi cradled the blood mage close, softly kissing his hair. It'd been nearly an hour since the vomiting stopped. Maybe he was starting to calm. The dragon slayer softly hummed a calming tune in his lover's ear. "Kavi-kun?", uttered Blythe meekly. "Hmm?" The blood mage glanced at his hands. The blood had been washed away, but he could still feel its presence. "This is all my fault", said Blythe. Nuzzling closer, Kavi asked, "How so?". He'd already told Blythe a hundred times it wasn't. The blood mage let out a deflated sigh. "I failed...and now - ...", he said, his voice starting to quake.

Holding him tightly, Kavi once more reassured his beloved. "You did more than any of us were capable of, Blythe. It wasn't your fault. Van chose his path knowing the consequences and Yona - ... She didn't mean what she said. You know that." Blythe curled tighter into a ball, his stomach making unpleasant sounds. Another soft kiss on top of his head at least lessened his tension. Still, it would be a long night. How could he face the guild after this?

Inside the main guild, Koko and Yung-Li had decided to camp out in Van's room. It was the closest they could be to him now. Neither had the faintest idea about Nova's new contract. They would find out soon enough, but how would Camille take it?

It was the dark hours of morning by the time Jasper managed to talk Yona back into the caverns. She knew he wanted to help, but her emotions were torn. She didn't want to look at him. Those sorrowful eyes, the pity in his voice - It was more than she could bear. Insisting she wanted to be alone, she returned to her room in the guild hall. She'd been sleeping in Jasper's room in the sanctum, but she needed air.

Everyone else had already gone to their rooms by the time she climbed the stairs. She'd told the twins to stay with Jasper. She had her own way of working through her emotions and they understood that. After all, they'd been with her their entire lives. Even Lucy had offered to come stay with the troubled dragon slayer, but again Yona insisted on solitude. Once she got to her room, she fell onto her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her eyes were swollen, her whole body was sore, and her chest hurt like nothing she'd ever felt. "It's too much", she thought. Losing Van, seeing Kaur, and then Van making yet another sacrifice to become a spirit... Fighting another wave of tears, she rolled over and tried to sleep. Plagued by nightmares, she awoke quickly. Something warm... Was someone holding her hand? Surely Jasper wouldn't be bold enough to monitor her dreams... Would he?

Opening her eyes, she struggled to focus her vision in the dark. A familiar smile awaited her. "You were twitching pretty bad. You all right?" Sitting up abruptly, Yona yanked her hand loose. "Van?! What are you doing here?!", she shrieked, still in shock. "Shh! Do you want to wake the entire guild?", he reprimanded. Taking a deep breath, Yona tried to steel her nerves. "How'd you get here?", she asked quieter. He smirked, tapping his chest over his heart. "Nova didn't explain it well, did she?...I'm tied to you. Your heart beat, your emotions...That's all it takes to call me now", he replied. "So, my dreams called you?...I'm sorry...This is weird", she sighed. He chuckled lightly. "Understandable", he grinned. Turning on a light, Yona stared at him. He looked different somehow. Still half asleep, it took her a moment to piece it together.

Reaching toward him, she stopped her fingers mere inches from his face. "Your eye", she said, still staring. "You can touch me, you know. I'm not cold or anything", he teased. Remembering the warmth of his hand, she traced the tattoo around his once patched eye. It's natural orange hue had returned. While the scars remained, he could clearly see out of it again. "A gift from Nova. Pretty cool, huh? You're even cuter with full depth perception", he taunted. He was trying awfully hard to make things seem normal again. Giving in, Yona sighed with a wry grin. Playfully pushing away with her hand on his face she replied, "Sorry. My sister's the one who dated spirits. Not me." Just as playful, he grasped her wrist and pulled her close. "Too bad. You're married to one", he beamed. Suddenly bright red, she struggled to free herself. "Like hell I am! God, you're an idiot!"

Both laughed briefly. For a single moment, it almost seemed like none of the day's horrible events had actually happened. Yet, here they were. An awkward silence filled the room. Van's new look was taking a moment to sink in. Lucy did say something about the celestial plane having its own style. Still, the new garb looked good enough on him. Yona stared at her grasped wrist. He really was warm to the touch, but not like the living should be. It was more of an assuring glow, a gentle heat that calmed. "That's right...He's made of starlight now", she thought. Noting her expression, Van released her. Trying to lighten the mood, he teased, "Still - we're linked. You can't deny that. We're literally sharing our lifespan. If that's not like being married, I don't know what is."

Yona sighed, shying her gaze. "Van...", she trailed. He smiled gently as she turned to face him. "I know. You're with Jasper. I can respect that. Still, I'm calling you my wife from now on. You'll just have to learn to deal with it", he grinned. To his surprise, she dragged him into a tight embrace. Feeling her tears on the back of his neck, he relaxed and returned the gesture. "Don't go getting soft on me now", he taunted. "You're such an idiot...Thank you", she replied. As he pulled away to question her thanks, she caught him off guard again. At first, his eyes shot wide open in shock, but he easily melted into the unexpected kiss. When their lips parted, he sighed to himself. It was time to make another sacrifice. Gently stroking her face he said, "Yona...You've got a good thing going with Jasper. Don't mess it up just because you're confused right now. I'm already dead. You have to live your life."

Refusing her affections was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do, but he was right. He'd expected some kind of 'thank you'. Instead, he got flipped onto the bed and blushed brightly in shock as Yona quickly opened his shirt. "Wh-what are you doing?!", he asked, trying not to get too excited. Placing her fingers over the scars on his chest, she sighed. "Ok, it's really you", she said in relief. He blinked, still unsure what just happened. Then he laughed. "You had me going for a moment there", he teased. Sitting up, he fixed his clothing. Three scars ran over his heart and they were proof of his identity. Still it was also good to see his chest in tact again.

"Hey", said Yona, pulling him from his thoughts. He glanced over in question. "What am I supposed to say to Camille?", asked Yona, staring into the distance. The color drained from Van's face. It seemed he hadn't thought about it. Dropping his gaze to the floor, he grinned wryly. "I don't know...It'll probably be easier to just let think I'm dead..er...still dead...", he trailed. "Being a 'spirit' back home has a different meaning. She'll think I'm wandering the world in despair...It's better to let her think I'm resting." The duo sat in silence for a moment. "And Koko and Yung-Li?", asked Yona. Van shifted his weight uncomfortably. He hadn't thought about that. "They're going to find out eventually. Might as well tell them before they see me and freak out", he replied. He really hadn't thought it all through - what coming back really meant, how would effect everyone. All he wanted was to see Yona and keep her safe. A wan smile crossed his lips. "Love makes you do stupid things", he thought.

"What's with the goofy grin?", asked Yona suspiciously. Sitting up straight, Van grinned sheepishly. Before she could ask again, his expression turned serious. "Yona", he uttered, taking her hand in his. "I overheard you earlier...When you were talking to Lucy...I was watching..." He trailed off as he began to blush. "Of course I remember; I always did. I mean, how could I forget?... I just thought it was easier for you to pretend I didn't", he said bashfully. Yona's face turned red. He was listening?! Fighting her instincts, she let him hold her hand instead of pulling away. "Does it change anything?", she eventually inquired. Raising his fingers to his lips, his gently kissed her skin. "I've always loved you. That's never gonna change", he stated. Meeting her gaze, he smiled sincerely. "You've got your own personal knight to prove that", he said. True enough, he'd become a spirit just for her.

Shyly, pulling her hand back, she glanced about for something else to look at. Anything else! Those puppy eyes were getting to her for some strange reason. Maybe she was just confused with the recent events. Still, she wondered if maybe she'd been good at lying to herself all this time. Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she asked, "The shield, huh?". Van glanced at the constellation now marking his clothes. "Yeah...Scutum...It'd be nice if it sounded cooler", he replied. Yona couldn't help, but laugh at that one. "So, what exactly is your power?..Other than stalking me", she asked. He glanced at his palm. He could feel his purpose, but he couldn't describe it. "To protect you", he grinned. They would talk for a while longer before she would fall asleep once more. When she did, Van would smile softly and return to his new home in the celestial plane.

Down in the sanctum, foreign voices spoke, keeping far from earshot of the fairies and serpent mages. "I can't wait much longer, Eadmund. When can we move?", asked a female. She paced, annoyed, flicking her tail in aggravation. "Calm down, Pax. Jasper is here. He is not going anywhere", stated a male. His calm voice and cool expression contrasted his companion. "Once Noctis is dealt with, we will take him home. You cannot expect him to abandon his guild during a crisis." Pax sighed. He was right, of course. He was always right. "But we need him", she said, looking to her partner. "So do they. Can you not feel it? The air has shifted. Something big is coming. I doubt it will be long before a major fight breaks out", said Eadmund. "And you expect me to sit back and watch?", snorted Pax. "It would be the best course of action, concealing our presence, but I have little faith you will stick to the plan", he replied coolly.

Annoyed, Pax turned her back. Why did they have to send HIM with her? Seriously? Gargoyles are so deadpan compared to the lively incubus! "Are you certain it is your home you are concerned with and not Jasper himself? Our data tells us he already has a female", said Eadmund, calm as ever. Pax grinned to herself. That meant nothing back home. Her people were proudly promiscuous. Still, the mission came first. They needed to bring Jasper back to the clan. He had destiny waiting on him. If they waited much longer, there may not be a population worth saving. "Fine, I'll wait...bit if Noctis tries anything against our darling savior, I won't stand idly by", said Pax. "Agreed", replied Eadmund.

To be Continued...