Kailor: YES! Achievement unlocked: MINDFUCKING MASTER. Dude, hell yes. I knew that would throw everyone for a loop!
Naruto: It was my idea.
Kailor: Was not. -.-
Rikku: Oh, Naruto. You're so smart.
Kailor and Nuriko: ….PAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Naruto: SHUT UP!
Rikku: Remember, more reviews, faster updates!
Kailor: And for all my avid reviewers with their many questions, all will be revealed in time! Remember, all the questions you're asking, Setsuna will also be thinking in the story. You know what she knows minus a few key details so that I can twist your minds some. Also, grammarninja, you may be right about me knowing exactly where this story is going. Or maybe I don't…hmmmm. Oh, and Rebanex it has been such a long time! Hi!
"So wait…you're only ten years old?" Setsuna was staring speechless at Brace. Stepping back, she looked him up and down. His hair was dark brown with gray, nearly white, streaks. Around his eyes were crow's feet and what could have once been dimples, were turning into wrinkles. He looked about thirty-something. He was a foot taller than her, muscular, and carried himself like a man.
"Well, I will be two moons from now."
"You're NINE!"
"Well, yes." Setsuna simply gaped at him. Feeling the need to expand on the topic, Brace continued. "My father was Eishun's best friend and a powerful mage. When I was born, he disappeared. I trained under one of his other friends for five years, then came to the palace where Eishun took care of me and eventually made me part of Konoka's bodyguards. When Chiora arrived, she didn't like children, so Eva and I were banished. When Konoka was free of the demon and told us what had happened, I took on the guise of Brace and came back to the castle."
"Brace is really old for his age and really young for his attitude." Kaede's words suddenly flashed through her mind. She had said that when they first met. It had been a hint!
"Wait, Konoka said this group is made of some of the strongest magic users in Mania. Can't someone else heal her? Can't you?" She rounded on Eva, her mind back on the nagging worry at the forefront of her mind.
The vampire glared her down. "If you had stopped to listen for a moment, I would have explained to you that healing is not my forte. We have the best magic users, but not the best healers. She is so far gone that only three people among us could heal her. Negi is only one."
"Who else?"
"Kiona." Setsuna's brain froze momentarily. Her master? "Kiona and her sister are more than seamstresses. They are both very powerful mages. However, their powers are only at their best when they are together and your friend needs the very best healing possible."
Her master was a mage? So that was how Kaede knew her! She put that issue aside.
"Well, where is Diana?"
"Kirah, with the Rani."
"Then who is the third person?"
"Konoka."
Again, Setsuna's brain struggled to process all the new information.
"Konoka is a mage?"
"No. Konoka is a healer. Her magic is solely focused on healing. However, her father sealed her powers until her twentieth year."
"Why?"
Evangeline sighed. "Konoka has powers stronger than anyone has ever seen. Even though she can only use them for healing, someone else could use her powers as a catalyst for their own and become incredibly powerful. Until she is of an age to handle her powers, her father decided it best to seal them."
"Does she know?"
"She does."
"So nobody can save Collie?"
"She needs the healing done tonight. She will not see the sun rise otherwise." Eva strutted past her and left the tent. Negi stood and clapped a hand lightly on Setsuna's shoulder, then he followed the vampiress out.
Setsuna felt like her insides had just turned to water. She limply dropped onto one of the cots and stared at her feet, her mind spinning and trying to keep up with itself.
She didn't notice she was crying until she saw a tear land on the toe of her boot. Fiercely, she wiped it away and blinked rapidly, trying to rid herself of the evidence of her break down.
"It's ok to cry," Asuna and Konoka had just pushed into the room. Konoka's lip looked slightly swollen, but at least she wasn't covered in blood anymore. Asuna half-smiled, her face full of empathy. They had both changed into plain brown tunics and pants, their boots worn and weathered. Asuna opened the satchel that hung from the shoulder. She produced Setsuna's slave collar and the book Setsuna had used to down the guard. "Here you go," she said, handing them over. Setsuna took both and looked at Konoka.
"Can you remove Collie's? They never did back at the palace." The princess nodded and disappeared into the adjoining room.
Asuna crossed her arms and nudged some dirt around with her boot. "Lucky the slave key was in the bags she packed, eh?" Setsuna did not smile. "I'm sorry about your friend."
"Don't be sorry." Setsuna's voice was harder than intended. "Not until it's over." Looking surprised, Asuna nodded and quickly left her fellow swordsman alone. Setsuna looked down at the two objects in her hand. Her collar shone dully in the firelight, glinting in places where the silver had been chipped. She ran her thumb along it, feeling the tense feeling behind her eyes that signaled tears. A few minutes later she heard the slight rustle of the tent flap moving. Konoka shyly entered, Collie's collar in her hands. She crossed the small space and placed it in Setsuna's lap. Their eyes met. The room suddenly felt like it was filled with lightning, sparking just beyond their senses. They both felt the intense pull to be closer.
Setsuna shook her head. "I can't deal with this right now, Konoka. Please." The last word was more of a statement than a request. The princess sighed and rubbed her temples.
"You're right. That's your cot, by the way. This one is mine." She nodded to the second cot. "Kaede figured you would want to be near Collie and I wanted to be near you." Shyly, she shrugged and backed towards the other room.
"I know my appointment to personal bodyguard was a show for the palace and even for our friends…" Setsuna began, needing to say the words. "But I would truly like to take on the position, if it please you."
Konoka's eyes widened, and then she smiled.
Setsuna cocked her head to the side, and then she grinned back.
Konoka left and Setsuna ducked into the other room, finding only Kaede remained. The ninja patted her shoulder softly, then departed. The swordsman sat on a chair that had been set beside Collie's cot. Her friend lie still, breathing slowly. She pushed her chair closer and searched Collie's face again, hoping for the slightest change. When nothing was forthcoming, she lied her head on the cot beside Collie's hand and allowed her tears to fall.
Her tears had stopped when Brace, or Negi as she now knew him to be, stuck his head in. He was soaking wet.
"A storm is nearly on us. We went out scouting and it caught us and is on its way toward the camp. We had planned to move out tonight, so the king's dogs wouldn't find us, but since it's going to storm, they'll never find our scent." Setsuna had a suspicion that Collie was also part of the reason they were postponing the movement.
"Thank you," she whispered. Negi gave her the same half smile Asuna had. She knew what it meant. He wasn't sure how to treat her right now. Nobody was. She forced herself to smile and nod to him. After he disappeared again, she turned back to find Collie's eyes open. She looked very tired.
"Hey, Patch."
"Heya." Setsuna fought to keep the relief out of her voice. It was good just to see Collie move again.
"Do me a favor?"
"I told them you wanted turkey."
"Not that." Collie laughed, which turned into a hacking cough that hurt Setsuna's heart. "Sing for me?"
Setsuna felt her face break into a grin. Collie had always told her she sang too much, but secretly she knew her friend enjoyed listening to her. She sat back and took a deep breath, then began to sing a song they had written together years ago when they first started imagining lives beyond what they already knew.
"I'm over pretending that I never cared. This fallen angel is done being scared. Tearing my scars open on more time. The price I paid for another's crime. Lying through my teeth when I say I'm ok. Pushing all the helping hands away. I'll fly on my own where the wind's voice sings. I've had enough time to heal my broken wings. No more hiding behind a closed door. I was given this life to be so much more. I'm letting these chains slide from my shoulders. Warming a heart that was slowly growing colder. Freeing myself from the pains of my past. Feeling the sun again at long last. I'll fly on my own where the wind's voice sings. I've had enough time to heal my broken wings…"
Collie closed her eyes, smiling.
"I never understood why you wanted to sing about wings and flying, ya know?"
"I can show you," Setsuna whispered. Something was telling her that now was the time to show her dearest and oldest friend. Collie opened her eyes and raised one eyebrow. Setsuna quickly peeked out the tent and made sure the people outside were busy preparing for the coming storm. None of her friends were to be seen. She pulled the flap closed and tied it loosely. She only needed a moment's warning anyways.
She turned back to Collie and pulled off her tunic. It only showed how weak her friend was that Collie did not make a remark on her disrobing. Setsuna rolled her shoulders and felt the familiar rippling pain in the back, as well as the amazing sensation of her blood catching fire in her veins. She watched Collie's face as she allowed her wings to spread above them both. She had expected shock, maybe fear, or possibly even disgust.
Collie was grinning.
"They're beautiful, Patch. Really suit you." Her eyes fluttered closed and she sighed softly. "I'm really tired, Patch. Can you take me flying when I wake up?"
"Of course I can." Setsuna whispered, knowing it was an empty promise. Collie opened her eyes one last time and reached out. She gently stroked Setsuna's brilliant white feathers. Her smile grew and her hand dropped back to the cot.
Setsuna's wings curled around the cot and her best friend as Collie took one last ragged breath, still smiling.