Chapter Twenty Six: Insanity
"Maker." Healer said confidently, trying to get the attention of her teammate. She had walked around for quite some time, before finding the light staring aimlessly at the fading sunset.
"Unless it's extremely important, please leave." Maker said coldly.
"Damnit Maker, what's your freakin' problem? Destroyer's replaced Fighter as leader of the starlights, and the princess and Fighter have left the flippin' castle, and all you can care about is your stupid thoughts? Listen to yourself!" Healer screeched, her chest rising and falling rapidly as anger filled her to the brim.
Maker stared at the smaller light in shock, trying to make sense of her outburst.
"You mea-"
"MAKER!" Healer screamed, cutting her off. "If you would've just listened to Fighter, she would've explained everything! So listen to me now, the queen has replaced Fighter, she was given the option to work under Destroyer or leave, and so she left, bringing the princess with her because she didn't feel it to be safe."
"I see." Maker said, swallowing hard. She had never experienced such pain before. Fighter left without even a goodbye. Maker had wanted to protect her leader, best friend and love, but had only succeeded in hurting her deeply. Maker wondered briefly if she'd see Fighter again to apologize.
"Well, it looks like Fighter's a coward after all." a voice behind them taunted. Healer turned on her heels, judging from the horrified look on Maker's face that whoever was behind her wasn't someone to be trifled with.
"YOU!" Healer screamed, gathering her energy in the palm of her hand, ready to use her Star Sensitive Inferno.
Destroyer simply laughed. "Come on now, that's no way to greet you new leader, is it?"
Healer glared, standing her ground, Maker stood beside her, taking a battle stance.
"I will never follow your orders!" Maker said defiantly.
"Hmph. Whatever. Just don't get in my way." Destroyer said simply, leaping off the balcony.
"Hey, where are you going?" Healer shouted down. Destroyer looked up, a half-smile on her face.
"My first mission is to put down the rebellion of the shades. Don't worry, it's none of your concern." Destroyer answered, and then she was off in a flash of light. Maker made a mental note to figure out that skill for herself.
"I just hope Fighter's okay.." Healer muttered, walking off. Maker could practically feel the waves of sadness and worry radiating off her companion, and walked after her quickly, wrapping her in an embrace.
"She'll be fine. She's the strongest one of us all, remember?" Maker said optimistically. Maker was a chronic pessimist, but she wanted to try and cheer up her comrade.
Healer's arms found their way around Maker as well, and she breathed in Maker's scent.
-Flashback-
"Maker, I'm worried." Healer said dismally.
"About what?" Maker asked, as gently as possible.
"What if we can't protect our princess next time? We barely made it through this time.."
"Don't worry about it. Despite out Leader's seeming lack of maturity, she knows what she's doing. Everything will be okay." Maker said, as sure as she could muster, wrapping her arms around her comrade. The truth was, she was doubting the situation more than any of them."
"Arrigatou.." Healer whispered, her head finding it's way comfortably to Maker's chest.
-End Flashback-
Maker looked at Healer, blinking slowly. She just had a strange moment of deja vu. Healer stared back into Maker's lilac eyes, wondering if she had seen the same vision she had. Maker let go of Healer, looking very distant suddenly.
"I'm going to go talk to the Queen, it seems strange she'd accept Destroyer so easily, given Destroyer's true nature."
Healer nodded silently, watching as the tall girl walked past her and down the hall.
She blinked, realizing that she felt a strange longing as Maker walked away.
"Oh god, I'm falling for her.." Healer whispered, falling to her knees. How could the situation possibly become any worse?
"Your magesty." Maker said curtly, bowing in respect.
"Yes, Star Maker?"
"I am asking you to reconsider Destroyer's position."
"Why? She's far more powerful than Fighter. I believe she's what we need to finally put the rebellion to an end."
"In the past, she has caused many problems before. It was mine and Healer's decision that Fighter would be leader, and we decided to banish Destroyer."
"What a load of nonsense. I expected a more logical explanation from you, Maker. Please leave, I have things to do."
Maker stood and left the room, thinking of a million profanities to scream, but held back. She sighed heavily as worry settled in her chest for Fighter. What if Destroyer hunted her down? Destroyer's original intention was to kill her- and she had failed. Would she try and finish the job? Maker slowly walked to her room, a plethora of scenarios filling her mind of Fighter dying at the hands of Destroyer. It wasn't even a fair fight- despite Fighter's apparent recovery and strength, she knew her leader was still in pain.
-Flashback-
Maker peered into the infirmary, looking for Fighter. She found her leader sitting on the edge of a bed, back turned towards her. Fighter hissed in pain as she removed a bandage that stuck slightly to her still seeping wound. Maker leaned against the doorway slightly, intrigued. Why hadn't Fighter asked anyone for help?
Fighter proceeded to clean her wound, whimpering almost inaudibly as the harsh cleaner stung at her skin. Fighter struggled to even her breathing as waves of pain washed over her.
"Almost done..almost done.." Fighter kept whispering to herself. She grabbed a fresh bandage and wrapped it around her tightly, hissing as it came into contact with her skin. Maker turned and walked away.
-End Flashback-
In the end, Fighter was too full of her pride to let anyone know she was hurting, that she wasn't as strong as they all thought. Maker respected her for that, but wished Fighter wouldn't push herself so hard all the time.
Maker scolded herself for caring so much. She was allowed to worry as a friend, and a comrade, but this was over the line. She couldn't let herself love Fighter, or Healer for that matter. No good could possibly come of it.
Kakyuu looked up at Fighter, her eyes full of questions she wouldn't ask. They'd been walking- quickly for hours, and her feet were screaming at her. Fighter didn't seem to mind, though..
"Fighter?"
"Call me Seiya!" she said, a bit harshly, looking around suspiciously.
"H-hai, g-gomen..d-demo, do you even know where we're going?" Kakyuu asked.
"Yes. To my house." Kakyuu nodded slowly in understanding. She kept her mind busy to distract from her pained feet. Kakyuu watched as slowly the scenery began to change, there were less trees, and a lot more houses. Run down houses. Did Seiya live out here? In this 'horrid' place in town where her mother told her to never visit? Looking around, Kakyuu recognized this area as being a hotspot for shades to hang out.
"Are you sure it's safe here?" Kakyuu asked nervously.
"Relatively." Seiya replied, walking up the steps to a pretty run down looking house.
"This..is where you live?" Kakyuu asked, tilting her head quizzically.
"Yeah. Things have been pretty tight since my mom left..." Kakyuu suddenly felt guilty about the lavish life she had lived compared to the rough one Seiya had. She hadn't really realized how poor a lot of Kinmokans were...
"Dad? I'm home!" Seiya called loudly.
"Se-Seiya?" her dad came forth, hugging her tightly. He looked like a wreck.
"I was so worried! They said you just disappeared from school!"
"I'm sorry, I really am. I got called to the castle, I have someone you need to meet." Seiya said, stepping aside to reveal Kakyuu, who lowered her hood.
"Princess Kakyuu, heir to the throne of Kinmoku. We've come here because it is no longer safe at the castle."
Seiya's father stared in surprise, letting it all sink it.
"Very well, then..."
Kakyuu stepped in the house fully, and Seiya's father closed the door.
Healer was laying on her bed, staring at her ceiling blankly. So much was happening lately, how would she ever keep up?
Suddenly she felt an aching pain in her chest, slowing increasing until it was unbearable.
What's going on?
Then it hit her. She heard them. The screams of them- the screams of stars fading away into nothing..
Healer stumbled out of her room, feeling the pain of those that died. She leaned against the wall tiredly, trying to figure out what was going on
"Healer, are you alright?" Maker asked worriedly.
"So many..so very many.." Healer mumbled incoherenetly.
"So many what?" Maker asked, shaking Healer's shoulder's gently. Healer's eyes widened and she went into hysterics, screaming and thrashing about wildly. Maker held her close to herself, trying to get her to calm down- or at least avoid hurting herself. Healer was frantic- eventually she squirmed out of Maker's reach. She started down the hall, but Maker caught her hand.
"Sorry Healer."
And with a well placed pressure point hit, Maker knocked Healer unconscious. Maker sighed and carried the small starlight back into her room, setting her down softly on the bed.
"What got you so worked up, healer?" she whispered softly in wonder, stroking her hair.
It was as if she had lost her mind..
A/N:Don't forget, reviews make me happy! The more I get, the quicker I'll update!