Well damn, you guys responded in record time. Within 3 days of updating, you hit the 5 review mark. It stayed there, but still, my sincere gratitude to my reviewers and those who took the time to critique my work, I truly appreciate it. You all were very helpful and to those who voiced an opinion on where the story should go, double that. At this point, the story is at a point where I can change very little of it and still have hope of completing it, but I'll do what I can to please the fans. After all, it is a fanfic, so, by a fan, for the fans, no?
5 reviews Update within the next month.
5+ reviews Update in two weeks, less if I'm really motivated hint hint
Disclaimer and so on, you know the drill.
R&R

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.,.,.,.The muffled sound of bells pulled her back from slumber and a single, emerald green eye unveiled to examine the world around her. After a moment's evaluation, its partner opened and the owner of said gaze pulled herself out of bed. It was time to get to work.

Chapter 28: Where The Wild Wind Blows

.,.,.,.Haruka poured over the weather maps with all the attentiveness she could muster, still feeling a little off from sleep. Her slumber had been deep and dreamless, almost oppressively so..,.,.,.But thank the gods for her task; it called for all her focus, leaving no room for abstract thought. One misstep, one misreading of the signs, and she could devastate what remained of this town. And that didn't seem like something she wanted to happen.
.,.,.,.Satisfied with her relentless study, she rolled everything up and put it away. The villagers had been warned last night to not leave their houses until the church bells rang that it was safe.
.,.,.,.The tall blonde stepped outside and shuddered. The air was thick and oppressive, even up here, even in the chill of the morning. There was no movement in it, no freedom. But Haruka was going to fix all that.
.,.,.,.Taking the stance she'd practiced in Heavens house, she concentrated on the very ends of her finger tips, and the air immediately surrounding them. Slowly, she began to move them, stroking, plying, coaxing this heavy air into supple breeze, evolving further into powerful wind.
.,.,.,.Her element played with her hair, pulled at her clothes and she couldn't help but smile a little, relaxing and getting into the swing of things. She spoke to the winds she had summoned, sending them down memorized paths, listening to them whistle and moan through the silent town, feeling them in herself, as though she was the one racing through the streets, pushing out the stench of death and dying, a sense of purging the rancor of this deep-set plague. Here and there, they'd tug at her control, testing her will, and every time, she gently but firmly reapplied her intent.
.,.,.,.As much as she enjoyed her element, wielding it, submerging herself in it, it did strain her, and half way through her task, she was tired and sore, as though she'd run further, faster and harder then ever before. As with running, there was a feeling of almost euphoria washing over her, but with none of the energy that came from a runner's high.
.,.,.,.Her limbs were shaking from the strain as she put the last motions into effect and dropped hard to the ground, landing in a sit, before laying back on the cold, wet grass, trying to even her breathing. She wanted to just lie there, to rest, but she had one more thing to do before her first job was done. When she had regained enough strength to, Haruka pulled herself to her feet and made her wobbly way back to the main part of the church, where the young priest was waiting for her news. Upon seeing her, his face lit up and he dashed up to ring the bells.
.,.,.,.Haruka felt a strange sense of irony as she collapsed down upon the nearest pew, lying down along the worn wood.
.,.,.,."Sanctuary…" she murmured with a small sort of laugh as her eyes slid closed. 'I'll give them sanctuary…'

#.,.,.,."Haruka, catch the boom as it swings around."
.,.,.,.The blonde moved to comply, navigating the treacherous footing of the small boat with expert agility.
.,.,.,."What's our course?" she called to the man sitting at the helm
.,.,.,."Off the maps," Koamara Tenoh called back. "Just trust me, hime-chan, I know the way."
.,.,.,.Haruka secured the remaining ropes and joined her late father at his post, whose eyes, reflecting the shine of the rising sun, lay pinned to the horizon. The blonde girl glanced back the way they'd come.
.,.,.,."Red sky at morning…" she murmured.
.,.,.,."Sailor take warning." Her father finished, glancing back and a frown furrowed his brow. His gaze shifted covertly to his daughter and Haruka had the sudden sense of being appraised. But his eyes returned to their original haunt.
.,.,.,."We'll just have to hope the wind doesn't draw it in." he murmured and something in the way he said it made the girl wonder.
.,.,.,."It doesn't look all that bad…" she noted, watching the weather moving behind them. "Almost like it's just misting, nothing we couldn't handle."
.,.,.,."She'll pick up mightily when she gets you, hime-chan. You can trust that much about storms."
.,.,.,.Haruka turned to look at her father, his words strange in her thoughts, but all she saw what him outlined in the blinding sunlight and all she could hear was the sound of the sea against the hull. #

.,.,.,.Haruka opened her eyes, looking up into the weak sunlight. As if reflecting the plight of those below, the golden disc had taken on a sickly hue in the empty sky, unable to warm the chill air of the town and the land around it. Below the fever line, on the other hand, the air had been stale and warm; Haruka hadn't lingered there longer then she needed to. With instructions on how to handle plague victims, she ordered around the clergy from home to home, working to save those who weren't too far gone and do what they could about those who were.
.,.,.,.She'd been here a couple of weeks now, tracking the movements of the air and waking every morning to perform the delicate procedure of redirecting Nature's course. It was still tiring, but just recently she'd been able to stay conscious afterwards well after getting to the bells. As she'd settled in, the blonde had taken on a couple other duties as well, including the one she was currently attending to, finding fresh water and transporting it back to the town.
.,.,.,.A local hunter who'd lost his family to the plague was her silent companion along with four mules holding water skins, all nearly full as they were ready to make the trip back to town. Haruka was in high demand, being the only knowledgeable magic user in town, save for an old woman who reportedly lived just east of the town whom no one had heard from in some time. She was required to go with the hunter to get fresh water, so she could test it with a spell she'd had to learn for her trip, but she also needed to be present each morning to perform the ceremony with the winds and alert the clergy when to ring the bells. This limited how far she could explore, leaving immediately after the bells in the morning and returning just before dawn to start it over. It was utterly exhausting; her whole body ached with the rigors of the work and the magic that coursed regularly through her at her command. She often found she'd fallen asleep atop Kazi on route to whatever destination the hunter had picked that day.
.,.,.,.And then there were the dreams, constantly, every time her eyes closed and she slipped away into unconscious, it was there. Sailing some endless ocean with her father, the strange storm always just a few miles away in the distance, like it was tracking them. The father and daughter didn't say much to one another, comfortable just working together in the calm silence.
.,.,.,.Haruka couldn't remember often dreaming about Koamara Tenoh, other then in her nightmares of the night she'd lost him, but she found she didn't want to question it now, as though it would destroy the sanctity of these new images of her late father.
.,.,.,."That's all they can hold today." The hunter informed in the same monotone he's possessed since Haruka had first met him, that same distrustful glare she knew all too well of those ignorant of her kind.
.,.,.,."That should be enough for the next two days." Haruka run a hand through her blonde locks, glancing around. She needed to get out of here soon, the every day repletion and the limits on her travel were getting to her. At least at the school, she had a place to go, woods to explore, worlds of her own to escape to. Here, the small little town crowded her, fenced her in and she hated it with a passion.
.,.,.,."Greetings, my dear warrior of the wind."
.,.,.,.The huntsman's knife was in his hand at the sound and Haruka turned to the voice and raised a hand to stop his attack, though there was no need once they both saw the speaker. The blade dropped unused to the ground as the man stared in awe at the gorgeous woman who stepped out of the tree line, hidden only by the long tresses of beautiful hair. She was wondrous and terrible all at once. Haruka, once she regained her senses, recognized the dryad Melia.
.,.,.,.Automatically, as though by will of its own, her head dipped in a respectful nod and Melia returned the gesture with a strange sort of cursty. The hunter could only stare.
.,.,.,."Hello again, Melia-dono. It's a pleasure to see you again," Haruka returned earnestly.
.,.,.,."Well, they say not to mix business and pleasure, but as of yet, I have found that a hard rule to follow with you." Melia smiled, deciding to ignore the dumbfounded hunter for now. Haruka couldn't help but grin.
.,.,.,."You're here on business, lady?"
.,.,.,."Sadly, I must confess I am." Melia sighed heavily and shook her head. "I have come to offer myself as an ally to you, Haruka-dono."
.,.,.,."An ally?" Haruka shot a glance back at the poor man, deciding there was little she could do for him at the moment. "Against what?"
.,.,.,."Is it not enough that I would be an ally? Against whate'er enemy you face, certainly."
.,.,.,.Haruka worried for a moment that she'd displeased the dryad with the wrong response but Melia didn't seem to take her hesitation too personally. The beautiful woman of the woods was smiling softly at her, and with little warning, reached out to press a cool palm against Haruka's forehead.
.,.,.,."You are already tainted with fever, dear heart," she informed with an unshakeable certainty. Still, Haruka found that hard to believe.
.,.,.,."That's impossible." The blonde shook her head, though the dryad's cooling touch remained. "I'm immune. I was stricken once before, and healed in such a way that I wouldn't be able to get it again." Haruka raised her hand absently, where the faint scar that was the only reminder of her experience lingered still. Melia caught sight of the mark and frowned, her own hand leaving Haruka's forehead to hold the blonde's raised hand. Haruka felt a jolt run through her, emanating from the old scar. There was only the briefest of moments in which she had time to register Melia's expression before she was pulled forward and her head tilted up for her lips to be captured by those of the immortal woman of the woods, her eyes closing of their own volition as the sensation swept through her.

#.,.,.,.Haruka couldn't move. Her entire body was paralyzed with the lurching coughs that wracked her throat and lungs. The innkeeper eyed her warily..,.,.,."It's lucky ya paid ahead of time. I swear, if ya 'ave the plague, I'm throwing ya out on the street, six gold er no. There's a priest coming by later, I'll 'ave 'im check on ya. And if'n he tells me you got the plague, I sure 'as 'ell a' throwing you out, six gold er no." she affirmed before closing the door behind her. Haruka cringed against the pounding in her skull and the unhealthily rock-hard tightened muscles throughout her whole body, any movement she could manage taking an incredible toll on her. Her body burned and felt like ice all at once, and the nightmares were awful, sneaking into her waking hours as well.
.,.,.,.'A priest? Great, may as well put my head on the chopping block now. They always know…..' She lurched up with a violent spasm and used the momentum to roll over and spew her guts into a chamber pot. 'This is pathetic. I'm going to die from stupid virus? Am I really that weak? Gods…..' she didn't even have the strength to move back from the side of the bed and all the blood was rushing to her head, making her headache even worse, so much so, that she slipped in and out of consciousness.
.,.,.,.The sound of a horse whinnying beneath the window brought her back to reality, even if temporarily. She rolled heavily out of the bed, landing with a thump but thankfully no where near the chamber pot. She half dragged, half crawled over to the window and pulled herself up to look out. She could see the innkeeper gesturing to Kazi while a group of wealthy looking men and women examined the animal.
.,.,.,."How much will you take for it?" one of the women asked.
.,.,.,."'ell, I can tell ya when 'is master bites it. 'asn't just yet, tough little bastard. But the priest coming by terday and 'e'll say when the git's going." The old woman jerked her head back in the direction of Haruka's window. Haruka's blood boiled.
.,.,.,.'I'm not dead yet you fucking crone! Kazi'll bite your filthy head off if you lay a damned finger on him! Hag! Harpy!' Haruka thought venomously. The young woman looked up to see Haruka glaring down at them.
.,.,.,."Is that the owner?" she asked, eyeing Haruka with interest.
.,.,.,."So it 'tis. Get yerself back to yer bed gent! The priest tain't here yet!" the old woman made a shooing motion with her hand and grinned a gap-toothed grin at the blonde.
.,.,.,."Already making plans for my companion I see!" Haruka yelled back. "This is nothing! I'll be back on my feet in no time! But if you touch a hair on Kazi's hide, I'll take it out on yours!" The hag scowled, but the young woman smiled in amusement.
.,.,.,."Seems like a strong gentlemen. Maybe he'll get better. I must say, it'd be a pity if a handsome man like him didn't live. There are so few good men these days, what with wars and plagues. You'd think the gods had something against women." She laughed and Haruka grinned darkly, her head throbbing and her eyelids heavy.
.,.,.,."Oh, I don't think you should worry my lady, I've been through worse. Though, I shall take my leave now, the wonderful accommodations of this facility call me." Haruka replied like any smart-ass worth their stuff.
.,.,.,.The woman smiled and nodded goodbye as Haruka rolled back into the room and lay on the floor, before deciding she'd like to stay above the rats and roaches at least and clambered back into the bed, her muscles complaining the entire time and then some.
.,.,.,.The wind came in through the window and cooled her down blissfully, playing with her hair and bringing relief to the fire that burned her forehead and neck. She didn't even notice the priest come in, until he spoke.
.,.,.,.'Oh damn…..' she winced and looked up. The old man entered, crossing himself and crouched besides her. He looked up at the window and stood up to close it.
.,.,.,."Oh please, leave it!" she grabbed his hand. If she was going to be damned to hell by this guy, might as well be as comfortable as she could. The man looked at her through ancient eyes and nodded. He opened the small black bag he had with him and pulled out a series of different instruments, one of which in particular was very familiar to the blonde.
.,.,.,.It was always this that condemned her. They would hold it over her, then start screaming or praying, declaring her unholy and evil. She'd always been able to run before, but now… Now she would have to face the fate of her friend a long time ago. The beating, the shameful act, then the burning at the stake. These people were superstitious and followed the barbaric act of burning witch-born or those with "unnatural" abilities at the stake ritualistically. She'd heard that a young boy had been burned the week before she'd arrived for being born blind. Apparently his mother had hidden him away for a long time until he'd been found by other children, who had taken one look into his faded eyes and ran to the counsel. It wasn't fair. The boy hadn't even had a chance. They had proclaimed him possessed by a devil and lacked the motivation even pretend to exorcise him. It was much easier just to kill him. Wouldn't want anything different, anything unpleasant tarnishing their town.
.,.,.,.Haruka quickly checked herself. Her anger had started to rise to the surface, which was not something she needed right now.
.,.,.,.The old man moved methodically through what must have been a routine procedure. He poked and prodded, drew blood and washed her face with purified water. Then he held up two metal forks, bent to be held facing east and west. On normal people, they wouldn't move at all. But when held over someone with magic…..
.,.,.,.Haruka couldn't hide the grim resolve in her eyes as the two ends began to glow and hum as they sensed the power around her. The man's face revealed nothing and Haruka braced herself. But the old priest simply put the instrument away and looked at her for what felt to her like the longest time. Then he bent over and began searching through his bag.
.,.,.,."Can you hear me child?" he asked calmly. Haruka nodded.
.,.,.,."Good. I'm going to tell you something." He explained, pulling out an object wrapped in a black velvet cloth. He carefully began up wrapping the item, speaking in a steady tone to her as he did so.
.,.,.,."I have seen many so called devils burned in our beloved town square. The plague is coming from the East and times are hard. People's faith in the Lord is failing and they're finding false solace in their lust for blood. That boy, I'm sure you heard about him. His only fault was being born different; God had taken his sight. But the people couldn't understand that, the false bishops have so filled their heads with lies that God punishes the sinful in such ways. They forget to love and cherish those around them. They asked me to condemn him. A child, not more then 6 or 7. Said he was a work of the devil." The black cloth fell away to reveal a crystal, pure white, except for a golden vein in the shape of a cross.
.,.,.,."I didn't, but I wasn't given the chance to try and persuade them to understand. So blood stains our town again, but they can't see it, so they don't care. I know the plague is coming within the next night, it has already reached my brothers in Lenwar. I will save you though. I do this because you are like this crystal here, you're of the same time, same life. I ask one thing though. I know you have power and I ask you to use it to protect people. Protect the innocent and the weak." He held the crystal over her in his weathered hand, waiting for her response.
.,.,.,.'Just say yes,' her mind ordered her voice. 'Just agree! He's probably crazy! Say yes and he'll heal me.'
.,.,.,."I can't," she choked out. 'Damnit!' "All that ever happens around me is bad, people get hurt. Maybe it is coming from me, who knows."
.,.,.,."Not the answer I was looking for. You know where it comes from, that's the first step. Learn to use it to help people, save them. Just promise me you'll try."
.,.,.,.He looked into her fevered eyes and she felt a familiar presence in his worn body.
.,.,.,."Fine," she managed. "I'll try old man. Not like I can do anything else—" she was cut off by the swift movement as he slammed the crystal into her hand, slicing the skin like paper and imbedding it into the bone. She gave a silent scream as the fire ripped through her and the priest had to hold her down as she thrashed and twisted. 'How could I be so stupid! He's not healing me! It's poison!' her mind raged at her. The wind exploded with her fury and the earth thundered like the pain in her veins.
.,.,.,.But this pain was different then the sickness. This was the pain of strength, a good pain. It stole her anger, sent adrenaline shooting through her veins, purging the sickness from her, though the wind continued to tear at the shutters in its release and the ground had yet to settle. She realized what she was doing and pulled herself back into control, calming her nerves and letting the fire die down in her blood.
.,.,.,.Breathing heavily, she sat up, the sickness pain absolutely gone, replaced by the weariness of a solid exercise. She glanced over to where the priest was picking himself up off the floor and brushing himself off.
.,.,.,."Might want to work on that." He muttered darkly. Haruka grinned, too exhausted to think up a retort.
.,.,.,."Thank you Father," she sighed, propping herself up against the headboard.
.,.,.,."You'll still need a day's rest," he explained. "But you'll be fine. Oh, and one more thing," he added as he started out the door, looking back over his stooped shoulder. "Leave this town by tomorrow."
.,.,.,.Haruka nodded as he disappeared and sunk back into the sheets, relishing the protests of her muscles, feeling so very much alive.

.,.,.,."Father! You can't! Please! Check again! It can't be true!"
.,.,.,.Haruka lowered her eyes as she rode past the young woman she'd seen out her window the other day. She'd placed a generous donation in the poor box and was riding out of town when she had begun to see the telltale plague crosses adorning the doors. The streets were eerily quiet and eyes peered fearfully through the cracks and holes in boarded over windows. Haruka shivered in awe at the speed at which the illness had traveled.
.,.,.,.'Unbelievable…..' she thought as she passed the woman, who was trying to pull the priest away from her door, where he'd been about to place the cross, marking it as a plague-house. It wasn't the same priest that had cured Haruka, but a younger one, looking as desperate as the woman.
.,.,.,."My lord!" she cried, upon catching sight of Haruka. The blonde suddenly severely wished she hadn't stolen that noble's clothes as well as his purse. The woman ran over to her and clutched at her boot, her hair tangled and torn from where she'd pulled it out in distress.
.,.,.,."My lord! Please! They healed you! Surely, there must be something you can do! My mother, she's ill! Please, help me! I don't know what to do!" she sobbed, clinging to Haruka like someone drowning. Kazi shifted nervously under her, wanting to escape the woman. Haruka looked away and urged him forward. The woman let her slide out of her grip, her face aghast and she collapsed in the street, watching as Haruka rode away. Haruka glanced back in time to see her sob into her hands, lost and alone. The blonde tried to ignore the twisting in her gut, but it bothered her horribly.

.,.,.,.As she reached the edge of town, noting the cross on the door to the inn she'd stayed in as she passed, she saw the old priest again, driving a heavy cart, its contents covered by a dark and heavy cloth, as was the animal drawing it. He nodded to her in greeting and they rode side by side a while.
.,.,.,."How can you still believe in a religion like yours when so much bad is happening?" she asked quietly.
.,.,.,."Not all of us have something to look for like you do. We reach for anything we can. I have to believe in a God, in a heaven, a paradise after this life," he gestured to the filth around them. "And I've seen real faith, not that stuff those greedy fakes preach, I mean the real stuff, raise people's heads when they'd normally be held in shame their entire life and I've seen it humble the proudest of men who would normally think themselves above all others. Even if there is no God, at least there's the feeling of one that can raise man to better things."
.,.,.,."What do you mean something to look for?" Haruka asked.
.,.,.,."Anyone with power has something to look for. Not only do you have power, but you've got quite a past, if I'm not mistaken. And you're future is has yet to begin, though I doubt it will bring you anything but the best once you've found it." he glanced over at her. "But there's more to it. You've got quite a set of twists and turns ahead of you, and your own share of dark and perilous paths to walk. I have faith though, I believe you'll make it."
.,.,.,."Why does it matter so much to you?"
.,.,.,."Because those with power can do one of three things. Let it go to waste and not use it at all, use it to help people, to help the world, or to hurt it. You're a good person. Otherwise that crystal would have devoured you alive," he chuckled darkly and Haruka stared. "No worries my dear, I trusted your eyes. I want you to help things, make this better. The plague winds ravage this world, carrying disease and strife. You're of the wind, if I'm not mistaken, but you represent the pure wind, that will wash this world clean, hopefully. That is all I ask for you, for that crystal," he pointed to the still visible crystal imbedded in her hand.
.,.,.,."Will this ever go away?"
.,.,.,."In time. You'll find yourself by then, I think."
.,.,.,.Haruka looked at her hand, then out and down the road. The wind came up, almost questioning, gently lifting her hair. Kazi shifted beneath her, showing his willingness to join with the wind in its race. She looked back at the old priest, who watched her understandingly. She nodded in farewell, which he mirrored and she nudged Kazi into a run. Looking over as she blew past, she noticed the eyes of the creature drawing the cart were pitch black with a golden iris. And that was the last she saw of the old priest and that fallen town as she merged with the wind as rode long and hard until she felt nearly free.#

.,.,.,.Emerald eyes peeled open slowly, as though waking from a deep, deep sleep and Melia gently broke the kiss that had purged the sickness from Haruka, releasing her from the practical trance she'd been drawn into.
.,.,.,.The blonde felt as though she was being lowered to the ground, though without the recollection of ever leaving it. The sense of being safe, like she hadn't known in ages, enveloped her, the feeling of absolute health sending a tingle through her limbs.
.,.,.,."Unfortunately," Melia sighed, her low voice breaking through Haruka's current lack of thought, moving her mind back to awareness once more. "Unfortunately I cannot steal you away from your love, tempted though I may be."
.,.,.,.Haruka wasn't entirely sure she was joking, still on a strange kind of high from the kiss. She could only nod vaguely as Melia turned to the hunter, still gaping in awe.
.,.,.,."You are far more infected. You will have to come with me. You can find your way back, can you not, blessed of the wind?" She glanced back fondly at Haruka, who nodded again. Melia held out her hand and the hunter moved to obey, bowing before her somewhat clumsily.
.,.,.,."I hope to see you again, young Tenoh-sama." The dryad dipped her own head to Haruka, who mirrored the gesture and watched as the woman of the woods and the hunter disappeared back into the treeline.
.,.,.,."Come on Kazi," she murmured as she climbed atop his back, the leads for the mules in hand, still in somewhat of a haze. "We should be getting back now…"

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Gods, that took me forever and I apologize. I promised to get in an update before Christmas, no matter what it took so here you go. I'll be working to get in another one before my break ends and I'm expected to become a functioning, helpful member of society.

R&R. I need them!