Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Kyo Kara Maoh. This is purely fan-made.
Chapter 28
"I can't believe you were attacked!" Yuri exclaimed, "Was anyone hurt?"
Rodriguez shrugged, "A few bumps and bruises here and there but nothing major thankfully. Bob's men are very skilled. I'm afraid I don't know the exact details about what happened though since I was away on other business that he had sent me on."
Sara leaned over to Yuri and asked, "What did he say?"
"Oh, right!" Yuri berated himself, "I keep forgetting that you can't understand us when we speak Japanese. Or English in Lorelei's case. I'm sorry."
Sara shook his head, "I may not know the words but I noticed something interesting."
"Eh?" Yuri blinked.
Smiling with amusement, Sara explained, "It only happens when you talk to Von Bielefeld, and sometimes, even with Lorelei, but you appear to seamlessly flow from your, er, native language, to ours. I find it amusing. And this 'car'," he looked around thoughtfully, "It's a strange device, but convenient. Since you don't have to use horses to move it. Lorelei told me that the 'cars' in her time here were very different." Sara glanced next to him where Lorelei was resting her head on his shoulder, fast asleep, and he smiled, "I don't know exactly what happened in that church of hers, but I've never seen her so relaxed before. She always seemed to be troubled, even while asleep. It's been a long day."
"Perhaps it's the power of her faith." Murata smiled, "Maybe her God gave Lorelei some direction in her life, who knows."
"Ah! She's asleep?" Rodriguez yelped, "Darn, the headsets are still in the trunk."
"No worries, we can ask her and Saralegui to wear them before they go to bed tonight. More importantly..." Conrad asked, "About what happened earlier with Lorelei. What was that? It was almost like Lorelei could hardly recall the language she had grown up using on Earth. Would you mind explaining that if you can?"
Rodriguez nodded, "Sure." he glanced at her before facing the rest of them, adding before he started, "King Saralegui should know this too, so would one of you mind translating for him?"
Yuri waved his hand, "I'll do it!"
Wolfram rolled his eyes and said to Rodriguez, "Just get on with it please."
"Well, obviously we know nothing about the past incarnation, Arwen, but we do know this from the little we either discovered or deduced. Shori told us that apparently, when Lorelei was a child, she still retained all her memories from that past life. Suggesting that her soul wasn't cleansed of them beforehand, or rather, before she was born as in Yuri's case. And whomever was after her at the time could trace her presence somehow. Therefore, from what Shori told us, her family attempted to seal those memories to veil Lorelei from their sight. However, I'm guessing that they were interrupted so it was only partly finished and it's making her very unstable. While Lorelei didn't remember BEING Arwen as intended, the instinctive knowledge of her powers remained. As did that part of her consciousness. Making it so the enemy could still track her, though not as precisely. That also explains how just by hitting her head, the sealed language slipped back through the link that still exists between her current self and her past self. Though, perhaps the real thing that caused it to surface was her spirit's memory reacting to a familiar place." Rodriguez became troubled and added, "And there lies the problem. Shori told me how Lorelei, every so often, becomes possessed in a way by her other self too. The bridge between Lorelei herself and Arwen is blurring. Merging them together. Arwen, intentionally or not, keeps takes back ownership of their soul whenever that link is made. Suppressing Lorelei's own consciousness to the point where it's almost like they're the same singular being. Soon, it won't just be the language, it will be the memories blurring together as well." he smiled hopefully and added to ease their concern, "This can be fixed however before it gets too bad. It's really not that serious unless we don't do anything to fix the problem and restore the boundaries between Lorelei's mind and Arwen's. Making it so Lorelei can access the memories much like Murata does with his own past lives."
"Fixed how?" Wolfram asked, pointing out, "We're already too late for that. Lorelei has been dreaming about her past ever since the language was unlocked. Losing sight of which memories are her own and which ones are not. Sometimes, it's not the past she sees per-say, but something else. Not that I know anything about that though." he added.
"Oh?" Rodriguez raised an eyebrow, "And what's that?"
Yuri raised his hand, "Wait just a sec, I know what he's talking about. Let me just tell Sara what you said first..."
Yuri then told Sara what the doctor had said and that made much more sense him. How Lorelei's behavior had become more and more unstable after each new power was awakened. It was making it hard for her to sort out which were her own memories, and which were Arwen's. Just as Wolfram had pointed out.
Nodding, Sara said to Yuri, "Tell him that from what I understand, Lorelei has dreams that are sent to her by the spirits of our world to either give a message or a warning. They are sometimes of the past, the present, or something to come. She can even show visions of far away places using her songs. It's a strange power, but, the things she showed me Yuri...you have no idea how vivid they were." he smiled.
Yuri nodded, laughing nervously, "I know what you mean about the dreams I'm afraid. Those images from her past and those cryptic messages. I saw lots of them when I was still cursed. I'll have to tell you about them later." then he turned to Rodriguez and conveyed Sara's message.
"I see. That IS an interesting power." Rodriguez mused.
"Yeah. I saw some of her dreams but I still don't know the exact meaning of them...it's a long story. So I think I understand how these dreams work. They don't show exact events for the most part, actually, they show symbolism. I heard a song in my last dream before we resolved the issue but...I still don't know what all the words meant." Yuri shrugged, looking out the window, "Are we almost there?"
"We'll be there soon. I know you must have had a long day, but we need to figure all this out. Like Lorelei said, we're running out of time." Murata said simply, lost in his own thoughts trying to piece things together as well.
It had been ages since Lorelei had a dream like this. She was standing at the edge of the sea, the waves brushing her bare feet. The air smelled of salt and a hint of spiced wood coming from the forests back on shore. Lorelei knew this smell. It was the smell of home.
The sky was also bright and clear. And a subtle melody could be heard on the wind. Along with the ancient songs of praise sung by her people.
Someone strode up next to her and took her hand. As he did, Lorelei glanced at his hand rather then his face.
It was so warm and big, like a fathers hand, and it held hers gently. As if she were something precious. She could see a long scar that stretched across his hand, extending from his knuckle to his wrist. Reminiscent of an old battle.
At last, Lorelei finally looked up to see who it was. But it became too bright and Lorelei was forced to cover her eyes.
That's when he leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Don't forget that you are the key to unlocking the past. Remember the old words. They will show you the way to the answers you seek, and the home you left behind..."
"Who are you? Are you Lord Vincent?" Lorelei asked, trying to open her eyes and see his face.
Smiling, the man said, "I am what I am. That is all. A man seeking forgiveness for a terrible crime. A crime against the Tyrells. We'll meet soon, I swear, and all will be made clear..."
"Hey, Lorelei, we're here." Sara said, gently shaking her awake.
Rubbing her eyes Lorelei apologized, "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to nod off..."
"It's fine." Sara smiled, "Come on, lets go."
Lorelei nodded, "Right."
They had driven all through the night to reach London and were quickly escorted inside the hotel by the doctor. Without warning though, the moment they entered the doors, Yuri and Shori's parents rushed forward. Embracing their boys. Startling both Sara and Lorelei.
"We were so worried about you! When you didn't come back in the same place we thought that something had happened to you!" Shoma ranted, "Your mother was about to jump in after you when-oh man! It was literally right after you left that these guys showed up, demanding that chest we found."
"I would showed them a thing or two if Bob and Shoma hadn't stopped me. Really, your father is such a scaredy-cat! We totally could have taken them!" Miko pouted.
"Now hold on you two," Bob reasoned with them, "Let me explain the details." his gaze fell on Lorelei and he said simply, "So you're Lorelei. And this..." he glanced at Sara, "...must be Small Shimaron's King."
"Yeah, but he doesn't know the language yet so, he doesn't know what you're saying." Shori explained, "We were going to have Rodriguez use the same method with him and Lorelei as you guys used with Conrad."
Bob nodded, "Alright then. I guess this will have to wait until later then. I'm sure you're all tired from the trip anyway. Take this chance to rest and then we'll talk. For now, I need more time with our...guest."
"Whoa wait, you captured one of them?" Wolfram gaped.
"Indeed, and it wasn't easy," Bob said simply, "We were unprepared and there were a lot of them. They almost seemed to know our movements before we even made them. Yet somehow, we managed to avoid any casualties. Almost as if they were holding back for some reason."
"Know...your movements?" Murata asked, narrowing his gaze, "That can't be good."
"Why would they do that? What's in there that's so-" Shori began but Wolfram interrupted him.
"Ah, forget asking, let's just open the darn thing and be done with it!" Wolfram said, "We have other things to worry about and home and we can't waste any more time here."
"He's right..." Yuri said with deep concern, "We have to go back once we get whatever is in there. Because things are starting to happen. Bad things."
"Yuri..." Sara said, briefly leaving Lorelei's side to comfort his friend, "You said so yourself, we'll pull through." he smiled.
Yuri smiled back and nodded, "Thanks, Sara."
"Alright, lets get some sleep, then we can talk." Sara suggested.
"Ok..." Yuri replied.
Both Sara and Lorelei had been given the headsets to wear while they slept and all of them went to bed after properly introducing everyone, and, for what seemed like the thousandth time, briefly explained what had happened up until this point. And really, all of them were getting tired of going over it again and again. Only adding small answers and more questions. All of them, ones that they couldn't seem to grasp.
Something big was happening. All these events surrounding a single girl, Lorelei. So many people had been lost along the way, all to protect her, and she didn't know why. None of them really knew why except for the fact that Lorelei had a special power. Along with he blood of all three races, and the soul of a mysterious person named Arwen. The supposed spirit child of a real life Goddess.
Lorelei had traveled across time as well when she first came to their world. Chased after in both worlds by the same group that killed her family long ago. And the thing was, they still didn't know just how LONG ago that even was. At least in their time in the other world. But at least Lorelei had allies from the past as well. Those who were devoted to the cause of protecting her at any cost. As well as protecting anyone that she cared about. Which Sara defiantly counted as.
It seemed that it was something more then emotions that were drawing them together, there was something else, something bigger then either of them. And Lorelei didn't mind at all now that she was a Tyrell, destined to claim the throne. It was this other part of herself that still troubled Lorelei. Arwen. But Lorelei didn't blame her other self for any of what had happen before. There was no point in blaming anyone for these things, it would not change what had already been done.
Lorelei had lost everything and everyone she had ever known. Yet still, she found something to fight for and to smile about. That's all that mattered. Putting an end to the bloodshed; an end to this silent War which had been raging all this time.
So when Lorelei woke up again, having learned the Japanese language thanks to the sleep learning program, she left her room that very moment to talk about her future. And to finally see what else Galileo had left behind to help her along her chosen path...
Lorelei took it upon herself to go wake Sara up but was shocked to find him already awake, staring out the window with a thoughtful expression. He looked so distant, like something was on his mind. Seeing this, Lorelei knocked on his door again properly and asked, "May I come in?"
Sara didn't look at her but replied absentmindedly, "Yes..."
"Is something wrong?" Lorelei asked, "It's not like you to act so distant..."
Meanwhile, just outside the room, Shori happened to be walking by and stopped to listen. Staying out of sight.
This was a good chance to learn what Sara's real intentions were...
"I've been a fool, Lorelei." Sara said sharply, as if angry at himself, "I haven't been taking this seriously enough and let pride get the best of me. I had thought that this cult was contained in our world. I NEVER suspected that they would attack here as well. What is it they're after? And why you? I should have been searching harder for answers back in Small Shimaron instead of wasting time on politics!" he turned sharply at her, exasperated, "You were nearly captured so many times! And if Argent hadn't taken you away that time on the ship you might have-"
"Sara!" Lorelei snapped, rushing forward and cupping her hands around his face, "Enough! Enough..." she said with a lighter tone, hushing him, "I'm here now, and we're all safe. Don's forget, they were after you too. It's ok." Lorelei removed her hands from his face and hugged him, smiling, "We're going to find the answers soon, I can feel it. Everything is going to be fine; you said so yourself. Or were you lying?"
Sara's shoulders tensed and he admitted, "Perhaps, the biggest lies I've told have been to myself. I never realized just how helpless I really am. I've always had Berias to protect me. Yet you..." Sara rested his hands on her arms, "...from the beginning you've relied on only yourself, even with this Lord Vincent and others before him keeping you safe from the shadows all this time. When I think about it carefully, I realize that really, you've been more alone then I've ever been in my own life. My own father, he was right in front of me the whole time but he wasn't really there for me. At least, not the way I wanted him to be. Then I had Berias, always, he was always beside me. You've had no one right there with you from the very start, Lorelei, no one. Because of that you've become so much stronger then even I thought you could be. You exceeded all of my expectations of you, yet, these people, they still want more from you. But what MORE is there to give when you've already lost everything? Would they take even your soul and your freedom from you? I won't allow it."
"What's gotten into you?" Lorelei asked with a slight good intentioned laugh, pulling away, "Did you have a bad dream? Is that it?"
Shori wanted to listen to more but decided he'd rather go discuss things with Bob and meet the man they had managed to capture so he left. Unaware that the two of them were about to say something very important that would effect not only his brothers future, but the future that they were striving for in the other world.
"They can't have you." Sara said, wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering in a frightened, almost childish way, "I need you..."
Lorelei gasped, startled by the nostalgia she felt from those three words. She blinked as a waking dream drifted across her mind...
Like the first dream before she met Sara and the others, someone was kneeling before Lorelei, kissing her hand. Only this time, instead of Levant, it was Sara.
Sara was garbed in his uniform meant for War, and again, flames churned behind him just like it had with Levant in the other dream. But this time, it wasn't her home that was engulfed in flames, it was a ravaged battlefield. Littered with fallen flags and soldiers.
"Why is this happening?" Lorelei asked in horror, "How did it come to this...?"
Sara looked up and smiled, "I have to keep you safe. To do that, we must eliminate those who would use you for their own gain. They can't have you. None of them. I need you by my side, Lorelei, and no one elses..."
His eyes glittered dangerously and Lorelei suddenly became afraid of Sara. There was something behind his eyes that wasn't quite Sara's. He wasn't himself; a madness flickered in his eyes and they were filled with a desperate desire. A desire for her.
Suddenly frightened, Lorelei shied away. She cared about him deeply, but this feeling of dread, his aura, his entire presence suddenly felt wrong. Warped somehow. Dark.
It was then that she realized that Sara was possessed by someone else. Someone Lorelei knew and feared from long ago. It was this person that glittered behind Sara's golden eyes. And it was this person Lorelei was afraid of. Not Sara. No, this was someone that Arwen once feared.
"Who are you...?" Lorelei asked, withdrawing her hand from his.
Open lust filled his eyes as they turned a vivid red, like dried blood, and he snatched her upper arm when out of terror, Lorelei tried to flee. Holding fast to her with surprising strength.
In a sickeningly sweet and distorted voice, he answered with a sneer, "One who would have you back by my side to rule this world...Arwen." and he kissed her using Sara's body.
"Lorelei?" Sara asked in alarm, recollecting himself and looking up at her, "You're shaking..."
Lorelei shook her head, muttering to herself, "This isn't MY fear, it's HER fear." and she repeated that over and over until finally, the trembling ceased. Then Lorelei took several deep breaths, telling Sara, "I'm alright now. But Sara...what's wrong with you?" she asked to change the subject, "I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not going to let these Gits take over my life anymore. We're going to end this. And then, well," Lorelei, while blushing furiously, pecked his cheek and said, "We'll see what the future holds for us. As well as make use of what was left behind to help me end all this. To that end, I need you to promise me something..."
"Anything Lorelei." Sara said, blushing slightly himself for some reason. This being the first time in his life he had ever felt anything like this.
His heart was pounding and everything felt hot and fluttery, like he had a fever. But Sara knew that wasn't it. Was this the full extent of what love felt like? Such a maddening, passionate, helpless, devoted love? Sara felt he was willing to do anything for Lorelei, even die for her, and he would never die so easily for just anyone. In fact, Sara would have never been willing to die for anyone, not even Yuri. And Sara wondered to himself, Is this the same love that Levant feels for Lorelei? Is that why he was so enthralled by her? Willing to die or even to betray Lorelei in order to keep her safe? Is this...what I'm feeling now?
Sara was brought back to reality when Lorelei said very clearly, "Sara, I want you to promise to care about yourself more than anyone. More then even me." he gasped in shock when she said that but Lorelei continued, "I've had too many people die for my sake. I can't bear it if anyone else does; I just can't. So please, please do your best to live. No matter what happens, no matter what you see or hear or learn, live. There's a battle coming that we can't avoid. I know many more will die before the end. But you CANNOT be one of them. Even if I should fall, though I too will do my best to survive this War, I want you to keep going. Unite Shimaron's lands for the both of us. And if...the only way to stop this madness and save the world is to erase Arwen and myself from it, then I want you to be the one to do it. I would rather perish by your hand then be used as a weapon."
Sara's eyes widened with horror and he was about to protest when-
"Sorry to intrude, but everyone's waiting. Did the sleep learning work? Can you understand me now?" Rodriguez asked, opening the door, totally oblivious to what had just passed between the pair.
"Y-yes." Sara said uncertainly as Lorelei let go of him and started walking out, her face blank with a mask of calmness that in fact, she had learned from Sara himself.
Sara followed after her and the doctor, his mind reeling. For he had just been given a huge confession. So it appeared that Lorelei had fallen in love with him too. Yet there was something else too.
Lorelei also seemed to understand more that was going on then she was letting on and that bothered him. She knew something was about to happen and was beginning to understand the meaning of her dreams. As well as her duty in life.
Phantoms of memory were surfacing more and more from Arwen's past and Lorelei was starting to see the bigger picture. Someone from Arwen's lifetime was behind all this and was likely the leader of the cult. He was the one leading these men and causing all this madness to continue for all these years.
The men he sent were merely branches of a bigger tree, so it was time now to discover the root of the problem if they were every to find a way to fight this tide of evil. Little did they know, that all the answers they needed, was inside that chest.
All they had to do, was open it, and take what was inside...
