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Chapter 36: The Savior's Kiss
October 18th
Day 11 Of 13
"Mmm…" I squeezed my eyes shut tighter than they had been. My head was pounding now, and my breathing shallow and quick.
"Jaycee?!" I shivered at the voice. Not good shivering. Frightened, leave me alone shivering. Wake up. I have to wake up!
"A… Azu… sa…?" My eyes fluttered open, and I blinked rapidly a few times to try and rid my eyes of the white spots I was seeing. The moon was so bright tonight… Slowly, I was able to turn my head from the bright night sky, to the face looking down on me.
At the sight of Azusa's strangely blank expression, my heart pounded uncontrollably and I began to squirm away. What happened, what… oh. My time as a time traveller came flooding back to me. That only made me want to get away from Azusa even more.
I frantically scrambled away from him, breathing heavily and feeling drained and sore.
"Jaycee? Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine…!" I stumbled a few times in my attempt to get up, but when I finally did I staggered back away from Azusa.
"You scared me, falling all of a sudden…" Unable to help myself, I stared wide eyed at Azusa. I knew, saw what he had done. The thing he'd summoned.
"I… I just got a bit dizzy is all…"
"Are you okay now?" I swallowed, mind racing to come up with something, anything to get him off of my back.
"U-Um… Y-yeah, I'm just… Anemic. Sometimes I get faint. The walking probably wasn't too good for me…" Azusa nodded, but his expression was completely uncaring.
"Don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
"R-Right…" Suddenly Azusa seemed to remember something, and a poorly faked concerned expression spread across his face. His tone suggested that he couldn't have cared less. He really is a bad person… I should have listened to Klaus. I want to run away, but I have no idea as to where we are… Azusa's been out here enough to be able to chase after me, and besides, Klaus told me to wait for him…
"Hey, look. Check it out, Jaycee."
"What?" I watched Azusa's eyes drift hungrily towards the starry night sky, enticing me to look as well.
Way above us in the sky was the enormous, bright full moon. Before a curtain of red began to slowly make its way across it, from left to right, as if the moon was being covered in blood. Eventually the entire forest melted into shadows and the spring reflected the same red color. Even though I was afraid of Azusa, I stepped towards him out of my growing fear of the dark.
Azusa watched the whole eclipse happen, his light blue eyes taking it all in excitedly.
"Well, the unicorn won't come out unless the moon is out. I might as well get started since the eclipse will take a little while." Azusa stepped out onto the flat, dirt bank of the pond, and pulled out a bottle from inside his jacket.
"Azusa?" He either didn't hear me or didn't care if he had. Azusa dipped two fingers into the bottle, and when he pulled them out they were covered in a thick, sticky, red liquid that looked suspiciously like blood. Then, he began to draw. Within a few moments I realized he was drawing a magic circle. And from what I could tell, it was practically the same circle he'd used to summon the dark monster from before. Disturbed and afraid, I slowly backed away.
He finished then, and stood up. As he put away the bottle and wiped his fingers with a handkerchief, Azusa smiled brilliantly. His eyes narrowed in contrast.
"Hey, Jaycee. Let's hide behind some of those bushes and wait until the unicorn shows up." I hesitated with my answer. He was being so blunt with things, but I had a strong feeling that he knew how afraid I was, and that I knew he was dangerous. Yet he didn't care. It was like he knew what was going to happen, that I was a variable that he felt wouldn't affect the outcome. I could only hope that he was wrong. "Jaycee?" Azusa turned to me when I didn't answer, his expression slightly darkening.
"Fine… Let's go." The two of us took cover behind some large brush. I felt as if I were about to have a heart attack from my heart pounding so hard. The air around me penetrated right through my cloak, and before my long my fingers were starting to go numb. I glanced past Azusa then, into the dark forest. I wanted to gauge my chances of getting away, but what Klaus had said to me before kept me pinned to the spot.
"Jaycee… Listen… You have to trust me. I will never let go of you. But no matter what happens, you wait for me. You trust me."
And I did trust him. With everything that I had. I'll wait for you Klaus. But you'd better be here fast.
Just as I was about to turn my gaze back towards the spring, I felt Azusa's hand on my shoulder, clutching me just a bit too tightly. Even he thinks I might be just about to sprint away… I think I'm better off waiting it out at this point.
After awhile the eclipse ended, returning both the moon and spring back to their silver glory. The scene around me was once again that of an enchanted forest, bright and beautiful. Then, from my right, just ten or so meters away, a white blur passed through the trees.
It came out from the forest to the bank, and looked out for a moment over the spring. The animal wore a pure white coat of smooth hair, with a mane and tail of the same color but silkily long. It had a horse like body, and deep blue eyes that sparkled in the moonlight. But the most interesting thing about the animal was one great pointed horn, a few feet long, centered on the animal's head.
A unicorn… It really came! Oh god… It needs to run away! I went to stand and yell at the magical creature, but before I could hardly even try Azusa had roughly snatched my wrist and yanked me back to the ground. I couldn't even yelp in surprise because he quickly placed his other hand over my mouth and hissed into my ear.
"I worked very hard for this moment, Jaycee… Don't screw it up. I wouldn't have brought you along if it weren't for the fact that a pure maiden's simple presence would attract it… Stay still, don't move, and we'll all come out of here alright. Okay?" Shivers ran up and down my back, and I fought the urge to headbutt Azusa away from me. I didn't like his breath in my ear, or his hand squeezing on my wrist. It hurt and frightened me. I nodded just to get him away from me. Azusa leered at me, then slowly stood up.
I stayed where I was, glaring wide eyed at my captor. As the unicorn once more captured his attention, his expression blankened, and his eyes hollowed. What I noticed the most though, was his lips, pressed into a thin, hard line, almost as if he were desperate. I wonder why… I guess I don't know why Azusa's doing this. But it doesn't make any of this right, whatever it is. Come quick, Klaus. Please.
Azusa uncharacteristically stumbled over a tree root, somehow managing to keep completely quiet. It was as if he had become lifeless and empty, like a puppet on a string. Azusa eventually made his way into the magic circle he had drawn beforehand. He held his hands up in front of him and put them together in front of himself.
That was when the unicorn finally took notice of him, lifting it's head from where it had been drinking water gently from the spring. It held it's head higher than I would have thought, just like the proud and elegant creature it was. It didn't run either, like it wasn't the least bit afraid of him. It faced Azusa boldly, watching him with complete focus.
"Namatama, tarutama, tamata, marutama… Amenotoko, tachinomikoto, kunino, tachinomikoto…" Azusa began muttering a strange chant in a foreign language in the center of the circle. He said the words so fast I wasn't sure I would have recognized them even if I knew what they might mean. "...Araharu kamitachiwoba kamutohashini towashitamai!" He shouted the final word, then quickly separated his hands and faced them towards the unicorn, who narrowed its eyes at the foreign man.
No sooner had he done that then waves of translucent, pastel violet magic formed a geometric, glass like wall around the unicorn. It was obviously surprised by the sudden barrier around it, and the unicorn reared up into the air, before banging it's sharp hooves into the wall. I heard a thud, dulled by the magic walls, but the barrier did not crack. The unicorn tried to break the barrier several more times with simple brute force, but it didn't seem to be working. When it seemed to realize this, it's horn and eyes then turned red with the creature's rage.
"Azusa! What are you doing?! Stop it! LEAVE IT ALONE!" Azusa completely ignored me as I stood up and stomped towards him, afraid but ready to defend the magnificent animal at any cost. Enough lives, insignificant to others but innocent to me, had already suffered due to Azusa.
"Hito futami yoitsumu nanaya kokonotari, hurube, yura yura to hurube…" My footsteps abruptly stopped. That jibberish… I recognize it. My face paled at the thought of facing that monster. That was one thing I didn't know if I could do. I jumped as a large flock of birds fled into the sky all at once, calling out their warning to other forest animals.
"I didn't get to complete my mission earlier…" Nervously, I turned my gaze back towards Azusa. He was still facing away from me, talking just barely loud enough for me to hear. This aura… And the animals… He must have been doing this when I came out to the forest that night… As if confirming my suspicions, Azusa spoke again. "Last time you and Randy had to come and spoil things for me…" Azusa casually rolled his head towards me, glaring and sending me a frightening smile all at the same time.
"But, all is well now. Your help, being a virgin and all, made it real easy to lure out the unicorn." As if in response, the unicorn bashed it's entire body against the barrier. I clenched my fists beside me, furious at Azusa's slovenliness at a time like this. He was simply walking around in his magic circle, gesturing with his hands. A smile was beginning to spread across his previously empty face. It was now, of all times, that I noticed the slight dark circles underneath his eyes.
"What are you going to do to the unicorn, Azusa?" I asked as forcefully as I could, chest heaving with adrenaline. Azusa looked me up and down for far too long, smirking at whatever it was he saw.
"What do you think, dear little Jaycee? Kill it, of course." I lost my breath for a second, refusing to get light headed again. How could someone kill a being so beautiful and innocent?! It's sick, inhumane! I can't forgive him! Not for all the lives he's taken and plans to take! I was appalled, but determined. I recovered myself and scowled ferociously.
"You're a monster Azusa!" For a second, his face lost the darkness and Azusa cocked his head, thinking.
"A monster? ...Hm." Suddenly his face twisted with rage, and the real Azusa screamed at me, his fists clenched tightly. "You know nothing! You know nothing about me! Nothing, nothing, NOTHING!" I wasn't much listening to the now angry Azusa, but was more preoccupied with watching the magic circle underneath him ooze a dark slime. Eventually Azusa noticed me not paying attention to him, and became silent.
Please, oh God, please don't… Horrified, I watched as the slime rose into the air, taking the same shape as the shadow monster I'd been seeing for a week now. I was now seeing it, for real, in all of it's terror. It's crimson, vicious eyes turned towards me painstakingly slowly. I was frozen, shaking with dread. Anything but the dark!
"You've met this before, haven't you?" Azusa smirked, taking absolute pleasure in my absolute fear. I couldn't even back away, my trepidation weighing me down like lead in an ocean. "This is Nue, a Japanese chimera of sorts… We call it a mononoke in Hinomoto. You may call it a demon or an evil spirit in whatever hole you're from. You couldn't possibly understand all the trouble I've gone through to make it stronger."
My voice and all reason had left me. Now I knew why in all the stories, when faced with fear, the hero stood still. It was some ludicrous thought that somehow, the danger wouldn't see you, would forget about you, if only you didn't move a muscle. No matter how much I knew it wasn't true, everything told me to try.
"The pigeon sacrifices served that purpose. Now, it's finally strong enough to take down a unicorn." Azusa watched me patiently, as if waiting for some sort of smart response or last words. I had none of those. No matter how proud or strong I acted any other time, I was more scared then than I had ever been in my whole life. I did not know what to do. I wanted everything to be over, I wanted to be under the covers of my bed at home… Anywhere that's away from that monster.
"What is it Jaycee? Nothing to say? You don't even want to know why I'm doing all of this? You usually ask so many questions…" Even with his mocking, I didn't dare look away from the Nue, in case it came after me. I remained utterly silent. Azusa smiled again, even laughed this time, and shrugged. "Whatever. It's none of your business anyways. Nue." The dark monster groaned, it's eyes still locked on mine. Azusa pointed to the unicorn. "Kill it."
"Graaawhh…" Slowly, the Nue tore itself away from me, and with a moan it started slithering towards the unicorn. Apparently it saw no hurry with the unicorn helplessly trapped. With my gaze free from the shadows, I finally moved, gulping, and screaming out.
"Stop! Leave it alone!" Azusa turned to me with a cruel smile, full of hatred.
"Don't cause a fuss now, Jaycee. After the unicorn dies, you're next." I nearly vomited with the complete and utter terror. Actually hearing it, that I was going to die, felt a lot different than simply seeing the monster and thinking it. I glanced back at the unicorn, neighing deeply and bashing side to side against the walls of the barrier, and the Nue, slithering ever closer.
Something inside me clicked. Some instinct, some fight or flight response. But whatever it was rose up inside of me like a cobra, up against a dragon, somehow still willing to fight one last time.
I gripped my wand inside of my cloak tightly, and sprinted around Azusa and the Nue, not tripping by some miracle. I stood firm in between the shadowy Nue and the unicorn. It reared up, at least nine or ten feet tall, and looked down at me hungrily.
"Gruaaaaahhh…"
"I won't let you! I won't let you do this!"
"Young woman, be gone!" A deep, powerful voice, called out to me. I jumped at hearing it, since it was so utterly unexpected, and blurted out.
"Wh-Who was that?!"
"It is I. Protector of this forest." Although I didn't dare take the chance of looking behind me, there was only one thing that it could be. I saw Azusa clenching his fists and glaring at the unicorn. He can hear it too? Can unicorns talk like people?! Wh-Whatever, that doesn't matter now… "Flee! Leave me at once, woman!"
"I-I-I can't!" I told him honestly. I don't think that I could successfully run away even if I tried… "I'll protect you!" I shouted loudly, trying to convince both myself and the magical creature.
"Foolish human." The tears I had been too frightened to shed before now came down in full force. Stupid unicorn! I'm just trying to save him and here he is making me cry! I tried to push every doubt into the back of my mind, and grit my teeth. I ignored my tears and Azusa's smile and the unicorn's remark and the fact that even I believed that tonight was the last day I'd ever see, and I shouted into the night.
"I don't care what you think! I don't care about any of you anymore! I can't, I won't let this happen! I swear!" I choked on my last words, but help my wand up in front of me. I would make my words true, no matter what.
"...Then buy me time to escape, girl." The unicorn said quietly, calmly, to my back. "I can shatter this barrier with my own magic, but it will take some time." I nodded, smiling a tad despite myself. I might as well go down being brave. Some legacy I'll have…
"I'll do my best." I imagined the unicorn was nodding behind me, proud, but feeling just as grim as I did.
"My life is in your hands, young woman." I nodded vigorously, slowly building up some semblance of courage. I tried not to look at the Nue. Just remember what he's taught you. Concentrate, be strong. Just long enough for the unicorn.
"Planning to get in my way I see." I frowned at Azusa, breathing deeply. He looked irritated beyond belief, on the edge of some homicidal breakdown it seemed. "Fine then. I'll just kill you first, Jaycee. Nice knowing you. Nue!"
"Ugraaaaar!" The Nue, suddenly speeding much faster than before, practically floated right at me. I've got to do something now! My spell came out so fast I was surprised it even worked.
"Ohwindformawallandbecomeashield! Scutum Ventos!" A powerful eruption of wind gushed forth from the tip of my wand, spreading out just a foot in front of me and creating a protective barrier. I screamed as the Nue slammed into it, just inches in front of me. But the barrier held, and domed around the unicorn and I, completely covering us both.
"Graaahhhg…" The shadow monster backed slowly away, narrowing its beady little eyes before slamming into the barrier again.
"Ugh!" I poured more power into the ongoing spell, trying to keep its power up. But it wasn't going to last long. Even then I could feel my energy quickly slipping away. The barrier is too big, and it's costing me too much energy to maintain it! I'll only last a couple of minutes at best! Gritting my teeth and holding my ground, I squeezed my eyes closed and concentrated on the spell, and pouring my magic into it. Please! Just a little longer! Klaus, I need you! "Ngh!" I heard a laugh, and did my best to block it out. Concentrate!
"What a pitiful resistance! That pathetic excuse for a shield won't hold forever, you know." I didn't have to open my eyes to know that he was smiling at me, playing with me as if I were a toy.
"Sh-Shut up!" I shook my head vigorously, ignoring Azusa to the best of my abilities. Seconds felt like hours, minutes like days. Azusa waited, tapping his foot in the most annoying manner on the ground. He was growing impatient. But he wouldn't have to wait long. My magic was already weakening, and the Nue had begun to slip it's shadowy, clawed arm through my wind barrier.
"Graawwgg…" I could feel the chilling air that formed around the Nue closing in on me, it's claws just inches from me. Ah! No! No! Hold!
"Excellent job. I am ready." In the next split second, the Nue managed to rake its claws down my left arm, creating three ragged, deep scratches, and my wind barrier blew out in one final, mighty push. It somehow threw me backwards with the force of that final push, and the Nue back a few meters, probably saving my life.
"Oompf!" I struggled up to my knees, searching around desperately for the unicorn and holding my mangled arm. "Unicorn?!"
"What?!" Azusa yelled in disbelief, and my eyes finally found the majestic creature, standing on the edge of the water. It looked down on Azusa with something no more than annoyance and it's own large ego. "I won't let you get away! Nue, catch it!"
"Gruu…" The Nue, although it listened to Azusa, turned slowly towards the unicorn and crawled. I doubted that it had much hope itself of catching the muscular and probably agile unicorn.
"Foolish human." The unicorn spoke crisply in it's deep and somewhat arrogant voice. "The fate of he who controls that monster will someday be consumed with its gluttony." The magical creature told it's final warning, before fleeing into the cover of the woods. I breathed a sigh of relief, and took the opportunity to glance down at my arm. The arm of my uniform was torn up and bleeding through. I swallowed my pain and fear, then jerked my head back up when I heard a blood curdling moan from the Nue.
"Ugraaarrr!"
"Dammit! It got AWAY!" That's when I realized what was about to happen. The unicorn was gone. Now Azusa and the monster were angry. Very angry. I was left there, alone, injured, and with no power left. I scrambled to crawl away as fast as I could.
"No, no, no, no, no, NO! Ahhhhrgh! Shame, shame, shame, SHAME!" I managed to get to my feet and began backing away from Azusa. He was really insane, clutching at his long charcoal hair as he was overcome with intense fury. "JAYCEE!"
"Aah!" I let out a short lived scream, and tripped over something behind me, falling back down. Azusa turned towards me, his eyes wild and dark and evil and I hated myself for never realizing what he was.
"You're going to die now," Azusa jabbed a finger at me, growling, seething, and stepping towards me. I tried, but couldn't stand again; I was shaking too much. "You're going to be ripped into a million damn pieces and I'm going to enjoy watching you die! NUE!"
"Gruuuur…" The shadowy demon gurgled, turning and beginning to slide in my direction. It seemed to be growing bigger the closer it got. I whimpered and scrambled backwards, but was too focused on the Nue to stand.
It stood over me, blocking the moon from my sight. All I could see was its darkness, and the beady red eyes, blurred through my torrential tears. The Nue reached its clawed arms out for me, and I thought for a moment that I didn't want the last thing I ever saw to be nothing but the dark. The thing I feared most.
I'm still going to die! A nobody, and alone! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry to everyone! Mom and dad, everyone in Reitz, my friends, Klaus! I kept my eyes peeled open, unable to look away as I was consumed…
"Globus Flau!" A stentorian voice echoed across the spring, and ripped through my weakening conscious. The Nue had grabbed me, sunk it's claws steadily into my shoulders. I was being consumed by it, my vision completely black, when the Nue wailed and screeched in pain.
"Gyaaaaaaah!" I felt onto the forest floor, pain shooting up and down both of my arms and choking as I struggled to breath. The Nue screamed again, and I looked up and saw it being pelted and forced backwards by large fireballs, hurtling one after another, striking the monster dead on. With the feeling of being alive fresh in my lungs, I got to my knees, and unsteadily to my feet. I gripped my left arm, which I didn't dare move. Even then, pain was searing through it.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Footsteps crunching in fallen leaves startled me, but before I could even turn to look, a powerful and dignified man stepped in front of me. He was in the full academy uniform, and acted like a shield, protecting me from further harm. A river of relief rushed throughout my body, soothing my mind and finally causing my tears to come to an abrupt end. He came! He came to my rescue!
"Klaus!" I cried out. He didn't turn and look at me, but remained set in front of me, carefully eyeing the Nue and it's master.
"Are you hurt at all?"
"Klaus! Klaus!" I didn't have the heart to answer him, all that mattered was that he was there. I grinned, and unable to help myself, I dove at Klaus and threw my good arm around his midsection. "I knew you would come! I believed in you, I really did!" After a brief hesitation, Klaus put his hand not holding his wand over my own and squeezed.
"Yeah. Sorry I'm late. A barrier around the forest held me up for awhile."
"...Damn." I heard Azusa mutter under his breath, and looked over to see him glaring ferociously at the two of us. I, more than happy to let Klaus take care of that mess, reluctantly let him go and hid myself behind the larger man. The Nue was hissing in a deep voice at us.
"I'll explain later, Jaycee." Klaus positioned himself in front of me, and waved his wand casually but menacingly at Azusa and the Nue. Then, he began to sneer at them in a way that only Klaus could pull off without getting himself killed. At least, I hoped so. "I never expected that you would summon anything as putrid as this, Azusa Kuze." Azusa grit his teeth in what looked like an attempt to keep his cool, before answering Klaus.
"Well, if it isn't the Prefect. How nice of you to come all the way out here and add to my troubles. Unfortunately for you and your ditzy little girlfriend, I won't let anyone stand in my way. Nue!" This time, the Nue advanced towards Klaus. I scrambled away slightly, still terrified of the Nue, but unwilling to leave Klaus. He was my only protection from both Azusa and the monster. Klaus, of course, looked unimpressed.
"This is it? An evil, dimwitted, wretched demon from the depths of Hinomoto? Do you really think you can beat me with a joke like that?" Klaus smirked and laughed at the creature in scorn. And before the Nue could even get close to him, Klaus whipped out his wand just as a gust of wind blew past. His cloak floated out around him, and his hair whipped around his face. He looked just like my own prince charming. "Globus Lumen!"
Rays of light flared out from his wand. Then, the rays bent towards the Nue, coming together in an almost spherical shape that scourged the monster. The light lashed out like a whip, tearing off bits and pieces of shadowy flesh, which quickly dissolved into the air. The Nue was absolutely ravaged.
"Gyaaaaaaaaahhh!" Klaus flicked his wand again, sending a single beam of light magic arcing high into the air, before it plummeted down and devastated the evil creature. And again he jabbed his wand, sending another bolt of light tearing through the sky. Again and again the overwhelming force of his magic made the very ground tremble and crack in the air. And even with all of the power he was exerting, he kept pouring magical power at the Nue relentlessly.
From my hiding spot behind Klaus, I gaped at the scene unraveling. I'd never seen anything like it. I'd never witnessed offensive magic before, or even attempted it myself. I'd never seen a battle like this. It was both awesome and terrifying at the same time.
Then, Klaus' deep, assertive voice spoke to me loudly, over the sound of his own magic.
"I'm not stopping until it's dead! Stay behind me." His body still facing the monster, Klaus twisted his head around to speak to me. Although magic was still pouring from his wand, his eyes were deep and completely focused on me. I knew he was still worried despite his calm demeanor.
And when he was worried, that made me afraid.
I gulped and nodded, stepping closer to Klaus when the Nue screeched again.
Clinging desperately to his cloak, I squeezed my eyes shut and felt the heat and warmth radiating from his wide, sturdy back. He's strong. He came for me, just like he promised. Klaus can protect us, and save both of us! I know he can!
I nodded, more to convince myself than anything. If anything happened to Klaus, I'd be more than just another one of Azusa's victims. I would be dead inside anyways, hollow, with no reason to keep living.
"Grugg..aarrr…" An odd gurgling sound came from the Nue, and cautiously I peered around Klaus. The shadow creature was beginning to crumble, flakes of what looked like ash tearing off and floating away as Klaus' magic tore into it.
"What?! No!" Azusa stepped forward as he realized what was happening, his face twisting into one of surprise, fear, and distress.
"Graa… Argh…" Quietly, strangely, the Nue's body melted to the ground, almost becoming a puddle, until it dissolved into fragments of light which flitted about in the breeze.
Azusa staggered forward, grasping at the ashes.
"No… This can't be happening… No… No… No! NO, NO, NOOOOOO!" Fearful of what Azusa might do next, I pressed myself tightly against Klaus' back. "I worked too hard for this!" But the Nue decayed right before his eyes, the last pieces of it vanishing into the air. Hopefully forever. "Urrgh… Klaus!" I jumped when Azusa barked at my Buddy. Klaus must have sensed my sudden trepidation, and put an arm behind him to protect and comfort me. "YOU BASTAAARD!"
The Azusa I had once found charming and kind now looked upon us with pure hatred and rage. He would kill us if he got the chance. It was nerve wracking how little human I saw left in him.
Klaus though, didn't take the chance.
"It's your turn now, Azusa." Klaus said to Azusa decisively and prepared to cast a spell on him. A mad grin spread across Azusa's face, and he laughed.
"Ha!" When Klaus' expression didn't change, the foreign man's smile broke. "...You can't. You wouldn't."
"Why not?" The Goldstein boy asked without much interest.
"I'm from Hinomoto as an exchange student. If you do something to me, you'll spark a clash between Gedonelune and Hinomoto." Klaus scoffed and then smirked.
"Like I care."
"...What?"
"I couldn't care less what happens between our kingdoms." I didn't have to see his face to know the smirk left Klaus' face, replaced by an angry glare. I heard it in his tone crystal clear. "The only thing that matters to me is that you hurt tried to hurt Jaycee. I will make you pay for that. Let the Ministry deal with what happens afterwards. I don't care."
"Klaus…" I mumbled, eyes about to fill with tears again. His words… Knowing how much he cared about me filled me to the top with warmth.
"Enough. I've always wanted to test the mettle of Hinomoto magic. Jaycee, hide yourself." Nodding and obeying immediately without question, I hurried to hide myself at the edge of the forest, behind a large tree. As soon as he saw me safe, Klaus turned back to the battle at hand, and unbelievably, he smiled determinedly. "Azusa Kuze… Show me what you've got!"
"Fine then! Sememio yakamu izanagi no ookami!" Azusa furiously chanted the words of a spell in his native tongue while his hands whipped in the air to create magical letters. The next instant, a blaze of fire gushed forth and unleashed a great conflagration that seared towards Klaus.
My hands flew to my mouth in fear, or at least the one that wasn't burning with pain.
"Aqua!" Klaus countered the spell swiftly with a water spell, which collided with the inferno and sizzled it harmlessly away.
"Dammit! Then… How about this?!" I could sense Azusa's desperation starting to rise. In all honesty though, it only scared me more. Desperate people make the most reckless, and sometimes the most destructive decisions. "Yawoyorodu no kamitachi tomoni kikoshimeseto kashikomi kashikomi mousu!" Azusa speedily formed his second assault in the air. The letters crackled with searing heat, before a huge bolt of lightning discharged and arced towards Klaus.
"Useless!" Klaus flicked the bolt at the exact moment it was about to strike him, repelling it away almost as if it were a rubber ball. The lightning struck the ground with a thunderous sound, leaving a charred mark in the grass.
"Fool!" Azusa, who had been forgotten for the moment, had snuck up behind Klaus while the latter had defended himself from the first attack. The original attack had been a decoy. Lightning fast, Azusa prepared to make the same attack again, from behind Klaus, at point blank range. "Yawoyorodu no kamitachi tomoni kikoshimeseto kashikomi kashikomi mousu!"
"NO!" I screamed in protest, stumbling out from behind the tree. He wasn't going to make it. Even as he attempted to whirl around, it was too late. Klaus, please-
"Stop!" Suddenly a new voice shouted out from the forest. And then, appearing right between Klaus and Azusa to deflect the lighting was…
"H-Huh?!" A huge rainbow lollipop, so vivid and gargantuan that it seemed like a hallucination in the midst of the battle scene. It took the lightning bolt, cracks spreading throughout it, before vanishing into thin air with a pop.
"That magic…!" Klaus muttered after distancing himself from Azusa.
"Argh! I knew it was you!" Azusa shouted, glaring at the tree line. I turned and looked, and saw an oddly familiar face standing just a few feet from me.
"Azusa… Cut this out will ya?" Randy had come to breakup the fight. He was smiling in a brokenly hopeful manner, his voice heartbreakingly desperate. Randy… Do you know Azusa well? Or… did you think you knew him well? Azusa snapped viciously back at him, his voice dripping with malice.
"I'm not stopping for anyone, especially not you! Ame no iwatowo oshihirakite ameno yaegumo wo!" Azusa formed his enchanted letters in the air once more, propelling a gale of razor sharp winds towards Klaus and Randy. Klaus yelled out then in an almost reluctant tone.
"Take care of this for me!"
"Got it! Here goes!" Randy flicked his wand, summoning a massive chocolate chip cookie which blocked the cyclone. It was torn to crumbs by the ferocious winds, but the cookie had served it's purpose. The winds had died out, and Klaus was nowhere to be seen.
"What?!"
"Over here." This time, it was Klaus who sneaked up behind Azusa. "Funus Captis!" Chains made of light appeared from the tip of his wand, wrapping around and entangling Azusa tightly. In his struggling he fell over, face first into the dirt.
"Arghhhh!" Klaus stood confidently over Azusa's body, his face serious but holding some amount of pride.
"Your madness if over, Azusa." The man from Hinomoto finally ceased his struggle, laying limp and breathing hard and angrily on the ground. I stepped cautiously out from behind my tree, unsure of if I wanted to come out just yet.
"Klaus, wait." Klaus looked up with an extremely irritated look on his face at Randy.
"What?" Randy walked casually over to Azusa, and placed his hand on Azusa's shoulder. He turned onto his side, scowling up at the cotton candy haired man.
"What are you doing?" Azusa spat.
"Azusa…" Randy said, a sad smile on his face, as if he were talking to a silly child. "That's not fair. I made this for you…" With those words, Randy suddenly turned Azusa onto his back and clutched his shoulders. Then, he pulled his very arms apart, ripping Azusa's body in two. I screamed from just a natural reaction more than anything, and I swear I even saw Klaus flinch and his eyes widen.
The two halves of Azusa fluttered down to the ground… As nothing more than some pieces of paper. The pounding of my heart lessened in my ears just enough for me to put the pieces together.
"Shikigami…" I mumbled, suddenly afraid again and stumbling out of the treeline. I didn't want to be anywhere near Azusa. I frowned as I tripped on nothing and my head swam. Looking down at my arm, all I could see was a red, sticky mess. Oh God… it's worse than I thought it was.
"Yeah…" Randy agreed with me quietly, blankly looking out into the forest.
"What?! Where's the real Azusa?!" Klaus spun around, searching for the man who had just tried to kill all of us, but it was much too late for that.
"He's probably long gone by now." Randy had a small smile gracing his features, as if he was somewhat glad that Azusa had gotten away. I on the other hand, was on Klaus' side for this one.
"Dammit!" At hearing the prefect yell a cuss, my eyes widened slightly and I tightly grasped at the fabric of my jacket. Any loud noises, even coming from him, were enough to frighten me at this point.
"What are you going to do then, Klaus?" Klaus took a deep breath, and sighed. The anger in his eyes softened a bit.
"Well, he's probably running and trying to leave Gedonelune as soon as possible. Not much point in chasing after him. If I did, and this develops into a diplomatic issue, it could harm relations with Hinomoto." Randy sighed again, and I found myself wanting to give him a hug. He looked really broken up about the whole thing…
"I wish I would have noticed it earlier…" Klaus, with a sideways glance at Randy, spoke words of subtle comfort that I would have never imagined he'd be willing to give out.
"What's done is done. Don't worry about it." Randy seemed to realize what the Goldstein was trying to do, and smiled briefly. I don't think I've met anyone else who understands Klaus that well. He never said anything about having a friend like Randy when I asked though.
"You are right… But, anyways, what's more important is that Jayce ended up being safe."
I blinked as the subject shifted from Azusa to me, and Klaus turned towards me finally looking me in the eyes. I froze under his scrutinization, our eyes locked. I had absolutely no idea of what to expect from him.
"Jaycee…" I shivered as he said my name. I loved the way he said it.
"Klaus…" I echoed him with his own name, eager for Klaus' touch. For a moment, we stared at each other through the silence of the spring.
"You… YOU IDIOT!" I flinched at the sudden anger on his face and in his voice. "I CANNOT believe how idiotic you are! I didn't have time to tell you earlier, but I'll never forgive you for this!"
Immediately, I was completely overwhelmed with every emotion in my spectrum. Relief at everyone having survived, fear of the Nue, happiness at seeing Klaus again, and even joy at seeing how concerned Klaus was at me, via his shouting. Exhausted as I was, I didn't even think about trying to hold it all in. Large salty tears formed as fast as lightning in my eyes.
"I-I-I so-sorry!" I apologized in between sobs, and began to hiccup.
"You have no idea how much you made me worry! You never think about the consequences! You always just dive straight into danger! If that Nue had gotten to you… You'd be done for!"
"I-I-I knooow!" I wailed like a child, feeling as if I were about to collapse after the drama of the night. The taste of salt found it's way into my mouth. "B-But I had to-"
Klaus never let me finish that sentence. One of his long, strong arms grabbed my shoulder, and the other the back of my head, and yanked me into his chest. Then I saw his face dive in towards mine, giving me no time to process the situation. His lips met mine in a surprise kiss, warm and desperate and forceful and somehow still perfectly shocking.
"Mm?!" Klaus pulled away as suddenly as he'd stolen the kiss from me, his handsome face staying right in front of mine. His bright violet eyes looked intensely into mine, and all I could see there was what I'd been hoping to all along. I love him. I want to know he feels the same. But I'm being too hopeful, right? He rested his forehead on mine, our breathing labored. Mine from the adrenaline and my heart beating so fast, and I didn't know why he was so out of breath. My mind was an absolute mess.
Klaus gently caressed my back, his one hand not leaving the back of my head where it was becoming entangled in my hair. A lot of it had become loose from the pigtails over the course of the night. It was as if he was assuring himself that I was still there with all the intimate touches, and I wanted him to keep doing that forever. The warmth I felt coming from him reawakened the butterflies in my stomach which had been absent for far too long. Then he pressed his lips up against mine again, more gently this time but with just as much passion.
I… I'm for real kissing Klaus… He's kissing me! It's… amazing. Everything I've always wanted! But… Didn't he have a fiancée? Ah… You know? It doesn't matter. Not to me. Not now.
I felt strangely light, and suddenly all strength left my body. Klaus wrapped his arm around my waist instantly, holding me securely up against him. I surrendered myself to his kiss, growing in passion as I let a small sigh past my lips and his tongue slipped into my parted mouth. Eventually, our lips parted gently, leaving me feeling bare.
As I stood there with glazed over eyes, Klaus went to plop his hand on my head. I collapsed and dark spots filled my vision before he could do so.
"Jaycee!" Klaus, as close as he was, caught me under my arms, gently lowering me to the ground.
"Klaus, her arm-" Randy cut himself short, and with wide eyes Klaus looked down at my left arm, soaked with blood.
"You- ...I asked if you were hurt!" Klaus shouted, but he didn't sound angry. Just concerned. I was about to tell him that I'd never answered his question, but I felt too tired, too content with our kiss to try. I mumbled something incoherent, slowly blinking as Klaus tore off the already ruined sleeve of my jacket. He fumbled with his wand, something I nearly laughed at, but found myself just smiling and going to close my eyes. "Stay awake Jaycee! Don't you dare close your eyes!" I stuck my lips out in a reluctant pout. He's always making me work so hard…
"Klaus, I can perform the spell-"
"I can do it!" He snapped angrily, readying his wand in front of him. I waited patiently, like I had all the time in the world. "Sanatio Aura!"
What? A healing spell? For what? It took a moment for me to remember my arm, and even then the panic seemed far away, in a place at the very back of my mind. A cool, refreshing wind wrapped my arm in itself, taking away the dull pain which had been bothering me for some time. But, for all the life of me, I still could not move on my own.
"Aqua!" Klaus chanted another spell, and a light curtain of water washed away the drying and thick blood which matted my arm. I shivered at how cold it was, and in turn Klaus' grip on my back tightened. I continued to struggle with staying awake like he'd asked me. "Why isn't she getting back up?!"
"You may have healed her Klaus, but it looks like she lost a lot of blood."
"THEN WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!"
"Just calm down! She's going to be fine, you're smart enough to know that! Do you see how much blood she lost?" A moment of silence followed. "Jaycee hasn't lost enough blood for it to be deadly, you know that. She just needs to rest. Get something to eat, and drink." I heard Klaus breathing heavily, before snapping at Randy again.
"Where on Earth am I supposed to get something to eat out here?!" I heard the crinkle of a wrapper, and then I was being propped up again. "Jaycee," Said Klaus' deep, gentle voice. "Eat this." I managed to open my mouth just a bit, and the sweet taste of chocolate took over my senses. I ate about half the bar before I refused the rest of it, and soon started to feel a little better with the sugar in my system.
Klaus, after a while, had sat down behind me, with me in between his legs and leaning up against his chest. As the night went on, my sleepiness began to fade, though I still felt weak and my arm sore. The ordeal with the Nue and then Klaus kept me wide awake. No one said a word though, so I was left to my own thoughts. I could hear Randy pacing back and forth and humming to himself closeby, as if he couldn't stand sitting still.
"Klaus?"
"..." He didn't answer the cotton candy haired man, but continued gently tracing his fingers up and down the thick white lines on my left arm. Klaus had healed it brilliantly, better than almost anyone else could have, but no magic could make the scars disappear.
"Klaus?" Randy asked again, this time much closer to us.
"Hm?" He mumbled, seeming to be preoccupied with something.
"Shouldn't we head back soon?"
"Why should we?"
"Um… Well, it will be dawn soon. It takes time to get back. Ooh, and I'm starving!" Klaus sighed, and rested his chin atop my head.
"We probably should get our story straight… Jaycee?" He lowered his voice to a whisper right next to my ear, sending shivers down my body.
"...Yeah?"
"Are you able to move?" I glanced about hesitantly, then shifted slightly away from Klaus. He stood up first, offering his hand to me like the gentleman I knew he wasn't, but like the man with a harsh exterior and gentle interior I had come to know. Klaus helped me up, but I was uneasy on my feet, leaning on him heavily. Klaus looked down at me for a moment, his gaze serious. "...This isn't going to work."
I looked up at him with wide eyes. Now that the dark magic ordeal was over, it was just the two of us and the trial. And with that kiss between us… I had so much hope. Just as much as I had the day the Acceptance Letter told me that I'd been accepted into the Academy. I think it's time for me to take advantage of the moment…
"Klaus…?"
"Yes?"
"Can you carry me?" The blonde man looked down at me quizzically, with one brow raised, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch up as if he wanted to smile.
"Fine. But only this once. Don't get used to it." I smiled and waited as Klaus bent over, and I was able to pull myself up onto his back. As soon as he had hold of me, I gladly buried my cheek into his back. "Don't enjoy yourself too much…"
"Hm…" I hummed in response, and Klaus began the trek back to the academy. Randy walked ahead of us, giving us the privacy I currently craved. I really wanted to ask him about why he had kissed me, but couldn't come up with the right words.
"You're going to strangle me."
"What?" I asked, turning my attention from my inner turmoil to Klaus.
"You're holding on too tightly."
"O-Oh! Sorry…"
"...What are you thinking about?"
"Um… Nothing. It doesn't matter right now."
"Hm. What does? You nearly died, and the man behind it all got away from me. Just tell me what's on your mind." I hesitated again, slightly readjusting my position, and was suddenly glad that Klaus couldn't see my flustered face.
"You… You kissed me back there…" I surprised myself when I didn't stumble over my words, and accredited to the fact that I had managed to stand up to the shadowy Nue.
"So what?" Um… What? I swallowed, unsure of what to say next.
"Um… You don't think that was… I don't know, weird?" I asked, leaning towards Klaus face to get a better look at him. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes, and my heart stopped. I shrunk back, embarrassed to even look him in the eyes.
"No. Kissing is normal between lovers."
"Ack!" I clenched Klaus neck almost as an involuntary reaction to hearing him actually speak those exact words, and quickly cried out sorry a few times as he made his irritation at my choking him clear. "B-B-B-But I don't understand!"
"Stop wailing before I drop you! Jeez…"
"Since when am I YOUR LOVER?!"
"Quite shouting!" Klaus shot Randy a dirty look for turning around to give us a curious look, and then stopped on the trail we had finally found through the forest, and set me down gingerly, much more so than I would have thought. He put his hands on my shoulders and bent down to look me in the eyes. I could see my reflection in his violent eyes and felt consumed by them.
"I thought you were in danger. You are my girl, aren't you? Then when you ended up being okay, I was relieved. So relieved, that I wanted to kiss you. I assume that's okay?" I blinked in absolute bemusement, eyes wide like a child at Klaus. The gears in my mind turned slowly as if covered with rust, as I attempted to process the meaning behind Klaus' words.
"I… I, um… I'm confused." Klaus gave me an exasperated look, then shook his head and managed a chuckle.
"...Guys? Aren't you going to come along?" Randy called from up ahead on the path, and I swear I saw a knowing glint in his pinky amber eyes.
"Go on without us. I don't care what you do." Randy, despite Klaus' snippy tone, grinned and put his hands on his hips while he watched us.
"Haha! You aren't very nice Klaus!" Klaus glared, ignored Randy, and turned around. He motioned for me to climb onto his back again, and I reluctantly complied. As we began to walk again, I leaned down close to Klaus' ear.
"I still don't understand…" To my pleasant surprise, Klaus was gentle when addressing me.
"We'll go over it again when we return to the academy. Get some rest before that. You need it." Sniffling, I nodded, and rested my head in the nap of Klaus' neck.
He smelled amazing, like parchment, ink, and I could faintly detect even tea. When did that combination become amazing? Who knows… I love it now though. I inhaled Klaus' scent deeply, clutched at the fabric of his uniform, and closed my eyes. I knew in that moment that there was no safer place in the world.
The returning sounds of the forest helped to further lull me into a much needed sleep, and consciousness quickly slipped away from me.
October 18th
Day 11 Of 13
WOW! This chapter took much longer to write than I thought it would, but it was worth it! I love writing it and adding my own dramatic flare! The next chapter will probably be a bit more chill, and then I only have one more main plot chapter to write! Don't worry though, I will continue the story using events and my own creations.
Please review and let me know what you thought about this chapter! Thanks for reading!