Yeah, yeah, I know. It's been a while. I don't care though. I've been
busy with a ton of random things. New semester of school, new classes, a
new video game, and, oh yeah, MY HARDRIVE CRASHED! Well, partially. It's
so annoying. Lucky for me, my writing wasn't deleted. But this is a sign
that my hardrive is failing, meaning I'm gonna have to put everything I
have onto disks and fast.
Onward!
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
**************************************************************************** ********************
Everyone was back at the base now. The battle was over and everything became normal again, well, as normal as it could get. It was late at night, but not many felt like sleeping. In the lab area, the doctors and the scientists were all working hard at their computers. In the waiting area, the Blitz team, Fluegel team, Fire Star team, and Miharu all stood, waiting. A scientist walked into the room and approached them.
"We'll begin soon," he said. They all nodded. "Are you sure you want to let her go through with this? The Ryu stone shattered, right?"
"Yes, but Rose mentioned that she had another," said Miharu.
"As you wish. I can't promise anything though. This isn't an easy procedure. One wrong move and she'll end up in a coma."
"We trust you. We know you'll be careful with her." The man nodded and then walked back into the room.
"What now?" asked Naomi.
"We wait."
******
Risai floated in complete nothingness. She could hear sounds all around her, but she could see nothing. Taban wouldn't come to her that night. He couldn't. She was going under the procedure. She wasn't allowed to do anything or think anything. It was almost as if being dead. She still felt something though. It was a tinge of fear. Rose was going to hurt Taban, maybe even kill him, and there was nothing Risai could do about it. She felt helpless. She also thought of something else. If Rose activated the pulse while she was under the procedure, she would die. There was nothing else to it. She would die.
Risai didn't want to die, not yet. She still had so much left to do with her life. She couldn't die. She promised, and she planned to keep that promise. If it had been to anyone else, maybe she wouldn't take it so seriously, but this was Leon. He didn't want her to die, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, but she knew that it would happen sooner or later. Both of them would get hurt, and neither could do a thing to prevent it. That's what happens when you love someone you can't be with.
******
Rose stopped her Ryujin in the hanger of her base. She jumped out of the cockpit and then proceeded to walk towards the halls, a scowl on her face. The soldiers backed out of her way as she came through. They were all afraid of what the Backdraft general would do and were happy that they weren't her target right now. They began to feel sorry for Taban. Rose continued down the halls and went down a stairwell to arrive at the prison cells. She stopped at Taban's and looked in to find him lying on his bed, on his back. He was laughing.
"How was the battle, Rose? I guess not everything went according to your plan." Rose was completely overtaken with anger.
"Shut up!" she yelled. She quickly used her key and threw open the door, walking over to him. She pulled out her gun and Taban sat up, only to find himself looking down a gun barrel. He just smiled.
"I already told you; death doesn't faze me."
"I know, but I've decided you're more trouble than you're worth."
"Is that so?"
"Stop acting so calm!"
"I'm not afraid to die, you know. I've already said this. So do it. Kill me." Rose just stood, keeping Taban at gunpoint. "What's wrong? Are you afraid?"
"No!"
"Then do it." Rose shook a little, trying to bring herself to kill him, but then smirked and lowered her gun. She then shook her head.
"No, you'd like that too much. I have a better way. I hope you like bleeding, Taban, because that cut in your chest won't be treated anytime soon. I'll be back again later." She turned and headed out of the prison cell. Taban sighed in relief. He had always been good at mind games.
"Good, she left, but she will be back. I just need a little more time." He lied back down on his bed and fell asleep easily.
******
An hour had passed by and some of the people at the base had gone to sleep. The three teams left the lab area, since the procedure would take all night to complete. Miharu was taken back to the medical vicinity so she could get some much-needed sleep. Everyone else just wandered the base, finding ways to keep themselves entertained. Leena was walking down the hall, heading back towards her room. Meiyuu came up behind her and they began to walk together.
"I never got the chance to ask, but how are you and Bit doing?"
"Relationship wise?"
"Yeah."
"Great. Everything's perfect. Why?" Meiyuu didn't say anything, but she did avert her gaze and picked the floor to stare at. "What's wrong? Is everything alright with you and Rick?" Meiyuu just shook her head sadly.
"It seems like every time we're about to get really close, he pulls away."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"You should go talk to him. I think he went back to his room and Mattei went with him."
"Alright."
"Good luck Meiyuu."
"Thanks." Meiyuu turned around and left, heading down the hall and towards Rick's room.
******
Rick was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had about a million different thoughts running through his mind. His little brother, Mattei, was sitting on the floor, putting together a jigsaw puzzle that Rick never finished.
"Hey, Mattei?"
"Yeah?"
"I want you to promise me something."
"What is it?"
"Don't...don't ever turn out...like dad, alright?"
"Rick, what are you talking about?"
"I don't want you to turn out like dad." There was a subject they didn't talk about much. Rick had been thinking a lot about his family lately. Ever since that day a year ago when they defeated the Backdraft and met the Blitz team, he had been thinking mostly about his father. (A/N read Broken Flame to understand more about this. Please. It's not that long of a fic. If you don't want to, that's okay. I guess it doesn't really matter.)
"I won't, okay? But why are you bringing this up?"
"I don't know. I guess I'm afraid, that's all."
"Afraid?"
"Yeah."
"Of what?"
"Of turning out like dad."
"Come on Rick, you're too nice. You'd never turn out like him."
"I can't help worrying though. The last thing I want is to hurt you and Meiyuu."
"You know, Meiyuu really loves you."
"I'm aware of that."
"And I know you love her, so why do you keep pulling away? Is it really because you're afraid of hurting her?"
"...Yeah." He rolled onto his side, his back to Mattei. "Ever since dad died, I've been afraid of turning out like him. It's my fault for what happened that day. It's my fault that mom died. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't...if I hadn't..."
"Killed him."
"Yeah. I still have his gun. The same gun that killed mom and then killed him. They say that kids who have been...abused or have seen a parent be abused have a better chance of doing it themselves."
"But you're different."
"I'm only 18. Who knows what I'll be like when I'm older. I don't want to take that risk."
"You don't have to be like that. You're different from dad. Why do I always end up giving you advice anyway? You're supposed to do that." He heard a small laugh come from his brother. Mattei smiled, happy that he had accomplished something. "I'm gonna go back to my room now. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Rick heard the door open and close. He turned back over onto his back and stared at the ceiling. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in." The door opened and shut.
"Hi Rick," said Meiyuu, her voice kind of quiet. Rick sat up and smiled.
"Hi Meiyuu," he said. He had the same cheerful tone in his voice as he usually did, but Meiyuu wasn't smiling. This didn't go unnoticed. "Is something wrong?" She nodded her head once and looked at him.
"I...I want an explanation...please."
"An explanation?"
"Why, Rick?" She walked over and sat down next to him. "Don't you...don't you love me...anymore?"
"What?" He was shocked at this. He looked right at her. Meiyuu had tears brimming in her eyes. He suddenly felt bad and sympathetic. His smile had faded long before. "Meiyuu, I don't understand. What do you mean?"
"You've been so distant lately. Why?"
"Well..."
"You promised. You promised that you'd always be there when I needed you. Well, I need you now, Rick, and you haven't been there for me."
"Meiyuu, I..."
"At least give me a reason."
"I'm afraid, okay?" he said a little louder than he meant to. Meiyuu looked at him, confusion clearly on her face.
"You're afraid?" Rick's head was down. He didn't want to meet her gaze. "Of what?"
"I'm afraid...afraid of becoming like my father."
"Your father?"
"Yeah. You knew him. You know about what he did. I don't think I could live with myself if I ever hurt you."
"Rick..." Meiyuu reached out and hugged him. "You are nothing like your father. The only similarity is the way you look. Nothing else. You're the nicest person I've ever met. I trust you Rick. I know you won't hurt me."
"Meiyuu...I...I can't. I don't want to risk it. What if I do hurt you? Dad never realized he was doing it until it was too late. What if..."
"No one can predict the future. You don't know what will happen and neither do I, but I'm willing to risk it all. I just want to be with you. I'll stay with you, no matter what."
"You promise?" Meiyuu laughed slightly. He sounded like a child.
"Yeah, I promise." Rick smiled and returned her embrace.
"Thanks Mei."
"No problem. It's late. I should get to bed." Rick let go of Meiyuu and she stood up. She walked towards the door. "Goodnight, Rick."
"See ya in the morning." Meiyuu opened the door, a smile on her face. She left the room, shutting the door behind her.
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Ah, that felt good. I don't know why. It just did. I love happy romantic stuff. The next chapter will be good, trust me. I know something you don't know. Let's just say it's something you guys may have been waiting for. Care to guess?
I'll write more soon.
And go read Uncivil War, chapter 3, if you haven't already.
Does anyone know if the AOL server thing is better yet? You know, with getting on fanfiction? Just curious. Audi^.^
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
**************************************************************************** ********************
Everyone was back at the base now. The battle was over and everything became normal again, well, as normal as it could get. It was late at night, but not many felt like sleeping. In the lab area, the doctors and the scientists were all working hard at their computers. In the waiting area, the Blitz team, Fluegel team, Fire Star team, and Miharu all stood, waiting. A scientist walked into the room and approached them.
"We'll begin soon," he said. They all nodded. "Are you sure you want to let her go through with this? The Ryu stone shattered, right?"
"Yes, but Rose mentioned that she had another," said Miharu.
"As you wish. I can't promise anything though. This isn't an easy procedure. One wrong move and she'll end up in a coma."
"We trust you. We know you'll be careful with her." The man nodded and then walked back into the room.
"What now?" asked Naomi.
"We wait."
******
Risai floated in complete nothingness. She could hear sounds all around her, but she could see nothing. Taban wouldn't come to her that night. He couldn't. She was going under the procedure. She wasn't allowed to do anything or think anything. It was almost as if being dead. She still felt something though. It was a tinge of fear. Rose was going to hurt Taban, maybe even kill him, and there was nothing Risai could do about it. She felt helpless. She also thought of something else. If Rose activated the pulse while she was under the procedure, she would die. There was nothing else to it. She would die.
Risai didn't want to die, not yet. She still had so much left to do with her life. She couldn't die. She promised, and she planned to keep that promise. If it had been to anyone else, maybe she wouldn't take it so seriously, but this was Leon. He didn't want her to die, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, but she knew that it would happen sooner or later. Both of them would get hurt, and neither could do a thing to prevent it. That's what happens when you love someone you can't be with.
******
Rose stopped her Ryujin in the hanger of her base. She jumped out of the cockpit and then proceeded to walk towards the halls, a scowl on her face. The soldiers backed out of her way as she came through. They were all afraid of what the Backdraft general would do and were happy that they weren't her target right now. They began to feel sorry for Taban. Rose continued down the halls and went down a stairwell to arrive at the prison cells. She stopped at Taban's and looked in to find him lying on his bed, on his back. He was laughing.
"How was the battle, Rose? I guess not everything went according to your plan." Rose was completely overtaken with anger.
"Shut up!" she yelled. She quickly used her key and threw open the door, walking over to him. She pulled out her gun and Taban sat up, only to find himself looking down a gun barrel. He just smiled.
"I already told you; death doesn't faze me."
"I know, but I've decided you're more trouble than you're worth."
"Is that so?"
"Stop acting so calm!"
"I'm not afraid to die, you know. I've already said this. So do it. Kill me." Rose just stood, keeping Taban at gunpoint. "What's wrong? Are you afraid?"
"No!"
"Then do it." Rose shook a little, trying to bring herself to kill him, but then smirked and lowered her gun. She then shook her head.
"No, you'd like that too much. I have a better way. I hope you like bleeding, Taban, because that cut in your chest won't be treated anytime soon. I'll be back again later." She turned and headed out of the prison cell. Taban sighed in relief. He had always been good at mind games.
"Good, she left, but she will be back. I just need a little more time." He lied back down on his bed and fell asleep easily.
******
An hour had passed by and some of the people at the base had gone to sleep. The three teams left the lab area, since the procedure would take all night to complete. Miharu was taken back to the medical vicinity so she could get some much-needed sleep. Everyone else just wandered the base, finding ways to keep themselves entertained. Leena was walking down the hall, heading back towards her room. Meiyuu came up behind her and they began to walk together.
"I never got the chance to ask, but how are you and Bit doing?"
"Relationship wise?"
"Yeah."
"Great. Everything's perfect. Why?" Meiyuu didn't say anything, but she did avert her gaze and picked the floor to stare at. "What's wrong? Is everything alright with you and Rick?" Meiyuu just shook her head sadly.
"It seems like every time we're about to get really close, he pulls away."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"You should go talk to him. I think he went back to his room and Mattei went with him."
"Alright."
"Good luck Meiyuu."
"Thanks." Meiyuu turned around and left, heading down the hall and towards Rick's room.
******
Rick was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had about a million different thoughts running through his mind. His little brother, Mattei, was sitting on the floor, putting together a jigsaw puzzle that Rick never finished.
"Hey, Mattei?"
"Yeah?"
"I want you to promise me something."
"What is it?"
"Don't...don't ever turn out...like dad, alright?"
"Rick, what are you talking about?"
"I don't want you to turn out like dad." There was a subject they didn't talk about much. Rick had been thinking a lot about his family lately. Ever since that day a year ago when they defeated the Backdraft and met the Blitz team, he had been thinking mostly about his father. (A/N read Broken Flame to understand more about this. Please. It's not that long of a fic. If you don't want to, that's okay. I guess it doesn't really matter.)
"I won't, okay? But why are you bringing this up?"
"I don't know. I guess I'm afraid, that's all."
"Afraid?"
"Yeah."
"Of what?"
"Of turning out like dad."
"Come on Rick, you're too nice. You'd never turn out like him."
"I can't help worrying though. The last thing I want is to hurt you and Meiyuu."
"You know, Meiyuu really loves you."
"I'm aware of that."
"And I know you love her, so why do you keep pulling away? Is it really because you're afraid of hurting her?"
"...Yeah." He rolled onto his side, his back to Mattei. "Ever since dad died, I've been afraid of turning out like him. It's my fault for what happened that day. It's my fault that mom died. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't...if I hadn't..."
"Killed him."
"Yeah. I still have his gun. The same gun that killed mom and then killed him. They say that kids who have been...abused or have seen a parent be abused have a better chance of doing it themselves."
"But you're different."
"I'm only 18. Who knows what I'll be like when I'm older. I don't want to take that risk."
"You don't have to be like that. You're different from dad. Why do I always end up giving you advice anyway? You're supposed to do that." He heard a small laugh come from his brother. Mattei smiled, happy that he had accomplished something. "I'm gonna go back to my room now. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Rick heard the door open and close. He turned back over onto his back and stared at the ceiling. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in." The door opened and shut.
"Hi Rick," said Meiyuu, her voice kind of quiet. Rick sat up and smiled.
"Hi Meiyuu," he said. He had the same cheerful tone in his voice as he usually did, but Meiyuu wasn't smiling. This didn't go unnoticed. "Is something wrong?" She nodded her head once and looked at him.
"I...I want an explanation...please."
"An explanation?"
"Why, Rick?" She walked over and sat down next to him. "Don't you...don't you love me...anymore?"
"What?" He was shocked at this. He looked right at her. Meiyuu had tears brimming in her eyes. He suddenly felt bad and sympathetic. His smile had faded long before. "Meiyuu, I don't understand. What do you mean?"
"You've been so distant lately. Why?"
"Well..."
"You promised. You promised that you'd always be there when I needed you. Well, I need you now, Rick, and you haven't been there for me."
"Meiyuu, I..."
"At least give me a reason."
"I'm afraid, okay?" he said a little louder than he meant to. Meiyuu looked at him, confusion clearly on her face.
"You're afraid?" Rick's head was down. He didn't want to meet her gaze. "Of what?"
"I'm afraid...afraid of becoming like my father."
"Your father?"
"Yeah. You knew him. You know about what he did. I don't think I could live with myself if I ever hurt you."
"Rick..." Meiyuu reached out and hugged him. "You are nothing like your father. The only similarity is the way you look. Nothing else. You're the nicest person I've ever met. I trust you Rick. I know you won't hurt me."
"Meiyuu...I...I can't. I don't want to risk it. What if I do hurt you? Dad never realized he was doing it until it was too late. What if..."
"No one can predict the future. You don't know what will happen and neither do I, but I'm willing to risk it all. I just want to be with you. I'll stay with you, no matter what."
"You promise?" Meiyuu laughed slightly. He sounded like a child.
"Yeah, I promise." Rick smiled and returned her embrace.
"Thanks Mei."
"No problem. It's late. I should get to bed." Rick let go of Meiyuu and she stood up. She walked towards the door. "Goodnight, Rick."
"See ya in the morning." Meiyuu opened the door, a smile on her face. She left the room, shutting the door behind her.
**************************************************************************** ********************
Ah, that felt good. I don't know why. It just did. I love happy romantic stuff. The next chapter will be good, trust me. I know something you don't know. Let's just say it's something you guys may have been waiting for. Care to guess?
I'll write more soon.
And go read Uncivil War, chapter 3, if you haven't already.
Does anyone know if the AOL server thing is better yet? You know, with getting on fanfiction? Just curious. Audi^.^