A/N: Wow! I haven't written in a really long time. About 3 months! Sheesh! I should've made time to write this, but I haven't. Remember that things in red are Nanaki's dreams. Well, here goes.
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Chapter 9: Training
Vallen raced over to the spot where Nanaki had fallen. "Nanaki!" he practically screamed, "Nanaki wake up! Don't die like she did!"
"Shhhhh," said Hitomi calmly, "She's just a little tired. I always fainted after my visions."
Vallen looked up at her and nodded slowly. "Let's get her to her room."
Nanaki was waiting, ready to attack. She watched her opponent come forward. She struck; her staff was quickly countered and knocked out of her hands by his.
"Nice try Summers."
Vallen carried Nanaki to her room and placed her gently on the bed. Hitomi, Van, Merle, Alonda, Dan, and Arch followed. Ben was in his mother's arms. Vallen looked up, shocked to see them all standing there.
"This news has been very disturbing," said Van, "Though it is hard to tell when what was seen in a vision is to take place, this one seems like there isn't much time to waste. And, as much as I hate to admit it, Ben will have to start training for battle."
"It still wasn't good enough, Sensei." She replied.
"That's because you broke concentration Summers. Don't show your emotions, concentrate."
"Yes Sensei."
Hitomi hugged him to her chest, "But he's just a baby!"
"Yes, but would you rather our baby be able to defend himself or not?"
Hitomi put him down. Ben looked up at his father with a fierce determination in his eyes, "I will do what is needed to protect our country."
Nanaki watched as the face of her sensei moulded into that of Mr. Robertson. She looked at his hands; he was holding a fencing sword. She looked at hers, so was she. He charged at her, she blocked his strike and went through the familiar motions of offensive and defensive moves.
The sound of those words coming from her little boy's mouth made Hitomi burst into tears. Ben looked up at his mother shocked. What had he done wrong? He tugged at the end of her dress. "I'm sorry mamma."
Hitomi stopped herself and sent a forced smile towards her little boy. "It's not your fault honey."
It went like that for a while until Mr. Robertson eventually knocked her sword from her hand. "That was good Summers, you're getting better. You might even win next time."
Hitomi realised something suddenly, "Vallen, when Nanaki fainted, you said 'don't die like she did', what did you mean by that?"
Vallen sighed, it was time to tell them, "My mother was killed by bandits recently." Everybody gasped, "Nanaki was attacked by the leader but she managed to detain him. We were bringing him here for a trial but a young dragon ate him. At least he got what he deserved."
"Oh, Vallen, I'm so sorry. Your mother was a good woman."
"Poor aunt Celena, I never saw it coming."
"We will go to the funeral when it is to take place."
"We'll put our plans on hold to pay our respects to our dear friend."
"She was such a nice lady."
"I can't believe she's gone."
"If the dragon hadn't eaten him, I'd have killed that bad man myself. He was a meanie."
(A/N: I'm having a contest to see who can guess correctly who said what. The winner will have my next chapter dedicated to them.)
"Oh!" Vallen said, "I forgot I hadn't told anyone I was leaving! With my mother's death they're probably expecting the worst! And poor Alice! She has no-one to comfort her except Geki!"
It was suddenly pitch black and Nanaki was flying towards a light. She could see some figures in the window that the light was shining through. The things she had just experienced were things of the past. It was time to return to the present. Nanaki's eyes fluttered open as she regained consciousness.
Nanaki opened her eyes and looked around the room. Where am I? She thought. She looked over to some figures discussing and recognition could be seen in her eyes. She remembered it all now, from the pillar of light all the way to the ball. Only, there was a gap in her memory from when she was dancing with Arch to where she was now.
"Wha... what happened?" she asked groggily.
All eyes turned to her. "You had a vision and fainted." Said Hitomi gently, "Do you remember anything about it?"
Nanaki thought for a moment, trying hard to remember. "No," she admitted finally, "It must've been a big one then. When they're important, they get erased from my memory. What did I say?"
Van answered her question for her, "You said there would be another war and that 'the heir of the dragon will take his place.' Do you know what this means?"
"No sir."
"I was the dragon in the last war. It means that my son will take my place in the next. We are going to begin preparing for war immediately and my boy will have to train."
"May I train too?"
Van smiled "What do you know about combat, girl?"
Nanaki didn't take this to heart, she new he was only worried about her safety. "Why don't you meet me in the training area and I'll show you." She smiled and shooed everyone out of the room so she could change. Even though she had got better since that lesson long ago, she certainly couldn't fight in a dress.
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Five minutes later Nanaki showed up in the training area wearing a T-shirt and some loose fitting jeans. Jeans weren't the best things to fight in but it was all she could find.
She was surprised to see Van standing there with two swords in his hands. She had expected him to ask a less experienced swordsman to fight her. She supposed he thought that it would be safer if he himself duelled her, or what was it called again? Oh yeah, sparring. He tossed her a sword, which she caught nimbly. It was a little heavier then what she was used to, but she'd manage. It wasn't like she had much choice in the matter.
"So," she asked, "what are the rules?"
"First one to draw blood from the other wins, or if the other admits defeat. Oh, and you can't use your powers to summon your sword if I knock it out of your hands."
"Sounds fair," she said, "I never much liked to mix combat and my powers."
They both took a stance. Van started by charging towards her, sword above his head. She easily blocked it with her own and forced him back. She could tell he wasn't going to go easy on her. She went at him with a crescent-shaped cut, which he blocked. He took advantage of her position to try to cut her hand. She dodged just in time and tried the same thing on him, naturally she failed.
Ben had finally been able to sneak away from his mother. She wanted to spend as much time as possible with him before his training started and he had been feeling suffocated. He headed down towards the entrance to the castle, wanting to go see his friends in the city, when he heard sounds of clanging metal and shouts coming from the training area. He walked over too it and went in. There was a huge crowd surrounding to fighters. The people in the crowd were busy making bets on who would win. Ben pushed his way through the crowd, wanting to see who was fighting. It wasn't until he saw them that he remembered; it was his father and Nanaki! They both had a determination in their eyes to win and also the enjoyment of a match that wasn't to end in death. As he watched the two fight, a realisation dawned on him…
They had been going at it for an hour now and the heavier sword was taking its toll on Nanaki. She was attacking less and less and barely being able to able to block the blows that Van dealt her. Her arms felt like they were on fire, but she wasn't about to give up. She drew up all the energy she could spare and put it all into one sweeping blow. She missed, and as she started to regain her position, Van made a shallow cut from the top of her right shoulder blade to her collarbone. Nanaki admitted defeat and dropped her sword. The crowed erupt in cheers, and some groans for those who bet against their king. Van smiled and dropped his sword also. He held his hand and she shook it.
"Good match." She said.
"Best match I've had in years," he replied, "I never thought you'd have this much skill, I…" he stopped when he saw the light glint off of something on the floor. He bent down and picked it up. Nanaki saw her pendant in his hand and gasped, he must've cut the chain when he cut her. She tried to snatch it away from him.
"That's mine." She said.
"Where did you get this?" he asked, his eyes cold.
"I've had it ever since I was born." She replied, "Please sir, can I have it back?"
His eyes searched hers, and even though she knew he didn't have the same power as her, she felt naked and vulnerable under that gaze. "Very well then." He handed over her pendant. She took it and went to bandage her cut.
As she left, the king stood there, watching her, a question in his eyes.
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A/N: So, what did you think? Have I lost my touch in this long time I've been away? Review and tell me. Oh, and if anyone could send me a picture of one of the scenes in this story, from previous chapters or ones still to come, I would highly appreciate it. I would especially like one of Nanaki and Van fighting. Oh, and remember, I'm having a contest to see who can guess who said what to Vallen when he told them about Celena.