Setsunakutemo... Zutto- Chapter 1
Battle in the Heraldry Forest
by Asurahime
Disclaimer: ..... Oh why bother? Everyone knows that Star Ocean: The Second Story does not and never will belong to me. I'm just a hyper fangirl who would willingly jump at any chance to write a fanfic about something she likes..... or is obsessed with...
*~~*~~*
Rena woke up when the brilliant light of the early morning sun played along the edge of her vision. Not exactly understanding where she was, the young Nedian girl ran her hands through her hair, got up off her bed, and stood up shakily.
"Are you awake now? We have a long way to go."
The girl spun around and faced a man with a tall figure, long blue hair, and spiritless crimson eyes. "Dias... how long have you been awake?"
Dias put on his cape and pulled on his right glove as he calmly fixed his vermilion gaze at the disheveled teenager. "Well before dawn. I've been watching over you as you slept like I used to. It's been a long time since I had done so.... you sleep so peacefully, and your dreams seem to be based on the lighter side of life."
Feeling herself turning crimson, Rena quickly changed the subject by fixing her bed back to its former tidy state. Afterwards, she still noticed that the man's stare was still directed towards her, so she approached the table in the middle of the room. "Dias, have you already eaten?"
"Yes, you should take something as well." Taking up his sword, the swordsman sheathed the razor-sharp blade and made his way to the door. Not turning back to the healer, he added, "Make haste. We need to leave as quickly as we can as to get the adversary off-guard. I'll be waiting for you outside."
Not yet wanting Dias to leave, Rena grabbed on to his cape before he could leave the door. "Dias, do you remember a long time ago when we were young, you gave me a tiara of flowers? It was such a good memory for us..."
Dias remembers... how could he not remember such a wonderful moment of peace other than that time? But he would not betray any feeling of the past.... for it would only hurt him and others if he would allow himself even the slightest memory of those times. "...... I don't remember anything from those old days.... Let's go."
Watching her friend leave, the Nedian girl could only force down a cry of irritation at Dias' carelessness. He has changed, she knows that.... but it seems as if all he ever thinks about now is battle and the loneliness which forbids him from gaining more out of life. "Dias.... what could you have done to have caused you to change so much?"
*~~*~~*
The Heraldry Forest, a place filled with magic and mystery. Yet in the past days, it has become even more mysterious, for a group of bandits and their leader have managed to get passed the guarding spells which kept all with wicked intentions out of the forest. Now, two people---one not of evil, and one not convinced that he is not of evil---trek the forest to retrieve the children who were imprisoned as hostages from the village of Mars.
"Our goal here is to make sure that the children are safe, dispatching of the bandits will have to wait until the first task is accomplished." Dias told their objective to Rena, but what he said next was not one she was about to let him run off with. "Rena, when we reach their hideout, go in and make sure that the children are safe. I have some other business to attend to."
Rena couldn't let him do that. "Dias, what do you mean? You can't just jump in and take care of those bandits by yourself, if that's what you're talking about."
"............ You wouldn't understand, Rena." replied Dias as he walked on without even stopping to explain why. "I belong to no place in this world, so the possibility of my loss will not affect anyone in the least."
"Dias, stop saying things like that!! Do you actually think that that will be the same on my case? In truth, I myself have a doubt about you now." said Rena, walking faster to keep up with her 'older brother'.
Dias refused to show any emotion which he could have showed at her outburst. He didn't want for her to bring up anything about the past in her memories. After what he has done, the blue-haired swordsman believes that he is not worthy of even Rena's sympathy.
"You have an amazing power within you, Dias. Use it to help others, not torture yourself about the past." cried Rena. "Everything has its time, everything has its place..."
"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven..." sighed the man. Turning back, he focused his gaze on the teenager before him. Wise beyond her years and with an ethereal beauty which Dias has never seen in another-- and of all people... she just happens to be the one who loves him. "Yes Rena, I remember that clearly. But understand that I no longer believe it. Not everything has its place, and my power is the exact opposite of yours."
"What do you mean!? I have no power within me except for the power to heal! I am weak compared to you, Dias." said the girl as the edge of her vision became misty with the threat of tears.
The blue-haired swordsman said nothing and locked his gaze with the girl's. So much life was inside her... it was almost impossible that Rena of all people would say that she is weak. It was he who was lacking strength... the power he never had and could never be his....
Looking away from his stare, Rena focused her gaze on the ground, for she now knows that the subject is closed. ".........."
Further on into the forest, the duo encountered more bandits who were quickly dispatched by a couple of 'AirSlash' attacks from Dias. The adversary never stood a chance against the aggressiveness in which the other attacked, for he fought as if possessed.... as if every battle would be his last.
"Dias! You're wounded!" whispered Rena as she gently cast a healing spell on his arm, healing the gash completely. "There now."
His throat suddenly became dry at her ministrations of his wound. -.... I don't deserve this... Rena... please... stop being so kind to a demon like me....- "That would be enough, Rena. We have wasted enough time over something not so important." he said.
Rena's eyes glittered with pain. -Why does he keep on trying to push everyone away!? Dias, there are so many people who would care for you and even love you.... If you would only let them...- "I wonder if Claude and Celine are all right...."
He turned back towards the road and started walking again, expecting Rena to keep up with his pace, but in fact, he wanted to run away.... run away from the knowledge of what he has become. He replied to her with slight bitterness. "If you want to go back to them, you can go. I am not about to keep you from joining them if you so desire it." In Dias' ears, it came out as if he was a child trying to make his parents guilty...
Fortunately, Rena didn't notice the resentment of his tone. "No Dias, I told you that I would stay. And I keep by that promise."
"......... Fine. Let's go."
Later on in the deeper parts of the Heraldry Forest, there came an area where a swamp was present, blocking their way. However, this was easily remedied...
Rena looked at the swamp and stared into it. "Dias, I don't know if we can cross this... what shall we do now?" asked the girl.
Dias looked at his young companion and assessed the situation. He was not about to be kept back by bandits, magic, or even this gruesome swamp, so he did the first thing that came to mind. "I'm going to jump across it..."
"What?!" muttered Rena, not quite understanding what he said.
All of a sudden, the blue-haired swordsman swept the young girl in his arms. "Hold on tightly, Rena." Then he jumped across the swamp without warning. Looking down at his only friend in the world in his arms, he felt his heart jump to his throat in surprise.
"Dias!!" Rena clung on to her friend as if her life depended on it. She held on tightly even after the peril was over... just because she has not done so for two years past...
*~~*~~*
"Father!!" cried Rena, sobbing with her face in her hands, trying to stop the flow of tears which she could not repress. Her father was dead... and her mother has just revealed that Rena was not her true daughter... "Mother..."
"Rena, are you all right?"
The girl whipped around and jumped when she realized that an older boy with short blue hair and crimson eyes was staring at her intently and with great concern. "Dias!! I..."
Dias' gaze grew wide when he saw the grimy, tear-streaked face of his friend. He raised his hand to her face to brush away her tears and fix her hair into a kind of order. "Rena... I'm sorry..."
"It... it wasn't your fault.... Oh Dias!!" Rena burst into tears again as she threw herself at the boy, burying her face at his chest and crying freely. Never has Dias let her down during times when she was not feeling happy, and this time was not different.
Wrapping his arms around the girl, the blue-haired boy rested his lips on her hair and closed his eyes. "Go ahead and cry, Rena... Dias will always be here... I'll take care of Rena from now on..."
"But... I-I don't want to get yo--your shirt wet, Dias... But... I-I just can't stop!! I'm sorry!!" wept the girl as she clung harder to him.
"I'm not trying to get you to stop crying, love. Go ahead and get my shirt wet if you want. Just please, please let me take care of you." pleaded Dias, also starting to cry. It hurt him terribly to see Rena like this, for it was as if they were bound so tightly together that they can feel each other's pain.
Rena lifted her face up and looked into his vermilion gaze with her own sapphire stare. "You... want to take care of me? But... but..."
Dias hugged her closer to him, tilted her chin up, kissed her eyes, cheeks, and lips lightly. Then he placed a daisy tiara he made for her on her head. "No, Rena... I'll take care of you... Now, is there a smile beyond your curtain of tears?"
His efforts were rewarded by a brilliant, albeit wet smile. "Thank you, Dias..."
*~~*~~*
"Rena... why..." whispered Dias as his gaze softened when he looked at her. His query came out in the form of a murmur, for his throat was dry with surprise.
The young girl didn't reply, but only stayed where she was. -Dias.... has grown up... I could barely even recognize him anymore... his face... his voice... am I just holding him back? He once promised to protect me... but now.... I'm not so sure anymore... Is he no longer the Dias I have known ever since I was small? No.... it can't be that.... if he can't protect me... then I'll protect him.-
All of a sudden, the swordsman drew the girl closer to him, all of his senses on the alert. "Shh..."
"Dias..." whispered Rena.
"I could have sworn that I just heard the voice of a child over there...." replied Dias as he moved back some branches to show a log cabin in the middle of the forest. "I knew it."
A little girl with braided yellow hair ran towards the two and clung on to Rena's dress. "Please, Miss, Sir! Help me! My friends are held by bad men over there!!" she said, pointing to the house.
Rena reluctantly let go of her companion to walk towards the house and peek through a window, and what she saw, surprised her. Three other children were all crying inside, whispering to each other that they miss their parents. "Dias! The children are all inside!!" she turned to look at the young girl who still held on to her. "What is your name?"
The child wiped away her tears and looked up at Rena. "I'm Cecille."
".........." Dias turned around to look at the child and Rena, but then he turned away again. "No, she's too young to be my sister..."
Before Rena could speak, a sharp, grating voice spoke up. "I suppose that it wouldn't have taken long for you to find out hideaway... but no matter..." A spear suddenly flew through the air and would have impaled Cecille had Rena not knocked the child aside before harm could have been done. "Hmph, stupid brat tried to escape I see."
Dias turned towards the sound and charged, baring his teeth in a snarl of anger. "How dare you attack a child like that!!! You will not live to regret that!!"
"Dias! Stop!!!" cried Rena, telling Cecille to stay low and away from the fighting before charging into the battle herself.
A man in clad in armor walked out from behind a tree and blocked the swordsman's slash by spinning another spear like a windmill. Then he jumped to the side as Rena managed to run to Dias' side, inspecting her friend and ready to cast a healing spell should it be needed. "Ehe... It matters not, you will fall down before the blade of Lord Azamgil!!" said the man, caressing the evil-looking spear in his hand.
"You're the only one here?" asked Dias in a menacing whisper as his crimson eyes narrowed into slits.
"So what if I am?" smirked Azamgil, and he buried his spear on the ground as if he was daring the blue-haired man to attack him. "What are you waiting for? Attack me already you stupid fool!"
"You are only hastening your death in speaking like so... if you wish it so much, then you determine the time."
Azamgil waited no longer and started towards the man, his pupils large in defiance of the light which streamed through the breaks of the branches in the trees. "That feeling... of self-awareness obvious on your face.... I'm going to tear it off!!! You'll be dead before long!!!"
Dias remained emotionless as the other charged at him, knowing that he still had an ace up his sleeve even if he was presumed to be at the disadvantage.
Rena couldn't take it.
"DIAS!! Watch out!!" Rena immediately released a healing spell in Dias' direction as the blade of Azamgil descended on her friend.
The blue-haired swordsman swung his sword up and blocked the downward sweep of the spear. Then he quickly cut a side-long arc with his longsword which severed the metal point of the spear off. Azamgil cursed as he tried to move away, but he got caught by Dias' sword.
Rena looked around to see if there was anything else which seemed threatening. Suddenly, her eyes widened when her gaze rested on several Shielders which were advancing. She knew that Dias was busy with the boss, so she immediately cast cast another spell. "RAY!!"
"Airslash!!"
The battle raged on, ending with Azamgil and his troupe falling despite their advantage in numbers. Dias lowered the point of his longsword on his enemy's neck, and Azamgil looked up into the coldest crimson eyes he ever hoped to see. "Don't make me kill you... you already lied once, now speak the truth. "
"You're a monster..." rasped Azamgil, his voice spent. "My only responsibility is to guard the hideout..."
Dias and Rena started upon hearing the man's words. The blue-haired swordsman immediately knelt and grabbed Azamgil's mail so that he would listen to him closely. "Hey, what do you mean by that!?"
Azamgil smirked painfully, but he answered. He had nothing else to lose except for his life, and so there was no reason why he shouldn't tell the two fools about the plan... besides... it's too late. "Che, my responsibility... ugh... was nothing... I was only stationed here so that I could delay anyone who was searching for these four brats to get the strong warriors... damn you... from the REAL target."
Rena's eyes widened to their full extent. The children were only a ruse to weaken the warriors which guard the actual prize itself.... Mars Village. "Dias!!"
"Rena, get the children out of the village and hurry!! We have to go back to the village as fast as we can!" ordered Dias, already ignoring the henchman on his feet. This has turned out to be a situation of greater danger than what he expected. But he already knew what to do: kill the leader and that will scatter the rest.
Preview of Chapter 2
Inner Revelations
"So you're a swordsman Mr. Flac. I see quite a lot of people like you these days, especially since the Lacour Tournaments are about to commence." Rhein crossed his arms before him and inspected the younger man with great confusion. "You are fit to be of age to marry, Mr. Flac. Yet why do you prefer the battlefield? Do you not have a love waiting for you or in mind?"
Dias almost jumped in surprise, but his training kept it down and let no feelings show. Of everything that could have been used as a subject, his personal life just had to be brought up. "No, I have no one. I do not wish to be loved because I deserve it not."
Rhein raised an eyebrow. The boy was hiding something and it was apparent. "But what about this Rena girl? You mentioned her several times, but never actually explained who she was."
"........."
"Well?"
The sun was still high and bright in the sky, and so Dias had no chance of retiring yet... so he would have to elaborate on in. But his words belie the feeling in his heart when he mentions her name. It can't be... it just... is impossible. "No, Rhein. I think of Rena as my little sister since I lost my family when I was very young. She is seventeen years old and much too young for me..."
"That is not the point, Dias." said the red-haired old man. "How old are you?"
Fastening his piercing eyes on his companion, he steadily replied to the query. "I am all of twenty-five years old."
What was Rhein getting into? Whatever it was, it was damn uncomfortable.
Smirking, Rhein trudged on, cutting off the other in four short words which sums up his feelings on the entire argument. "Do you love her?"
Chapter Notes:
I'm terribly sorry that I have made you guys wait for months for this chapter. I haven't had much time for any of my fics because of stuff in rl. *sighs* I want so time to write, for Dias' sake!! Uhm... I didn't mean you, Dias. *waves to her rl Dias* In the next chapter, hehehe.... never mind, I can't say anything that won't be a spoiler. I'm sorry but everyone will just have to make do with that little excerpt up there. I sincerely don't know when I'll get the next part up, but it should be within the next couple of weeks or even sooner if I also write some of it as I go. It's boring in my physics class anyway... k's bai bai, people.
~Asurahime