Setsunakutemo... Zutto- Chapter 2
Inner Revelations
by Asurahime
Disclaimer: Star Ocean: The Second Story does not belong to me. It belongs to Enix and those guys who have a claim on creating my Dias and Rena in the first place... *sighs* How I do wish Dias Flac was mine... no offense, Dil-kun.
*~~*~~*
"Rena..." whispered Dias as he watched the girl cast her healing spell on Claude. However, his gaze narrowed when he looked at the blonde warrior. The amazing thing was that it was a feeling which he has never felt before... There was just something about the way Rena fussed over Claude which gripped his frozen heart like a vise and has yet to let go.
Celine fell on her knees, exhausted from the battle and calmly waiting for Rena to finish up on Claude so that she would heal her wounds. Supporting herself on her staff, she saw a flash of lighter blue hair and immediately stiffened in indignation when she realized that Dias was still there. Her eyes blazed as she opened her mouth to shout at the man concerning his behavior the day before. "Now look here you insensitive..."
The blue-haired swordsman ignored the spell-caster and kept his attention seemingly fixated on Vermilion, the slain bandit chieftain. "............"
"What in Tria is wrong with him?" Celine asked herself, but smiled brightly as Rena approached her. Nevertheless she was taken completely by surprise when she noticed that Dias' normally spiritless crimson eyes were bright with emotion that was not concentrated on the bandit boss.... It followed Rena with a look of a dying man seeing the brightest angel in heaven. Celine glanced at Rena, who was wholly focused on her spell and smiled inwardly. The spell-caster knew that look... Chris had given her that exact same look when he told her he loved her... "We should be heading back... I think that there might still be something wrong in the village!" She flashed Dias a certain look and smile that told him that she knew what he was thinking... or should she say who he was thinking about...
Inside, Dias' heart jumped when he saw Celine smirk at him knowingly... he is a fool. Now, he is certain that the over-confident spell-caster knew the deepest secret he held in his heart... what he has left of it anyway. Therefore, he looked away without acknowledging her gesture.
"Dias." Claude spread out his hands before him, not wanting any hard feelings to form a barrier between them. Before him was an extremely capable sword-master, and one he wanted terribly to be friends with rather than just another face to be against in the field of battle.
Dias turned around and faced the younger man squarely, but his crimson eyes once again grew dull and emotionless. "So you managed to dispatch of this one, did you not?" he asked, gesturing towards the motionless form of Vermilion.
Claude shook his head in denial, he couldn't take all the credit for the battle. "No, I didn't do it alone. I couldn't have done much of anything without Celine's help."
"Claude, you do yourself too little credit," said Celine. "Modesty is a good thing, but what you said isn't entirely true."
The young, blue-haired healer walked up to Claude and Celine, but her unasked plea and question was for Dias and Dias alone. "Dias... I..."
Dias Flac turned away and walked quickly towards the road to leave. "I look forward to when we shall finally cross swords in the battlefield, Claude Kenni. Until then, stay alive and make sure to take care of Rena."
"I will."
Rena's eyes grew wide and she started after her long-time friend. "Dias!"
"Rena, thank you for coming with me. Take care of yourself."
With a heavy heart, he left them without another glance, but he knew that they will traverse the same path soon enough-- that this separation is not going to be a permanent or even long one.
"At least this time... you stayed long enough to say goodbye..." whispered Rena as she watched his tall figure disappear, trying to force down the desire to shed tears of regret that she couldn't be there for him.
*~~*~~*
As the bright sun started its descend to give way to another starless night, Dias looked out of the window of the Wild Man Tavern in the port town of Herlie. He has heard about the Lacour Tournaments, the most prestigious of all tourneys in Expel, and entering it would prove his worth... and hopefully relieve some guilt in his heart. Sharpening his longsword until it shone brought no alleviation to his spirit, for Dias is well aware of how he has lost track of the times the very sword which rested so peacefully on the table has taken the lives of others.
A silver-haired man soon entered the tavern and took notice of Dias sitting alone on the corner of the tavern. Smiling slightly, he walked up the the blue-haired swordsman and greeted him. "Welcome to Herlie, young man. Are you new around here?" he asked cheerfully, taking a seat across from the astonished Dias.
"..........."
"Not the talkative type, are you? Doesn't matter I suppose, I guess I'm just too talkative. Oh, how terribly rude of me... my name is Rheinald, Rhein for short!" said the man, holding out his hand towards Dias. "May I have your name?"
Dias stared at the hand offered to him and quickly decided on whether to take it or not. He didn't really want to talk to anyone, but it seemed quite rude to slight someone who has done him nothing wrong. Besides... Rhein's cheerful demeanor reminded him too much of a certain healer girl... Thus, he extended his own gloved hand and shook the offered palm. "Dias Flac."
"Ah... so you do speak! That's wonderful! This town is too full of scavengers and thieves who think of nothing but themselves and money." piped Rhein, not bothering to lower his voice as several minions of Zand turned to face them with anger in their eyes.
Several of the minions unsheathed their swords, but two young girls with long silver-violet and silver-blue hair burst into the tavern door. Seeing the minions approaching Rhein and his companion, both women glared at them and instantaneously placed their hands on the hilt of their swords. The adversary noticed the girl's approach and fell back, they were not about to spar with 'weak' girls who looked as if they should be at home instead of in a tavern.
Rhein smiled at the women and raised his hand in greeting. The older girl with moonbeam-blue hair smiled brilliantly and raised an ivory sword in return. The younger girl with platinum-violet locks looked towards the direction of her companion's gaze and smile slightly, saluting Rhein with a glass sword.
"Who are they?" asked Dias, mildly curious, especially with the girl's unusual weapons and their unmistakable hair-resemblance to Rhein. "Are they your daughters?"
"Want to marry one of them, lad? Not until you prove yourself to them!" said the man in jest before pointing towards the older girl with silver-blue hair. "That's Reese, my daughter." He then shifted his finger to the younger girl with silver-lavender hair, who was wary, keeping violet eyes fixed on the bandits at all times. Rhein noticed that she held her sword with a white-knuckled hand. "Dear child... she needs to calm down sometimes. Well, that's Ashura, Reese's friend. People believe that she's my daughter, but we're not related at all. Do you have any family, Dias Flac?"
Dias' hands involuntarily clenched with the revival of his old anger. "My entire family has been killed by bandits when we were going through the Shingo Forest. This was the beginning of my self-isolation."
Nodding his head, Rhein ran his callused hands through his hair and sat back on his chair. He had been wondering why the boy's eyes were seemingly frozen in time. "I'm sorry about that, my friend. Ho did you survive such an attack?"
"My childhood friend Rena has the power to heal. When my family took too long in coming back, she went off into the Shingo Forest alone to search for us. Upon arriving, I was found nearly dead, but she saved me." whispered Dias as he focused his gaze at the window once again. ".... Rena."
The other's response was complete silence, but his bright amber eyes were studying the blue-haired swordsman with new-found knowledge. "And your family...?"
"My father... Mother... Cecille... it was too late for them. Rena had the power to heal, but she did not have the power to resurrect the dead."
*~~*~~*
"Hey Reese! Ashura!!" called a yellow-haired girl named Mira. "Who is that hot guy that your father is talking to right now, Reese? Isn't he just such a babe!?"
Reese looked towards Dias and smiled slightly. "Well, that guys IS cute! Too bad I already love someone else..."
Mira squealed. "What about you, Ashura? Do you think he's already taken? Wait, stop looking at the sword on the table child!" She pulled on a silvery lock of Ashura's hair. "C'mon... wake up!!"
"I heard you the first time Mira, but you know yourself that I'm not interested in anyone except for the one I promised my love to." shrugged Asura, starting to walk out the door. "I also recommend that you leave Dias Flac alone."
"Dias Flac? That's his name? Why do you want me to leave his alone? You already have your Ildon and Reese also has a boyfriend." said Mira with a pout.
Reese and Ashura immediately exchanged glances and glared mildly at the woman with irritated and commanding looks. "He's already taken, Mira. It's obvious in his eyes that he loves another, but believes that he is not worthy of her love."
Mira faced Reese with wide, troubled eyes. "How do you know that?!"
Frowning, Reese turned to Ashura, who was looking at nothing in particular. "Ashura..."
The girl didn't meet her gaze and quietly stalked out of the tavern, causing all who stood in her way to scatter. "Because I have experienced the exact same thing in the past. Please leave the man be." Ashura whispered before walking out.
"You mean Ildon and she---" started Mira, gazing at Reese questioningly.
Reese simply nodded and shrugged in reply before walking out with her friend. "You wouldn't understand what either Ashura or that man are experiencing. Just set your sights on an easier and more friendly target, Mira."
"All right. Please tell Ashura 'sorry' for me..."
*~~*~~*
"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?"
"........" Dias lowered his head and stared at the longsword on the table. He has asked himself the exact same question many times before even if he already knows the answer. Denying it has not worked, nor did pretending to forget that it existed... pretending that he did not love Rena only causes him even greater confusion and depression than what he normally is accustomed to. "She is still too young.... and she can do better than me."
"You keep telling yourself that, young man. Nevertheless, it is only apparent that neither of us believe in what you just said. Come out with it man, you care about the girl." Rhein stopped in surprise when he realized that a new emotion has surfaced in Dias' vermilion eyes. Beneath the icy exterior and unfriendliness, he saw the dawn of a sentiment close to love.... and a bright, shimmering fear to show that feeling. A fear that the next person he chose to care for would be mercilessly torn from his grasp just like before.
"Please... stop....." whispered Dias, not wanting to hear any more of his companion's beliefs. He did not desire for the other to continue because he knew that everything that he will heed is true.
A warm, comforting hand was placed on Dias' shoulder and shook him back to reality. The silver-haired man stared down at the young man with eyes filled with sympathy. Now what can he do? Can he do anything? "Dias Flac, follow me."
Dias looked up at Rhein with blank eyes, and without another word, he resheathed his sword and followed the older man out of the tavern. Making their way out of the harbor town, Rhein stopped the swordsman on an isolated beach and bid him to look towards the horizon. "What do you see?"
"....... I see the sun setting low on the horizon." said the blue-haired swordsman, not understand the concept of what the other was trying to tell him. "Rhein, what in Tria are you up to?"
Rhein didn't answer him, but merely talked to the wind. "What do you see now?"
"I behold the end of another glorious day... It is a sublime hour, for the world enters a time of peace and tranquillity, but it is also saddening, for life is short... and it will one day set like the sun is at this moment." whispered a voice in the wind. Reese jumped out gracefully from the top of a low cliff and joined her father and his companion as they watched the horizon.
"......." Dias looked at Reese and Rhein with even greater confusion, for the daughter's appearance and statement to the question has not shed any light on the subject.
Smiling slightly and nodding to his daughter, Rhein once again turned and asked the query to the Dias. "What can you see now?"
He focused to the extent of his vision and knowledge, but came up with nothing. "I see nothing that I have not already seen."
"What can you see now?" inquired Rhein to the fading light.
"I see everything and nothing at the exact same moment during this sunset. I foretell the blood of many, spilling like a river of a crimson hue... the same shade of the sky at the hour of a dying sun. Lifeblood that has been shed by innocents for nothing but the entertainment and sadistic joy of others. I feel no gratification in my heart, for many can die within the brief span of a single day. The ocean of stars weep star-ruby tears in our heavens and paint them with colors indecipherable to the common man."
Everyone turned around and saw Ashura behind them. Her face was as expressionless as marble, and her eyes were as frigid as ice. She walked towards them and bowed her head, showing respect to her elders, but maintaining a cold facade. "You may think that life is short, my friend, but it is too long for me. It is a bitter, winding, and treacherous road which will ultimately lead me to my demise someday. Nearly everything I have cared about is gone now... and I will welcome peace when it comes."
"Then why do you keep on staying in the past? Why do you keep on fighting when you can just stop and move on?" asked Dias, confused.
In a split-second, Ashura unsheathed her glass sword and met Dias' with a sharp clash. She retreated and swung it down and in, heading straight for his heart, but ready to pull back in at any second. Dias didn't go for the feint and instantly swung his sword in a forceful arc, pinning down the girl's weapon on then ground for a moment. "Why are you doing this? Why do you keep on struggling!?"
Ashura merely replied, "Shouldn't that be the same question that you should be asking yourself?"
Taking Dias off-guard, Ashura drew her glass sword from under his and began circling him, ever-searching for an opening. "You will meet many people in life who are not who they seem to be. Never underestimate them, or else that will lead you to a sooner death than you expected." she whispered before cutting the air before her in a rapid side-way cut, which slit his shirtsleeve.
Dias looked towards Rhein, who stared back in a determined fashion. He had planned this all along... not to harm Dias, but to teach him a lesson-- and who would be better at teaching a pessimist but someone who has gone down that same path? "I understand now..." said Dias, parrying Ashura's slash towards his head. Searching for a weak point at the girl's stance, he quickly moved in when he saw her leave her right side open. Swiftly concentrating his mental energy into his sword, Dias formed a spark of fire into a raging flame-hawk and sent it straight towards his opponent's direction. "Hawk Scream Blast!!"
The other smiled silently and reversed her hold on her sword. Waiting for the exact moment when the flame-bird was upon her, Ashura focused her own mental energy into her sword and willed emerald-green arrows to spring from her blade. Swinging her the glass edge at all directions, the emerald arrows tore through the fire-bird and dispersed the mental energy of its maker. "Your mental energy is strong.... and so is your will. However, it will take more than will and strength to win the battles ahead of you, Dias Flac."
"What do you mean by that?" he asked, amazed by the performance of the other. "What attack did you just use? I have never seen anything like it... nor ever imagined anything like it existed."
Rhein walked up to Dias and took his sword from his grasp. Then, he leveled the point of the weapon directly in line with Dias' heart. "This is the most important thing to know in your battles and in life. No one can live even a satisfactory life without the help of others. In your case, denying the feelings stored deep within your heart will only grant you more pain and despair. You may not comprehend the lesson we are trying to teach you, Dias Flac, but you must learn it... and soon."
The sun has already set, but the moon still has not appeared, so everything seemed to be blanketed by a shroud of twilight. The young swordsman looked at Ashura and was totally surprised when he saw that the teenage girl had a seemingly intent smile on the horizon. "That was an unusual attack... and you defeated me quite handily with it..." he said as the other's attention turned towards him. "Something tells me that you were holding back...."
Reese walked up to Ashura and ruffled the other's silver hair until it shone like a river in the half-darkness. "This little girl here is a practitioner of several sacred sword arts. She is the last of those who know it and can learn it... at least of the ones we know. So don't feel so bad that she held back on you... only one person has defeated her in battle as we know it right now."
"And who is that?" asked Dias.
Ashura smiled brighter and sheathed her weapon. "The one who I would protect with my heart, mind, and soul."
"............"
"And that is what we are set in teaching you, Dias Flac." said Reese as she unsheathed an beautifully-made ivory sword.
Rhein chuckled softly and grinned at Dias. "So, what do you say Dias Flac? You can train yourself until you are half-dead, but that will accomplish nothing. Or we can teach you other things besides fighting to help you in life. The choice is up to you."
Then, Rhein started walking away, but Ashura waited for Reese before she left.
"You will find us at Hilton after the Lacour Tournaments if you seek for us. We will understand if you do not wish to have us meddling in your affairs, but think of it this way: it truly is better for others to know and help you with your problems than having you work out your grief alone. Should you choose to join us in training, perhaps Ashura and I will be able to teach you a couple of sacred sword arts...." said Reese before she turned around and followed her father.
"......... I will never understand......" murmured Dias.
"Give it some time, Dias Flac. Make sure to take care of Rena." smiled Ashura as she raised a hand in farewell and turned towards the road once again. "Good luck."
Preview of Chapter 3
First Test
"Dias, we need to get you back to the Arena quickly!! We don't have much time!" begged Rena as she picked up the Sharpness Sword and handed it to her friend quickly. "You are bound to be called soon and I don't want to have to be late!!"
The swordsman stared at his little sister and thought about what Rhein, Reese, and Ashura said just a few nights before. It's difficult to hide his feelings for his 'little sister', but it's better than having to bare his heart out to someone who deserves the world... not a blood-thirsty vagabond. "You should be there cheering for Claude other than here with me, Rena. Go now, I'll be able to make it to the coliseum on time."
This was not the time to contradict what Rena believed in, for she grabbed on to his sleeve and started to drag him towards Lacour Castle after saying a quick farewell to Gamgee and his granddaughter. "No Dias, what's important is that we get you there in time. You'll be disqualified if you're late... and you won't be able to fight against Claude."
Dias' reply to her was silence as the wove through the streets and the paths leading to the fighting grounds of Lacour Castle. There, before Dias could rush to the entrance, he felt two arms wrapping themselves tightly around him and then letting go. There was only one last thing he heard before his name was called by the announcer once again:
"I regret not being here to support Claude, but being able to help you regain what's rightfully yours makes up for all the regret.... please take care, Dias."
Chapter Notes:
I know, I know... sorry for the long wait everyone, but everything is harrying me. Exams have been brutal and the files in my computer have been completely jumbled up. I just had to put Reese-chan and myself in the fic... (to cause havoc) and add on to the story. In the next chapter, I think I'll add some other stuff in the fic... yeah... *evil smirk* I wonder what... But I'll soon fix a web page on this couple and other such couples... Dias and Rena are just too cute to pass up!!!
~Asurahime