Disclaimer:
I do not own any of SO 2.
Author's notes:
1. Thank You for reviews. You were kind to me. ^_^.
2. I promised to explain everything, so, this part is not actually a continuation. It was a bad dream in the first chapter, but there are real memories of that day in the second one.
A Shadow of Memories: Afterglow
…He is looking at the crimson sky – absent-mindedly, as if he is completely lost in his thoughts. The hot wind is brushing his hair – some of the long blonde locks have already fallen on his face, protecting him from any intent glance… He wants to throw them off – but doesn't move. After all, they don't really bother him…
…The sunsets. They always disturb him, forcing to remember – again and again… Well, he had a lot of time to forget… But even now he still can't. He remembers it too well, damn, he just hates all the sunsets – because of that one… And, for some reason, this afterglow looks terribly alike…
…When she turned back, he suddenly felt uneasy. Something was wrong. Really wrong… Worried, he glanced at her, trying to understand the cause of that strange feeling…
…Rena turned to her friends – and her heart sank as she met the glance of Dias. He was standing in a stream of red light – the sunset was extremely bright… The crimson sky was reflecting in his eyes – he was staring at her, calmly and attentively… As always…
…A clear silence – like a wall between them, transparent, but so unbreakable…
…No…
…A sudden trembling in her fingers – why? For some reason it became difficult to breath – as if the wind had stricken her…
…That distant look of his – it had been that way for a long time, but still…
…A warm hand on the back of her head, a shadow of a smile on his lips… The feeling of being protected that only his presence could give…
…I…
…Tenderness in her eyes – almost against her will… He didn't allow anybody to become closer to him, but… She knew that she was the only person that he cared about… And she was happy – just because of his existence somewhere in the world…
…She still remembered her childish dream: to walk with Dias by the streets of Lacour – or some other town – hand in hand… To talk about something and feel, that the other understands you in a flash – just because you have been together for so long…
…Her eyes opened wide in realization: she had just admitted it… Together – with Dias…
It was painful – to look at him, noticing a bitter tiredness in his eyes. His face was quite indifferent, but somehow she felt: at that moment he was even more lonely than usual… And maybe – just maybe- it was… because of her?..
…Did he want her to stay?..
"Claude…" Rena nervously bit her lip. "I've almost forgotten about him…"
…He was a good friend of hers… He risked his life to protect her…
…He didn't deserve to be hurt like that…
…She wanted – really wanted to make him happy, but…
…You may say whatever you want – but it's no use in tricking yourself…
…Can't…
…A desperate look – answer me, please… Just something…
His face had wavered a bit – for a very short instant – but the girl's nerves were strained so much that she noticed it and, taking a deep breath, almost unconsciously stepped ahead…
"Rena!" the blonde earthian darted to her – but a heavy hand of his father laid upon his shoulder.
"Don't interfere."
Embarrassed and irritated, Claude wanted to throw that hand off – but Rena turned back. And the boy froze as he saw her eyes filled with tears.
"Claude, I…" started the girl, but her voice broke, and she almost whispered the rest. "Sorry…"
…She was slowly walking away – of course, he wanted to stop her, but his father didn't allow him to. The strong fingers of Ronixis clenched Claude's wrist, forcing him to scratch his teeth. Damn, it was none of his father's concern… Why had he interfered?..
…A sudden realization had stricken him as he had looked at Rena. She was walking to Dias – and they all had already understood it… Everybody – except him…
…Slow steps – the only sound in the unreal silence that had filled the air. All of her friends were looking at her – Rena could almost feel their stunned glances…
…But it didn't matter. Everything didn't matter… She was staring at Dias, and it seemed that the ground was dangerously swinging under her feet… The absolute, irrational belief: she had just to overcome the reminded few steps between them – and everything would definitely be good…
…Tria, how could she think that it would be possible – to live without that calm and understanding glance… Without his deep and even voice that she loved so much…
…He was looking at her, unable neither to move nor even to say something. He knew her too well to doubt that it was really hard for her – to do such a thing…
…Because of him…
"I had to stop her… But I was too proud for it… I swore to protect her – and hurt her instead…"
…He took a deep breath – and stepped toward her…
…Feeling as if she was going to faint, the girl staggered to Dias and buried her forehead in his shoulder. He carefully hugged her, and Rena finally allowed herself to relax and closed her eyes. She had to screw up all of her courage for coming to him – and after that she was unable to restrain herself anymore. Tears began to flow down her face – and Dias pulled the girl closer to him and placed his hand upon the back of her head…
"How did he dare?! " Claude rushed ahead but stopped as he came across the swordsman's glance…
…He remembered that look quite well…
…Lacour, the final battle of the tournament… He was trying to stand up, even though it all had been already decided… Dias was staring at him – with that damn cold and scornful expression on his face… And – when he had finally stood up – the warrior sent him to fly across the arena at one blow…
"It's over, Claude." Even then his father didn't release his wrist. "Leave them."
Claude hung his head, unable to look at those two. To see Rena in that man's hands was enough to understand: it had been really over even before, when she had stopped and turned back…
…Rena moved away a little and looked in the dark blue eyes of the man she always wanted to be with. His expression was softer than usual as he quietly called her name. "Rena…"
"Dias… I…" shyly started the girl, but he interrupted her, placing a hand upon her shoulder.
"You don't need to explain. Let's go."
"Well, it happens…" thoughtfully smiled Celine, glancing at the young nedian girl who was walking away with her swordsman. "Maybe sometimes it's better to risk and jump into a cold river or else you will never forgive yourself…"
~ ~ ~
"I'm not easy to be with…" he carefully touched her cheek, looking in her eyes that seemed dark blue in a silver moonlight. "You know it, right?"
"Yes." Simply answered the girl and smiled, placing her fingers upon his hand. "But I want to stay with you, so… Really – it doesn't matter…"
Milena
2002
Author's notes:
Well, it's finished. I know that Rena/Claude fans won't like this ending, but I like Dias so much that I can't just leave him alone. ^_^. As for Rena – she knows and understands him better than anybody else, she cares for him so much, and I'm sure that she certainly can warm the heart of the Lonely Swordsman. Are You agree, or not – anyway, feel free to tell me whatever You think. Comments are welcome.