Disclaimer: If I have to tell you one more time.. ;P
^*^AN^*^ Hello all! I'll try to make the chapters longer, Arigato for pointing that out, Moomoomoxo! ^_^; I also want to thank FishyKitty for her review! I'll try not to keep you waiting too long with the chapters! And thanks for your input! ^___^
Warnings: Kami and Lana fight. Need I say more?
Chapter 12
Lana and Allelu were just about to go back inside, when Joses and Kami walked around the house, done feeding and watering the horses. "Hey girls! What cha doing?" Joses called, and Allelu waved her hand, calling "Watching the fireflies! Come see what I gave Lana!" Kami and Joses looked at eachother, shrugged, and walked over. Lana hesitantly pulled the necklace out from under her tunic. Kami glanced at it, not seeming too interested, but did a double take, and blushed furiously. Lana slowly raised an eyebrow, noticing Joses was also looking embarrassed. "....What?" Lana finally asked, looking at Allelu suspiciously. Joses cleared his throat a couple times, and said, "Um, Lana, you don't know what that is, do you?" Lana shook her head, feeling even more nervous. "...Do I want to know?" she asked, looking down at the seemingly innocent piece of jewelry. Allelu laughed nervously as Joses and Kami both shot her a look. "Those types of necklaces are given to brides." Kami told her, rubbing the back of her neck. Lana closed her eyes, prayed for strength, and took Allelu's hand firmly in hers, saying, "Allelu-chan, come with me. We're going to have a talk."
"Is that the same type of necklace I was given?" Miaka asked, cocking her head at her husband. Taka nodded his head, and laughed, saying, "You don't think Lana's going to bring home a husband, do you?" Miaka laughed also, and said, "It IS possible, though he had better get a better job than a BANDIT if he wants to be MY son-in-law."
"Allelu-chan..." Lana said, uncertain of what to say, walking with her 'little sister' along the path back to the brook. Allelu was staring at the ground, not meeting Lana's eyes. "Allelu-chan, look at me." Lana told her, and put a hand under her chin, lifting her face up so Lana could look her in the eye. "Allelu-chan, I'm not mad or upset." Lana said, smiling warmly at the scared girl. "You're- you're not?" Allelu asked, eyes wide. Lana shook her head, and said, "No, I'm not. But Allelu, I wish you'd stop trying to force me into this." Lana looked at Allelu pleadingly, and Allelu said quickly, "Oh Lan-chan, I'll stop, I promise! You don't have to marry Oniisan either! I just want you to STAY!" Lana smiled at Allelu and hugged her, saying, "You know I'll have to leave SOMEDAY, but if I ever do, I promise you I'll come back. And I'll stay as long as I can for now. Alright?" Allelu gave a happy yell, and grabbed Lana's hands, dancing around her. "Lan-chan, I can't wait until Daddy meets you! You'll be his favorite person in the whole world!" Allelu cried, and then raced with Lana back to the house.
"So how do you think it went?" Joses asked Kami, they were both sitting at the kitchen table, and were fairly nervous. "I don't know, but I CAN'T get married, Joses! They'd laugh me offa the mountain if I went back and said, 'Oh, by the way, the big-bad-red-head-with-an-attitude got hitched to some chick he just met 'cause his lil' sis told him to!'" "Yeah, that sounds kinda dumb to me too. And don't call me a chick." Lana said, walking in kitchen. "So how'd it go?" Joses asked, noticing she was still wearing the necklace. Lana sighed in relief and sat in a chair, saying, "We don't have to get married, but it looks like I'm back to being 'oneesan'." Kami let loose a large breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Joses hit Kami on the arm, and commented, "A relief, even if it WOULD have been nice to have to share a bed with Lan-chan, right Kami?" Lana's head jerked up, and she whipped and hand at Joses, saying, "Hentai! And DON"T call me- *yawn*" Before Lana could hit Joses, she let out a huge yawn, and her hand dropped to her side. "I'm going to bed, I have to get up early tomorrow, night." Lana told them, and stood up. Kami yawned, and stood up also. "Yeah, you can sleep in the front room, Joses. There are a couple of extra blankets in the closet next to the door. Night you guys, see you in the morning." he said, and walked out the door at the same time as Lana. They both walked down the hall, not really registering the other was there, until they came to a door, and they both reached for the door handle at the same time. Lana looked over at Kami, now wider awake, and growled, "This is MY room." Kami glared back at Lana, and said, "Like H&!! it is. This is MY room." Lana snorted, opened the door, and walked right past Kami, saying, "Fine. You can do what you want, but I'm staying in here. You try anything and I'll KILL you." Kami snarled at her, but she just flopped down on her stomach on the bed, fully clothed, after leaning the sword up against the wall, and said, "Tough luck buddy. Either you share, or you can go sleep somewhere else." and rolled onto her side, trying to fall asleep. "No GIRL is going to kick me outta my own room." Kami said flatly, and began to walk into the room. "So you're ready to face the consequences in the morning when everyone wakes up and finds us in the same bed?" Lana asked, not even opening her eyes. Kami froze, swore, and walked into the front room, grabbing a blanket and flopping onto the floor. Out of earshot, Lana chuckled, changed into a pair of drawstring pants and a light tunic, took down her hair, and fell asleep.
Schola tossed and turned in his bed. He just couldn't sleep. He had tried everything. Meditation, sleeping spells, incense candles, counting sheep, but nothing had worked. Schola sighed, and sat up, rubbing his temples. "Alright, think relaxing, calming thoughts." he ordered himself, relaxing, and letting his mind wander. "Relaxing and calming things..." he murmured to himself, and thoughts came at a trickle at first into his mind, and then in a rush. "Waterfalls, a cool breeze, warmth, comfort, happiness, being close to someone you love, comforting Lana when she feels lost or lonely, holding her in my arms, a- WHAT THE HECK?! WHERE'D THAT ONE ABOUT 'HOLDING' COME FROM?!" Schola snapped out of his semi-trance with a "Gakk!" and fell out of his bed. "Schola? Are you all right?" he heard Marisa call through his door. She had been coming back from the bath chambers to go to bed, and heard him fall. "I'm fine no da! Go on to sleep, Marisa-san!" he called, thanking Suzaku she couldn't see him blushing. Marisa just shrugged and went on to bed. Schola sighed in relief, and crawled back into his bed. He had changed into a pair of brown drawstring pants and a white tunic to sleep in, but now it seemed to hot, and he threw his shirt on a chair. He tried to go to sleep now that it felt cooler, but it didn't work. "I really should get to sleep, no da. We start looking for the seishi tomorrow." Schola said, as if trying to convince himself to sleep. "Well, everything else had failed, why don't you try the obvious?" came the smart- aleck reply. "Obvious?" "You're worried about Lana, Baka! Just check on her real quick and you'll be sleeping like a baby!" "But that's just using my powers to help myself, no da!" "If you want to get to sleep, just do it." Schola sighed, and concentrated on finding Lana's chi once again. He seemed to find it much quicker this time, maybe it was because he had already found it twice. Schola winced guiltily at this thought. Then he took a deep breath, and widened the connection so he could see her.
Lana was lying on her side, breathing peacefully in her sleep, and having the most wonderful dream. She was dancing among the stars, following the Milky Way like a path. She had two beautiful wings arching gracefully from her back, that would open and carry her the extra distance when the jump from one star to another was too far. Suddenly though, while she was in mid jump from one constellation to another, black fire seared her wings, and she plummeted towards the Earth. She called to the stars for help, and they fell in torrents towards her, sweeping under her and supporting her. But the black fire came again, and struck the diamonds of light, causing them to falter, and Lana to fall to the Earth. She stood once she struck the ground, and opened her wings, trying to ascend back to the heavens, but Black Fire whipped around her arms, forming black and red chains that held her down. She called to the stars again, but she was on the Earth now and they could not reach her. The chains burned her wrists, marring her once fair skin, and causing tears of pain to fall from her eyes. Lana sobbed in sadness, thinking she would be confined forever, but a voice, soft as the wind, came to her, and said, "I'm sorry, I wish I could help." Lana looked up, and saw herself! Lana suddenly remembered the picture she had been looking at when she had come to this world, and knew she in the place of the angel that had been in the picture. Suddenly, the views switched, and Lana watched as the other her in the dream, reached out and stroked one of the angel's wings. The angel looked at Lana, tears falling down her face, but suddenly hope flashed in her eyes. "Help me!" the angel pleaded, and Lana asked how this was possible. "If you let me share your body, I can help you to defeat the Black Fire, then I can go home. I will keep you safe and protect your loved ones, all I ask in return is that you defeat the root of the Black Fire in your physical world." The other Lana chewed her lip, and finally said, "You don't deserve to be held down when you could be free. I will help you." The angel smiled through her tears, and said, "Thank you, sister. I am Faia. Give me your hand, and we will become one." Lana nodded, and gently took the angel's hand in hers. There was a silver flash, and Lana cried out as the pain the angel was experiencing came to her when they bonded. Her wrist became red with burns, and Lana was pretty sure the one under the bandages on her wounded arm was burnt too, but Lana could also feel the angel's heart filling with hope, and it strengthened her. "Together, sister, we will defeat hate and evil, and bring forth love and peace." Lana heard a soft voice in her head say, and she nodded. "Together." she thought back, and took a deep breath, preparing herself for the battle to come.
Schola saw Lana sleeping peacefully, curled up on her side with her hands beside her head. "She looks like an angel." he thought, and smiled, feeling more relaxed. Lana was peaceful for a few more minutes, but then suddenly she gave a small gasp, and clutched her pillow in her sleep. Schola's eyebrows nit in confusion, and he said, "Nani, no da?" Lana groaned, and turned from side to side, teeth clenched. "She's having a nightmare." he realized, and started to look worried. Tears started falling from Lana's eyes onto her pillow, then she seemed calm for a second, before she suddenly cried out in pain, and her wrist without the bandages on it suddenly turned red, it looking as if someone had put red hot chains on her arm. Schola snapped out of it with a start, and grabbed the kasa off of his bedside table, and using it before he think anything through, he teleported to where Lana was.
^*^AN^*^ Hello all! I'll try to make the chapters longer, Arigato for pointing that out, Moomoomoxo! ^_^; I also want to thank FishyKitty for her review! I'll try not to keep you waiting too long with the chapters! And thanks for your input! ^___^
Warnings: Kami and Lana fight. Need I say more?
Chapter 12
Lana and Allelu were just about to go back inside, when Joses and Kami walked around the house, done feeding and watering the horses. "Hey girls! What cha doing?" Joses called, and Allelu waved her hand, calling "Watching the fireflies! Come see what I gave Lana!" Kami and Joses looked at eachother, shrugged, and walked over. Lana hesitantly pulled the necklace out from under her tunic. Kami glanced at it, not seeming too interested, but did a double take, and blushed furiously. Lana slowly raised an eyebrow, noticing Joses was also looking embarrassed. "....What?" Lana finally asked, looking at Allelu suspiciously. Joses cleared his throat a couple times, and said, "Um, Lana, you don't know what that is, do you?" Lana shook her head, feeling even more nervous. "...Do I want to know?" she asked, looking down at the seemingly innocent piece of jewelry. Allelu laughed nervously as Joses and Kami both shot her a look. "Those types of necklaces are given to brides." Kami told her, rubbing the back of her neck. Lana closed her eyes, prayed for strength, and took Allelu's hand firmly in hers, saying, "Allelu-chan, come with me. We're going to have a talk."
"Is that the same type of necklace I was given?" Miaka asked, cocking her head at her husband. Taka nodded his head, and laughed, saying, "You don't think Lana's going to bring home a husband, do you?" Miaka laughed also, and said, "It IS possible, though he had better get a better job than a BANDIT if he wants to be MY son-in-law."
"Allelu-chan..." Lana said, uncertain of what to say, walking with her 'little sister' along the path back to the brook. Allelu was staring at the ground, not meeting Lana's eyes. "Allelu-chan, look at me." Lana told her, and put a hand under her chin, lifting her face up so Lana could look her in the eye. "Allelu-chan, I'm not mad or upset." Lana said, smiling warmly at the scared girl. "You're- you're not?" Allelu asked, eyes wide. Lana shook her head, and said, "No, I'm not. But Allelu, I wish you'd stop trying to force me into this." Lana looked at Allelu pleadingly, and Allelu said quickly, "Oh Lan-chan, I'll stop, I promise! You don't have to marry Oniisan either! I just want you to STAY!" Lana smiled at Allelu and hugged her, saying, "You know I'll have to leave SOMEDAY, but if I ever do, I promise you I'll come back. And I'll stay as long as I can for now. Alright?" Allelu gave a happy yell, and grabbed Lana's hands, dancing around her. "Lan-chan, I can't wait until Daddy meets you! You'll be his favorite person in the whole world!" Allelu cried, and then raced with Lana back to the house.
"So how do you think it went?" Joses asked Kami, they were both sitting at the kitchen table, and were fairly nervous. "I don't know, but I CAN'T get married, Joses! They'd laugh me offa the mountain if I went back and said, 'Oh, by the way, the big-bad-red-head-with-an-attitude got hitched to some chick he just met 'cause his lil' sis told him to!'" "Yeah, that sounds kinda dumb to me too. And don't call me a chick." Lana said, walking in kitchen. "So how'd it go?" Joses asked, noticing she was still wearing the necklace. Lana sighed in relief and sat in a chair, saying, "We don't have to get married, but it looks like I'm back to being 'oneesan'." Kami let loose a large breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Joses hit Kami on the arm, and commented, "A relief, even if it WOULD have been nice to have to share a bed with Lan-chan, right Kami?" Lana's head jerked up, and she whipped and hand at Joses, saying, "Hentai! And DON"T call me- *yawn*" Before Lana could hit Joses, she let out a huge yawn, and her hand dropped to her side. "I'm going to bed, I have to get up early tomorrow, night." Lana told them, and stood up. Kami yawned, and stood up also. "Yeah, you can sleep in the front room, Joses. There are a couple of extra blankets in the closet next to the door. Night you guys, see you in the morning." he said, and walked out the door at the same time as Lana. They both walked down the hall, not really registering the other was there, until they came to a door, and they both reached for the door handle at the same time. Lana looked over at Kami, now wider awake, and growled, "This is MY room." Kami glared back at Lana, and said, "Like H&!! it is. This is MY room." Lana snorted, opened the door, and walked right past Kami, saying, "Fine. You can do what you want, but I'm staying in here. You try anything and I'll KILL you." Kami snarled at her, but she just flopped down on her stomach on the bed, fully clothed, after leaning the sword up against the wall, and said, "Tough luck buddy. Either you share, or you can go sleep somewhere else." and rolled onto her side, trying to fall asleep. "No GIRL is going to kick me outta my own room." Kami said flatly, and began to walk into the room. "So you're ready to face the consequences in the morning when everyone wakes up and finds us in the same bed?" Lana asked, not even opening her eyes. Kami froze, swore, and walked into the front room, grabbing a blanket and flopping onto the floor. Out of earshot, Lana chuckled, changed into a pair of drawstring pants and a light tunic, took down her hair, and fell asleep.
Schola tossed and turned in his bed. He just couldn't sleep. He had tried everything. Meditation, sleeping spells, incense candles, counting sheep, but nothing had worked. Schola sighed, and sat up, rubbing his temples. "Alright, think relaxing, calming thoughts." he ordered himself, relaxing, and letting his mind wander. "Relaxing and calming things..." he murmured to himself, and thoughts came at a trickle at first into his mind, and then in a rush. "Waterfalls, a cool breeze, warmth, comfort, happiness, being close to someone you love, comforting Lana when she feels lost or lonely, holding her in my arms, a- WHAT THE HECK?! WHERE'D THAT ONE ABOUT 'HOLDING' COME FROM?!" Schola snapped out of his semi-trance with a "Gakk!" and fell out of his bed. "Schola? Are you all right?" he heard Marisa call through his door. She had been coming back from the bath chambers to go to bed, and heard him fall. "I'm fine no da! Go on to sleep, Marisa-san!" he called, thanking Suzaku she couldn't see him blushing. Marisa just shrugged and went on to bed. Schola sighed in relief, and crawled back into his bed. He had changed into a pair of brown drawstring pants and a white tunic to sleep in, but now it seemed to hot, and he threw his shirt on a chair. He tried to go to sleep now that it felt cooler, but it didn't work. "I really should get to sleep, no da. We start looking for the seishi tomorrow." Schola said, as if trying to convince himself to sleep. "Well, everything else had failed, why don't you try the obvious?" came the smart- aleck reply. "Obvious?" "You're worried about Lana, Baka! Just check on her real quick and you'll be sleeping like a baby!" "But that's just using my powers to help myself, no da!" "If you want to get to sleep, just do it." Schola sighed, and concentrated on finding Lana's chi once again. He seemed to find it much quicker this time, maybe it was because he had already found it twice. Schola winced guiltily at this thought. Then he took a deep breath, and widened the connection so he could see her.
Lana was lying on her side, breathing peacefully in her sleep, and having the most wonderful dream. She was dancing among the stars, following the Milky Way like a path. She had two beautiful wings arching gracefully from her back, that would open and carry her the extra distance when the jump from one star to another was too far. Suddenly though, while she was in mid jump from one constellation to another, black fire seared her wings, and she plummeted towards the Earth. She called to the stars for help, and they fell in torrents towards her, sweeping under her and supporting her. But the black fire came again, and struck the diamonds of light, causing them to falter, and Lana to fall to the Earth. She stood once she struck the ground, and opened her wings, trying to ascend back to the heavens, but Black Fire whipped around her arms, forming black and red chains that held her down. She called to the stars again, but she was on the Earth now and they could not reach her. The chains burned her wrists, marring her once fair skin, and causing tears of pain to fall from her eyes. Lana sobbed in sadness, thinking she would be confined forever, but a voice, soft as the wind, came to her, and said, "I'm sorry, I wish I could help." Lana looked up, and saw herself! Lana suddenly remembered the picture she had been looking at when she had come to this world, and knew she in the place of the angel that had been in the picture. Suddenly, the views switched, and Lana watched as the other her in the dream, reached out and stroked one of the angel's wings. The angel looked at Lana, tears falling down her face, but suddenly hope flashed in her eyes. "Help me!" the angel pleaded, and Lana asked how this was possible. "If you let me share your body, I can help you to defeat the Black Fire, then I can go home. I will keep you safe and protect your loved ones, all I ask in return is that you defeat the root of the Black Fire in your physical world." The other Lana chewed her lip, and finally said, "You don't deserve to be held down when you could be free. I will help you." The angel smiled through her tears, and said, "Thank you, sister. I am Faia. Give me your hand, and we will become one." Lana nodded, and gently took the angel's hand in hers. There was a silver flash, and Lana cried out as the pain the angel was experiencing came to her when they bonded. Her wrist became red with burns, and Lana was pretty sure the one under the bandages on her wounded arm was burnt too, but Lana could also feel the angel's heart filling with hope, and it strengthened her. "Together, sister, we will defeat hate and evil, and bring forth love and peace." Lana heard a soft voice in her head say, and she nodded. "Together." she thought back, and took a deep breath, preparing herself for the battle to come.
Schola saw Lana sleeping peacefully, curled up on her side with her hands beside her head. "She looks like an angel." he thought, and smiled, feeling more relaxed. Lana was peaceful for a few more minutes, but then suddenly she gave a small gasp, and clutched her pillow in her sleep. Schola's eyebrows nit in confusion, and he said, "Nani, no da?" Lana groaned, and turned from side to side, teeth clenched. "She's having a nightmare." he realized, and started to look worried. Tears started falling from Lana's eyes onto her pillow, then she seemed calm for a second, before she suddenly cried out in pain, and her wrist without the bandages on it suddenly turned red, it looking as if someone had put red hot chains on her arm. Schola snapped out of it with a start, and grabbed the kasa off of his bedside table, and using it before he think anything through, he teleported to where Lana was.