From: makoto_chan83@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: I don't own the El Hazard series or its characters. I am merely writing a fic of the series so please, don't sue me.

El Hazard: Unforeseen consequences

By: -=|+|Makoto_chan|+|=-

-=|+|Chapter 6: Reality|+|=-

"What's going on?" Breathing in an exhausted manner, Makoto asked Rune. Troubled by the pain in his stomach he clamped down on one side of it, all together while his thoughts occupied his mind at the moment.

"It's Shayla. We don't know how to stop the bleeding, we can just sew it or wrap a bandage around it, but we don't know if there was a severed artery. Dr. Schtalubaugh's gone somewhere and the blood keeps seeping through." The princess explained to the trio, trying in a calm and modulated voice.

"Shayla." Nanami bowed her head down with regards to the priestess's present condition.

"Shayla-sama." Qawool thought in concern, lifting the bubble a few inches above the water to be level with the platform.

Filled with strength to walk again, the lad gently lifted his arms from the girls' shoulders. He hopped on to the dock, trying to sell the illusion that he was already fine and good to go. "Lead the way Highness!"

"This way!" Running she led Makoto up the stairs with Nanami and Qawool trailing from behind. Each stride felt so painful for the boy, each step he took, he gritted his teeth. While his other hand hung from his shoulder, he kept the other held on to his side. Suddenly, he stopped, from where he stood he crouched down with both hands now holding on to his wound. The pain was so excruciating he sat himself down leaning on wall behind him. The pain reminded him of the tower, the rain mixing with blood and tears and darkness encircling them all. "Makoto!" He heard the screams once more, he remembered his vision getting blurry and all and the next thing he knew Shayla was cradling him in his arms. "Makoto! Makoto! Snap out of it!" He heard it again, a frantic voice of a female urging him to stay in this world. His eyes were looking outside the window, the dark skies of El Hazard has yet to calm its rains. He felt his eyes defying him again, closing by themselves, submitting to fatigue. A few seconds later he felt a stinging sensation across his left cheek and his eyes flew open at the instant, waking back from his dazed state. The pain kept him alive; it was what told him that he was still alive.

"Makoto-chan? Come on, snap out of it!" Nanami shook the lad like there was no tomorrow. She grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to take away Makoto's dazed state.

Makoto shook his head, a sign that he wanted to get up and that he isn't about to give up right now. "I'm all right, just got a little dizzy." When he could see straight again, Nanami, Qawool and the Princess herself were all looking at him with a scolding look. He quickly took notice of this and just shrugged it off. "What? Let's just get up there already." He said with a lopsided grin.

"Makoto-chan no Baka!" Nanami scowled at her best friend, folding her arms in disapproval of what just occurred.

"I know, I know. Let's just go already, ne? Nanami-chan?" With a bright smile this time, the lad tried to push himself up against the wall. With his own strength he lifted his body up and he stood on his two legs, already bruised and partially covered in cuts. His hands found a need to crawl on the walls surface; he was having a very difficult time moving about. His arms pushed away from the wall, almost stumbling forward if not for another pair of arms catching him in an affectionate embrace.

"Makoto-sama! Be careful!" Qawool exclaimed as she felt her body seize Makoto's weight from propelling any further. For a few seconds they stood there motionless with the other two ladies watching with amazement and the other with jealousy. "You must never leave us like that again you hear? Don't ever leave us again Makoto-sama." The water priestess whispered in his ear while she carried part of his weight. A tear rolled down her cheek, and dropped down on the boy's neck. Prompting him to look up, the lad looked straight into the lady's eyes.

"Don't worry I won't." Brushing the trail of tears clear from Miss Towles eyes, the lad beamed at her with a reassuring smile.

"Makoto-sama." She tightened her embrace, squeezing with whatever strength she had left, just to prove to herself that it was indeed Makoto, the one who was breathing and standing right in front of her. She pressed her face on his chest and continued on releasing the tears she held back earlier.

"Um, Makoto-kun. Shayla-san needs your help." The princess said as she giggled at the sight, ignoring the audible tapping of a foot next to her.

"Good grief! How long are you going to stay like that?" Nanami shook her fist, green eyed and raring to go and jump between the two.

"Hai Hai. Ano. Qawool. We have to go." Nodding calmly like nothing happened, the lad pushed the Priestess gently away from him. Agreeing with the notion, Qawool wiped the last trails of tears she had on her face and came back to her normal cheerful self.

Sobbing the last remaining tears, she looked up again with a bright smile. "Hai. We can go now princess."

Smirking as her response Princess Rune Venus, as fast as all events occurred they were all back on track rushing for a ward in Floristica's makeshift hospital. The Princess flung the door open, letting themselves in where Shayla lies asleep.

Bright smiles greeted the boy when he arrived at the scene. All eyes were fixed at him with relieved and cheery expressions written all over them. Makoto scanned the area, taking note of everything they have already accomplished and done for his friend. He smiled at the people around the Priestess, thanking them in his small gesture. The princess led the helpers of her court out through the door leaving the room entirely for the circle of her friends.

"Thanks." Makoto smiled. "She wouldn't be still alive without your help Rune."

"Was the cut that bad?"

"I'm afraid so." The boy replied, pressing down on the clean towels that covered Shayla's thigh.

"Nanami, Qawool, I would need your help now." He said as both ladies entered the room.

"What about me?" The princess spoke out volunteering her services for their friend.

"Your highness, I could not thank you enough for everything, but I believe your people need you at your throne at this time."

"Thank you Makoto-kun, I wish you the best of luck." Before shutting the door behind her, Princess Rune Venus gave a quick kiss on Makoto's cheek, then running for the Castle's main hall to attend to her people.

"Nanami-chan, could you get me those bandages and remember the butterfly sutures Sensei gave you? Could you get them for me please?" He asked his best friend, in doing so he blushed slightly at the princess' contact with him.

There came no response until Makoto made eye contact with her. "It seems to me that you liked that very much Makoto-chan!" She jealously said as she stormed out of the room, taking care of what she was asked for.

"What did I do?" Puzzled, he simply ignored his friend's moody gesture and focused back on the wound.

"Sis." The water priestess was near in tears when she saw her sister's state.

"Qawool!" The boy's voice cut through the dazed priestess, prompting her back to awareness. "Don't worry, the cut was not so deep. She'll be back. I know she will." Smiling at the girl while he kept a hard grip on Shayla's leg.

"Makoto-sama, then you won't mind if I go back to my room. for a while."

"That's okay Qawool, you've helped me enough already."

"Good luck Makoto." Her voice trailing off, she gave a quick hug and like the princess a short kiss on the boy's cheeks. Still not letting go of her grip on Makoto, she whispered something softly behind his ear, which made the lad flush in a deep shade of red.

"Qawool?!" Brushing his head to the side to look at his companion straight in the eye with a questioning gaze.

"Ano. Gomen!" Embarrassed and unsure of what she just said, Qawool quickly walked down the stairs for her quarters inside the castle.

"I guess she's just a little tired, that's all. Ehehe." He shot his sight upwards, asking himself what could possibly happen next, and once again drawing back his attention to Shayla. He gently placed his hand over the sleeping beauty, gently rubbing his fingers against her palm.

"Shayla. you're going to be all right." Stroking her hair, the lad beamed at her while he watched her sleep peacefully.

"I forgot. you're still mad at me." His smile fading to that of depressed look, he glanced away, recalling that time once more.

"Don't flatter yourself Makoto!"

"Shayla."

"Stop. I don't want to hear anything that I'd regret hearing."

Painful words rang up inside his head, closing his eyes in regret. Brushing the things of the past aside, he focused once more on the situation at hand. Makoto's eyes were drifting again, fatigue was really taking its toll on the boy, loss of blood and maybe internal bleeding too. "So tired." he mused, forcing himself to stay awake for Shayla's sake.

He jolted back to alertness when the door bolted open with Nanami carrying the priestess' prescription.

"Makoto-chan, here are the things you asked for, I also brought the anti- septic you made here with those plants you found." Handing over the things he asked off, Nanami felt Makoto's hand unexpectedly holding onto hers. "One last favor Nanami-chan."

"Makoto. Wha. What is it?" She flushed, leaving her hand in his.

"Nanami. Can you find me another room? This one's got blood in the air already, we don't want any germs to get on us do we?" He finished of with a smile, taking the improvised med kit, setting them down on a nearby table.

"Ha. Hai." The girl sighed in disappointment, hurrying out and did as she was told to do.

"Arigatou Nanami-chan." Following her out with his eyes, the lad breathed out deeply and got back to being a doctor again.

"Shayla." His mind kept on saying as he patched up the wound. Removing the towel that was used to prevent blood from spewing out, he saw an ugly cut, it was shallow but he can tell that it really did some damage.

"This may sting a little." Dousing a piece of clean cloth with the herbal concoction he created, he wiped it around the wound and the outer edge of the cut. Flinching in her sleep, Shayla almost woke up, but was still entirely spent and weak to do so. "Gomen." Makoto whispered, setting the bottle aside. Feeling his hand across the table he took the sutures he had and brought three from the set. Removing the adhesive's covers, he took the piece and stuck it on the cut across Shayla's leg, one on the end next on the middle part and lastly on the lowest end of the injury. As an extra precaution he then wrapped a white bandage around her thigh, covering the entirety of her injury.

"There that should do it." Wiping his forehead of sweat and breathing out a heavy sigh, he removed the shreds of his jacket that were wound tightly on Shayla's leg. Her leg was one again alive and blood coursed unrestricted once again through her veins. Watching her sleep peacefully gave Makoto a similar state. Her face was so tranquil at this time, attracting him to look even closer. He sat down on the bed next to Shayla, placing his arms on the beds opposite sides for support. He didn't know what force on earth brought him that close with the fire priestess, but he knew it must be something about Shayla, something that attracts him. He smiled at her in her sleep, brushing a few strands of hair from her forehead to the side and caressed her cheek with his right hand. Slowly he kissed her cheek, touching his lips to her face. "Arigatou." He whispered next to her ear, lowering his head next to hers. Makoto bowed down, pressing his forehead to Shayla's in an affectionate manner. A few moments were spent simply watching the fire priestess, watching her rest and sleep. The lad suddenly stood up, sensing somebody was coming up the stairs, and so he pretended to be cleaning up the things he used on the stains on the bed.

"Makoto-chan, there's only one room left."

"Arigatou Nanami-chan, lets go then."

"There's only one problem. it's on the other side of the castle."

"It's okay. Well? Shall we?" Makoto asked, sitting down on the bed.

"Yeah. But why'd you sit down?"

"I can't leave her right here right?"

"Fine! Whatever! I just don't want to argue!" Throwing her arms up in surrender as she led the way walking out, talking to herself again. Makoto sat on the foot of the bed, between Shayla's legs and with his back facing her. Ignoring all malicious thoughts, he lied down on her with the backside of his head resting on Shayla's womb. Flushing, he remained in that manner for a few moments, when Nanami suddenly popped out from the door again.

"Makoto-chan! What the hell are you doing?"

"Nanami-chan! I. I was just trying to get Shayla on my back but it seems I'm having some slight difficulties. Ehe!" The lad promptly sat up scratching his head.

"Yeah right." The girl went in, making faces at her best friend.

"Will you just help me?" Makoto asked of Nanami, smiling back at her.

"All right already!" Walking next to the bed, resting her hands on the sheets. Makoto lied back down, resting his head on Shayla's mid section.

"Makoto-chan!" Seeing the position he was in Nanami scolded the lad.

"What? Will you just hand me her arms?" The lad smiled once more, raising his hands to catch Shayla's.

"Right!" Fed up with jealousy, Nanami gently pulled up Shayla by the shoulders and guided the priestess' hands to Makoto's. Feeling the soft hand in his palms, the lad pulled her onto his back as he sat up. Getting the strength to stand up, he wrapped Shayla's arms, hanging them down from his shoulders, then with his two arms carried the maiden by her legs.

"How original Makoto-chan, a piggyback ride? How come you didn't give me one before?" Rolling his eyeballs he answered back, "You already forgot Nanami-chan? I can't believe you! I already gave you one when you got hurt too. When we were playing outside at home, remember?"

"That's not what I meant! Ooohh!" She replied jealously, storming out of the room leading Makoto the way.

"Was it something I said? You ready Shayla?" He whispered, turning his head to the side near Shayla's, which was leaning on his shoulder. With her arms wrapped around his neck and his waist between her legs, there was obviously very close body contact between the priestess and him. Makoto flushed when he felt Shayla's curvature drawing itself on his back. He could feel her soft mound press up against him. "I. I should go now. ehe." Carrying the fire priestess, he hurriedly caught up with Nanami. Walking with her till the next tower. As they went through the halls in the palace, people were still walking around, attending to the matters concerning the Eye of God's grounding. The two best friends walked alongside each other, watching all the activity along the palace go by. From time to time, Makoto would fix Shayla's position from his back; he would push her upwards as to prevent her from slipping over. Nanami on the other hand would just give the boy an annoyed stare.

"What?" Makoto would simply reply, answering each look his friend gave as they continued up the next tower.

Nanami being the one with no burden to carry, opened the door's room and also the balcony doors present inside to let the fresh air flow into the room. "Arigatou Nanami-chan" The protagonist said as he sat down on the bed, gently dropping Shayla from his back. After placing a pillow behind the priestess' head, he then covered the priestess with the blanket and walked out with Nanami. "Whew. that was tough." Wiping the sweat from his brow, closing the door behind him.

"Now that we're done with that! It's your turn to help me Makoto-chan!"

"With what?"

"I need somebody to help check up on my place in Floristica."

"Oh. Okay, sure!"

"Well? Let's go!" Tugging on his arm and smiling brightly, she was obviously very excited at the same time that she finally got Makoto alone to herself. She pulled him down the stairs, until they suddenly stopped when she felt his hand slip away from hers. The next thing she saw when she looked back was Makoto with one knee down and his hand holding on to his side.

"Makoto-chan? What is it?" With her eye's filled with concern, she rushed back to Makoto's side.

Lifting his hand, his eyes widened at what caught his sight. Blood was all over his hand and shirt, and warm red liquid was trickling down his side.

"Oh my God! Makoto-chan!" Taking the boy's shirt off, Nanami saw that his wound opened up, a small incision went from the edge of his stomach and near his lowest rib. The girl cursed at the sight, seeing the damage done to her best friend. "You stressed yourself too much Makoto!" She scolded him, leaning the scientist's back up against a wall.

"I'm all right." He replied, sliding his hand back to cover his cut.

"Don't touch it! I. I'll take care of you!" Nanami flushed at what she just said to him, "Taking care of Makoto?" Composing herself, she held the last of the bandages she took from a storeroom nearby and wrapped it around Makoto's lower torso. Winding it a few times around the boy's waist and then tucked the end of the bandage beneath the first layer.

"There, all done. I should get you to your room Makoto-chan."

"No way, I'm coming with you right?"

"No you won't. Makoto I know you're so tired, you need your rest!"

"Come on Nanami-chan I'm okay. Ow!" The lad smiled as he tried standing up but held fast back onto his wound that throbbed in pain. Placing his arms around her shoulder, she sat him back down and Nanami sat next to him, leaning her back against the wall like Makoto did.

"You should rest now Makoto." She said, moving her head onto his shoulders. Nanami snuggled up closer to Makoto as to feel his every breath and every beat of his heart. Taking this chance, she drew closer to him, feeling his temperature up close to her cheek, and the scent he was flaunting off.

"And you should take a bath! Blech!" Standing up, the blonde girl, pinched her nose, and smiled jokingly at the lad. Makoto laughed with her, nodding his head in agreement. "Arigatou Nanami-chan."

"Its okay, I'll just take care of my place. I'll see you tomorrow okay? Standing up, Nanami brushed her hand on Makoto's cheek affectionately, making the boy flush in embarrassment.

"C'mon now, I'm going with you Nanami. I can walk now." Removing his arm from his friend's shoulder, Makoto started to walk with her trying to appear of feeling no pain at all. He gritted his teeth in agony, which he hid excellently under his lips. Each step he took he felt a stinging sensation that crawled from his lower body. "See? I'm fine now."

"Makoto-chan." She started with a smile at first then brought her hands to her hips. "You're a very lousy actor!" She yelled with a very low frown. "What are you trying to pull? Are you trying to get yourself into more trouble? Remember Makoto-chan you." Because of the situation, she took from inside of her the feeling she suppressed earlier. "You almost died Makoto-chan! For heaven's sake. You're my best friend. I don't want to lose you, not ever. I don't even want to think of the day that when I finally get home to Japan, and you're not there with me." The girl looked away for a moment, sad and forlorn she wiped the tears that were freely flowing from her eyes.

The boy curved his lips as a reaction, and hugged the girl. "Arigatou Nanami-chan, but I'm back and well. So don't go thinking that I'll die or something because nothing bad is ever going to happen to me, or my friends." Makoto looked down at his friend who was still crying on his chest.

Nanami too wrapped his arms around the lad; trying to feel his warmth and prove to herself that her Makoto-chan is well and alive. "Aishitteru." She whispered in a soft voice, prompting the hero to ask what he just heard.

"Nani?"

"I said. Let's get out of here." She said with a bright smile as she took herself away from Makoto's arms then ruffling the boy's hair with a free hand.

"Hai." One smile from the lad and both were off, walking past the gates and out into the desolated town. Both their jaws dropped open in awe at what they saw when they took the first steps out of the confines of the palace. "Kami-sama." Makoto said in a distressed tone after seeing the destruction that the Eye of God has made.

-=|+|=-

The whole afternoon rolled on leaving some of the combatants nestled in their bunks. The Three Priestesses themselves were the ones most exhausted, having spent all their energies in one dark morning and also flirting with death at the same time. Fate has always smiled upon their circle of friends that is why all of them managed to live through the encounter.

While their friends were sleeping, the royal sisters gave their share of time for their people, sitting in the grand hall listening to their people's cries for help and support. After a seemingly endless afternoon the line was almost at an end. Alielle who was almost inhumanly hyperactive was drifting to sleep in her seat.

Princess Fatora presiding; "Then get what you need from the stock yard, have a guard escort you and your son back to your home."

"Thank you very much for understanding Lady Fatora! I'm indebted with gratitude." The man bowed down in thanks, touching his knee to the once clear floor of the palace which was now drenched with dust and mud.

"You owe Roshtaria nothing but your loyalty. Now go and help your family in need. It's getting dark already."

"I will." Bowing down with great pleasure, the man left with his young son in tow and did as he was told.

"Are you okay Rune?" Fatora, after sending off the man, asked her sister beside her.

"Wha? What?" Blinking her eyes, Rune Venus the older of the two snapped back to wake.

"Hehe, I guess your old age is catching up to you." Both laughing at the younger one's comment as they waited for the next person who came to have an audience with the royal sisters. A few minutes have passed and nobody seems to be coming through the door. "Do you suppose that was the last one? It is past dinner time already."

"I guess so." Rune sighed, closing her eyes and exhaling a deep breath as if a big burden was out of her chest.

"Well? Let's eat! I'm famished!" Quickly standing up, Fatora felt a hand restraining her from walking out to the mess hall.

"Fatora wait."

"Rune? What's wrong?" Her eyes blinking, the raven-haired princess asked her sister. "Fatora, lets talk." Putting her hands back on her lap, Rune Venus called down her sister to sit down.

"About what?" Sitting back down, Fatora waited intently on what her sister has to say.

"Fatora, what changed you? From what I remember, you were ill mannered, hot-tempered, and an egotistically spoiled princess. But now you're."

"Rune. I. People change. I saw what was wrong with me, and I saw it through Makoto. Well, he looked like me. Seeing how kind he was, and seeing how everybody treats him so well without fear, you know? Treat him just like one of them. I wanted acceptance too. So I realized I should drop the act and get a new life. It also seems to be working right?"

"Fatora! I'm so happy!" Unable to bear the overwhelming happiness inside of her, Rune hugged her sister tightly from where she sat.

"Well. Ugh. Don't be too happy. I can't breathe!" She exclaimed as her breath quickly escaped out of her.

"Gomen. It's just." She smiled back at her sister.

"I know, I know." She paused, bowing her head down in a regretful manner. "I've been a bitch and now I'm like Makoto. By the way, how is he?"

"Doctor Schtalubaugh reported back to me a bit earlier while you were doing a good job. Ehem." She joshed her sister about her work well done.

"Quit it! So how is he?"

"He'll be fine." The princess answered coolly, fixing her gaze at her younger sibling.

"That's a relief." She sighed in comfort, holding her hand in front of her chest.

"Were you worried?" Giggling, Lady Rune started teasing her sister.

"Wha. What? I'm just concerned about El Hazard's welfare without its hero!" Flushing by herself, Fatora averted her gaze to the floor.

"Aren't you becoming a little more lady like? Fatora?"

"Like what I said Rune, People change!" Making a face at her older sister, she folded her arms, seating upright in a stern manner.

"All right! All right! Fine Fatora. Let's have dinner shall we?"

"Let's! I'm starving!" Walking next to each other, the ladies went out of their seats and walked to the dinning room, leaving the poor Alielle, still lying down on the floor, sleeping.

-=|+|=-

The two old friends walked through alley-ways of debris, witnessing the injured and the sometimes the dead lying out in the open. Nanami shunned her sight away from the dismembered corpses, burying her face on Makoto's arm as she held on to it. They both continued on through the streets when they finally arrived at the diner. "Nanami-chan, where here now." Makoto whispered on to the clinging girl, prompting her to slowly open one eye, and then the other. "Ha.Hai."

"Whoa." Nanami quickly fell silent as she saw the front exterior of her tavern barely untouched with a large metal bar on the doorstep. "That was close. Arigatou!" She smiled, saluting up to the heavens. Grabbing the keys from her pocket, she jingled it in the hole and twisted the doorknob opening the door by doing so. The lad shrugged his shoulders then followed his friend inside. He suddenly woke up in attention when he heard Nanami shout from inside.

"Oh.my.God!!!" The owner suddenly screamed, pointing at the object on the floor. "What the hell am I going to do with that?!" Shouting once more, seeing the big gaping hole on the Inn's ceiling, and also a large impact crater made by a metal beam from the Eye of God. Seeing no point in continuing all her cursing, she walked around a bit, checking for things that could have been possibly looted. "Well everything seems to be okay. Except for that big hole on my roof!" She sighed, shaking her head, bothered by the repair costs and time going to be spent getting it back to normal. "First things first. * Yawns * I'll get back first thing in the morning. I'm so tired."

For the whole time Makoto just kept his eye on the floor as if something is occupying his mind. The lad woke up from his daze when Nanami shook his hand for the third time already.

"Makoto-chan! What's gotten into you? Makoto-chan!"

"Gomen Nanami-chan. its nothing." Makoto was jolted back to attention when he heard a faint voice calling him. "Nothing." Staring down at the rotting floor he shuffled slowly towards the door.

"Makoto-chan c'mon, you could tell me."

"Gomen Nanami, I hope you'll forgive me for leaving you right now. I have some things to think about. Good night." The lad forced a smile to appear, quickly walking outside of the diner then jogged out on the city streets.

"Makoto-chan! Matte! Matte Kuresai." Alas, before she could even finish her sentence, Makoto was already out of her sight.

"You could tell me Makoto. right?" Nanami stared blankly at the streets before her, deeply concerned and tired at the same time her mind was already as tired as her body. She stood in that state for a few minutes, but after letting a yawn escape from her, she decided to call it a night. Locking the front door, she went all the way back behind the counter where she kept her own room. Even away from Earth, she still clung on to her old habits. She covered her mouth with one hand, feeling the tiredness pull her down to her bed. Saying a short prayer of thanks, she pulled the sheets on top of her covering her entirety. "Kami-sama. Arigatou, for keeping everybody safe from harm. for giving Makoto back." After she said her words, her eyelids closed gently and she soon fell asleep.

-=|+|=-

"Huff, huff," A person's breathing got shallower and shallower, having not fully recovered from today's activities and stressing his body to the limit for no immediate reason. Inside him, his heart was beginning to crumble, after suffering from hidden screams from within, it felt like that it would implode from inside his chest. He stopped in front of a fountain, surprisingly the only thing untouched in the middle of a few buildings that could fall apart any second. He took a knee and planted it firmly on the marble surface of the fountain, then with his free hand the lad took some water to wet his face with. "Kami-sama. Why?" He kept asking, scooping water again and again, drinking some then splashing it about his semblance. Then he looked down at his reflection, and he saw her again beside him. Quickly turning his head to the side, his darting sight passed through nothing but air. Looking back at the reflection, she was gone again. "Ifurita." He supported his torso by clamping onto the fountainhead with his hand, as he felt his strength give way. Soon tears mixed with the pool's water; drop by drop the lad could feel the pain spread out like an outbreak inside him. All the fun and brief happiness he had earlier has been washed away. Compared to the kind of torment he was having right now, those frustrating times in his books, the dreams, the nightmares and the battles he fought were nothing.

He took a deep breath and held it in, wiping the tears away. He continued on his walk back towards his home, still with memories of her flashing in his mind. Recalling how they first met under Shinonome High's basement, how they saved each other's lives. The boy drew a small smile, remembering the fond memories he knew they had. He suddenly stood up and had the urge to run when he pictured in his mind the time both them saved El Hazard, the event that separated them and the last time he was able to see her with her own eyes. Dashing through the streets, he finally made it in front of his hut, breathing heavily he knelt down on both knees before the door. "Why? Why? Why?!" He yelled inside his mind while he pounded the grass with his fist.

-=||+|=-

On top of the gates, two guards watched the city, not bothered even by fatigue. Out of nowhere they heard somebody shout, the guards quickly held fast to their swords, ready to draw and do what is necessary. After a few seconds of waiting, they quickly sheathed back their blades and began to query each other about the incident. "Did you hear that?" The first one asked.

"I sure did. It sounded like it came from inside." The taller of the two replied, pointing his thumb above his shoulder plate.

"Who could it be? Nobody's awake at this time of hour." He scratched his head after taking off his helm for a second.

"Didn't the young Master enter a while ago?"

"Yeah, but it couldn't be him. You know the young Master, he's most calm."

"I know, but. Do you think after what happened?"

"Nah!" Both said in unison, pushing the idea behind their minds and standing back in attention, returning their sights down on the city.

-=|+|=-

"Kah. Kah." Makoto breathed in a gasping manner. "Sensei always said it's healthy to take it out of your system." He continued on staring down on the floor, already drowsy and tired, his eyelids began to droop down. Setting himself lower and lower on the floor, he fought his tiredness and forced himself to stand up. His hut's door was now free of debris thanks to the quick efforts of the people in the palace. Twisting the knob with his hand, he walked inside, practically dragging his feet across the floor. He shuffled towards his bed, taking off his shirt still full of dirt and blood then dropping it down on one side of the room. Makoto didn't have time to wash up or anything, he just lied down and with his last few ounces of strength he pulled the sheets from his feet and just shut his eyes till slumber.

All fell silent from then on. Practically everyone in the city was sound asleep. The moon could not be seen in the sky. Being hidden from view by the rain clouds that were still pouring down on the city since this morning. The Eye of God is no more, which is why deaths of a mass scale in an instant maybe just a thing of the past.

The towers on the castle of Roshtaria catch more of the moon's sight, seeing it clearly in plain view when these colossal structures rose higher than the clouds. The palace has no lights present, it could be seen from the city, that everywhere you look no man would be found awake, it was indeed a tiring day. None of the personnel, be it the Chief Chamberlain, the Princesses themselves nor the Handmaids were awake, having spent all their energies attending to their people and each other in the time of great need. The disaster, caused by one person was quickly resolved that Floristica may take back its splendor and beauty in just a matter of weeks.

Kalia has been defeated; the trigger of destruction was no more, vanquished by the Fire Priestess of Muldoon: Shayla-Shayla. She steps up once more as a heroine for El Hazard. Afura-Mann too and Qawool Towles, being on her first major battle with the help of her powers as a priestess, everyone present considered her performance to be more than satisfactory. The wind priestess too herself was to be commended for her wits and decisive actions. But what the whole city of Floristica could not believe that a hero and a heroine almost died at the hands of the child. Thanking the Gods for returning the boy back into the world, the whole city plans to celebrate the victory after the restoration of Floristica is complete. But right now, rest is needed. After a long day's work, a well-earned rest was what they all craved for. This morning's rain lasted on until the night. Drenching the townsfolk who were at the moment homeless. Yet hope, kept the people of Floristica moving on. Their princesses' leadership will one month from now rebuild the city of the Royal family of Roshtaria, back to its esteemed place.

To be continued.

-=|+|End of Chapter 6|+|=-

Authors notes: Gyah! Caught up with schoolwork. But I'll finish this fic, I swear!