A/N: It seems I have lost a number of readers for some reason. I hoping
that it's because of the title change and not because everyone thought the
last chapter was really bad. Heh...
On the topic of last chapter, I personally don't believe Chris was *too* out of character. I mean, it could have been much worse. I don't think I rushed into it, it's quite clear that Chris has been suppressing her feelings for Nash for quite some time now. She initially wanted to give him a hard time about giving up the rune, but realized there was no point because he evidently would have no regrets regardless of what she said. Yes, they are in a rather dire situation, but sometimes extreme circumstances can bring about these kind of reactions in people. I guess when you get right down to it, it's a matter of opinion.
On a more technical note, two chapters ago, in chapter eight, Aya the rose found a little error. I actually saw the error right after I posted the chapter, but I just hoped that no one would notice. . But yeah, I messed up. *smacks self* It's supposed to be fifteen years since he'd seen Eike, NOT twenty-five. _ The events in Percival's memory took place five years BEFORE this story starts. Anywayyyy, I'm really sorry if that confused anyone.
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Chapter Ten - No More Vengeance
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Early the next morning Chris, Nash, and Louis departed from Budehuc castle. Now that they were properly prepared for battle, they hoped that Nash's Grosser Fluss combined with Chris' True Water Rune would be enough to retrieve the Blue Moon Rune from Yuber.
As they traveled through the plains, Chris noticed that their pace was a little slow. She eyed Nash suspiciously. He looked rather tired for some reason...
Louis interrupted her thoughts as he began to discuss their battle strategy, as he was trying to anticipate Yuber's plans.
"I've been thinking... How can we be sure that Yuber won't attack somewhere else?" Louis asked the other two. "I mean, he didn't intend for you to survive when he told you... Don't you think he'd attack somewhere where he knows we won't anticipate him?"
Nash shook his head. "Even with the limiter in effect, he is much too confident about his powers to consider us a threat. He probably hopes that we are there when he arrives because Chris and I are definitely on his hit list. Little does he know!"
"Besides," Chris added, "We haven't anything else to go on. If Yuber changed his plans, we have no way of knowing where he would strike instead. There's no point in staying at Budehuc when we know Iksay is very likely to be his next target.
"That is true enough," Louis replied with a nod.
Nash squinted off in the distance at the small town, which was now in view along the horizon. "We've made fairly good time. We should get there by noon and have time to anticipate Yuber's arrival."
"I hate traveling on foot," Louis complained to Chris. "It reminds me of my squire days when I had to run after the six of you all the time."
"You could have taken your horse," Chris replied with a smile.
Louis shook his head. "I know, but- ...Nash? Are you alright?"
Chris turned and saw that Nash had stopped a few feet behind them and was looking as though he was having trouble keeping his balance. Chris made it to his side just as he began to fall forward. Unable to steady him, she helped him kneel on the ground.
"Nash?!"
"I'm okay, I'm just... tired."
"Haven't you been feeding?" she whispered so that Louis couldn't hear.
"It's okay, I'll be fine," he replied, bringing a hand to his forehead.
"Are you insane? How do you think you are going to be able to face Yuber when you're this weak?" Chris hissed, growing agitated.
He hesitated before responding. "For those few short minutes while I had the rune, I hadn't craved any blood at all. But when it was taken away again... Ever since this morning the hunger has been worse than usual... Animal blood just isn't cutting it anymore, it seems. But I'll be fine, just give me a moment to rest."
Louis blinked at them, his features displaying a look of confusion and concern. "What's the matter? What's going on?"
Neither of them responded to Louis, too caught up in the present dilemma to answer his question.
After thinking for a moment, Chris seized the knife from Nash's belt and began rolling up her sleeve.
"What are you doing?" Nash asked, eyeing the knife warily.
"You have to feed, Nash."
"Chris, don't be a fool, you know I can't control myself!"
"Let me worry about that." She dragged the knife across the inside of her left arm, and let the blood drip from the wound. "Just drink."
Needless to say, Louis was horrified to watch as Nash put his mouth to her wound and sank his fangs into the veins of her arm.
"M-Milady!?" Louis started towards them but Chris held up her free hand.
"It's okay, Louis," she responded, unflinching as she watched Nash drink her blood.
Nash's bite began feebly enough, but soon Chris could feel his power returning and she realized he wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon. She closed her eyes, praying her plan would work.
She placed her right hand with the True Water Rune on her left arm, above the wound where Nash was feeding. She began to focus the energy of the icy rune towards her arm, willing the rune to turn her blood cold through magic. She felt no change, and was suddenly afraid that it would not work.
But Nash suddenly pulled away, and coming to his senses, turned his head to wipe the blood from his mouth.
Chris willed the rune to heal her arm, and a second later the wound vanished. She rolled her sleeve back down and stood up.
Nash rose to his feet as well, looking much better than before. "Your blood suddenly felt really cold, it shocked me to my senses... Of course, the True Water rune." he shook his head. "You still shouldn't have done that."
Chris turned form him. "Your welcome."
Nash smirked slightly, but for once found he had no reply that was suitably sarcastic, so he just shook his head once more and then turned to Louis. He was staring at them, and it was apparent from his mortified expression that he was still in shock from what he had just seen.
"Perhaps we owe Louis an explanation?" Chris suggested.
Nash sighed and nodded.
******
The three of them reached Iksay late that afternoon. They checked into the inn there and while Nash was dealing with the innkeeper, Louis said he would take a quick look around the village to see if there were any signs of the dual rune-bearing demon. Chris found herself alone in her room.
Chris looked out the window of her room at the village and the fields bellow, and she contemplated the situation. How much time did they have? How long would Percival's limiter keep Yuber at bay? If they were unable to retrieve the Moon Rune before Yuber broke the limiter, mayhem would certainly ensue.
There was a knock at the door.
She turned around. "Come in."
Nash entered. Now that they were out of Louis' presence, Chris was slightly unsure of how to act. She turned back to the window, feeling a slight blush creep onto her cheeks as her mind lingered on the memories of the previous evening.
The Harmonian casually strolled up behind her. "I suppose I never really thanked you for your help this morning."
"You shouldn't have left it so long. At any rate, we certainly had a lot of explaining to do to Louis after that. He took it better than I thought he would, though."
"He hasn't spoken a word to me since he found out what I was. You call that taking it well?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine again after he gets used to the idea. And he *did* promise not to tell anyone. That's something."
Nash nodded and there was a slight pause.
"You seemed surprised to see it was me when I came in just now," he noted, deciding to change the topic.
"I didn't think it was you, because last I knew, you didn't knock on the door before entering a lady's chambers," she responded, although there was evident humor in her tone.
"That was *one* time I didn't knock! I knocked all the other times," he said with equal humor. "Remember when I first came to you in Brass Castle twenty years ago? I knocked on the passageway door that night for ages before you answered!"
Chris turned back to him, a slight smile upon her lips. However, Nash put his hands on the wall on either side of her, and continued speaking before Chris could open her mouth to retort.
"How about we just cut the wit and mockery like we did last night?" he asked in a low voice, flashing his familiar roguish grin. "I like what happened when we did..."
Chris blushed terribly, still unused to such open talk about her emotions. She did not reply.
"I wish you hadn't left last night..." he murmured.
Chris cleared her throat, willing herself to stay focused. "What I don't understand is how you weren't going crazy with blood thirst last night when you nearly passed out from it this morning..."
"What can I say, Chris? My thirst for love overcame my thirst for blood."
"It could have been really serious! You shouldn't joke about it, Nash."
"I'm not joking."
He leaned forward, and Chris realized he was going to kiss her again. However, he hadn't come within an inch of her face before there was another inopportune knock on her door.
"Lady Chris? It's Louis."
Nash looked at Chris with a raised eyebrow, as though silently pleading with her to ignore the unknowing intruder. But Chris shook her head. They both knew that now was not the time for this, and so with a sigh, Nash straightened up and allowed Chris to pass so she could answer the door.
"Yes Louis, what is it?" Chris asked as he entered.
"Sorry to interrupt..."
"You interrupted nothing," Chris lied. "Is something up?"
"Everything looks normal enough in the village at the moment. I'm going to head up to the fields and take a look around there. I'll come back the moment I find any signs that Yuber might be around."
Chris nodded. "Very well, Louis. Be careful."
"I will milady," he replied with a slight bow of his head. He left.
Chris turned back to Nash and there was an awkward moment of silence as they just stared at each other.
Finally, Chris cleared her throat. "Erm... We should start discussing our plan for getting the rune back from Yuber when he gets here."
"That's a good idea," Nash admitted with a nod. "We're going to need a good plan to get the rune back."
"He's not going to just give it back..." Chris mused.
"No, but we can probably take it back by force. Since Sierra's passing, the rune now sees me as its true master. If we can keep him still long enough I can probably call the rune to me."
"But how can we hold him still long enough and prevent him from casting magic while you do that?"
"You could always use the same cage of ice spell you used on the dragon."
Chris shook her head. "That spell hardly held the dragon in place for a few seconds. It would take time for me to cast that spell so that it was strong enough to hold him while you retrieved the rune. You can't cover for me, because if you're too close to him when I cast the spell you'll get caught in it as well. And if he sees me just standing there, muttering a spell, he's going to make a beeline for me."
"So what if he doesn't see you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean why don't you hide somewhere, so he won't know you're casting a spell, or even that you're there at all?"
Chris sounded skeptical. "And leave you two fighting one on one? I told you, if you were too close to him you'd be hit too."
"I won't be anywhere near him. Yuber likes to taunt his opponent a lot before he fights. Maybe I can use that to try and distract him long enough for you to cast an effective spell."
Chris nodded slowly, seeing the logic in the plan. "Very well. After you get the rune back, I'll join you in bringing him down."
"Just don't become Yuber's hostage for a third time, alright?" Nash smirked.
She glared at him.
Just then Louis burst in the doors.
"Yuber is here! He's at the windmill!"
Nash and Chris exchanged glances.
"Louis, warn the villagers and get them as far away from that windmill as possible!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Louis rushed back out of the room and Nash and Chris followed hastily.
******
Sure enough, when Nash approached the town's windmill, he found Yuber, as well as several bodies that had been villagers of Iksay. He had both his swords drawn, and had evidently decided to exercise his physical powers before his new rune.
Chris had gone around the back and Nash saw her duck behind the windmill and begin chanting a spell, faint blue wisps of power starting to emanate from her.
Nash walked right up to Yuber, swords still sheathed. He addressed Yuber with a solemn nod.
"Well if it isn't the wannabe human," the demon said with a twisted smile. "Ah yes, look around at all these bodies. Soon I will make them into my undead slaves! How would you like to join them?"
"You're a truly sick animal."
Yuber smirked from under his black hat and began walking towards him. Nash refused to back up, but was concerned about leaving enough distance between them.
He drew his swords, and Yuber stopped in his tracks, eyeing the Grosser Fluss. His terrible grin widened even more.
"Do you really think you can take me on by yourself, foolish little vampy?"
"Do you really think you could stop with the mockery before I chop off your girly braid, shred your bowler hat to ribbons, and slice you into tidy little cubes?"
"Such big talk for such an inferior fool."
Nash gave half of a smirk. "It wouldn't be the first time I've been called a big talker. It wouldn't be the first time I'd be able to live up to my word either."
"I don't see your little human pet. Where is she?"
"Why do you care?" Nash replied, his eyebrows slanted in anger. Just a little longer and Chris would be finished chanting...
"Did the little vampy with ethics lose his control and eat his little human pet?" he taunted.
Nash looked past Yuber's at the blue energy emitting from behind the windmill, realizing that she was ready.
Nash smirked. "I don't think she likes it that you keep calling her a pet."
Yuber realized too late what was happening and great icicles jutted from the ground, surrounding him so that he was trapped. The demon sliced angrily at the thick pillars of ice with his swords, but they were holding.
"Moon Rune," Nash began, "On behalf of my predecessor Sierra Mikain, and as your new true master, I command you to return to me!"
Yuber howled his displeasure as a beam of light shot from his hand and the Moon Rune separated itself from its abuser. Nash held out his hand and it began to glow as the rune transferred itself to him.
Yuber slashed his way furiously from the cage of ice, but by the time he had freed himself, it was too late - Nash had the rune.
"You will truly regret that!" Yuber hissed, his mismatched eyes flaring with hatred. "I still have the Eightfold rune, and it is more than enough to get rid of vermin like you!
Chris had joined Nash at his side, her own sword drawn. "Your battle tactics leave something to be desired," she said. "You underestimate your enemy far too much."
"We shall see," snarled Yuber, and he lunged at them.
Even as his opponent, Chris couldn't help but admire Yuber's ability to evade the blades of two skilled swordsmen while still remaining on the offensive. She was at a disadvantage, as she only had one sword, and every time she was sure she was going to get a clean strike, one of his blades clashed with hers in the nick of time. She was getting frustrated, but refused to lose her focus and forced herself to remain on the offensive.
Nash, even though he matched Yuber's two swords, was having a difficult time as well. He was getting in the odd hit, but every wound he inflicted was very minor, and the best hit he got on him was a moderate gash on the demon's left upper arm.
As the battle progressed, Chris noticed the increasing fatigue of Yuber's wounded arm, and when both of Nash's swords were locked with both of Yuber's, she spotted the opportunity to bring her sword down upon his left hand. However, as she lifted her sword to strike, Yuber twisted his other sword towards her, which was still locked with Nash's, and in doing so, gouged both his and Nash's sword into Chris' side.
Chris' eyes opened wide with shock, and she stumbled back, her sword dropping to the ground with a loud clank. She fell to her knees, her hands clutching her side.
"Chris!" Nash turned his head in horror to find Chris holding her side, blood oozing out from behind her hand.
In the split second that Nash turned to look at Chris, Yuber pulled his swords back sharply, and yanked the Grosser fluss from Nash's grasp in doing so. Nash turned back just in time to have the hilt of his own sword smashed into his face.
He flew backwards, and landed on the ground with a thud. By the time he had brought himself up to his knees, Yuber had the Grosser Fluss pointed at his throat.
"Did you really think you could defeat me? I, who has had the experience of centuries, while you're just a mere few decades old? You surely are as foolish as though you were still human!" Yuber sneered.
Nash was racking his brain for a means of escape, or at the very least, for a suitable insult to hurl at the demon, when he felt a sudden rush of power surge through him. He could feel another presence within him, and he looked down at his rune hand, which was glowing faintly. With a mixture of surprise and relief, he realized the limiter had just been removed.
Yuber had not noticed, and was continuing to taunt him. "Tell me, how does it feel to know you're about to be slain by your own swords?" Yuber asked with a cruel grin.
Nash shot a glance over at Chris, who looked as though she were struggling just to stay conscious. Rage surged through him, and he gazed right up his own swords at Yuber, his eyes expressing his undiluted hatred for the demon.
"Try it. I dare you," Nash hissed.
He held out his hand with the Moon Rune in it and suddenly a dark bolt of energy emitted from his rune and struck Yuber so hard he went flying.
Yuber scrambled to his feet, and stared at Nash in amazement. The demon realized that for him to have such power at a moments notice must mean there was no longer a limiter on the rune.
Enraged, Yuber lunged at Nash again, who was still kneeling on the ground. However this time another bolt of dark energy struck and two shadowy figures appeared between Yuber and Nash.
One was the tall figure of a calm and collected looking knight and the other was a petite, but somehow formidable looking woman.
In the next moment they were gone, but Yuber was still backing away, unsure that he wanted to continue battling this man who had two rune spirits on his side. The demon turned to see Chris lying wounded on the ground, and Nash was dismayed to see Yuber seize her and drag the wounded woman to her feet.
Yuber opened his mouth to speak, a malicious look on his face, but before he could utter a word, a truly shocked expression crossed his features and a word never left his lips. Stumbling backwards, he dropped Chris back to the ground, and Nash noticed that there was blood dripping from the demon's stomach. Nash watched as Yuber pulled a knife out of his stomach. Shocked, Yuber stared at the bloodied knife in his hand as though trying to comprehend that it was his own blood on it.
Finally, he dropped the knife and lifted his hand in front of him, a yellow portal appearing beneath him.
"This... is not... the end of me! Far from it!" he hissed before sinking into the portal, disappearing.
Silence fell and there was no movement for a full minute.
Finally, after he was convinced that Yuber had really gone, Nash forced himself to his feet and rushed to Chris side. Miraculously, she was still conscious; although it was evident she was in a lot of pain.
Chris pointed weakly at the knife on the ground a few feet from them, where Yuber had dropped it. "I think that belongs to you... I forgot to give it back to you after I used it to cut my arm this morning."
"It's a good thing you did forget!" Nash replied picking the bloody knife off of the ground. "I realize you must not have enough energy to heal yourself... We have to get back to the inn and get you some medicine."
"I have enough power to keep the pain from rendering me unconscious... But not much more than that..."
Nash nodded and re-sheathed his knife.
"Nash," Chris began as he scooped her up in his arms and stood up. "Those two shadowy figures... They were undoubtedly..."
"... Percival and Sierra. I know..." Nash nodded solemnly.
There was a moment of silence as Nash made his way down the path towards the inn with her in his arms.
"I suppose it only makes sense that Sierra is a spirit of the rune as well. It's just as the previous Flame Champion's spirit was still in the True Fire rune when Hugo got it..." Chris mused. "I wonder why I didn't see her when I was releasing the seal..."
Nash hesitated before answering. "I think it's because Percival is the limiter and defender or the rune, so it was him you needed to communicate with to release the seal. But Sierra... Well, today this rune has shown the potential to have more power than I have ever witnessed while Sierra had it. I think she must be the spirit who has strengthened the rune." He released a slight chuckle. "Who knows really... I can't really pretend to understand anything about her spirit. I was still trying to understand her when she was a woman!"
Just then Louis emerged from the inn and ran up to them.
"Is everything okay? Lady Chris!" he exclaimed when he saw Chris bleeding and being carried by Nash.
"Relax, Yuber is gone. Just go get some medical supplies out, we have to clean up this wound," Nash replied
Louis nodded and rushed back into the inn to comply.
******
Later that evening, after Chris was healed considerably, Louis departed back to Budehuc Castle to inform the others as to what had happened. Meanwhile, Chris, still a bit weak for traveling, remained behind at the inn with Nash, so she could rest up.
After Louis had gone, Nash helped Chris up the stairs to her room and helped her get into bed.
"Nash... Do you think Yuber will return?" Chris asked when Nash pulled the sheets over her prone form.
Nash shook his head. "I highly doubt it. He fears the rune now that I have access to its ultimate power. He's not stupid enough to think he can try and get it from me again."
"But... He's still alive out there somewhere... You never got to avenge Sierra."
He closed his eyes. "I know."
"Does this mean you're going to go hunting him down?" Chris asked, slightly afraid of the answer.
"No... No, I'm not. When I felt the limiter lift from me, I felt her. She doesn't want me to go after him anymore," Nash replied solemnly.
"She? You mean Sierra?"
Nash hesitated for a moment before nodding. "She says I should not be the one to kill Yuber, that it is 'another's' job. Apparently Yuber is condemned to a fate worse than death. Her soul is content as long as the rune is safe."
"Are you alright with that?"
Nash nodded. "If there's someone out there who can do a better job of making him pay for the evil he's brought to this world, who am I to complain? I'm actually sort of relieved. I was controlled by revenge once before, and it just keeps eating away at you... Seeking vengeance is quite a burden."
Chris released a relieved sigh, and let her head sink back into her pillow. "I'm so glad it's all over..."
There was a long moment of silence as Nash gazed down at Chris. Hesitating slightly, he bent over her and kissed her lips softly. Chris responded by lifting her chin so that their lips met more fully. His hand brushed down her neck to her shoulders, enjoying the prolonged union of their lips. Eventually, he withdrew from her, squeezing her shoulder gently. He smiled at her before straightening up and turning to leave.
"Goodnight, Chris."
"Stay..."
Nash looked at her, slightly surprised and apparently unsure of the intended meaning.
"Never mind," she mumbled hurriedly, blushing. She had not planned on saying that thought out loud, and she was certain that he had gotten the wrong impression of the request.
But he had not. After staring at her a moment longer, he moved back to the bed and slid under the sheets beside her. He put his arm around behind her so that her head was resting on his chest, under his chin.
"Is this what you meant?"
"...Yes."
Chris felt a little strange lying in another man's arms after so many years of being alone, but it definitely didn't feel wrong. In fact, even though they had not once discussed this new relationship between them, it felt very right and natural.
She released a long sigh of contentment, and fell asleep without a further word being uttered between them.
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A/N: Yikes, this was almost as long as chapter eight! All I can really say is that this chapter was a *killer* to write! I rewrote the entire thing about three times. O_o
Be warned, the next chapter, which is also the last chapter, will be pretty short in comparison to the other chapters.
Last Chapter: Big Choices
On the topic of last chapter, I personally don't believe Chris was *too* out of character. I mean, it could have been much worse. I don't think I rushed into it, it's quite clear that Chris has been suppressing her feelings for Nash for quite some time now. She initially wanted to give him a hard time about giving up the rune, but realized there was no point because he evidently would have no regrets regardless of what she said. Yes, they are in a rather dire situation, but sometimes extreme circumstances can bring about these kind of reactions in people. I guess when you get right down to it, it's a matter of opinion.
On a more technical note, two chapters ago, in chapter eight, Aya the rose found a little error. I actually saw the error right after I posted the chapter, but I just hoped that no one would notice. . But yeah, I messed up. *smacks self* It's supposed to be fifteen years since he'd seen Eike, NOT twenty-five. _ The events in Percival's memory took place five years BEFORE this story starts. Anywayyyy, I'm really sorry if that confused anyone.
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Chapter Ten - No More Vengeance
____________________________
Early the next morning Chris, Nash, and Louis departed from Budehuc castle. Now that they were properly prepared for battle, they hoped that Nash's Grosser Fluss combined with Chris' True Water Rune would be enough to retrieve the Blue Moon Rune from Yuber.
As they traveled through the plains, Chris noticed that their pace was a little slow. She eyed Nash suspiciously. He looked rather tired for some reason...
Louis interrupted her thoughts as he began to discuss their battle strategy, as he was trying to anticipate Yuber's plans.
"I've been thinking... How can we be sure that Yuber won't attack somewhere else?" Louis asked the other two. "I mean, he didn't intend for you to survive when he told you... Don't you think he'd attack somewhere where he knows we won't anticipate him?"
Nash shook his head. "Even with the limiter in effect, he is much too confident about his powers to consider us a threat. He probably hopes that we are there when he arrives because Chris and I are definitely on his hit list. Little does he know!"
"Besides," Chris added, "We haven't anything else to go on. If Yuber changed his plans, we have no way of knowing where he would strike instead. There's no point in staying at Budehuc when we know Iksay is very likely to be his next target.
"That is true enough," Louis replied with a nod.
Nash squinted off in the distance at the small town, which was now in view along the horizon. "We've made fairly good time. We should get there by noon and have time to anticipate Yuber's arrival."
"I hate traveling on foot," Louis complained to Chris. "It reminds me of my squire days when I had to run after the six of you all the time."
"You could have taken your horse," Chris replied with a smile.
Louis shook his head. "I know, but- ...Nash? Are you alright?"
Chris turned and saw that Nash had stopped a few feet behind them and was looking as though he was having trouble keeping his balance. Chris made it to his side just as he began to fall forward. Unable to steady him, she helped him kneel on the ground.
"Nash?!"
"I'm okay, I'm just... tired."
"Haven't you been feeding?" she whispered so that Louis couldn't hear.
"It's okay, I'll be fine," he replied, bringing a hand to his forehead.
"Are you insane? How do you think you are going to be able to face Yuber when you're this weak?" Chris hissed, growing agitated.
He hesitated before responding. "For those few short minutes while I had the rune, I hadn't craved any blood at all. But when it was taken away again... Ever since this morning the hunger has been worse than usual... Animal blood just isn't cutting it anymore, it seems. But I'll be fine, just give me a moment to rest."
Louis blinked at them, his features displaying a look of confusion and concern. "What's the matter? What's going on?"
Neither of them responded to Louis, too caught up in the present dilemma to answer his question.
After thinking for a moment, Chris seized the knife from Nash's belt and began rolling up her sleeve.
"What are you doing?" Nash asked, eyeing the knife warily.
"You have to feed, Nash."
"Chris, don't be a fool, you know I can't control myself!"
"Let me worry about that." She dragged the knife across the inside of her left arm, and let the blood drip from the wound. "Just drink."
Needless to say, Louis was horrified to watch as Nash put his mouth to her wound and sank his fangs into the veins of her arm.
"M-Milady!?" Louis started towards them but Chris held up her free hand.
"It's okay, Louis," she responded, unflinching as she watched Nash drink her blood.
Nash's bite began feebly enough, but soon Chris could feel his power returning and she realized he wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon. She closed her eyes, praying her plan would work.
She placed her right hand with the True Water Rune on her left arm, above the wound where Nash was feeding. She began to focus the energy of the icy rune towards her arm, willing the rune to turn her blood cold through magic. She felt no change, and was suddenly afraid that it would not work.
But Nash suddenly pulled away, and coming to his senses, turned his head to wipe the blood from his mouth.
Chris willed the rune to heal her arm, and a second later the wound vanished. She rolled her sleeve back down and stood up.
Nash rose to his feet as well, looking much better than before. "Your blood suddenly felt really cold, it shocked me to my senses... Of course, the True Water rune." he shook his head. "You still shouldn't have done that."
Chris turned form him. "Your welcome."
Nash smirked slightly, but for once found he had no reply that was suitably sarcastic, so he just shook his head once more and then turned to Louis. He was staring at them, and it was apparent from his mortified expression that he was still in shock from what he had just seen.
"Perhaps we owe Louis an explanation?" Chris suggested.
Nash sighed and nodded.
******
The three of them reached Iksay late that afternoon. They checked into the inn there and while Nash was dealing with the innkeeper, Louis said he would take a quick look around the village to see if there were any signs of the dual rune-bearing demon. Chris found herself alone in her room.
Chris looked out the window of her room at the village and the fields bellow, and she contemplated the situation. How much time did they have? How long would Percival's limiter keep Yuber at bay? If they were unable to retrieve the Moon Rune before Yuber broke the limiter, mayhem would certainly ensue.
There was a knock at the door.
She turned around. "Come in."
Nash entered. Now that they were out of Louis' presence, Chris was slightly unsure of how to act. She turned back to the window, feeling a slight blush creep onto her cheeks as her mind lingered on the memories of the previous evening.
The Harmonian casually strolled up behind her. "I suppose I never really thanked you for your help this morning."
"You shouldn't have left it so long. At any rate, we certainly had a lot of explaining to do to Louis after that. He took it better than I thought he would, though."
"He hasn't spoken a word to me since he found out what I was. You call that taking it well?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine again after he gets used to the idea. And he *did* promise not to tell anyone. That's something."
Nash nodded and there was a slight pause.
"You seemed surprised to see it was me when I came in just now," he noted, deciding to change the topic.
"I didn't think it was you, because last I knew, you didn't knock on the door before entering a lady's chambers," she responded, although there was evident humor in her tone.
"That was *one* time I didn't knock! I knocked all the other times," he said with equal humor. "Remember when I first came to you in Brass Castle twenty years ago? I knocked on the passageway door that night for ages before you answered!"
Chris turned back to him, a slight smile upon her lips. However, Nash put his hands on the wall on either side of her, and continued speaking before Chris could open her mouth to retort.
"How about we just cut the wit and mockery like we did last night?" he asked in a low voice, flashing his familiar roguish grin. "I like what happened when we did..."
Chris blushed terribly, still unused to such open talk about her emotions. She did not reply.
"I wish you hadn't left last night..." he murmured.
Chris cleared her throat, willing herself to stay focused. "What I don't understand is how you weren't going crazy with blood thirst last night when you nearly passed out from it this morning..."
"What can I say, Chris? My thirst for love overcame my thirst for blood."
"It could have been really serious! You shouldn't joke about it, Nash."
"I'm not joking."
He leaned forward, and Chris realized he was going to kiss her again. However, he hadn't come within an inch of her face before there was another inopportune knock on her door.
"Lady Chris? It's Louis."
Nash looked at Chris with a raised eyebrow, as though silently pleading with her to ignore the unknowing intruder. But Chris shook her head. They both knew that now was not the time for this, and so with a sigh, Nash straightened up and allowed Chris to pass so she could answer the door.
"Yes Louis, what is it?" Chris asked as he entered.
"Sorry to interrupt..."
"You interrupted nothing," Chris lied. "Is something up?"
"Everything looks normal enough in the village at the moment. I'm going to head up to the fields and take a look around there. I'll come back the moment I find any signs that Yuber might be around."
Chris nodded. "Very well, Louis. Be careful."
"I will milady," he replied with a slight bow of his head. He left.
Chris turned back to Nash and there was an awkward moment of silence as they just stared at each other.
Finally, Chris cleared her throat. "Erm... We should start discussing our plan for getting the rune back from Yuber when he gets here."
"That's a good idea," Nash admitted with a nod. "We're going to need a good plan to get the rune back."
"He's not going to just give it back..." Chris mused.
"No, but we can probably take it back by force. Since Sierra's passing, the rune now sees me as its true master. If we can keep him still long enough I can probably call the rune to me."
"But how can we hold him still long enough and prevent him from casting magic while you do that?"
"You could always use the same cage of ice spell you used on the dragon."
Chris shook her head. "That spell hardly held the dragon in place for a few seconds. It would take time for me to cast that spell so that it was strong enough to hold him while you retrieved the rune. You can't cover for me, because if you're too close to him when I cast the spell you'll get caught in it as well. And if he sees me just standing there, muttering a spell, he's going to make a beeline for me."
"So what if he doesn't see you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean why don't you hide somewhere, so he won't know you're casting a spell, or even that you're there at all?"
Chris sounded skeptical. "And leave you two fighting one on one? I told you, if you were too close to him you'd be hit too."
"I won't be anywhere near him. Yuber likes to taunt his opponent a lot before he fights. Maybe I can use that to try and distract him long enough for you to cast an effective spell."
Chris nodded slowly, seeing the logic in the plan. "Very well. After you get the rune back, I'll join you in bringing him down."
"Just don't become Yuber's hostage for a third time, alright?" Nash smirked.
She glared at him.
Just then Louis burst in the doors.
"Yuber is here! He's at the windmill!"
Nash and Chris exchanged glances.
"Louis, warn the villagers and get them as far away from that windmill as possible!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Louis rushed back out of the room and Nash and Chris followed hastily.
******
Sure enough, when Nash approached the town's windmill, he found Yuber, as well as several bodies that had been villagers of Iksay. He had both his swords drawn, and had evidently decided to exercise his physical powers before his new rune.
Chris had gone around the back and Nash saw her duck behind the windmill and begin chanting a spell, faint blue wisps of power starting to emanate from her.
Nash walked right up to Yuber, swords still sheathed. He addressed Yuber with a solemn nod.
"Well if it isn't the wannabe human," the demon said with a twisted smile. "Ah yes, look around at all these bodies. Soon I will make them into my undead slaves! How would you like to join them?"
"You're a truly sick animal."
Yuber smirked from under his black hat and began walking towards him. Nash refused to back up, but was concerned about leaving enough distance between them.
He drew his swords, and Yuber stopped in his tracks, eyeing the Grosser Fluss. His terrible grin widened even more.
"Do you really think you can take me on by yourself, foolish little vampy?"
"Do you really think you could stop with the mockery before I chop off your girly braid, shred your bowler hat to ribbons, and slice you into tidy little cubes?"
"Such big talk for such an inferior fool."
Nash gave half of a smirk. "It wouldn't be the first time I've been called a big talker. It wouldn't be the first time I'd be able to live up to my word either."
"I don't see your little human pet. Where is she?"
"Why do you care?" Nash replied, his eyebrows slanted in anger. Just a little longer and Chris would be finished chanting...
"Did the little vampy with ethics lose his control and eat his little human pet?" he taunted.
Nash looked past Yuber's at the blue energy emitting from behind the windmill, realizing that she was ready.
Nash smirked. "I don't think she likes it that you keep calling her a pet."
Yuber realized too late what was happening and great icicles jutted from the ground, surrounding him so that he was trapped. The demon sliced angrily at the thick pillars of ice with his swords, but they were holding.
"Moon Rune," Nash began, "On behalf of my predecessor Sierra Mikain, and as your new true master, I command you to return to me!"
Yuber howled his displeasure as a beam of light shot from his hand and the Moon Rune separated itself from its abuser. Nash held out his hand and it began to glow as the rune transferred itself to him.
Yuber slashed his way furiously from the cage of ice, but by the time he had freed himself, it was too late - Nash had the rune.
"You will truly regret that!" Yuber hissed, his mismatched eyes flaring with hatred. "I still have the Eightfold rune, and it is more than enough to get rid of vermin like you!
Chris had joined Nash at his side, her own sword drawn. "Your battle tactics leave something to be desired," she said. "You underestimate your enemy far too much."
"We shall see," snarled Yuber, and he lunged at them.
Even as his opponent, Chris couldn't help but admire Yuber's ability to evade the blades of two skilled swordsmen while still remaining on the offensive. She was at a disadvantage, as she only had one sword, and every time she was sure she was going to get a clean strike, one of his blades clashed with hers in the nick of time. She was getting frustrated, but refused to lose her focus and forced herself to remain on the offensive.
Nash, even though he matched Yuber's two swords, was having a difficult time as well. He was getting in the odd hit, but every wound he inflicted was very minor, and the best hit he got on him was a moderate gash on the demon's left upper arm.
As the battle progressed, Chris noticed the increasing fatigue of Yuber's wounded arm, and when both of Nash's swords were locked with both of Yuber's, she spotted the opportunity to bring her sword down upon his left hand. However, as she lifted her sword to strike, Yuber twisted his other sword towards her, which was still locked with Nash's, and in doing so, gouged both his and Nash's sword into Chris' side.
Chris' eyes opened wide with shock, and she stumbled back, her sword dropping to the ground with a loud clank. She fell to her knees, her hands clutching her side.
"Chris!" Nash turned his head in horror to find Chris holding her side, blood oozing out from behind her hand.
In the split second that Nash turned to look at Chris, Yuber pulled his swords back sharply, and yanked the Grosser fluss from Nash's grasp in doing so. Nash turned back just in time to have the hilt of his own sword smashed into his face.
He flew backwards, and landed on the ground with a thud. By the time he had brought himself up to his knees, Yuber had the Grosser Fluss pointed at his throat.
"Did you really think you could defeat me? I, who has had the experience of centuries, while you're just a mere few decades old? You surely are as foolish as though you were still human!" Yuber sneered.
Nash was racking his brain for a means of escape, or at the very least, for a suitable insult to hurl at the demon, when he felt a sudden rush of power surge through him. He could feel another presence within him, and he looked down at his rune hand, which was glowing faintly. With a mixture of surprise and relief, he realized the limiter had just been removed.
Yuber had not noticed, and was continuing to taunt him. "Tell me, how does it feel to know you're about to be slain by your own swords?" Yuber asked with a cruel grin.
Nash shot a glance over at Chris, who looked as though she were struggling just to stay conscious. Rage surged through him, and he gazed right up his own swords at Yuber, his eyes expressing his undiluted hatred for the demon.
"Try it. I dare you," Nash hissed.
He held out his hand with the Moon Rune in it and suddenly a dark bolt of energy emitted from his rune and struck Yuber so hard he went flying.
Yuber scrambled to his feet, and stared at Nash in amazement. The demon realized that for him to have such power at a moments notice must mean there was no longer a limiter on the rune.
Enraged, Yuber lunged at Nash again, who was still kneeling on the ground. However this time another bolt of dark energy struck and two shadowy figures appeared between Yuber and Nash.
One was the tall figure of a calm and collected looking knight and the other was a petite, but somehow formidable looking woman.
In the next moment they were gone, but Yuber was still backing away, unsure that he wanted to continue battling this man who had two rune spirits on his side. The demon turned to see Chris lying wounded on the ground, and Nash was dismayed to see Yuber seize her and drag the wounded woman to her feet.
Yuber opened his mouth to speak, a malicious look on his face, but before he could utter a word, a truly shocked expression crossed his features and a word never left his lips. Stumbling backwards, he dropped Chris back to the ground, and Nash noticed that there was blood dripping from the demon's stomach. Nash watched as Yuber pulled a knife out of his stomach. Shocked, Yuber stared at the bloodied knife in his hand as though trying to comprehend that it was his own blood on it.
Finally, he dropped the knife and lifted his hand in front of him, a yellow portal appearing beneath him.
"This... is not... the end of me! Far from it!" he hissed before sinking into the portal, disappearing.
Silence fell and there was no movement for a full minute.
Finally, after he was convinced that Yuber had really gone, Nash forced himself to his feet and rushed to Chris side. Miraculously, she was still conscious; although it was evident she was in a lot of pain.
Chris pointed weakly at the knife on the ground a few feet from them, where Yuber had dropped it. "I think that belongs to you... I forgot to give it back to you after I used it to cut my arm this morning."
"It's a good thing you did forget!" Nash replied picking the bloody knife off of the ground. "I realize you must not have enough energy to heal yourself... We have to get back to the inn and get you some medicine."
"I have enough power to keep the pain from rendering me unconscious... But not much more than that..."
Nash nodded and re-sheathed his knife.
"Nash," Chris began as he scooped her up in his arms and stood up. "Those two shadowy figures... They were undoubtedly..."
"... Percival and Sierra. I know..." Nash nodded solemnly.
There was a moment of silence as Nash made his way down the path towards the inn with her in his arms.
"I suppose it only makes sense that Sierra is a spirit of the rune as well. It's just as the previous Flame Champion's spirit was still in the True Fire rune when Hugo got it..." Chris mused. "I wonder why I didn't see her when I was releasing the seal..."
Nash hesitated before answering. "I think it's because Percival is the limiter and defender or the rune, so it was him you needed to communicate with to release the seal. But Sierra... Well, today this rune has shown the potential to have more power than I have ever witnessed while Sierra had it. I think she must be the spirit who has strengthened the rune." He released a slight chuckle. "Who knows really... I can't really pretend to understand anything about her spirit. I was still trying to understand her when she was a woman!"
Just then Louis emerged from the inn and ran up to them.
"Is everything okay? Lady Chris!" he exclaimed when he saw Chris bleeding and being carried by Nash.
"Relax, Yuber is gone. Just go get some medical supplies out, we have to clean up this wound," Nash replied
Louis nodded and rushed back into the inn to comply.
******
Later that evening, after Chris was healed considerably, Louis departed back to Budehuc Castle to inform the others as to what had happened. Meanwhile, Chris, still a bit weak for traveling, remained behind at the inn with Nash, so she could rest up.
After Louis had gone, Nash helped Chris up the stairs to her room and helped her get into bed.
"Nash... Do you think Yuber will return?" Chris asked when Nash pulled the sheets over her prone form.
Nash shook his head. "I highly doubt it. He fears the rune now that I have access to its ultimate power. He's not stupid enough to think he can try and get it from me again."
"But... He's still alive out there somewhere... You never got to avenge Sierra."
He closed his eyes. "I know."
"Does this mean you're going to go hunting him down?" Chris asked, slightly afraid of the answer.
"No... No, I'm not. When I felt the limiter lift from me, I felt her. She doesn't want me to go after him anymore," Nash replied solemnly.
"She? You mean Sierra?"
Nash hesitated for a moment before nodding. "She says I should not be the one to kill Yuber, that it is 'another's' job. Apparently Yuber is condemned to a fate worse than death. Her soul is content as long as the rune is safe."
"Are you alright with that?"
Nash nodded. "If there's someone out there who can do a better job of making him pay for the evil he's brought to this world, who am I to complain? I'm actually sort of relieved. I was controlled by revenge once before, and it just keeps eating away at you... Seeking vengeance is quite a burden."
Chris released a relieved sigh, and let her head sink back into her pillow. "I'm so glad it's all over..."
There was a long moment of silence as Nash gazed down at Chris. Hesitating slightly, he bent over her and kissed her lips softly. Chris responded by lifting her chin so that their lips met more fully. His hand brushed down her neck to her shoulders, enjoying the prolonged union of their lips. Eventually, he withdrew from her, squeezing her shoulder gently. He smiled at her before straightening up and turning to leave.
"Goodnight, Chris."
"Stay..."
Nash looked at her, slightly surprised and apparently unsure of the intended meaning.
"Never mind," she mumbled hurriedly, blushing. She had not planned on saying that thought out loud, and she was certain that he had gotten the wrong impression of the request.
But he had not. After staring at her a moment longer, he moved back to the bed and slid under the sheets beside her. He put his arm around behind her so that her head was resting on his chest, under his chin.
"Is this what you meant?"
"...Yes."
Chris felt a little strange lying in another man's arms after so many years of being alone, but it definitely didn't feel wrong. In fact, even though they had not once discussed this new relationship between them, it felt very right and natural.
She released a long sigh of contentment, and fell asleep without a further word being uttered between them.
________________________________________________________________________
A/N: Yikes, this was almost as long as chapter eight! All I can really say is that this chapter was a *killer* to write! I rewrote the entire thing about three times. O_o
Be warned, the next chapter, which is also the last chapter, will be pretty short in comparison to the other chapters.
Last Chapter: Big Choices
