The Next Generation 27
Magicman: To bring you all up to speed, the commando team is away. Setto finally figured out her feelings for Sabrina and it has been revealed that Allen hates Hitomi as much as she hates him. Interesting thoughts huh? Well enough from me. Time to continue.
It was an especially dark night.
A thick layer of clouds covered the moon and massive trees loomed over the path through the forest. Nocturnal animals roamed through darkness, seeking prey. Far off in the distance the anguished cry of a helpless creature's terror was cut off abruptly. The leaves rustled as a chill wind rushed through the branches, whistling mournfully like a moaning ghost. The path cut through the trees, a line of dark brown through the black of night and a guide to the party of travellers that moved silently and swiftly through the woods.
The darkness worked to the party's advantage. It would be difficult for any pursuers to track them in the blackness. Yet they travelled with relative ease, thanks to the two cat women at the front of the party.
Walking was not the word to describe the cats' motion, so smooth and silent was it. They 'stalked' on all fours, their ears pricked up and twitching at the slightest sound, their glowing eyes peering intently into the darkness ahead. Naria moved slightly ahead of her sister. Ever since she'd lost part of her ear, Eriya's hearing hadn't been as acute so her sister covered for her.
Next in the line was Gatti. Refusing to be parted long from his beloved, the Dragonslayer walked just behind the twins. With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he worried constantly about Naria. What if they walked into an ambush? What if dragons attacked them? What if? What if? What if?
Jager walked along after Gatti, his hands glowing with the magic. Asturia's court sorcerer was going along on this mission to make sure that they were not detected by magic. Strapped to his back was an umbrella made of bamboo. Although it looked frail, it held a great deal of magic that would help during an attack.
Hitomi and Yukari walked side by side. Hitomi scanned the nearby forest with her mind, looking for human life while Yukari wished that she had Reaver with her. Her horse would make mincemeat out of the forest and get them to the fort in record time. Instead she had to trundle along like a lousy mule going to the market.
Bringing up the rear were Allen Schezar and Miguel Labariel. Occasionally eyeing each other suspiciously, they also watched for any sign that they were being followed. If the situation had been any less dire then they would have insulted each other and likely duelled to the death. But Fate had chosen that the situation be as black as their surroundings.
The party continued to move in this way until the motion became mechanical.
Yukari in particular felt like a cow in its herd, marching forward non-stop. With nothing to do other than watch trees for signs of movement until her eyes started aching, her mind began to drift.
Her eyes flitted to her mother beside her then drifted behind her to rest upon Allen. They hated each other so much. 'Why?' Yukari thought. 'What could possibly spawn so much hatred?'
Yukari knew her mother, and she had never seen such twisted hatred on her face when she had laid eyes on Allen and her sparring. If looks were fire then half of the city would have been put to the torch! Hitomi never held a grudge if she could help it but this time she had clearly done so. She must have had SOME reason! And Allen must have a reason for hating her back.
She reviewed what little she knew about the name Allen Schezar. Once going through a book of Asturian heroes, she had some across a passage about the knights Caeli. It had mentioned the name of every knight who had ever served the Asturian throne. Every name had been labelled 'deceased' except the name at the very bottom. She had never thought of it before but she suddenly began to wonder how Allen had managed to survive all this time.
Records had stated that the knights Caeli had all been ambushed and killed at the end of the Destiny War. But then why was Allen's name on the list? What had kept him out of that battle? Yukari was ready to wager her sword that her mother not only knew why, but had also had a hand in it.
Yukari wasn't naturally curious but this one case had sparked her thirst for knowledge. She resolved to ask Allen about it when they made camp. She nearly tripped over a tree-root. 'If we ever do make camp!'
A low whistling from up ahead that was just slightly louder than the wind made Yukari freeze in her tracks. She softly lay a hand on her katana and waited her mother and everyone else doing the same thing. Allen and Miguel approached from behind. Allen gave Yukari a questioning look, which she shrugged helplessly at. Hitomi spared him a glare before moving to the front of the line.
Yukari followed her mother. Naria and Eriya stood by a bush at the side of the path. They each grabbed a branch and pulled it back to reveal the glow of a campfire. Yukari got a look through the branches and nearly choked.
In a clearing only ten paces away sat two Basramian soldiers seated by a campfire. A large military issue tent loomed behind them as they sat eating beans out of cans. They were so close that the commandos could hear every word that they said.
"This rear flank guard duty really bites, doesn't it?"
One of the guards nodded. "Yeah. But someone has to do it. General Veers is smart enough to see that. I tell yah, he's a lot better than my last general was though. He used to just throw us into battle like feeding sausage into a meat grinder. And more often than not we'd get flanked and lose the battle anyway!"
"Well what can you do? That was back in the Destiny war. We were serving under the Asturians then, remember?"
"Ah yes. The Asturians" Guard One's fist clenched. "Because of that Asturian General my brother and my best friend were both killed! He sent our company right at a squad of Zaibach 'melefs. I tried to keep track of them but you know how it is in battle. I found them afterwards. They'd been shredded by those damn crima guns that Zaibach loves so much. Both of them were good men who would have lived to a ripe old age if that one General had known what he was doing. If you ask me, Veers should use a couple energist bombs and take them all out!"
Yukari felt Allen twitch beside her but he stayed still while the second guard spoke.
"Oh come on. You don't mean that."
"No I don't. But I wouldn't be sorry, I can tell you that!"
"Well I guess that's why we're here, isn't it? To keep those bastards off the main army's back for the next two days."
"Right. It's just two more days and then goodbye Asturia!"
Two days! General Veers was attacking in just two days? The thought chilled Yukari to the bone.
Just then, the hiss of the air being cut through broke the silence. A long arrow flashed down and embedded itself in Eroya's shoulder. The cat girl cried out and instantly the two guards cried out an alert. Eight more men stumbled from the tent. Some looked half asleep, others were half dressed, but they all carried swords and they all rushed to the sound of the cat girl's cry.
Naria was instantly at her sister's side and Gatti was instantly at hers. The others spread out before the soldiers rushed them and then it was all confusion.
Yukari caught one soldier in a hip throw and instinctively ducked. Another arrow cut the air where her head had been. She hissed in frustration. She HATED snipers! She searched with her mind, trying to see him before he could shoot again. Her technique was clumsy but she didn't exactly have time to refine it. Besides, it got the job done and that was all that she wanted. He sat in a nearby tree preparing to pick off his targets one by one. Needless to say he was surprised when a katana whirled through the air and plunged into his chest. Yukari then drew her dagger and ducked a wild slash by another man.
The battle was brief and bloody. Everyone was wounded in one way or another but the end had seen all the soldiers dead. Eriya tottered slightly over the man she had killed then fell over. Shocked, Naria rushed to her sister, cradling her head in her arms. She yanked the arrow out of her shoulder and threw it aside.
"Eriya!" she gasped. Her twin was growing cold and her eyes were glazing. "Speak to me!"
His leg wounded, Jager limped over to the twins. One look at the golden cat girl told him all he needed to know. "She's been badly poisoned and is beyond any medicine. All we can do now is make her comfortable." The sorcerer shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry."
Naria did not speak for a moment. "No... You're wrong. My sister will be okay! My sister will be okay!!!
As Naria's shrill screams filled the clearing, the rest of the party had arrived at the scene. Yukari turned away, unable to watch such grief.
"I can help her."
All eyes went to Allen Schezar.
The former knight took a step forward but Hitomi intercepted him, her eyes steely and accusing. "What are you trying to pull?" the eyes seemed say.
Allen glared back, his frustration evident. "The poison has to be drawn from the wound before it's too late!" he snarled. "Do you WANT your friend to die?!"
Hitomi nearly reached for her sword but she stopped herself. Slowly she stepped aside though she never let her eyes off of him. Allen walked over to the cat girls. He knelt down beside Naria and held out his hands. "May I?"
Naria hesitated for a second before handing her sister over to Allen Schezar. She stepped back and began wringing her hands with worry.
Allen lay Eriya back onto the ground and placed his lips on the wound. He sucked slowly and strongly. After a moment he lifted his head and spit out the blood. He repeated the process for some time.
There was absolute silence from the viewers. They could only watch as a man none of them really knew fought for the life of the cat woman. More than once Hitomi looked on the verge of stopping him but she swallowed her tongue and kept quiet.
Long minutes had passed and most of them had long since given up on Allen. Naria was crying quietly, mourning the death of her sister when the ex-knight stopped. He looked down into Eriya's face, searching for something. The he smiled tiredly. "She will live."
Naria let out a glad cry and swept her sister up from the ground. Eriya's face was no longer pale and she breathed easier, though she was still bleeding profusely. Naria ripped a strip of cloth from her uniform and began bandaging her sister up. "I vote that we stop here for the night."
"I second the motion" Allen said.
Jager nodded. "It wouldn't be a good thing to drop dead from sheer exhaustion."
Yukari only yawned. She had been walking all night and the battle had just drained the last of her energy.
Hitomi sighed. "Alright. We may as well use this clearing. Those soldiers aren't going to use it anymore. Us girl get the tent." She turned and walked into the tent while the men immediately began grumbling.
Naria paused before carrying Eriya into the tent. She turned towards Alen who was spreading his bedroll on the ground. He seemed to feel her eyes and looked up. "Thank you" was all she said. Then she entered the tent along with a barely conscious Yukari.
***
Yukari sat up and groaned quietly. Everywhere she lay down ther was a rock digging between her shoulders. 'Maybe if I walk around for a bit I'll tire myself out.' That said, she lifted herself out of bed and crept from the tent, so as not to wake the others.
The chill wind bit at her face and swept her hair backwards. Yukari shivered and pulled her coat closer. Looking around the camp, she saw the men sound asleep. It pissed her off to no end seeing them all so restfully sleeping, despite the rocks and the cold. Swearing softly to herself under her breath, she glanced casually at the dying fire and noticed that Allen wasn't in his bedroll. Puzzled, she looked about and spotted him.
The former knight sat alone in the shadows at the edge of the camp. His sword rested upon his knees and he looked out into the darkness. Yukari listened and heard him whistling quietly to himself.
Curious and not really wanting to be alone in the darkness, Yukari trudged over to Allen and sat down on a rock next to his. "What's that?"
Allen stopped whistling. "It is called 'Asturian Rainbow'. It's a very old song. Some say that the first king of Asturia wrote it himself. It tells about how the different tribes of Asturia came together to form the whole, like how different colours form a rainbow." He looked over at the girl. "What brings you out here in the bitter cold?"
Yukari shrugged. "I couldn't sleep. How about you?"
"I figured that I should stand guard."
Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. Each person was enjoying the silence too much to break it.
"You look just like your mother, you know?" Allen said suddenly. "Except for your eyes, I mean."
Yukari nodded. "Thanks."
"I remember the first time I met your mother." Allen smiled a moment at old memories.
"Really?"
"Yes. I was out for a ride, scouting out the perimeter of my fort, this very fort that we're going to in fact. I heard a scream and rushed to the scene. She had had a run in with old Mr. Mole. She'd had a bad fright. She literally fainted in my arms!"
Yukari whistled. "That sure doesn't sound like mom."
Allen chuckled. "Yes, she had quite a change. After she met your father..." His voice trailed off.
Yukari hesitated for a moment. "Why do you two hate each other so much? Don't bother lying, I've seen your eyes whenever you two look at each other. Don't tell me if you don't want to" she hastily added, seeing his darkening face, "It's just-"
Allen cut her off with a raised hand. "No, you have a right to know. It's difficult for me because I'm not proud of that part of my life. I haven't discussed it for twenty years and I suppose that the myth has grown quite a bit." He sighed. "Well then here's the truth of why we hate each other."
"The short form is that I tried to rape her."
As Allen told his tale, Yukari listened, eyes wide with morbid fascination. She was hearing a chapter of her mother's life that she had never heard before. The storyteller spoke softly and slowly, never once changing the tone of his voice. By the time the end came, Yukari was hanging on his every word.
"And so" Allen finished, "I was arrested and thrown into he castle dungeon on charges of conspiracy against the kingdom, kidnapping, murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted rape. And that, Yukari, is why your mother hates my guts."
Yukari was silent for a moment. "Okay" she said at last, that's why she hates you, but what did she do to you?"
Allen's face darkened again and for a moment it looked like he wouldn't speak. "I've loved two women in my life Yukari" he spoke in a brittle voice. "One was Marlene Aston, Millerna's older sister. She died of the plague when it hit Freid. The other woman's name was Refina and your mother killed her."
For a moment the silence was louder than a thin ragged scream.
"I suppose she had good enough reason" Allen continued slowly. "Refina always said how she'd love to kill Hitomi and it was a fair fight apparently. But that doesn't change anything."
"When they told me about Refina's death..." Allen's voice momentarily choked, "I didn't understand what I was feeling. It took six years before I finally understood how I felt about her." Allen looked directly in Yukari's eyes. "Do you know what Hell is? It is a sea of endless possibilities showing you exactly what might have happened if you'd changed one little thing about your life. You see exactly what you could have done for better or for worse. I saw how I could have lived with Refina and I saw how we could have been happy together. Admittedly, I screwed it over mostly myself. But no matter what I did, Hitomi was the one who killed her. I know this and I will never forgive her."
Allen sighed, his energy spent. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this. It must be...unpleasant to hear someone tell you that he hates your mother."
Yukari shook her head. "I'm not hear to judge you. To be honest, I was just getting curious about it all. I'd heard a few things about you and it wasn't making sense."
"Well I'm glad that I could enlighten you." Allen yawned.
Yukari watched him. "Why don't you go get some sleep? I'll never be able to rest out here."
"Maybe you're right." Allen got up, stretching his legs. "Are you sure that you want to stay up?"
"Of course. Someone has to keep the rest of you from getting eaten alive in the middle of the night!"
Allen snorted with laughter. Then he sighed. "Thank you for talking" he said. "I haven't had a friend for a long time and I get lonely on occasion."
Yukari smiled at him. "Well you've got one now."
***
The morning found Yukari seated on her rock, pondering what Allen had told her. She doubted that he would lie to her, if only because lying didn't seem like his style. She wondered what her mother would say about that whole conversation.
She didn't have to wait long to find out. As soon as the sun hit the tent, Hitomi opened the flap and stepped out into the early morning light in full Dragonslayer armour. She looked about the camp, her lip curling when her eyes passed over Allen. She looked at her daughter at the edge of camp and marched toward her.
"It was a nice night for a walk last night, wasn't it?"
The question was rhetorical but Yukari chose to answer anyway. "It wasn't bad. Being alone in the dark gives you a chance to think."
Hitomi eyed her daughter shrewdly. "And a chance to talk".
"If you're referring to my discussion with Allen then yes. It was a good time to talk."
Hitomi hissed slightly. "What were you doing with him? That man is dangerous!"
"Oh he is not!" Yukari scoffed loudly, not caring that the rest of the little group was sleeping. "I can handle myself against unwanted advances. You should know that!"
"Granted" Hitomi conceded the point reluctantly. "But there is a big difference between some stupid nobleman looking for a thrill and Allen Schezar! He was a knight Caeli. They don't just let amateurs be a part of the knights you know."
"Mom" Yukari spoke hesitantly. "Don't you think that it's about time that you two made up?"
"Over my dead body" Hitomi said flatly. "He tried to rape me. He doesn't deserve forgiveness."
"But-"
"Yukari" Hitomi interrupted, "I want you to stay away from Allen Schezar."
"Oh mom-"
"I mean it! I will not give him an opportunity to force my daughter between the sheets!"
"Uh mom? You're starting to rant."
"I DON'T CARE!" Hitomi stopped and looked around the camp. Apparently her thunderous roars hadn't woken anybody.
"Look" she continued more quietly, "He's not worth your pity. Please, just keep away from him before he tries something."
Yukari knuckled her forehead on frustration. This was ridiculous! Hitomi could sure get paranoid when she put her mind to it. "No mom. I happen to like Allen, I don't think that he's a bad guy and I definitely don't pity him! If you've got a problem with him then that's your choice, but don't drag me into your little vengeance war!" she snapped.
Hitomi jerked her head back as if stung and her eyes narrowed slightly.
Yukari turned her head from her mother. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to gather up my stuff." She got up off her rock and went to her tent.
Hitomi watched her go before glaring suspiciously at Allen.
She didn't know what he was up to or what he had done to her daughter to get her to trust in him so but she intended to find out.
Magicman: I don't know, there's something I don't really like about this chapter. Maybe it's the ending? If there is something wrong, could someone tell me in a review? Constructive criticism is welcome as much as laud praises.
Magicman: To bring you all up to speed, the commando team is away. Setto finally figured out her feelings for Sabrina and it has been revealed that Allen hates Hitomi as much as she hates him. Interesting thoughts huh? Well enough from me. Time to continue.
It was an especially dark night.
A thick layer of clouds covered the moon and massive trees loomed over the path through the forest. Nocturnal animals roamed through darkness, seeking prey. Far off in the distance the anguished cry of a helpless creature's terror was cut off abruptly. The leaves rustled as a chill wind rushed through the branches, whistling mournfully like a moaning ghost. The path cut through the trees, a line of dark brown through the black of night and a guide to the party of travellers that moved silently and swiftly through the woods.
The darkness worked to the party's advantage. It would be difficult for any pursuers to track them in the blackness. Yet they travelled with relative ease, thanks to the two cat women at the front of the party.
Walking was not the word to describe the cats' motion, so smooth and silent was it. They 'stalked' on all fours, their ears pricked up and twitching at the slightest sound, their glowing eyes peering intently into the darkness ahead. Naria moved slightly ahead of her sister. Ever since she'd lost part of her ear, Eriya's hearing hadn't been as acute so her sister covered for her.
Next in the line was Gatti. Refusing to be parted long from his beloved, the Dragonslayer walked just behind the twins. With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he worried constantly about Naria. What if they walked into an ambush? What if dragons attacked them? What if? What if? What if?
Jager walked along after Gatti, his hands glowing with the magic. Asturia's court sorcerer was going along on this mission to make sure that they were not detected by magic. Strapped to his back was an umbrella made of bamboo. Although it looked frail, it held a great deal of magic that would help during an attack.
Hitomi and Yukari walked side by side. Hitomi scanned the nearby forest with her mind, looking for human life while Yukari wished that she had Reaver with her. Her horse would make mincemeat out of the forest and get them to the fort in record time. Instead she had to trundle along like a lousy mule going to the market.
Bringing up the rear were Allen Schezar and Miguel Labariel. Occasionally eyeing each other suspiciously, they also watched for any sign that they were being followed. If the situation had been any less dire then they would have insulted each other and likely duelled to the death. But Fate had chosen that the situation be as black as their surroundings.
The party continued to move in this way until the motion became mechanical.
Yukari in particular felt like a cow in its herd, marching forward non-stop. With nothing to do other than watch trees for signs of movement until her eyes started aching, her mind began to drift.
Her eyes flitted to her mother beside her then drifted behind her to rest upon Allen. They hated each other so much. 'Why?' Yukari thought. 'What could possibly spawn so much hatred?'
Yukari knew her mother, and she had never seen such twisted hatred on her face when she had laid eyes on Allen and her sparring. If looks were fire then half of the city would have been put to the torch! Hitomi never held a grudge if she could help it but this time she had clearly done so. She must have had SOME reason! And Allen must have a reason for hating her back.
She reviewed what little she knew about the name Allen Schezar. Once going through a book of Asturian heroes, she had some across a passage about the knights Caeli. It had mentioned the name of every knight who had ever served the Asturian throne. Every name had been labelled 'deceased' except the name at the very bottom. She had never thought of it before but she suddenly began to wonder how Allen had managed to survive all this time.
Records had stated that the knights Caeli had all been ambushed and killed at the end of the Destiny War. But then why was Allen's name on the list? What had kept him out of that battle? Yukari was ready to wager her sword that her mother not only knew why, but had also had a hand in it.
Yukari wasn't naturally curious but this one case had sparked her thirst for knowledge. She resolved to ask Allen about it when they made camp. She nearly tripped over a tree-root. 'If we ever do make camp!'
A low whistling from up ahead that was just slightly louder than the wind made Yukari freeze in her tracks. She softly lay a hand on her katana and waited her mother and everyone else doing the same thing. Allen and Miguel approached from behind. Allen gave Yukari a questioning look, which she shrugged helplessly at. Hitomi spared him a glare before moving to the front of the line.
Yukari followed her mother. Naria and Eriya stood by a bush at the side of the path. They each grabbed a branch and pulled it back to reveal the glow of a campfire. Yukari got a look through the branches and nearly choked.
In a clearing only ten paces away sat two Basramian soldiers seated by a campfire. A large military issue tent loomed behind them as they sat eating beans out of cans. They were so close that the commandos could hear every word that they said.
"This rear flank guard duty really bites, doesn't it?"
One of the guards nodded. "Yeah. But someone has to do it. General Veers is smart enough to see that. I tell yah, he's a lot better than my last general was though. He used to just throw us into battle like feeding sausage into a meat grinder. And more often than not we'd get flanked and lose the battle anyway!"
"Well what can you do? That was back in the Destiny war. We were serving under the Asturians then, remember?"
"Ah yes. The Asturians" Guard One's fist clenched. "Because of that Asturian General my brother and my best friend were both killed! He sent our company right at a squad of Zaibach 'melefs. I tried to keep track of them but you know how it is in battle. I found them afterwards. They'd been shredded by those damn crima guns that Zaibach loves so much. Both of them were good men who would have lived to a ripe old age if that one General had known what he was doing. If you ask me, Veers should use a couple energist bombs and take them all out!"
Yukari felt Allen twitch beside her but he stayed still while the second guard spoke.
"Oh come on. You don't mean that."
"No I don't. But I wouldn't be sorry, I can tell you that!"
"Well I guess that's why we're here, isn't it? To keep those bastards off the main army's back for the next two days."
"Right. It's just two more days and then goodbye Asturia!"
Two days! General Veers was attacking in just two days? The thought chilled Yukari to the bone.
Just then, the hiss of the air being cut through broke the silence. A long arrow flashed down and embedded itself in Eroya's shoulder. The cat girl cried out and instantly the two guards cried out an alert. Eight more men stumbled from the tent. Some looked half asleep, others were half dressed, but they all carried swords and they all rushed to the sound of the cat girl's cry.
Naria was instantly at her sister's side and Gatti was instantly at hers. The others spread out before the soldiers rushed them and then it was all confusion.
Yukari caught one soldier in a hip throw and instinctively ducked. Another arrow cut the air where her head had been. She hissed in frustration. She HATED snipers! She searched with her mind, trying to see him before he could shoot again. Her technique was clumsy but she didn't exactly have time to refine it. Besides, it got the job done and that was all that she wanted. He sat in a nearby tree preparing to pick off his targets one by one. Needless to say he was surprised when a katana whirled through the air and plunged into his chest. Yukari then drew her dagger and ducked a wild slash by another man.
The battle was brief and bloody. Everyone was wounded in one way or another but the end had seen all the soldiers dead. Eriya tottered slightly over the man she had killed then fell over. Shocked, Naria rushed to her sister, cradling her head in her arms. She yanked the arrow out of her shoulder and threw it aside.
"Eriya!" she gasped. Her twin was growing cold and her eyes were glazing. "Speak to me!"
His leg wounded, Jager limped over to the twins. One look at the golden cat girl told him all he needed to know. "She's been badly poisoned and is beyond any medicine. All we can do now is make her comfortable." The sorcerer shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry."
Naria did not speak for a moment. "No... You're wrong. My sister will be okay! My sister will be okay!!!
As Naria's shrill screams filled the clearing, the rest of the party had arrived at the scene. Yukari turned away, unable to watch such grief.
"I can help her."
All eyes went to Allen Schezar.
The former knight took a step forward but Hitomi intercepted him, her eyes steely and accusing. "What are you trying to pull?" the eyes seemed say.
Allen glared back, his frustration evident. "The poison has to be drawn from the wound before it's too late!" he snarled. "Do you WANT your friend to die?!"
Hitomi nearly reached for her sword but she stopped herself. Slowly she stepped aside though she never let her eyes off of him. Allen walked over to the cat girls. He knelt down beside Naria and held out his hands. "May I?"
Naria hesitated for a second before handing her sister over to Allen Schezar. She stepped back and began wringing her hands with worry.
Allen lay Eriya back onto the ground and placed his lips on the wound. He sucked slowly and strongly. After a moment he lifted his head and spit out the blood. He repeated the process for some time.
There was absolute silence from the viewers. They could only watch as a man none of them really knew fought for the life of the cat woman. More than once Hitomi looked on the verge of stopping him but she swallowed her tongue and kept quiet.
Long minutes had passed and most of them had long since given up on Allen. Naria was crying quietly, mourning the death of her sister when the ex-knight stopped. He looked down into Eriya's face, searching for something. The he smiled tiredly. "She will live."
Naria let out a glad cry and swept her sister up from the ground. Eriya's face was no longer pale and she breathed easier, though she was still bleeding profusely. Naria ripped a strip of cloth from her uniform and began bandaging her sister up. "I vote that we stop here for the night."
"I second the motion" Allen said.
Jager nodded. "It wouldn't be a good thing to drop dead from sheer exhaustion."
Yukari only yawned. She had been walking all night and the battle had just drained the last of her energy.
Hitomi sighed. "Alright. We may as well use this clearing. Those soldiers aren't going to use it anymore. Us girl get the tent." She turned and walked into the tent while the men immediately began grumbling.
Naria paused before carrying Eriya into the tent. She turned towards Alen who was spreading his bedroll on the ground. He seemed to feel her eyes and looked up. "Thank you" was all she said. Then she entered the tent along with a barely conscious Yukari.
***
Yukari sat up and groaned quietly. Everywhere she lay down ther was a rock digging between her shoulders. 'Maybe if I walk around for a bit I'll tire myself out.' That said, she lifted herself out of bed and crept from the tent, so as not to wake the others.
The chill wind bit at her face and swept her hair backwards. Yukari shivered and pulled her coat closer. Looking around the camp, she saw the men sound asleep. It pissed her off to no end seeing them all so restfully sleeping, despite the rocks and the cold. Swearing softly to herself under her breath, she glanced casually at the dying fire and noticed that Allen wasn't in his bedroll. Puzzled, she looked about and spotted him.
The former knight sat alone in the shadows at the edge of the camp. His sword rested upon his knees and he looked out into the darkness. Yukari listened and heard him whistling quietly to himself.
Curious and not really wanting to be alone in the darkness, Yukari trudged over to Allen and sat down on a rock next to his. "What's that?"
Allen stopped whistling. "It is called 'Asturian Rainbow'. It's a very old song. Some say that the first king of Asturia wrote it himself. It tells about how the different tribes of Asturia came together to form the whole, like how different colours form a rainbow." He looked over at the girl. "What brings you out here in the bitter cold?"
Yukari shrugged. "I couldn't sleep. How about you?"
"I figured that I should stand guard."
Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. Each person was enjoying the silence too much to break it.
"You look just like your mother, you know?" Allen said suddenly. "Except for your eyes, I mean."
Yukari nodded. "Thanks."
"I remember the first time I met your mother." Allen smiled a moment at old memories.
"Really?"
"Yes. I was out for a ride, scouting out the perimeter of my fort, this very fort that we're going to in fact. I heard a scream and rushed to the scene. She had had a run in with old Mr. Mole. She'd had a bad fright. She literally fainted in my arms!"
Yukari whistled. "That sure doesn't sound like mom."
Allen chuckled. "Yes, she had quite a change. After she met your father..." His voice trailed off.
Yukari hesitated for a moment. "Why do you two hate each other so much? Don't bother lying, I've seen your eyes whenever you two look at each other. Don't tell me if you don't want to" she hastily added, seeing his darkening face, "It's just-"
Allen cut her off with a raised hand. "No, you have a right to know. It's difficult for me because I'm not proud of that part of my life. I haven't discussed it for twenty years and I suppose that the myth has grown quite a bit." He sighed. "Well then here's the truth of why we hate each other."
"The short form is that I tried to rape her."
As Allen told his tale, Yukari listened, eyes wide with morbid fascination. She was hearing a chapter of her mother's life that she had never heard before. The storyteller spoke softly and slowly, never once changing the tone of his voice. By the time the end came, Yukari was hanging on his every word.
"And so" Allen finished, "I was arrested and thrown into he castle dungeon on charges of conspiracy against the kingdom, kidnapping, murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted rape. And that, Yukari, is why your mother hates my guts."
Yukari was silent for a moment. "Okay" she said at last, that's why she hates you, but what did she do to you?"
Allen's face darkened again and for a moment it looked like he wouldn't speak. "I've loved two women in my life Yukari" he spoke in a brittle voice. "One was Marlene Aston, Millerna's older sister. She died of the plague when it hit Freid. The other woman's name was Refina and your mother killed her."
For a moment the silence was louder than a thin ragged scream.
"I suppose she had good enough reason" Allen continued slowly. "Refina always said how she'd love to kill Hitomi and it was a fair fight apparently. But that doesn't change anything."
"When they told me about Refina's death..." Allen's voice momentarily choked, "I didn't understand what I was feeling. It took six years before I finally understood how I felt about her." Allen looked directly in Yukari's eyes. "Do you know what Hell is? It is a sea of endless possibilities showing you exactly what might have happened if you'd changed one little thing about your life. You see exactly what you could have done for better or for worse. I saw how I could have lived with Refina and I saw how we could have been happy together. Admittedly, I screwed it over mostly myself. But no matter what I did, Hitomi was the one who killed her. I know this and I will never forgive her."
Allen sighed, his energy spent. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this. It must be...unpleasant to hear someone tell you that he hates your mother."
Yukari shook her head. "I'm not hear to judge you. To be honest, I was just getting curious about it all. I'd heard a few things about you and it wasn't making sense."
"Well I'm glad that I could enlighten you." Allen yawned.
Yukari watched him. "Why don't you go get some sleep? I'll never be able to rest out here."
"Maybe you're right." Allen got up, stretching his legs. "Are you sure that you want to stay up?"
"Of course. Someone has to keep the rest of you from getting eaten alive in the middle of the night!"
Allen snorted with laughter. Then he sighed. "Thank you for talking" he said. "I haven't had a friend for a long time and I get lonely on occasion."
Yukari smiled at him. "Well you've got one now."
***
The morning found Yukari seated on her rock, pondering what Allen had told her. She doubted that he would lie to her, if only because lying didn't seem like his style. She wondered what her mother would say about that whole conversation.
She didn't have to wait long to find out. As soon as the sun hit the tent, Hitomi opened the flap and stepped out into the early morning light in full Dragonslayer armour. She looked about the camp, her lip curling when her eyes passed over Allen. She looked at her daughter at the edge of camp and marched toward her.
"It was a nice night for a walk last night, wasn't it?"
The question was rhetorical but Yukari chose to answer anyway. "It wasn't bad. Being alone in the dark gives you a chance to think."
Hitomi eyed her daughter shrewdly. "And a chance to talk".
"If you're referring to my discussion with Allen then yes. It was a good time to talk."
Hitomi hissed slightly. "What were you doing with him? That man is dangerous!"
"Oh he is not!" Yukari scoffed loudly, not caring that the rest of the little group was sleeping. "I can handle myself against unwanted advances. You should know that!"
"Granted" Hitomi conceded the point reluctantly. "But there is a big difference between some stupid nobleman looking for a thrill and Allen Schezar! He was a knight Caeli. They don't just let amateurs be a part of the knights you know."
"Mom" Yukari spoke hesitantly. "Don't you think that it's about time that you two made up?"
"Over my dead body" Hitomi said flatly. "He tried to rape me. He doesn't deserve forgiveness."
"But-"
"Yukari" Hitomi interrupted, "I want you to stay away from Allen Schezar."
"Oh mom-"
"I mean it! I will not give him an opportunity to force my daughter between the sheets!"
"Uh mom? You're starting to rant."
"I DON'T CARE!" Hitomi stopped and looked around the camp. Apparently her thunderous roars hadn't woken anybody.
"Look" she continued more quietly, "He's not worth your pity. Please, just keep away from him before he tries something."
Yukari knuckled her forehead on frustration. This was ridiculous! Hitomi could sure get paranoid when she put her mind to it. "No mom. I happen to like Allen, I don't think that he's a bad guy and I definitely don't pity him! If you've got a problem with him then that's your choice, but don't drag me into your little vengeance war!" she snapped.
Hitomi jerked her head back as if stung and her eyes narrowed slightly.
Yukari turned her head from her mother. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to gather up my stuff." She got up off her rock and went to her tent.
Hitomi watched her go before glaring suspiciously at Allen.
She didn't know what he was up to or what he had done to her daughter to get her to trust in him so but she intended to find out.
Magicman: I don't know, there's something I don't really like about this chapter. Maybe it's the ending? If there is something wrong, could someone tell me in a review? Constructive criticism is welcome as much as laud praises.
