Chapter 5: Revelations
Already on the 5th chapter…I need to speed things up a bit ;; Oh well, it should pick up some more in the upcoming chapters, if not in this one o.O; READ ON! And review ^^
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The last bell finally rang. The class had gym last, and the girls had just finished running.
"Ooohh…I HATE running!" Kitchel groaned as the two girls walked back to the girls' locker hall.
"I didn't think it was so bad," Cesia smiled.
Kitchel just gave her a look as they reached their lockers and started changing. "Anyway, you have to hurry because you're meeting Rath remember?"
"Um…yeah…" Wonder what he wants…She quickly changed and checked to make sure everything was in order. After giving Kitchel a last smile she exited the locker hall and headed to the park that was just next to the school.
Kitchel glanced around then smiled to herself. "Teehee! Don't think I'll let you have all the fun, Cesia-chan!" She walked out and silently followed her. She was halfway there when she felt someone's hand her shoulder, making her jump a bit.
"Hey, Kitchel…whatcha doin?"
Argh, it's Thatz… "Um…nothing really!" She turned around and looked at him innocently.
Thatz blinked. "Riiight…looked like you were sneaking around to me."
"No, no! I was just, uh, walking around and admiring the trees!" He's sooo not going to believe that! She cringed.
She was right. "You don't look like the type who'd go around admiring trees." He grabbed her hand and pulled her out back into the open. "Come on!"
"Hey! Where do you think you're taking me?!" she yelled at him angrily.
He just glanced back at her and smiled. "I heard about this great café around here and since Rune doesn't want to go and Rath is going to be busy with Cesia, I thought that maybe you and I can go!"
She blinked, still being dragged by Thatz. Wha… "W-Wait a minute!! I didn't say I wanted to go!!! And who's going to be paying?!" Why the heck is he still hanging on to my hand?!
"You'll love it! I hear the food's great! Not to mention cheap!"
"Cheap? Well…in that case…"
"Great!"
Kitchel stared at the back of his head, wondering what the heck was going on. Maybe he's always like this… Her vision strayed to his hand still holding hers and she started to feel herself blush. AAH! NO NO NO WHAT AM I THINKING?!?! She shook her head furiously. She coughed. "Are you going to let go of my hand any time soon?"
"Nope," he said playfully without looking back.
"Why not!?"
"Because you might run away." He continued on, now whistling, thinking about the food he was going to get to eat. "By the way, do you have money?"
"…Yeah."
"Great, 'cause you're payin!"
"WHAT?!!?!?!"
Kitchel placed her free hand on her forehead and sighed. Oh well… She glanced back. I guess Cesia-chan well be okay…Maybe I can ask Thatz about some things about Rath…
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Cesia slowly walked to the entrance of the garden that was the gateway to the park and stopped. She did not know why, but her heart was pounding against her chest and she couldn't seem to control it. She quickly shook her head and walked forward. A slight breeze blew past her and she felt her nerves calm down, as if the breeze itself had taken them away. She continued walking, now wondering where Rath was going to be. Her question was soon answered.
She stopped and blinked. It was exactly like how it was the first time, only Kitchel was not with her this time. Rath was sitting on the same branch resting, his eyes closed, and a bird was sitting on an outstretched hand. It was the only hint that told her he was awake and not sleeping. A gentle breeze once again came and seemed to swirl around her.
It will be all right…relax…
Cesia blinked with a start. A voice? Who? Was it…the wind? But that was impossible. She shook her head and when she turned back to Rath, she found him staring at her, the same way he did on that fateful morning.
"You're here," he said, turning away, letting the bird go and fly off.
"What? Did you think I wasn't going to come?"
He stayed silent for a moment then jumped down from the branch. When he rose and looked at her, he had a slight smile. "No, not exactly…but I was expecting Kitchel to somehow tag-a-long. Apparently Thatz got to her first, heh."
Cesia blinked. Kitchel? Thatz? What?! "So…what was it you wanted to talk about?"
He leaned against a tree and stood silent for a moment. "Remember our little discussion back in the kitchen the other day?"
"Yes…"
"I can't shake this feeling that we've met somewhere before. I don't know why, but I do." He turned to her thoughtfully. "So…I thought that maybe you might have some answers."
She blinked. Have I…met Rath somewhere before…? She thought hard and gasped in shock. I can't remember! I can't remember what had happened in my childhood!! She suddenly started to shiver and her eyes snapped wide open.
Rath blinked when he heard her gasp and moved away from the tree. "Is something wrong?"
Cesia clutched herself, feeling as if she was going to snap in two, and started gasping. "I…I can't…the flames…it's hot…burning…" She stepped back but started to lose her balance.
"Cesia?!" He quickly caught her when she started to fall, her eyes closed still gasping and shivering. What the hell?! Is she in shock or something? His mind immediately remembered what the teacher had said and he looked at her. An epidemic? How did she get it? She was talking again and he strained to hear her, her voice now gone weak.
"…illness…death…destruction…yokai…invasion…Arinas…Na…Lyk…" Her words were now starting to cut off, breathing weaker.
"Cesia!! Cesia snap out of it! You're killing yourself!!!" Rath yelled shaking her. "Snap out of it, dammit!!" Before, it's happened before! "I don't understand what you are saying!! Invasion of what?!"
She stirred. "Rath…" she mumbled.
He blinked. "Yes? Cesia what is it?" He was now sitting on the ground, holding her to him.
"Rath…where were you…you said you would play…"
"What? What are you talking about?!"
She started laughing, but it was a laugh that made Rath shudder. It was like she wasn't in this world. "Teehee…you remember don't you? We were supposed to play together. We would be together…forever…"
He stared at her, wide-eyed with shock. "Cesia?!" Together? He straightened with a start. Cesia…is she the girl that was in my dream?! He heard her still talking, as if in a trance.
"Teehee…I was waiting…waiting for you…where were you, Rath?"
"I'm here now! Cesia snap out of it!!" He hugged her to him and held her. "Cesia, I'm here! I remember now!!" The memories started to charge through his mind and the wind around them started to grow stronger. "I promised I'd protect you from those yokai, right? That's what I was doing! I never meant to abandon you, Cesia! I was fighting for you!!" He looked down at her and his eyes widened in horror. She's not breathing! "Cesia, wake up! WAKE UP CESIA!!"
Fire. Demons… Water. Faeries… Earth. Treasure… Wind. Future… Dragons. Remember… These things ran through Rath's mind as he hugged Cesia tighter. He could feel her breathing, though very faint. There was still time, still hope. He could feel a warmth deep inside overwhelm him and start to overflow into her as the wind started to flow into him.
Wind makes the Fire stronger…
Cesia blinked and started to wake up. "…Rath?"
He pulled her away from him and stared at her. "Cesia? You're awake?"
"Yes…"
"Do you remember what you were saying?"
She placed a hand on her forehead and groaned. "Not…really…but my head really hurts…" She looked at him. "But…I do remember hearing your voice…" She blinked when he hugged her again. "Rath…?"
"I don't want to lose you again…I promised I'd protect you back when we were just little kids and I'm going to keep my promise."
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^O^ Teeheehee! Wow, major change in the relationship, ne? Hope you guys don't mind about that but those two are my favorite couple! ^.^ Review and stay tuned for Chapter 6!