Claude
I've heard that before… Strange, I don't remember, but I feel…
"Hey Claude," Jedd interrupted my thoughts. I stared back and he gave his usual grin. Oh no…
"Long lost sister or what?" he asked. Yep, here goes one of his lame jokes again.
Reii Blackdream, the infamous NeoHuman. The adventurous child-like android that journeys around the world. Alone. Whenever she hits the news or something, somehow they tease that we are siblings of sort. The aloofness in a humungous world, seeking for something unanswered. And in addition, we have the same pool of ivory complexion and dark-hair color.
Tanya and Korran giggled, which filled up the hollow car. It was good timing though, the tension in everyone was developing. But still, Jedd's usual joke of the day has to do something with me.
The car door opened which was linked to the other car cables. Ms. Gabeilll has arrived. Survived and well, everyone sighed in relief.
"Hi, just checking the attendance," she said. She noticed Reii, slumbering beside Tanya. Her brows raised but quickly stroke the girl's hair.
Jedd suddenly dropped the half-orb object with a yelp.
"OUCH!"
"Be careful! That's not yours!" Korran scolded. Yes, the ever oh-so-acting-older-sister-of-Jedd.
"Sorry! It grounded me!" he protested. Without a source of electricity? It wasn't plugged to anything.
The lying body of the girl seemed to twitch a bit. She abruptly sat up and rubbed her head.
And bumps form onto my skin, cold air sticking up my hair at my neck.
Those eyes…
Those drowning, blank spheres of violet. As though she absorbed everything into nothingness. They had no corneas, and the colors swirled a slow dance upon that hazelnut frame.
I felt no blood upon my feet and arms, as though they were stuck at my heart, rushing everything to create an explosion inside.
Why… Why me?
"M…m-y… D-data… chip… please…" her voice going to a whisper. Jedd had a nonchalant face and gave it to her. Somehow, I observe he dislikes her. His lips frown deeper than what I usually see, except when he scours a failing grade or being lectured.
Reii continues to rub her head. Tanya eases her but she becomes still. Head down, hair covering her face.
"Dear, maybe you should rest more," the light brunette instructor said. The girl clutched her orb tightly, and slowly rose up her head.
"I'm… Reii Blackdream. Thank You for your rescue…" she introduced at last. Her voice soft but piercing. Taking a bow, Ms. Gabeilll sat down beside Korran.
"Any reports?" she asked. She's also here to collect data. Tanya and I looked at each other. We weren't sure if they were ready for the news. She nodded and looked with serious looking eyes. It's a first, but business is business.
"Anything happened to General Wolf? He doesn't seem to respond to my messages…" the instructor pressed. It's time…
"We found General Wolf… shot at his office…" I trailed off. Korran and Jedd gasped, the brunette's eyes widened. Deeper brown eyes told fear.
"I'm sorry we didn't bring his body… But we knew that the villagers would find out too… it was too late. Someone had…" Tanya couldn't continue too. Jedd eyes burned, teeth clenching and suddenly letting out a frustrated breath. Korran was too shocked to speak anything. The instructor, though silent, had the most unexplainable expression of all.
Tears flowed down upon her chocolate eyes.
The girl observed and listened intently. Her croaky voice was heard in a loud whisper, anger out of her mouth.
"Traitor…"
"What?" Jedd asked, letting out his anger to the girl.
"The current mayor's son… he has finally done it… to do something so desperate…" she continued. Answers? Information? How would she know… what does she know?!
"General Wolf is running for mayor for the next elections. He knew that people trusted him more than his son. His son… is in league of some underground society. The people found out, turning their votes to the general… How… evil," she looked for a right word for the last statement. It's the typical politician plot, get used to it. But as I looked into Ms. Gabeilll's face, she was completely… sobbing. She and Tanya where whispering, and held her hand supportively. What the…?
Ms. Gabeilll shook off her tears and announced that we were to figure this out back at the base. "Get some rest…" she croaked and walked out. Strange, where's the salute? She always ends meetings with those formal salutations whatsoever.
"Fine, I'll be sleeping at the next car," Jedd mumbled and yawned. Korran supported Reii to the other car where the women will sleep. Only Tanya and I were left in the car now.
I felt the train's jagged flow and its chugging suddenly maximized its volume. It was quiet. It was peaceful.
Tanya is here…
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Tanya
"Aren't you going to sleep?" he asked me, his emerald gems burned me with his stare. I shook my head. I don't want to. Not yet.
I have a lot of thoughts in my head. I have a lot to talk about.
I moved closer to his side. The car was empty, save for both of us of course. But the hollowness of the space crowded me. Suffocating my mind… I need to get things straight.
I understood. I understood why he didn't remember. Doesn't remember anything at all.
When we first met…
"Claude…"
"…"
Silence dusted us off with her magic spell again. The windows are clear and wide. The moon is full, and though the stars are not as seen, I know they are brightly shining.
Truly, I have no guts. Rather I have no idea how to explain this to him. His brain may rather delete this senseless lecture, or store it for further data collecting.
Ah, how I loathe at these wondrous technicalities.
They destroy what I love the most.
Significance. Gateways to understanding… Me-
"Tanya?" he pressed. It seems he tensed up, the room is about to be filled with it… oh my, how am I going to get this done…
This is no mission of course. This has no bonus to my salary whatever. Heck, I don't need money to tell him this. I'm his friend, maybe he should know.
Maybe even more…
He gently held my shoulder, his large palms seem to warm up my whole half. I gaze upon those emerald gems of his.
They have softened, just like old times. Now it shines its deep pine-like shade.
I must start…
"R-remember… I asked you if you remembered the first time we've met… and…" I paused. Take the time. Though if he were the same Claude as before, I think that I would duck before I could finish of my sentence.
He nodded, waiting intently to continue.
"You didn't remember, correct?"
He looked away from me for a while, to the moon and back. The hard emerald rocks were back to pierce me…
"Ah no! I-it's okay Claude. I… uh, I… It's fine with me. I mean-"
"-It's fine with you to not remember how you met with someone and yet you still each other until now?" he cut me off. I gulped at his statement. Agh, I hate playing the good and the bad guy at the same time!
"Wait… no, of course not… I didn't mean that way. Claude, please listen," I toned my voice into a whisper. His spear like stare, softened back again. I breathed in mentally, trying to get back my focus on.
"Well, you chose… Mage and Knights, correct? And, since I was an Enpro since by the age of twelve-" I looked up. He gave me a sort of annoyed face. I gave back my playful glare. He always gave me looks if I had high grades and stuff and I was quite proud of it. Hey, I'm an earnest person! I don't gloat my work if I don't feel I gave my best.
"Claude!"
"…continue," he urged to move on.
"So… I've been with different Enpros as well. And… there was one co-worker-"
"-Are you sharing 'cause it's the middle of the night and you have no one to talk to or you treat me as if I were a psychiatrist or something?" Ahahaha, yeah. I know, you hate dealing with people sharing stories. I remember that you sleep every story-telling time.
Way back. Fast Forward. Onwards.
"Claude… please… listen," I hushed gently and put my finger onto his lips. He looked at me, now with a different stare. A surprised look. Now he nods and looks ready to listen. Finally!
"That co-worker, was a Mage and Knights Path too. We worked for quite sometime and became good friends…" I smiled, but deep inside I felt bitter about that.
"After, we parted. And we never saw each other again. Well, not until recently. But now… she doesn't remember me at all…" There, a bitter memory out. And said to the stoic humanoid in front of me. Like, wow man. How sympathetic.
"…What does that have to do with me?"
"…Claude, I knew her since I was twelve. And I haven't forgotten about her until now. When we met again, she thought we were just acquaintances. And as we grew, her Summons upgraded with her correct?"
"…Yes. Connection?" he bobbled his head in nods. I don't want to remember this anymore…
"The Summons needs a part of your brain. And the places they pick are those in your memory part. That's the reason why you don't remember. How many Summons do you have now?" I asked, maybe I could do a bit of technicality here, even if that's my worse enemy.
"Around five."
"Alright. Give me the earliest memory that you can remember. Think hard."
He paused, and his face was like a photograph. Frozen for times to come, yet caught in the moment of importance.
"When I was ten. It was your birthday party. You fell. And I caught you," he answered. I felt myself turn warm around the cheeks. Of all memories!
"See? I met you when were seven years old! And Summons take almost like a year of memory each. And my friend has completed her Summons. She only remembers her last year life," I explained further. I sighed. Finally, this frustration is out. Now, I'll have a slide show of Claude's reaction.
I know your mask Claude, and I can peel it off to the point you open your eyes to this world.
I know because I care.
I know because I love you.
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Reii
"It'll be a couple more hours 'till we get back to Reiina, so get some rest," Korran reported and rolled over her bunk to be in a comfortable position. I nodded and sat down at my bunk. The beds were stuck side-to-side to the wall, so we got the view of windows. I moved closer to the edge to get a full view from there. It was a full moon; the sky was lit into a deep blue sparked by the gas balls away from this planet. The scenery on the ground changed once in a while, from mountains to farmlands to little villages.
Cozy warm villages. Filled with love and welcoming atmosphere.
They must be all sleeping, restful and secure in their beds, waiting for the sun to dawn its glory to another day of life.
They're lucky to be secure. They're lucky to trust. They're lucky to have a home.
It must've been an hour now, and yet I'm still awake. I never got bored at the view of the window. I anticipate whatever comes; patiently I wait for another scene of life of this soil-bounded planet. My MusicSystem seems to be low on energy, the radio crackles much more and is in a more torn sound.
Actually I don't remember how I got this, but I feel that I had this forever. It has always been a part of me, yet I know this is an old model. Wandering to the vast regions of plains, seas and mountains, it has been with me in every single travel. Whatever songs came out guided me to tread on to the path… until now.
The door automatically opens, making its machine-like sound. And I saw a puffy-eyed woman under the silhouette of the lunar light. She saw me and looked surprised.
"You're still awake?" she asked through her sniffles. I nodded.
"You should go to sleep, dear. It's not so good for a child to be up so late," she warned.
"I can't sleep," I simply replied.
"I see…" she nodded.
Silence crept over us, and I returned back to the moving scenery. She coughed a bit but hushed down when she saw Korran fast asleep.
"Hey…" she whispered. I looked back at her. Her eyes were as blue as the night, as though her tears softened like the lunar rays.
"Could I take a look at your Data Chip?" she asked. Okay, a lot of people ask that, as though it was something to be boastful about.
Honestly, not. But since she's not someone that bugs into people's business as much as the next-door wife, I'll give her a chance. I gave her the red orb and she held it carefully with two hands. Then, she observes it from back to front, down to bottom. There's nothing in there actually, it's just an orb.
Just an orb for your kind.
She looked at me and saw my MusicSystem. She gave a small smile and gave back my Data Chip.
"I think you know this already, Data Chips can restore energy especially if the source system is outdated. Have you tried that to your walkman?" she suggested. I shook my head.
"Thanks," I whispered back.
She nodded and went to a vacant bunk and lied down.
"Good night," I last heard the blonde one whisper.
Good Night…
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Claude
I understand.
I understand everything now.
And you're okay with this?
I looked into Tanya's eyes, full of worry. She looked down and held my hand.
Shouldn't I be the one doing this?
The air inside the car suddenly got cold. Or was it the tension that rose upon us?
"Claude-"
I hugged her a little, keeping her warm. I didn't see her reaction though.
Yeah, the indifferent guy of the pack, hugging someone at his own will.
I may be cold, but I'm not heartless.
And that gives me the chance… to think…"Claude, it's okay actually, at least you still know me and… I understand. I still remember everything though, and you know what people say it takes two to forget-" she reassured but I pressed my fingers to her lips. Payback.
"A man forgets how he met you and might even forget who you are, but you still love him?"
Daring were my words, I won't regret them.
I understood. I understand.
I know.
Your eyes gaze upon me differently. Not flirtatious or distant. Rather sincere.
Lovingly sincere.
"And as they say, actions speak louder than words," I whispered again. She went deeper into my embrace; both of us sharing the warmth love could give.
I know.
I know because I care.
I know because I love you.
A/n: yay! Another chappie done! Mushmushmush! I know… Boy, I suckl at these chappies! And please just say if that was crap or something… even if I write mush I hate it writing it1 Ugh… Hi to all those who reviewed last time! huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugs
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for those unknown objects and characters written up there. Whatever's mine is mine, whatever's not is SquarEnix. I hope you enjoyed.