Kai felt a fluttery feeling in his heart. It is her! Finally, someone who's gone through everything that he has. Someone who knows of his past and can sympathize. Someone...
"Well?" Kirei's voice rang in his ear, "How do you know my name?"
"Don't you remember me?" Kai said with a strange softness in his voice.
"No. Tell me why you remember me," Kirei demanded.
"It's your touch, they're so light," Kai blushed a little, "you've helped me before, that's how I recognize your touch."
Kirei narrowed her eyes. It can't be true, he's just toying with me so I'll change my mind about taking Dranzer.
Kai, seeing Kirei's doubt, said, "Honest. Don't you remember? It was when you first came to the abbey, you were locked in the same cell as me and some other kids my age. You wouldn't talk to anyone, but you helped everyone's wounds just the same. Back then, I thought you were too soft to live through the abbey, but seeing now that you're here challenging me, I guess I was wrong."
Kirei was silent for a while. She tightened the knot on Kai's hand and sat back. Kai checked the bandages. They were firm but not forceful, just like he remembered.
"Whatever you say, it changes nothing. The moment we get out of here, I must have Dranzer. I must."
Kai took Dranzer out of his pocket and stared at it. Soon, his eyelids felt heavy, and he drifted off into sleep.
Kirei watched Kai sleep for a while. Strange, she's never felt this way, so calm and secure. She wondered how he could sleep that way, like he's without a care in the world. And how could he sleep with Dranzer in plain view, isn't he afraid she'd take it and leave?
She thought about the abbey, and what Voltaire was doing now. Is he expecting her? Is he watching her right now? Is he...torturing her sister? She didn't realize it then, but her thoughts formed a world, a world that is a dream.
-- Kirei's Dream --
"Ah, a new student." Voltaire's voice filled the chamber.
"Sir, we found her near a cabin, playing with this little runt," a henchman said, pointing to a sleeping baby in Kirei's arms.
"Well done. These kind of young childs are just what we need. Easy to brainwash. You may leave now," said Voltaire.
The henchman walked away and closed the door behind him.
"Well, you look like you're about four. A year younger than my grandson. Better, you'll do just fine. And you have a little sister...she'll be absolutely perfect! Well child? Do you have a name?" Voltaire reached out his hand, but Kirei stepped back.
Voltaire smiled. "Defiant little thing, aren't you? Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Now tell me your name."
Kirei hugged her baby sister close to her and glared at the ugly old man.
"What? Don't you talk? That's ok. From now on, you'll be known as Kirei," Voltaire said, and with a sudden move, pulled Kirei toward him. A glitter around the girl's neck caught his attention, but the girl was struggling too much for him to see it better. With one move, Voltaire lifted his hand and slapped the girl. She stopped struggling, but never made one single sound or took her eyes away from him. Her eyes...they sent shivers down his spine. Then, just for the fun of it, he slapped her again to see if her eyes would change from anger to fear. She didn't.
"Huh, little wrench," Voltaire said, and lifted the golden chain from the girl's neck. A ruby bird hung at the end, no, not a bird, a phoenix. Suddenly, Voltaire's pupils shrank, and then, he started laughing. The room echoed with his choking laugh.
"Don't we have a treat! You're a Hinomori! You know, the Hinomori's and the Hiwatari's are great friends, so you've no need to be scared of me. Oh what a treat, what a treat!"
Then, the room was filled with his laugher again, and it rang in Kirei's ears. Then, the ugly man tore her baby sister from her arms. "She'll be better off alone with me, but don't worry, you'll be very busy, and won't have time to take care of her!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Kirei."
"Kirei!"
"Wake up Kirei, come on!"
Kai's voice urged her from her slumber. Kirei slowly opened her eyes. The earth above her head was trembling and dust began to fall down.
"Come on, Kirei, I think whatever underground spring you were talking about is going to erupt again."
Kirei nodded and followed behind Kai. He crawled much faster now.
"How's your wrist?" Kirei asked.
"Better," Kai answered.
"You know, you could have just left me. Then, Dranzer will no longer be in danger," Kirei said.
Kai stopped momentarily and looked back at Kirei. He said nothing, but a certain glow in his eyes made Kirei blush. Then, he turned around and continued.
Soon, the tunnel widened again and the duo was able to run. At that speed, they reached the end of the tunnel in no time. But what they saw was no underground spring. It was a geyser!
Kai acted fast. "Come on! We've got to climb!"
They reached a rocky wall and started to climb up. The earth below them trembled more violently every second. Kai's wrist seemed to have recovered completely, for he climbed with amazing speed. But truth was, he could barely stop himself from crying out in pain.
Finally, he reached the top with Kirei only steps behind. Suddenly, the geyser burst upward, and the rock under Kirei's foot gave away. She fell backwards and her hair floated out around her.
"Kirei!"
Just in the nick of time, Kai reached out with his left hand and caught Kirei's arm. Kirei looked at him, puzzled. Within a fraction of a second, the geyser shot up a right behind Kirei. Her hair lifted up with the geyser as drops of water fell on her face.
Then, Kai reached out with his right hand, and, crying out in pain, pulled Kirei up. She crashed into him as he fell back against the wall, and in the most excruciating pain he has ever felt. But somehow, the feel of Kirei's hands on his shoulder, and her head against his chest, made it all bearable.
Kirei's heart thundered within her. She couldn't believe how close she was to death just now! But he...her enemy, saved her. He really saved her life. And then, she suddenly realized that she was huddled in his lap! She made a motion to pull back, but...no, she didn't want to. The warmth was so welcoming, a warmth that she hadn't felt since she was four.
Kai felt the girl in his lap trembling. And then, he felt his shirt dampen. Was she...crying? No, it must have been the geyser. The geyser was still going up, and up, and up. How far below the ground were they? The girl trembled more, and he felt his shirt dampened more. She was crying. For a moment, he didn't know what to do.
Kirei cried her heart out. She hated her life, she hated Voltaire, she hated her mission, and she hated herself. And then, she felt Kai's arms around her. She lifted her head and found her face inches away from his...
Kai stared into the girl's eyes, and saw Kirei's tears, spilling out of her eyes like rain.
Kirei saw deep in his eyes, a soft glow that was no longer a stranger.
She reached up and tenderly touched his face, his blue triangles. And sorrow filled her again. She buried her face in his chest and cried shamelessly.
Kai watched her and found himself thinking of his own past. He would never forgive Voltaire. Never!
"Cry all you want, Kirei," Kai said softly with the roaring of the geyser in the background. "Your tears will take away part of the pain."
"Queauri," said Kirei, between sobs.
"Hmmm?"
"My name." Kirei said, calming down a little. "My real name is Queauri. Queauri Hinomori."
What do you think guys? Please review and tell me if I should keep going with the story. 0.0