Note to Readers: It's been some time since I updated this story. Here's my excuses: First of all, that vacation and then, I wanted to continue my other story (IOFWBF) and I still haven't finished it yet…must finish it up. Next, I lost my game script and I have to find a replacement, which I failed on doing so. Then, I just got ToS (Tales of Symphonia) and I had to finish that. Lastly, I just had to write a story about it so I did (A Separate Link). Now, I'm here. I'm back and happy to be back. Now, must stop talking and let you start reading.

Demonesszen:

Thanks! I'm so sorry I updated so late…but better late than never right? Bad Eliwood! Don't hit people!

SweetMisery430:

You don't like really long chapters? Don't ever read my first story…such long chapters! Probably Nino would like peace and happiness, but then again…who knows? Thanks for the review!

Serra19:

I did have a nice vacation even though it felt like a month ago… Thanks for the props and review!

Elven-girl10:

Yup, it really sucks…but more than that, my game doesn't work anymore…very weird. Anyways, thanks a lot!

Cardmaster372:

Three "keep"s! Thanks for everything! You are so supportive!

Hyliansage:

I haven't found the exact lines of that chapter (the one with Zephiel) with Nino yet, but I hope to find it soon so I could put in exact words. Typos? Better double check next time! Thanks.

TheFireV:

Details are my favorites! Especially after a very nice critique told me to do so… (I love people who tell me what's wrong in my stories so I could improve). I can't wait so either! Thanks!

What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose.

-Henry Ward Beecher

Chapter VI: Gone Forever

Packing up my elixirs, I knew this might be the last time I would spend any time in this room again. Touching the softness of the blanket brought me back to my fantasy world that this room provided me with. I had a home, a family, and even my own clothes. Never arguing with my Mother about my need of clothes, I could highly say that my life was perfect. I didn't want more…I didn't want to bother anyone.

Back to reality now, I knew my life was far from perfect. My Mother was perfect and looked after me all these years, but somehow, I could not feel the love she gave to me… the same warm feelings I get from Uncle Jan or my two brothers. The feelings that showed me what it means to have a family.

Both my brothers were gone now, and haven't been heard from. I pleaded Uncle Jan to send men to find them, but he merely shook his head in reply. What does that mean? Are my brothers coming back? Are they well? Then, something hit the bottom of my stomach. They were gone…same with Uncle Uhai…they might never come back.

One by one, everyone important in my life is gone and they could never return to me. The sadness bottled itself me was building, but not enough courage to let it go. After all, my Mother barely gave me my first mission ever. A real mission that at last, I could prove my worth. If I could just complete this mission, Mother will be proud of me and then, all the losses I have endured would make up for it.

Glancing at my room once more, I took a deep breath and left my childhood behind those endless memorizing and the wooden door that kept them in it. My brothers, wherever they are, alive or dead, I must do this for them and make the Black Fang proud as well as my dear Mother. Best of all, if I actually completed this mission, Mother would be more "motherly".

She would actually stroke my cheeks and give me the love that I have not felt all these years. If this mission will actually get me the love from Mother, I would do anything. Anything at all. Then, if one day, I see my brothers again, I could tell them that I am now an official member of the Black Fang.

Through my minds, there were so many reasons and hopes I would achieve if I completed this mission. But there was also another reason why I agreed to this mission, I was to go with Jaffar. Maybe after this mission was over, I could understand him better and we could become good friends. I know somewhere under those dark eyes and silence, there was light, hiding and ready to be freed.

Besides, he was the Angel of Death and maybe he could help me on this mission as well. I know that he was awfully strong and deadly, and it would be the best of chances with him helping me out. If I was to do this by myself, I would have felt guilty and now that there is someone to help me, I felt more relax and comfortable. I couldn't have done my first mission by myself yet.

Flashing a smile at Jaffar, we head towards the palace where we were to assassinate the prince. He did not return my smile, keeping his face as cold and icy as ever. My face saddened as well when I saw him like this. How could anyone live without having a speck of relaxation and happiness?

"Jaffar…how's your wound?" I decided to break this unwanted silence. He did not even budge. Either he is ignoring me, or he didn't hear. I was about to repeat myself when he spoke in a deep voice.

"It is but a scratch, no need to work up about." He answered me, without even looking at me. I wonder if I did something to make him so sullen and I grew upset myself.

"I'm sorry for asking such a foolish question." I mumbled under my breath and this time, he did turned to face me. He studied me with his eyes and looked away almost immediately.

"No, don't apologize. Apologizing is for the weak." He replied as coldly as ever but I did not feel bad this time. He meant it differently from what it sounds like. He said "apologizing is for the weak", and in his own way, he is telling me that I am strong and not weak. I would have expect him to call me weak, but he called me strong.

"Thanks Jaffar." I told him as I started skipping ahead, not waiting for him to comment on my words. He looked at me in a weird awkward way as we continued on towards the palace and the evening was slowly slipping away. Before entering the palace before us, I said some last words before we're going to do this. "Sometimes, you just have to look at the bright side of things."

Entering the palace was ridiculously easy because there was no guards or soldiers whatsoever. This was way too easy especially when I expected this place to be the royal palace and supposed to be one of the best protected place in Bern. I could feel shivers down my spine by just entering this place. The biggest problem was my thoughts on killing the prince.

All I thought about was making Mother proud and never thinking about what will happen if I kill the prince with my own hands, what will become of me? What crime and hatred would I cause? There wasn't much time left and if I don't complete this mission, the Black Fang would see me as a failure and never regain my ways ever again. This was when I made up my mind that I must kill the prince.

Jaffar was closely behind me, without a bit of nervousness or fright at these actions we were about to cause at all. Maybe it is true, all the murder that he'd done in his life…one more death would mean nothing to him. But for me, it was different. I had seen lots of deaths in my life…from Uncle Uhai to my brothers…but this would be the first time I actually have someone's blood in my hands.

The prince was praying to the gods about his family as tears filled my eyes. I was soft. He was the same as me, always wanting his parents to notice him and love him for the way he is. Most importantly, he wanted his family to be together…the dream I got but the reality I could never get. Jaffar was over his still body before I regained my attention.

Knowing with all my heart, I cannot kill him. We were so similar, how can I kill someone that innocent? All he wanted was his family to be together, just like me. But the difference between us is he is trying a non-physical way to do so while I am on the other hand... is doing what's wrong so I could get the love for myself. Can I really kill an innocent boy just to get attention from my Mother? Is it worth it?

The answer was no. Nothing was worth it, just to kill an innocent life. Nothing. I made up my mind, I don't care the punishment nor the consequence of this. All I know now is that I could not murder him, not for my own selfish reasons or for any other reason. I thought that Jaffar would kill me since I failed my duty but he did no such thing. For a split second, I thought I could read his mind as the two of us ran out the door and wished for a quick escape.

Unfortunately, that plan was but a fantasy as Ursula and Cameron blocked our path. Everything was slipping away, it was no use to run away especially when the lights are going out. My mind was fuzzy, my heart was arching, everything was just confusing as ever. Jaffar told me to run, run while he hold them off.

"I couldn't!" I argued, but he would not allow me to say anymore and pushed me away from him fiercely. He cared for my safety, even more than his. Tears were flowing to my eyes as I ran as far as I could go. Jaffar and I were never close, but at a time like this, he helped me. Jaffar…I would never forget you. I went to the edge of the palace, wondering where to go next as a monk appeared before me and challenged me. I knew that I had no time, but I just have to try out my magic for once.

I chanted my memorize spell and started aiming at the enemy. He was quite good too, also aiming his light magic at me. We kept this battle going until both of us were exhausted, very exhausted. I thought I would be a goner until a much more powerful anime magic hit the monk hard in the back as I turned around to see a purple-hair sage standing before me, with a red-haired lord next to him. What was going to happen to me?

Ending Notes: I made this chapter short on purpose since I'm planning to make a longer one next chapter. I appreciate all those who waited this long for me to update my story. I am so terribly terrible sorry and now you have to go through the pain of a really short chapter. So before you grew tired of my laziness, I will try to put the next chapter up and make it long too. Thank you! R & R.