Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and the unknown characters.
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Lisa: stares at the very angry readers Hum...hello. gulps at the site of very sharp objects Hehe...do you mind put those things down? Someone may get hurt. readers ignore her and start approaching her Hum...well, before you kill me let me ask you something, if you reach that goal who's going to end this fic?
Zero: raises an eyebrow Are you scared of the readers?
Lisa: Who wouldn't be? They have sharp things!
Zero: shakes his head It's your fault for taking so damn time to post this chapter.
Lisa: I know. looks at the readers Please give me another chance, I promise I won't take too long. Besides, my school only starts somewhere in October, so I don't have any excuses.
Readers: Promise you'll be quick?
Lisa: nods Yes, I promise, but please put those things down! Besides, I think you're going to like this chapter.
Readers: put the sharp objects down Fine post the chapter.
Lisa: bows Oh thank you, thank you, thank you...
Readers: Just post the chapter!
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NOTE: Please forgive me if Hiead seems a little out of character in this chapter. I did my best, but I still have my doubts.
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Chapter 12: Words The Wind Will Never Carry Away
'Y-you better stay here with me.'
Those six words kept coming and going, while a pair of rubies tried to get used to the bright light. He couldn't believe Allecto had actually said those words...to him.
Why would she want him, of all people, to stay with her?
Why would she tell him such secret?
'I... I have to tell you something... something I never told anyone. Please, wake up. I really, really want you to be the first one to know.'
Why? It didn't make any sense.
Why would Ikhny Allecto want to tell her deepest secret to someone like him? To Hiead Gner, who did nothing more but slam her into walls and threat her all the time?
Why?
Slowly, Hiead sit on the bed, and looked around: he was completely alone, without anyone around to look out for him. However, the funny thing was that he didn't feel as lonesome as he usually did.
All because of Allecto's words.
'Oh, and sensei said that the Pilots will be chosen in a month. You know, sensei said that, if you wake up in time, you'd probably be chosen. And he even said why: because of your stupidity of killing the leader of the Victims alone.'
Hiead run a hand through his hair: why didn't he felt proud or happy? Or why wasn't he giving a damn because he would probably be chosen to be a Pilot? And why was his mind questioning him for the reasons to kill the leader of the leader of the Victims alone?
That was the best way to prove he was better than Enna, right? It was only to show everyone that he deserved to be a Pilot more than anyone else, right? As he shook his head in an attempt to stop those thoughts, Hiead slide his legs from the mattress and felt the cold floor against his bare feet.
Without caring about the coldness of the floor, Hiead started walking towards the door, that quickly opened up and then there was a scream:
"What are you doing up?" the Nurse1 asked, a hand against her chest "And up!"
Hiead rolled his eyes, but kept silence. His only goal was to reach the exit door, but before he could do so, Dr Rill and Nurse2 walked inside and gasped:
"#87?" Dr Rill asked, as she blinked "What are you doing up?"
"Humph, I need to go." was Hiead's reply, but when he was about to reach the door, Dr Rill grabbed his arms.
"Hold on mister, what makes you think you can walk away from here wearing that and without a check-up?" the doctor asked and Hiead looked down, only to see that someone had changed his uniform for his pj's.
With a growl, Hiead let Dr Rill lead him back to the bed where he had been for too long, at the same time the doctor instructed one of the nurses to go get Azuma.
As he let Dr Rill take off shirt, so she could observe his almost healed wounds, Hiead let his mind swing to the last person he wanted to think at the moment: his repairer.
Hiead did not know if Allecto had stayed with him during the time he had been unconscious, but the truth was that didn't matter for the moment. All that matter, was what he would do when he saw her. What should he do? How should he react? What should he say?
"You know, for someone who was in coma for three months and unconscious for almost a week, you look more than well." Dr Rill commented, as she continued to observe Hiead's wounds and scars "Don't you feel numb or weak?"
"No."
"Did you have any troubles walking towards the other room?"
"No."
"Hum...I think everything is ok, but I still need to make a few tests on you." Dr Rill said, as she gave Hiead his shirt off "Stay here, Azuma will arrive in short minutes."
As he watched Dr Rill walk to the other side of the room, Hiead couldn't help but growl: he was fine, why couldn't she see that and leave him alone? He had things to do for Pete's sake, like start training or...
"Good to see you up, #87." a voice said interrupting Hiead's thoughts, and the soon-to-be Pilot looked up, only to see his professor "How are you feeling?"
"Perfect." was Hiead's only reply and a small smile appeared on Azuma's face:
"That's wonderful." the professor said "You know, your repairer hardly left your side all this time."
Hiead opened his eyes wide for a couple of seconds, in surprise: Allecto had what?
"So, how do you think he is?" Azuma asked to the doctor, who shrugged:
"He seems fine." Dr Rill started "But I still need to do a few tests, before letting him go away."
At that, Hiead growled.
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Ikhny was sitting in the middle of the Rec. Room, looking at the green grass around her, her minds lost in what she had done.
'Why did I told him? One, it's not like he heard me and two, even if he did, he'll probably act like he didn't.'
With a sigh, Ikhny laid on her back: why life had to be so difficult? First, she had lost her parents and secondly, she was in love with a guy that would never love her back. And, to make the whole situation even more 'perfect', she spilled her secret to that guy!
"Oh, life must truly hate me." Ikhny whispered, but to her own surprise, a small smile formed on her face: it was strange and though she had left her mask of coldness behind, she still suffered from it. Ikhny felt like she was stronger than before, like she could handle things without crying or feeling sad as she used to and, more, she felt like she actually could face Hiead.
'Sadly, I just can't tell him my feelings.'
Then, Ikhny's mind turned to Zero and Kizna: those two had finally started dating. Though it had seemed like Kizna herself was kind in shock when Zero managed to ask her out for the first time, everyone else already knew that was the only end for Zero and Kizna.
And, to add even more happiness to the group, everyone else was starting to develop their friendships into other, special things.
Only Ikhny and Hiead were still on a stage, unknown for Ikhny: were they still on the 'If you don't do as I say, I'll kill you' stage or where they in the 'well, I think we could try and become friends' stage?
At that question, Ikhny laughed: she and Hiead, friends? Yeah right, that was like asking for Hiead and Zero to become friends.
"Ah Ikhny, you dream too much." Ikhny whispered to herself, at the same time she closed her eyes
She liked to be in the Rec. Room, feeling the grass under her and the trees around her, but Ikhny continued to prefer the Observatory. Of course, now that Zero and Kizna kept going there, Ikhny didn't had any other place to go.
Suddenly, steps started to be heard, but Ikhny was feeling too sleepy to actually look up and see who was it.
However, when the steps stopped and Ikhny felt a presence beside her, the brunette opened her eyes and gasped, when her brown eyes meet a pair of red ones.
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Both Kizna and Zero were sat on the floor, their arms wrapped around each other's waists, while their eyes were locked in the windows in front of them.
"You know, now I understand why Ikhny likes to come here so much." Kizna whispered, as she leaned her head against Zero's shoulder "This is so peaceful and it feels so good to be here, looking at the stars."
Zero smiled, and looked down at the girl in his arms:
"So, we are here because of the stars." he commented, and Kizna shoot her head up, and hit Zero on the back of his head.
"Baka!" she exclaimed. Then, a smile crossed her features "Well, the stars can be pretty to look at, but it's true that there are better things to observe."
"Oh really?" Zero asked, an eyebrow raised and Kizna nodded "Such as?"
"Well, your eyes for instant." Kizna whispered, but then she raised an eyebrow "You know, I think you should be the one saying these things."
Zero laughed and chuckled.
"I'm still learning, Kizna-san." he said "Gomen ne, besides, there are better things that I prefer to do."
"Really?" Kizna asked and Zero nodded "Like what?"
As an answer Zero smiled, and kissed her.
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"H... Hiead." Ikhny managed to say, as she got up "You're awaked!"
Before she could stop herself, Ikhny wrapped her arms around Hiead's neck, while the boy tensed at the girl's touch. And then, for his surprise, Hiead started to feel something cold running down his neck:
"I was so worried about you." Ikhny said, as she continued to hug her partner "No one knew if you would wake up and I didn't knew what I should do, if gave up on you or trust to hope."
At that sentence, Hiead opened his eyes wide: did Ikhny Allecto care for him that much?
"Allecto..." Hiead whispered, as he put his hand on the brunette's shoulders and pulled her away from him. When Ikhny was face to face with him, Hiead felt a knot on his throat, as he noticed Ikhny's bloodshot eyes "Stop crying." he commanded, in his cold voice "Can't you see I'm ok?"
At the sound of Hiead's voice, Ikhny couldn't help but wince: hadn't he changed at all? Hadn't all those events taught him anything?
"I'm sorry." Ikhny mumbled, as she looked down "I don't know what came over me."
'There's goes the theory of being able to confront him.' a voice commented in Ikhny's mind, but the brunette ignored it
"Allecto." Hiead called, and slowly the brunette looked up "I...I was told that you stood with me all this time, is that true?" Ikhny nodded, not meeting Hiead's gaze "Why?"
Taken back by that question, Ikhny looked into Hiead's eyes only to noticed confusion inside those rubies that had capture her heart a long time ago:
"I...well, what I was suppose to do?" Ikhny asked, after swallowing hard "I'm your repairer, I'm suppose to watch over you."
"I see..." Hiead whispered, looking down.
At his behave, Ikhny couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: what was wrong with him? Why was Hiead acting so differently from his usual self?
"I just thought..." Hiead trailed off, and Ikhny blinked:
"Hai?"
Slowly, Hiead looked at her, his hands now inside his pockets:
"I just thought you could have done that for some other reason." he said, and Ikhny gave a step backwards: what did he meant by that?
Could he know?
Mentally, Ikhny shook her head: how could Hiead Gner know about her feelings, when no one else knew about them? Besides, it wasn't like she had done something to make him think that way... had she?
"Why do you say that?" Ikhny asked, as she titled her head, and for her surprise Hiead shrugged, his eyes on the ground again
"No reason." he said, before smirking "As if someone would actually care for Hiead Gner." He commented, before he could stop himself
At such remark, Ikhny opened her eyes in surprise: what was happening to him?
"Hiead..." Ikhny started, but Hiead shook his head.
"Oh c'mon, who would care for the cold Hiead Gner?" Hiead asked, his confused eyes slowly turning cold "I'm a murder, I killed people when I was younger and now..." Hiead smirked and Ikhny shivered, when she noticed a cold mask slowly covering Hiead's face "I just keep slamming my repairer against walls, keep threatening her and I can't think about anything else besides becoming a Pilot."
"Hiead..." Ikhny tried again, but the silver haired boy ignored her.
"It was truly stupid of me to think someone actually cared." Hiead said "And more stupid I was, to actually believe I could change."
Without any other word, Hiead started walking towards the exit and Ikhny clenched her fists: did Hiead really thought all those things? Did Hiead actually give a damn if people cared about him or not?
'C'mon Ikhny, you can't let him leave.' a voice said inside the brunette's mind. 'You heard him; he wants to change! Just open your mouth and say you can help him! Tell him you love him!'
"Hiead!" Ikhny called, but the silver haired boy ignored her "Hiead, please, stop!"
When she saw Hiead wasn't going to do so, Ikhny clenched her fists harder, and started to run after him:
"Hiead, STOP!" Ikhny exclaimed, as she grabbed the boy's arms and made him look at her "I care for you!"
"Yeah right, why would you, the perfect little Ikhny Allecto care for an iceberg like me?" Hiead asked, angrily "Get a life, Allecto!"
"Hiead, I'm not lying, and yes I truly care for you!" Ikhny shouted, as the boy was about to walk through the exit
"Why?" Hiead asked suddenly, as he turned to the brunette "Why do you, of all people, care for me? I hurt you! I treated you like a slave! I even threatened to kill you!"
"So what?" Ikhny asked, "You're my partner, I have to care for you!"
"So this is all about duty, huh?" Hiead asked, walking towards Ikhny "This is all about duty and pity!"
"No!" Ikhny yelled, annoyed "I truly care for you! Why don't you believe in me!"
"Because I can't!" Hiead yelled back, and Ikhny looked at him surprised "I can't believe or even trust in you, Allecto. It's not in me to trust in someone! I'm not like you, damn it. I'm not capable of telling everyone about my feelings or my secrets! I can't do things like you did back there!"
At that, Ikhny bite her lip: so he was awaked.
"You...you heard me?" Ikhny asked, and Hiead run a hand though his hair:
"Yes."
"And you still act like yourself?" Ikhny asked, and Hiead looked at her:
"Like I told you before, Allecto, I'm not like you." he said, though his teeth, and for his surprise a small smile appeared on Ikhny's face.
"Don't you see, Hiead?" she asked, softly "You're not giving me your pity because of my parents'..." Ikhny trailed off, but then she took a deep breath "I know you understand me, Hiead."
Such statement surprised Hiead. How did she knew if he understood her or not, if not even him knew that? How could she be so sure of something like that?
"And Hiead?" Ikhny called, and the silver haired boy snapped from his thoughts "I don't care what you did in the past, it doesn't matter now, what truly matters is the present and" Ikhny licked her lips and gave a step forward "if you really want to change, than I'm here to help you. Not because I'm your partner, but because I want to be your friend."
"Why...why do you want to help me?" Hiead asked, as he stared at the brunette
'Can I tell him?' Ikhny asked herself 'If I do, these will be words the wind will never carry away.'
Slowly, Ikhny raised a hand and grabbed Hiead's; just like when he had been in coma, the boy's hand was warm while Ikhny's was cold:
"Because I love you."
To Be Continued...
A/N: So? What do you think? Small chapter I know, but at least I didn't leave any evil cliffhanger. Did I? looks at the end of the chapter Er...okay, maybe I did. Sorry about that! Please review!