Comfort

"So, Leehalt has fallen," Siegfried muttered, "Well then, I must face the Child of Adlehyde and her companion myself. This battle might be even more interesting than the one of over a millennia ago." He picked up the Dark Spear, and slung it over his shoulder. Now, he would show the two his true might.

S...S

"Jet, don't worry about what Leehalt said. I'm never going to leave you. You're my friend, not just some android. Deserting a person because of something like that goes against the basic law of humanity. No matter where you come from, or what your origins might be, you'll always be Jet to me," Virginia said.

Jet muttered, "Whatever." He then broke away from the young woman. But somehow he felt as if he wanted her to hold him closer. He wanted to be with her. However, being Jet, he refused to admit it.

He let his mind wander back to the beginning. 'Ever since I met this chatterbox, she's always wanted to help me. Now, even when she finds out I'm not human, she still longs to be close to me. Why do I feel like I want that as well? I can taste it, her own concern. This one girl has vowed to give me life. She gains nothing from it, so why should she? Sometimes I just don't get her. But, truth be told, I don't want to be alone anymore. Why in the name of Luceid am I thinking like this now? I'm not even human.'

"You could never understand Virginia," he said, "I just found out I'm not human, and all you can say is 'let me stay with you'. Yeah, right. That's not going to help. I feel as if the only way I can get rid of this is to die. But I can't do that either; your old man jammed into my brain that suicide wasn't the answer to anything. I bet he saw this moment, and knew I would one day find out that I'm nothing more than some stupid sample needed for the experiment. That's all I am chatterbox, so there's nothing that you can do."

He thought she would start crying there and then. People like Virginia always cried when they got yelled at in such a manner. But she surprised him. She was a trooper and besides, she could see right through his angry façade, saw the pain in his heart. So all Virginia did was to go up to Jet, and hold him.

"You no longer have to worry about that Jet. Even if you are a machine, then I'll be with you. Just look at yourself, you are so human that no one will tell the difference. It can just be our little secret," she whispered. When Jet looked down, he saw his human appearance and one other thing…fresh blood. It appeared that he was wounded in the battle between him and Leehalt. Using his red scarf, he bound it.

Jet asked her, "So tell me, how can you understand what it means not to be human? You were born into the world as a member of a very special breed, but you're still human. Your people are often the victims of hatred, but you're still human. Someone like you could never understand every pain that I can feel. I just want you to leave me alone Virginia. I'm plain tired of you taking pity on something like me."

The girl looked at her friend. She had never wanted to speak of this to anyone else, but she didn't even want to tell them about Adlehyde. It was now or never. Such words must be spoken. "The people of this world don't consider the Shamans as human beings. To them, we're just some Demons who took a human appearance to fool the masses. That is far from the truth, but they still have a right to call us non human. First of all, we are connected with the Guardians. Through their power we gained magic and sensory abilities even greater than the Baskar. And the second reason is found in our direct ancestry. In ancient times, when Siegfried was called Ziekfried and Filgaia was in danger, there was a man named Rudy Roughnight. He was an artificial human being himself, a Holmcross. He married Cecilia Adlehyde, and it was through their son that our entire tribe is descended. So technically, I have the blood of an artificial being inside of me as well. You are not alone Jet. One day, I can find you a place where you belong; with me by your side to guide you." Her final statement caused the young princess of Adlehyde to blush.

Jet forced himself to look at her. She and him were the same? No, not the same, but she had a reason to sympathize with him. He thought of her predicament; it was worse than his. At least he could go on pretending to be human, and no one would ever know the difference; unless the Council left records of the sample's exact appearance and formation techniques. His powers weren't really used, and could always be considered simple advanced synchronization with an ARM. But if someone ever found out about her magic, she could very well be hunted like an animal and murdered for Gella. No wonder she kept it to herself.

"Don't you see Jet?" Virginia inquired, "If you just stay with me, I'll keep you safe. If anyone tries to use you as a mere machine, I'll stop them. You deserve a chance to live your life as a normal human and to gain human memories and happiness. So let me help you. I understand your pain; know what it feels like to be different. Neil was my only friend growing up since the other kids all thought I was a weirdo. We didn't even meet until I was eight; after my mom died. I was alone once too, and will help you find your comfort in friends as Neil helped me out ten years ago. So promise me Jet, promise you won't leave me."

Jet felt like butterflies were dancing inside his stomach. He wanted so much to tell her that he accepted her offer, that he was happy she wanted to help a creature like him. But this is Jet Enduro we're talking about. A boy who kept his emotions locked inside his heart to avoid the pain and loss forming a bond with other people can cause. It was too late to stop the bond he felt with Virginia, but not too late to keep her in the dark about his feelings. So he simply told her, "Whatever Virginia, you do what you want."

And he hated himself at that moment for not being able to say the words he really wanted to say.

-

Rutee's Otaku Board

As the music expert in the group, I have to fill in for Teefa. This chapter was based on listening to "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls. Thoughtit was aperfect songfor Jet. Especially the chorus. He doesn't want to be around people, since they won't understand him, but he seems conflicted as to what to tell Virginia. So his actions speak for him, telling her the kind of man he really is. And that is a really lovestruck one. The last written line is a personal favorite of mine; sums his conflicted mind real well.