When Doves Cry
A/N: Guten Tag! ('good day' in German, which I do NOT, by far, speak fluently! (But hopefully when I'm finished high school, I'll be halfway decent with it.)) -scared- Ack, don't kill me, all you wonderful people! -sobs- I've been working on it, slowly but surely I've been working on it! But then I ran into one of those . . . "LIFE SUCKS! RAWR!" periods. -sighs- Okay, to be honest, it still hurts, but . . . I've gotta get back on the horse and ride it, you know? (And then I was just generally cranky at this fic)
And I probably would have finished this sooner . . . but . . . Well, I was originally waiting for my beta-reader to actually BETA-READ! But then I discovered that she was falling asleep and talking to her boyfriend endlessly, and that she wasn't doing so hot in English, and it's near the end of the marking period. So it's not that I fired her, I just wanted her to pass English. So . . . That's the reason for all the crappy mistakes -sobs- Sorry in advance . . .
Chapter Two: The Attack
The air was heavy with stunned and confused auras; auras that soon turned into a stifling panic. Then came the roar of feet pounding the hard earth, and the screams of those who were too slow to keep the pace. And then, the most horrible thing of all, the ground was painted red with the blood of innocent people, killed by innocent people, in a race of survival.
All it took to cause such pandemonium was a single machine. Wise men always said the worse thing that would happen to the world would be technology. While machines did many good tasks, they also performed some of the worst evils. Such was the task of this blood-red machine- often called a Guymelef- built to kill. Using its metal claw, it was able to kill many defenseless citizens in one shot. It was something that the people of Basram had never seen before, and those who were struck would never be able to see it again. Whoever was in control was aiming at the crowd, with no particular target.
Van ran as fast as he could to make it to the alter, despite Merle's shouts, but was caught halfway up the aisle by a tidal wave of people. In order not to injure anyone, or himself, he had to sheath his sword, much to his disdain. It took almost all his effort just to fight the current, but he kept plowing up to the alter. Up to certain death. Up to . . . save her from both that incompetent knight and odd Guymelef, for he wasn't sure which of the two was more dangerous. And both combined just equaled certain death.
Breathing slightly heavy, Van finally managed to break free at the end of the crowd, just in time to witness the slaughtering of the old priest. Apparently, play time was over for . . . whoever the hell he was. Just as Van had feared. His eyes roamed around frantically for the almost-newlywed couple. And finally he spotted them, off to the side, with Hitomi struggling against Allen even at such a dire time.
The enemy spotted them as well.
"Hitomi!" Van cried, running even faster than before, his heart pounding as he was sent on an adrenaline rush. Hitomi turned around as Allen grabbed for her arm.
The enemy aimed one of its claws.
"Run!" Van shouted as he quickly gained on the couple. Hitomi wrenched her arm away from Allen, intending to go to Van instead. She didn't hear his cry over the screams.
The enemy fired its claw, causing a harsh hissing noise to pierce the tense atmosphere.
NO!
With a desperate speed burst, Van made it just in time to the save the princess from what would've been death. Allen, too, dodged it just in time to avoid any bloodshed, much to Van's dislike. Even so, Van had to give a small, satisfied smirk as he watched the noble seethe and run in the opposite direction. His precious princess had been taken from right under his nose, by the one person who was lower than dirt on Gaea.
"Van . . !" Hitomi cried, unable to find the words to finish her sentence.
What was he supposed to do now? Surely the pilot of the strange Guymelef would follow him, since he was attempting to protect the princess, who was obviously a target. There was no where safe to go. Instead, Van simply ran a zig-zagged path, in no particular direction, with no particular plan except to get away.
"Shhhh," Van chided, sweating from physical exertion and a terrible fear. All he could do was run in between buildings, ducking in the shadows, praying that the pilot would not see him. What troubled him most was the location of everyone else, especially the royals. Where had they gotten to? Were they dead? Did they know an escape route?
They might know an escape route . . .And they call me a bastard.
Between two tall buildings, Van stopped to catch his breath in the shadows, and relieve his arms of their cargo for a few moments. He had no idea where they were, no idea where the invading Guymelef was, and nor did he particularly care. Somewhere in the distance, loud crashes could be heard as buildings were turned back into mere dust. He shuddered involuntarily.
"Van," Hitomi whispered frantically, dabbing his forehead with her once-upon-a-time pure white wedding dress. Hazy, dark maroon eyes met scared, swarming sea green ones for only a brief second before looking away.
Pushing her hand away gently, but firmly, he growled between breaths, "Don't you . . . 'Van' me . . ."
There was an awkward silence as Hitomi tried to think of something useful to say, and Van looked just about everywhere but at her. Finally, with a sigh, he worked up the courage to face her.
"You know . . . I didn't mean it," he whispered quietly, listening as yet another building toppled. The sound was getting closer.
"I know, but . . . There's no time for this," she choked.
Faster than she would have ever thought, Van picked up the broken princess once again, staring hard into her watery eyes. But his voice now carried a softer tone. "Where should we go?"
"The castle . . ." Hitomi whispered, wrapping her arms around her saviors neck, tangling her fingers in his messy, sweaty hair. Even now, it caused Van to shudder, as she rested her head in the crook of his neck, seeking warmth he could not possibly provide.
But I'll try.
"The castle?" he asked, unable to hide the disgust and contempt he felt towards that unwelcoming place. Besides, how was that a hiding place? It was the largest building in the whole damn city! Which meant it would fall down the hardest as well. Plus . . .
Why would they save me?
Hitomi nodded, her long, silky light brown hair tickling his neck. "There should be . . . an escape airship waiting there." Her grip tightened as he hurriedly peaked out around the buildings, seeking the correct direction of the castle before breaking into a run. "And Van?" she half asked, half screamed.
"What?"
"I won't leave without you . . ." she said, just audible, as she unconsciously caressed his neck in a soothing manner.
oOo
"How could you!" a tall, burly man bellowed frantically. Piercing emerald eyes bore into cerulean ones intensely, seeking answers that were no where to be found. With a desperate sigh, the man looked into the distance worriedly, running a hand through his wavy dark brown hair. The sky was now a hazy orange and black, for the sun was blocked by heavy ash clouds as the city burned.
Lord Kanzaki cried inwardly.
Allen stared blankly at the ground. "She kept resisting me . . . As if I were the enemy. And the next thing I knew, he was there."
"That good for nothing bastard!" lord Kanzaki spat with utmost contempt, quivering with rage and grief.
"Sire," one of the few survivors called. "If we do not leave now, we may not make it."
But the two men did not hear him as they watched a rapidly approaching, hazy figure.
oOo
Almost there.
He felt like he would collapse at any second as heat, fear, and constant movement made his legs feel like jello, while increasing smoke clouds made his eyes tear. The only thing that kept him going was the bundle in his arms; the bundle that so lovingly and encouragingly caressed his sweaty neck. If it weren't for her . . .
I would've been gone a long time ago.
"Where . . . am I . . . supposed . . . to go?" Van choked out between gasping breaths.
"You'll know, don't worry. They'll be waiting for us," Hitomi replied hurriedly.
"And . . . if they're not?" Van asked, even though he knew he was wasting his tainted breath.
She smiled lightly into his chest. "Then at least we'll die together."
He wanted to yell 'I will not let you die!', but he couldn't, for there was no more breath to waste on such futile heroics. Besides, he had bigger problems to face.
The airship was waiting impatiently.
oOo
Everyone was aboard when they got there, except Lord Kanzaki and Allen. Both nobles looked relieved, but only for the safety of their princess, as Van placed his weighty package on her feet. They wasted no time dragging, literally dragging, the stubborn girl onto the massive, levi-stone powered airship. Neither Allen nor the king wasted so much as a glance on Van.
"No, you can't!" Hitomi screamed, struggling against her father and her almost-husband, trashing wildly. "You can't! You can't leave him here!"
A fiery death doesn't sound so bad.
They chose to ignore her pleas to save him. Of course they ignored him and anything to do with him. Even poor peasants did not acknowledge Van's existence. The only person who thought of him as an equal was the one person that even God could not rival. Such was his greatest curse; loving the one person he had no shot in hell of having, even in his dreams.
But the worse thing of all was that she loved him too.
"VAN!" Hitomi screamed, freeing one arm and reaching out for his hand, though they were meters apart. Even across the distance, he could see the tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes.
I promised . . .
Before Van could even comprehend what was happening, his hand was intertwined with that of the princesses, gripping it tightly. His reaction forced Allen and Lord Kanzaki to at least realize his presence. A look of horror and desperation filled their eyes. But Hitomi's eyes were filled with longing and hope. And what she wanted outweighed the desires of the world.
"Let go of her this instant!" Lord Kanzaki screeched with rage, mortified that his daughter would cling to his life so willing, so longingly. That ongoing fascination had to end, now.
"No," Van replied, quietly, yet with a touch of firmness. He didn't even notice the king. His eyes were locked with the princesses. With Hitomi's.
Allen grabbed the wrist of the hand that was holding Hitomi's. "Let go, bastard," he hissed icily, slowly tightening his grip, crushing his hand to the point where the bones began to crack. Van remained motionless, fixed on his goal of surviving.
"Majesty!" a survivor called from the airship. "We have to leave! Please hurry!"
Lord Kanzaki's teeth ground together as a torn look of pain crossed his features. Van knew far too well that the kind, generous, modest king would do anything to leave him here to burn. He also knew too, that the ruler would never do anything that would in any way negatively effect his daughter.
Except keep me from her, of course.
"Let us go," Lord Kanzaki whispered sullenly, before bolting towards the airship. The air was now heavy with heat, and the sky engulfed in black, but even so, Hitomi ventured to give Van a slight smile, while Allen gave him one last hard squeeze before letting go. Together, they boarded the airship.
The pilot took off hastily, knocking some of the survivors on board off balance. Allen, Hitomi, and Van all ended up on the floor, for they had practically just walked through the hatch. As they got up, they looked out the window, only to see fire and smoke. Van's eyes saddened as he began to wonder what had happened to Merle. It was selfish of him to leave her there. When he glanced over at Hitomi, who he'd left Merle for, she was crying. Her mother, the queen, and her brother held her. Allen had a blank face.
They were trying to fly around the smoke so that they could actually see where they were going. It all seemed to be going well, until they saw the red Guymelef emerge from the smoke. Its pilot spotted them quickly and started trailing them. The relatively new flying machine was fast. Very fast.
"He's gaining on us," the pilot of the escape airship choked, sweating out of fear. "He's too fast!"
Walking towards the pilot silently, Van grabbed the terror-stricken man and threw him to the side. He could hear Allen's cry of protest, but of course he didn't care. Van had never had the privilege of riding in an airship, much less piloting one. But how hard could it be? The harder you pressed the gas pedal, the faster the thing went, right? And there was the steering wheel for turning. Big whoop.
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Van pressed the gas pedal down hard. The ship gave a lurch as its speed practically doubled. It was a strain on the ship.
"Are you crazy!" Allen shouted at him. Apparently everyone else was too shocked to be angry with Van. "If you keep this up, the ship will explode!"
"And if I don't keep this up," Van growled lowly, glancing back at the knight, "we will all be torn to bits by that thing. Take your pick."
Allen struggled with himself.
Even with the increased speed, the Guymelef continued to gain on the escape party. Soon, they were in target range.
"He's aiming at us!" The previous pilot stammered.
Faster . . .
"Lord, please help us," Hitomi's father whispered gravely.
Come on, faster . . .
Hitomi's words rang out in Van's head. Then at least we'll die together.
"He's firing!" Allen cried, pounding the window helplessly.
"No!" Hitomi and Van cried simultaneously. The pendant around the princesses neck began to glow.
And with a flash of blue light, they were gone.
I
can bet somewhere away, away from here
A breath you blow comes
near
Well I hate this town and I can't wait to disappear
oOo
"You say they just disappeared?" a mysterious man replied over an intercom. Inside the Guymelef, a little projection appeared, showing the speaker. His hair was an odd bluish-greenish color, while his eyes were a deep purple that bore into ones soul. There was an earing in his left ear, and a purple tear drop under his right eye. A large black and purple cape draped his body so that nothing but his head was visible. Mysterious indeed.
"Yeah, that's right, Folken," the pilot of the red Guymelef replied into his intercom. Both men seemed polar opposites. The controller of the Guymelef was albino, with the traditional white, almost silver hair and blood-thirsty red eyes. He wasn't so much mysterious as he was insane. Particularly for blood. He lived to kill, to taste the blood of others, to hear the cries of suffering.
"Interesting . . ." Folken replied slowly, pondering. "Good work, Dilandau. The country of Basram is no more."
"Tell me why I couldn't kill him . . ." Dilandau hissed. "Tell me why he had to remain alive!"
"I've told you over and over," Folken seemed irritated. "I need to talk to Van. And the world needs him for experiments."
"Experiments my ass," Dilandau exclaimed before ending the transmission.
oOo
They reappeared over a forest, where off in the distance they could still see the smoldering smoke of what used to be Basram. How they got there, no one knew. It was odd, and it scared the inhabitants of the airship, but they couldn't help feeling grateful. After all, at least they were still alive. And away from that machine.
After the initial surprise, Hitomi began to sob in the corner again. Something in Van told him he should comfort her, but he knew it was wrong of him to do so. Instead, he suffered as Allen held her and comforted her, and stroked her hair, and . . .
Why must I be tortured like this?
Hitomi's mother, who had the same figure as Hitomi only with shoulder-length hair and brown eyes, came to comfort her daughter. Tears sparkled at the edge of the queen's eyes as well, but she was too conditioned to let them fall. Hitomi's brother, who was still quiet young and didn't exactly understand the situation, clung to his sisters torn wedding dress. The tears ran silently down his face.
Lord Kanzaki was first to break out of the trance, a little shakily. "What . . . what should we do now?"
"Get as far away from here as possible. We can go to Asturia. My crew will be there, and I'm sure King Aston will help us," Allen replied quickly.
"But . . ." Lord Kanzaki seemed hesitant, but he was traumatized and weary from the days' events, and was unable to think of another plan.
"He will help," Allen said again, more firmly. Van eyed him, then turned to a broken Hitomi.
No he won't.
Van bit his tongue. His opinion would not matter. His opinion wasn't even wanted in the first place. So why bother?
"Plus, we can search for answers about our mysterious attacker," Allen continued, as if still trying to convince the king of his plan. "And who sent him."
"Alright . . ." Lord Kanzaki replied slowly. "Let's get away from here . . ." He looked over at Van, saying. "You can remain at the controls, I suppose."
Van said nothing. Being pilot could not possibly be a good thing.
"Everyone else, get cleaned up and rest," his regal voice was coming back. "Find a room. There are spare clothes in every one, so we can change out of these . . . ragged ones."
Everyone began to file down the narrow hallway. Lord Kanzaki lingered behind, staring at Van the whole time. Van ignored him and kept his hands on the steering wheel.
"And . . . you . . . there will be relief for you later. But as for a room . . . there are none to spare. You may sleep on the floor."
Is that why half the rooms are empty?
I
breathe this cold air in
This alcoholic sin
Like dissonant
static through my veins
When you're too far from home you fade
out
And I drown in waves... of resonance as my body drifts ashore
Review Replies:
Vi3t Babii: Are you passing English yet?
Carrie21: Heh, well, I finally got around to continuing -sheepish grin-. This chapter sucked, ne? Couldn't help the suckiness . . . I can't believe I'm being this mean to Van X.X! I would say it's going to get better, but alas, I won't lie. It's not going to. -huggles Vanny boy- Hehe, hope you can pick out at least some good things from this chapter. Thanks!
Macky: Not a very good follow-up, though. -sigh- Aw well, thanks for the review!
Inda: I feel like I'm letting so many people down with this chapter, heh. But thanks!
dreamingofflyingaway: Ugh . . . sorry for the bad continuation of my previous chapter. (It's so sad I couldn't leave you with another cliffy, haha! -so evil-) Ehhhhh, sorry for the long wait and thanks!
Aka V-Chan: HAHA, if only I could kill Allen! (Well, I mean, I could, but . . . you know, heh) Alas, he is vital to Van's misery :). So he'll have to remain (sadly). Thanks and sorry for the wait!
MirokuLover: Thanks, and sorry for the wait and the crappy chappie two!
FullMoonBunny: Hehe, thanks. I think my writing style nose-dived this chapter. But I couldn't stop it. Hm . . . I try to keep everyone's character the same except Hitomi's, mainly because I find her annoying :P. (I still don't understand why Van would fall for her!) Oh wow, November 16th . . . That just reminds me of how long it's been XD. Darn, I really gotta try harder at these things. Oh well. Thanks for the encouraging review!
jossi-31: Thanks!
Sakura onto Hitomi: Ja, "whenever it comes out" is right/ My bad! Thanks for the review, without such I probably would've never finished this XD.
fireangel621: -feels so bad- I took forever. Forgive me? Thanks for the review, it seriously kept me going.
Pandora: Ha, are you SURE you wanted to read that chapter? I personally didn't like it . . . but . . . I really couldn't think of what to do. -shrugs- I tried. Hehe, "interesting" is an interesting word, anyway. -needs to shut up- Thanks for the review!
Kat-Tastrophe: Left you hanging, my bad, haha. But thanks anyway, I'll seriously try harder next time :).
JadedTruth: -pang- Hm, lessee, how long has it been? Way too long, right? God, I'm soooooooooo baaaaaaaaaad. Sorry! Thanks for the review, those are really helpful!
Annie: But I like cliffies! I'm evil like that! Haha, from what I hear, ja, siblings are evil -is an only child-, but I wouldn't know personally. Sorry it took so long for me to get this crappy chapter out! But thanks for the review!
kairi-heartilly: Na, it's not rude. I'm just slow (in the head . . . and half the time I'm not even kidding X.X). Hehe, nope, sorry, Van's tongue is currently out-of-order. But he did something, didn't he? Thanks for the review and I'll try harder to update next time!
Dalafanole: Well, I continued, ne? Kinda late, but I couldn't help it :(. I'll get my act together next chapter. Thanks!
Daisuke-n-Dark: Vi3t Babii is just so special, I use "bestest" with her, lol. Darn, I wish you really HAD come and found me, haha. Then maybe I would've written faster! But as I said, I WAS writing outlines! That counts, right? And I don't believe this chapter is all that great . . . I ducked out at the end, and over-worked the beginning. But from here-on I'll try harder. To update and have balance, hehe. Sorry I really did take forever and thanks for the review!
iceboltmage: That was definitely NOT ASAP, eh? So sorry, I'll do better next time :(. Thanks for the review!
Strawberryz: So, what has it been now, like four, five months? Haha, sorry -really doesn't know how long it's been- Gonna do better next time. Thanks!
Diabolic Angel: I feel so honored! (That may sound sarcastic, but it's really not, lol. SERIOUSLY, it's not!) Lookie, I updated . . . Really late :). Couldn't prevent it . . . (Okay, well, I tried, ne?) Haha, hope you didn't run away because of the horrible chapter! Thanks!
A/N: UGH! -so annoyedcalms- Sorry . . . the ending is vague. But if it wasn't, I probably would never finish this chapter. Please don't be mad, there will be more details about characters in the next chapter! I swear! -parents keep yelling- Augh . . .
The
song is "Fall of Atherton" by Strike.Fire.Fall.
-sigh- I'm updating Last Stop next . . . I would say it's less stressful to write, but it's not . . . Especially the next chapter.
Review and make me happy?
-Spirit0
