Um… yeah… hi… here we go…
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-
James
I stood there in the stupid suit, wearing a stupid tie. I didn't want to be here… it made it all the more real… didn't want it to be real…
I stood in between Jake, who was holding a very tired little Hannah, and Desiree, who had tears streaking her cheeks. But her face… it was a look of sheer determination...
Of course, I'd told her about what our wonderfully meddling HBs had said to me, and she was just as unhappy as I was about it. Could you blame us?
At the risk of sounding like a spoilt little kid, this just wasn't fair. We'd all come so far, and now… now we had to suffer by loosing someone we all had a definite connection to. Even me and Desiree. Jake and Jade had shared a lot about themselves to us, and given us all a lot… I'd fallen in love with little Hannah, and enjoyed talking to Tom and my other uncle, Ryan.
I looked around and spotted Jade's parents. Jade's dad was holding Phoebe… my other aunt. She was about four or five, and scared the crap out of me sometimes. Even now… when she was quietly looking over at the guy talking, almost listening… any other four year old would probably be squealing or wanting to be put down, wanting to run around…
But Phoebe was smart. You could see it, and almost feel it about her. She hugged her father when his lip started to tremble, and snuggled into his shoulder, silent.
I turned around and saw Tom staring at me. Our gazes met, and he indicated to look back to the front. I nodded, frowning and turning my attention back to the guy who was talking…
Just as he finished talking. Then the music started up… and that's what got me. When I listened to the words…
See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I'll wait, for you.
Slight of hand, and twist of fate,
On a bed of nails she makes me wait,
And I wait
Without you.
With or without you.
I watched as they did something with a flag, then there was a silence from the crowd. No one, talked, no one even moved I think.
Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all, but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you, ah-haa
I can't live,
With or without you.
I felt silent tears slide down my cheeks as I thought about it. There was no way I could have called her mother… even though she was my real mom… but no way I could have left her after that moment I saw her at the rehab clinic. It tore my heart to pieces…
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away…
And you give
And you give
And you give, yourself away
She gave her life so Desiree… so all of us could live…. how could I ever forget that sacrifice… she hadn't even hesitated to save us…
My hands are tied
My body bruised she got me with
Nothing winned, and
Nothing left to loose.
I watched as the people from each family went up, lighting a candle for each lost soul. I looked at Jake, and he nodded for me to go up. I knew I didn't want to do it, but after that moment… I'd never stop crying. I didn't care what the HBs wanted anymore… I wanted to be left alone… but I had no choice…
I made my way up, knowing the moment I lit that candle for her, she really would be dead, and there was no turning back…
I can't live, with or with out you…
Finally, each candle was lit, and the guy who talked before, came up and said a prayer, something about letting their souls finally rest in peace… I didn't want it to be…
I finally gave in, turning and making my way out of the isle.
Then, I ran.
Where to, I didn't know. I just… anywhere but there!
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Desiree
I looked at Jake, and he looked at me.
"What do we do?" I whispered. He sighed, looked around, then at me.
"Go after him if you want"
I smiled sadly "Thanks… dad"
He let out a smirk, but that was all. I patted his arm, then ran out after James.
I tossed the dorky shoes off… stupid high heels…and ran full tilt after where I saw him heading. I saw him slip down an hill of some sort, and I slid down after him, yelling.
"James!" He didn't turn around. Just ran faster. I sighed, managing to take my dress off, revealing my stupid leotard, and morphed as I ran.
Soon, I overtook him, stopping in his path.
(James! Stop it!)
He stopped, but not because I said. Because I was baring my teeth at him, making him remember cheetahs are just as deadly as any other animal.
"What do you want Desiree?"
(What are you doing? Why did you run out like that!)
"I can't take it… I've already lost one mom… now another…" His legs seemed to collapse under him, and he fell to the ground, sobbing.
(Oh James) I sighed, demorphing and going over to hug him. I'd have to get my dress and shoes back later…
"Our other mom just left you. It wasn't your fault. And neither is this. Jade… our mom… was… she didn't leave us… she saved me, and I'll always be grateful for that"
"I don't want it to be real"
"Neither do I, but that's just how it is. When my foster dad died I was thinking exactly the same as you, but… that's just life"
"Oh, and so it's acceptable then?" He said, suddenly harsh, pulling away and glaring up at me.
"No, I'm just saying we can't control our own fate"
"Yeah, cause those stupid higher beings do it for us"
"Um… that wasn't exactly what I meant…"
"I know what you meant. And… thanks for coming after me" he wiped his nose with his sleeve, and I made a face at him. He laughed at it.
"Well, that wasn't fun" Came a voice, and we looked up to see Robert and Sakura looking around, then down at us. And then… we were no longer outside the memorial service.
Looked like James was right. We couldn't control it, because we were already being controlled.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Robert
One minute I'm on a plane, back to America, already knowing I was going to be too late for the memorial, watching Sakura sleep, then…
And then I was in America, staring down at Desiree and James. Then, we were all suddenly in the old Hork-Bajir valley.
"What the fuck?" the words just spilled out of me.
THEY WILL NEED THE WEAPONS THEY WERE TRAINED WITH.
"Oh great, you again" I muttered sarcastically, watching as James and Desiree got up, with James wiping the tears from his eyes that I just noticed.
"Why don't you just give us weapons? I mean, it's in your power" Desiree snarled, and again, looking at her reminded me a lot of Jade. Quick to anger… quick to act…
Quick to see what I missed. Duh Robert, wakey wakey…
"She's right. Why do they need those weapons?" I asked.
THEY JUST DO.
Sakura muttered something, angry. I couldn't blame her… I wasn't feeling much more charitable than she was…
"All right. But… why are we here then?" James asked, looking at me.
"Because I hid the weapons here, until I could return to collect them" Sakura said, stepping forward, then to the right of us, going up a pathway. I indicated that he and Desiree follow her, and I took up the rear.
Soon, we reached the place where Sakura had hidden them. She pulled out the bow and arrows in the quiver, then the two samurai swords the Hork-Bajir had so kindly made for her.
"Who gets what?" James wondered. I looked at Sakura.
"Hmm, well… you seemed better with the swords, so I will give them to you. And Desiree? You learned to use a bow and arrow remarkably fast, so these go to you. Take care of them, they are all I have left of my old time" She handed them out, smiling.
IT IS TIME. THE TESTS WILL BEGIN.
And in a blink of an eye, both James and Desiree had vanished.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Sorry, just felt like yanking the heart strings around a little more. Next chapter; does something feel familiar?
Hehe! Bye!
