Heart's Cry
"Dwarven Vow #6: You must travel over a rough road to reach the stars."
Outside of Gauracchia Forest
Kratos squinted as the sun poured down on the group as they exited the dark forest. Kratos was tired, his legs and arms not having enough energy to travel much further carrying his son while all his mana was being diverted to healing his injured wings. He was still shocked that such a thing could happen to them, yet there wasn't much he could do but wait.
Colette was silent for most of the travel, being consumed by thoughts of her own…and other things. She was mainly worried about Lloyd. Just as it seemed Colette struggled the most during her journey of regeneration, it seemed Lloyd was getting the worse injuries and going through the most suffering during their journey to keep the world healthy and at peace. Yet, unlike him, the angel girl felt there was little she could do to help.
Genis stood besides his sister, not fully understanding what had happened to him back in the forest, but decided to try and forget about it. Looking around, he could see Ozette across the bridge just a ways in front of them. "I think we took the wrong path…this isn't the way to Mizuho!" He exclaimed in realization.
Raine sighed, noticing it as soon as he did. "We are going to have to backtrack."
Kratos struggled to stay on his feet and shook his head. "We don't have much time." Lloyd was resting in his arms, but it was obvious whatever entered his body before was still there. The boy's complexion began to look more like Raine's had before, ashy and unhealthy.
Colette came up to his side and looked up sadly. "We won't be able to make it through the forest if we go now. We're going to have to sit and rest…at least for a little while." She didn't like having to stand up to the angel, understanding he probably knew more than anyone there, but he was also like Lloyd in the respect where he often pushed himself passed his physical capabilities, angel or not.
Closing his eyes, Kratos knew she was right. "Very well. A couple hours and we'll head back through the forest to Mizuho."
A little while later, Kratos sat quietly on the grassy floor, his son lying down next to him. The angel had his eyes closed, but he merely relaxed his body in order to regenerate faster. He stayed alert for any mana signatures other than their own and any strange noises that might reveal an enemy sneaking up on them. It was about sunset and though he wouldn't normally recommend cutting through the forest at night, he had little choice. He was going to get his son to a healer.
Genis and Raine sat closer to the fire on the other side, but neither said anything. Genis reflected on the battle back at the orphanage, trying to remember using the Prism Sword attack, but it was all a blur. He did remember being hit by the dark sphere attack, and then Raine's Photon, but what frightened him most was that his sister's action caused him more pain than before. He refused to say anything about it for fear of raising her suspicions.
But the observant scholar had already taken note and was increasingly worried about her brother. She herself also felt a slight…elation from the battle, so much to the extent that it frightened her. But she wondered if such a light attack harmed her brother because it was indeed purifying him and if using it on herself would reveal the same results. Should she be wrong in her calculations though, the attack could be lethal.
Colette sat furthest away from the group, not really feeling that cold and wanting to be by herself more than huddled together with everyone else. She desperately needed to know her purpose in life now. So far, she was just a sidekick to Lloyd, someone who tagged along and helped from time to time. Her main goal in life had always been the Tower of Salvation and completing her journey of regeneration. Now that it was history long passed…what purpose was there in her life? What desire kept her moving forward? Or was it she really didn't have a purpose and desire, and was now simply a lost string left uncut by fate?
It was a depressing and morbid way to look at it, but it was a side of Colette that she herself had begun to embrace. Not everyone needed to know what was going on inside her head and heart. She didn't believe anyone could help her anyways. When it came to finding her role in life, she would have to find it on her own.
Looking up, she saw stars begin to show through the reds and oranges of the sun's parting rays. She remembered being a child and watching the night sky for shooting stars, making wishes on their fading tales in hopes her dreams would come true. She even went so far as to ask that Martel return her mother to her. She loved her father, but she always wished to meet her mother. In that respect, she and Lloyd were kindred spirits.
Laughing sadly to herself, she wondered where her relationship with the swordsman was going. During their adventure, he'd risked his life time and time again to save her, yet during their journey now, she was nothing more than a companion and childhood friend. But deep down inside her heart, she wanted to be more. Lloyd was more than a friend to her, but she wouldn't dare tell him.
Seeing a shooting star pass by, just barely in the darkest part of the sky - now being a light blue - she allowed herself a small dream. One where she and Lloyd fought together as one, where she filled that special part of his life…just like he always knowingly did for her.
Wishing on a dream that seems far off…
Hoping it will come today.
Into the starlit night, foolish dreamers turn their gaze,
Waiting on a shooting star.
Colette scoffed at her foolishness. Maybe she hadn't grown up all that much like she thought she did.
But what if that star is not to come?
Will their dreams fade to nothing?
When the horizon darkens most,
We all need to believe there is hope…
She thought of Lloyd as her guardian angel now more than ever. She knew he would always be there for her, to save her when she could no longer save herself; fight for her, when she had long given up. But he was struggling to survive once again…what would she do without him? How could she help him through this difficult time in his life? With him incapacitated…she didn't know what to do. There's was no one to advise her this time.
Is an angel watching closely over me?
Can there be a guiding light I've yet to see…
I know my heart should guide me but,
There's a hole within my soul!
Part of her wanted to return to that Colette from Iselia. The one who thought the world was perfect the way it was and nobody suffered. Not her, nor Genis, not Kratos or Raine, and especially not Lloyd. Why were people made to suffer? The past her would've fought to return to that time, to that picture perfect era of her life. Now she was too tired of fighting, too tired of constantly struggling for so many things in order to restore then the way they were. She was simply there. No longer vibrant and alive, yet not truly dead. She still walked this earth as a child of the Goddess Martel, but her heart was dead. That's what it felt like anyway.
So how then? She wondered. Can I love Lloyd when I don't have any love left within me?
What will fill this emptiness inside of me?
Am I to be satisfied without knowing?
I wish then for a chance to see
Now all I need…desperately…is my star to come…
Looking up, she did the one thing she hadn't done in a long time…she cupped her hands together and prayed. She prayed for guidance, she prayed for strength, she prayed for love. Not necessarily to the Goddess Martel…to anybody. Please, help me.
Isle of Decision
Sheena jumped back to avoid a fiery attack from Kuchinawa and spun around in a counterattack to release her cards. "Pyre Seal!" Throwing three of them, they landed on her friend's chest and exploded with fire. She winced as he grunted in pain and was thrown back. She didn't want to hurt him, but she couldn't back out now.
"You've grown strong, Sheena." Kuchinawa said as he got back to his feet. "But not strong enough!" Jumping into the air, the ninja released one, two, three darts in Sheena's direction. Landing in front of her, they exploded and the ground underneath flew out in all directions.
"Sheena!" Zelos called out in worry from the side. He made one step to run and save her, but stopped himself. This wasn't his fight. Cursing, he pulled back and resumed his observations.
"Guardian Seal!" Sheena exclaimed at the last moment, crossing her arms in front of her by instinct. Expected a green hued shield to form around her, she was surprised when the debris reflected off not a green barrier…but a red one! Gasping, she looked down and saw Carbuncle dutifully by her side. "Carbuncle? What are you doing here?"
The little blue creature glared at Kuchinawa with her deep cerulean eyes and replied to her mistress. "I'm your guardian Sheena!" She reminded her. "I couldn't interfere or help you until you called upon me. And you did just now!"
Kuchinawa glared back and crossed his arms. "That won't save you now, Sheena!" Running forward, he took out two summoning papers. One was an electric blue and the other white. "I call upon Raiju the Thunder Beast!"
Above the dueling ninjas, a dark black cloud formed and a bolt of lightning came crashing down between them. Kuchinawa stood still, but Carbuncle erected her barrier and Sheena was left unharmed. When the dust cleared, a large wolf looking monster stood crackling with static electricity. His entire body looked like it was made out of lightning bolts.
"Raiju, I command you!" Kuchinawa shouted, stepping forward. "Take care of that mouse that calls itself a guardian!"
Raiju roared in compliance and turned its head towards Carbuncle. Sheena gasped and looked worriedly at Kuchinawa. "How can you be like this?" She demanded.
"I wouldn't worry about your pet at the moment, Sheena. I would worry more about yourself!" Kuchinawa rushed in with a short dagger and pulled another from his other side. Throwing it at Sheena, the girl caught it just in time to deflect his initial strike. "You will perish for your crime!" He came at her so quickly it was difficult to try and strike back. He slashed for her throat, which she leaned back to avoid, the twisted the handle on the rebound and came in for a horizontal slash from shoulder to hip.
Sheena flipped over the second attack and landed behind Kuchinawa, spinning around to slash him across the back with her own blade. When he stumbled forward from the blow, Sheena tried once again to get through to him. "Stop it, Kuchinawa! We don't have to fight over this!"
When he spun around in anger once again, his eyes glowed red and he laughed maniacally. "Those who commit a crime must be punished…"
Eyes going wide, Sheena wasn't expecting the bull rush Kuchinawa rammed into her with and she went flying back into a tree. That…that was what Mithos said when Lloyd went to save Presea and Regal! Sheena remembered standing across the chasm when Lloyd went over to release their friends. The anger and hatred in Mithos' voice was a chilling as the cold steel they stood upon. Something about this isn't feeling right!
Carbuncle was avoiding the maddening swipes Raiju sent her way and nimbly avoided being electrocuted on several occasions. Raiju has size and power behind him, but Carbuncle had speed and agility. She could avoid being attacked for quite a long time. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sheena slam into the tree and slump to the floor dazed. "Sheena!"
Knowingly there wasn't much time left, Carbuncle turned her attention to Raiju. "Okay, big guy, we're gonna end this now!" Jumping up into the air, Carbuncle spun and the jewel on her head started to glow. When Raiju roared and a bolt of lightning flew from his back towards her, she lowered her head and erected a special kind of barrier. "Reflect!" The lightning was absorbed into the red-hued shield and for a moment, it disappeared.
Raiju growled low, expecting retaliation and he got it. The same lightning that he had shot at her began appearing on the edges of the barrier but instead of a white-blue, it was a red-white! "I believe this is yours!" Carbuncle flipped and fired the lightning back at Raiju.
Had the energy been the same as what he had fired, it would've healed him if anything. But this was morphed from Carbuncle's own energy and as it shot through his body, Raiju roared out in pain and ineffectively tried to block the rest of the attack, but it was no use. It was already too late. By the end of the attack, Raiju could barely keep on his feet. Swaying, he collapsed to the ground and faded from view. Below him the ground was charged a dark black.
Looking over at Sheena still recovering from the tree, Carbuncle saw the edges of Kuchinawa's body glow back and she immediately knew what to do. "Hang on Sheena! I'm coming!" Running up behind the ninja, Carbuncle fired a quick yet powerful blast from her ruby jewel and aimed at Kuchinawa's back.
Kuchinawa froze midstep as he held his dagger above Sheena's head and his entire body began spasming. "D-damn it!" He fought for control, but couldn't move out of the way of the beam.
Out of his chest, Sheena could see a black mass that looked like a shadow start to be forced out of his chest. "Kuchinawa!" Forcing herself to her feet, she saw the head of the shadow form a mouth and grin at her with red eyes flowing. "W-what's going on?" She took an unsure step back, not wanting the thing to touch her.
"Destroy it Sheena! Banish it and your friend will be set free of its control!" Carbuncle managed the strained command. It took everything she had to keep the shadow exposed and her little form shook with the effort.
"R-Right!" Sheena held up her dagger and it began to glow a light blue. As she pulled it down across the shadow's 'face', it cried out and shattered like glass. A moment later, Kuchinawa collapsed and she managed to catch him before he hit the ground.
Zelos rushed over to Carbuncle as she finished casting the spell and picked her up gently, cradling her in his arms. "Looks like I owe ya another one." He whispered to her as she snuggled into his warmth. As he joined Sheena, the girl was gently holding Kuchinawa's head in her lap. "Is he…?"
"I…I don't know." Sheena's voice cracked. "Please, Kuchinawa…speak to me?"
Kuchinawa moaned and opened his eyes half way. "Sheena…I'm…I'm sorry."
His friend shook her head. "No, it's not your fault."
Kuchinawa coughed and sat up, slowly regaining his strength. "Yes, it is." He met her gaze sadly. "I was upset when you began forming pacts and the darkness…it grew off my anger…I couldn't stop myself."
Sheena's eyes misted up and she looked at the dagger that had killed the shadow. "What was that thing anyway?"
Carbuncle looked up from Zelos' arms. "It was the power of death. With negative emotions, it grows stronger. It lures the spirit into submission and breaks it down with sadness and hopelessness."
"The power of death? You mean Omega?" Sheena wondered. She didn't have time to ask more, because Kuchinawa stood up and began walking away. "W-wait! Where are you going?"
Without turning around, Kuchinawa replied. "I must pray to my parents and ask for their forgiveness as well as my ancestors. I have brought shame upon us all."
Sheena stood up and looked sadly at him. "But…you'll be back right? Orochi he…"
"My brother is strong. He will survive without me. But yes, when I am ready, I will return." Kuchinawa said then proceeded to leave the three behind.
"Kuchinawa…" Sheena watched him go. "It's over…for now…"
Hima
"This is a dangerous situation." Presea commented as she took a mighty swing of her axe at one of the cloaked figures. They nimbly jumped back, so Presea lowered her shoulder and focused her mana to her shoulder, "Beast!" Manifesting itself in the form of a lion's head, the mana literally pushed the elf over the side of the cliff and without having the ability to fly, it crashed against the hard rock into the valley below.
"I don't care for pointless battles." Regal replied as he bent over at the waist, and swung his leg around shouting, "Spin Kick!" The elf he fought was thrown back and rammed into another, who was casting a spell. "But this one seems unavoidable."
"Yes, your death is unavoidable!" Megami shouted, upset that two powerless humans could take out two of her darkelves. Spinning around, she tried to cleave Regal across the chest, but he bent to the side at the waist and evaded the attack. "Give up!" She demanded. "Fate does not show mercy to those who dare stand against it!" Cupping her hands together, mana began building underneath her. Instead of the bright blue or white that they were used to seeing, it was a deep blue-violet color. "The power of death shall conquer all! Retaliation!"
Underneath Presea, purple-black mana started flowing inwards and she barely had time to shout, "Earthly Protection!" Crystalline like pillars shot out from the ground and threatened to split her in two. She ground her teeth with the effort to withhold her shield, but the last pillar shattered it and she was thrown into the air like a rag doll. "Ahh!"
"Eagle Fall!" Regal jumped up and twisted around to catch Presea as she flew, then came down with his legs, slamming into Megami with ground crushing force.
Presea was shocked as she recovered her axe from the ground as the dark elf flipped back towards her two remaining 'followers'. "Thank you." She had a small gash on the side of her head, but it was of little consequence.
"It seems we are going to have to join forces if we wish to survive this encounter." Regal said quietly, knowing Presea's heightened hearing would pick it up.
"You're weakness is your concern for one another! Dreadfully pitiful coming from the supposed 'Heroes of the World' and it is a weakness that will be your downfall!" Megami swore as she wiped away black blood from the corner of her mouth in anger.
"Affirmative." Presea replied to Regal. She knew the chances were minimal that they would successfully combine their attacks, but against a foe such as this…they had little choice. She channeled her mana into her axe and clenched it with determination. Behind her she could feel Regal doing the same. Though he no longer fought with his hands, his feet were still a force to be reckoned with.
Regal acted first, running forward towards Megami. She raised her hands to block and managed to survive the three spin kicks he threw her way, but was not expecting the back flip kick he added afterwards. The second one juggled her in the air as he shouted, "Dark Crescent Moon!"
Presea took this opportunity to jump onto Regal's bent back and jump up to Megami's height. "Mass Destruction!" She slammed her axe down on top of the dark elf as she fell and the ground beneath the two as they landed was thrown up. "Dark Mass Destruction!" The rocks that were thrown up were glowing with Presea's mana and flew around in a circle, pummeling not only Megami, but also the other two who were attempting to attack with a spell of their own.
"Mistress Megami!" They shouted, running to her side.
Megami was bruised and scrapped all over her body and it was a miracle she survived the combo at all. "You will pay for this! This isn't over yet! I will see your soul ripped from your body with your last painful scream! Just you wait!" Her accomplices crossed their arms and all three were surrounded in a black sphere that carried them up and into the sky.
Presea and Regal watched them go until they were sure it was over, then Regal knelt down by Presea's side. "Let's head inside and I will heal that for you."
Presea wiped away the blood with her sleeve, but nodded. "Understood. We will depart for Mizuho to report to Zelos and Sheena immediately."
"Yes, unfortunately we were unable to stop them, but I feel they're done with the rumors. Whatever their Lord Zaichar has in mind, they have reached Phase 2 of their plan by now. We were one step behind…" Regal stood up and berated himself.
Presea looked to the direction in which the three had disappeared. "She was right about one thing. This is not over. This…is just the beginning."
Outside of Gauracchia Forest
Kratos regarded the sun beginning its dip below the horizon and began surveying the remaining damage. Only the edges of his wings remained frayed and brittle, but he still lacked the ability to fly. They would have to cut through the forest once more after all. Sighing, Kratos regarded Lloyd and felt his forehead for the fever he'd developed earlier. He frowned as it was still there and prepared to pick him up.
Lloyd, in response, moaned and opened his eyes. Kratos gasped and faltered in his action to lift his son. The youth, upon seeing his dad, gave the angel a weak smile. "Don't look so concerned." His voice was slurred and drowsy, which only made Kratos more worried if anything. "I've pulled out of worse." Shivering, he tried to cover it up by laughing, but it was too late.
Standing up, Kratos took off his outer coat and covered Lloyd's body with it. "Anna used to tell me that my stubbornness would be passed down onto you. I suppose this proves her right."
Lloyd weakly waved a hand, dispensing of such an idea. "No one's as stubborn as you." Attempting to sit up, Lloyd hissed in pain and Kratos immediately forced him to lie down again.
"Do not push yourself. I will carry you to Mizuho and we get you taken care of there." He forced his voice to remain calm, even though inside - as usual - he was worried sick for his son. The power Zaichar wielded was dark and dangerous. To have affected Kratos in such a manner was proof enough. Battling Mithos was a far cry from what they were being put up against now.
Lloyd relented and stayed down, looking up at the stars. "You know, I never said anything before, but I remembering you taking me outside at night on that bench in front of the house, and staring up at the stars for hours."
Kratos raised an eyebrow. "You were three…yet something like that remains in your memory?" It surprised the angel because he too remembered such moments with his son. It was memories like that which kept him at least partially alive after Anna's death. As he had admitted before, everything felt meaningless. Now that he had his son back, he had meaning…a desire to live, if only to protect him.
"Well, I can't say I remember what you looked like or anything like that…but yeah. Even back at Iselia Forest, I would look up and study the constellations just because I knew even if you had died when I was little, you'd be looking at them too."
Kratos met his son's smile…and slowly met it with his own. Kratos was about to reply when a dark laughter filled the night sky and the angel withdrew his sword immediately, taking point in front of his son. "Lloyd, stay down!" He commanded.
Raine, Genis, and Colette were running over to the angel when the laughter stopped and the voice said, "Even with the mighty power of the summon spirits, the angel-boy appears weak and untrained. How can he pose such an ominous threat the Lord Zaichar?" High in the sky appeared an angel, with black wings that faded into the darkening sky and gold trimmed black armor covering his body.
Frowning as he recognized him, Kratos tightened his grip on his sword. "Saitou? What are you doing here? Have you joined forces with Zaichar?" He asked. "Have the others done so as well?" The former Angel of Cruxis recognized the dark angel before him as one of Mithos' transformed half-elves. If he converted and joined Zaichar's cause, it's possible many of the other angels did as well.
The angel had black hair that hung down over his eyes, but flowed down to his shoulders in straight smooth locks. He held a golden pike in both hands and twirled it around before answering. "We all knew the weakness of Mithos' heart, knew he would fall when faced with the failure of Martel's revival. He will not be the one to lead us to the Age of Half-Elves. Lord Zaichar will!"
Hefting his pike in one hand, he threw it down at the group and shouted, "Lance of Impiety!"
Kratos scooped up Lloyd and jumped to the side while Colette took to the air to evade the attack. Raine and Genis erected their barriers. "Force Field!" Their voices shouted in unison, causing a green hued shield to surround them and protect them from the attack.
Kratos lowered his son to the ground and while the youth was too weak to fight, he still took out his father's Flamberge to protect himself if the need came to pass. Kratos narrowed his eyes and summoned his wings, taking to the air slightly. Though he would not be able to fly as fast, Kratos could indeed remain stable in midair. "Zaichar will not fulfill your vision, just like Mithos was unable to erect his. To pursue otherwise is foolish." He commented.
"Do not think your words will reach me now, Traitor?" Saitou spun around as he dove straight down towards the half elves. "I follow my own path now!" Raine and Genis were blown back as Saitou barreled through between them to retrieve his pike and took to the skies once more.
Colette acted quickly and threw her chakrams at him as soon as he stopped. "Leave us alone!" She pleaded.
He easily deflected the disks and replied, "I've got a better suggestion. Stay out of this! Retribution!" Saitou raised his pike and black mana spanned out around Colette.
Gasping, Colette caught her chakrams and countered the attack with one of her own. "Thy faithful servant asketh for thy blessing. Honor us with the splendor of thy song. Holy song!" Where her pink mana spanned outwards, the black mana was cancelled out.
Kratos felt the added defense and strength lent to him by the spell and took this opportunity to dash straight in towards Saitou. "Zaichar will not take my son!" He swore, slashing down then across with his blade.
Saitou blocked the first strike and leaned forward as the second swing ended in a stand off. Whispering in Kratos' ear, the dark angel smirked. "He won't have to. Lloyd…will come to us."
Eyes flashing with rage, Kratos jammed his blade forward, "Away from me demon, Super Sonic Thrust!"
Saitou was thrown back by the sheer strength of the attack, but managed to avoid being gutted.
"Gentle winds gather before me and turn into waves of air. Cyclone!" Genis spun his kendama from the ground and sent the dark angel into an unexpected whirlwind he couldn't avoid.
"Ray!" Raine raised her staff and a light appeared over Saitou's head. Several powerful beams blasted out of it and Saitou flew and dashed this way and that to avoid the attacks. Laughing, he twirled as he came to a stop a good distance away from Kratos. "That was fun! Are you always this successful while fighting four against one?"
"Leave now Saitou!" Kratos growled one last time. He doubted he would be able to go through another exchange of weapons with the angel warrior and evade injury a second time. His wings still needed to heal.
Saitou laughed, but shrugged. "I've done my part. The powers battling within your son will devour him from the inside out…and there's nothing you can do about it, Lord Kratos." Afterall, the dark angel's mission had only been to delay the group so the darkness within the youth could grow and take root.
Lloyd gasped when Saitou smirked in his direction, then flew off into the night. "What do you mean? Answer me!" He tried to get to his feet, but was still too weak and fell down to one knee. "Damn it!"
Kratos waited a moment, making sure he was gone, then lowered to the ground besides his son. "We can discuss this later. Right now, we must get you to Mizuho, immediately."
Colette, her wings still out, flew above them. "I'll fly ahead and tell them you're coming!"
"That's a good idea." Raine agreed. "We'll be there as soon as we can."
The angel girl nodded and flew off.
"Lloyd, take it easy." Genis said worriedly when Lloyd angrily thrust his sword back in its sheath.
"I hate being weak! I could've taken him now and gotten him to tell us where Zaichar was hiding!" He berated himself.
"What we could've done and should've done matter little now. Come, we have little time left." Kratos bent down under one of Lloyd's arms to support him and the group set off back into Gauracchia Forest.
Isle of Decision
Sheena sighed and sat down with her legs up against her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she buried her head within the darkness. She knew she should be happy that she fulfilled her promise without Kuchinawa loosing his life, but she still felt guilty that he left in the manner than he had. It would take a while for his guilt to subside, she knew that, but she still felt like she could've done better.
Carbuncle hopped down out of the warrior's arms and approached Sheena carefully, Zelos behind her. Letting out a mournful mew, she rubbed her head against Sheena's leg. "Sheena? Are you okay now?"
Sheena raised her head and forced a small smile, lowering her hand so she could scratch the guardian behind the ears. "Yeah…I'll be okay."
Zelos' heart was doing a mile a minute, almost having stopped during the battle itself, but he was relieved. Sheena won and she still remained in his life. Bending down on one knee, Zelos smiled and held up Corinne's bell. "I believe this belongs to you."
Sheena's eyes watered upon the accessory she'd allowed to leave her side for so long. "Corinne, may you rest in peace." She kissed it and tucked it into her pocket. "Thanks Zelos…for everything."
Zelos met Sheena's ruby gaze with his own sapphire one and gave into his feelings for the first time. Catching both ninja and guardian off guard, he threw his arms around Sheena and pulled her into his chest.
Gasping, Sheena froze and felt Zelos hold her crushingly close. "Z-Zelos?"
"I…I was so afraid of loosing you, Sheena." He spoke silently from behind her. "If you had fallen to Kuchinawa…I-I don't know what I would've done. You mean so much to me."
Sheena's eyes widened and she slowly raised her arms up to hug the warrior back. "Zelos…"
Zelos' form was shaking as he tried to control the emotions that ran through him. He wanted to tell her so much and now that he finally had the chance, he could begin his new life…with her. "Sheena, I…" Instantly feeling the pain from his wounds heat up again, he grunted to try and cover it up, but this time it was much worse and he released Sheena in order to wrap his arms around himself.
"Z-Zelos?" Sheena was instantly worried and placed her hands on his shoulders, trying to figure out what was wrong.
Gritting his teeth and sweat forming on his forehead, Zelos' body was sent into a sea of pain that knew no end. He dare not open his eyes and barely recalled hearing Sheena cry out his name. "T-This pain…" I can't stand it anymore!
Sheena gasped when Zelos went limp in her arms and collapsed to the ground. "Zelos? Zelos!"
"I smell blood, Sheena!" Carbuncle bounced in anxiety.
Rolling him over, Sheena unbuttoned his shirt and pulled down the bandages to reveal his wounds from before were now edged with a black substance and the blood looked unhealthy, almost pussy, as it oozed over the darkened edges. "W-what is this? His wounds have gotten worse!"
"It's the power of death! Death is trying to claim his heart and soul!" Carbuncle's fluffy tail swished with agitation. "We have to purify it and fast! If Zelos has been going this long and not said anything, well…he can't last much longer!"
Sheena wanted to run to the boat and get the healer, but she couldn't leave Zelos alone… "Carbuncle! Go back to Mizuho and get help! Tell them what's going on and tell them we need help to get Zelos back to the village!"
Carbuncle nodded in determination. "You got it!" She turned and ran without hesitation, back down along the stream towards the ninja's home.
Sheena held Zelos' head in her lap and took off the ribbon around her waist to try and stop the bazaar bleeding. "Hang on Zelos, please don't leave me." She tied off the pink bow and cupped his face with her hands, bend down to rub his cheek with hers. "Stay strong for me. Don't you dare give up!" How could I have been so stupid? It wasn't his ego keeping him from showing his wounds, he was hiding the fact they were were being infected by…something. I should've realized it, I should've asked him about it. Damn it Zelos! Sheena knew he wasn't the one to blame, she was. But what mattered most was that they find a way to save him…so that she could hear him finish that one sentence. Then, she would tell him how much she loved him in return.
Mizuho
Upon seeing the village so close, Kratos began running while carrying his son once more. Colette brought out the healer and as soon as they entered the village, the healer directed Kratos where to place his son.
Genis and Raine stayed right with him, worried for the warrior once more. Igaguri was present in the hut and the greeted the group with a bow. "We will take care of him to the best of our ability, I can assure you." He promised. Colette stood at the foot of the bed, her eyes locked on Lloyd.
Kratos gently placed his son down on the bed and stepped back to make room for the healer. She was an elderly woman and had a belt full of different pouches and containers full of herbs and gels. She was muttering in an inaudible language and pretty much ignored everyone for the time being.
Igaguri came up to the angel and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You all have traveled very far, I'm sure. Please rest and get something to eat. I will send for you if his condition changes."
"Thank you, but no." Kratos said as politely as he could. "I will continue to remain by his side."
Igaguri nodded in acceptance and turned to the others. "You are all welcomed to my house if you feel the need to rest."
Raine forced a smile in appreciation. "I think that's a good idea." She looked to Genis. "Are you coming?"
Genis stared a moment more at Lloyd, then noticed she was talking to him and snapped out of it. "Huh? Oh yeah, sure."
As the three left, Colette lingered a moment more, debating where she could serve Lloyd best. Deciding Kratos was going to be as stubborn as she was before, she left to bring food back for the angel and hopefully Lloyd, if he woke up soon.
As soon as she was gone, Kratos was left alone with the healer and Lloyd and finally plopped into a chair and covered his head in his hands. "Is this the best I can do? Will the people close to me always be the ones who suffer?" He wondered. Anna…guide me.