Chapter IV: The Darkest Night

Dys: Alright, this one chapter is both angst and romantic. I was listening to a cute, little song in my mother's car, and it inspired me.

Dartz: Yeah, but who's the main paring? One kid reviewed this fic and said it was rare for the main character to fall in love with me.

Dys: He's right, but it's not the main pairing. It's AmeldaxOC. Amelda falls in love with FD, and vise versa.

Dartz: Oh, great. Thanks.

Dys: However, that doesn't mean you're off the hook….

FD leaned against the door, staring out of the window on the opposite wall of her. It was nice to stare out of the window into the dark night like that. Especially since there was a new visitor in her house. The red head looked up at her from the window, and a calm smile crossed his face. She couldn't believe how fast this was moving. Was she supposed to be this kind to him? Was she supposed to invite him to her house? Was she supposed to offer him some tea or coffee, and he accepted? This was all too new to her. She never felt like this towards anyone. She didn't even know how she felt. Just every time she was near him, she felt calm and safe, and when he wasn't looking, she felt herself blush, and her eyes would stare into nothingness. Was this normal? It had been only a few days since they had seen each other for the first time. Was that enough? She didn't feel this way when she was around Dartz. Actually, now, she didn't feel anything when she was around him. Just…nothing. Not even a spark of anger or happiness. It was like, when around him, she was nothing but an empty shell. However, when around Amelda, FD felt anything but. She felt…strong…she felt safe. She didn't know whether to consider Amelda a friend, or as an acquaintance. Nevertheless, she knew what she felt wasn't an illusion. It was real, and it was there.

"The night looks beautiful," FD spoke softly. Amelda looked up at her sweetly, and she couldn't help but stare into his eyes. They were normally dark and empty during the day, filled with nothing but anger or rage. However, at night, Amelda's solid, dark eyes were dreamy, filled with a light, filled with joy and happiness. She didn't know why, but she felt that there was more to him than met the eye. Moreover, she wanted to find out, but she couldn't be too hasty with him. It would never work like that. She needed to gain his trust, and it was something she really wanted right now.

She approached Amelda and stood by his side to look out the window. The moon was full, and the stars sparkled beautifully in the clear black sky. It was gorgeous. She couldn't believe how magnificent this one night looked now. She had never expected this, but then again, she didn't expect herself to invite a young man into her home. However, she trusted him. In addition, from the look on his face, she knew that he enjoyed her company.

"I used to look at the stars with my little brother when I was a kid," Amelda spoke suddenly.

"Really?" FD asked. She didn't want to probe his mind, but she couldn't help but be interested.

"Yeah. My father taught me all the formations in the sky. I taught my little brother them, and he immediately became interested," Amelda spoke. His tone suddenly became low and sad.

"What happened, Amelda?" she found herself asking.

"My…brother was killed during a war. The company responsible was Kaiba Corp. I sought my revenge to them," he spoke. FD looked up at him, and then allowed her own hand to lace around his. He looked down at her, then away, his face turning red. FD couldn't help but giggle inside. Though he was older than she was and acted like a mature adult, he acted like her when it came to romance. Shy, scared, embarrassed. Yet that only made her like him more.

"You're lucky," she spoke. "At least you can remember your family. I can't remember mine. I'm not even sure if I even had a family."

Amelda looked at her, concerned. Her eyes had become deep, but empty. Like no emotion was in them. She didn't look at him, but continued to stare out into the night.

"My love for art began when I was little, but I don't know how I was inspired. All I know is that I've been drawing and creating ever since I was little," FD spoke. Amelda looked at her, and then saw a small flicker in her eyes. It was dark and creepy, almost like she was possessed. Then it vanished. He didn't want to think about it anymore, but something that night scared him, so he was forced to confront it towards Dartz the next day.

FD went to work the next day in a blank expression. Dressed in her normal, unusual ways, which included a black shirt that had the left sleeve torn at the shoulder while the other was so long it reached three inches over her fingers, a black skirt torn at the hem, and a pair of black boots with pencil shaped heels. She made the most confusing and questionable fashion statement in the building, but she really didn't care. In fact, deep inside her eyes were nothing but the darkest, saddest, most empty gaze ever seen. It was as if she was no longer there in her mind, but gone. In addition, even Dartz noticed this. He noticed it when he entered her office for more information on her plans.

The moment he stepped over the threshold, he felt it. More like he sensed it. It was there in the room, it existed there, but he couldn't see it. A power unlike any other, a power almost matching up to that of the Orichalcos. He looked up, hoping to see some sign of the power, but didn't. All he saw was the young girl at her desk, busy in her work. He approached the desk, and the feeling became stronger. It was around here. He looked down at the artist's hand, and saw a beautiful ring with an emerald in the center of the crescent moon carvings. The moons were filled with cubic zircon ions, but the gem was what caught his eye. It resembled that of an Orichalcos stone. He had never seen that ring before on her hand. Why was she just starting to wear it? Was it a gift from her boyfriend? On the other hand, was it something else?

"Rika, I would like to see the progress you have made so far," he spoke calmly. The girl looked up at him, and then he saw it. Her eyes were so empty, so dark, and so emotionless, it was scary. He had never had this gaze thrown towards him. It was almost inhuman, as if she had no soul inside her, but he saw the tears behind her eyes. She was upset about something. Dartz couldn't help but allow his hand to fall to hers, his finger grazing over the gem. He felt it again, but this time, it was different. It was warm and comforting. Then he heard it. A light, small, distant voice humming a lullaby. Where did that voice come from?

Dartz quickly turned around, but no one was there. FD was still looking up at him with that gaze of hers. He then saw a small image inside the darkness of her eyes. It was faint, but he felt a strong presence from it. Dartz quickly ignored this, and then looked at FD. She didn't speak, her lips were parted only slightly, tearstains on her pale cheeks. She was so upset about something. Dartz left the office, but where he went next was little extreme.

He walked through a mirror in his own office and came to the tombs he prayed and casted spells within. He needed one spell, only one, and then it would become all clear to him. More clear than it ever was. He would know all about her, see her memories, hear her thoughts, and feel the beating of her heart in his head. He would see what she saw, feel what she felt, hear what she heard, and know what she knew. He approached the serpent statues at the far end of the tombs, and then looked up at them. He touched the pendant around his neck, and closed his discolored eyes. He felt a strong sensation inside him. It was faint, but he heard it. Her voice in his own head. He saw an image before him. An elder man with a mask wrapped around his lower face. He glared at Dartz, and then this image quickly vanished. Dartz was in someone's home, standing before him was the same man, but the mask had been removed. A crimson river ran from his mouth and cheeks, and at his feet were two people, their faces torn and ripped, revealing crimson muscle and white skulls.

Dartz then heard the voice. The man before him had spoken in a deep, malevolent voice. "Don't worry, little one. You are innocent. I shall not kill you." Innocent? Then Dartz heard a light, frightened, trembling voice, like that of a child's. "Please, Mr. Lecter! Please, don't kill me!" This image quickly vanished to where Dartz was standing next to a window, staring out at a beautiful beach at night, someone next to him, but he couldn't look up to see who it was. A sharp, painful jolt ran through his head, and he groaned out of pain, opening his eyes to find himself back in the tombs. His face was drenched with cold sweat and warm tears. What on bloody Atlantis did he just see! Were those her memories!

"Master Dartz! Are you okay!" a voice yelled. Amelda and Rafael quickly ran up to the steps, but Dartz shot out a hand to stop them.

"It's alright. Miss Rika Micamura was crying, upset, so I wanted to see why. Who knew I'd end up seeing her own memories?" Dartz chuckled. Amelda gasped.

"Her memories? Master Dartz, she told me last night she didn't remember anything," Amelda spoke. Dartz looked at the red head, confused.

"What?" It made sense now. She witnessed a murder while as a child. In addition, not just any murder. Her parents' murder! Because of that, she forced herself to forget everything. However, even the darkest memories leave scars.

"Master Dartz, are you sure you're okay?" Rafael asked. Dartz did not answer. His own mind was lost in his thoughts.

Dys: Alright, originally I was going to put more on this chapter, but then changed my mind and decided to add it to the next chapter.

Dartz: Yeah, but now this chapter is short.

Dys: Well, what would you rather have short? This chapter or your hair?

Dartz: Alright, I think I'm going to shut up now.

Dys: That's a good decision.