The Mistakes of the Past

Author's Notes: Phew, what can I say, thanks to the dedicated readers. Because of you, I just felt obliged to write up another chapter no matter how crappy I feel today. Thanks again, guys.

Chapter Ten: Hidden Memories

Mist put his hand face in his hands. Too much was running through his head now. "How…why do I know this girl's name? She looks familiar to me, but is that possible?" Nel stood in complete shock. She had definitely heard her name. They were silent. Neither of them knew what to say. Nel didn't even know where to start. "Was he the same person?" she didn't know. But, she had to say something. The silence had gone on for far too long.

"Mist…I…how…"

She tried to speak, but only muffled sentences managed to leave her mouth. She took a deep breath. Nel knew she was stronger woman than this, so she took up her usual strength.

"Mist, look at me…"

Slowly, but surely, Mist lifted his face out of his hands. He looked at Nel.

"What is it?"

"You know who I am, don't you?"

Mist only looked away from her. It seemed he was remembering something painful every time he looked at Nel. Nel approached him.

"Answer me!"

"I don't know anything…"

"That's a lie! I know you're keeping something from me!"

Nel continued to raise her voice. Mist was slowly getting more and more irritated. He quickly shot up and knocked down the tray beside him that Welch brought in.

"I SAID I DON'T KNOW! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD!"

Nel was taken aback by Mist's yelling. Just then there was knock on the door and the door slowly opened. It was Fayt, Sophia and Maria. They were going to call Nel, but ended up walking in on an awkward situation between Mist and Nel.

"Sorry, are we interrupting?" asked Sophia.

Nel shook her head. "No, not at all. Are we leaving already?"

"Yes, Clair told us to come get you."

"Thanks."

As Nel turned around Mist noticed a tattoo on Nel's leg. It seemed quite familiar to him and it was bringing back more memories. He thought to himself. "Why do I have these memories? I've lived my whole life in the laboratory…what does this all mean?"

They quickly gathered their things to meet up with Clair, Albel, Mirage and Adray who were waiting near the gates of Peterny. Before Mist could leave, he met with Welch at the door. She smiled at him.

"Are you sure you are alright, Mist?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"No problem. You're welcome back here anytime, cutie."

Welch winked at him and Mist was a little surprised. He returned a smile. He walked out the door and kindly gestured to Welch as she waved him off. He met up with the rest of them. The crew began their journey to Aquios through the Irisa Fields. Maria walked beside Nel.

"Nel, is something that matter? Did anything happen with Mist?"

"No, not really. He said he didn't know anything, but he said my name…"

"He said your name? Are you sure?"

"Yes, it was a little under his breath, but he did say it."

"That doesn't make any sense."

Nel and Maria were broken out of their conversation when Clair suddenly shouted.

"Hey! Look out!"

A large spear of light came flying down from the sky and stormed the ground behind them. Mist grabbed Sophia and jumped into the air avoiding the coming explosion, he landed on the ground with Sophia in his arms. He put her down on her feet.

"Thanks Mist!" Mist only shook his head. They looked up to the sky.

"What was that?"

"Hey, something's coming!"

Two beings came down in a bright light. They both had wings on the back on their heads, placed nicely behind their ears.

"What the hell? Are those Executioners? It can't be!" Fayt exclaimed. One of the beings was what seemed to be a male, and the other was a female.

"Your…time…has…come…"

"The…inevitable…will…not…be…postponed…any…longer…"

"What are you talking about?"

The female being shot another light lance out at the group. It set off a large explosion between them which they all jumped away from. They drew their weapons. Nel shouted.

"Clair, Sophia, Mirage! Go get Cliff and some back-up!"

Mirage and Clair nodded. They knew this was the best idea. Plus, Clair and Mirage were in no position to fight. Sophia was not as pleased.

"But Nel! I want to stay and fight!"

"No, you have to accompany Clair and Mirage! They don't have weapons!"

Reluctantly, Sophia nodded and they began to run towards Aquios.

"You…will…not…escape…"

The male being shot a large light wave at the three. Fayt jumped in the way and deflected it with his sword, he was pushed back by the sheer force of the wave and his feet made marks in the ground as he slid.

"Fayt! Are you alright?" Maria shouted.

"I'm fine."

"Hmph, I've been bored. These maggots should be fun." Albel was ready and raring to go. She pulled out her sword. The female shot another wave at the unsuspecting Adray.

"Hey, look out!"

Adray tried to deflect the blow, but he was knocked down by the blow. He head hit the ground and he was knocked out almost instantaneously.

"Adray! Damn you bastards!"

Fayt, Maria, Nel and Albel were preparing for battle. Mist stood motionless as he observed the situation. They attacked, but it seemed as if they were attacking illusions. Each blow would seemingly go through each of these celestial beings. They retaliated with unparallel force. Knocking them back and causing little scars and bruises all over their bodies.

"Dammit! What are they?"

"We'll need to try something else!"

Nel went into for another assault using one of her special techniques. Mist's eyes opened wide. He had a flashback were a young girl was practicing a similar technique. "I-I know that movement…I can't explain it, but I know this woman." Nel shot her attack at the being as it approached the being stuck its hand up and deflected it back at Nel, she was hurled off her feet and blew backwards, she prepared for contact with the ground…

But it wasn't ground she hit. She felt warmth, and arms wrapped around her small body. She opened her eyes to see herself in Mist's arms; He was looking intently at the two beings.

"M-mist, you, why did you help me?"

"Did you think I'd just stand and watch?"

"I was beginning to think you would." She said harshly.

Mist didn't reply. He put her on her feet as he did with Sophia. The others were still fighting a ferocious battle with the two beings…and losing miserably. They were outclassed in all ways possible.

"Surrender…to…us…now…your…resistance…is…futile…"

"Never!" Fayt exclaimed. Nel watched at Mist summoned his katana into his hand. "What the?" she thought. Mist turned his face to Nel.

"Tell them to run on the count of three…"

Nel shouted to them.

"GUYS! Ran on the count of three! We have to retreat!"

"Bah! Retreat? What a ridiculous notion!"

"Do you want to die, Albel? If you want you can stay here!"

"Hmph."

They all nodded. They counted to three as they tried to hold off the two beings. "ONE…TWO...THREE!" They made a mad dash for Aquios, the two beings gave chase, but before they could reach them, Mist jumped in front of them and using his sword, took the light and blinded them with his technique momentarily. His katana disappeared and Fayt picked up Adray on his shoulders, then he also made a run for it as they beings were temporarily disoriented. They got away into Aquios. When the beings were able to see again, they mumbled and disappeared into the sky.

"Your…fate…is…sealed…"

They ran into Aquios gasping for air.

"What…what were those things?"

"I have no idea."

Mist came in trailing into Aquios. Maria faced him.

"Thanks, Mist, you saved us."

He nodded. It was bothering Maria, but it seemed as Mist had become quieter. He had been saying less and less after he was with Nel. She wondered at what might have happened. Truly, Mist was distracted, there was too much on his mind.

"We have to go see Cliff right away, what happened just now shows how urgent this is…"

They nodded. They quickly ran to the hotel in Aquios were they found Cliff, Clair, Mirage and Sophia. Fayt put down Adray on a couch. Sophia ran to Fayt in panic and wrapped her arms around him.

"Fayt! Are you alright? I was so worried!"

Fayt patted Sophia on the head as she looked at him.

"It's alright, Sophia. Thanks for worrying."

"What happened out there?"

"Long story, Clair."

"Will my father be alright?"

"He was just knocked out, he'll be fine."

"Thank goodness."

Cliff stood with his arms crossed.

"I think we have a big problem on our hands."

"I'd say so too. But what does this all mean? They, those things looked like Executioners…"

"But, I thought we had gotten rid of them…"

Mirage spoke.

"They might not be Executioners; they might be something completely different."

"Like what?"

"I wouldn't know. We have to find that out."

"Figures."

"You guys look beat up. Go get cleaned up and go back down." Cliff said and it was a good idea they were in bad shape and needed to clean up and relax. Sophia led Fayt into a room and prepared a bath for him.

"Sophia, I really appreciate this."

"No problem, just go and relax."

They shared a smile. Albel, who was not one to relax merely grunted at the notion of "cleaning himself" and sat down on a couch with his arms crossed and eyes closed, as if he was meditating. Maria and Nel were going to share a room and Nel allowed her to take a shower first. Nel left the room to step out to the balcony of the hotel. As she slid the door open, she found Mist staring into the night sky, as the cool breeze flowed through his blue hair.

"Mist?"

He turned around.

"Nel…"

"You said my name again…"

He looked at her differently this time. Like something he precious he had lost. Nel looked into his eyes and felt a little a blush coming across her face. Shaking her head, she spoke.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Thinking…"

"Thinking? About what?"

"About me…and about you…"

"About me?" Nel really didn't like how Mist was so blunt with how he said things. "He's thinking about me? Why?"

"I think…I remember something, even if I don't understand it…"

Mist began humming a tune. Nel's eyes opened in shock as he humming such a recognizable tone from her childhood. It was her favorite melody as a child. She felt tears brimming at her eyes, be she tried to hold them back.

"How…how do you know that…?"

"I don't know, I just thought about it when I see you…"

Nel was shocked to say the least. This was all so confusing to her. Just then as she was thinking, she suddenly felt a warm embrace.

"W-what are you doing!"

"Seems I've forgotten everything…I'll do you this one favor."

Mist didn't know what compelled him to suddenly embrace Nel, but he felt the urge too. Nel was just as surprised, she wanted to push him away, but she felt a certain security and comfort in his arms. Maria who had just come out of the shower was in a robe, holding a glass of water and slowly slid the door to the balcony open, she was about to call Nel…it was her turn to use the shower after all.

"Hey…Nel—"

She turned her head to see Mist embracing Nel. Her jaw dropped as she dropped her glass of water in total shock. The glass shattered on the ground, slowly spilling all of the water over the floor.

"What…? What's going on here?"

End Chapter 10

Author's Note: Whoa, this chapter was a little shaky in the beginning but as I continued writing, I felt that I needed to stir up some relationships and so I did. So, come to think of it, I think the next few chapters will be my most favorite to write. Thanks for reading!