Double digits, double digits! Okay…I'm freaking out. You have all been duped and have read the wrong version of this chapter. I have fixed it for you, my adoring fans! Muah! But, not exactly fixed, but just added stuff to it. And, I just hope that you all read this version, and not the other, shorter one. -spazzes out-
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"So…you hate me then?" Albel asked, keeping his back to the younger man.
"What…?" Fayt replied, trying to figure out what the swordsman wanted of him.
"Just answer the question, fool." Albel snapped, digging his long fingernails into his arm that was crossed over his chest. Fayt lowered his head and closed his eyes, thinking deeply on the question that was put before him. Raising his head back up, Fayt knew he couldn't bring himself to hate Albel. The knowledge that someone hated you was at times too much to bear. Fayt knew only too well the pain that hatred brought with it. There was, however, another reason why he couldn't hate Albel, one that he didn't quite understand and wouldn't for another few months.
"Not really." The teenager stated, his voice firm and without falter. Albel turned around, his heavily lashed eyes widening doubtfully.
"Why not? I've hurt lots of your friends. Shouldn't you hate me by now?" the swordsman asked confusedly as he stared down into the younger man's face.
"Yeah, but that wasn't your intention, right? It was war, after all…" Fayt trailed, smiling slightly up at the Captain of the Black Brigade.
Albel gasped and sat up quickly, a sheen of sweat covering his body. The swordsman sighed and tried to slow his breathing as he ran a hand roughly through his hair. Why had he dreamt of that night? Glancing around, Albel saw the small tavern room with its sparse furnishings. Only a small table and the old, worn out bed decorated the aged room.
Bringing his knees up to his chest, Albel rested his head on his arms that were crossed over his knees. He had forgotten that this was the same inn that Fayt and his companions had stayed at during their journeys to save the galaxy by destroying the Creator, though they hardly knew what they were getting into at the time. They had only briefly stayed in Peterny, perhaps for one night, but it had been long enough for Albel to ask Fayt his question.
That had been the night when Fayt told Albel that he trusted the older man. This had confused the swordsman at first, since the last person who had trusted him had been Glou Nox, his father, who had died while protecting his son. Eventually, though, Albel began to understand Fayt's words and had started to place some of his trust in the younger man, if only a little. The swordsman was still wary and didn't want to be hurt again.
Growling disgustedly at himself for bringing up memories that would be better off dead, Albel ripped the thin blankets off of him and stood up, glancing around for the tight purple shirt that he had discarded lazily on the ground the night before. Upon finding it, Albel pulled it over his head and picked the Crimson Scourge up, strapping it tightly to his waist.
He had gotten to Peterny late last night, having to argue with the gates guards before they let him into the sleeping town. It seemed that his name was known throughout the kingdom of Aquaria, making it hard for the swordsman to travel without being treated with distrust. Only after insults and curses were thrown from the guards to Albel and vice versa did they finally decide to let him in, realizing that it would probably prove to be safer to let the angry swordsman have what he wanted than to deny him entrance and risk the whole town's security. There was no knowing what the impulsive man would do, and they would rather have him content than infuriated. After he had gotten into the town, Albel had gone through the streets searching for an inn or a tavern to sleep at, only realizing this morning that he had subconsciously retraced his steps from that night so long ago.
Rubbing the pins and needles out of his tightly wrapped arm, Albel began to wonder what exactly he had hoped to gain by coming to Peterny. He hadn't actually planned his whole journey through, and now found that he didn't know what to do. It seemed that he had come to Peterny almost looking for Fayt, as if he had grown reliant on the younger man…
"Bah." Albel thought, furrowing his eyebrows and sneering. Albel the Wicked needed no one and definitely didn't depend on Fayt for anything.
Strapping the heavy metal claws onto his left arm after the feeling returned to it, the swordsman decided to leave and make his way for Airyglyph. At least he would actually have a place to call 'home' there, visualizing the comfortable room he had back at the castle. After all, he had lived at the Airyglyph castle for most of his life and they would be fools not to welcome him back. Picking up his bag on the way out of his room, Albel slammed the door shut loudly, hearing a few muttered curses come from the room next to his.
Once he had checked out of the tavern and had paid the bill, the swordsman walked smoothly down the street, quietly slipping in and out of the crowds of people. He had never been one to push people out of his way, as the dumb blonde ox had, but preferred to just go with the crowd as he glanced at the random and sometimes exotic people that inhabited this strange town.
Peterny was a town known for having a large market, and people from all around came to trade their goods or sell them. One could find almost anything in the large market square located in the center of the city. What Albel didn't expect to find, however, was a certain blue haired teenager. Ducking out of the crowd, the swordsman put his back up against the nearby stone chapel and leaned against it casually, lowering his head and peering out through his thick bangs at the bright eyed boy.
Fayt seemed to be having a good time bartering with a short man about the price of a new sword, pointing out non-existent faults with the polished blade. The short dealer seemed adamant, however, and wouldn't part with the sword for less than a certain price, or so Albel pertained from the short, jerking gestures that the trader was making with his hands. Suddenly, a tall man seemingly appeared at Fayt's side, and Albel stiffened when he saw the man reach out for the teenager. Finding the hilt of the Crimson Scourge, the swordsman gripped it tightly as he waited for the stranger to make his move.
He relaxed slightly when he saw Fayt grin at the tall, black haired man and reassumed his position up against the chapel's wall, wondering who the man was. Fayt seemed happy with him as he tried to explain the inflexible dealer's temperament to the tall man, the dealer shouting at the teenager randomly when Fayt left some of the story out. The dark haired man chuckled and slung an arm around the blue haired boy's shoulders nonchalantly, looking back to the short trader who was saying something that Albel couldn't hear. The swordsman watched, his red eyes wide, as the dealer abruptly stopped talking and handed the sword slowly to Fayt, a dazed look coming over his face.
The teenager put his hands up, bewildered at the dealers willingness to hand over his prized weapon. The taller man smiled down at Fayt and gestured for him to take it, which the blue haired boy did, smiling gratefully to the short trader. Fayt and the dark man then turned their backs on Albel, the taller man's arm still wrapped around the smaller boy's shoulders. Albel pushed himself off of the wall and walked stiffly towards the gate, wanting nothing more than to leave and to be on the road once again. When he was traveling, the swordsman found that everything seemed to make more sense. Traveling made life simple, only having to focus on where he was going and how to battle the next monster or bandit that would show itself.
Albel gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into fists as he approached the tall gates, wondering furiously who the man with Fayt had been. Did Fayt like this new companion more than he had liked Albel? Was Fayt happy now that Albel was out of his life? It certainly seemed like the teenager was happy, more contented than the swordsman had seen him in some time. Slowing to a more agreeable stride, Albel put a hand to his forehead. Was Albel the Wicked feeling…jealousy?
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Fayt was miserable. He felt terrible after leaving Albel like that, and was now on his way to tell Seishiki that he wanted to go and find him to apologize. Fayt had stayed with the older man after they had reached Peterny, and was now quickly approaching his third week with the dark haired man. It seemed everyone knew Seishiki in Peterny, since they never made him pay for anything. The innkeepers always waved him in and told him that he needn't pay, so Fayt came to the conclusion that Seishiki was well liked here.
The teenager stood outside of the tavern room that they had been staying in. The innkeepers never let them have more than one room, for some strange reason, but it was fine since the rooms always had two beds. Fayt opened the door quietly and peered inside, finding Seishiki stretched out on his bed and reading some sort of book. The man always seemed to be reading, acting more like a man twice his age than a man in his mid twenties. Fayt walked over to the side of the dark haired man's bed and looked down at him, smiling when Seishiki lifted his head.
"Yes? What do you need, Fayt?" he asked, his words lazily rolling off of his tongue.
"Um…say, listen Seishiki. I can't stay with you for much longer. I feel really bad about what I said to Albel and I'm going to go find him to apologize. I just wanted to thank you for all you've done for me, is all," the blue haired boy said, his voice quivering slightly.
"You're leaving? Why so sudden? And wasn't this Albel person you've told me about so much the one who was mean to you? I'd just leave him to rot, if I were you," Seishiki replied, sitting up in his bed and resting his chin in a hand.
"Yeah, but you aren't me. I feel awful for the way I treated him, and whether he accepts my apology or not, I still want to try," Fayt said, becoming somewhat vexed when he heard Seishiki telling him that he should leave Albel to rot. Sure Albel could be wicked at times, but that didn't make it okay to act the same way towards him.
"Fayt, you can't leave, you just can't," Seishiki said, his voice quickly becoming panicked.
"Why not?" Fayt questioned, cocking his head to the side. The older man was usually calm and tranquil, but now he was acting panic-stricken. Seishiki became nervous after he heard Fayt's question and began to fidget with the bed sheets as he stared at the teenager's strange boots.
"You can't leave…because…" the dark haired man trailed off, then whispered something that Fayt couldn't hear.
"What was that?" the blue haired boy questioned, leaning his head closer to the other man's in order to hear more clearly.
"…I love you." Seishiki said, blushing deeply. He heard Fayt gasp, then looked up and grabbed the teenager's wrist, pulling himself up towards Fayt. "I love you," he whispered into Fayt's ear, feeling the younger man's back muscles tighten beneath his hands.
"I can't let you leave me, because if you do…I don't know what I'd do," Seishiki continued, pulling back to look into the boy's bright green eyes. Seishiki leaned in once more, this time pressing his lips to the younger man's. The dark haired man parted the teenager's lips with his tongue and slithered it into the younger man's mouth, feeling Fayt at first try to pull away from the kiss, but then he gave into it.
Fayt knew Seishiki was kissing him. He also knew that now the older man was roughly pulling his vest off as he used his weight to lower them both into the bed that Fayt had been sleeping in for the past few nights. Fayt knew that Seishiki intended to have sex with him.
A sense of dread filled the teenager. He would never see Albel again. He was damned to stay away from the one person he had grown to love. He would stay with Seishiki forever. Did he really think that? Did he really believe that? Fayt's eyes opened quickly, seeing the dark haired man attempting to take Fayt's complex boots off.
"Stop, Seishiki!" Fayt yelled, trying to throw the heavier man off of him. Seishiki looked up from the boots and their eyes locked. The younger man saw in Seishiki's ice blue eyes a sense of confusion and hurt. The older man quickly got off of the bed and stood in the middle of the room, his arms hanging at his sides helplessly.
Fayt quickly stood up and ran out of the room, not bothering to grab his shirt. He ran out into the streets of Peterny and leaned up against a building that was in the market place. Fayt gasped for breath and tilted his head up against the stone building, closing his eyes and thinking how it was getting colder now that the sun had set. He thought about Seishiki, and how the man had told him that he loved Fayt. Did he really love Fayt? The teenager didn't know, but the more important question was did he love Seishiki? He knew the answer to that one, and it was a firm no. The thing that scared Fayt the most was that he knew that he could grow to love Seishiki. Right now the answer was no, but in a week…who knows?
"I wish I were with Albel. I wish I could tell him not to be envious of Seishiki because I love him and only him." Fayt thought, then opened his eyes when he realized that he really didn't know on an intellectual level that Albel was jealous of Seishiki, but he knew it on more of an…emotional level. Fayt sighed and tried to lean farther back into the wall, feeling for the first time the presence of Albel.
Had he and Albel traveled here together, and was he just remembering that time? Fayt asked himself, but then shook his head. Certainly not. They hadn't traveled to Peterny, but only the few odd villages that were scattered about. Then what…? Fayt shook his head again. Nothing made sense anymore. Pushing himself off of the wall, Fayt turned around and walked through the chapel's doors, deciding to see if prayer would induce some sort of miracle.
Once he walked down the long, stone hallway that led to the main room of the church, Fayt kneeled down in one of the pews and stared at the crucified Christ that was hanging over the alter. The teenager didn't know exactly how to pray, since his family had never been a religious one, so he decided that praying would just be like thinking, except thinking to God. He began to wonder whether or not Albel was alright, whether or not he should go back and find Seishiki. His thoughts were interrupted when an elderly priest came to sit on the pew that Fayt was kneeling in, moving the large, wooden rosary that was hanging from his white robe out of the way.
"You seem troubled, son." He said very kindly, his face showing nothing but compassion.
"Yes…I am, Father." Fayt replied, standing up to sit next to the old man.
"Is there anything I can do to help ease your pain?" The priest asked, laying his hands in his lap. Fayt smiled gratefully.
"I don't think so." He said, lowering his head and letting his blue hair fall into his eyes. "It's just…I love someone, but we got into a fight and I left in my anger. I met somebody else that I could possibly fall in love with, but I'm not so sure that I can completely forget about the other person. What do you think I should do? Should I leave my one friend in search of the other that I love, or should I attempt to love the person I am with now?" Fayt said, deciding that the reason he came to the chapel was to find wisdom and guidance. The old priest rubbed his chin and looked to the alter, his gray eyes falling upon the crucifix.
"Love is a strong emotion, son. You shouldn't take it for granted. I believe that you should find the person you love, instead of trying to fool yourself into loving another." The old man said simply, making it sound like the easiest decision in the world. Fayt sighed and looked up, gazing at the alter that was gilded in gold. Fayt waited for a moment before replying.
"Thank you, Father. I'll keep your counseling in mind." The teenager said, looking over to the kind priest. Cold sweat broke out on Fayt's brow when he saw the priest drenched in blood, his throat apparently slit. Fayt paled when he felt arms wrap around his chest, and a cool voice said in a whisper,
"You won't be leaving me, my love." Seishiki said, sending cold chills down Fayt's spine. Fayt felt a blade pressed to his throat and his bright green eyes widened. "Now, let's go stand in front of that beautiful alter so that I may have a little fun before we leave." The dark haired man whispered, nudging the teenager in the back with his knife.
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"No…no, leave me! Stop…" Seishiki thought, holding his head in his hands as he stumbled down the main street of Peterny. Fayt had left him. He couldn't let Fayt go. The teenager alone had the power to kill the King of the Dead. The original soul glowed brightly, infuriated that Seishiki was using his body for immoral purposes. The pain drove Seishiki to insanity. It was too much to bear. Every fiber in his body screamed at him every step he took. Flames whipped through his body, making his blood boil. Poison made his heart and chest constrict. The other soul was doing everything it could to get Seishiki out of it's body.
Seishiki staggered into the chapel that he had seen Fayt go into earlier in the evening, glancing about madly for the young boy. He couldn't stand the pain. Using every power he knew he possessed, Seishiki lashed out at the other soul, crushing it so that it wouldn't be able to cause him pain anymore. The soul attempted once more to get rid of Seishiki, but the other spirit was too powerful. The soul laced itself into Seishiki's brain, making one final effort to gain control of his body once more. Seishiki fought back, however, and destroyed the soul, but not before the soul had the chance to destroy a part of his mind. The tall man stood to his full height, feeling the pain subside. He bent back over when he felt his mind crumble, the other spirit driving him to complete insanity.
"Now, to kill Fayt…" Seishiki thought, smirking villainously to himself as he walked slowly down the hallway that led to the church…and to Fayt.
Once he got into the church, Seishiki saw Fayt sitting on a pew talking with an aged priest.
"How sweet. Seeking council from a man of God." The crazed man thought, slipping silently into the pew behind the young boy and the priest.
"Love is a strong emotion, son. You shouldn't take it for granted. I believe that you should find the person you love, instead of trying to fool yourself into loving another." Seishiki heard the older man say, glaring at him when he mentioned that Fayt should leave Seishiki. Oh, this would not do. The tall man leant forward silently, producing from his sleeve a small knife. In one swift motion, Seishiki clapped his hand over the old priest's mouth and slit his throat, leaning back slowly so that the priest wouldn't fall over. Then the dark haired man heard Fayt thank the old priest, telling the already dead man that he would keep his counseling in mind. Seishiki watched as the younger man looked to his right, and once he saw the dead priest, the tall, dark haired man slipped his arm around Fayt's chest, leaning forward to whisper in his ear.
"You won't be leaving me, my love." Seishiki said smoothly, prodding the younger man with the tip of his knife. "Now, let's go stand in front of that beautiful alter so that I may have a little fun before we leave." He finished, standing to guide Fayt to the front of the church. The boy put up little to no resistance, which surprised the crazed man somewhat, but he quickly put it out of his mind. Seishiki forced the younger man to kneel in front of him as he looked down at the glum boy, smiling cheerfully to himself.
"Why so sad, my love?" Seishiki asked, cupping the boy's face with his hand. Fayt grimaced under the crazed man's cold touch, but otherwise said nothing. Seishiki quickly became angry with the blue haired boy for not answering him, deciding it was very rude of the young boy. Seishiki slapped the boy's face sharply, seeing his handprint on Fayt's face as the younger man fell to the ground. "Why so quiet? Why aren't you fighting back, my love? Answer me this time, please." Seishiki said pleasantly, kneeling down next to the small boy. Fayt was panting, his eyes glaring up at Seishiki through hair matted with sweat.
"I deserve this." The teenager said, confusing the older man greatly. Fayt deserved to be punished? Well, yes he did, for trying to leave Seishiki, but something told the crazed man that it was something else.
"What do you mean? Why do you deserve to be hit?" Seishiki asked, cocking his head to the side. Fayt only glared at him in reply, so the tall man stood up and kicked the younger man in the stomach, hearing the breath leave Fayt. "Why don't you answer me, my love?" he said, continuing to kick Fayt, "Do you not love me?" the crazed man asked, stepping heavily on Fayt's leg, hearing the bones crack underneath his boot.
"It seems my love needs to be taught a lesson." Seishiki thought, pulling his leg back to deliver another blow.
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"I'm a fool." Albel thought angrily to himself as he walked down the pathway and towards the now sleeping town of Peterny. Albel planted his feet firmly on the ground in front of the thick wooden gates that led to the town and looked up, searching the wall for the guards that were supposedly stationed there. Finding none, the angry swordsman drew the Crimson Scourge slowly out of its scabbard, grinning maliciously as he heard the terrifying sound the sword made as it was unsheathed.
"I know you're there, so let's save me the trouble of climbing this wall to slit your scrawny throats and just open the door." Albel growled, his voice carrying in the silent night all the way up to the guards, who had ducked to hide from the vehement swordsman. The guards glanced at each other before nodding decisively, deciding once again to let the wicked man pass.
Albel smirked to himself when he saw the gates swinging open lazily. He doubted that he could climb the wooden gate, as the wood had been smoothed down and the many trees used to build the wall were actually placed so that they stood upright, which was very unusual. Albel didn't know how the hell they had managed it, nor did he really care. All that mattered was that the gate was open and he was walking into Peterny and hopefully towards Fayt.
The swordsman had gotten a strange feeling that Fayt was in danger, and Albel never doubted his instincts. As a warrior, he had learned to trust them and to even act upon them, almost always being correct in his assumptions. Albel passed by the many closed market stands, glancing at the random stray dog silently rummaging their way through the stands in hopes of finding something to eat. They would only stop their dreary search for a moment to gaze up and watch Albel pass them by.
The swordsman made his way to the nearest inn, but something made him turn back. Albel's pace quickened when he found himself once again in the market place, heading towards the old chapel. This was where he had glimpsed Fayt in Peterny those many nights ago. Albel silently eased the door open and slipped inside, shutting the thick door behind him once again.
Albel tensed when he heard muffled shouting and made his way down the hallway and to the room that held the alter and pews, where mass was given every Sunday morning. Albel walked into the room and quickly unsheathed the Crimson Scourge when he beheld the horrors that awaited him. Fayt was laying before the alter, bloodied and bruised, as the man Albel had seen with the teenager kicked him like a dog on the ground.
Albel looked to his left to see an old priest slumped over in a pew, blood spilling down the front of his white robe. He was quite obviously dead. The swordsman looked back to the dark haired man, who still hadn't noticed his presence, and took a step forward, purposely making his footfall heavy so it would resonate throughout the church.
"That's enough." Albel growled, his muscles tensing when the taller man turned to regard him.
"Who have we here?" he asked smoothly, an eyebrow rising mischievously. Seishiki looked back down to Fayt and pulled his leg back, as if to kick him, but stopped when a cold sword was pressed to his throat. "Ah." He breathed, staring at Albel out of the corners of his eyes, who was now only inches from him. "It appears that this is Albel the Wicked, am I correct?"
Seishiki chuckled and attempted to ease away from the blade, but this time it was pushed closer to his neck, drawing a thin line of red blood. "You are he, though, Albel. You are the man who Fayt had praised so foolishly. You are the man who roped Fayt into your little adventure of defeating the King of the Dead. Yes, I know about that," Seishiki smirked when he saw Albel's eyes widen, "so don't act so surprised.
"I know much about you, Albel the Wicked. I had thought that sending the spirits of your dead parents to warn you not to involve yourself with the King of the Dead would have been enough to turn you away from it, but I seem to have guessed wrongly." Albel's eyebrows creased and he pulled away from the other man, very soon becoming wary of what he was saying.
"What are you?" the swordsman whispered, his hand tightening upon the hilt of the Crimson Scourge. Seishiki snorted in reply and said,
"Nothing of this world, if that's what you mean. I am from the Land of the Dead and am just a wandering spirit looking for love and companionship."
"You're mad," Albel sneered, not entirely believing the dark haired man.
"No," Seishiki snapped, his blue eyes gleaming fiercely. "No, that I am not." Albel raised an eyebrow and continued to stare at the older man.
"Are we going to talk all day? Perhaps we should get to the matter of why you are beating Fayt and how quickly you are going to hand him over before I cut your throat," Albel growled. Seishiki's lips contorted into an amused smile as he bent over the teenager's prone form, glancing up through thick bangs to meet Albel's crimson stare.
"Possessive, are we?" Seishiki said pleasantly, running a finger down the side of the boy's face.
"Be silent, maggot. If you touch him again, you'll live to regret it." Albel growled, taking a few steps towards the other man. Seishiki chuckled and stood up, turning to face the swordsman.
"I won't let you take him, Albel. He's too powerful for me to let you take him with you to fight the King. I'm afraid that, should Fayt join the battle, the King may die. I can't let that happen, Albel. There's too much at stake for me to just hand him over to you," Seishiki said, his tone turning serious.
Albel snarled and opened his mouth to reply, but was cut short when the taller man seemingly disappeared and reappeared behind him, something sharp digging into the swordsman's neck. Albel pulled away from Seishiki and turned to see what sort of weapon the taller man was using, but found to his astonishment that Seishiki wasn't using a weapon at all. He stood empty handed and smiling at Albel as the swordsman tried to figure out how he had been cut. Albel reached his hand up to his neck, thinking that perhaps he had only imagined himself being cut, but when he pulled his hand away fresh blood stained his palm.
Albel glared at Seishiki before running towards the taller man, dodging to the side and slicing his sword at Seishiki's neck at the last moment. Steel sounded on steel when the black haired man lifted his arm to block the blow, a short knife holding the Crimson Scourge at bay. Albel snarled and grabbed the man's neck with his left arm, the sharpened claws digging into the other man's throat. Red blood spilled out of the wounds on Seishiki's neck, running onto the silver claws and down Albel's arm. Seishiki gagged and his breath became ragged as he attempted to slash at Albel with the knife that was still in his right hand, but his arm dropped back down to his side after a few weak tries. Albel snorted and let go of the man, watching as he fell to the ground. The fight was over before it already began.
"Pity that you didn't prove to be more of a challenge," the arrogant swordsman hissed, still staring at the man as he writhed and gagged on his own blood. Albel turned around and walked down the aisle to Fayt, who was still on the ground. Fayt sat up slowly when he saw the swordsman approaching him, and smiled lopsidedly. Albel walked around to Fayt's other side and knelt down, still keeping his eyes on the writhing figure in the distance.
"What the hell were you thinking, traveling with a maggot like that?" Albel asked roughly, glaring down into the teenager's face. Fayt lowered his head, not wanting Albel to be angry with him.
"…sorry," he whispered, attempting to stand up but found that his left leg wasn't responding to him. Fayt looked down to it and saw that it was broken, it was swelling quickly and dark purple bruises were appearing rapidly. Albel grimaced slightly when he saw what the younger man was looking at and sat down cross legged on the floor.
"Are any more of your bones broken?" The swordsman asked, examining the bruises that covered Fayt's arms and legs.
"…I think a few of my ribs are, but other than that I can't say…" the teenager trailed, moving his arms and wrists to see if they were working. Albel nodded and started to stand, but stopped when he heard Fayt's voice once again. "A…Albel? I want to tell you why I came to Elicoor." Albel raised his eyebrows and sat back down on the floor, waiting patiently for the younger man to continue. "The reason is…I did something terrible to Sophia. Do you remember when we had finally beaten Luther and we had to figure out how to get back to our own world?" Fayt waited until he saw Albel incline his head slightly, motioning that he did, "You figured out that we had to fully believe that our world was real, and that if we didn't we wouldn't be able to get back. Well, I don't think you remember because it took you a while to wake up, but Sophia wasn't coming back. Her body was there, but her mind wasn't. She was practically a corpse, just lying on the grass. I panicked and brought her back by myself, remembering how she acted, looked, and I basically brought her back before she was ready. When she woke up, she wasn't Sophia. I mean, she had the same voice and she looked the same, but she couldn't remember anything. She had a case of amnesia brought on by my own foolishness. I came here because everyone…Cliff, Maria, Mirage…they all kept on telling me that it wasn't my fault and that I wasn't the one to blame. I got sick of them trying to make light of the crime I commited. So, since I figured you didn't remember and if you did you wouldn't care anyway, I came to travel with you." Fayt finished, staring blankly in front of him. He blinked and looked back to Albel, who was staring at him without emotion. "I just felt I owed you an explanation…" Fayt trailed, seeing Albel nod curtly then begin to stand up again. Before he could fully stand, however, Albel noticed that Seishiki was gone. The body was missing and the only thing to mark him ever being there was a dark pool of thick blood on the ancient stones of the chapel floor. The swordsman quickly stood up and once again unsheathed the Crimson Scourge, glancing around frantically for where the crazed man might be. Albel turned in circles, looking into the shadows that were cast by the few glowing candles in the chapel.
"…Albel…" the swordsman heard Fayt say quietly, and he turned around quickly to find Seishiki kneeling over the teenager once again, this time pulling a knife slowly across his throat. Blood seeped out of the thick gash on Fayt's neck as the boy fell back to the floor, Seishiki grinning spitefully up at Albel.
"I…said…" he gasped out, the wounds on his neck opening and closing as he spoke, "I…said that…I wouldn't let you…have him…" Seishiki finished, falling onto the floor next to the dying teenager. Albel shook himself and quickly knelt back down next to Fayt, his eyebrows creasing in worry.
"F…Fayt?" He asked, not being able to keep the panic from his voice. The teenager smiled and put a hand to Albel's cheek, letting it fall back to his side, as he was weak from blood loss.
"It's…alright, Albel." Fayt rasped, coughing as blood filled his throat and lungs. "I…I'm sorry for…saying those things…back in Aquios…" the teenager continued, his eyes filling with tears. "Albel…I…" Fayt's voice caught in his, his body constricting with wracking coughs.
"Quiet, fool…" Albel said, placing his hand over the teenager's mouth. Fayt pulled the swordsman's hand away and held onto it, closing his eyes as his breathing slowed.
"Albel…I…love you…" he said finally, his body relaxing as the last, uneven breath was stolen from his body. Fayt finally felt the cold, dark, oblivion that is known as death wash over him.
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A/N: Eek! Please don't kill me for killing Fayt! Yeah, I had to make this chapter longer because in my other one it didn't quite explain why Seishiki was all…nutso. So…SO! Please? Don't be mad. Rest assured that Santa shall deliver cookies and scones to the children of the world.