Chapter Seven---Intricate
Aden stared at the cold unforgiving earth below him. It told him that Rae was never again going to wrap him in her little arms in a hug just to annoy him. Never give him that small, quiet smile of hers when she was up to something. Cale stared down at the tombstone as well, eyes narrowed and somewhat vacant. Aden placed a hand on his shoulder and lead him back inside. It would to do them no good brooding over what could not be changed.
--+--
Edea made arrangements for them to start training two days later at Raijin's small school. He taught them basics; handling and cleaning their weapons of choice properly, training methods (standard ones used at allGardens) andbattle ethics. Honor.
And, as young children have the infuriating habit of doing, the children progressed rapidly in the span of three months time.
"I didn't think they'd progress so fast, ya know?" Edea nodded as she watched them sparr each other. Even Cale was keeping up with his older comrades. However, something troubled her about the boy now. Perhaps it was the vacant look in his green eyes that she saw so often. Or the simplistic rage that boiled beneath the surface. Still waters run deep, as they say.
Edea overlooked her troubles about the boy and moved on to Eden, who advanced wonderfully with her whip. The lovely brunette had yet to find a back-up weapon and this troubled Raijin. True, he himself had never used one, but times were different now. Harder, meaner.
"I think maybe I should introduce them to the new students now, ya?" Edea quirked a brow at him with somewhat spectral honey orbs. Raijin grinned and gave a long whistle. Out of the school came two young girls, no more then 12, each identicle. Edea turned back to Raijin.
"Listen. These are my daughters, Aliriael," He motioned towards the raven haired girl with lovely sapphire eyes.
"And Saedyn or Sade for short." This girl had one lovely topaz eye and one glinting silver. It was an odd combanation but attractive.
"She's a girl." Dante spat, eyeing Sade coldly. The girl glared so viciously, Stone stepped away from Dante as if to say, 'Hey, I'm not with this idiot! Kill him, not me!'
"So what?" Her voice was even and smooth and Dante shrugged, as if they were discussing the weather. Which by the way was lovely.
"Girls don't use swords." Aliriael was the one to speak.
"You're just afraid of getting beaten by a girl!" Dante snorted and gave her the confident, infuriating smirk his father had been so well known for.
"Right. Bet she can't even lift that thing on her own." Dante nodded to thebuster sword her father was holding for her. Sade took the blade from her father and lifted it in one hand, twirling it in one smooth, circular motion. It had taken Dante weeks to be able to perfect that move. (And it was perfect.)
"So, she can hold it by herself. Dante, do yourself a favor and shut up." Aden hissed, seeing the girl stiffen in anger.
"Whatever."
"Alright, enough, ya know? Put your stuff down and do your warm-ups and then I'll pair you off to sparr." Raijin sat beside Edea with a tired grin.
"Someone's gonna start some trouble, ya know?" After knowing Seifer so long, Raijin could feel trouble brewing. It was expected.
--+--
"Hi! I'm Eden." Eden smiled at the two girls, happy not to be alone anymore. She loved the boys dearly, but she had no one to talk 'girl' with. The two girls smiled shyly and stood beside her, admiring the nasty aura about her whip. It was a fine weapon of pain and suffering if they ever saw one. Stone wandered over to join them and Dante glared at the boys back. Traitor.
"This is Stone. He doesn't say much but he's awful good with his gunblade." Eden said, smiling at Stone. Stone grinned lopsidely and rubbed the back of his neck. Sade did not seem impressed. Aliriael seemed mildly intrigued, as if Stone's skills were the only thing keeping her from dieing of bordeom.
Dante and Aden came by and glared at the girls before hauling Stone off with them. Sade growled slightly, hating the fact that everyone told her she couldn't wield a sword because she was a girl. Like girls were nothing. And after the Wars, girls became sheltered and fussed about at home, taught to cook and clean once again for fear their daughters became a Sorceress somehow. Only misfortunates like Eden were taught to fight.
"Being a girl doesn't mean I can't fight." Sade snapped, stepping up to Dante, though he had at least three inches on her. Green eyes bored into her dual tones. Neither would back down.
"Girl's don't fight." He said evenly, as if that explained everything.
"Why don't I prove you wrong then?"
"No."
"No? You scared? Chicken?" Dante was now furious. No one called him chicken. It was a matter of pride, dammit.
"Don't go crying to daddy when you get hurt." Dante readied himself for a battle.
"I never cry." Sade crouched and the moment she though about attacking, a small silver haired boy stepped in her path. She straightened and returned his soft gaze. Those eyes...so...mezmerizing...
"I'm Cale." He said softly, and the dreamy feeling that had numbed Cale's body slowly seeped away and she smiled.
"My name is Saedyn." The girl bent down on one knee, a haze in her eyes as Cale grinned at her. Very suddenly, the boy had flung himself around her in a hug. Saedyn hugged him back, unaware that a tear had escaped from its prison from somewhere in the depths of her eyes.
Dante watched the scene shocked. Cale didn't approach strangers like this, let alone hug them. Hell, he barely even hugged Dante. And now he was embracing this girl? It was simply not right.
However, Dante didn't see the tear slip down Saedyn's cheek, nor could he read her thoughts. He didn't know what Cale knew about the girl, what the boys walking daymares had told him about her. It was deeper, more...intricate.A strange uniting of two damned souls.
Because they shared grief.
And power.
A.n: Ohhhh wonder whats next, eh? I have no idea. I'm slacking in my writing! Its not holding up to par! -mutters at self- It was sort of a filler chapter, and yet it held vague importance. Hah.
Sorceress Fujin: grins- Thankkies for the lollipop! And BoW was great! I luvvies it! hehe Next chapter, as requested, I hope it meets your standards! -plops herself in your lap again, this time with coffee as a peace offering- Enjoy
Jasmine:grimaces and wipes her shoulders free of tears- It's up to Fuu if she wants to be hugged, I'll just be horribly jealous heh. Yes, poor Rae, but it had to be done. -sigh- I thought the make up thing was fun. But just wait till he gets older and then it'll be hot lol. enjoy.
Jack Hanek: Yes, I killed her. But, I did add some new charrys. I accidentally named the girl Cale too though. Because whenver I use the name Aliriael, I always make the complimentary female character Cale. They just sound cool together, and then I was like wait. I have to Cale's. Damn. Lol So I hope you like, and yes, Aliriael and Sade will be of use. And I hope you liked the hinting at the end about Sade and Cale's relationship and yes, the suddeness of said relationship will be explained in time.
This may even turn into a trilogy. I don't want to make it a serious, lest people loose interest, but the quality of my work deteriorates if I try to make a story extremely long, hence the need for a another story in the future, besides. I have to get Cale to a decent age too and hes only five now lol.
I do like your story so far, though haven't read last three or two chappies, been busy, but I'll get there! Heheh. So any suggestions or things I can improve or didn't do well let me know, I really don't mind, I like being able to improve my skills and satisfy my audience so critize away! Nicely though or I'll be vindictive and not update for a long time, and then all the other reviewers (yes all three of them lol) will get angry and mob you with pink moogles. Lol. Until chappie 8!
Becca: Ohhhh strange. Jasmines crying and your not. Hum hum. Well, cheer up! I'm glad you liked the Fuu plushie! hehe if you tickle her, she'll dance -turns and looks at Fujin from her spot on her lap, grining wickedly- lol Reis; don't worry, bland works but only sometimes. Don't let her make it a habit! -shakes fist warningly- lol ja ne! whatever that means hahaha. so tired.
i Ultimate!