Here I am again folks with Chapter 9 of "A Lost Soul"! I'm so excited! Ren's fought off the crazy blue-haired guy in the trenchcoat (seriously? Who has blue hair? Pffftt…. Horohoro: …) and confessed his burning feelings for Lost! Things are only going to get hairier, so don't think that we're over yet!

Chapter 9 – Words

Ren stopped and looked at the girl who was sitting next to him, crying into his neck, her hair and ashen face nuzzled into him. Her tears were wetting his jacket, and her dress was ripping even more. "You…you don't have to worry anymore Lost…" Ren told her, rising her face. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you ever again."

"Wh-why?" Lost asked. "I'm just a bother to you. I can't remember anything, not even my own name. Why do you want to protect me?"

"Because…" Ren stopped, looked into her green eyes, and gulped. In an instant, she was in his arms in a warm embrace, Ren clinging to her for dear life. His fingers dug into her arm, not wanting to let go. His ribs hurt, but the pain was nothing compared to the feeling that was beating inside his chest.

What was this?

He had never felt it before. It was a foreign feeling; and yet he welcomed it. It made him feel warm, happy, and blissfully confused. He wanted to be near Lost, to touch her, to hold her. He never wanted to leave her. He couldn't help himself, he needed to be near her. "Because…" he gasped for breath. He couldn't fight it anymore. He knew the words that were coming to his lips:

"Because I love you."

"Wha…what?" Lost asked, her eyes wide, her lips pale as Ren embraced her. "What did you say?"

"I..." Ren blinked, as if he had just realized where he was. He flew out of the embrace he was giving Lost, a crimson blush on his face. "N-nothing!"

"You said you loved me…" she murmured. "Is…did you mean it? Do you…do you love me?"

Ren didn't know how to answer.

"Do you?" Lost asked desperately and her fingers grabbed Ren's jacket. Tears were filling her eyes.

Ren couldn't fight it…he had said it…and it was true. "Y-yes…I love you. I tried to fight it…but I can't… I love you Lost, and I'll never let anyone hurt you."

"Oh Ren!" Lost sobbed, throwing herself into his chest and crying. "Oh Ren!"

"What in the world are you crying for?" Ren snapped. He thought that she would be happy.

"I never knew words could do this…"

"Do what?"

She looked up, and whispered very faintly: "I finally feel…whole."

"So," Lost and Ren were sitting on the couch together, Lost bandaging Ren's ribs, Ren wincing every now and then from the pain. "Now that we're in love, what happens?" Lost had recovered over her crying and had returned to her bubbly self.

Ren blushed and stuttered. "N-nothing!"

"Nothing?"

"Yes, nothing! Everything continues as normal."

"Oh…" Lost said, looking forlorn. "When do we get to kiss?"

"Never!" Ren said, his face turning scarlet again.

"Do we get to do anything?" Lost asked.

Ren paused, then decided to answer her question. "We get to do lover things."

"What are those?" Lost asked, looking intrigued.

"Umm…stuff. It's too hard to explain." In truth, Ren had just made that answer up to please Lost and make her stop bombarding him with embarrassing questions. He still couldn't believe the predicament he was in.

"Okay!" Lost nodded. "Then let's sleep together!"

"WHAT?" Ren flew to the other side of the couch. "H-how did you…"

"Huh? We slept together last night," Lost said, looking confused.

"Oh…" Ren sighed, relieved. He looked at her, blushed pink and sighed. "If you want to, then whatever."

"Yay!" Lost cheered, throwing her arms around Ren, making him wince.

"R-ribs!"

"Sorry!" Lost backed off. "D-did I hurt you?"

"Yes you idiot, you did!"

"I-I'm sorry!" Lost apologized quickly.

"You must have marshmallows for brains or something!" Ren snapped, rubbing his cracked ribs. Lost giggled at the comment, then put her arms gently around Ren's waist.

"I'm tired…let's go to sleep."

"O-okay…" Ren had to admit, he was worn out from his fight with that guy in the trenchcoat. He still didn't know his identity, but something about his face was familiar. He couldn't quite place it. But still, Ren knew that he would return again.

"And when he does…" Ren whispered seeing Lost fast asleep, still clinging to him. "I'll be ready for him."

"EAT IT!"

It was the same dream. Lost could tell. She saw the same scene: a young her being thrust over a patch of dirt. Her face was coated brown, a bit of blood line her lip, and a bruise decorated her cheek.

"EAT MOMMY'S DIRT!"

But for the first time, Lost realized who was holding her. His face was still cloudy, but she could clearly make out the figure of a small boy, tall and broad for his age, standing on her back, thrusting her forward and grasping her hair. The boy looked about Lost's age…he couldn't be older then seven or eight.

"I don't want to!" Lost cried more, only to have her face plunged into the dirt. Lost remembered this part well. "Help!" she screamed.

"EAT IT! EAT IT NOW!"

"STOP IT!" Lost's vision focused and she gazed upwards to see a small boy, also about six or seven, panting and standing in front of the place where the other boy and Lost stood. The small Lost did not look up.

The boy had a frail build, completely unlike the first one, and had pale blonde hair. His eyes were a copper hazel color; but, they were shrouded by circular glasses that rested on the edge of his dirty nose. "Stop it, Xavier! You're only hurting her!"

A name was added to the boy who was forcing Lost down. Whoever this Xavier was, he was pushing Lost down, and this boy had come to her rescue.

"Stay out of it, Alphonse!"

So the boy who had saved her was named Alphonse. Lost did not recognize him, but the name sparked something in her mind. She tried to remember, but to no avail.

The two were screaming at each other. Lost couldn't make them out, but she did notice her small form trying to crawl away. But Xavier was quick to step back on Lost's back, making her cry out. "You haven't eaten your fill…eat more of our Mother's dirt!"

"NO, STOP!"

"AHH!" Lost screamed, throwing herself forward again. Ren was next to her, dead asleep, while she sat there, shivering uncontrollably. She grasped her arms as sweat dripped down her forehead. "Oh my gosh…what…what was that?"

"L-Lost?" Ren mumbled, rising from the couch, rubbing his eyes. "What the heck are you doing up? You woke me up too. Go to sleep! I've got training in the morning."

"Ren!" Lost threw her arms around Ren's waist and Ren fell back onto the couch, surprised at the grasping motion. "Oh Ren! I had another dream!"

"What?" Ren's eyes widened, and he shook Lost off of him to look her in the eye. "What happened, tell me."

"It…it was the same as last time…" Lost told him. "The one where someone forced me to eat that dirt…"

"So?" Ren asked, obviously curious for more then a flashback. "Did anything else happen?"

"Yes…" Lost nodded. "The dream…was different…the voices had faces. Or…at least one of them did."

"Which did?"

"The boy who was saving me. His name was…Alphonse…" she searched her memory, then nodded.

"Alphonse?" Ren asked, cocking his head to one side. "Odd name. Did the other one have a name? The one who was pushing you down?"

"Y-yes…" Lost nodded. "Xavier…"

"Another strange name," Ren bit the inside of his mouth. "So…what did they say? Was that it?"

"W-wait…" Lost stopped, and her eyes were wide. "Oh Ren…I just realized!"

"Realized what?"

"That Xavier…Xavier and I must be siblings!"

"What? That makes no sense! Why would your brother force you to eat dirt?"

"I…I remember now," Lost nodded. "He distinctly said "Eat our Mother's dirt…" That must have meant that we share a mother!"

"That's not necessarily true!" Ren interjected, and Lost turned her head to him. "Maybe he has other siblings! Maybe there were others in the dream that you just couldn't see! M-maybe the entire dream is just bull!" He finished forcefully and Lost looked taken aback.

"R-Ren…"

"And…what I'm guessing," Ren continued, lowering his voice. "Was that he was talking to Alphonse, not you, Lost. It was probably some sick fun show that Alphonse didn't appreciate."

"Th-that's possible…" Lost nodded. "But either way. I know this Xavier and Alphonse somehow. That means they would know about my past."

"Right…" Ren nodded, standing up and walking to the window in the room. He stared out it at the black velvet sky. "So if we can find them…"

"I remember what Alphonse looked like," Lost got up, following Ren to the window. He turned to her, interested. "Yeah! I could draw a picture or something!"

"Dumb girl! You said that you were younger in the dream? Obviously, he's older now too. His appearance may have completely changed," Ren snapped, turning away from Lost. "I don't know how you got on without me. You're so dumb."

"But it's worth a try, isn't it?" Lost asked, running forward to Ren. "We could ask people if they've seen him or something…"

"It's not like we can just put his picture all over town with nothing but the name "Alphonse" and a picture to offer…" Ren shook his head sharply. "No, we'll have to wait to see if anything unfolds. With that crazy "flower" guy after you, we have to hope that whatever it is unfolds fast."

"Oh look!" Lost smiled, running to the window and looking out. "It's the sun!" She smiled widely, looking on as dawn approached. "Ren…where does the Sun go at night?"

Ren rolled his eyes. What a dumb question. But then again…

Ren looked back at Lost, and saw her smiling face and her pink cheeks. It was obvious…she was happy right now. Even after the dream, after the attack, after losing her memory, she somehow was able to become happy. It was like Lost didn't care what had happened to her in the past, or what was going to happen in the future. She was happy…being with him, in this moment.

And somehow, that made him happy too.

"I love you Ren!" Lost turned to him and smiled brightly. Ren blushed crimson, and didn't reply.

"I'm going back to sleep!" Ren snapped, returning to the couch. "I need to get enough hours of sleep to get in maximum training tomorrow."

"Okay!" Lost smiled, walking over to the couch and snuggling up close to Ren. Ren's cheeks turned pink, and he found it hard to go to sleep.

"L-Lost…can you get off of me?"

"What? You can't sleep?"

"Actually, no."

"Sleep, cheri," Lost kissed the top of Ren's head gently, then drifted off into a soft sleep. Ren looked at her, put his hand in her air; gave her a small kiss on the forehead, then fell asleep himself.

'I guess this is the night for dreams…'

Ren was obviously in a dream. His surroundings were completely black, and the void seemed to go on forever, or stop right in front of him. Whatever it was, Ren realized that he had his Kwan Dao in his hand, and his battle clothes on. 'Funny…usually…when I realize I'm dreaming, I wake up.'

"You know Ren…"

Ren's eyes widened as he heard a familiar voice from behind him. He whipped around to see none other then Yoh Asakura standing behind him, carrying his sword on his belt; the samurai Ghost Amidamaru behind him. "I think that I should actually take this one. He looks itching for some blood, and you need to be kept alive for your wife, right?"

"What are you blabbering about?" Ren asked, raising his eyebrow. "Wife? This one? What in hell are you saying, Asakura?"

"Man, I don't even know why I'm helping."

Ren turned away from Yoh to see none other then that blabbering idiot Horo-Horo, the Ainu that was staying with Yoh, behind him, a frown on his face. "After all, what have you ever done for me, spikey-haired jerk?"

"I didn't ask for your help!" Ren snapped. "Idiot."

But Horo Horo didn't retaliate, he only disappeared in front of Ren's very eyes to be replaced by the figure in the Fedora. Ren scowled and pulled out his Kwan Dao.

"What? You're going to fight me?" The man asked, laughing. "You can't win, and you know it."

"Shut up!" Ren snapped, and swiped his Kwan Dao at the man, only to have it go straight through him. "Damn…this is a dream, I forgot."

"I'm afraid I'm taking the flower."

"No! You won't get Lost!"

"I'm afraid I'm taking the flower."

The figure repeated itself, and Ren raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"I'm afraid I'm taking the flower."

"Another dream effect," Ren grimaced, spinning around as the man before him disappeared once again. "Where are you, you son of a-"

He was cut short as none other then the pretty, perky Lost appeared in front of him, dressed in the short white dress he had found her in. She was barefoot, but Ren noticed a new accessory to the outfit.

She was wearing that necklace that they had found at the Graveyard…

"Ren!" Lost laughed, waving to Ren and running forward, although going nowhere. "Ren, there you are!"

"Lost…"

"Ren, I'm so glad that we-" Lost stopped mid-sentence and stared at Ren with wide eyes. Her expression was scared, and tears started to pool within her wide green spheres. "R-Ren? Ren, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong! I'm right here Lost!" Ren shouted, but Lost couldn't hear him.

"R-Ren…Ren stop!"

Ren whipped his head around to see none other then himself staring past his own body straight at Lost. Ren's eyes widened in shock and fear to see that the other him had his Kwan Dao drawn and had it pointed straight at Lost.

"NO! STOP!" Ren screamed to the other him, then bounded forward, only to have the other him sprint right through him and pierce Lost straight in the chest with his Kwan Dao.

Lost coughed blood, and tears flowed down her cheeks. "R-Ren…why?" Then, her body fell limp on the edge of the Kwan Dao. She was dead, and the other him was smiling.

"NO!" Ren screamed, throwing frantic swipes at the other him. His eyes were becoming watery. What the hell was going on? "NO! STOP IT! BRING HER BACK!"

"BRING HER BACK!"

A sharp voice echoed in Ren's head, and the next thing he knew, everything went black.

"…leave a message..." A voice said in quick Chinese from a machine in the kitchen. A small ringing sound buzzed, and a voice came over the machine.

"Ren? Ren, where are you? I know you're in the house! You can't possibly be still asleep," Jun's voice reprimanded disapprovingly. "Anyway, I'm calling to tell you that I'll be in China a little longer then expected. I know, I know. I hope that "Lost" isn't giving you too much trouble. Anyway, I'll be back in about five days. I hope you haven't gotten into much trouble. Don't kill anyone while I'm gone, okay? Goodbye."

But Ren wasn't asleep. He was fully awake, sweating on the couch, tears in his eyes, breathing heavily.

Well that's it! The end of Chapter 9! This was kind of dream sequence chapter here…heh! Now, if you couldn't guess from the Chapter, yes, Yoh and Horo are going to make an appearance in the fic. But not until later, I'm afraid. Probably around Chapter 14 or 15.

So, please review and continue to give your support! Next chapter is going to be GOOD, so don't miss it!