"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Thirty-Five: With or Without You
The warm night air smelled of dampened earth and the sweet scent of the beautiful flowers growing in Lady Mia's garden. Cale glanced at his watch for the tenth time in a minute. He couldn't believe the case of butterflies he had right then. He had been experiencing them all day long after breakfast… If Mia saw him like this, it would be a definite minus three on the manliness scale.
"I've got to calm down!" he chuckled nervously. He began to pace. "'Kay, this is it, man… You're finally alone with the girl! No interruptions of any kind… well, there is Talpa… and… Kurai. That could be a problem…" He paused. "Ah. Nothing's perfect. Okay, okay, okay, okay… I got to be gentle… don't hold her hand unless she wants to, try not to comment on just her looks, um… let's see… Dammit. What else did that damned magazine of Kayura's say!?… AH! Flowers!" Cale scanned the garden for one. "Okay… Red!… No, wait… that's too fast. Yellow… nooo…" He grinned when he spotted a pale pink rose bush. He started to laugh to himself.
"Who's the man, NOW, Dais?" he chuckled.
"Cale? What are you doing?" Mia asked from behind. Cale jumped with a yelp and fell backwards.
"… ow…" Mia crouched down beside him, laughing gently.
"Are you all right, Cale?" she smiled. "I didn't mean to scare you… I seem to be doing that a lot lately!" Cale blushed gently and smiled.
"N-no. It's all right… I… uh… Here." He presented her with the flower. Mia's eyes widened. She recognized it from her garden, of course, but she smiled, taking it.
"Thank you, Cale… That's sweet of you," she said. "You helped me plant these, didn't you? You did a good job. They're so healthy!" she marveled.
"Plant things with love and you can't go wrong with that," he smiled. Mia pulled him to his feet with quite a struggle. He weighed so much! Cale brushed himself off and grumbled to himself. (Way to go, man… That's suave… Oi), the former warlord thought.
"So," Mia began softly, "What did you plan to do with me on this nice evening, besides…" she paused, pulling a small twig out of Cale's soft hair, "gardening?" Cale opened his mouth to answer, but closed it.
"Well," he then began again, "let's go for a row boat ride first," he finished, extending his hand to hers. She took it slowly. The sword calloused palm enclosed around her slender one with a gentle smile. Mia pulled herself close to his arm as they started down the path to the dock. She couldn't help but feel a stare on her back the further she and Cale walked.Ryo sighed at the shopping list that Sai had scribbled for him. His other arm was around Tori's neck as they walked down the streets of Tokyo in the cold winter air of the late afternoon. "Why is it that we always get stuck with the shopping?"
"'Cause Sai will buy too much, Kento won't buy anything on that list and Rowen… well, he's resting. What are we getting anyway?" she asked and peered over his shoulder.
"More food. We have food at the apartment! Geez, look at this: chocolate bunnies, marshmallows, pixi stix, duct tape?????"
"'Duct tape'?" Tori repeated. They both sighed.
"Rowen," they chorused, remembering that he had not quite gotten Sage back from the videotape incident. Ryo frowned. "This is crap…" He felt Tori sigh heavily. She didn't seem to be paying much attention. He stopped walking. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh… nothing," she lied. "I-I'm fine…"
"Like hell you are. You've been gloomy this whole time you've been here! You passed up shopping with Sakura and Megami! You've had nightmares every night since we left-"
"You-"
"Yeah, I pretended to be asleep. I'm worried about you! This is supposed to be a vacation!" Tori lowered her eyes.
"You try acting all sunshine and daisies when your friends are getting shot, attacked, dumped, and half the country is in a state of emergency…" Ryo sighed.
"That's not what I'm talking about and you know it. You've been like this before all that happened. I know what's bothering you, 'Ri-san. It's not going to get better if you don't talk about him, you know." Tori didn't look up.
"It's got nothing to do with Anubis, if that's what you mean," she mumbled. Ryo shook his head and saw that they had stopped by the park. He took her hand.
"C'mon, let's go this way."
"But the shopping!"
"We'll get it on the way back; don't worry!" Ryo led the way down the path towards a familiar bridge from four years ago. No one was around when they stopped in the middle of it. He looked down at the boards. The marks of the short battle there were still there: Cale's claw, Dais' scythe, Sekhmet's swords…
"What's wrong, 'Yo?" Tori asked and crouched down beside him. They sat in the middle of the bridge.
"Just… remembering. Ya know… this is the spot where Anubis decided to stop fighting for the Dynasty. He sat here and Kaos told him what his virtue really meant… I guess that broke whatever hold Talpa had on him. The others weren't willing to leave Talpa just yet though, so we had to fight for Anubis… We lost, but… we won sort of that day." Ryo traced some of the marks on the wood. Tori sat in an awed silence. "You know… He… told me to watch you for him while we were here…" he added. Tori looked up from her reflection.
"Who?"
"… Anubis," he replied. "He… made me promise that I'd keep an eye on you and make sure you were out of danger… He said that he had a bad feeling that something awful was going to happen to you… I didn't think much of it then, but after everything that has happened since we got here… I think that he… y'know… really cares about you." He looked over at her. Tori just stared into her reflection in the water.
"… Ryo. I don't mean to doubt you. I know you'd never lie to me about something this serious, but… I wish I could believe that he really feels that way. S-sure I think he's a great guy, but… he's got someone else on his mind… I don't doubt his feelings at all, but I think he cares about the hope… the dream… rather than me," she whispered with a sniffle. Ryo's eyes widened.
"Whoa… Do you… love him, 'Ri-san?" he asked softly. Tori shrugged.
"I guess. I love you too, y'know-"
"I meant-"
"I know what you meant, Ryo," she said quickly with a heavy blush. "But I think what I feel is… just loneliness and I guess… empty. It gets bad when I see the way you look at Kayura, or when Sai and Sakura have this look in their eyes right before they kiss… and when I think of Anubis like that I just… Yeah, it might be nice, but… he's got Zeal and… no matter what he may think or say or do… she is always going to be the one to influence that. It hurts regardless if I like him or not… It's like the only reason you date someone is because they remind you of your old lover and you don't want to let go of that past. I don't want to be someone's past."
"So, if he told you he loved you…?"
"… I'd… I couldn't believe him. He would have to prove it to me somehow that it's ME not her." Tori lowered her eyes. "Besides… I all ready care about someone," she mumbled.
"Really, who?" Ryo asked in a sly tone, nudging her with his shoulder.
"Like I'm really going to tell you!" she squeaked. "First you wanna know how I feel about Anubis, next you wanna know who I have a crush on!" she laughed. "Sorry, 'Yo. You don't get two in one day!"
"Aw, c'mon! I won't tell! I swear! You know about Kayura!"
"'Cause it was so freakin' obvious!" she laughed. "… Maybe I'll tell you later. If you don't stop asking-"
"It's Cale, isn't it?!" he exclaimed. Tori blushed.
"W-what?"
"Youuuu liiike Caaale!" Ryo sang. "Youuuu liiike Caaale!"
"Stop it!" she laughed. "I do not!"
"Your face says otherwise!" he pointed out.
"Shut up!"
A blazing orb of sapphire colored flames sent them and the small bridge flying. Tori landed back first into a park bench, shattering it into pieces. Ryo crumpled to the ground beside her with a loan groan. "So, you've moved on from Anubis all ready, you little whore!" He shook the ringing from his ears and turned to find Zeal hovering over the flaming remains of the bridge. Ryo rolled his eyes.
"Man. Don't you have anything better to do than be jealous all the time?! God!" he snapped. Tori sat up slowly and snarled at the throbbing pain in her back.
"Yeah, Jesus! Get a fuckin' life!" she snapped. "Come one, Ryo, let's-" Zeal cut her off from further speech as she snatched her up by her throat. Ryo charged her, armor forming around him. Zeal held up her hand, causing him to fly backwards and into the ground.
"Pacify yourself, boy. My quarrel is not with you… yet," Zeal spoke. She dived into the ground with Tori back first. The younger girl choked back a scream.
"Tori!!!" Ryo exclaimed and drew his katanas. Zeal's head whipped upwards finding him dive-bombing her. Zeal darted out of the way. "Back off, you crazy bitch!" Ryo demanded. He stood in front of Tori as she managed to pick herself up. "You wanna fight her? You gotta go through me." Zeal sat in mid-air, crossing her legs. She laughed.
"You cannot be serious, boy…"
"I'm about as serious as you are ugly…" Zeal rolled her eyes and held her palm outward.
"Please! Enough of the childish remarks," she sneered and sent a large blast of dark energy into him. Ryo sank to his knees as the electrical pulses ripped through his body. Zeal grinned the more he screamed.
"Didn't you hear him?!" Tori snapped and hit her from behind with a burst of fire. "Back the fuck off, crazy bitch!" Zeal turned and snarled down at her. She looked back at Wildfire. He wasn't going to interfere for a while. Zeal then simply smiled when Tori held another fire blast ready for her.
"You wish to fight me, do you?" Zeal laughed. Tori's eyes narrowed.
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm going to avenge my sister… then kill you… slowly…" A light seemed to go on in Zeal's mind, showing it on her face. Her smile then grew ever darker.
"Ahh, so you are the sister of that crying brat… I should have guessed." Tori launched the ball at her with a scream. Zeal dodged it effectively.
"Shut up!" she demanded.
"Or what?" she bade.
"This!" She concentrated briefly… nothing. "Wh-what?" I could do it before! I can't…
"Something amiss?" Zeal asked as if she knew what happened. "Ohh, that's right!" she gasped, before launching herself at her and tackling her into the ground, by her neck. Tori clamped a hand around the hand helplessly as it squeezed. Zeal just laughed lightly. "You are too far away from your little peacock, my dear…" A smile curled onto her dark lips when she removed a very long tanto from it's place on her belt. The metal gleamed in the setting sunlight. "Too bad. I was hoping for something more… entertaining."
"… Ergh. Entertain this." Tori slammed a large rock into Zeal's temple and shoved her off of her. She snatched the tanto from where Zeal dropped it and gave Zeal plenty of space. She eyed Ryo carefully as she fell into a defensive stance.
Still out cold… Zeal shook the pain from her skull and lifted herself into the air, summoning a spear from dark blue fire. Her eyes burned down into the Rekka summoner.
"No more games. This ends now," she glowered. Tori glared back.
"Bring it." Zeal suddenly cocked a smile.
"If you insist… Dark Priests come forth!" Tori made a face.
She did NOT just say that… LAAME! Her criticism soon turned to concern as two dark masses materialized from portals in the ground. Familiar tattered rags of jet and ghostly white claws emerged slowly. Tori's eyes widened with fear. The dark hoods lifted sharply and dark, sapphire orbs glowed eerily at her. Tori swallowed hard. The screeching, the scratching then ripping of her flesh, then nothing. Her heart began to ache painfully. Zeal giggled softly.
"You feel it, don't you?" she whispered into her ear as she suddenly appeared behind her. Tori gasped and swiped blindly and carelessly at her. Zeal caught her wrist in a painful grip and squeezed it hard. The tanto fell from her grasp. Zeal lifted her barely off of the ground. "You feel the fear?" she breathed, close to her face. Tori turned away with a whimper. The whispering from her nightmares started coming from the two wraith like creatures. Before she knew it, ice like hand held her high above the ground. And Zeal was leering down at her.
"N-no… S-stop it!" she pleaded. "No more!" Zeal smiled.
"Raiko may have liked to tease his prey before killing it… maybe… play with her," she began softly and ran her fingers along the inside of Tori's thigh. Tori squirmed and turned away from her touch. Zeal scoffed lifted herself to face level with the frightened summoner. "… I prefer to terrorize… How are you sleeping at night, by the way?" she chuckled. "Having any… dreams of late? About someone to take you away from the fighting? Someone special? Hmm?" she asked. Tori jerked sharply anger rising anew.
"About someone who wouldn't touch YOUR skanky ass in a thousand years," she snarled. Zeal blinked a moment, not quite sure what she meant by "skanky". Zeal backhanded her hard. Whatever she meant, she didn't like her tone. Tori whimpered and cringed as another blow came to her stomach. Zeal snatched her hair sharply and leaned close.
"… Go ahead, scream. Perhaps Wildfire shall save you…" she hissed. "Regardless… you are mine. I'm around every corner, in every shadow… I'll always be inside your… head. Your dreams… will be more than nightmares. and when I am through with you… you shall wish you had never been born to that pig you call a mother…" Zeal summoned the tanto to her hand. "Master Kurai wants you dead… and all your little girlfriends," she announced. She slashed her cheek sharply, drawing a yelp from the shaking, but very angry summoner. Tori felt the blood seeping out and running down her chin. It stung. "I want to break you first…" she said softly, slashing at her leg. "First… I'll take away your family…" Zeal made another swipe on her stomach. "Then your friends… your world…" Tori cried out as she dragged the razor sharp blade along her throat, cutting almost too deeply. Zeal suddenly thrust the blade into her shoulder. A loud howl ripped from Tori's throat as she dug and twisted the weapon in different positions. Zeal looked at her as if nothing were wrong. "… but before I kill you, you get to watch me kill him… slowly… painfully… until there is not a shred of sanity left in you…" Zeal ripped the blade out sharply. Tori whimpered painfully. Blood ran like a slow river, staining her blouse and jeans.
"You are pitiful, you know that?" Anubis' voice rang from behind Zeal. Tori managed to lift her head to find the former Warlord of Cruelty's glare freezing Zeal in her spot. Tori's eyes widened. H-how?
"YOU?! I should kill you, you ungrateful bastard!!" she shrieked charging at him. Anubis slipped to the side and her chest connected with an armored knee. Both wraiths, screeched loudly and charged at Anubis, dropping Tori instantly. She fell to the grass with a thud. Swinging once, he cleaved both in two, both vanishing into dust. He turned slowly to find Zeal hovering in front of him.
"… You can't protect her forever, Anubis. Sooner or later…" Zeal departed into the bright light of the fading sun.
Tori groaned as she felt something lift her gently. Upon opening her eyes, she found Anubis looking down at her with concern. Tori gasped and bolted upright, forgetting her injuries. She clutched her bloody shoulder tightly with a small wince and just stared at the auburn haired man from his lap.
"Can you stand?" he asked. Tori nodded and flushed when he pulled her to her feet. Tori reached up and touched his chest.
"How… how is it that you're here?" she whispered. Anubis simply gave her a soft smile.
"Because he wishes it, little one."
"'He'?" Anubis leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.
"You know who… I'm always here… remember that." Tori flushed and nodded silently.
"Tori!!! Heeey!!!!" Ryo called and rushed toward her. Tori gasped and turned to him.
"Ryo! Are you all right?!" Tori suddenly stumbled. She was feeling lightheaded.
"Yeah, but you're not! We need to get you to Sage!" Tori moaned softly.
"Yeah… Anubis saved me," she mumbled.
"Huh?! How? He's in Toyama!" he protested. Tori shook her head.
"No, he's right… here?" Tori turned to where Anubis had been standing to find him gone.
"Hon, I think you've lost a lot of blood."
"No! NO, dammit! He was here! I saw him! I touched him!! Unn…" Tori suddenly fell limp into Ryo's armored arms. A bright, shining golden light caught his eye from behind a shred of what was left of her sleeve. He pulled it back to see the virtue 'Loyalty' fading with the sunlight.
Domo touched her forehead as she felt something damp and cool gently wipe at her cheeks and neck. She murmured softly and opened her eyes. Sage pulled his hand away and smiled softly down at her. "…Sage?
"Hey… How do you feel?" he murmured softly.
"I feel sick… a little drugged up… What happened?"
"I guess it's the effect of the poison in your system. Korin probably wasn't strong enough to make you immune to it. At least it didn't kill you. You'll have to wear it out until Sekhmet can give you his anti-venom," he explained softly. Domo glanced at the clock. A little after six in the evening it read.
"… We go home tomorrow?" she asked. Sage hesitated when she referred to the manor as 'home'. It then dawned on him that there was no longer a place she had to go. A visit to her apartment (without her knowledge of course) was less than helpful to the situation. The mother wouldn't even speak to him about her or wanted to know where she was. Sage had left the apartment in a hurry, angry and a little broken hearted. "Sage?" she began again. "What?"
"O-oh, I uh… went to your apartment today to get some of your belonging, but…" He stopped. Domo closed her eyes.
"… Don't worry about it, Sage," she began, "I haven't been home in weeks really. This was before we came to you guys. Mom and I had a fight and… I moved out."
"So where did you stay…? Oh, over there…"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you and everyone else. I didn't think that it was important at the time. I just don't have a place to live now," she sighed.
"There's Mia's house. It's not your average normal family housing… but it's home," he said softly. Domo didn't look up. She just turned over on her side away from him.
"… I'm tired, Sage. Can you let me sleep some more?" Just go. Stop being so nice to me, please… Please Sage…
"S-sure… Call me if you need me… I'll be in the living room with the others," he said softly. She felt a soft kiss on the back of her head, making tears rise to her eyes, before she heard the door click softly behind her.Mia leaned along the side of the boat and dragged her fingertips through the water's surface. This felt nice she had to admit. The moon was full, the air was warm and pungent after the rain they had, and it was quiet. But something pricked her in the back of her mind that she couldn't seem to shake.
"Is something bothering you, my lady?" Cale asked softly and pulled the oars into the boat when they reached its center. Mia sat up slowly and watched Cale sit beside her.
"It's nothing, Cale. I'm… I'm all right," she lied. She wasn't fine, but it really was nothing to worry about. The nightmare from that morning still bothered her. Cale sighed heavily.
"My lady, are you sure? Sometimes… it's best to talk about things that are troubling you, rather than hiding them from being released. It isn't healthy, you know. I wouldn't want to you get ill from stress or anything. I mean you all ready have enough to worry about, like the end of the world, feeding everyone-"
"Okay!" she laughed. "I'll… I'll tell you! My goodness, Cale…" He blushed.
"Sorry…" He felt her hug his large arm. "… Did something happen?" He then paused with a frown. "Did Dais do something?!" he growled. Mia giggled.
"No… He didn't do anything to me… This happened a while ago." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Y-you see, Cale… about a year ago… I… someone… hurt me… and I haven't really gotten over it. It's complicated… I, um… well…" Cale turned to her and held her arms gently.
"My lady… It's all right," he whispered. "I understand how you feel…" Mia's eyes widened.
"Y-you do?! But…" He touched her mouth with his fingers.
"Sh, hey… I know it hurts sometimes when you think about old loves. The memories, the time and energy spent seems in vain… But if you keep all the good ones, you can start to heal. Everyone looses someone they love, but fate always steps in and gives you a chance to love again. A chance to be brave and risk getting hurt again, but in the end… it won't matter who has broken your heart however many times. What matters is who you are now and new love you can find…" Mia smiled tearfully and sniffled.
"Really, Cale?" He smiled.
"Aye… It doesn't matter to me who you were with, or what you did with that person. The point is that… I love you… just as you are. Heartbreak can be devastating…" He leaned down to her ear. "Just let me take it away… I won't hurt you, I promise," he whispered. Mia lowered her eyes. He had no idea about what had happened a year earlier.
For all he knows is that some rouge of a boyfriend had dumped me… Mia gasped when she felt his hands on her cheeks and his thumbs wiping away the tears. Tears he thought were happy ones. He started to planted gentle kisses all over her brow. Mia felt a lump rise into her throat. "C-cale… Please, I need to tell you something. I-"
"Shh, no more talking," he breathed before silencing her with a full kiss. He folded his arms around her little body when he felt her sigh into his kiss. He felt her clutch the fabric of his shirt on his chest and heard her whimper as he lay her down at the bottom of the boat. He felt warmth against his tongue as her mouth finally parted to return it timidly. He caressed her face with a war-roughened hand before dragging his fingertips down her pale neck and over to the first button of her blouse, then to the second, third, fourth, and fifth. Mia moaned softly as she felt cooler air against her chest and Cale's warm lips against her neck. She buried her hands into his soft hair, pulling him close. Cale snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her right against him. "C-cale… I… I don't…"
"Hush," he said in a silken tone before claiming her mouth again. Sword calloused hands slid to the front of her and onto the clasp of the only article of clothing separating her from his touch. He felt her hands on his instantly and she pushed them away. "No!" she breathed. "I… I can't…" She pulled her arms close and hugged herself, almost like a shield. Cale leaned over her looking somewhat shocked. Mia turned her head. "Please, Cale… I… can't do this," she whimpered. He sat up and she did more slowly. He sat back and watched her redress herself. He was almost appalled at what almost occurred. He then suddenly sensed the overwhelming fear again, along with guilt, and sadness among other things, especially shame. He noted her quivering form and then something else. There was a large mark running from in between her breasts and to her collarbone. "Someone hurt me…"… Someone…!
It then dawned on him. Everything made perfect sense: the crying spells she sometimes had, the marks, the hesitance of a touch, the covering up… Cale then lowered his eyes. "… W-when?"
"When what?" she whispered.
"When were you raped?!" he demanded in an almost cry. Mia cringed.
"… A year ago, while we were in Yokohama… I got separated from Kento and Sai and… they didn't find me until hours later… I'm sorry!" she whimpered. Cale didn't say anything. He simply set the oars into the water and began back to the dock.
Cale stepped out of the boat and secured it to the dock. He turned to help Mia, but stopped. She just sat silently in the boat shaking as if it were ten degrees outside. He kneeled slowly and extended his hand. "Here… Let us get you back indoors," he said gently. Mia looked up at him with sad eyes before taking his hand. He lifted her with ease. He held onto her hand steadfastly. "My lady… Why… why didn't you tell me?"
"P-please, Cale. The others don't know…"
"You could have told me-" Mia ripped her hand from his grasp.
"How?!" she cried. "Tell me how?! By telling you how it felt to be ripped into?! How he beat me and pulled my hair when I didn't moan just right!? How it felt to inhale his semen when I nearly gagged to death?!" she screamed. "How about that even though I screamed for him to stop, my body wanted more!? Is THAT enough for you!?" She broke off into a run back towards the house.
"My lady!!"Dais growled to himself. He had tried every kind of prayer he knew to meditate, and still he couldn't concentrate. Frankly, he didn't want to admit it, but he was a little bit frustrated. He just couldn't help but be bothered by the fact that Mia agreed to a… "date"… with Cale. He knew how Cale felt about her and he too cared about her deeply. He felt that he couldn't act on his feeling out of respect for Cale. Cale had a troubling past, he so drunkenly told him one night, and that made it even harder for Dais. Cale needed something good to happen in his life and for once there was something that Dais noticed on him whenever she walked into the room. She made him happy… at peace.
Peace was something that they all wanted with themselves, and he wasn't about to betray a friend's trust for his own. He would not force himself on her or try and drive them apart. It was not in his nature no matter how painful.
Dais groaned and ran his hands through his hair.
He felt more than 'a little frustrated'.
The veranda screen door shot open and Mia tried to hurry through it, but tripped on the last step leading onto the veranda. She hit the floor with a cry. Dais found himself instantly by her side. "Mia, what happened?! Where's Cale?" he asked and sat her up. He noticed that her shirt had been hastily buttoned unlike before when she left. He grit his teeth. "Did Cale do something?!" he demanded. She looked up at him and whimpered before burying her face in his chest. "Bastard-"
"N-no!" she whimpered and held him still. "Please. He-he didn't… I just…" Dais sighed heavily and lifted her to her feet.
"Come… walk with me, my lady," he said, taking her hand. Mia hesitated for a moment before letting him lead her out of the veranda and down the path towards the greenhouse. They walked in silence. Dais walked inside the greenhouse and sat on the worktable. "What happened?" he asked softly. Mia stared at the ground. "My lady, sit," he beckoned. "Now what happened?"
"… He asked me if something was bothering me…"
"Was something bothering you?" Mia nodded.
"The nightmare I had earlier," she sniffled. "Anyway… I started to tell him what happened, but… he thought that I had only a broken heart from a bad relationship. He then told me that he loved me despite-"
"Do you love him?" Dais interrupted. No, this is wrong. Mia blushed heavily and shook her head.
"I thought I did," she lied. "But… that's not the reason I ran-"
"It is the reason you ran away from him, my lady!" Dais interrupted, unable to hold in his emotions. "It is because you don't love him!"
"No! You're wrong!" she argued and slipped off of the table. "I care for Cale very deeply!"
"I don't doubt that in the least, but it still does not mean that you love him with everything that you have! If you did, you wouldn't…" He stopped. Mia frowned.
"I wouldn't what, Dais?!"
"You wouldn't be here with me talking about who you care about more!" he shouted. Mia gasped and paused.
"… What do you mean by 'more'? Dais…"
"… Because of what happened to you a year ago has made you… very hesitant to be around anyone of the opposite sex, save Kento and Sai. When anyone tries to show you the slightest bit of affection and attraction, you cower away-"
"That's ridiculous!"
"It isn't and you know it!" he shouted. "If it is then so ridiculous, then explain what just happened out there tonight?! Explain why you cannot let Cale even touch you, but… let me without the slightest recoil," he finished softly, approaching her slowly. He lowered his face. Forgive me, my friend, but I cannot linger with this ache any longer… "I can tell you… It is because you hold someone in your heart more dear… than him," he stated.Cale leaned against the large oak tree next to the garage. "Where could she have gone?" he asked aloud."No, you're wrong!" He heard Mia shout. Cale's ears pricked and he looked towards the garden. "Greenhouse?"
Mia stared out the window at the moonlight on the lake. She felt Dais right behind her. He was waiting for her reply. She lowered her eyes, feeling the ache in her heart that she had long thought could never return. She remained silent.
Dais saw her hair glow in the moonlight as she fiddled with the potted flowers. He didn't like being so forward and aggressive with her at any moment. He lifted his hand to the nape of her neck and pulled himself closer. "… I… did not mean to yell. It wasn't my place to-"
"No, Dais," she whispered. "You're right… I ran because I was afraid of him… because I didn't love him… because I couldn't love him." Dais turned her around gently.
"What are you saying?" Mia felt her face get hot as his hands held her arms. Tears rolled down her face.
"… I've forgotten how," she replied softly. Dais slipped a hand to her neck and cheek. She made a small gasp with the contact, but held it to her skin.
"I doubt that, my lady," he began. "…If I could learn to love after half a millennia of darkness within my heart, then surely… you could love more than I could ever hope to. Yet… if you truly believe that you have lost the one thing that I admire most about you… then with the company you keep and all the love that surrounds you… I'm sure that you shall find it." Dais wiped the falling tears from her eyes with a small smile. Mia swallowed hard and rested her cheek against his shoulder. He smelled like the earth and a hint of something else. The scent calmed her somehow.
There was a soft patter against the roof of the glass house. They both looked up and saw a soft rain pelt the roof. "More rain?" she sighed.
"Seems so," Dais agreed. "Looks like we'll be stuck here for a little while…" Mia saw a crack in the roof as the water fell into an all ready too full pot.
"Might as well straighten up in here," she began and lifted the pot towards the door. She poured out the remaining water. Dais stared blankly at her. "What?" she demanded.
"You. You never cease to surprise me with the control you have on your emotions." Mia lowered her eyes and set the pot back.
"Lots of practice, I guess… Ouch!" She yanked her hand back sharply and winced.
"What happened?" Mia sucked on her finger.
"I cut myself-what are you doing?!" she gasped when he took her hand to examine it. Dais removed a handkerchief from his back pocket and held it under the stream of water from the leak in the roof. He wrapped her finger and held it firmly to halt the bleeding.
"You must learn to be more cautious, my lady," he said. "Must I always remind you?" he laughed. Mia blushed.
"… This…"
"Hm? Did you say something?" Mia touched the cloth.
"This is the same one that you used to wipe the dirt from my face the last time it rained here," she said softly. Dais pretended to be overly interested.
"Hm, so it is… Your memory is-" He stiffened when she pressed her lips against his gently and covered his hand. She pulled away slowly after a long moment. Dais stood shocked. "-amazing," he managed to finish. He held Mia's hands looking for her eyes.
"Y-you were right… I do hold someone in my heart more dear than Cale," she whispered, looking up at him. Dais felt his heart leap.
"… My lady… what of Cale? Should he find out, he-" Mia pulled away abruptly.
"O-oh… I see… N-nevermind, then." She turned to go when Dais caught her wrist and yanked her to him, before kissing her softly and confidently.
"… Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you," he whispered. Mia flushed with a nod.
"Sorry… what were you saying?" she breathed.
"… Are… you certain that this is what you want?" he asked softly. "He'll kill me, you know." Mia buried her face into his neck and gripped the fabric of his shirt on his back. Dais felt her body relax as he snaked his arms around her. "… Y-yes. I… love you, Dais," she whispered. "M'sorry, Cale," she sniffled aloud.
There was a loud bang, startling the both of them. They looked towards the door. Beside it, one of the panes of glass was cracked as if a bird had struck it with such force. "What in the world was that?" Mia asked as they inspected it. Dais went to the door and looked out into the rain. Cale…
"Dais?"
"Nothing, Mia… It was probably a bird or something."
"Where is it? The poor thing…" Dais kept staring out into the darkness.
"… He probably sought shelter… to recover from his wound," he said softly. "Best to let things alone. Some things… cannot be mended quickly…""Ooh… I wonder if they have this in black?" Kayura mused as she flipped through a lingerie catalogue. She flipped a page and saw another set in a deep dark red. Kayura blushed heavily as Wildfire came to mind. She clutched her cheeks and kicked her legs playfully. "I'm such a naughty girl!" she giggled. She jumped when there came a soft knock at her door. "Eek! W-who is it?" When there came no answer she climbed off her bed and opened the door. She gasped when she saw Cale. His wild blue hair hid his eyes as it dripped full of water. "… Cale… what is it? You're soaked!" She opened the door and fetched a towel from her bathroom. She set an extra towel for him to sit on and pulled him to sit beside her. "Cale? Are… are you all right?" she asked softly. He shook his head.
"… I thought that I'd forgotten what… heartbreak feels like…" he said softly, not looking up. Kayura started to dry his hair gently. "I feel like I can't breathe… Like s-something is crushing deep inside of me… slowly. I-it's… getting worse." Kayura felt his whole body shudder with every breath. She felt her heart sink and she grasped his chilled hand. He clutched it tightly before at last looking her in the eye. "… My lady…" he called before hiding his face into her neck. He collapsed to silent tears and let Kayura offer warmly what her tiny arms had to give.
Mia caught Dais' eyes briefly just as Cale walked into the kitchen for breakfast the next morning. She steeled herself for any hostility from the former master of darkness. She poured another glass of orange juice for him and for Kayura as she walked in. "Good morning, you two," she greeted as cheerfully as she could manage. Kayura gave her a soft nod before sitting next to Cale. She reached over and touched his arm, whispering something into his ear. Cale nodded slowly.
"Hey, don't Ryo and the others comeback today?" Yuli asked, breaking the awkward silence. "Whiteblaze is so lonely…"
"I believe that they are returning this afternoon," Dais answered. "You would do well to see that you don't pester any of them… I have a feeling that there little sabbatical was not as pleasant as hoped." Mia stopped dishing out breakfast to the others briefly.
"What do you mean by that? Did something happen?"
"… I'm not quite sure, but… something in my gut is telling me that," he replied softly. He quickly masked his concern with a smile when he saw Yuli and Mia's faces. "I'm sure they're all right."
"How is Anubis doing?" Kayura asked.
"I should hope that he is resting," Mia began with a slight frown. "He better not be trying to workout with that wound on his stomach." She began to prepare a plate of food for him. "Yuli? When you are finished, can you take this upstairs to him? Make sure he eats everything! I won't accept anything left on this!" Yuli placed his dishes into the sink and took it obediently.
"Sure, Mia."
"And make sure that Whiteblaze doesn't follow you!" she called after Yuli.
"Yes, ma'am!!"
"Sekhmet and Managi still sleeping?" Kayura asked. Mia blushed and swallowed hard.
"Well… I don't think that they have actually gotten to sleep until about an hour ago," she mumbled. Dais raised an eyebrow.
"… I think that it's safe to say that we can expect them to adapt the sleeping habits of Strata and Tenku," he chuckled. Mia blushed as he kissed her cheek. "Some sugar for your tea, my lady," he chuckled.
Cale growled low into his throat, mimicking the sound of an angry wolf. He banged hard onto the table and knocked away the chair as he stood. "Outside, Dais… NOW!!" he exploded. Kayura flinched at his outburst afraid for the worst. Dais slid himself away from Mia slowly, giving her a most knowing look before turning to Cale.
"All right, Cale… If this is how you want to do it-"
"Shut up!!!" he shouted, fading from sight. Dais' eye narrowed before he too vanished in a bright fuchsia light. Mia and Kayura hurried outside to the front yard.
Cale's eyes began to burn as he snarled at Dais. "… I trusted you… How could you betray me like this… Bastard."
"Look, Cale… I didn't plan this… It just happened!"
"Liar!" he growled and swung at Dais hard, knocking the older man backwards. Dais wiped the blood from his lip and shook out the pain, straightening to defend himself. "Damn you! You knew how I felt… You know my past… and still--!" He hit Dais again, knocking him to the ground. He grabbed Dais' neck and started to squeeze. "I was so close! Then you turn her like all the others! I've hated you for so long!" he gritted out, trying to hold beck his tears of anger and loss.
"No… C-cale! Listen to me! It was…" Cale backhanded him and held onto his neck again.
"NO! I won't believe it! You tricked her! You'll hurt her like all the others!"
"CALE!! Stop!" Kayura exclaimed, rushing towards them. As soon as she came close, her cheek met with the back of Cale's hand, knocking her hard into the ground. "This is not your concern!" Cale snarled. Dais struggled in his grip and managed to kick Cale over him. Dais scrambled to all fours and coughed, clutching his neck. He felt a gentle hand at his shoulder and found Mia looking at him with fear in her eyes. Kayura sat up quickly. "Cale, have you gone mad?!" she exclaimed.
Cale unsheathed his no dachi and aimed it at Dais. "… Move," he demanded Mia, the tone of murder rolling off of his tongue. Mia swallowed hard and stood in between him and Dais.
"No."
"I said MOVE, damn you!" he snarled and brought his blade down hard, hoping she would move. He halted it swiftly, just barely grazing her neck. Mia's eyes burned with a sadness and resolve that he had never seen. "I won't move… I… I'm sorry about last night!" she exclaimed. "I'm sorry that I couldn't be straight with you! How could I? I didn't even realize my own feelings until after!!" Cale's arm began to shake. Tears leaked out his angry eyes. "Please… don't hurt him anymore. He didn't do anything wrong… I was the one who hurt you, and I'm sorry!! Please, put it down! This is not the Cale that I've loved!"
"STOP! Just… don't! Don't make it worse!!" He tossed his sword away and moaned sadly. He swallowed. "For once… give me an honest answer. For once stop playing games!!!" he shouted. Mia flinched and nodded. "Do… do you love him?" he gritted out. Mia nodded slowly.
"Y-yes." She slowly and carefully stepped towards him as he sank to his knees. "I do love him," she began softly and reached to touch his cheek, "but I love you too-"
"Don't touch me!!" he snapped angrily, slapping her hand away. "Don't… Don't you dare presume to tell me you love me... You don't love me!! You never have!" Mia clutched her hand.
"That's not true, Cale!!" she argued. "I do care!"
"You could have just said that you didn't instead of toying with me!! Gods!! You are no different from any other whore!" he snapped. Mia gasped, shame rising to her cheeks.
"C-cale… I-" He stood slowly and banished his armor.
"I trusted you… Gave you something that…" He turned away from them. "… May you both burn for your treachery." He then vanished into the shadows of the trees.
A/N: Sorry all you Cale-fans! Now review!! Please? ::puppy doggie eyes::