Forgotten Memories Chapter Sixteen
Chrono Crusade
Date Started: May 21st 2005
Sora Kazuma
Despite how I had slept for the last couple of days, it was rather a chore to stay asleep for another mere eight hours. I was waking up constantly, having trouble getting comfortable and having problems with remembering where I was each turn. Yugo was there by me all night; he never left my side and he never said a word. He laid there by me in and out of cat-napping himself and every time I reawoke he was there in my head, assuring me everything was going to be okay. When my mind blanked I still knew who he was and that was a comforting feeling.
The thing that was bothering me the most wasn't my own memory but the way he was looking at me. I had never seen such hurt in those gold eyes of his…he was acting as if I were in extreme pain or something. There was also a touch of guilt and regret there that made him seem so lost. He was talking about me not acting myself…where was the arrogant and teasing devil I knew so well?
When I finally did manage to get a few hours sleep, I awoke in the bed alone, and for the first time since I had come back I knew where I was. I wanted to sit up but I heard a soft sigh and felt a soft sigh in my head.
'That isn't necessary.'
I blinked, watching a form appear in the chair, the figure of a handsome redheaded devil. I swallowed. "Sieg…"
"Yugo…asked me to watch you for a while. He has gone to the Order for a meeting on your behalf. He thought…it might do me some good to get me out of my room." His voice was soft, hollow, and empty. For a second I stared at him, wondering if I had the same person. Could this really be the same goofy demon?
A flicker of something Yugo had told me came back…they had been attacked…Aion…
I bolted straight up in the bed. "Sieg is Satella okay? She's not hurt is she? How about you, are you all right? Yugo told me Aion attacked you all. Is everything alright?"
His crimson eyes blinked and a soft smile crept upon his face. "You're retaining some of you short-term memory. That's good. From my judgment it seems like you're long-term memories are leaving first, taking with them anything that may be related to your short term memories."
"Sieg…?" I was now a little frightened. He was making sense. Everything he had said sounded correct and intelligent, sensible answers from a level-headed mind, not at all like the illogical, half-crazy talk Sieg usually bubbled over with.
He grinned slightly, fangs showing in his smile and I swallowed. That wasn't helping my sudden dislike of this new Sieg. "Don't worry. I wouldn't dream of attacking you. I trust you as a friend and comrade, Miss Sora, and Yugo has been like family to me. You are safe with me, despite my urges for bloodlust at this point and time."
"You don't seem like you're self at all right now Sieg." I admitted softly, my fear of him dissipating slightly. I could feel Yugo was now a little bit on edge, but he had spoken nothing to me since I had woken.
He chuckled softly. "I don't think any of us are acting like ourselves at the moment. I've never seen Julius so afraid…the boy has feared for your life the past few days. Apparently things are going on between Chrono and Rosette right now and he's not telling her everything he should be. Yugo has literally turned to mush by your bedside, Jin has done everything from swearing to watching you sleep and Satella…" His voice dropped slightly as he said her name. "Has locked herself away in her room and wants nothing to do with me."
There was that wave of pain that I had recognized so clearly the night before in another devil's eyes. "Sieg, what happened? What did you do?" I asked him after a moment, trying not to pry.
"It's what I didn't do." He combed his fingers through his messy scarlet hair, sitting forward slightly. "Miss Sora, I feel as though I can trust you and I would like to inform you both of what really happened down in the mines. This should not cause you any pain, because most of my past is been kept to myself. Yugo," He raised his head slightly, as if he had walked into the room. "I hope you're listening."
'…I hear you Sieg.'
"I was…put here a very long time ago, to watch over a certain person. It was my job to protect her, guard her with my life. I was one of several and I did my job correctly and efficiently and wanted nothing from no one. I stayed by myself, a loner, that was until I met Dax."
"Dax?" I blinked and I could feel Yugo's confusion too.
"Daxkatrios. He was a guardian, like I was, and he became like an older brother to me. I had never had any really family or friends, no real purpose besides protecting my charge and Dax showed me all about life here on earth, the ups and downs of it. He really was my best friend, and I felt I could trust him with anything. Unfortunately at the time I didn't realize I was being used." He sighed slightly, eyes glancing away. "Dax was planning on leaving, on starting his own life and finding his own reason for living and he wanted me to go with him. We planned our escape and of course, I was not complaining at the time because I truly believed our trust went both ways. I was used as a decoy while he got away and I was caught by the other guardians. As you can guess, going against our set rules was excruciating painful…I don't know how more how long I was tortured because I lost all track of time between the times of passing out. All I know is that when I awoke the last time, the guardians who had been taking care of me were all murdered and Aion was there. He got me down from the wall, all the while telling me that he thought it was wrong that I was being hurt to such lengths for just wanting to live my own life. He said that if I came with him he would let me find my own reasons for life and that I would never have to suffer again. Grateful to him for his help and not that I had much of a choice, I accompanied him. I was a priest before I met Aion. Afterwards I became a devil." His voice trailed off for a second and then came back full circle. "During my torture, as you can bet all mortal men do, I lost a piece of my sanity. After becoming a demonic beast I became highly unstable and Aion liked that in me. I wasn't the only one with the same dark past…apparently Aidan's is surprisingly similar to my own."
"Aidan…" I swallowed, and I could feel Yugo's immediate comfort as if he had wrapped his strong arms around me.
"The first thing that was done was to go get my revenge. With Aion watching on, I slaughtered Dax, and at the time was furious and silently crying. I didn't realize I was only playing Aion's game, another little pawn on his chessboard. I became the ninth sinner because I still felt like I owed Aion something, and so I followed his exact orders, slaughtered everyone he asked me to and never gave him any complaints. …Yugo, you and Jin were the first to leave us, you leaving because Jin wanted to start his own life with Rei. Chrono was next to desert and yet again, with good reason. Aion was furious on both accounts, but he was still assuming you all would come back to him. You would eventually have to. The rest of us waited with him, strategizing and biding our time."
"Aion has no right to control the lives of so many." I hissed, anger rising inside of me. "He is sick and he is twisted and he has toyed with the lives of so many just because he finds it amusing."
"He is toying with Satella's life at the moment." Sieg said coldly. "And I cannot help but think that it is because of me."
'What happened Sieg?' Yugo replied when he stopped talking. 'Why would you believe that? Finish what you started saying.'
"Ten years ago, I was asked to monitor a family in Germany for a while. I was to keep my presence a secret and just watch them, under Aion's orders. A simple enough job for me, as it seemed anyone I got close to I lost control around and killed. It was a family of jewel summoners. The father and mother were gracious, generous and wealthy people and they had two beautiful daughters."
I felt a lump build in my throat that wouldn't go away when I swallowed. "The Harvenheits."
He nodded slightly. "I followed their every move for a little over two months, knowing the girls' favorite spots, their parent's jobs, the pets, the layout of the house. Everything I sent straight back to Aion in detailed reports, including the amazing ability they had to summon the spirits laying dormant inside jewels. I followed every order to a T, except for one afternoon…" He shook his head. "It had been snowing all day and the girls had been out playing in the garden. The older sister had gone in to help the servants make up something warm to drink and left her sibling out in the yard. Satella had a cold and she had been trying to hide it all day because she knew they wouldn't let her outside. The poor thing passed out in a snowdrift and I felt so bad, I just couldn't leave her there. So I picked her up and snuck into the second floor through a window, determined to put the child to bed. The maids were trying to find out for days how she had managed to slip past them to get to her room, and they believed Steiner had rescued her from outside. I felt good, knowing that I had helped the child out…she was only nine years old. However, as little as it had been, I had gone against Aion's orders and he was going to make sure I paid for it. His following orders came in immediatedly after and they were ruthless- kill off the Harvenheits and anyone left in the house.
For the first time, I defied Aion, telling him I refused to do it. He got angry at me and swore that he'd do it himself and he carried out his promise. He had the other Sinners watch me while he destroyed the house, caught the mansion on fire and killed seemingly everything. Yet again, I was being forced to do nothing but endure pain while he tormented me." He took in a small breath. "I won't deny that I snapped then…I attacked Genai and Aidan who were holding me back and went straight after Aion. By the time I got there, he was done with having his fun. Not quite there and filled with rage I fought him just off the burning grounds but it was yet again what Aion wanted. He showed his true strength, ripped me to pieces and then disappeared with a laugh, going on about how he had known my sympathies would overcome me in the end.
I managed to get to the ruins safely, and that is where I found Steiner, with little Satella in his arms. Steiner really is amazing…despite everything he didn't mind my presence or hate me for what I was. I felt lost…disgusted with myself that I could let this happen to a family of loving, innocent people. I promised myself, that I would save Satella from ever being hurt like this again, that I would protect her. And that promise…became an unspoken, unbound contract that I didn't even know I had created until later on."
He smiled. "I had to learn to control myself, control my murderous desires, my cold voice, my harsh attitude. The way I am today is a completely like and not like how I was a thousand years ago. I've always been the goofy one, to mask my pain with a grin because in my life as a priest I had been a silent loner. I'm still not all-together here…there are times when I think I'm entirely crazy. But being crazy and happy is what I'm good at. If I can make Satella smile with my dumb, wild, antics, then to me everything's gonna be okay. I just wish…I could outwit Aion somehow. It seems everything I do falls completely into his plans…and the fact that he's still using her after he's already caused her so much pain is infuriating."
'Why is she mad at you Sieg?' Yugo asked, insistent. 'She already knows you're a devil and she knows what you're capable of. What would shock her so badly she's locked herself away from everyone like this?'
He lowered his head, eyes closing. "Her older sister is still alive."
"That's great!" I managed with a smile, looking at him. "So she's-"
'Sora.' It was Yugo, his voice threatening me into silence.
Sieg huffed. "I've known about her older sister being alive for almost two years now. I had a clash with Viede sometime back and he informed me of what was going on, still trying to pull me back to the sinners as always. I do not know where she is, but I suspect Aion has her under lock and key somewhere, and I've been trying to find things out on my own. Because Aion couldn't keep his damn mouth shut, Satella now knows her older sister is alive and has turned on me since I regarded to let her know the information."
My stomach twisted at the sound of that. I could see both sides of the problem…why Sieg hadn't told her and why Satella would hold it against him. This was bad.
"Sieg," I started after a minute. "Satella knows you care about her a lot. There's no way she can stay mad at you, I just know it. Sure, she's a little hurt about finding this out but she will get over it."
He raised his eyebrows at that remark. "How can you be sure?" His voice was trying to remain strong and yet still crumbling with a silent plea.
I grinned. "Because Satella acts as if she's queen of the castle, but in reality she thinks of everyone as her friends, and you can't stay mad at your friends. Come on. Do you think she'd really let me stay here in her mansion if she didn't like me? And she acts as if she hates me. She tolerates you the most Sieg, I think that's proof that she cares about you a lot."
His cheeks flushed at that remark. "I don't think so. There's no way."
"After all the grief you cause her and all the times you follow her around like her shadow? She's never raised her voice at you. I really think she likes having you by her side." I smiled at him.
His eyes changed from pain-filled to hope-filled and he smiled sincerely. There was more of the Sieg I knew. "Miss Sora…I don't know what to say."
"She'll get over it Sieg, and when she does, she'll realize she needs you by her more then ever. It's just going to take a while and it might hurt a bit. Just be strong enough to deal with it. I'm sure after your long lifetime it will be nothing for you." I told him confidently.
"Kay." He nodded his head, messy locks of dark crimson hair falling into his eyes. There was that same innocent playful tone back in his voice, but I could still pick out the understanding one too.
He got up and stretched. "Welp, I'm gonna go check on the others. The kids are probably gonna want to see ya and I'm gonna tell Steiner to fix you something yummy to eat." He grinned. "See ya later Sora!"
He disappeared into thin air and not moments after he left did the door burst open and Julius and Azmaria enter. "Sora!" The boy was at my side in an instant, arms wrapped around me tightly. "You've had us all so worried…I was so scared…"
Those bright amber eyes looked like they were going to burst into tears and I smiled, holding him to me, cradling his head on my shoulder. "As you can see, I'm fine. I'm awake, coherent and I know who you both are." At seeing Azmaria's trembling eyes I took her hand and pulled her up into my arms too. The girl's face flushed, her eyes widening. "You looked like you needed a hug Azmaria." I told her softly.
"I just…I feel so helpless!" She burst out after a moment, her tiny hands clutching my night shift. "You're hurting and for once I can't do anything to stop it. I…"
"Azmaria," I started gently, brushing back her glossy silver hair. "You have been a great help to us all. You are like Rosette and Chrono's little sister and a friend to every one of us. It was you who brought Julius back to life after he was tortured last fall."
She sat back, those big bright eyes getting twice their normal size. "Oh no Sora, that was you! You were the one who spent everyday with him, training him to become an exorcist. I-"
"You were the one to give him back a smile. To give him back light in those eyes of his and not fear. To give him back touch." I smiled at her. "Julius has come a long way in such a short period of time. He still doesn't like contact with others outside of Yugo, you and me, but he has opened up the most to you and learned from you. Whether you realized it or not, you were working as hard as I was to bring him back to a normal life. You have saved him, and I would hardly call that being helpless."
"Sora…" Her face was crimson and she hugged me back this time. "Thank you."
"You guys could have waited till I wasn't in the room or something…I'm still here…" Julius murmured, trying to hide his crimson face behind an annoyed front.
"No you needed to hear it. You try to not think on things like that, and you needed to hear it, because you have changed Julius and for the better." I ruffled his dark chocolate brown hair, pushing it back from where it was falling against his face, tickling the bare skin on his neck and shoulders. "And anyway, stop acting as though I was on my deathbed. You're supposed to be an exorcist, ready for anything. You bursting into tears is highly unacceptable for a man of your position." I scolded lightly.
"I was worried you were going to die!" He shot back, gold eyes wide.
"You very well knew I was NOT going to die. You were panicking." I replied calmly. "Could you reach out and touch my mind at anytime? Yes. Could you tell what kind of state I was in from being in my mind? Yes. You and Yugo both were acting like wimpy little boys."
'You could hardly blame us.'
'Oh, yes, I could.'
He huffed softly; cheeks still bright crimson, this time in embarrassment. "I hadn't thought of that. I'm sorry Sora."
I smiled, pulling him closer. "I expect you to watch after the others when we have to fight the sinners, and you can't do that if you go all rubbery on me. I trust a lot from you Julius. Don't let me down."
"Hey, what's going on?"
"Rosette!" Azmaria turned, flashing a bright smile to the door where the blonde and her contracted devil were.
"How ya feeling?" Chrono asked me, his bright crimson eyes watching me warmly.
"Much better, thank you." I told him with a smile. "So what have I missed?"
"You mean besides the long, boring meetings?" Rosette slumped on the bed beside the kids and me. "I didn't think that Father Sera could possibly run his mouth as much as he did this morning."
I giggled. "Yeah, well…"
"We're just trying to come up with strategies at the moment, something that Aion's not going to see coming." Chrono replied, taking the seat Sieg had been sitting in earlier. "We're pretty much waiting on incoming news, and so far, nothing."
I nodded. "Well, I guess I can be thankful for the downtime."
"Are you sure you're feeling okay Sora?" Rosette asked, her cerulean eyes watching me.
I thought for a moment and then answered. "I feel a little weak, but my head's not bothering me, and I haven't had any dizzy spells. It comes and goes. It all depends on Yugo too…if he's tapping into some of his power or if he's finding out his memories then I feel it. I really thinking my last lapse was caused when he retained that piece if his past the other night, when we all gathered around to talk about it."
"That's entirely possible." Chrono said with a nod. "But then that would put the blame on my shoulders."
"Chrono, no." I said quickly, watching the others register the same thing. "You did what was necessary at the time. Yugo and I told you we were willing to take the risk. It's hardly your fault."
"You know you've been ordered back to the New York convent." Rosette blurted out suddenly.
I huffed. "I'm not going back, at least not until I finish my mission. The council can moan and complain all they want, but I'd like to see them come all the way out here to try and stop me."
"We agree with you." Rosette said with a smile. "We told Father Remington that we would support you until the end, as he and the others are doing." The bright smile changed to a devious grin. "Mia gave them an ultimatum- they change their minds or we cease contact with the New York council on all matters. Fun, huh?"
"She didn't have to do that for me." I replied, wide-eyed.
"No, but she did it anyway." Rosette smiled. "Don't worry…we all have you covered."
"Thanks guys." I told them, watching them all. This was the family I had built up around me.
We talked for a while before Steiner arrived with hot soup and shooed everyone out of the room for me so that I could eat in peace. The usually gentlemen butler was unusually strict, demanding that I get plenty of bed rest and that I was not to leave my room. So I spent a good deal of time lying there and teasing Yugo.
For a while he had shut me out, but when he came back I got an apologetic piece from Jin who was glad to know I was feeling better.
'So, when are you planning on coming back?' I asked, trying to keep my voice light. I was rather lonely in here by myself, though I wasn't about to admit it.
'Soon. Why?'
'Do I need a reason to want to see you?'
'…No, I guess not.'
I huffed. 'Why are you being antisocial all of a sudden?'
'I am not.'
'Are too.'
'Am NOT!'
I laughed, hearing him growl in my head. 'You are so much fun to get started Yugo.'
'Wait till I get home. You haven't even seen the beginning of 'getting started'.'
My face flushed at that, but the idea didn't sound all that bad. I found myself smiling against the pillows. 'Oh yeah? Like you would even try it.'
'Woman, don't tempt me. You don't want to go there.'
'And what makes you so sure I don't?'
My head was filled with pictures of the two of us lost in the bed sheets, me trapped underneath his lean form. My face felt like a volcano and I swore my face had never gotten so red, but still, the thought wasn't frightening. In fact it was like he was issuing a challenge to me, and I couldn't very well just back down.
The thoughts I sent him back were small and straight to the point. He liked the feel of water…and the shower seemed like as good a setting as any. He swore softly as the images passed through his head and I laughed.
'Sora…do you have any idea of what you're doing?'
'I know you need to get home. I miss you.'
He seemed startled by that but I could suddenly feel his touch as if ghostly fingertips were brushing along the side of my neck up to my chin. 'I miss you too. I'll be home soon, little one. Be patient.'
I don't know exactly when I nodded off, but sometime shortly after I lost contact with Yugo, I drifted off to sleep. When I reawoke it had grown dark and I bolted up, only to have a hand rest on my shoulder.
"Hey, easy." Yugo said, instantly by my side.
"How long was I out? Why didn't you wake me up when you got here!" I demanded.
"Because you need all the rest you can get. You've probably been asleep about seven or eight hours." He said softly. "How are you feeling?"
I sighed. "I feel fine. No dizzy spells, no headaches, and this time I don't feel weak at all. It seems like I've recovered completely."
His hand left my shoulder, trailing up to cradle the back of my neck. "That's good news. I wasn't sure I could take it if you didn't get better soon. I was really worried that I had lost you."
I leaned up against him, scooting closer so that I could lean my head up against his chest. "I told you you wouldn't lose me, at least not yet anyways. I've still got another…sixty years or so?" I smiled into his shirt.
His fingers slipped underneath my night shift, running up and down my back and leaving goose bumps in their wake. I sighed, my eyes closed, enjoying the feeling, the simple contact.
"Sora," He started softly, raising his head. "Do you think… after you forget everything…that you could find yourself falling in love with me again?"
"What?" I pulled away from him, eyes wide.
"Knowing that I've put you through all of this…knowing how I am and if we weren't bound by a contract…do you think if you lost all of that that you could still honestly say you'd be able to love me? Because I'm not going to be able to leave you, not even after the contract's over and I think I might go crazy if you end up chasing after another guy or freak out because you realize that I'm a devil, or something to that nature. I don't think I could stand you not accepting me for who and what I am."
I didn't even think of that possibility. When I lose everything Yugo will be gone from my mind too. I wouldn't know who he was or what he meant to me…I could see the pain in his eyes already and I knew that in the end this was going to tear him apart. I was suddenly afraid…not for myself but for the two of us, what we meant as a couple. Knowing that my feelings for him were now in jeopardy, everything else that had me afraid now seemed obsolete. Aion wasn't even a priority compared to this.
Yugo could sense my mounting fear and panic. He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly in his lap, arms keeping me pressed to him. "I'm sorry love. I didn't mean to frighten you like that."
"I can't forget you Yugo. There's no way. There's no way I could…" I spoke softly into his chest, knowing very well he could hear me. "I will remember you, I promise. I'll do it…somehow, I'll make it work."
He pried my trembling hand off his shirt, bringing it to his lips to gently kiss the back of it. "Do not make promises you know you can not keep little one. As much as I would like to believe you, we both know that's not possible."
"There's no way I could forget you Yugo." I repeated determinedly staring up at him. "I love you…despite everything I know I'll still love you when this is all over. Even if I don't remember it right away it'll come back to me."
His eyes flickered with pain in the pale light and I leaned up, wanting to comfort him, to reassure him. I knew everything would be okay, but he looked so lost and confused.
The moment my lips touched his, I knew it was over. I don't know how I knew, but I did. This was it. I could no longer deny him. He had been waiting for my fear to dissipate over time and just like he had planned, it had. Where I had been scared before desire had overcome and now I was really in trouble. All those little fantasies of his were going to come true and I wasn't going to do anything to stop him.
It felt like fire had consumed my body and that volcano I had been standing in earlier had come back full force. His arms were holding me to him, fingers locked around my waist underneath my nightshift. His mind was questioning, puzzled and a little dazed but his body was reacting like mine was…alive with need.
He pulled us back onto the bed, leaning back into the pillows and the headboard. His lips left mine, trailing down the side of my neck and send jolts of electricity into the fire. I couldn't stop my face from flushing hotly but I wasn't scared. I was more curious by this point and still wondering if I was even in my own body. Yugo had a way of sending me to cloud nine with just a simple touch.
'Little one,' He found the control to speak to me, despite the red-hot kisses he was laying against my shoulders and collarbone. 'You know what you've started. Do you have any idea of what's going to happen?'
'I know that I want the same thing you want Yugo.'
He grabbed my chin, forcing himself back to look at me. "Sora, you're killing me here. Don't play mind games with me…I don't have the sense at the moment to figure them out." His body was tense, every muscle in him tightening, his eyes as hot as liquid gold. He was trying to understand me.
"I want you to be happy." I told him softly, being sucked in by those dark amber eyes. "I just want you to be with me, to love me. If I'm going to lose that then at least I want to say that I loved you with everything I had, holding nothing back, so that when I do start to remember things, it's things like this that come back to mind first. I will admit, I was scared and that feeling hasn't entirely gone away but I know that the thought of losing you scares me more then this. I want to be with you. Yeah, I'm inexperienced…I'm a nun for crying out loud… but I want to try and I want to learn, because there are things you've made me feel that I never thought were possible."
He sighed slightly, crimson hinting those golden tan cheeks. "I'm just as inexperienced as you, and I'm reacting off instinct, but I guess we'll get through this, eh?"
I giggled. "No getting pointers from Jin either."
His eyes widened. "I was not!"
"Uh-huh, sure. I felt the thought there in your mind. You can't hide anything from me." I grinned.
"You…!" He pulled me closer, watching my face as my mouth was just mere centimeters from his. "There's no going back you know." He whispered softly.
I smiled, brushing pieces of his long spiky cyan hair back from his face. "Just shut up with the nonsense already and kiss me."
I was lost then in the heat of flames. I don't even think I consciously knew what I was doing. My hands had found the buttons on his shirt and were unconsciously unfastening them while my mouth locked with his. The thin cloth felt like air as I slipped it off his rock hard body, fingers resting firmly on his broad shoulders. His dark skin was hot to the touch, so much so that I wondered why I wasn't burning. The temperature in the room had to be over a hundred and yet I was perfectly fine. I was more then fine.
My lips left Yugo's and I kissed the side of his neck, working my way down to his collarbone and his shoulders. One hand was tangled in my long crimson hair, the other trying to keep him stable on the bed as if he was afraid it might dissolve beneath us and we'd hit the hardwood floor. Small moans escaped his throat, his head tilted back slightly as I assaulted him with my mouth. There was a sense of satisfaction that flooded over me as I touched his body. I had tried for so long not to be so aware of how ungodly he was, of how badly I wanted him and now that I wasn't hiding it it felt simply nice to know that I no longer had to run from my feelings. For the first time in a long time, it felt like I was living my own life, not the one of the devoted Order exorcist or the human contractor to a sinner, playing the roles of one of the only links between the mortals and the devils.
'You were never that to begin with. Those are titles, jobs. This is not work little one. This is pure emotion and feeling.' Yugo's voice echoed through my head and I realized he had been there the whole time, reading my mind, hearing my thoughts.
'Eavesdropping is like playing with fire, love.' I told him amusedly as my tongue lapped at his chest. 'The more you do it. The more chance of you getting burned.'
'I'm already going up in flames. A little extra heat is only going to make things even more interesting.' He replied casually, though I heard the deviousness there in his tone.
'I bet.' I bit down on one of his flat dark nipples and laughed when I watched his body jump. He stared at me with a shocked grin his brilliant eyes dancing.
"That's it." Before I could even get away I was pinned down to the bed by his powerful grip. "No more playing games. You're going to eat me alive if I let you continue."
"Yes, but I think you'd enjoy it." I replied teasingly.
He huffed but I saw him swallow, turning the idea over in his head. His mouth found mine again, one hand keep my wrists firmly bound over my head while the other kept pushing the nightshift higher and higher. The next thing I realized after his dreamy and steaming kisses was that I was sitting in his lap, the nightgown discarded on the floor by the bed, forgotten in the night.
Yugo was trying to go about this without startling himself or me with a sudden movement. Every touch, caress, lick of his tongue was simple and yet sure. He worked slowly, almost torturingly over my body, resisting the impulsive urges his body was throwing at him. He wanted to transform for a while and let his more demonic side take over. He wanted to rush into things and just up and take me. Every kinky idea flashing through his head was showed to me as if I was reading them out of a picture book, and he was restraining all of them, keeping the utmost control. There was fear for me, of what he might do and he was trying to hide that fact from me. He was afraid he might force the seal open himself and cause me to go into another lapse and that was scaring him out of his mind. More then that I felt an overwhelming wall of love and loyalty, eternal commitment and passion. I don't know why, but why he was affectionately assaulting me with his hot touch and my body hungrily responding, I watched his mind, touched and amazed at what I found there.
His fingers fell on my breasts and I gasped, face flushing hotly. He regarded it with another tempting yet experimental touch, thumb sweeping across my aching nipple, which gave my body a slight shudder. I leaned my head on his bare shoulder jus succumbing to the feeling of it all. I could feel him throbbing against my legs as I sat in his lap, his entire body tense like a cat stalking prey. He was trying to keep himself in check, in control but his touch and the aching feeling against my thighs was driving me insane. It was all too much…I couldn't think for myself. I felt all of him, everything that was him, and nothing matter but him. The room, the bed, all around us was just a mere whirl of color and darkness.
His teeth found my breasts just as his fingers had moments before and I let out a soft moan, which caused his entire form to tremble. I felt like I was going to melt into nothingness. 'Yugo…' It felt to good to stop but I wanted more. I was craving more. I didn't just want him anymore, I needed him, and I was afraid if I didn't have him I was going to lose the air around me and suddenly stop breathing. 'Yugo…please…' It was my sudden plea, the only thing that could escape in my mind.
I heard him swear slightly, whether it was in my head or out loud I wasn't sure. My hand swept across the throbbing bulge restrained in his pants and I heard the air die in his throat. Another stroke and he moaned slightly, his hands dying off my body a little a bit, holding me by the waist. My fingers pressed harder and he swallowed, bringing his liquid gaze to stare at me. For the first time in the last couple of minutes I seemed to really look at his face, gaze at his handsome face with those dangerous eyes. His dark teal hair was falling messily against his face and down his back, the ribbon keeping it into a ponytail lost among the sheets. Before I could even think, my mouth moved on it's own. "My god Yugo, you're gorgeous."
He raised a fine cyan eyebrow and then grinned. "I'm glad I have such an effect on you."
I snorted, lifting a hand to smack him across the face, which he easily caught and brought to his lips, my fingers disappearing into the furnace of his mouth. Need slammed back into me hard and hungry as ever. "Yugo…I started this. You need to finish it."
"Gladly love." He let go off my hand and instead forced me back into the covers with another series of his hot kisses. His mind was alive again with worry, more so then before, but he was trying to keep somewhat of an anchor within his own self-control and I admired him for that.
He worked my underwear off my hips and threw them carelessly behind him and out of sight into the darkness. His fingers trailed down my stomach to my hips and then over my thighs while his kisses developed a red-hot trail over my breasts. My body was merely clay in his hands, worked by his firm soft hands. He suddenly dropped lower, planting a kiss right above my hips. His fingers slipped in between my legs, forcing them apart slightly as he gently explored.
I shuddered at his touch my mind starting to panic while my hips rocked hungrily with the feel of his fingertips. This was way too much. I was lost in the fire already…burning through endless flames. If I didn't stop now, there was a chance I may never get out of this inferno.
'You will be fine love. I can assure you nothing will happen to you, not while I'm here. We'll do this together.'
'Yugo.' I found I could call out to him, grateful for his voice. 'Yugo…I'm afraid.'
'Of what, little one? Me?' He huffed. 'This? What this means?'
I swallowed. 'I'm afraid of getting hurt.'
His laughter was light and full of arrogance. 'You should know by now I will not allow you pain if it is within my power.'
I snorted, not at all believing him, not when he spoke like that.
His fingers immediately left me and my body cried out so badly I gasped slightly. The hunger increased so badly I reached out to touch his face and he snatched up my fingers in his mouth. 'Would you want to be left like this?' He asked sincerely, his voice husky and rough. His hand led mine to the throb bulge in his pants. 'Would you want to leave me like this? You asked me to finish this. And I will. Put some degree of trust in me Sora. I will not fail you.'
He leaned up to kiss me, and my hand dropped from his. His fingers undid the buttons and then he slid off the bed to drop the slacks on the floor, the last garment of clothing gone.
He wrapped his arms around me as he leaned over me, gingerly and affectionately kissing my face and neck. His knee slowly pried my legs apart again and I felt my heart begin to race in my chest, throbbing in my ears.
'Listen to me.' His voice was soft, echoing there in my mind. 'Don't think and don't start panicking on me. I want you to take shelter in mind. You can do it, I know- you've subconsciously been doing it off and on. Go there now. I'll protect you.'
'Yugo, I don't think-''Trust me. Please. Find the strength to trust me.'
He sounded hurt and on the edge of control. Despite my own feelings I reached out and touched his thoughts, and startling finding a comforting emotion, a calm, and his undying love. I held onto that, trying desperately to clear my mind on everything else. I was still aware of my body but from here I didn't think anything could touch me. Hurt me.
I felt his fingers testing me and my mind started to panic. I was losing myself again in my own thoughts and pulling more and more away from his.
Before I had time to even react I felt him thrust hard into me. My body shook, the air left my mouth but I was all right. I was stuck half in and out of my own mind and from here I could sense no pain. I was unhurt. I could feel Yugo's guilt slamming on me like a weight. He had wanted to get it over with and had panicked himself when he felt me start to pull away.
The way he was acting was making me laugh and I could sense his sudden annoyance when he had caught the sound of my giggles. I hesitantly returned to my own mind…there was confusion there and dire curiosity. I opened my eyes to look up at him, coming face to face with those brilliant gold eyes. We just stared at each other for a second before I leaned up to kiss his mouth and that was it…we were lost in a tangle of bed sheets and our own red-hot passion. I liked traveling into his mind, especially during this. The feelings I found there were incredible, strong and true and incredibly sincere. I stayed there despite our bodies' desperate wantings, hearing his words echoing to me as we fell into the covers content and satisfied with each other. 'There is no one else Sora. Just you. Always and for eternity. I could not love anyone else.'
His words were almost childish as he said them, catching his breath, but I giggled, excusing them. They, like everything else this evening, were feelings from the heart.
"Yugo…" I started listening to my voice crack as I used it for the first time afterwards, the vocal cords strained from moans and gasps. "Thank you."
He found the strength to lift his upper body off my chest, looking at me, just staring at me for a few seconds. He rolled to his side taking me with him, but not daring to leave me. "Why in the world are you thanking me?" He asked lazily, resting his chin on top of my head.
"For not giving up on me." I rested my forehead against his sweat-covered chest. "For not giving up on me for being such a coward."
"You're not a coward. And I couldn't possibly give up on you." His arms wrapped around me gave me an affectionate squeeze, all the strength he could muster at the moment. "I love you to much."
I laughed quietly. "Well then thank you, for this evening."
"You shouldn't be thanking me for that either…there are going to be many more nights like this one." He replied dismissively.
I leaned on one elbow, sitting up slightly. "Yeah, and who says?" I challenged him teasingly.
He opened one gold eye to look up at me. "And you're saying you never want to do this again?" When I snorted he sat up defiantly. "Come on. I wasn't…that bad."
I giggled, wrapping my arms around his neck. "No, definitely not." My hips pressed down on his, pushing him deeper inside of me. He let out a long moan, his body reacting the same way mine was…with encouraging throbs. "Then again the evening's not over with."
"That is very true." He growled, snatching me back up into his arms and stealing me away again into fiery desire.
I awoke the next morning thinking all of last night's events had just been a long, satisfying blissful dream, but I didn't even have to move to know that it was a reality. I had fallen asleep on top of the handsome Sinner, my naked body still pressed firmly against his and my head lying on his chest against his heart. Dawn had been on the horizon when we had collapsed in exhaustion and now that ghostly beams of sunlight were shining in the wide windows through the overcast skies I knew it had to be late morning.
I went to move off of the devil's rock-hard body and a firm arm tied around my waist, pinning me to him. "Enjoy your sleep?" By the time I had looked back up at him he had opened those bright amber eyes, watching me affectionately.
"Sleep? What sleep? I passed out after what-"
There was a swift knock to the door, which silenced my words. My eyes widened and I glanced over to it. "W-Who is it?" I called, praying they wouldn't just walk in.
"Miss Sora, Master Yugo…I'm preparing breakfast in the courtyard. Will you be joining us or is Lady Sora still to weak to get out of bed?" It was Steiner's voice just outside.
"Yes Steiner, she's still weak. After la-"
I clamped a hand over Yugo's mouth, shutting him up. "We'll be there in a few moments Steiner, thank you." I replied sharply.
"Very good Miss. I'll let the others know." And like that he was gone.
I let up on Yugo's face with a shocked stare. "I can't believe you were going to say that!"
"Why not? They'll know soon enough anyway." He grinned.
"Only if you tell them!" I hissed, attempting to pick up a pillow and whap him in the head with it. He disarmed me in a second with a slight yawn.
His smirk dropped and he looked thoughtful for a moment. "I think Chrono is going to know. And Sieg too. Just about any devil."
"Great." I slumped against him.
"Sarcasm speaks bounds love. They won't mess with you now, that's for sure. They'll know they'll be asking for their own death sentence."
I unpried myself from him and slipped out of the bed. My legs were rubbery and at the same time stiff but after a few steps I had balanced myself out. "I'm going to take a bath. You better be up and dressed when I get out."
"Or else what?" He smirked.
I picked the pillow up by the doorway and chucked it at him before grabbing my robe and stalking out of the room.
Despite my own orders I had three maids attending to me in the bathroom, insisting on checking the water and washing my long red hair. I just sighed, silently accepting the assistance. Another maid had rushed to my room to get me clothes and reported back that the bedchamber was empty and that Master Yugo had joined the others outside. I was dressed and ready to go in my normal Magdalene Order attire, my glossy hair sweeping behind me as I dashed out to the garden in the direction of food.
Yugo had been waiting by the door in simple black slacks and a white shirt and offered me a hand as I descended the steps into the backyard sanctuary.
Rosette, Chrono, Azmaria and Julius were gathered around a stone table busily eating and I watched Chrono's face as we entered the room. His bright scarlet eyes went from confused to shocked and his face flushed hotly.
"Chrono are you alright?" Azmaria asked him, but he was just staring dumbfound at Yugo and me. She turned and caught the blush on Julius's face too. "And Julius…?"
I hadn't thought the kid would have picked up on it, but then again his psychic link with Yugo and me was getting stronger and stronger. The fact that he knew what had happened was proof of that. I just hoped he hadn't been listening in…
Rosette scarfed another bite of her food before looking at us. "What is it? What'd they do?"
"Chrono's just facing the truth that's all. And Julius too. Last night I asked Sora to marry me." Yugo shrugging with a casual smile.
I tried not to stare up at him in shock. 'Marriage? Are you nuts?'
'We've done things my way love. If you want, I'll be more then happy to do them by your standards.'
That thought hit me like a crashing wave. To Yugo, we were already bound together forever. A wedding…I could really get married to this man…I could really sincerely have a wedding.
'When we return home to New York.' Yugo continued. 'Feel free to start planning.'
"You're really getting married!" Azmaria stood up, hardly containing her grin. She leaned over, placing an arm on Julius's shoulder. "You knew, didn't you?"
"Yeah…" The boy said after a moment with a slight nod and a smile in our direction.
Rosette tackled me with a bear hug. "A wedding! You're going to have it at the Order in New York right? With the chapel all jazzed up! Tell me I can be in it!"
I laughed. "Of course."
Chrono got up, walking over to Yugo. Their sealed forms were much different…Yugo still nearly had a foot on Chrono, but he smiled up at him affectionately. "You found her."
Yugo nodded slowly. "I have."
Chrono held out his hand. "Congratulations. It took a very long time and you've been waiting so long… you deserve this."
Yugo shook with him, a smile lightly his face. "Thank you."
"We have to go tell Satella the good news! If this doesn't cheer her up, nothing will. It's a wedding for Pete's sake!" Rosette grabbed my hand, dragging me toward the steps. "Come on everyone, let's all go break the news!"
Somehow I didn't think Satella would be all that supportive of a devil and a human's marriage, but Satella had been known to surprise me on more then one occasion.
As we neared her bedroom, I became aware that Yugo was more and more cautious. The door was open and shouting could be heard from inside.
"I don't want anything more to do with you! You might have saved my life at one time, but you've lied to me for the past ten years! My sister was still alive! And you knew!" The heavily accented female voice was no doubt Satella, in hysterics about something.
"I didn't tell you because she's as good as dead! Aion has her somewhere! Why should I cause you so much more pain! You were just a little girl at the time…it was just easier to keep it from you!" The second voice was Sieg, as serious as he had been yesterday when I had talked to him. His voice was dark and handsome and at the same time utterly dangerous. I swallowed, recalling what that was like.
"She was my sister Sieg!" Satella snapped, her anger blurring her English and her German so that his name came out a blend of the two, pronounced with a distinct 'Z' instead of an S. If she was aware of the aura he was giving off she was blatantly ignoring it. "My elder sister! The only family I have left in this world! I would go through hell itself to get her back and you knew all this time! You disgust me!"
"Well, I love you!" He retorted as soon as the words had left her mouth. "So at least we're exact opposites on yet another standpoint! You are…" His words trailed off for a second. "You are incredible. Invincible. A lone army. And it kills me every time you run off on your own, decide to do something without anyone else and preach how bad devils are. I'm a devil, Satella, have been since the day you met me-"
"Don't start!" The woman hissed, panic in her voice.
"Have been since the day you met me, and have shown you nothing but utmost compassion. The fact that you choose to ignore me and my feelings for you, that you throw everything you can between you and me, that's what disgusts me!" I could sense from the air that he was gone from the room, maybe even from the estate. The silence fell heavy in the hall and in the bedroom.
'We'll come back later. Now is not a good time.' Yugo told me as he grabbed my shirtsleeve. He snagged Julius by the arm, toting him with us as we backtracked through the corridors.
"Wow." Julius murmured as we neared our own bedrooms. "I have never heard Sieg like that."
"It was his outpouring confession." Yugo said, casting a small glance at me. "And different people prefer to do it differently. Sieg probably thought he had a better chance in the heat of argument because at least then he was sure he would get the last word in. And it worked."
"Mildly. At least he knows he's got her attention now." I replied, opening the door to our room. Yugo arched an eyebrow at me, a simple sign for a silent invitation. I leaned up, kissing him, before shaking my head. "Not now. I want to know what's going on at the Order." I blushed as I looked at the kid. "I'm sorry Julius, if we…kept you up last night."
His face went three shades of red. "Oh…uh, no. I've learned to block you out if I need to and most of the time I felt you gone from your own mind and in Yugo's. How can you do that by the way? I tried and not even I could move to your mind."
I blinked. "I'm not sure myself either. It just kind of…happened last night. I don't know. It might be an after-effect of last night…"
"Most likely. A stronger psychic link developed. That simple." Yugo shrugged.
"Did you find any interesting books in the bookstore the other day Jul? You went with Satella and Azmaria, right?" I asked him suddenly, wanting something to read to pass the time.
His eyes sparked. "Yeah…give me a few moments. I'll be right back." He took off in the direction of his room.
Yugo's strong arms wrapped around me. "You sure I couldn't get you to reconsider? We've got a few minutes to ourselves."
"I don't want a few minutes of you, I want a few hours. And you're just going to have to wait." I told him with a small elbow to the stomach, stepping out of his embrace.
He let out a soft pitiful whine, his last resort. "But-"
"But nothing. You'll live. You lasted…what, a thousand years waiting for me. A couple more hours will not kill you."
"You're not so sure of that." He murmured.
The pictures started filling my head and my knees went weak. "That is not fair and you know it!" I snapped at him but he just blinked innocently.
"Miss Sora." Steiner was walking up the hallway toward us. "There is a call for you and Miss Rosette. Urgent news from the Order."
I glanced between him and Yugo. "Wait here for Julius. Then you two come join me in the dining room."
"Got it." Yugo nodded and followed the butler off, through a maze of corridors to the steps and down them to the dining hall.
"Hello?" I asked picking up the receiver.
"Sora, this is Bryant."
I nodded, recognizing the Order's commander. "Afternoon Father Sera. What's going on?"
"We've pinpointed the Sinner's location it's a beach house outside San Francisco." His voice was all seriousness and even a little grave.
"How far from here?" I asked.
"From the Order, about an hour. From your villa, about two. We've sent help to help you get there. He should be arriving shortly. Duffau and his men have insisted that we wait for you and Rosette to arrive before we move. We will be eagerly awaiting your presence Miss Maiko."
Just as I hung up the phone the dining room door opened and Steiner entered followed by a very familiar handsome face with bright amber eyes and red hair. I smiled. "Jin!" I had had a feeling the white wolf devil would be our guide.
He blinked at me, stopping about two or three feet from me. His eyes were registering shock but the rest of his face was emotionless as always. He bowed gallantly, eyes lowering. "Good afternoon, little sister. This time we meet as family."
I grinned, striding forward to catch him in a hug as he stood back up straight. "Thank you Jin."
His arms hesitantly wrapped around me, holding me loosely to him. "I can't say that I haven't worried for you." He said softly. "You gave us all quite a scare. I will be more careful from now on about how I talk to Yugo and how it will effect you."
I blushed. "I appreciate it, brother."
His arms pulled me closer at that in a content embrace. There was the sound of someone clearing their throat and a wave of jealousy in my head that signaled Yugo and Julius's arrival. I pulled away from Jin with a smile, going over to the teal-haired sibling and wrapping my arms around his waist.
Yugo still hadn't lowered his guard and just stood there for a second, staring at him before he smirked. "Afternoon little brother."
Jin nodded, the same arrogant gesture touching his own looks. "I see we have a new addition to the Seung Family. There hasn't been one of those in near-…since Rei died."
Yugo's gaze didn't change. "Do you plan on getting revenge for her death by killing my own?"
The smirk dropped off the redhead's face and his eyes narrowed slightly. "No." He said after a moment. "Because not even you need to go through that torture."
Yugo smiled. "Good." He stepped forward, clasping his brother on the shoulder affectionately. Jin responded with the same.
"I'm truly happy for you, elder brother."
I grinned, watching them both. It seemed we were finally getting through the family hatred thing. Then I remembered what was going on. "Sorry to break up the mush, but uh, Father Sera just called."
Yugo turned, looking at me. "And? What did he want?"
"They've found where the sinners are. We've been ordered to follow up an attack." I explained.
"About time." Yugo huffed. "I take it that's why you're here?" The question was thrown back at his brother, who just simply nodded. "Steiner, where's Rosette and Chrono?"
"They're visiting with Lady Satella." The butler called from the kitchen.
"Couldn't leave her alone, could they?" He snorted, dashing off. I found myself following behind him and heard Julius's footsteps behind me.
The devil had memorized his way to the spacious room on our first trek there a few minutes earlier and led us straight to the door and into the room. "We've got orders Ladies and Gentlemen." I called, grabbed Yugo's arm before he threw out a smart remark. "They've found the Sinner's hideout. We're attacking today."
Rosette's blue eyes lit up while Chrono recoiled as if he'd been struck in the face. I blinked. Well, that was different.
'Something's not right…' Yugo agreed with me. 'The air in the room is very tense. Rosette's been bleeding.'
'What?' I looked over at him.
'I can smell it in the air. It's her blood.'
"We should get moving soon then." Rosette started around the side of the bed.
"I'm going with you." Satella had started out of the bed, throwing the covers aside, revealing her smooth bare legs beneath the long white night shift.
"No." Rosette snapped, glaring at her.
"And who do you think you're talking to?" Satella retorted.
"In your condition you'd only be getting in the way!" The blonde hissed. "You need to get some more rest and figure things out." Her cerulean eyes fell on the silver-haired choirgirl. "Azmaria I want you to stay here."
"Julius, you too." Yugo replied.
"But!" The kids started at the same time.
"Azmaria, I need you here to help out Satella. She's going to need someone here with you." Chrono told her with a smile.
"And Julius, someone needs to be here to protect the ladies. You wouldn't want them in danger, would you?" I grabbed his shoulder. "You'll be fine little brother, that I can be assure of."
He sighed, nodding slightly.
"Let's get moving. The sooner we get there, the better." Rosette swept past me and I turned to follow her out.
"Yugo."
It was Julius who had called out to him. He had unbuckled the sheath from his belt and tossed it to him. "Take that with you. Let me know how it handles." The boy grinned.
Yugo nodded, walking with me out. "What was that all about?" I asked, staring at him. "Isn't that just Julius's normal sword?"
He swallowed. "Eh…no. This is an experimental blade the Elder sent with Mia specifically for Julius. We don't know what it's capable of because it hasn't been properly tested yet. But, we're about to find out." He smirked.
"I'm glad it's you then and not Jul." I huffed as we headed down the steps.
"What's that mean!" He snapped.
I smiled at him. "You can heal if the blade happens to explode the first time you use it. Julius can't. I don't always trust the Elder's latest inventions…most should be handled with extreme caution."
He laughed softly. "Okay, okay, I see your point."
As we turned the bend and the car came into view I nudged the wolf devil slightly. Jin was waiting for us in the car, but another redhead devil was leaning on the driver's door, hand's shoved in his pants pockets. He looked up at us, face emotionless. "I'm going with you." Was all that he said as we got close enough to hear him.
"Sieg…" I swallowed. I was going to try and talk him out of it, but I felt Yugo's resistance to that.
"Fine. Keep yourself in check." Yugo's words were casual and calm but orders all the same.
"Fine." Sieg snapped back, turning and hopping in the back seat next to Jin.
"Are you driving, or am I?" the handsome demon looked at me questioningly.
I shoved the key up against his chest. "You drive. We need to get there and as soon as possible."
The car drive was almost excruciatingly silent. Jin was giving directions to Yugo through telepathy and Sieg was leaning on the windowsill, staring out at the scenery as it flew by. I was grateful when we began slowing down through the wooded path and a line of Order-issued cars came into view. There was a crisp blowing in that smelled of salt. We had to have been close.
As soon as we parked, we were met by Father Sera, Reverend Gilliam and ever-reliable Mia, who were filling us in on the small details. It had been decided that Duke Duffau, Rosette, Chrono, Yugo, Sieg and myself would led the team to infiltrate the beach house while the rest of the forces stayed back, waiting for our word while setting up a crucifix barrier strong enough to eliminate an upper-class devil. Jin would scout the area while we were gone, keeping us in constant contact with the others. Barely fifteen minutes after our arrival we were on our way to the site.
The beach house was huge and spacious with a gorgeous view of the ocean from its overview on a wide flat-topped hill. How such a beautiful retreat could be the headquarters of the Sinners was beyond me.
Yugo had been on alert since we started up the walk he took one sniff at the air and growled. I looked up at him, half expecting a devil to emerge from thin air. He shook his head slightly, his ponytail slapping against his neck. "This is the place. Joshua's scent is drenched all over this place. I could pinpoint that aura anywhere."
Sieg just looked at him, eyebrows raised in surprise while Duffau seemed unaffected by the comment. Chrono was trying to seem unphased too since Rosette's eyes had flashed hopefully.
"What about Lena?" I asked after a second as we walked up the wide porch steps, pistol raised as we made sure nothing was going to fly around a corner at us.
"Can't tell." Yugo's voice was a whisper as he grabbed one of the double doors. Chrono grabbed the other. He glanced over at him. "One, two, three."
As soon as the third word left his lips they both simultaneously stepped back and kicked the doors in. The locks gave way with creak and the wood flew back on its hinges, slamming against the wall.
"Nice entrance guys. Like they don't know were coming now." Rosette cried.
"They won't." Duffau stated calmly. "They're not here."
Glancing at the lobby revealed a wide living room that was completely void of everything. No pictures…no furniture…nothing but bare white walls and polished oak floors. The place was spotless…no dust… no dirt. It was as if somebody had packed the place up overnight and left this morning.
"You have to be kidding me." I replied in shock.
Yugo and Chrono entered first, Rosette and me right behind them and Sieg and Duffau bringing up the rear.
"They were here." Yugo swallowed. "Don't know how long ago… the place reeks of power."
"Lena?" I asked him again, grabbing at his shirtsleeve.
He just stared at me for a second and then slowly nodded. "She was here." His head jerked up as if someone has called out to him, eyes wide. Confusion filled his mind and he turned, looking back toward the door. "Something's not right. The-"
His words were cut off as a loud explosion rocked the ground, causing the gigantic house to shudder. Before any of us could reply we were all out the door as the trembling stopped, staring at the sky. Smoke was piling through the trees into the overcast sky west of us. Were camp was.
"Damnit! He got us again!" Sieg snapped as the explosion settled and hazy images of winged demons could be seen up in the air. The campsite had suddenly burst to life with the sound of gunfire and horrific cries as it turned into a battleground.
The redheaded sinner's body glowed crimson, wings bursting forth from his back as his black clothes melted away into robes of pure white. Duffau was right beside him with his own transformation, black and gray steel-like armor hardening over his tall lean body. "We'll meet you there!" He looked back at us, fangs showing as he spoke before he took off, leaving us in a cloud of sand.
I took another clip out, having it ready as I followed Rosette and Chrono at a full run across the beach. "Yugo, transform and follow Sieg and Duke Duffau. They're going to need all the help they can get."
"No." His answer was a mix of speech out loud and in my mind.
I gritted my teeth. "Look, we don't have an option here. You're brother's over there. My best friend's over there. You have to do something and you know you can't do it unless you're at full power."
He glared at me and I could tell he was offended. "I will protect my own without transforming. I'm not going to risk hurting you again Sora. I just got you back from almost death. I'm not putting you there again."
"We still don't have too many choices Yugo." I told him, practically yelling now over the droning noise of combat.
'Trust me.' There it was again, soft in my mind. The faintest of whispers that could throw everything else around me into a black hole and cause me to go weak in the knees.
"Sora!" I looked up, seeing Mia wave a hand. She and Sera were standing by amidst a group of cars and exorcists.
"What are our orders?" I asked as we got closer.
"Buy time until the barrier is completed. The devils seem to be holding their own." Sera pointed to the sky practically over head where Sieg, Duffau and his two men Gurio and Carv were locked in battle with a hundred or so smaller devils and two others that stood out among the mass.
"Genai and Viede." Chrono said almost emotionlessly.
"How long until the barrier's operational?"
"Twenty, twenty-five minutes." Mia replied.
"Once we give the order you all will have literally 45 seconds to get out of there. Anything still trapped in the barrier is going to be toasted by that point if it's within a five foot radius of one of the walls and even if you're not it's going to be hell. Be listening." Sera added, looking at Chrono and then Yugo. "Jack's up on the front line, along with your brother Yugo. I suggest you head there."
"Yes sir!" I nodded, zigzagging through people, weaponry and vehicles to get to where the mass of soldiers were holding a front line against the on coming devils.
"Sora!" Gilliam called out to me as I brushed past him, catching my arm. Yugo growled but it was lost in the roar of noise. "You don't need to be out here! Not after sustaining the injuries you have over the last couple of days."
"I'm a Magdalene Order exorcist sir!" I told him, jerking out of his grip and shooting him a playful smile. "And I'll be until I die or Aion does first!" With that I was gone again, moving closer and closer to the chaos.
Winged devils were flying at the soldiers, ripping and tearing at them with their claws and teeth. Among the gunners we got a glimpse of swordsmen who were hacking away at the demonic forces. This was where we found Jin, fully transformed and having thrown his coat in a nearby tree, sporting only the mesh fishnet shirt. His talons were shredding through creatures unlike anything I'd seen before; carcasses lay in a 360-degree radius around him spread out in a ten-foot circle. He didn't even stop but I heard him huff in my mind, adding a sarcastic 'Glad you all could make it.'
Yugo smirked, unclipping the leather sheath around the sword from his waist and drawing the blade Julius had leant him. 'Yeah, Yeah.' He responded in mockery to his brother as he stepped out, slicing at a devil as it flew overhead. The creature screamed as it fell in half, disintegrating into ash before it hit the ground. His gold eyes widened and he looked like he had fallen in love all over again. I snorted, firing off rounds into the sky and watching as devils screamed in agony, dropping lower as they lost various limbs. I felt a familiar pair of eyes watching me amused and sent him a picture of me strangling him amidst the fighting. All I got back was laughter.
The familiar presence of Chrono's aura got closer as he and Rosette moved up, joining us in battle. I was about to call out to the couple when a giant force whizzed by my head almost knocking me over. "Well now, Yugo. And Chrono too. This is turning into one happy reunion!"
I looked up just to catch one of the sinners in a blur of white and black as they were shoved higher into the air by a crimson streak. Sieg had saved us that time.
"Genai!" Chrono called out spitefully, his tone almost bitter.
"Why don't you two throw off the baby costume and come join the real men in battle! Or are you simply afraid?" The voice roared again teasingly and I was sure I had memorized it into my head by then. It was sickeningly dark and almost like Yugo's sealed voice only with the ability to make my stomach twist. I swallowed.
The second of the sinners made a dive at Chrono only to be shoved away by Carv and Gurio. Duffau taunted the two, stating that their battle was simply against him. His eyes were watching us as he said it and for a second I felt a flicker of worry radiating off the pursuer's form.
"Sora, watch out!"
I had strayed for two seconds and had almost gotten dive-bombed by a devil, which now lay in the ground with a mighty slice off its left side and the other ripped to shreds by Jin's claws. The two brothers shared a momentary glance before they got back to fighting. I picked myself up off the ground, firing shots and grabbing another cartridge for my gun.
I felt Yugo's anger rise the second it started happening. Mist began filling the field from seemingly nowhere, blanketing the area in thick fog. I swallowed my heart racing in my chest. Minor devils I could handle. But we all knew what this meant.
"Sora! Yugo!" It was Chrono calling to us but I could hardly see him anymore. Our advantage over the demons has just plummeted drastically.
"Aidan, why are you here!" That sick demonic voice sneered as he flew lower, his wings cutting through the mist like a knife, only to be lost seconds later.
A form appeared in the fog, walking silently across the earth, ignoring the chaos up above in the sky. His hands were stuffed casually in the pockets of his duster, his long raven hair swishing behind him as he walked. He seemed out of place here, completely oblivious to the battle, to everything.
Yugo had grabbed my arm, forcing me back behind him. His entire body was shaking, not in fear but in rage. I clutched his shirt and he didn't even acknowledge me, eyes never leaving his opponent.
"Aidan!" The sinner screamed again, fangs showing as he gritted his teeth.
He looked up lazily with a blank stare. "I'm here of my own choice, Genai. Don't you have something to be doing, like getting rid of these pests? I have business to attend to with an old friend."
"Don't get smart with me!" The sinner hissed. "You are-"
"Supposed to be fighting me!" Sieg dove down out of nowhere sword drawn, slashing at his opponent. Genai moved out of the way, taking cover up in the sky again. The redhead shot us a glance. "I'll be here if you need me." He replied and then took off.
Aidan chuckled slightly. "Oh Sieg…he won't. He'll be massacred at my feet by the time you get here."
"Like hell!" Yugo growled.
He completely ignored his remark, staring at Jin. "If you even think of interrupting our match in any way, White Wolf, you're dead. Do I make myself clear?"
His amber eyes narrowed, but then he snorted and turned away. "Fine. Do what you want."
"What?" I looked over at him in shock.
"You better explain yourself, Brother." Yugo hissed at him.
Jin stared impassively at him. "You have no idea what this is about Yugo. I do. Keep your mouth shut."
Aidan smiled. "Fine words, Wolf. Now," He turned his head slightly and for the first time since he had arrived actually looked at Yugo and me. His crimson eyes were fury themselves, piercing straight through Yugo to and me and then straight through my heart. He looked tormented, pained and in agony, and it clearly wasn't a physical pain. "Yugo, there's been a problem between you, me and her for some time now and I intend on solving it today. Transform. Now."
"Are you cra-"
"DON'T think I'm as dim-witted as you." He snapped back as he retaliated, silencing him. "I'm not stupid enough to endanger Sora's health while you're given your strength back. I've been learning to build mind barriers from Aion and this one is very similar to the one he used on her back in New York. It will allow you enough power to fight in your true form without pulling from her memories. So…you have two options. You can trust me to take care of her and we can get down to business or you can stay in that form and give these two a repeat performance of the incident on the train. Your choice."
"If you think I'm just going to stand by and watch you two rip each other apart, you can think again. It's not happening Aidan." I retorted while Yugo was straining to balance things out in his own head.
He stared at me before his lips curled into a sadistic smile. "No, love, it is happening and you're not going to interfere. In fact if you even think about it, I'll simply let up on the barrier and let Yugo deal with the situation from there. If he stays in his true form, no doubt you're going to go into another lapse and if he transforms back, he's as good as dead. I guess then we'll see if you really mean more to him then his own life."
My heart stopped for a minute. "You wouldn't dare."
A thin black eyebrow rose in response. "Oh? And what make's you so certain?"
I swallowed, my mouth falling silent. The problem was… I wasn't. I was just calling his bluff. The way his eyes were watching me violently made me shudder and his mind and face were both a mask, concealing his true emotions.
"Sora." Yugo called out to me, and his voice was sure and even, even though his mind was chaos itself at the moment. "Stay with Jin. Make sure if something happens to me that the two of you get away." His body began to glow a soft blue an instantly my mind was shut off from his.
The barrier came up, like a strong wall, reinforcing the block Yugo had put up against me. It was stable during his transformation, not giving me the slightest touch of pain, but it wasn't at all reassuring or comforting. It was more like Aidan was deliberately trying to keep from Yugo from me even though I could not feel any emotion or feeling attached to the barrier, like Yugo's. It simply was just… there.
The blue aura pulsed like a heart beat, black feathers falling as a pair of onyx wings stretched out around him a tail wagging slightly. And as the glow faded, there he was in all of his great glory. I was still awed by his true form and smiled proudly, knowing that I would probably be this way for as long as I could remember it.
Aidan had transformed too, discarding his black duster as it happened. He looked even more demonic in his true form, the horns, serpentine eyes, fangs and claws not helping the matter. Yugo was an animalistic work of art as a Sinner. Aidan was the creature you read about in vampire horror stories.
My hand grabbed onto Jin's fishnet shirt, the tips of my fingers puncturing through the small holes to brush up against his skin. He swallowed, clearly worried too. As much as I knew he wanted to see Yugo take another beating, he was also equally scared for him.
"Alright then." Yugo took a step forward, taunting for the first attack, his dark deep voice rolling through me and turning my insides to mush and at the same time hardening my heart into a block of ice. He cracked his knuckles, anticipating a rush from his opponent. "Let's get this over with."
To Be Continued in Chapter Seventeen-
Author's Notes- Wow…Chapter Sixteen. How many people have been waiting for this chapter? I know I have and for more reasons then one! Before I forget…props to my brother for letting me borrow Daxkatrios for this story. Daxy is a char of his, he isn't mine and his appearance was sort of random.
You all surprised me…I got on fanfiction the other day just to do some light reading and realized I had gotten new reviews. I have new readers! That's really cool…seriously…this story has progressed so much farther then I ever thought it would, thanks to you guys.
Okay, continuing on, before I start rambling…sorry for the wait on this one. As you can see, I have caught myself up to the actual writing point so I'm working on these as quickly as I can. This one just had everything against me…I lost internet for a week, loaned Chrono Crusade Vol.5 to a friend and still haven't gotten it back and then I don't write lemony bedroom scenes very well, especially NOT in first person. I seldom write in first person. One more reason this story is special. But yeah…the bedroom scene…I suck at them…sorry…but I wanted to take their relationship that far and so I had to do it sometime…forgive me, I know my writing sucks… -slams head into desk- Ow…
Anyways, Chapter Seventeen! It will evidently finish up the fight between Yugo and Aidan, which, I will warn you now, is not going to be pretty! In the midst of all the fighting, Sora comes across startling memories from her past and possibly the reason why Aidan killed her sister! I meant to get to the thing with Yugo and Sora salvaging her memories…I'll get to that next time, promise. Not much sure of what else is going to happen…I'm writing it as it goes along…but I can assure, I have already started it, so it will be up here soon! Until I write again!
Sora Tokumi Kazuma