Ch. 4: Mend
One of the robed men had closed a door to a room and walked downstairs. The other 2 were standing by the dinner table, and he joined them. "So, we've achieved another load of goodies," he said. The half-joke didn't seem to affect the others, and they stood in silence. Finally, one took his hood off and the other 2 followed his example. All 3 of them appeared to be in their teen age like Kira.
One had dark blue hair accompanied by lush emerald eyes. Another had black hair that came with red eyes. The last of them was blond haired and had dark gold eyes.
"You know Dearka, we don't really take a liking to your jokes," the black haired one said to the blond.
"Well, it's always worth a try, right?" Dearka argued back.
The black haired one walked off to the door. "What are you up to Shinn, Dearka mocked, going to try and break the barrier?"
The black-haired teen stared back at him angrily. "Unlike you, I need fresh air. Not some stuffed up pollution with crack-ups." And he walked outside, closing the door behind him. Dearka sighed.
"Well, someone needs a cold shower, don't you agree Athrun?"
The emerald-eyed teen stared at him. "Just give him some space, will you? He's still upset about what happened to us. Unlike you, some of us actually have remorse."
"It's not like I'm trying to make you forget! You guys need to put the past behind you already. Kira did, I did, why don't you 2?"
Athrun just looked across the room. "Well you know, none of us can forget it. It was, horrible for it to happen, and for no reason either."
Dearka looked down. "I know that, but still, we can't let it get in the way of our dream. That's why we have to stop thinking about it all the time. We're here to make things better, but how do things get better if we just remember the bitterness of the past?"
Dearka was looking at Athrun again, but he just walked upstairs without another word. Then he sighed. "Well, I guess I could use some sleep too." And he followed after him.
Lacus had never felt so warm in her life. She could still feel the sensation of Kira's hand on her neck and now they were traveling her back. Her face was resting on his shoulder and he couldn't see how she was taking this. Her breaths grew soft and airy; her body limp from the heat. She hadn't said a single word to stop him, and he took it as she was accepting his offering.
Then one of his hands moved down to the slit in her nightgown and began to slide over her bare skin and the stocking over her leg. She gasped softly from the sudden sensation, but she willingly let him do as he pleased. As his hands moved over her clothes, they suddenly seemed to shine in their former glory. Then her entire dress was restored in an instant, the white fabric glowing ever brightly. No bloodstains, no dirt or sand; it was gone. Neither of them took notice of it, and continued as they were.
Her flesh was soft to the touch; Kira lusted for more and knew she was already enjoying it. His hand made its way inward to her stomach and smoothed it over, the other one still clutching her back. He heard her moan sweetly and he felt himself grow warm.
Then he suddenly saw a flash of dark greenish-black hair and a girl's face. His eyes widened and he pulled back; the vision of fire clouding his thoughts. Lacus stumbled and glanced at him. She took note of how he stared at her in surprise. "What's wrong?"
Kira lost his calm for the moment and regained it after a brief second. "I'm sorry. Just, go ahead and sleep now." He walked off to the door and left.
Lacus watched after him. She was stunned at his action. First he was slowly taking advantage of her, then he suddenly stops and runs away. What was that? Why did he…? She restored her sanity and made her way to the bed. Well, I can't stay here, she thought, I have to get out somehow. But how can I?
Shinn was outside sitting on a boulder, his skin bathed in the blue light of the full moon above him. But he wasn't concerned about it. He was deep in thought, reminiscing.
He turned to see the door open from behind. Kira stepped out and caught his eye. Soundlessly, he joined him on the seat. Then, after a brief moment of silence, he spoke. "It's that hard for you to let go Shinn?"
Shinn didn't turn. "Yes, I guess it is. But I'd say the same for you too. It's hard to part with someone you really cared about."
"Maybe so. However, they wouldn't want you to be weighed down by them. So I can't show any sign of weakness for them, and you shouldn't either." Shinn didn't answer and Kira went on. "To me, if you constantly think of those you lost, you're only being selfish. You can always carry your feelings as much as you want, but that doesn't force you to show them. It only hurts you to show them."
"Then we wouldn't even be showing them we are sad, Shinn argued, they would think we are heartless. It doesn't matter if we use dark magic; we are still human!"
Kira turned away and Shinn saw his mistake. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"It doesn't matter what you show. They know deep down that you love them; that you miss them." He smiled. "And that's all that matters. It's never what's on the outside that counts. It's the inside that nourishes the truth."
The words burned in Shinn's heart. They were perfectly true; he always cared deep down for his family and loved ones. He never had to expose it if he didn't want to. But he did, and it did nothing for him, but make him burn with sorrow. He smiled and looked up at the moon. "You're right Kira. You're right, but I still can't do it."
"It takes time for everyone Shinn. Someday you will be able to control it. Then you can take the next step forward." He jumped off the boulder. "Well, I'm going to get some sleep. You should to you know."
"I will, but I'm going to stay out a little longer. The moon is full tonight. I love to gaze at its beauty, just like how you used to gaze at her."
Kira's expression turned to sorrow. He knew what Shinn was talking about, and didn't want to press on it. "Please don't remind me of that."
Shinn turned to him, confused. "What? I meant the moon."
Kira snapped his head back and they both glanced at each other. Then Kira broke away and went inside. Shinn watched him remorsefully. He had forgotten Kira was still destroyed from within, after a great tragedy. I doubt he can get over it, he thought.
Kira was leaning on the door. He face remained unchanged; the old thought from before still haunting him.
After a few minutes he finally walked upstairs to his room. When he opened the door, he noticed the candles were still lit, and Lacus had fallen asleep already. Her sight made him smile. She very cute when she sleeps, he thought to himself, walking up to his bed and crawling up. Carefully, he placed himself close to Lacus without waking her. He didn't even put the covers over himself. The beauty next to him was more than warm enough.
He put up one hand and one by one the candles flickered and died out. When the last one was extinguished, he laid himself back down and slept.
Cagalli sat in the ruins of her house. Hoping that at least something might've been spared, she walked among the debris. In the end, she found nothing and sat back down.
Everything has been destroyed or stolen, she thought, what are we supposed to live on now?
She was still holding the black sword she had found in Siegel's corpse. The villagers had performed his burial with great care and honor. Her anger resurfaced and she blasted a broken wall behind her. It shattered and collapsed, only to reveal Cagalli's gruesome face. She stood up and walked back to the camp the people had set up. Miriallia came across her path. "Have you seen Flay or Meer," she asked her.
Cagalli shook her head. "I'd ask if you've seen Lacus, but I doubt she's here," she mumbled. And she walked off to aid the wounded. Mir only watched her leave.
Why does she care so much about that girl, she asked herself, she's only a weakling who's better off dead! Her face turned to anger, but she dare not use any magic in the crowd now. They were already ruined. They needed no more.
Flay was lying unconscious in a cell. And it wasn't the only one. She was in a jail tower inside the house.
After awhile, she finally woke up to examine the surroundings. "Where am I?" she asked.
"We've been captured."
Flay turned to see Meer sitting up in the cell. "W-what are you doing here? What happened? All I remember was a man in a black robe."
"I was caught by 2 of them Flay. I only woke up a little while ago. Others were caught as well. Look for yourself." Flay regretably looked out from the bars. Surely there in front of her were more people locked up. She gasped and fretfully looked around her. Stairs lead up to more chambers above them, there was a door to there right, and they could here people yelling for help from the cells nearby.
Flay was encompassed in fear, her hands shaking on the bars. She waited for any words from Meer, but heard nothing, which only made her feel worse. Daring to look back at her, she turned. "We've got to get out of here."
"You don't think those poor souls thought the same? One tried to burn the bars with magic and they grew back and coiled around him. She pointed at one cell to the right and Flay snapped her head to it. The bars were covered with marks from fire, but then they looked completely new going down from them. The man who had tried to escape was knocked out up against the wall.
Flay turned back. "Then what can we do?"
Meer shook her head. "I don't know. All we can do now is hope that we get saved."
Flay sank down helplessly. She knew all hope was lost. If magic wouldn't work, what could? It was over for them, just like how it was for these people, these prisoners.
Everyone had fallen asleep in the camp, or at least, everyone, but a few men who snuck off into the woods. They were carrying knives and torches; one or 2 carried swords with them. But all of them had only one thing in mind: find the robed men and kill them. They didn't even bother to inform the head chief, Durandal. They decided it was better off that they did it in secrecy, so no one else would follow or plea against it.
They traveled through the less populated path to avoid any detection by animals, otherwise they would probably run, cry out, or attack. No matter which happened, all would make noise.
"How much longer until we're out of here," one asked.
"Have patience; we will find them soon," another one assured.
"We had better, a 3rd one said, it's for our people; anyone who messes with us will pay the price."
They all chuckled and continued forward.
Shinn felt something prickle in his mind.
Someone is coming this way, he thought, from the forest. Did they pursue us?
He ran inside to find Kira, but the brunette was not downstairs.
It looks like everyone fell asleep already. Great, now I've got to wake them up.
He ran to Kira's room and slowly opened the door. What he saw shocked him. Both Kira and his captive were sleeping together soundly. Shinn slightly grinned at the romantic sight. Oh, how cute; wait, what am I saying? Kira wake up!
He cautiously walked over to Kira's side and tapped his face. Kira's eyes fluttered open.
"W-what is it Shinn?"
"We have guests coming this way."
Kira's eyes snapped open. He sat up quickly and jumped off the bed. That was his mistake. Lacus had rolled over, moaning in her sleep. Sweat slid down Kira cheek; was she going to wake up?
Lacus' eyes half-opened, but to their luck, she wasn't conscious. They soon drooped again and she drifted back off into her peaceful slumber. Kira sighed in relief. She didn't want to wake her for this. He looked back at Shinn and nodded. "Alright then, let's wake the others."
"Right, I'll do that. You just wait outside." He walked out and Kira followed from behind, closing the door behind him. When they reached the stairs, they took their separate paths, Kira went down, and Shinn went across. As Kira made it to the front door he recalled his brief moment with Lacus, and opened the door.
Shinn opened the door to see 2 queen sized beds, each with one of the 2 other teens sleeping. The light hit Athrun and his eyes flickered open before opening completely.
"Wake up guys," Shinn said with a little greater volume. It woke Dearka, and Athrun was already sitting up.
"What's going on?" Athrun asked.
"Pursuers," Shinn answered. Both of them jumped out of bed.
"They followed us back," Dearka asked.
"Seems so, and they will be here soon. Let's go."
And he walked out of the room. The others didn't need telling twice; they had followed him out almost instantly.
Alright, that's it for this one. Yeah, this chapter is a little shorter than the others, but I didn't have much to put in this one. Anyway, it's only the calm before the storm now. The next few chapters are not going to be the best thrillers, but I will be putting one larger battle in one of them compared to most of them so far. So then, now you know that even the four robed boys have their weaknesses as well, in their own hearts. But that doesn't make them stir on the battlefield. Flay and Meer are trapped, and I'm sorry to say that they won't be playing very large roles in this. However, one major killer will make his debt in here, and there will be many more pawns for him to use. So then, like I said in my other story, I will be taking a break after this chapter, unless I get a good amount of reviews. After all, the less the audience, the easier it is to please. If there are more, then greater work and time are needed. Read and review, and I'll get the next chapter up as soon asI please. Good day!