Hey, guys! It's great that this story is getting pretty popular, but pur-lease stop asking me when I'll update. It's getting kinda annoying now. I'll update when I update! Now that that's out of the way, I just wanna saw thanks for reading and enjoying. And, as I pre-warned, this chapter is gonna be a bit flashback-y.
Chapter 17
The Reason I Hate You
There is a world that exists in the skies of our own. It is a land that surpasses all forms of beauty and yet no human can ever witness it. That land is Cielvia. A floating island with houses and a grand castle on the farthest edge. And, surrounding this massive island are dozens of other smaller lands that a human can't get to easily. However, for Cielvians, this is an easy task, as they all have their wings, and many Cielvians, young and old, fly around the city, free as birds. The sky is almost always blue, and even the people who do not have a house to call their home are happy. This is a world where everybody is free.
Now, to the castle. The home of Cielvia's royal family. The castle is of the purest white, with hints of blue. Truly, it is like seeing something out of a picture book. The grand hallways also shine with a white tinted with a light blue, and crystal chandeliers hang from the ceilings. But, there is nobody walking through these hallways. Only a girl no older than seven years old. This girl in question had long black hair in a loose ponytail, and she wore a simple white dress with a blue apron. This girl was clutching a feather duster in her hands, and she stopped walking when she reached a blue vase. She cleaned it with the duster, but the duster was so long and the vase so big, that one little nudge was enough to make it wobble and collapse on the floor, where the smash echoed in the silence of the hall.
"Oh, no!" The girl gasped. She dropped down and begun to collect up the pieces. However, the vase pieces became surrounded by small, white stars that made the pieces hover in the air and remould until the vase was standing on the ground in one piece, and the white glow disappeared. "Huh?"
"All fixed."
"!" The girl looked up at the sound of the voice. It was another girl of about eight years old with long, blonde hair and a white dress with blue borders, yet what stood out the most to this maid was the large, blue teardrop shape on the front of the dress and the necklace with a similar, orange teardrop shape on the chain. The mark of the royal family. "Your Highness! I sincerely apologise!" The maid said profusely, shifting onto one knee and bowing her head.
"It's okay." The royal girl said calmly, smiling. "I fixed it, so there's no need to apologise."
"…" The young maid looked up, stunned that a member of royalty would say that, while still avoiding making eye contact.
"And please, don't bow to me. I'm a girl, just like you. So, stand up." After hesitating, the maid stood up, still a little confused about how the girl was addressing her so casually, as if she wasn't wearing the necklace that showed her lineage. "I haven't seen you before."
"Y-Yes. I just started today." The maid stuttered, clutching the duster with both hands nervously.
"Ah, you must be part of the programme I put in place."
"That was your idea?"
"Nn." She nodded. "I was inspired to do it after meeting a wonderful person."
"Thank you so much for this opportunity, Your Highness!" The maid gave the princess a low bow.
"You're very welcome. But, there's something wrong with what you're doing."
"…" The girl did not raise her head, suddenly very scared. She did something wrong? What did she do? Was she going to be kicked out?
"You've been calling me Your Highness and acting like I'm your superior. Well, I am, but you know what I mean." The maid straightened up, surprised. "So, please, call me by my name."
"Your name?" The maid said slowly.
"Uh huh." The princess nodded, smiling. "My name is Zena. I'm pleased to meet you."
"P…Pleased to meet you." The maid said, a shy blush on her face, and still trying to avoid eye contact with Zena.
"What's your name?"
"Ah! M-M-M…My name is Dixie!" The maid stuttered out, completely overcome by nerves.
"Pleased to meet you. There, that wasn't so hard." She outstretched a hand towards Dixie. She looked up at her face for the first time. The princess was smiling a cheerful smile. "I want us to be friends."
"…" Dixie raised a hand up slowly, not quite sure how to react.
Friends… She thought. For the first time since meeting the princess, she smiled. I like that word. Her hand clasped Zena's. A maid and a princess. So different yet so similar.
"It feels warm…"
…
"Come on, Dixie. We've been friends for years now. At least call me by name." Zena said, frowning. She was sat cross legged on a queen size four poster bed with blue, chiffon curtains, and white bed sheets with a large, blue teardrop shape on it. The curtains almost completely obscured anyone's vision of her. Dixie herself had significantly grown older. She was now a young woman of seventeen years old. Her maid outfit was still the same, except his time, the skirt was much more pleated and her loose ponytail was now higher and to the side. Dixie looked away from the bed shyly.
"My apologies, Your Highness."
"EEEEEH!" Zena said loudly, imitating a buzzer. "You've done it wrong. Call me by my name. We're friends, so you should address me as such."
"Okay…Princess Zena."
"Urgh!" Zena groaned. "That's close enough, I guess." Dixie saw the curtains sparkle a little and they parted to reveal Zena. She had also aged a lot. The princess, now eighteen, shifted herself off her bed and jumped off. She wore a white t-shirt with a blue teardrop on the front, and long cotton night trousers with smaller, blue teardrop shapes decorating it. Her long hair was a little messy, but Zena didn't seem to care. She stretched her arms above her head and yawned. "Seriously. I know you're a maid here, but you live here, too, just like I do." While Zena spoke, she walked past Dixie and sat in front of a blue, crystal dressing table, picked up a hairbrush and brushed her long, blonde hair. "We should at least be able to call each other by name, regardless of rank."
"That is true, but you are the princess of Cielvia and heir to the throne. It is considered disrespectful to address you by your name."
"Not anymore it's not."
"Why?"
'Cos I said so." Zena said with a smile, pointing her hairbrush at Dixie before resuming her grooming. "I hate it when people see me as a princess rather than Zena. I'm a person just like them." Zena placed her hairbrush back down and picked up her necklace. But, instead of putting it on, she stared at the gem. "I know I bear the symbol of royalty, but I wish everybody would look past it. Even Ryuki still calls me Princess." Zena finally fastened it around her neck.
"Well, he is your Heavenly Guardian."
"True, but I've known him since before I met you. I still called him by his name even after he became captain of the Leo Division."
"You really are unique…" Dixie said quietly.
"I sure am!" Zena exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air as she stood up. "Anyway…" She trotted over to Dixie, an excited look on her face. "I'll need your help with something." She said, her voice lowered to a whisper.
"Just say the word." Dixie said, her face serious and ready to do whatever Zena asked her.
"You think you could help me pick out an outfit for tonight?"
"Why?"
"Well…um…" Zena suddenly went very shy, fiddling with her hands with a pink blush on her face. "I'm going to meet Ryuki tonight."
"What makes this so special?" Dixie asked, cocking her head slightly. Zena dashed over to her bedroom door, opened it up a crack, closed it after a few seconds and ran back to Dixie.
"Well, tonight, I'm going to…to…to tell him something important."
"You mean…" Dixie said, starting to smile. Zena nodded quickly. Zena and Dixie proceeded to squeal in excitement, jumping up and down like little girls while holding each other's hands. Dixie, for a moment, had completely forgotten that Zena was a princess and she was a maid and fully enjoyed this moment she was having with Zena. "I can't believe it! You're finally going to tell him!"
"I know, right?!" Zena half-squealed after they were done jumping. "But…what do you think he'll say? I mean…do you think he'll feel the same way?"
"I'm sure he will." Dixie said firmly, still holding Zena's hands. "He's spent almost his entire life with you. I'm sure, no, I'm certain he'll feel the same way."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"Well…he did say he also had something important to tell me." Zena's eyes widened. "You don't think…" Zena let go of Dixie's hands. "Omigod omigod omigod omigod omigod!" Zena squealed, her hands clasping her face, beaming of both excitement and nerves.
"I've never seen you so excited."
"Of course I'm excited! Oh, but I'm so nervous at the same time!"
"You'll do fine." Dixie reassured her. "Now, let's get you out of those night clothes."
"Oh, right." Zena, still blushing, opened her wardrobe doors, staring at the many outfits. "Aw, man. I know we only wear traditional royal garbs for special occasions now, but some of these outfits are so…formal."
"You are a princess." Dixie pointed out, as she had done so many times after meeting Zena. Never before had somebody from royalty been so free spirited. However, it is because of her independence and her open personality that all of the Cielvians loved her, including Dixie.
"Yeah, yeah." Zena stood back from the wardrobe, her hands on her hips. "So, Dixie, which do you think is best?"
"Well, personally, I don't think it should be too formal. It should be elegant, yet casual."
"Ah, I see. Should I wear these denim trousers?"
"No, no, that's too informal. This is a confession, so you want to look like you've made an effort and also wear something that reminds him that you are a girl."
"That makes sense. Maybe I should wear this gown. It's something I wore for special occasions, and this is definitely a special occasion. It may have the royal seal on it, but the skirt is kinda short, so that makes it casual, right?"
"It does?"
"Yeah. For formal occasions, I wear this one." Zena pointed at another dress.
"Oh, I see what you mean. Yes, that dress is beautiful. You should wear that."
"Are you agreeing with me because I'm who I am, or because that's what you honestly think?"
"Can it be both?" Dixie asked, smiling.
"You're hopeless." Zena said with a smile. "But, that's what I like about you. Alright. This will be the one." Zena took out said dress and hung it up on the wardrobe door. It was a white dress with the blue, teardrop shape on the front. But the lower skirt was made of a light blue chiffon fabric that was longer at the back than the front. The dress was sleeveless, but there were chiffon fabric bell-like detached sleeves that matched the lower skirt hanging limply over the hanger, blue ribbon hanging on top. Zena took out some blue sandals and tossed them underneath the dress.
"Right." Zena's night clothes glowed white and were soon replaced by a white short sleeved t-shirt that was elegant enough to almost be a blouse, and the rounded collar had a thin, black ribbon around it to tie into a bow on the front, and there was a black, pleated skirt to match, along with black socks halfway up to her knees and white ballet pumps. Zena finally shut her wardrobe doors, satisfied. The chosen dress and shoes hovered in the air and hung on one of the posts of Zena's bed, and the sandals clattered on the ground underneath it.
"A fine choice, Princess Zena."
"I couldn't have done it without your help. This is a big moment. I want it to be perfect."
"Of course."
"But…I'm still worried." Zena looked away and at the ground, her face both sad and serious.
"Princess Zena?"
"Ryuki had a Premonition Dream two days ago."
"He did?" Dixie gasped, wide eyed.
"Nn. It was vague, as it always is, but that only makes it all the more serious."
"What did he see?" Dixie dared to ask.
"Fire and ice."
"Oh, no." Dixie said quietly. "You don't think anything bad is going to happen do you?"
"I don't know. Ryuki doesn't know what it means, either." Zena's hand reached up to fiddle with the ribbon on her shirt. "I wonder what's going to happen."
"It will be fine. I promise you. After all, you are about to tell Ryuki how you really feel tonight. Besides, the future can always be changed."
"I guess…" Zena said with a smile, although she was still uncertain. "I mean, what's the worst that can happen?"
…
"!" Dixie's eyes snapped open with a gasp. She promptly sat up and looked at her surroundings. Everywhere she looked, she saw fire.
That's right…Dixie thought, remembering what happened. The human was blinded and shot those cylinders at the back of the room. This fire is huge. Almost as big as that day…Never mind that. I have to get out of here. Dixie shook her head to get rid of the memories, starting to pick herself up.
Crack!
"What?" Dixie looked up at the ceiling, and her eyes widened. There was a flaming wooden beam hanging loose. Dixie suddenly saw before her the same castle she had worked in, only it was full of fire and the sounds of people screaming. But, amongst the crowd, she saw one person, who was being hurriedly escorted down a corridor by many people ahead of her. It was Zena. Dixie had cried for help. Zena started to turn around…and everything went black. To Dixie, that was the betrayal that made her who she was today. But, she shoved aside her hatred for now. She was too busy staring at the wooden beam about to collapse on top of her. There was the sound of slinters snapping, before the wooden beam snapped and began to fall. Dixie covered her head, bracing herself for the worst. She heard the beam hit something. But, she was in no pain. She looked up, and gasped. Before her was the very girl she had loved and respected.
"Princess…Zena?" Dixie whispered. But, Zena disappeared. Replacing her was her lookalike. Ren Conner. She had her teeth clenched as the wooden beam was squarely on her back, burning her blouse and almost getting through to her skin. She straightened up, and the beam fell off her back and snapped in two. She shrugged her shoulders back while muttering "ow". Dixie could only stare at her in shock. Ren recovered and smiled at Dixie.
"Are you alright, Pixie?" She asked.
"Why…Why did you save me?" Dixie demanded. "I didn't ask for your help!"
"I'm going to pretend that was a thank you. Now, we need to get out of here."
"We? What do you mean "we"?"
""We" meaning you and me in the same room about to be burnt alive unless we get out of here right now."
"But…But I'm your enemy. Why would you do this?"
"Because a life is still a life. That's why I let Tom escape. I'm not leaving until you and Nathan are safe. Speaking of which, have you seen him?"
"No. He is not in the room." Dixie answered. The spell she had cast on him allowed her to know his location. But, wherever he was, he wasn't in this room.
"Whew!" Ren rubbed the sweat on the brow, both from the fire and from the nerves. "Guess that leaves us two. Come on." Ren outstretched a hand to Dixie, but she refused to take it, standing up by herself. "Oh…kay. All the exits are sealed off, and I don't see any vents, which is just as well. Those things are too cliché. So, I figured I could blast us out through the ceiling." Without warning, Ren did exactly as she said and blasted a hole in the ceiling above them with her Fire Shackles. "Now we'd better hurry. This place is gonna roast us like turkeys!" Ren climbed up onto a metal counter, jumped up and clung to the edge of the hole she made. "Come on, Pixie." Ren looked down at Dixie, who was looking down at the ground. "Pixie?"
"This is precisely why I hate you."
"Eh?" Ren blinked. She let go of the edge, dropping back down onto the counter. "What are you talking about?"
"You say that you will save everybody. That's exactly what Zena said. But, she went back on her word, and so will you. We are enemies. You will save me now, but when we meet again, you will treat me as your enemy."
"Aw, can't this wait?" Ren asked.
"No! This can't wait!" Dixie yelled, looking up at Ren. "You say that you are selfless and that you will never abandon your friends, and yet here you are now, treating me as if I were your friend, when you know full well that we are far from that fact. What if your friends call out to help when your own life is in danger?! You will abandon them! Everybody does! And Zena is no exception! I cried out to her, but she ignored me!"
"Did she?"
"!" Dixie's eyes widened. Ren was looking down at her, a surprisingly serious expression on her face.
"If I truly am like Zena, then she really wouldn't abandon anybody, even if it killed her. I'm trying to save you right now, after all. So, I'll ask you again." Ren narrowed her eyes at Dixie. "Did she?"
"But…But…" Dixie stammered, remembering Zena once again as she looked over her shoulder before everything went black. Zena abandoned her. She knows it. She had lost consciousness. She had woken up in front of the symbol of White Raven. Nothing else came before she woke up. Zena must have abandoned her.
"Forget about that for now. Just come on." Ren offered Dixie her hand again. "Some people may abandon others…" Ren smiled her smile at Dixie. "But I won't. And I never will."
"…" Still pondering what Ren said, Dixie finally took Ren's hand, and climbed on top of the counter. Both of them jumped up to the ledge and climbed through the hole. The corridor before them was also on fire, but it wasn't as bad as in the kitchen. In fact, there were slivers of daylight among the fire. But, that didn't stop them from running down the corridor, looking for a way out with Ren leading the way.
"There's a trap door this way." Ren explained while she ran. "We can get up on the roof then."
"Right." Dixie and Ren ran around the corner. The building continued to burn behind them, and one person calmly followed Ren and Dixie, walking through the fire as if nothing was happening. That person was Nathan, and in his hand was a giant cleaver that gleamed in the light of the fire while the gun was safely tucked away in his jacket pocket. He followed the two girls, the green glow in his eyes flashing, yet it was even brighter than before.
…
"They've been in there for too long." Tom said. "The fire's just getting bigger."
"At this rate, nobody is getting out." Steph whispered, already starting to freak out.
"It's going to be fine." Rukia tried to calm Ren's two closest friends down, but she too couldn't help but get frantic.
"Freaking out isn't going to solve anything. Just look at Captain Hitsugaya." Renji looked towards Toshiro, who was still staring at the fire, almost afraid to look away. But, what was noticeable was that his trademark frown wasn't on his face. Instead, it was an expression of panic that was a borderline towards pure terror.
"And besides, I think I hear the fire engines." Steph said with a smile that was desperately trying to reassure herself. However, she was disappointed when she saw a yellow van go past. It was just an ambulance.
Clank!
"What was that?" Rangiku asked.
"I'm not sure. It sounded like…a door." Ichigo looked around for anything that resembled a door and wasn't obscured by fire, or even a person. Hell, he didn't care if it was Dixie, as long as it was somebody.
"Impossible." Renji retorted. "We saw that door get blown up before our eyes.
"It's up there." Rukia pointed at the roof of a much taller school building, at least four stories, with the flat roof surrounded by railings, much like most of the school buildings were, and she could vaguely see a metal trap door that was wide open. She then saw a person climb out, followed by another.
"Are they…" Steph started, smiling; only this smile was more genuine than the last.
"Booyah!"
"!" Toshiro snapped his head away from the fire. He knew that voice. That loud, obnoxious voice.
"It is! It's Ren!" Steph yelled, hugging Tom.
"She's alright! She's alright!"
"Wooooo!" Ren yelled, spinning in circles with her hands above her head, allowing the Fire Shackles to disappear. "Oh, sweet oxygen, how I have missed you! Yeeeaaaa-" Ren stopped cheering for a moment to cough loudly from the smoke she had previously inhaled. "Maybe I said that too soon." She said in a raspy voice.
"Ren!"
"Ren! Are you alright?!"
"Guys?" Ren ran over to the railing on top of the school building and looked down. Right there were Steph and Tom waving and jumping up and down. Behind them were the other Soul Reapers, who all looked relieved. "Guys!" Ren beamed, waving down at them. "I'm fine! No problem!"
"Phew." Rangiku sighed, all signs of panic gone.
"Heh. Don't get us worried like that." Ichigo said with a smile.
"Yeah! Sorry!"
"…" Toshiro said nothing, still staring up at Ren and looking for any signs of an injury. Her shirt was burnt on her back, but the burn on her skin had already healed up. There was a little soot on her face. But, that was Ren. Alive and in one piece. Instantly, all of his panic washed away and he almost sank onto his knees from relief, but he somehow managed to fight it off and remain standing. "Ren…" He whispered, starting to smile. "Ren!" He yelled.
"Eh?" Ren followed the voice, and she finally saw Toshiro. "Hey, Shiro! Hi!" Ren waved down at him. "Sorry for worrying you! I'm not cooked! So take that panic-y look off your face, 'kay?"
"Yeah." Toshiro nodded, still smiling.
"Pixie, you better go down first." Ren said, looking over her shoulder.
"Fine by me." Dixie had already jumped over the railing and landed squarely on her feet, despite the fact they were four storeys off the ground.
"Don't attack her, guys! She's a friend! Sorta!"
"But-"
"Red Pineapple…" Ren said sternly.
"Fine." Renji folded his arms and looked away.
"Come down, Ren! The fire is going to reach the science block soon!" Tom yelled up at Ren.
"Ah." Ren said slowly, an embarrassed look on her face. She had completely forgotten about getting down. Whoops! "I didn't quite think that through."
"You idiot!" Renji yelled.
"Oh, come on! I was trying to rescue two people from a burning building! Speaking of, I can't find Nathan."
"What?" Steph gasped.
"It's true. Ask Pixie." Ren pointed at Dixie. Everybody turned to look at her.
"She's telling the truth. I can keep track of where he is due to the spell I cast on him. However, I don't know where he is right now. He could be in there. He could be dead. I really don't know."
"Crud. Well, I'm gonna go over this way. The buildings are lower." Ren walked off to her left.
"But that's where the fire is." Tom protested.
"Yeah, but I can't think of anything else right now." Ren said, climbing over the railing separating the science block from the main building. Ren looked over the edge at her friends again. "Just hang tight. I'll be down in a sec."
"Be careful, alright?" Toshiro said. But, something caught his eye. A shadow was emerging from behind Ren. A shadow with a very menacing looking cleaver in their hands, getting poised to attack.
"Something up, Shiro?" Ren asked, noticing the look on Toshiro's face and obviously not noticing the presence of the shadow.
"Ren, behind you!" Toshiro finally yelled.
"Huh?" Ren turned around. Right behind her was Nathan, and his eyes flashed green just before he swung the cleaver down. "Nya!" Ren clasped the railing and leapt over it and away from Nathan, just as the railing by where she just stood got dented. Ren landed on her feet and walked backwards from the railing as Nathan also leapt over it. He remained where he was, the cleaver ready to hack.
"This is bad." Steph whispered. "They're back at the science block."
"Wait a minute…" Ren looked at her surroundings. There was a trap door on the building she had stood on moments ago, hanging wide open so that more smoke could come out.
That explains why Nathan is here. But… Ren looked around again. Then she saw the same trap door she and Dixie had escaped through. The one that led from the science block. Ren faced forward again to look at Nathan. But, she was more drawn to the thick, black smoke that was starting to come out of one of the windows in a chemistry classroom. Then she realised exactly what Steph had just said while out of her ear shot.
"Wuh oh."
BOOM!
"NYAAAA!" Ren yelled, staggering back. Another explosion had rocked the building, but this time, it was so great, it made Ren loose her balance and hit the railing, where the shaking of the building made her fall back. "Ah!" Quickly, Ren grabbed onto the edge of the building, saving her own life, but barely.
"Ren!" Toshiro's panic had now returned after seeing Ren almost fall. That, and the fact that Nathan had a massive cleaver, made him even more worried than he was before.
"Phew. "Ren sighed, relieved. But, her vision went dark, and when she looked up, she saw Nathan standing over her, his eyes glowing green. "Um…hello." She said with a smile.
"Hey! You cast the spell! Make it go away!" Ichigo demanded.
"I can't."
"You mean you won't!" Renji snapped.
"No. I mean I can't. I only brought out Nathan's hatred for Ren. But, right now, it is so great, I can't break it." Throughout the explanation, Dixie was expressionless, since she didn't care either way whether Ren lived or died, or even if the human she had controlled was going to make it out of this alive.
"Does that mean I'm boned?" Ren asked, overhearing what Dixie said.
"Yeah."
"Dang it." Ren looked back up at Nathan, then at the cleaver, where it gleamed in the sunlight. Ren will be damned if she was going to let anybody kill her today. Besides, the new Simpsons episode was being broadcasted tonight! "Now, I know what you're thinking. "Should I let her fall?" Right now, that spell is making you think "Hell yeah, I'm gonna kill her.", but if you look deep into your conscious…" Ren trailed off as Nathan raised the cleaver back again, ready to strike. "Dah! He doesn't have a Jiminy Cricket!" Quickly, Ren swung her legs up and clung to the railing after letting go, just as Nathan's cleaver hit where her head would have been. She crawled through the railing and ran to the centre of the building. Luckily for her, the school had flat roofs, so this made things a little bit easier.
"That was close." Ichigo sighed, voicing what everybody thought.
"Nathan, I know you have a grudge of some sort against me, but can't we settle this later? The school is kinda on fire here. I think you might have noticed. I mean, you caused it and all." Nathan's response was charging towards Ren. "Nya!" Ren dodged the swing and carried on backing away as Nathan kept charging and attacking her. "The word "apology" can mean-wah!" Ren dodged. "I'm sure we can be-" Ren jumped back from another blow. "Can't we hug it out?!"
"What do we do?" Tom asked the Soul Reapers.
"Leave it up to Ren, I guess." Was Ichigo's answer.
"That's all we can do." Steph said quietly, her feeling of helplessness sinking in.
"…" Toshiro stared up at Ren, wishing that he knew how to bring out Ryuki's wings. But he didn't, so he was stuck down here, where all he can do is watch. Once again, Toshiro felt ashamed of his helplessness. How much longer can he keep this up?
"Ah, geez. Oh, boy." Ren muttered when her back hit the railing again. She looked at Nathan, who was just in front of her, ready to strike. Quickly, she did the first thing she thought of. "Look, a distraction!" She yelled, pointing behind Nathan. Nathan looked. "Wow that actually worked. I-I mean AHA!" Ren triumphantly snatched the cleaver from Nathan's hand and backed away, pointing it at him with a smile on her face. "NOW who's the vulnerable one?" Nathan gave no response. Instead, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the handgun, pointing it at Ren. Her smile faded. "I guess that's me again."
"A gun?!" Steph clung to Tom.
"What's he doing with a gun?!" Ichigo exclaimed.
"Who cares?! It's pointing at Ren!" Rukia yelled in response.
"Nathan! Don't shoot! If you do, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Ren said, trying to reason with him. Nathan said nothing. "Violence never gives you true satisfaction. It's only temporary. I should know." Nathan cocked the hammer back, ready to fire. "Um, okay. You're gonna kill me for reasons I and probably you don't understand." Nathan's finger went to the trigger. "I know you might hate me but…I don't hate you!" Ren blurted out in her fear, closing her eyes and bracing herself for what was to come.
BLAM!
"Ren!" Toshiro and Tom yelled at the same time. Steph suppressed a gasp behind her hands, and the rest of the Soul Reapers looked on in shock, while Dixie looked on, neither shocked nor scared. Ren expected to feel some kind of pain on her body, but instead, she felt nothing. She opened her eyes, half wondering if she was still alive, while the other half was convinced she was dead. She felt her stomach and chest with her free hand, searching for any signs of an injury. Nothing. That's when she saw the smoking bullet hole on the ground, safely next to her feet.
"Nathan…" Ren looked back at Nathan. The gun was still smoking a little, and his hair hid his eyes.
"He…He missed?" Rangiku said slowly.
What's going on? Dixie thought, puzzled. The spell. It's…fading.
"Well…I'm glad you didn't kill me." Ren said with a nod, not quite sure what happened, but whatever it was, it let her live.
"That's why I can't stand you." Nathan said, lowering his gun.
"I feel a déjà vu coming on." Ren muttered.
"Why do you have to be so damn nice? Why are you always so happy?" Nathan looked up, directly at a puzzled Ren. "No matter what I throw at you, no matter what anyone throws at you, you never break! I hate it! Nobody can take on all of that and move forward! Nobody should be able to move forward! And yet, you always defy me! Defy Katelyn! Defy everybody! It's just so humiliating!" Nathan pointed the gun at Ren again, his eyes very briefly flashing green. "That's why I need to shoot you!"
"…" Ren closed her eyes for a moment, thinking things over. "Fine."
"Huh?" Ren dropped the hatchet onto the ground. She looked up at Nathan, and he was surprised to see that her bright eyes were narrow, and her smile was gone. It was a look of pure determination. "If killing me will satisfy you, then go ahead." Ren outstretched her arms, the palms open. She was completely exposed. "Fire away."
"What's she up to?" Rukia said, confused.
Ren…Toshiro thought. I hope you know what you're doing.
"Fine. I will. I will!" Nathan cocked the hammer of the gun back again, ready to shoot. But, seeing the defiant look in Ren's eyes made him stop.
"What are you waiting for?" Ren asked calmly. "This is what you want, isn't it? You despise me, perhaps hate me. You want to be rid of the one who has made you feel these emotions all this time. Your frustration. Your pride. Your honour. If you pull that trigger, you can leave with all of those problems remedied. But, for what? A reputation as a murderer? Tell me, Nathan. Is it really worth it?"
"Shut up!" Nathan snapped, but the hand holding the gun started to shake.
"Listen to me. I offer you two choices. You can shoot me until your heart is content and be on your merry way to continue your life, the label of "murderer" forever on your shoulders. Or, you can drop the gun, and we can live on. Perhaps you will discard your old ways. Perhaps you won't. That is up to you. But, I wonder…Can you really torment more innocent people, when one such person died by your hands? Is that really the best way to solve your problems?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Nathan yelled, shaking his head.
"Make your choice, Nathan."
"Don't tell me what to do! You have no right! You're always in my way! I'll kill you! I…I…" Nathan was about to pull the trigger, but instead, his arm hung limply by his side. "I wish I was you."
"…" Ren lowered her arms a little, astonished.
"I've never seen Ren like this." Steph said in amazement.
"I guess she really does have a serious side." Renji said, matter-of-factly.
"Wow! I didn't see that coming!" Ren exclaimed, rubbing the back of her head with a grin on her face.
"Aaaaaand, now it's gone." Renji sweat dropped.
"I hate you…and yet…I can't help but admire you. You have been through so much. And you never hold a grudge against people who make you suffer. You're so positive. I don't get it. No matter what I do, you always stay the same. I just don't get it."
"Nathan…I don't quite get what you're saying." Ren said, still a little puzzled. Nathan said nothing, remembering when he met Dixie.
Flashback
"My name is Dixie, handsome. And I think you and I can help each other out."
"How?" Nathan asked, curious.
"Well, she is always in our way, right?"
"Yeah?"
"So, let's fix that."
"Wh…What do you mean?" Nathan was starting to get very worried, especially when Dixie's smile became very menacing.
"Your father has a gun, doesn't he?"
"Yeah, but…" Nathan interrupted himself, the pieces slowly coming together. "Wait, you…" Nathan took a few steps back from Dixie. "Don't tell me…"
"Yes. We will destroy the road block once and for all. And this time, she won't return."
"Wait a second! You want me…us…you…"
"To kill Ren Conner." Dixie said, her smile becoming much more menacing. So menacing, that it almost scared Nathan.
"Forget it!" Nathan snapped. "I can't stand Ren, but I don't hate her like you do! Hell, I don't even know who you are!" Dixie's smile turned into a narrow eyed frown.
"Let me ask you something, Nathan. Do you truly hate Ren?"
"…" Nathan hesitated, pondering that question. "I…Yes. No. Rrrr...I don't know!"
"It sounds to me like you respect her more than hate her. If anything…"
"!" Nathan's eyes widened. Dixie was in front of him in an instant, prompting him to back away again with a yell.
"You almost like her."
"No, I…" Dixie interrupted by placing her finger on his mouth, silencing him. She smiled, and Nathan wasn't sure if it was kind or sinister. Whatever it was, he didn't like it.
"Don't worry. I'm here to help. Your hatred…" Dixie looked directly into Nathan's brown eyes. "I will unleash it." Nathan's eyes turned into a light shade of green. Nathan felt his reasoning gradually fade away, yet he could do nothing to fight against it.
Sorry, Ren. Nathan thought, as he sensed the last of who he was disappear into the darkness. I guess I…But, before he could finish that thought, the green in his eyes disappeared, and he now wore an expression of a soulless shell.
"Good." Dixie said, smiling.
…
"I guess I…" Nathan started, finally remembering that thought.
"?" Ren walked a few steps closer to Nathan, curious.
"I mean…I spent so long trying to break you, I didn't know if I truly hated you or not. I guess I…" Nathan clenched the gun still in his hand. "I guess I admired you more than hated you." Nathan smiled a sad smile at Ren. "I really am a big idiot."
"No."
"Eh?" Nathan blinked, surprised.
"You're not an idiot. You were just confused. Everybody gets confused at some point. Hell, I do and all." Ren smiled her happy smile at Nathan for what felt like the first time for both of them. "But, it's confusion that helps us to grow. If you acknowledge your doubts, then you're that much closer to solving them. I guess you're starting to solve them now, so you've already started to grow."
"…" Nathan was silent, stunned. "Ren…"
The spell… Dixie thought, wide eyed. It's gone. It's completely vanished! How is this possible?
"You'd better get rid of the gun." Ren said, pointing at the revolver in Nathan's hand. "We can't have you spending your days in the slammer."
"Oh! Right!" Nathan quickly pocketed it, much to Ren's confusion.
"I meant throw it away, but I guess that'll do."
"It's my dad's. He's an overseas weapons dealer, remember?"
"Oh, yeah!" Ren exclaimed, tapping her fist on her palm. "That makes sense!"
"So, now what?" Nathan asked, not sure what exactly was going to happen now that Ren knew how he felt.
"I guess we'd better find a way off this building." Ren answered, obviously misunderstanding.
"That wasn't what I meant." Nathan muttered, sweat dropping.
"Well…If you want to, we can start again."
"Start again?" Nathan repeated. Ren walked a few steps closer to Nathan, and stopped when they were only a few metres apart. Ren outstretched a hand to Nathan. "Hi. My name is Ren Conner. What's your name?"
"Are you stupid?" Nathan nearly exclaimed. "There's no way I can start again! Not after what I've done! Not after the people I've hurt! They'll never forgive me!"
"…" Ren only responded by smiling her usual smile at Nathan again. And that was all it took to reassure him. Before, he was so full of hatred and confusion, he lashed out at Ren and everybody she cared about just to make her tick. But, after what just happened, all of his hatred had suddenly vanished. It was like a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders. He still wasn't sure if anybody would forgive him for what he had done, but as he reached towards Ren's hand, he knew that things would work out.
BOOM!
"Huh?" Nathan felt the ground underneath him crumble. The edge of the school building he was standing on was cracking around the edges, but under his weight, it collapsed, and Nathan started to fall. His face wasn't full of fear, and he didn't scream. He was just stunned.
"Nathan!"
"!" Just like that, Nathan felt himself stop falling. He looked down. The small section of the building fell onto the ground and smashed into pieces, exposing a burning classroom in front of him. He looked up at Ren. She was lying flat on the roof, her hand gripping onto his wrist. But, despite his weight, she seemed to be holding onto him with little to no difficulty.
"I'll ask you again." Ren said, smiling. "What's your name?"
"Heh." Nathan smiled, but it was no longer his sneering smirk. It was a genuine smile as he looked up at his brighter future. "My name…" Nathan reached his other hand up and clasped Ren's arm. "Is Nathan Harris."
"There we go!" Ren said brightly. Right after she said this, she pulled Nathan up until his hands could hit the edge, and he climbed himself back up onto his feet.
"I guess they're both okay now." Tom said, hiding his confusion.
"I'm confused." Rangiku said loudly.
"It doesn't matter, Rangiku." Toshiro finally heard the sound of fire engines, and he saw the flashing red lights around the corner. "It doesn't matter."
…
"I'm telling you, I'm fine." Ren insisted, shrugging away a fireman's hand. "It's my friends you need to take care of." While Ren was trying to deter the fireman, Dixie, Nathan and Tom were being examined by other firemen, while the final remnants of the fire were being extinguished by their giant hoses.
"They are all fine. Just some minor smoke inhalation. They may have a cough for a couple days, but it's not serious."
"Great. Now, if you'll excuse me." Ren began to walk away.
"Wait!"
"Look at the back, mister. I'm fine." Ren pointed at the hole through her blouse, where there was no injury. The fireman was completely astonished. With a smile, Ren ducked under the barrier and walked around the corner of the building, where her friends were waiting. "The other three will be back shortly."
"Honestly…" Renji sighed, folding his arms with a smirk.
"You really know how to bring the suspense, don't you?" Steph said with a smile.
"Blame television." Ren said cheerfully. "But, the fire's out now, so it all works out. I'm all healed up, so there is no permanent damage." At this point, Tom emerged from around the corner, followed by Nathan and a Dixie who was scowling with her arms folded.
"Mr Watson said that the fire damage spread to most of the school. It's going to take more than a week to repair, so it's closed until further notice."
"WOO HOO!" Ren cheered, throwing her arms up in the air. "Half term holiday!" Ren checked the date on her watch. "And just in time for Valentine's Day."
"…" Toshiro said nothing, merely listening to Ren's words.
"Hey, Shiro, why so qui-" Ren stopped with a gasp when Toshiro's next action surprised everybody. He ran forward and, as soon as he got to Ren, hugged her.
"…" Renji, Rangiku and Ichigo all simultaneously went open mouthed, and while Rukia kept her dignity, she was still just as shocked as they were. What was going on with their cold-as-ice captain?
"Sh-Shiro?" Ren stammered, her cheeks turning pink. "Wh-Wh-What are you doing?"
"Nothing. I…" Toshiro pulled away, looking surprised himself that he would act like that. He let go of Ren, glancing in different directions out of embarrassment. "I just wanted to make sure you were all there."
"Shiro…Were you really that scared?"
"What? No!" Toshiro insisted. "I wasn't scared!" Toshiro looked away huffily. "You're always putting yourself in dangerous situations and you turned out fine each time, so why should this be any different? I knew you'd be okay! I wasn't scared!" Toshiro realised that his hands were shaking, so he clenched them into fists, but they still trembled. "I wasn't scared…"
"…" Ren smiled softly. She reached down and gently held Toshiro left hand with both of hers. Toshiro looked up at Ren's face, knowing full well that he could not lie to Ren.
"It's okay, Shiro. You don't have to lie. I'm sorry, okay?"
"…" Toshiro tried and failed to wear his trademark expression. Instead, he looked away again, trying to hide the blush on his cheeks. "Idiot. You shouldn't apologise."
"Well, I just did." Ren started to let go of Toshiro's hand, but stopped herself. She had just noticed the cuts on his palm. "Ah! What happened to your hand?!" She exclaimed.
"Huh?" Toshiro took his hand away from Ren's and looked at it, before proceeding to look at the other one. Both of them were covered with fresh cuts and blood stains. "When did this happen?!"
"That's what I said!"
"I think our captain is going nuts." Renji whispered to Rangiku.
"I think you're right."
"Hey."
"Eh?" Ren stopped worrying over Toshiro for a moment and looked at Dixie, who had finally spoken up.
"You're the one who took control of Nathan aren't you?" Steph asked, her eyes getting narrow.
"Yeah. It's your fault this school blew up!"
"Oh, please. You were the one holding the gun." Dixie scoffed.
"Enough of the blame game. Let's whoop her butt!" Ichigo declared.
"Way ahead of ya." Renji was already cracking his knuckles. But, Ren raised an arm in front of them. "Ren?"
"What is it that you want to say?" Ren said patiently.
"Ren, you truly did outwit my plan, even when all hope was lost. I hate to say this, and I really hate to say this, but…you win." Right after Dixie said this, she saw a small glowing just underneath her line of sight. She looked down and gasped. Her belt buckle was glowing white.
"What's happening?" Rukia gasped, wide eyed.
"It's just like Ryuki said." Steph said. "Dixie's been defeated three times, so now she's going back."
"Back where?" Renji asked.
"To Cielvia." Toshiro answered.
"No!" Dixie yelled as the glowing began to get brighter and brighter. Suddenly, Ren was right in front of Dixie, and before anybody could react, she grabbed the White Raven symbol and yanked it away from Dixie, ripping it from the belt. With all of her strength, Ren threw it away from her, just as the glowing grew brighter and disappeared, taking the symbol with it. Ren sighed. Everybody looked at Ren, astonished. Nathan, meanwhile, rubbed his eyes and looked at where Ren threw the crest.
"Um…what just happened?" He asked nobody.
"Not now, Nathan." Tom said dismissively.
"Ren…why?" Toshiro asked, completely stunned.
"Well, Pixie said "no", didn't she? I figured she didn't want to go back, and it's the symbol that makes them go back, so I just grabbed it and threw it away."
"But she's the-"
"Enemy?" Ren finished for Rukia. "I know. But, she didn't want to go. I let her stay. Pure and simple."
"It's like I said." Steph folded her arms with a smile. "Ren is as Ren does. Friend or enemy, she'll always help them."
"That's stupid." Renji said bluntly.
"Oi." Ren muttered. Dixie, meanwhile, was silent. After that symbol was removed, she felt something coursing through her. This something grew bigger and bigger until it overtook her mind and spirit. The only evidence of this was how her irises went an even brighter green than before, but nobody noticed.
What's going on? Dixie thought. I feel like…I'm seeing something.
Flashback
"All Cielvians to Failsafe Shift. Proceed to your positions. This is not a drill. I repeat…" The warning said over the sound of screaming and fire. The originally beautiful walls of the castle hallways were now stained with the orange and red of fire, and the cracks of damage. Outside, everybody could hear the sound of swords clashing, of weapons being fired, of explosions, and the roars of some unidentified monsters, whether they were of threatening nature or of pain. All of the Royal Guard was fighting. And yet, here, in the castle, many people in the castle were running and panicking yet trying to go to their designated area, whether they were servants, Cielvians or the like. Dixie was among them, but in the panic, she got knocked off her feet, where she tripped and fell. Before she knew it, everybody in her group was gone. Dixie was alone. She did not know her position. She was trapped. Was this it? Was she going to die?
"This way, Your Highness!"
"!" Dixie's eyes widened, and she saw several people wearing the royal white and blue and leading a girl with long blonde hair hurriedly down the corridor. Their backs were turned, but Dixie would recognise that blonde hair anywhere.
"Princess Zena!" She cried out. Zena looked over her shoulder, and as soon as she saw Dixie, she gasped.
"Dixie!" Zena ran through the escorts and straight to Dixie. Ignoring the protests of the escorts, she went straight to her friend and kneeled in front of her. Dixie noticed how Zena was wearing the very outfit they picked out together. And right after she promised the princess nothing bad would happen tonight. Dixie couldn't help but feel sad that she unintentionally told a lie. "Dixie. Are you okay?"
"No!" Dixie shook her head. "I lost my group! I don't know where I'm supposed to go!"
"Shhh. It's okay. Which number is it?"
"Number 17."
"Go straight down that corridor, left, first right and down the hall. All the doors are numbered, and they're all odd. You got that?"
"Straight down. Left. First right. Corridor with numbered doors." Dixie repeated, trying to keep calm.
"Alright. Now go."
"Aren't you coming?" Dixie asked. Zena shook her head.
"The royal family have their own position. I can't go with you. Now go on, before they execute the Failsafe."
"Right." Dixie climbed back onto her feet, and ran off to her left, but before she went around the corner, she turned back around and smiled at Zena. "I knew you wouldn't abandon me!"
"Never!" Zena yelled back, standing up with a smile. Dixie, hearing this, began to run to her left, remembering the instructions Zena gave her while feeling reassured that she was going to be safe. But, that didn't stop her from hearing Zena's final words. "Even if we're strangers in another world, I will never abandon you! That's a promise, you hear me?!"
…
"!" Dixie's eyes snapped open. She sat up on the cold ground. She was in a spotlight, and in front of her was a strange symbol of a white bird with its head turned to its left, and the tips of its wings forming a circle. She knew that symbol, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it…
"Where am I? How did I get here?" Dixie wondered.
"Perhaps I can answer that."
"!" Dixie gasped. The symbol was replaced by a purple sphere that had bubbles rising to the surface, but what really stood out was the silhouette of a woman floating inside it. "Who are you?"
"Me? I am somebody who can make you powerful."
"Powerful?" Dixie repeated slowly, standing up.
"Yes. Listen, Dixie. I know you have untapped potential within you. You do carry the blood of the Cielvians, after all. You have their powers, yet you do not have a single Elemental Shackle. I can make those powers stronger. All you have to do is pledge your loyalty to me."
"Loyalty to what?" Dixie asked.
"White Raven."
"White Raven…" Dixie said quietly. She gasped. That name. That symbol. They were the people who attacked Cielvia! "Never!" Dixie yelled defiantly. "I will never join a society such as yours, after you destroyed my home world!"
"Oh, I assure you, child, that Cielvia is very much in one piece. However, we cannot go inside. All we can do is bring out Cielvians such as you and unlock their potential so that they may fight for us."
"I will never join you!" Dixie yelled. "Now, send me back!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that so easily. If you wish to go home, then you will suffer a horrible fate. But, if that is truly what you want, then you must serve your purpose here in White Raven, and once my use of you has disappeared, so will you. So, Dixie, do you still wish to return to your abandoned home world?"
"…" Dixie looked at the ground. "No…But…But it's better than staying here!"
"You don't really have a choice." Suddenly, there appeared two eyes where the silhouettes face would be. However, they were an eerie blood red colour that scared Dixie. She wanted to look away, yet some unnatural force compelled her to look. "Your admiration and love for Zena is great, but I must make a few…adjustments." Dixie's eyes went a brighter green. In the next few moments, Zena felt cold. It felt as though a dark curtain was covering her heart and mind, and she felt her darkest emotions come to surface.
No! Dixie thought, as she saw memories of her and Zena flash by. No! She saw the moment when Zena was about to look over her shoulder before saving her, but instead, it went black. That moment when she saved her had disappeared, like it has never happened. NO! The last thing to disappear was Zena's last words to her. Dixie blinked, and a scowl appeared on her face.
"Now, tell me, Dixie, how do you feel?" The silhouette asked, closing her eyes.
"Pretty good." Dixie answered, her voice full of confidence.
"And what of Zena?"
"Zena?!" Dixie spat on the ground. "Don't even say her name! Urgh, why am I still in this trashy outfit?!" Dixie plucked at the skirt of her maid's uniform. Before, she would have felt honoured to serve the royal family, but now, she was disgusted just to look at it, after one such member of the family willingly abandoned her. "Get it off me!"
"Excellent."
…
"Pixie! Yoo hoooooooo!" Ren said loudly, snapping her fingers in front of Dixie's face.
"!" Dixie returned to the real world with a gasp. At the same time, the glowing in her eyes disappeared. But Ren, who was inches away from her face, didn't seem to notice.
"Are you alright?" Ren asked.
"I'm fine." Dixie said dismissively, looking away from Ren. "I just spaced out."
"Well, that's okay. I do that, too. A lot."
What is this? Dixie thought. All of a sudden, my hatred just…disappeared. She looked down at her torn belt, where the belt buckle that used to be the White Raven symbol had vanished. As soon as that symbol was thrown away, all of my anger vanished. Was it that spell the mistress cast on me?
"Why?" Dixie said quietly. "Why did you save me?"
"Not this again." Ren rolled her eyes, but she still smiled. "I told you, didn't I? I never abandon anyone."
"Okay, what the hell is happening here?!" Nathan exclaimed.
"Uhhh…" Ren looked away, trying to think of an explanation. "Shiro, help." Ren said urgently.
"Don't pin this on me!"
"Well how am I going to explain it?!"
"Like I'd know!"
"Alright, look, Nathan. If I told you the long story, then your head would explode. Either that, or you will think I'm a big weirdo."
"He already thinks you are."
"What did you say, Red Pineapple?!"
"…" Dixie still remained silent throughout, thinking about what Ren said.
"Some people may abandon others…But I won't. And I never will."
My memories were altered. Zena truly did save me. I was angry over nothing. Dixie glanced up at Ren, who was now arguing with Renji, with Rukia trying and failing to calm both sides down. And yet, the enemy still saved me. Me, a person who has tried to kill her. Why?
"Even if we're strangers in another world, I will never abandon you! That's a promise, you hear me!?"
"…" Dixie smiled to herself, suddenly understanding.
I see. Even now, you're keeping your promise. You really are incredible, Princess Zena.
"Hn?" Ren, setting aside her argument with Renji aside for now, turned back around to face Dixie. She, along with everybody else, was confused by the smile on her face. "Pixie?"
One more…Dixie thought, looking up with a focused expression on her face. I need to give her one more test.
"I have a proposition for you."
"I'm listening."
"I have noticed that you have an astounding regenerative ability. No matter how lethal the damage is, your regeneration rate heals all wounds. It is truly superior to any other Cielvians."
"Yeah, I have noticed that." Ren said, looking behind her at her back. Nathan, meanwhile, decided to say nothing. All this talk about Cielvians and regeneration was starting to sound like a plot from a movie to him.
"I want to make an offer to you. I can use that regenerative energy to grant you an even greater power." Dixie narrowed her eyes. "The power to heal."
"Heal?" Ren said, wide eyed.
"Yes. With your power, your healing powers could be the greatest yet. You can cure the most lethal poison, regrow lost limbs that are long gone, seal the deepest of wounds and, if you really wanted to, bring the dead back to life. With this healing skill, you can restore what has been lost."
"Whoa…" Tom said slowly.
"However, with great power comes a great price. In exchange for this, you will lose your regeneration. It will still be there, but it will be much, much weaker. Any lethal injuries dealt to you could very well kill you. So, Ren Conner, what will it be? Save yourself, or save your friends?"
Now, show me. Dixie thought, staring at Ren's thoughtful expression. Show me the extent of your selflessness.
"…" The Soul Reapers and the humans said nothing, waiting for Ren's answer. But, the silence didn't last long, as Ren clapped her hands together with a smile.
"Sugeeeee, that's so generous of you, Pixie!" Ren exclaimed. "So, can you do it right away?"
"!" Everybody stared at Ren, wide eyed at how she made a potentially dangerous decision so quickly.
"?" Nathan was the only one who looked confused. He'll be damned if he didn't get any answers!
Without a moment's hesitation…Dixie thought.
"I really mean it. Arigato gozaimasu!" Ren bowed to Dixie, and when he straightened up, she was wearing her usual smile.
"That was her answer, too."
"Huh?" Ren cocked her head to the side, her same blank expression on her face. "Her who?"
"Princess Zena was given the same offer. She, too, accepted right away. A truly selfless person."
"Really?" Ren blinked. "That's pretty awesome, I guess. I suppose I'm more similar to her than I thought!" Ren gave a little laugh after this. Dixie raised a hand up to Ren's chest, and Ren couldn't help but look down at it. It was only inches from her body, and in Dixie's palm was a glowing white orb.
"What the hell is that?" Nathan asked.
"Later, Nathan." Tom sighed, getting frustrated.
"She lives on after all." Dixie said with a smile. The glowing orb grew even brighter as it touched Ren's body. It was so bright, that everybody besides Ren and Dixie had to shield their eyes. The glowing ball sank inside of Ren's body, and the glowing went with it until it was gone. Dixie lowered her hand. Ren blinked a couple of times before feeling her chest, where the orb had just entered.
"Ren? How do you feel?" Toshiro asked.
"I don't really feel any different." Ren answered, raising her eyebrows. She turned around to face her friends. "What do you think?"
"You don't have any obvious changes." Ichigo said.
"Yeah, you still look like a moron."
"Shut it, Red Pineapple."
"I know. Why don't you try healing Toshiro?" Tom suggested.
"That's right!" Rangiku snapped her fingers with a beam. "He got his hands all cut up! Ren can heal them!"
"I can?" Ren blinked. "Well, I dunno. I only just got the power to do that." She then saw the cut up left hand that belonged to Toshiro. "Shiro?" She looked up at Toshiro, who smiled at her.
"It's alright. I trust you."
"Well…Okay." Ren said slowly. "If you say so, Shiro." Ren took Toshiro's other hand and clasped both of them in her own. Ren still looked hesitant and nervous, but Toshiro was as serious as ever, confident that Ren would be able to do it. "Alright…Here goes…" Seconds after Ren said this, a translucent white glow covered Ren's hands, and little specks of light appeared around Toshiro's hands. "Oooo…" Ren stared in amazement at this light, as did everybody else. Even Dixie had to take a look at this new ability of Ren's. Then, the light disappeared, along with the miniature stars. "Um…I guess it's done." Ren let go of Toshiro's hands. Toshiro looked at the palms, and he couldn't hide his amazement. They were completely injury free. No scars. No signs of infection. Not even a speck of blood.
"Amazing…" Steph breathed.
"It's almost like the healing kido of squad four." Rukia noted.
"It's as I thought." Dixie said, catching everybody's attention. "Ren's healing ability is truly incredible. Now, you need not fear getting injured in battle."
"Sweet." Ren said, looking at her hand in thought.
"Sure, great, now can somebody PLEASE tell me what the hell is going on?!" Nathan exclaimed.
"Well, um…What do you want to know?" Tom asked.
"What do I want to know?! I was controlled by some kinda hocus pocus, then there's this whole talk about this world called Server or whatever the hell its name is, and now Ren is supposed to have powers?!"
"It's a kind of long story…" Steph said with a nervous smile.
"Damn right! I'm starting to think something happened to me that got me in a delusional coma! If that's the case, then wake me up now!"
He's over reacting. Everybody, minus Nathan and Ren, thought, sweat dropping.
"…" Ren said nothing, looking at her hand. "Restore what is lost, huh?" Ren muttered. She then felt a light bulb moment come to mind. "Hmmm…"She smiled. "Say…" She started, looking up at the Soul Reapers. "Can I try something?"
Well, there you go! Ren is okay, Nathan is okay, Dixie is okay, everybody is okay! So, what is Ren's plan? And what will happen to Dixie now that her ties to White Raven are gone? Speaking of, what about the other members, including the mysterious Epona? Stick around to find out, only here on .