AN:I live! Yes, I live. So sorry for the long wait, I can't believe it's been near six months, sobs, gomen. So much school, college sucks...x_x A lot has happened since I last updated, my beloved Camry died, XD, my car that I named the Camry you know after, so I got a new car, a Nissian Sentra, yes I drive the enemy! haha, but anyways next chapter of Ice and Snow please enjoy. oh I drank waaay too much coffee this morning...
Nope don't own Rayearth or any of the characters, but a girl can dream right? Don't own xxxHolic either, though Yukko is epic awesome if I do say so myself.
16. Anything Pt. 1
"One should never say 'anything' quite so easily…
For you live with the choices you make…
Or you die by them."
Eagle walked shoulder to shoulder with Lantis, the two men moving briskly down the hallway, though Eagle had to quicken his steps to match Lantis' longer stride. As the two men helped Clef lock down the palace for the night the two remained mostly quiet, each rapt in their own thoughts only occasionally speaking when necessary.
Such is the effect of death, a heavy and lingering feeling, like thick smoke from and old cigar. The passing of Solara seemed to hang upon the palace as an invisible fog.
They had all quietly withdrawn from the room leaving Camry with Solara's body and Hikaru. A few moments later Hikaru had emerged alone from the room.
"Hikaru?" Umi's voice was soft.
Hikaru rubbed her hand across her forearm uncomfortably, "He left with…her. He said he'd return later."
After that the three girls and Feiro had retreated to Umi's room and Clef had reestablished a barrier around the castle. Ascot and Lafarga had paired off and were checking the lower levels while Eagle and Lantis finished with the upper floors.
The two men found nothing as they finished their sweep; everything within the walls of the palace was forbiddingly quiet. Lantis glanced to his friend, with the uproar of Solara's death he had not been able to figure out if Eagle had worked up enough courage to tell the Water Knight how he felt. He still didn't get what had held the man back in the first place, it was obvious Umi liked him a great deal; well at least to Lantis it was obvious.
The commander seemed lost in thought, though in what Lantis wasn't sure. "Eagle?" Lantis asked glancing in his direction and then looked forward again.
The blond pulled from his reflections, gold eyes snapping to attention. "Yes?"
Lantis paused, Eagle staring at him quizzically, "Lantis?"
Black bangs swished back and forth as Lantis shook his head and decided to ask him something else. "That dream you told me about before, do you remember anything else about it?"
"My dream?" Eagle seemed confused.
"You don't remember talking about it? When you woke briefly after the earthquake?"
"No, not at all…What did I say?" Eagle raked his fingers though is hair.
"Not a lot really, you talked about snow. What did you see?"
"Well…" He still had his fingers threaded in his hair, "Just snow really, a lot of snow, red snow actually. At first that was all I'd see was snow, but the last few times I've heard voices as well." The commander looked over to him hoping he didn't sound crazy.
"Voices? Did you recognize them? Have you had the dream again since then?" Lantis questioned further.
Eagle shook his head in a strong negative motion, "One voice is female, it sounds so familiar but I don't know who it is. She keeps calling my name, each time more desperate than the first, as if something horrible is about to happen." The commander's face paled enough at the memory for it to be noticeable.
"And the other voice?" Lantis pushed him to continue.
"A man, I've heard his voice first, but the woman's seemed more familiar so I focused on it, but the male voice was trying to tell me something…I can only remember the last of what he said, 'No more time…'" Eagle grinned a little, "I think my imagination has gotten the better of me. Umi was reading stories out of one of Hikaru's books; I think that might have something to do with it. What do you think?"
"You're seeing the future."
Both men lurched to a stop at the sound of the male voice behind them.
"Camry?" Lantis questioned.
"What did you say?" Eagle asked bewildered.
"You're seeing the future." The pale man strode forward to stand beside them, his face was drawn, hallow eyes gazing directly at Eagle. "You're sight is still weak, so you can't remember everything you see and hear, but what you are seeing is most likely to happen in the near future."
"Lantis?" Eagle gazed at his friend at a complete loss, he seemed mystified and a little shell shocked.
The Cail nodded curtly, "It's probably true, Guru Clef thought so as well when I told him, but we couldn't be sure until I spoke to you about it." He glanced at Camry, wondering just how he had come to the same conclusion. "You also have the ability to see the future, do you not?"
"Yes I do, but the things one sees in dreams are not always a guarantee, they can be altered, but it is not always easy. The future can be a hard thing to change." Suddenly his sadness seemed to return much heavier than before. "The others are waiting." Camry spoke briskly and strode foreword down the hall not waiting for them to gather their wits and follow him.
o o o
"Do you think he'll be back?" Umi asked.
"He said he would." Hikaru pulled at her hair lose from its ties. The three of them had started to change clothes and prepare for bed. Not that any of them would sleep well.
Feiro was still in his dress clothes, sitting in an arm chair by the window. "The person he loved most just died I don't think anyone could blame him if he decided not to continue helping us."
"He will." Hikaru disagreed with the prince, "He will."
"At the very least he deserves some time…to collect himself." Fuu added softly.
Silence drifted between them until Umi voiced her thoughts and possibly the others as well. "How do you think…he finds it within himself…to keep going?" Umi knew he was strong, but she was in awe that he found it within himself to keep going after not only losing his child but the woman he loved as well, just how did he find the strength? She didn't know if she would be capable of such a feat, it left her feeling very small.
Blue eyes went to green and then to red as they gazed at one another. None of them knew the answer to the question.
"It's human nature."
Umi reeled around at the voice behind her, drawing sword in one quick motion. She froze mid lunge when her sword point leveled at the chest of the person who had spoken.
It turned out to be Camry, who had just materialized in the doorway.
"Oh…I'm sorry" she let her arm fall and sucked her sword back into her glove gem.
"You asked how I keep going." He leaned forward slightly, looming over her, his eyes a dark burgundy shade, not the bright ruby color of Hikaru's, so much darker, so much heavier.
Umi couldn't help but gulp a bit.
That was one hell of a look.
"It's human nature to want things that seem unattainable, to want to try, over and over, again and again. To not give up, to not even be capable of give up. There is something I must finish. In a way I'm no different from Impreza, I will find no peace until I accomplish the task I've set myself. " He withdrew from her and went across the room sinking into a chair.
"Camry…" Fuu adjusted her glasses uncomfortably and then continued, "What is it that Impreza wants exactly, you've talked about it before and now she's taken it even farther…with Solara." Fuu said her name gently.
"The dream must end." Camry intoned as if he were repeating something that had been spoken to him by another. "She is attempting to aide a man in granting his wish."
"And what would that be?" Fuu asked as she moved across the room.
"To undo the most basic rule of the universe that those who die can not live again." Camry's gaze flicked to Umi as he folded his hands across his stomach.
"Do what?" Umi stuttered out.
"She seeks to revive her brother, who was Pillar in her time." Lantis strode though the door with Eagle a step behind.
"Her brother?" Hikaru questioned.
"You mean just for that she's doing all of this?!" Feiro demanded in anger.
"'Just…'"Camry mused repeating the Prince's word. "Have we all not wished at least once in this life to return a life that has been lost? Anyone who has ever wished that, even once, has no right to pass judgment on those such as Impreza. For her wish is the same, she is just willing to go farther to accomplish it."
Feiro bit back his words, grudgingly realizing the truth in Camry's.
"But such a thing is impossible, even here in Cephiro!" Fuu conjectured.
Camry continued, "True, but if one were to disrupt the very fabric of the universe, the balance and flow of time and space, to cause its collapse and the collapse of the natural laws that govern it, it could be possible. Or so Impreza has been led to believe."
Fuu nearly dropped back down to the edge of the bed where she had been sitting. "But to do such a thing…how is such a thing possible…to collapse everything? Mokona would never allow it!"
"The Creator is aware, but it also understands the importance of free will and that there are some things even Gods can not do."
"Balance…" Hikaru mulled over Camry's explanation of Impreza's plans. "So if a person wanted to try and bring someone back they would have to unbalance things?" Hikaru questioned, trying to simplify Camry's explanation.
"That still doesn't explain why they keep attacking us." Feiro grumbled, "What will killing us accomplish? Killing someone else doesn't bring a person back to life. Even killing more than one of us wouldn't undo this 'balance' you're talking about."
"No, but killing some of you would unbalance Cephiro a great deal more than you think, and unbalance and destruction is her goal. If Cephiro should fall entirely it would cause a domino effect upon the countries that neighbor it. Now that Cephiro is upheld by the will of many it makes the county far more stable and distributes the burden out, but the distribution is not equal." Camry explained from his seat.
"What do you mean? We all support Cephiro together." Hikaru asked puzzled.
"Yes, you do work together, in a sense everyone has become a Pillar of sorts, each supports their own weight, but the amount each person holds up is equivalent to their ability, their strength of will. If one were to take out the stronger willed people of Cephiro, such as your selves, whose willpower is the main support for this nation…?" Camry gestured upward at the possibilities.
"Oh dear…" Fuu paled. "So she killed Solara…"
"It was not just because she was helping me, though Impreza most likely did intend it to provoke me, but also because her death will add to the unbalance and lead the way to other far darker things…You must also understand this is not the only world in danger, but for now Cephiro is our calling, the rest will be up to other people who wish to protect what is precious to them."
Umi remained quiet for a moment, digesting the information. "Camry…you said Impreza was trying to provoke you by killing Solara? Does that mean Solara was Avalon's moth…?"
Camry cut her off with the raising of his hand, "No, she was not Avalon's mother." He shook his head gently, sadly, "I met Solara long after Avalon had past, when we had both been sent to the other side after failing the Test. My wife, Avalon's mother, died long ago, in child birth. It was an arranged marriage, but I suppose I was fond of her, in my own way."
His eyes drifted for a moment lingering on an old memory, "She was a kind woman and gave me the most precious thing in the world, my daughter, and for that I was grateful." He stood heading for the door. "You should all rest, I have a feeling that Impreza will begin to move much more quickly now. I will keep watch tonight; I have no need of sleep."
Camry passed Lantis and Eagle leaving, his maroon eyes sliding to glance at Eagle for a second before he disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.
o o o
"Lady?" Sentra stepped though the entrance to her mistress's throne room, she had been summoned only a moment before.
"Sentra, dear please come here." Impreza stood from polishing her sword and held her arms out in a welcoming gesture. "I have some bad news I'm afraid."
"Lady?" Sentra questioned again stepping forward unsure.
"I sent your sister to the other side to collect more information about the Autozoman. Unfortunately you sister fought with Camry…I'm sorry Sentra." Impreza reached forward and embraced the woman. "I was unable to aide her in time and I'm sorry for your loss."
Sentra stood limp in Impreza's embrace for a moment, unable to process what Impreza had just told her. "Camry…killed my…" Tears slipped from her control, her tiny frame trembled with grief and then deep within Sentra something very fragile snapped and grief gave way to absolute wrath.
"Yes, dear. I'm so sorry." Impreza cooed gently. "You have my full permission to act as you deem necessary, you will have all of my support."
Sentra's fists clenched, "I'll destroy them all for you Lady and bring the Autozoman back. Then we can bring them both back, both my sisters, right milady?" Sentra asked.
"Yes dear of course." Over her shoulder Sentra could not see the wicked smile that curled Impresa's lips.
o o o
It was eating him up inside.
Eagle's mind reeled with the evenings revelations. Solara's murder, Impreza reasons for attacking them, and the realization that he was perhaps glimpsing the future in his dreams. The later startled him the most. The only salve for the night's wounds had been his few quiet hours with Umi in the garden.
He and Lantis were lingering outside Umi's door, mostly because Lantis was waiting on Hikaru to finish changing because he insisted on escorting her back to her room, no matter how much Hikaru protested. Fuu and Feiro had already left; the Wind Knight was still a little tired from the massive amount of healing magic she's used earlier in the week.
Eagle sighed unable to settle his whirling thoughts, at this Lantis glanced and began to speak but at that moment Hikaru came out with Umi just behind her.
"Good night Umi, Eagle, see you in the morning." Hikaru waved back at them her smile reserved and sad. Lantis placed a hand on her back and guided her down the hall.
The commander and water knight offered similar words of parting and then there was silence in the hallway. After a brief moment Eagle turned to Umi, smiling gently for her, "I guess now would be the time to retire myself and leave you to your rest." He kissed her hand and turned to leave but a gentle tug at the back of his uniform stopped him. "Umi?" he glanced back at her to see she had taken hold of the cream colored fabric with one of her pale hands.
Umi glanced at the floor, "I would rather you stay…I mean Lantis is staying with Hikaru and I don't think Feiro has detached himself from Fuu since she woke from her injuries and well…" she mumbled softly.
She remembered waking up in his room the night he'd finally been able to rest and realizing she'd spent the night curled close to this man's side, how warm and comforting that had felt, she wanted that feeling again, she needed it now more than ever.
She braved a glance at his face.
Butterscotch was her answer. That soft warm color his eyes always took on when he really let his true feelings surface there. "If that is what you wish I will do my best to oblige." He smiled, detaching her fingers from his shirt and lacing them with his.
She gripped his hand tightly, "Eagle…is it…"she hesitated, "is it selfish of me? To want you to stay, when Camry's alone like this now? When he's lost so much…" She was cut short by Eagle drawing her forward into his arms.
"Please don't think like that Umi. I think it would sadden Camry even more if you did. I can think of no one who, after watching someone lose something precious, wouldn't want to be near the people dear to them." His arms tightened their hold on her, "Perhaps it is selfish of you and if it is...Well, then I want you to be selfish." He held her tightly for a moment longer and then pulled away gently. He smiled, "Come let's get something to eat before it becomes too late." Tying his arm with hers he pulled her with him down the hallway.
o o o
"What is it Camry? It's quite late there, is it not?" Red eyes gazed back at his from the smooth reflecting pond in one of the various palace gardens.
"Yukko." Camry smiled, "You know I do not sleep." He'd just opened up the transmission with her. "I hope I've not interrupted anything important."
"Oh, it's nothing really, just making Gods." The Witch of the Dimensions smiled knowingly.
Camry decided not to ask if she were joking or serious, with her either was a good possibility.
"So what did you need to contact me for?" She questioned.
Camry sunk down beside the water's edge. "Things are coming closer to the finale, I don't know if what I paid you will be enough. The future I saw has not changed in my dreams and now the boy has begun to see the future as well, I don't think he's aware of what he's seeing yet." His red eyes were drawn worry clear in his expression.
"You were always too kind Camry, sometimes for your own good." The witch's gaze was more solemn now. "You have my sympathy for your loss. I'm afraid that is all that I can give. You were aware something was going to happen?"
The pale man nodded mutely.
"It is hard to know of what is to come and yet be unable to tell." The witch spoke again.
Camry smiled sadly at her words, "You know that best of all Yukko, you are perhaps in far more painful a situation than I. You desire to help those travelers you told me of and yet like me are unable to tell them what awaits, unable to aide them unless asked and payment is ensued. I can think of no condition more difficult. So perhaps within that there is an understanding between us, Yukko."
The Witch smiled, "Perhaps." She smoothed back a long strand of her black hair. "Now, shall I grant your wish?"
o o o
Hikaru sunk down on the edge of her bed, turning one of the flowers from her hair over and over again in her hands. Lantis walked over to her, armor-less, in the simple black outfit he normally wore.
"Do you think Camry will be alright?" she glanced up as he sat beside her.
"I don't know. He's very strong, his wish to finish whatever it is he desires makes him capable of bearing such burdens. Sometimes losing a loved one can serve to strengthen you as much as it hurts you."
Hikaru gazed at Lantis' solemn eyes and knew he was thinking of his brother and the Princess. How their deaths had only made his desire to end the Pillar system even greater.
"I hope so. Even if what I can do is only a small thing, I wish to ease his pain. I don't want anyone else to suffer like that; I told Eagle during our battle that I didn't want anyone else to suffer from losing a loved one. I must make sure this ends." Her hands gripped the sheets of her bed tightly. "I will make sure this ends."
"Aye." Lantis nodded gently, "I'm sure you'll be able to"
"I'm sure everything will be alright." Hikaru glanced to her mirror across the room, her fierce red eyes gazed back at her.
o o o
Feiro watched the Cephirian night sky from his chair in Fuu's room. She'd already fallen asleep by the time he returned from changing clothes. Her blond hair formed a halo on her pillow around her face; she slept relatively peacefully, she muttered a bit and rolled over. He smiled sadly; she always talked in her sleep when she had something on her mind.
As he glanced back from her to the sky he thought that it was times like this he missed the soft and wise voice of his sister the most.
o o o
"That is my price." Stern words from the Space Time Witch echoed in his ears.
Camry nodded gently, "Would it be alright if I give you the payment afterwards?"
"That would be sufficient." Red eyes gazed at him knowingly.
Camry always felt like she knew so much more than she let on, he was sure she had foresight, but how far reaching it was…well sometimes the things she knew frightened him. Her sight made his seem like mere child's play.
"Don't put yourself down too much." She grinned, a sharp grin that was fierce without being sinister. "As for what you do next about the boy that is up to you."
The transmission was closed and Camry was left alone to decide his next move.
But before that he took a brief moment and let his head drop, one hand coming up to cover his eyes. His voice broke when he spoke as he finally allowed himself to grieve.
"Solara…"
o o o
Eagle gently sipped at the tea Umi had just poured for him. She made herself some as well and they sat mostly in silence together by the window in her room. Closed to keep out the falling snow, Eagle had guessed right about the weather.
Blue eyes glanced over to the commander, his eyes were fixed on some place in the distance, but she could tell he wasn't really looking at that point; his sight and thoughts were turned inward. With his eyebrows knitted together and a slight frown creasing his handsome face she could tell he was either confused or upset about something. She smoothed the hem of her pajama top in a thoughtful motion.
"Eagle?"
He turned to her, "Hum?"
"Something wrong?"
"No…just trying to figure something out." He smiled wearily, "Not having much luck."
"Can I help?" she stood in one fluid, graceful motion, setting her cup down to walk around the table to his side.
He smiled looking up at her, setting his own drink down he reached forward and wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her down to him in the plush chair.
She 'meeped' in surprise and turned a deep burning shade of red as he molded her body close to his. "E…Eagle?"
He lent down so they were eye level his nose touching hers, "You being here is enough."
She flushed further, squirming slightly not quite use to such intimacy, not that she wasn't going to try. Any guy who could say things like that and mean it was worthy of having women swoon over him. Letting herself relax into his side her gaze flicked up to his again, "So really what were you thinking about?"
Eagle frowned, "My dreams." He absently played with a lock of her hair resting his chin in his other hand. "Lantis asked me about them and Camry overheard. He said they're not just dreams, that I'm seeing the future."
Umi craned her neck to look directly up at him, "…what…?"
The blond gave an amused snort at her reaction, "My thoughts exactly, Lantis said that Guru Clef had though so as well. I don't remember but Lantis said I told him about my dream while I was still recovering from being attacked." He shrugged, "I'm not sure what it all means. I guess either they're both wrong and it's just a dream or…" Eagle stopped, he wasn't sure what he'd do if he really was seeing the future. If he was, well then that meant that horrible feeling in his dream…
Shaking his head he tried not to let his mind wonder down that path.
"Or what?" Umi prompted.
He sighed, "or something terrible is going to happen."
o o o
Twilight passed into night quickly as the hours passed, the air of the palace was heavy with silence. Eagle stared out the window watching the falling snow; his thumb gently stroked the inside of Umi's wrist absently. He smiled when he realized that she was asleep and probably had been for some time. Feeling very comfortable himself he chose not to move and let her sleep. It seemed like only a short while later he had drifted off as well and his dream began to play out once again.
This sadness filling my soul…It's falling though me…like the snow…
It freezes me like ice…This sadness…
I've never felt anything like it.
"I love her, even though we're from different worlds" Eagle felt himself say the words. Thoughts and images flashed across his sight like pieces of falling snow.
The snow, so pure, so white…So white the shadows are blue…Instead of grey.
So much red…everything…so, so very red. Red flowers, red petals…like blood, blooming in the snow. Blood redder than the reddest rose. Suddenly excruciating pain shot though his shoulder.
He fell plummeting into the snow, rivals of warm red melted it, turning it into a slurry of mud and blood and melting ice.
"Eagle?!"That girl's voice again, he knew her, she sounded just like…
"Please, give him all the time I have left!" Umi's voice filled the emptiness around him, but darkness had fallen over his eyes and only her voice followed him down.
"You can't save her, Eagle…"
Eagle jolted up, awaking from his dream, well almost nightmare. He sat up, but he was not in Umi's room, snow crunched beneath him. "Where…?" He stared out at vast fields of snow, though these were pure and white and no red marred them.
"A dream." Camry's voice traveled to him on the wind.
Glancing to his left Eagle saw the familiar silhouette as Camry drew closer to him and offered him a hand. He took it and the elder man helped haul him to his feet.
"How can this be a dream…Wasn't I just…?" Confusion wracked his golden eyes.
"Yes you were dreaming, but this is also a dream." Camry smiled understandingly.
"Then you're just a dream and not really here and…none of this makes any since…" Eagle shook his head his blond bangs swishing with the sharp movement.
"No, I'm here, so to speak. I'm not something you created in your dream." Camry's voice sounded assuring trying to disperse the young man's confusion.
"But how…?"
Camry smiled again, "Because all dreams are connected, in one way or another. This is a crossing of your dream with mine."
Eagle sighed trying to wrap his head around the idea, "So…why are you here."
"To help you remember what you've been dreaming."
"You know what I've been dreaming about?" Eagle glanced around for a moment, it was so strange, snow fell all around him, but it wasn't cold at all.
"Yes, for I've been having the same dream, for a long, long time now. Since before Princess Emeraude was even Pillar." Camry eyed him gauging his expression.
"So you know what's going to happen?" Eagle turned to face him squarely, "Why haven't you just told me? Why do I have to remember? I hardly understand any of what I'm seeing, all I know is how horrible it makes me feel." Even though he felt no cold a slight shudder pass thought him.
"The future is a difficult thing to change. If I told you what was going to occur that act in itself could change the future and there is no guarantee either of us would be able to see that new future. If you find the answer for yourself you maybe able to change what is to come."
Before Eagle could question him further a blank expression passed over Camry's face and then one of great pain replaced it, suddenly they were both blinded by snow and Eagle was jerked awake by the sound of something exploding.
He bolted upright from his place next to Umi, the loud noise had woken her as well and she was scrambling to retrieve her glove gem. Shouts of surprise and worried voices made it clear most everyone else had been woken by it too.
"What's going on!?" Umi slammed her door open Eagle right behind her, drawing his sword from the gem Presea had given him.
"I don't know, I think something may have happened to Camry." Eagle raced down the hall with her just as Hikaru and Lantis bolted out her room.
"It's in the fountain garden." Lantis answered everyone's unspoken question.
Fuu and Feiro caught up with them just as the reached the large open arched doorway into the gardens. Hikaru entered cautiously pausing just inside the archway, smoke wafted though the open area and the ground bore the scar of a fresh magic attack, but she could see no one.
Suddenly something cold hit her cheek, she flinched and reached up to touch it, her fingers came away red, confusion filled her eyes. She felt more icy liquid fall on her and jumped to the side glancing to Eagle beside to her. He wasn't looking at her; his gaze was upward, eyes wide with revulsion at the gruesome sight.
She followed his gaze above her head and gasped.
Above the doorway Camry was spiked by large scythe like weapons though his wrists, arms splayed wide in some horrid rendition of a crucifixion. His blood ran down the wall and dripped down plopping in a pool to the floor next to Hikaru. His frame had been ravaged by a magic attack and he lifted his head hacking a mouth full of blood as his gaze leveled on two women across the garden.
One set of green eyes gazed with such bloodlust it made Hikaru shutter and the other jumped from one foot to the other and chanted in a sing song voice.
"Time to play, time to play, one little doll down six more to go!"
Elantra's laughter rang out as Sentra lifted her hand and the roar of a magic attack filled the air…
AN:Woo, a cliffhanger, been a while since I had one of these, you'll just have to wait and see what happens. Right now I'm think this story will take another 3 or 4 chapters and maybe a epilogue to finish, deepends on how long winded I get. But I'm too burnt out for a preview so alas you'll just have to go read my parody fic Sleeping Beauty(shameless plug), ja ne. Thank you for all your wonderful support and reviews! Hope to update again in a more timely mannor. lol.
VKiera