Chapter 4: The Truth
In the forest
Rowen is driving the trailer in the forest as Kuea, Cou, and Ren are sleeping and Viro, Takeshi and Mizuki are awake. When they reach to a river bank, Rowen stops the trailer and everyone gets off the trailer.
"I slept like a baby!" Cou says as he stretches.
"Now, we've gotta pitch a tent so that we have a place to sleep tonight." Kuea announces.
"You slept all that time, and you can still sleep?" Rowen asks.
"I have the ability to save up sleep and food."
Mizuki then sees Cisqua leaning on the window. "What are you doing, Cisqua?"
"I'm carsick, I'm not feeling well." Cisqua tells him.
"Man, that's so lame." Cou mocks.
"I don't have of steel like you."
"What did you say?!" Cou yells.
"Don't yell at me. My head is spinning."
"You're so rude. By your definition, Ren, Viro, Takeshi, and Mizuki would also have nerves of steel. Right?"
"R-right." Viro replies. "I... I know a medical herb that works well for vehicle sickness." She then runs into the forest. "Wait one moment!"
Once Viro comes back, she gave the herb to Cisqua.
"It's bitter! It's bitter! It's bitter!" Cisqua complains.
The more bitter the medicine, the more it'll heal." Rowen explains.
"But there's only so much bitterness one can take!" Cisqua groans.
"Here's some Elinka fruit." Viro gives the fruit to Cisqua. "Have some, and the bitterness will ease."
When Cisqua grabs the fruit, she immediately eats it. "Hang on... You know, I think I'm feeling better already! I feel great!"
"Wow, you know things that really come in handy, Viro." Rowen complements.
Kuea sees another fruit in the basket. "This one looks delicious."
As Kuea about to grab the fruit, Viro quickly grabs her basket.
"No! This is an extremely poisonous plant! Just one seed from it will paralyze your whole body and you won't able to move!" Viro warns.
"Then, why did you pick such a thing?" Kuea asks.
"Ah, because... If we scatter these around our campsite it'll keep poisonous pests away at bedtime."
"Wow, you really do know a lot of things, Viro." Takeshi complements.
"Well... Thanks." Viro says and Kuea narrows her eyes at Viro.
~The next day~
Rowen tries to starts the trailer, but it refuses to start.
"It won't start." Rowen says.
"This things totally worn out, after all." Kuea says.
"Guess it can't be helped. I'll need some time to fix the vehicle so why don't you all get some rest in the meantime?"
"Then I'll gather fruit while we're waiting." Viro tells them. "I found a place where there's an abundance of Elinka fruit."
"What? Really?!" Cou asks.
"Why not go with her, Cou?" Kuea asks him.
"But I should help with the repairs."
"it's dangerous for a girl to go alone. I'm sure Ro can manage the repairs on his own. Right?"
Rowen gives a thumbs up at Cou.
"You're right. Then let's go."
"Yes!" Viro replies.
"Can we come too?" Mizuki asks.
"The more the merrier!" Viro says.
Cou, Viro, Takeshi, and Mizuki go into the forest and later, when they found the tree, Viro climbs up and starts picking the fruits and hold two large piles of fruits.
"Are you ready, Cou-san, Takeshi-san?!" Viro asks. "Here I go!"
"Sure!" Cou replies.
"Go when your ready!" Takeshi tells her.
Viro then throws the fruits at Cou and Takeshi. However she throws the fruits too quickly and they try to catch them as they starts to panic. Mizuki watches them as she about to laugh. Cou then sees the fruit aiming towards his head and it smashes him, letting the juice to be on his face. There is silence between them and Viro, Takeshi, and Mizuki start to laugh. Later, they are walking back to the camp site through the forest.
"I didn't do it on purpose!" Viro tells Cou.
"I don't believe you." Cou says. "You were definitely aiming those at my head. I got it all over my face."
"Oh, there's still some on you cheek." Mizuki tells him.
"Where? Where?" Cou asks.
Viro them kisses Cou's cheek to get the juice. "I got it."
Cou starts to blush.
"You're blushing, Cou." Takeshi points out.
"N-no it's nothing like that." Cou stammers.
"Don't get so serious with me." Viro says and she starts to laugh.
"But I'm glad." Cou says.
"Eh?"
"You seemed to be under the weather lately."
"You could tell?"
Takeshi and Mizuki look at each other and both of them start to walk ahead of them.
"Cou. Viro." Mizuki calls. "We're going on ahead without you two to the camp."
"Okay." Cou says and both of them start to go back to the camp site, leaving Cou and Viro alone. When Takeshi and Mizuki comes back to the camp site, Takeshi starts to wave his arm.
"Hey!" He calls as they walk towards them.
"We're back!" Mizuki shouts.
"Welcome back." Rowen greets. "Where are Cou and Viro?"
"We went on ahead without those two." Takeshi tells him.
"We figured that those two need to sort out something together." Mizuki explains.
~Later~
Cou comes back with Viro being carried, Cou tells them that they were attacked by giant worm and Viro got injured. Inside the trailer, Ren and Mizuki are tending Viro's injuries.
"You should be okay now." Ren says.
"It's a good thing you only got small injuries." Mizuki says.
"Thank you, Ren-san, Mizuki-san." Viro says and she hides her stone.
"Why are you hiding it?" Ren asks.
"Because I'm embarrassed to show it."
"There's no need to be embarrassed." Mizuki tells her.
"it's beautiful." Ren adds.
"Of course, you two can be calm about it." Viro says and she looks at Ren's stone. "Because Ren-san, you're a shichiko-hoju."
Ren stands up and touches her stone. "I would rather not have become a Shichiko-hoju. It continues to put Cou in great danger. All this because of this Shichiko-hoju."
"Ren..." Mizuki whispers.
"Hey!" Takeshi calls. "The food is set!"
"O-okay!" She response. "Ren, Viro, let's go and eat with everyone."
Ren and Viro agree with Mizuki and they exit the trailer and stands at the table with eeryone.
"Everyone, eat as much as you like." Rowen tells them. "I prepared dinner today, for the first time in a while."
"I helped cut the veggies." Ren says.
"Y-you sure did, Ren-chan."
"I'm sorry that I didn't help out today." Viro apologizes.
"It's all right." Cisqua assures. "It gives me a place to direct my stress."
Cou then steals a shish kebab from Cisqua. "Right."
"Hey, that's mine!" Cisqua yells as she chases after Cou. "Stop right now!"
"Hey! Would you guys calm down?!" Rowen shouts and runs toward them.
"Oh my." Mizuki says and Takeshi scratches his head.
"Sorry, Viro." Kuea apologizes. "About Cou. I told you to go after him but in the end, it probably made things harder on you."
"There's no reason for you to feel bad." Viro says.
"Thank you. You're a great gal, Viro." Kuea tells her. "You may find them a little strange, but they're all great people." Kuea and Viro see Rowen separated Cou and Cisqua away from each other. "Please continue to give them a hand, will you?"
"You! What are you two secretly talking about?!" Cisqua questions. "You're very suspicious!"
"It's a secret, right?" Kuea asks Viro.
"Right!"
~Night~
Everyone except Cou and Ren went into the forest to get more food supplies and they come back with the food. Rowen starts the fire and the food are getting cook.
"Wow!" Cou exclaims. "This looks delicious!"
"You think I put a little too much effort into this?" Rowen asks.
"If we had some great wine to enjoy with the meal, it would be perfect. But we have old coffee." Cisqua says.
"Just a moment!" Viro says and she gets a glass bottle. "How about some Viro-style special fresh juice?" She then passes the juice to everyone. "I made it while you were busy preparing dinner."
"Wow, you think if everything." Kuea complements.
Cisqua then drinks the juice. "What a rich scent. And this refreshing sweetness feels so pleasant down the throat!"
Ren drinks the juice and quickly stick her tongue out. "Too sweet."
"Viro, can I have some too?" Cou asks.
"Here!" Viro shows a thicker bottle than the first one. "This one's for you, Cou-san! It's a special blend made with my love, especially for you!"
"Th-thanks." Cou stutters.
~Later~
In the forest
Everyone is asleep inside the trailer except for Cou and Viro.
"So what do you want to talk to me about?" Cou asks.
"Cou-san. Kiss me." Viro requests.
Cou then is dumbfounded from Viro's request. "D-do you realize what you're asking, Viro?!"
"I thought so. You can't, can you?" Viro says. "The truth is, I've come to say my farewell to you."
"Eh? Farewell?"
"I'm saying goodbye, right here."
"What do you mean?! Wait Viro! We've become friends! Why?"
"You don't even care about me."
"Eh?"
Don't try to be kind to me!" Viro yells and slashes at Cou with a sword.
"Viro." Cou calls.
"I'll tell you the truth." Viro says in a serious voice. "I'm actually an agent for Chaos Choir. And my latest orders are..." Viro takes of her clothes, showing her Chaos Choir uniform and jumps above Cou. "To exterminate Cou Van Giruet!"
In the trailer
Everyone wakes up from the crashing sound from the forest.
"What was that?!" Kuea exclaims.
"What's going on?" Mizuki asks.
"Cou's not anywhere!" Rowen announces and Cisqua looks at the bed that Viro was using.
"Neither is Viro!"
"We'd better find them." Takeshi says and they get dressed up. Cisqua and Takeshi exits the trailer and takes a few steps before the stop and drop to the ground.
"Senpai?" Rowen calls.
"Takeshi?" Mizuki calls and they go to where Cisqua and Takeshi are.
"What's wrong?" Rowen asks Cisqua.
"My body... won't move." Cisqua mutters.
"Me... too." Takeshi also mutters and both Kuea and Mizuki touch their stomach as Cisqua lies on the ground.
"Kuea?!" Rowen calls and him and Kuea go down to the ground. "What in... the world...?"
Ren comes out of the trailer after Cisqua, Kuea, and Rowen are unconscious and she leans on the door. "Cou..." She then goes into the forest.
"We're going... too... Mizuki." Takeshi tells her.
"Okay..." Mizuki replies and they stand up and go into the forest, following Ren.
In the forest
Cou is staring at the impact from Viro's strength.
"If I kill you, I can become a real Edel Raid." Viro says and Cou turns around to see Viro. "I will become a real Edel Raid!"
Viro then begins to attack Cou and he runs away from Viro as she chases after him.
"What's wrong? Can't you fight unless you React with Ren?!" Viro questions.
"There's no way I can attack you, Viro!" Cou exclaims.
Then Viro jumps on the tree to trees. "That's soft heart'll kill you!" She lands in front of Cou and starts attacking again. "Attack, will you?! Retaliate! Otherwise you'll be killed! This terrible girl who tricked girl is about to kill you!" As Cou dodges each swing that Viro makes, she cuts the trees. "Fight back! Hate me! You don't even like me, so stop being so kind to me!" Cou then trips on the root of a tree. "This pebble need no sympathy from you!"
Viro realizes something is falling towards her. She turns around and sees a tree is going to fall on her, but Cou pushes Viro away from the tree.
Where Ren, Takeshi, and Mizuki are
Ren is leaning on the tree and both Takeshi and Mizuki falls on the ground. Then they hear something falling on the ground and they continue to go to where Cou and Viro are.
Where Cou and Viro are
Viro stands up and sees the tree is on Cou. When Cou looks up, he sees Viro is about to strike him.
"Why did you save me?" Viro questions. "Why won't you fight against me?"
"There's no way I could do that." Cou replies.
"Why not?!"
"The two of us... we Reacted." Cou explains and Viro gasps.
Viro then helps Cou to get out of the tree.
"Thanks." He says and Viro looks away. "I can tell that you're very kindhearted. You're always cheerful, but there's a lonely side to you. You're in high spirits, but afraid of something... Yet there's nothing fake about your kindness and efforts. There's no way you could be a bad person."
"That's not fair." Viro says and she repeats. Then Cou looks at her. "Get mad at me more! Hate me more!" Viro turns her head as she cries.
"Viro..."
Viro touches her stone. "Why must you be so kind? I have no option but to kill you."
"Do you not want to be with us?" Cou asks.
"It's too bright around you guys for a pebble."
"You fool! Like I said before, stop talking like that! Viro, you are Viro. You are not some pebble. I like you very much, as one of my friends!"
"What's that suppose to mean?" Viro questions and she stands up with her sword. She then points her sword at Cou. "You love Ren, right?"
"Eh?"
"Say it." Viro demands as Ren, Takeshi, and Mizuki are hiding. "Say that you love Ren."
"... I do love her."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, I seriously love Ren."
Viro then slaps Cou on the cheek.
"What did you do that for?" He asks.
She turns around. "I hate you!"
"Eh?" Cou says oblivious to what Viro is saying.
"So I'm gonna dump you!"
"What do you mean by that?" Cou asks and Viro drops her sword before she turns around.
"Sorry!" She apologizes and sits on the ground. "I needed something to put an end to this!"
"An end? Why must you...?"
"It's all messed up, isn't it?" She says as she about to cry. Cou then touches Viro's face to look at her.
"Yeah, it's all messed up."
Ren leans on the tree as Takeshi and Mizuki watches the two.
"I think I've been able to calm down a bit." Viro says.
"Huh?" Cou says.
"It's nothing."
As Cou stands up, he staggers from the recoil of the impact of the tree.
"Cou-san!" Viro exclaims. "A-are you all right, Cou-san?"
"You're too strong, you know." Cou tells her.
"I'm sorry."
"Not to worry."
Viro begins to hunch over.
"Viro?" Cou calls.
"Stay still." Viro tells him and picks up her sword. "Don't move, okay?" She straightens her body. "Goodbye, Cou-san."
Viro pushes Cou back as Ren, Takeshi, and Mizuki watch a white-haired man and Viro stabs each other.
"Viro!" Cou shouts.
"Damn you." The man says.
"I'm not as stupid as you think." Viro tells the man. "I was aware of how I would be used. Too bad. Even a discarded pebble can hurt if it hurts back."
The man staggers back as Viro collapses on the ground.
"Viro. VIRO!" Cou shouts.
~Later~
Ren, Takeshi, and Mizuki come out of hiding and Cisqua, Rowen, and Kuea catch up to them. Cisqua and Rowen looks away as Mizuki leans on Takeshi as she cries. Cou and Ren are sitting either side of Viro.
"Viro!" Cou calls. "Hang in there, Viro! Viro!"
Viro..." Ren calls as she put her hand where Cou's is and Viro looks at Ren.
Viro smiles at Ren and Ren begins to chant.
"There will me longer be any suffering. On a peaceful spring moment you are sleeping in the arms of the one you love. You are free to do nothing but dream."
Cou then joins Ren with the chant.
"Please keep that smile eternally since there is no longer any reason to be sad."
Rowen, Kuea, Takeshi, and Mizuki look at them.
"This chant..." Kuea says.
"There will no longer be any suffering. On a peaceful spring moment you are sleeping in the arms of the one you love. You are free to do nothing but dream."
Viro's stone starts to glow.
"Please keep that smile eternally..."
"The Chant of Cures." Rowen says
"Since there is no longer any reason to be sad."
Viro's stone changes into Elemental Gerade.
"The fake Elemental Gerade is turning into a real one." Cisqua says.
"This must be a dream." Viro mutters. "I'm so glad." Viro and Cou look at each other. "Now I can fight together with Cou-san at a much higher level."
"Viro!" Cou calls.
"I'm... no longer... a pebble." Viro's body begins to disappear.
"VIRO!"
Cisqua, Rowen, Kuea, Takeshi, and Mizuki look down to where Viro was and Cou cries.
"Why is it?" Cou asks.
"Cou..." Ren calls.
"Why must this happen?"
Cou's tears land near Viro's glasses are.
Author's note: I've checked the states for the second chapter and no one read it yet! If you have any suggestions or your options about chapter two, please review for PM me. Also, please read chapter two.