Thanks for your review. This chapter will be short and I excuse myself for this, but I think that it will be done in a separate chapter. The next one will be longer, I promise. I hope you will all enjoy it.
Chapter 4 : promise
This morning, Hope don't feel very good. It was not like if he was ill or something like this. It's just like if he had lost the will of life, without really losing it. He can't clearly explain how he felt. The news from Amodar don't have let him much hope to find Light alive. He had know this for a long time. But it was a different matter to suspect something and have the proof of it. Not like if the guardian force have found something about Light disappearance. But what other explanation can they found other than her death.
Hope was prepared for it. But it don't made thing easier to him. The only woman he had ever loved was surely dead, and he don't think that he can love someone else like he had loved her. Light was his first love, and he is sure that she will be his only true love. His father had laugh when Hope had say this to him. Of course he don't have said the woman's name. He assumed that his father had believe he was talking about one of his classmate. He had told to him that, with time, he will forget. But Hope doubted it very much.
The now sixteen years old boy was now talking a walk. Amodar had asked him to made the announcement of Light's death to her only family. At first, Hope don't have wanted to. But after some time, he had let himself be convinced by the commander. He was the one who had loved Light as much as Serah have. It was only fair that they share their pain together. But it don't made his mission more easier. Serah would be crushed by it, and he don't looked forward to do this.
It will be a hard blow to the Villier's family. It was a shame that Belle would not meet her aunt. The two of them looked so much alike that it was amazing. When she will become an adult, then Belle would be exactly the same as her own aunt. It was a normal thing after all, they both share the same blood. It's funny to see how little Snow's daughter had inherit from him. She had take everything from Serah's side. And maybe, it was for the best. But it was so unfair for her to have this illness. And even more, after the disappearance of Light.
Hope felt more and more depressed. He can't go to Serah and Snow's house just now. He needed to collect himself before talking to them. So, he leaved their street and let his feet lead him where ever they wanted. He was surprised when he looked around to find himself right in front of a school. He really don't know where he was, but he can felt that it was important for him to be there now and then. He can't explained it, but deep down he was sure of it. He was not aware that someone was looking at him.
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Belle was really sad. Not that it was something uncommon for her at school. Her teacher and classmates where well aware of her illness, and they tended to treat her like if she had the plague. She was with children who were at the same age as her body was. So, for now, she was with the six years old children, but soon she will go to the next grade. It was normal to her, but she regretted to not stay with the others children more than a few months. And it was not like if the school can keep her in the grade she had begin the year, because her illness helped her to remember everything she heard or read. So, she will cover one year study in a few weeks. After that, the grade was so boring to her that she can't do anything but say so.
All of this had begin six months ago, when her mother had found some job. Her dad had say that she needed to accept it, and had asked Belle if she wanted to go to school. Of course the little girl was trilled by it. She was afraid that she can't leave her house because of her illness. That's why she had say YES at her father's question. At first the school don't have wanted her, but with the help of Hope's father, she was finally able to go to school. She was so happy, the first day, but the people at school were the same as the people of the town. They have looked at her like if her illness had made her an idiot. And they don't were happy when she had proved them wrong.
Belle don't have much friends at school. The few she had don't grow up like her and soon they don't understand her anymore. She was a little sad about it, but she don't have say a word about it to her parent. They don't have to worry about it. And as young as she was, she understand it very clearly. So, she almost spend all her time at reading book, everything she can found. She let the other children made fun of her under her back and wished for a better life. Maybe, when she will be a grow up, then the people will stop to look at her and let her be herself.
That's why Tommy's words have hurt her so much. Tommy was the most loved boy of the school, but for Belle's eyes he was nothing in comparison of Hope. Tommy had short black hair and black eyes. And he had take some sort of liking to Belle. But, when the girl had say to him, in front of of all of this friends, that she don't liked him, the boy had wanted to made her sad. So he had said aloud what his parent have told him when they have known that he will share a grade with Belle Villier.
" You FREAK ! No one would ever marry you ! You will grow and dead alone. And you deserved it because your parent were freaks too."
These words have hurt her more than anything who had happen to her before. She can take almost everything who was aid to her, but saying those things about her parent was a very different matter. She wanted to punch Tommy, but the teacher prevented her from doing it, by punishing her for starting a fight. It was so unfair that Light ran out of the school without looking back. She don't wanted to go here anymore. She hate all of them !
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Hope was stunned to see a crying Belle running from the school. He felt a big pain in his heart at seeing her so sad. He liked the kid very much, so he ran after her. Belle was an happy child. For her crying, then it must be something important who had happen to her. And he needed to find out what had happen.
He found Belle sitting under a tree in the park. She was still crying, and it broke his heart to see her like this.
" What happen, Belle ?" He asked almost tenderly.
" Nothing." Cried the girl. " It's nothing."
" It's not nothing, or else you would not be crying like this. Please, tell me. You know you can tell me everything." He pleaded.
Hope was looking at Belle face, and that why he saw it. One second he had a child in pain face in front of him, and the next he had a much more older face. He can't believe his own eyes. Now, the girl in front of him was not Belle anymore. He was sure of it. But he was also sure that the woman trapped in the child body needed his help too. That's why he still asked her what's wrong until she answered him.
" Do you think I am a freak ?" She asked.
Hope don't have expected this. But he give a truthful answer none the less.
" No. You are not a freak. You are just ill, that's all."
" But, the others see me like a freak ! I don't want to return to this school ever. I hate them."
Then Belle stared to cry again.
" You don 't have to." He said it without thinking.
" But, I want to learn !" She said between sob.
" I can teach you all that I know. Then you can go to my school with me."
" Really ? I wish I could."
" You will. I trust you. And you see, my friends would be yours too. You just would be a genius. But we need to ask your parent before, and you need to learn all of the grade under mine before you can go with me. It will take almost a year for this." He explained.
Hope really don't know why he had said this, but the smile in Belle's face was enough reward for him. He hoped Snow and Serah would agree with his plan. He had heard the teacher yelling after Belle, and he don't wanted for this lovely little girl to spend anymore time with this fury.
Hope and Belle returned to the Villiers house hand in hand. But just before they became in sight of the house, Belle asked to him an other disturbing question.
" Hope ? Can I ask you something ?" At his nod she continued. " Do you believe that someone would marry me someday ?"
Hope wanted to laugh at this. Belle was only six and she thought of marriage. But the sad face of the girl stop him from laughing. Instead he said the words he know who will eased her mind.
" You know what ? When you turn twenty, if anyone wanted to marry you, then I will marry you."
" You promised ?" She asked with hope in her eyes.
" Yes. I promise."
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The old woman was looking at the child and the adolescent with a fond smile. They still would have a long way before their wish would come true, but they have take the right path. They deserved their it will take more time than expected for nher to made her choice. She was still confused. She needed to grow up more. But the woman is sure that with the help of her true love she can made the right decision. And after all, it was her sister wish to them to be happy together.
But before, she had to erase the knowledge the young man had found today. they were not ready for the truth. She don't know if they will be one day, but today was just not the day. The link they shared need to grow before he can see who she really is. It's the most important thing for now.
To be continued.
What do you think ? This chapter was one of the turning point of this story. How do you think that Snow and Serah would react about Hope's idea ? You have to find it in the next chapter. And don't forget to give me a review.
