(A/N: HIYA, PEEPS!!!11 XD Yupz, it's me again, finally deciding to whip up anuzzer Faith chapter. (Heh.) I've been distracted by Mahou Sensei Negima volumes 11 and 12, but now I read them and am back in action, so never fear.
Big thank yous to Storms-winter, my ever-faithful beta reader. I tip my beret to you. -tips beret- And I thank you, oh reader, for the time you are (hopefully) about to spend reading this relatively short chapter. I kinda ran out of steam after all the weirdness. ANYway... you all know what I'm going to say... happy readings!)
Chapter Ten: Stay
One moment, he was standing, staring at Ceridwen, the fire spirit yet nameless to him, staring at Rei and at Aria, who gazed back. Only Rei seemed to hold expression in his eyes, those sunset eyes, as he urged him with a silent thought.
So… what will you do?
Then, he was turning and running. Running where? I have to find her! But where is she?
You cannot save her if you run about like this.
There she was, that fire woman, floating by his side as easily as though he had been walking. It was odd… he knew that she had spoken; yet her lips had not moved. He tried to speak to her, but his mouth opened without releasing the slightest sound, as though his mind could not fathom doing two things at once. He stopped abruptly.
"Who are you?" Kai demanded, out of breath from his mindless sprint. "Why…why are you looking for me?"
That is not important, given the circumstances. Ceridwen replied, eyeing him levelly. If you wish to save your sister, you must trust me now and listen to me now.
Feeling scrutinized, and frustrated at the woman's unearned arrogance towards him, Kai looked to the sidewalk with a terse jerk of his head. The sound of feet striking pavement came from behind him.
"Lady Ceridwen…" Rei started. "You must…"
You! The spirit interjected, and in her sudden anger, her normally steady voice flared. You, of all people! Because of your folly, she could very well be dead!
"K-Kana?" Kai stuttered hoarsely in terror, the blood draining from his already pallid features.
"But she isn't." Rei answered steadily, a shadow entering his bright gaze. "And she will not be. She can't. And she's not talking about Kana, Kai."
"Then who…"
No time. Ceridwen shook her head impatiently. Come with me, and when we get there, do not say a word.
"But…"
Ceridwen, frowning deeply, grabbed Kai's arm with an oddly rough hand, leaving no room for him to argue. Aria wrapped her arms around Rei, whispering something in his ear, which Kai could not perceive.
Then, he was blind, blinded by the wind, the very sound of the wind around him. The sidewalk seemed to dissolve under his feet. The grass by the sidewalk, the buildings around them, the passing people, it all faded and disappeared and rearranged itself before his eyes. His eyes darted wildly, and saw flames, instinctively he sought to cover his face with his arms, but he could not move. After a moment, it became apparent that the flames did not seek to harm him. They hovered, shimmering amid the sound and sight of the wind. He squinted past the blaze. Something…something drew his eyes…
Cold. Darkness. Laughter. A laughter searing deeply, running from her into him, into his very veins. Kana… Blood. Her eyes. Blood everywhere…Kana! KANA!
He landed hard, stumbling and falling onto an unfamiliar terrain. He felt dirt under his hands as he gripped the ground to steady himself. Real soil…so was this real? Or…
Stand up. Ceridwen commanded.
Kai stood, casting his gaze around the space. It was empty, save the dirt. The sky looked ordinary, if not a bit dark for early morning.
"I… I heard a voice. A woman laughing. Who…?"
Silence, boy.
He was suddenly aware of Rei. He was standing stock-still; gaze forward. Aria stood in front of him. Kai felt Ceridwen's hands on his shoulders.
Suddenly, Aria moved forward with that preternatural step of hers, seeming to glide rather than walk across the plain ground. She stopped after five human-length paces and clasped her slight hands together, pleading towards the nothingness. Silence.
Light burst into the space without a sound.
Aria fell, slowly, trembling, arms flailing in their flowing, unsubstantial sleeves as though seeking to grip onto the air itself. The dirt did not stir as she struck the ground. Rei twitched, and to Kai, his eyes were beseeching, but not towards him. Towards what? He had to know.
What the hell is this?
Aria was speaking, but her lips were not moving. How could Kai hear her? The more he tried to dismiss it, to not react, the stronger her frail voice became in his mind.
No… wait… Ae-…no! He is sorry! I am sorry! We will…no!
Who is she talking to? Why…what happened? Why is she in pain?
She failed to follow orders; that is why. Ceridwen answered softly, on Kai's behalf, turning her head slightly so that it seemed that she was addressing only him.
You can hear me?
Yes.
What's going on? Where's my sister?
Stop. She will hear you. Just observe.
But…
Ceridwen's voice ceased to resonate in his mind, and he turned away from her with disgust. It figured that she could cut herself off from him but still sense his every thought.
Without warning, Aria flew back and wrapped her slender arms around Rei once more, eyes wide and terrified. What is she looking at? A sudden surge of invisible energy forced Kai to step back. It's the same energy from yesterday, in the square. It rose, amplified, peaked until the magical pressure forced Kai to shut his eyes and cover his face with his forearm briefly before he had to look again. To see. To understand.
More light. And Rei…Rei had wings. Diaphanous wings of light, tinged green like the sheen of Aria's robes and hair. He had thought he had imagined it, that day – yesterday, was it? – He was sure he had. Peopledid not have wings. No one. It was not normal.
But…nothing has been normal since that day.
Since…Carmen.
Rei's eyes are blazing. Kai realized then, vaguely. Like fire. Like this Ceridwen person…spirit…thing. Except his eyes are gold.
Why is he… angry?
"Where is she?" Rei asked in a clear voice, seemingly speaking to nothing. "I know what I did wrong. You did not have to take her."
Silence followed his words. Something pulsed in Kai, near his heart, a steady cadence of feeling words that he could not understand.
"Give her back!" Rei intoned, stepping forward, emerald wings gleaming with ferocious inner light. "I will fix it! Everything! Everything will be put back into place! Just return her to us!"
Why does he sound like he's talking to a child?
He tried to ask Ceridwen, concentrating hard in order to pierce into her mind, but she ignored him steadily and efficiently.
"Give her back. Please. I'll… I'll do anything you want. Anything. I'll stay with you for as long as you want. Just let her go."
You will…stay?
Kai blinked. He had heard. Heard whom? Why now?
"Yes. Yes, I'll stay. But only if you let Kana go."
Kana weeps all the time. Constantly. She does not want to stay. Not like you.
"Exactly. So please…"
Do you…
The other voice hesitated, as though searching for the proper words. The light surrounding them shimmered, wavering, than restored itself as though the being's concentration had lapsed for but an instant.
Do you swear? Do you swear, do you promise to stay for as long as I want you here? Will you, Rei?
"I…"
Say you will! I love all of you, but you know that you are my favourite, Rei! You always stay for so long!
"Yes. Yes…I swear. I promise. Give back Kana and I'll stay for years, if you want it."
Oh, but…you said that last time as well. And you did not stay for years. You left so soon, Rei, my Rei. My Rei. He is my Rei, Aria!
The light swirled suddenly, not disturbing the false-real dirt on the false-real ground. What was happening? Kai looked around, searching the shifting space for the bearer of the voice that spoke like a child. Than, a laugh, a high, sweet laughter; rising and falling like the rhythmic tinkling of so many bells.
You will not find me.
The light rose to a blinding intensity, filling Kai's vision until he almost screamed from the pain that assaulted his eyes, no, deeper, inside him. It hurt inside him.
Ta-…
A form had appeared in the eye of the light storm, darkening but not materializing, seen only to the two spirits who could bear the radiance.
Very well. You will stay with me, Rei. We will let Aria wander for a moment, shall we?
...ri-…
"Yes! Yes!" Rei shouted into the maelstrom, screaming to be heard although there seemed to be no sound. "I will stay! Now let her go!"
…an…
Then come here. I have missed you so, my Rei. My little Rei, my kitten, my child. Come here, my child…
The dark form burst from the light as though pushed from it, and the tiny apparition crumpled into an equally tiny heap in the dust, the blue hair on the small head rustling as it settled in an all too familiar way. The light fell, as abruptly as it had risen, and Kai finally deigned to uncover his eyes.
"Kana!"
Instantly, Kai leapt forward to seize the minuscule girl in his arms. She was limp, her eyes closed, her face stained with fresh tears, but breathing and alive. He embraced her mindlessly, everything else forgotten.
But… wait…
Must you all leave?
Why not stay…?
Hearing the ominous words in his mind, Kai rushed backwards, clutching his precious sister in his arms as Ceridwen bounded forward to shield them both.
No! She retorted. We must go now!
No! No! Stay!
Tarian!
Stay here! STAY!
Tarian, get them out! Get them out, now!
A ghastly shrieking filled his ears, rising and rising until it became unbearable. Kai screamed. It hurt so much inside him. Stop it! Stop it!
Tarian!
Than, the storm, that normal, soothing storm of wind and fire. Everything dissolved around him. Kana lay curled in his arms as though asleep, and he held her tight against him until he landed, gently, on the grass a short way from where they had disappeared.
Kai collapsed to his knees, holding the small bundle of his sister close, rocking back and forth in sheer terror and confusion. Ceridwen knelt beside him and placed her warm hands on his shoulders.
It is all right. You are both safe now.
He raised his eyes towards her, seeming to note her features for the first time. She was beautiful, he reflected, dazed. He almost reminded him of…
Tiredness scattered his train of though, and he returned to his automatic, protective fondling of Kana. She shifted, minutely. Then, she opened her eyes. Relief filled him. Overwhelmed. "Kana…Kana, you're…"
"Kai…" She curled into him, clutching his shirtfront with her small fists. "Where were you? She…she said you wouldn't come! I said you would, but you took so long…"
She fell silent, and Kai thanked the Heavens with a sigh.
Only then did he realize that Tarian was standing beside him.
Rei was nowhere to be seen.