Home; Almost Alone
"Big sister! Big sister!" a young Shun yells, grinning widely. "You're back! I've grown, see!"
She turns to him with a disinterested expression. "Go away, you're just a pest…"
His face falls, as he watches her walk away. Away from him. His entire little world starts imploding. He doesn't cry though, just ambles back to his room. A cuddly little ninja doll being dragged across the floor.
Then, on his way back, he passes through the living room. He raises his head slightly, having caught sight of a strange boy he doesn't recognise. Even his mum was too busy talking to him that she doesn't even glance at Shun.
Confusion etches across his face. Then, moments later, he runs out and away.
"Argh!" Shun gasps, lurching upright. "No. It was just another returning banished memory."
He looks out his bedroom window. At the rain drenched fields. There's no sunlight in sight, just grey cloud after cloud, each and all merging together. Shun hauls himself out of bed, when a strange sense of vertigo hits him. Distorted images flash through his head, accompanied by the strangest sounds. Then, they start fading away and into the distance.
"Hey, Shun, you okay?" Derrigan frowns, shaking him by the shoulder.
"Yea, I'm fine. Shouldn't you be stalking Roxanne?" he frowns.
"Hmph!" Derrigan scowls. "It's four in the morning, she'll be sleeping long and hard. The lazy git."
"If you think so, but get out my room," Shun gestures to the door.
"You're rude when you wake up, you know," Derrigan growls. "Oh, Shun, I shouldn't be giving you this after that, but here… It's her bracelet, isn't it? I think you should speed up their training. That's anything but a good omen."
Shun stares down at the silver, and crystal moon charms. It was Elise's mother's, she wouldn't have been careless with it. He races outside and towards the damaged Wing of the mansion. He did go to look at the damage, but by then, the fires were out. It was the strangest part of his day. He wouldn't forget it no matter how long he lives;
*8*
No, don't tell me I'm too late! He comes to a sudden, skidding stop. The smoke was still rising from the explosion, but the fires were out. His brows furrowed in deep thought, and confusion.
"Just what are you gawking at, brother?" Roxanne mutters.
He spins around to stare at Roxanne. She was sitting on a giant boulder, with one leg up and leaning on it. Roxanne stares down at him, an almost no expression-expression on her face. He can't quite distinguish what the expression is or means.
"You, you put the fires out," Shun frowns, disbelieving. "Why, why would you do that?"
"Don't waste your breathe," Roxanne replies. "Or mine for that matter."
Then she jumps down and walks away with her hands in her pockets. While he just stares after her, gawking. She always did have a way of confusing him. With her, you never know if she's with you, or against you. In a way, she was both.
*8*
He leaps over a banister and out into the garden. Only for a hand to extend out, and catch him in the chest. Shun chokes and stumbles back. Then, glares up at whosoever decided to try and stop him. The person's identity was slightly shocking. Roxanne. Of course, because of the previous days encounter, he's wondering if it's good or bad, what she has in store. After half a minute of silence, he tries to interrupt it with something, but she beats him to it. Turning her back to him in the process.
"You shouldn't go," Roxanne states. "I can't stop you though, so be careful, little brother."
He stares as she walks away again. He could almost swear those last two words held sentiment, and care. The complete opposite of how she had treated him his entire life before. Though she was right, he wasn't going to change his mind. He rushes over to the Wing where the other members of the Thirteen sometimes stayed. More importantly, after her parents and guardian/maid were killed, Elise stayed.
Shun rushes through the corridors, thankful that it was the smallest Wing by far. Then, finally, he reaches Elise's hallway. Marked by the signature doodles of the two little kids. She had moved out much later than everyone else. A few months prior to their first contact with Vestroia. He pushes the door open, and the memories come rushing back to him. Like when she helped him with his homework, just like his grandfather insisted.
Then, a blue-white portal opens in the middle of the room. His sister's remarks suddenly become obviously clear. It wouldn't be so hard to imagine Roxanne arranging for the portal, except for a few little points. Either way, whoever arranged for it, Shun was still going to go through it. With his friends or not.
Author's Note: Still confusing? Yes, no? Well, either way, I like to add a touch of mystery. Goodbye, for now!