Chapter Seven
The days passed in a blissful blur for Hali and the others. The guys took to her instantly. She fit in without a second thought as far as all of them thought. More than that. She changed each of their lives and daily living in a way none could quite explain. For Ryo she had given a sense of peace that even he could have never thought possible. Kento found himself a new even rougher playmate that shared in his love for pranks. Sai saw within her a strength that he could not help but admire and even use. She became someone he could talk to about things no one else wanted to hear. Rowen finally found someone that could prove a challenge to him and his intelligence. The discussions they began over a simple topic often lasted hours or even days and usually resulted in a joint trip to the library.
But for Sage Hali was something else altogether. Within no more than a week Hali had become someone Sage couldn't live without. Her heart was far from unscathed and her thoughts reflected this. But he found himself unable to resist her. Already he felt a bond with her that he had never experienced with any other person. Part of him said that this was left from sharing psychic powers. Yet he knew this bond came from the heart.
But then there was the side that none of them saw. For Hali this had become a dream come true. She knew they were eternally curious about various parts of her and her past, but it didn't bother her. For the first time in Hali's life she found no dark shadow hanging over her head. Though not entirely normal, she could at least live a normal life now. Within the hearts of these five friends she had found hope, love, and even peace. As each day passed she found herself wondering once again when it would end. But with each passing day she began to enjoy it for what it was. Even if it didn't last, it was something to remember.
These were the contented thoughts she held in her mind as she and the others sat gathered in the living room watching the first snow of the late winter season through their picture window to the North. For the first time in quite a while, the room was dark and all was silent. Even Kento was now ignoring the turned off television in favor of the surrealistic scenery before him as he lay on the floor. Rowen sat lazily before the fireplace with an untouched chessboard gazing quietly from the window to the warming flames and back. Ryo sat loosely in an overstuffed chair idly petting White Blaze as the two admired the flickering flames of the fire with a slight smile. Sai sat almost directly in front of the window watching each graceful snowflake dance down to join the others with a look of mixed wonder and joy.
Hali herself sat curled up with her head resting on Sage's shoulder. Sage obligingly rested his arm across her shoulders with a hint of a smile. It was rare that the six of them could enjoy such a peaceful moment together. Seldom had been the days that each was not still dealing with problems from the past or even daily drudgery. From one to another Sage looked to each taking in the scene. Things had been great since Hali's appearance and he wasn't the only one to have noticed. Life had changed for all of them. Hali had given them a fresh change and new outlook on life. Though none of them knew what she had lived in the past, all knew her very existence at this moment stood as a testimony to them all.
Happily Sage closed his eyes and sighed. He had been so focused on his thoughts that he had missed Hali's until now. Even as he took in the tranquility of the moment, he felt a tugging at the back of his mind. The thoughts that he vaguely picked up were not the calm, tranquil thoughts of joy and contentedness, but darker thoughts cloaked in shadow. Of all present, only one could have such sorrow thoughts at a time like this.
Tenderly Sage reached down and brushed aside some of the gray hair that partially covered Hali's face. For just a moment Sage thought he saw the beginnings of tears in those hypnotically multicolored eyes. But it was not Sage she looked to now that she knew she had been discovered. Following Hali's line of vision as she blushed ever so slightly, Sage saw that Sai was now turned around to look at her with mixed sadness and curiosity. However, seeing Sage's bewildered gaze fall on him, he turned back to his snow gazing.
Looking down once more, Sage saw Hali give him a weak smile before moving to sit up. Barely an eye flickered as she pulled away from Sage with a quick kiss. Moving with her usual silent steps, she headed for the stairs and her bedroom. Sensing that she wanted to be alone at the moment, Sage let her go. Hali had known that her thoughts were disturbing the others. She hadn't meant for her feelings to be that open. The darkness that plagued her thoughts should never have to disturb such a peaceful and beautiful moment for them.
Closing her bedroom door behind her, Hali turned and walked toward her window. It didn't give the same view as that of the one downstairs, but this was just as good. Perching herself on the ledge of the window, she curled up into a tight ball and gazed sadly out into the snowy landscape. The earth was cold now and most of it dead from that cold. While darkness descended upon the world, the snow snuck in under its cover to leave behind a glistening wonderland. And in the midst of all the beauty of this season sat one black stain.
"My thoughts," whispered Hali to herself.
It was quickly approaching that time of year again. People banded together in love and warmth to share in the joy of the season. If for no other reason than the fact that some people need the comfort of another against the cold openness of the season, people would drift together. From total strangers to friends and loved ones. Christmas was only two days away and all was made ready for them. While this was a season of love and joy for others, this had become a season of sorrow and painful memory.
In years passed, Hali had come to love this holiday for what it was. Though she had never really allowed herself to become close to people, this was one holiday she had let her feelings show toward those she had once loved. Her family had never thought much of her, but even these three days they had nothing but good to say for her. Only on these three days had they ever truly been a family in the past. December 23, today, Hali sat alone to silently celebrate her eighteenth birthday in regret and painfully strong silence. Gazing out the window, Hali wondered what had become of her family and friends. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of the parents and little sisters she had left behind. The face of her beloved friend drifted through her mind like an icicle through her heart as she wondered how he was celebrating her birthday this year. She had been his only true friend in the entire world. And, in many ways, he had been her only friend. Now she moved on, but it was no good. She sat surrounded by her friends but couldn't let go of the past. The past was always returning to haunt her in a myriad faces of pain. It was over for all of them, but for her it would never be. Finally the pain was too much for Hali. Still in the consuming silence of the darkness, a single tear tore free from the blurring mass of the others. The iciness of it rolled down her all but frozen cheek as a stabbing pain lanced through her heart. The pain within her soul often surfaced through her heart. Unlike many, her heart had always been weak, and now it showed. But the pain there was nothing compared to the pain she felt now. Ever so slightly her body trembled with the pent-up emotions of a lifetime. Even the icy air of the bedroom couldn't come close to touching upon the bitter cold that lay within this one girl.
A warm hand fell ever so gently upon Hali's shoulder. To hurt to care at the moment, she didn't even jump; though she had not even heard anyone enter her room. Slowly she turned to gaze up at the one that now intruded upon her misery. Beside her stood not one, but five young men all bearing the same expression. But the warm hand that now rested upon her shoulder belonged to a twin pair of sea blue eyes that were filled with sympathy and understanding.
She had been caught. Hali knew she shared a bond with all of them. But she had never thought her feelings to be strong enough to carry through to them. Though guilt tickled the back of her mind, it was the pain that ruled now. The look of sympathy and understanding they all held was too much for her. Accepting Sai's open arms, she huddled miserably into him like a small child alone in the darkness.
But she wasn't alone. Not anymore. Now she had these five. Unlike any other people she had ever known, they stood with her. Hali didn't have to be alone anymore. She wasn't different here. Not like she was with other people. They were different too. It didn't have to be so painful.
Sobbing softly into Sai's chest, Hali let herself be carried to her bed. There the five surrounded her comforting her softly. For once not a one of them was curious about her past or why she seemed such a dark person. Even as they watched the tears flow freely from her, they began to understand what it was like for her. Though filled with mysteries and questions, she was still human. They all were.
It was quite some time before the tears finally slowed and stopped for Hali. In between silent sobs she told them about her birthday and what the holidays had always been for her in the past. Of all of them, only Ryo could truly understand the pain this had brought her. Much like a big brother to a sister, he soothed her tears and calmed her heart.
"But it never ends," she sobbed softly, yet enough for all of them to hear. "I've lost all of them only to gain a new life. But how long before I lose all of you, too? Why am I still here? When will I be free?"
Though Hali's words made little sense to them, none could help but feel a sense of foreboding in her words. Something in the way she had said them brought back memories of many a lonely night for the five warriors. How many times had they asked the same question after the first battle with Talpa? How many times did they ask it after the final battle? How long would they go on wondering when the next battle would be?