For the Humanity Within
Disclaimer: Megaman is owned by Capcom but the names used here are meant for fictional purposes. If real names appear here, this is out of coincidence.
Note: Some characters, antagonist, minor sides, are owned by yours truly.
Remember the guessing…hehe. With no further ado, I give you chapter 5.
V. Fallen Promise
The leaves fell from the trees surrounding the verdant park, now golden with the autumn showing its dominance upon all. The sun bore witness as the leaves and the emerald blades of grass caught the body of a delicate being. The sun seemed to have halted its angle of light, an afternoon nearing its gentle setting. Beauty seemed immortal in her sleeping form, her head laid upon the gentle arms of her beloved. Her flowing golden hair and her white clothing showed serenity. Her calm smile upon her face seemed eternal, but tears took their path from her eyes as they streaked down.
Her gentle face was caressed by his hand, feeling the frigid touch. It was near. The cold breeze came, combing the long platinum hair that flowed until his back. His crimson eyes beheld his lover that lay motionless upon his hands. He could not cry nor weep, but only shed tears. Sorrow filled the air that carried the leaves rustling upon the autumn day, along with the black feathers that were carried to the sky as it offered agony.
"How I watch you ascend the heavens, leaving me and bidding thy farewell. How I suffered with the agony of loss, burden of memory dancing within the portraits of love. Now I gaze in the clandestine steps where you ascend as you are drawn further from me, your hand reaching for me. Your graceful eyes gaze at me with wistful desire to return. Yet, I cannot hold you eternally. I can only watch you, your form upon my hands as you sleep in eternity…"
Kamui's voice echoed upon the room as the class listened to the story. Criel gave applause as he gave his lecture pertaining to the piece of work that was given to them. Mayu looked at Kamui as he sat down and closed his eyes after taking a breath.
"Thank you Kamui." Criel thanked him as he proceeded to his lesson. "Class, this story called the Conviction of Demise is a work of an anonymous author in contemporary literature. The author was never heard of again after this was written, believed that he died soon after. It was rumored that this piece was derived from his sorrow during the death of his wife. After this piece was completed, he vanished in the middle of the night when he left his home and went to the lake. No one saw him ever since, nor did they know his name."
Kamui felt that it seemed familiar. The story made his heart pound during the recitation. But the strange thing is that it seemed too familiar. Mayu gazed at him as he leaned on his seat.
"Hey, that story was nice. I never knew you had such a nice voice." Mayu commented.
"Thanks." Kamui answered. As he gasped for air, the bell rang soon after. Their classmates stood from their seats and began to settle their things. Criel smiled as he stated to them their assignment.
"Class, for your assignment due next week, I want you to make a poem. It should let you think at least and be inspired. That's all. I'll see you on Monday. Have a great weekend. Kamui, please remain after class."
The students left and Kamui readied his bag and was about to leave. Yet, upon hearing the teacher's statement, he approached him as he wondered what reason brought him to remain.
"Is there something that you need sir?" Kamui asked
"Well, I guess you may say something caught my interest." Criel stated his reply as he smiled.
Criel left the room and left Kamui dumbfounded. As he walked out of the classroom, he quietly thought of the story that he read. Its images ran within his mind, seemingly lost in the nearness of its reality. He walked through the corridors as he quietly thought of it.
The story seemed real. Kamui pondered as he walked, imagining Criel being the main character of the story. "I wonder if he played the protagonist's role."
The thoughts of what Criel said echoed in his mind. It was running in a loop that demanded answer.
"You have potential. You can join the drama club. I'll meet you at the theater later."
"Well, since I got nothing to do today. I might as well give it a try." Kamui said to himself as he walked.
On one end, Alia was running towards the next classroom. She ran as if it was the end of the world as she searched for the venue.
"Oh no, I'm late." she said as she dashed hurriedly through. "He's gonna kill me now."
5…
Kamui walked quietly as he continued. Clasping the notes upon his hand, he walked calmly without looking forward.
4…
Alia went on as she rushed through a curve and changed directions with agility. She was halfway there.
3…
"I can't help but think of what he said just now. What does the teacher want anyway?" Kamui said to himself with a raised query.
2…
"Oh no, I'm late for the theater rehearsal. He's sure going to kill me. Must keep running, I'm almost there….Theater…" Alia frantically uttered as she ran, quickly turning to the other corner.
1
Two forms collided upon that empty corridor. And on that time of impact, both fell on the floor. Kamui was knocked back with Alia's body on top of him. He never expected her to show up from a corner without warning. Same goes with the other but it was too late for both of them.
"Hey, watch it." Kamui blurted his words as he groaned in pain, trying to recover from the hit. What caught his sight was her blond hair covering her face as she was leaning on his body. She shook her head as she still felt the shock. Trying to get up, she tilted her head and noticed his face.
"You watch it…" Alia halted as her eyes caught sight of Kamui's face. As she recognized him, she was taken aghast and pulled back, remembering him from before. She then stuttered. "Y-you're…"
"Hey…" Kamui noticed her as he could also remember that face from before.
"YOU'RE THAT GUY FROM THE CAFETERIA!!!"
"YOU'RE THAT GIRL FROM THE CAFETERIA!!!"
Both of them exclaimed awkwardly in unison. It seemed childish, both of them pointing fingers at each other. And on that same moment, one question came to mind.
"What are you doing here?" the question left in the air in simultaneous timing. Alia and Kamui grimaced and forced out another attempt on questioning.
"Wait, I'm asking you first." Again, it came at the same time. It made them dumbfounded. The only thing that could occur was laughter. It was unbearable that Kamui began to burst out laughing. Alia went beet red as she glared at him but it came out with laughter. And when all was settled, Kamui answered the question that was left hanging in the air.
"I was looking for Mr. Delacroix. He told me to go here." Kamui stated clearly as he stood. Yet Alia was still down on the floor. Tapping the dust from his clothes, he offered his hand as he reached for her. Alia took hold of him and stood.
"Oh, so that's why." Alia sighed as she straightened her clothes and fixed herself. But it came to her. "Oh no, I'm late."
"I guess we don't have to worry." Kamui answered as he turned to the door. He opened the door of the theater and found Criel standing before them. Alia went behind Kamui as Criel welcomed both of them.
"Uh, sir I can explain..." Alia started off in reasoning out, waiting for the worst to happen.
A smile came upon his face as he saw Kamui. And he stretched his hand to her, tapping her shoulder.
"I guess you brought him here with you. I understand that. Well, looks like we can begin with the meeting." Criel smiled warmly as he turned to the door and opened it. Alia was surprised at him. "Right this way."
A splash of water covered Kojiro's face after the whole routine was made. Raising his head and shaking it to whisk away the extra droplets of water to cool down his head. He felt refreshed during the break after the training. He rolled back into place the sleeves of his clothing, a kendogi consisting of a hakama and kimono. He glanced at the sky and remembered Ciel's image.
How can I ever thank you? Kojiro thought with this question. He then closed his eyes and entered the room to resume his training as he cleared his thoughts. I'll find a way, somehow.
Moments later…
Criel watched Alia and Kamui finish their practice. The other students involved left the campus already and in the theater, the three of them remained. Criel accompanied the pair on the school grounds. Kamui sighed as he felt uneasy at the moment while Alia was quiet than usual. Criel only walked quietly.
"Well, I'll see you again this weekend." Criel said to them.
The two only agreed as they walked. Akira and Kojiro stood there with Ciel, Pai, Kaze, and Mayu. The group left the campus and headed for their usual spot. But something bothered Criel on that moment as they departed the campus. It gave him a chilling sensation upon his spine. Keeping himself alert, he felt the presence of two beings around the campus. He waited for the students to be out of sight until he broke the silence.
"What do you want, Illuminati?" he asked boldly as he stood with his guard still up.
From the distortion that ensued came two beings. One of them was exceptionally large in width and height. Its stout form adorned with armor, shining with its gold aura. The other was at the same stature and form as Criel, adorned with white and silver armor. This gave an uneasy feel, sensing the malice to be great.
"So Shuen sent you…What does he want?" he raised his query with a cold tone.
"He wants all of you watchers out of business. And so are those chosen hosts." the white armored one stated.
"That wouldn't do." Criel stated to them as he faced the white one. "Face me first. You won't get by me with this business of yours. I know you'll send an army to destroy both me and those children. So give me some dose of fun for the moment. As I recalled, your lieutenant was weaker like small fry."
Insulted, the being signaled the large one to depart. At that same moment, a group of minions clad in gray armor and armed with their sharp claws came to presence as it surrounded him. Criel smirked as he felt tension running within his body.
"Tsk, Blood Flaw."
"So, what say you, Magi?"
"I say let's rock." Criel answered as he stood. He conjured his energy upon his form as he watched each minion charge at him at all sides. Some of these minions went airborne and attacked as they dove from the air. What seemed to be an overwhelming end as they landed, these minions began to be blown away. A gust of wind came forth as a whirling vacuum pillar appeared on the center, where Criel has his foothold. The minions fell, shredded from the attack as their bodies were lined with stripes made by the violent gust.
"Whirlwind Drive. Did you like it?" Criel snickered as he clasped his hands together while an unseen sphere gathered upon his palms. Without hesitation, he sent out a strong vacuum that sent a cyclone on a straight path, decimating a line of these gray minions. "Storm Tornado,"
The white one was feeling amused at how Criel was holding. He kept his watch as he fought. Criel clasped his fist as it was clenched, energy being concentrated and heat being evident. It began to ignite as his other hand released the blazing fist, making its sign with two of its fingers stretched out. Making a series of signals upon the blazing nieve, he gave an open palm blow on an enemy as it charged at him.
"Fire Wave." he whispered as it brought the blaze to consume the foe affront. Burning it into ashes, the wave of flames peered through and burned those who are behind it. Criel moved his arm sideways as it continued burning each of them nearby. He clenched his fist as he withdrew, stopping the makeshift flamethrower. It began to gather energy for another blow. A clawed warrior lunged from behind yet Criel sidestepped, avoiding the attack and bringing the foe to stumble. Another came swinging its claw. Criel stopped the attack as he caught the claw-wielding limb with one hand and hurled its body upon the others. With the opportunity opened, he opened his hand and the flames ignited. This time he whisked his hand on the ground as it sent a fireball upon the terra firma. A flaming pillar towered from the ground, burning the foes lying about. Another followed on that direction and a trail of burning pillars engulfed another line of foes. "Cinder Horde." he exclaimed as he cast his move.
The white one began to run out of patience, seeing its army being reduced to half without effort. Its rage was made evident when a sphere of energy was brought into its hand; the orbicular object grew massive upon conjuring energy. It hurled the projectile and rolled through the battalion, destroying anything on its path. Criel sensed the attack as it destroyed the foes in front of him. He rolled aside from the path the sphere made as it continued and destroyed the ones behind him. He shook his head as he found the army has been reduced to around a fourth.
"That was foolish." he said to the white one as he stood and stretched his hand affront, clasped together. He spread his arms with grace as dagger-like objects materialized from the light of his hands. It began to make a trail and an array of these things came about in a row. He raised his hand and smiled at the white one.
"So stupid, what are you going to do now?" he asked defiantly as he swung his arm downward. The array of daggers came to take flight as it ascended with velocity. Then, it began to spread out as it homed upon the remaining horde. It destroyed the horde upon the projectile's impact. The half went on the white being. It raised its arm and made a barrier, encasing its form within the spherical shield. The missiles exploded upon its defense. It began to falter bit by bit. Criel smirked as he saw this take place. The smoke clouded the being with its shield still raised.
Criel gestured his arms in a circle, making another array in a circular bound. "Now, let's see if you'll find yourself safe. Impact Barrage," He whisked his arms to the center, his palms clapping upon meeting. The missiles began to take flight with velocity as it homed on the shielded being. The dagger-like projectiles exploded at the barrier one after the other, each a moment for the barrier to falter. It was not holding well any longer as the white one began to fall to his knees, losing focus. The shield vanished and the array of missiles collided upon him and an explosion was made. The dust and the cloud of flames became the sign of defeat with the horde obliterated at that moment. As the dust settled, he sauntered near the fallen foe and found its insignia, a sphere.
"Well, so much for the Illuminati's squad." Criel casually said to himself. He turned and walked away from the school campus, the sun giving trail to his path. Yet upon reaching the gate, it came to him. "This isn't right. It was too easy for me. I must find them."
Criel went to the motorbike parked upon the side. He placed his helmet as he wore his jacket. Starting the engine of the vehicle, he speeded through the road and searched for them.
Meanwhile, Kojiro and Kamui felt a disturbance in the air. Akira felt it soon after. Pai and Alia glanced at Kamui and Akira who stopped at that moment. Kaze looked at Kojiro as he gave Kaze an uneasy gaze.
"Something's bothering these three." Kaze said to them.
"Did something happen?" Pai asked.
"I am not sure though. But Kamui seemed fine a while ago." Alia added.
Ciel gazed at Kojiro and she knew something's bothering him. She felt uneasy soon after as she had felt before. Strange, it was like last time two days ago.
The sky began to grow dark, the wind passing slowly with its frigid caress. The rustling leaves seemed unnatural as Kojiro turned and stared at a shadow behind him at a distance. As everyone turned, it struck fear as it sent in its threat.
(End of Chapter 5)
Author's tête-à-tête
The threat arises. What does the Illuminati intend to do? Now that danger is among the group, what will unfold then? Destiny invokes…
No new characters at the moment but here's another question that would like to repeat itself.
Who is Criel Delacroix?
Now guess who he really is. The truth will be revealed in the next chapter.
I would like to thank you for your patronage. Your reviews helped me write this fic. I would also like to thank you readers for reading and I hope you find it worthwhile. The next chapter is coming soon. Brace on people…
Sydney Grise