Welcome to Gaia! ::

Faris sighed, "Yes . . . just a little. There are things that I am more afraid of, but there's not anything I can do. At this point, I'm just sitting, and waiting to see what happens," Faris sighed and sat down at the waters edge, submerging his feet in the water.

"As much as I like this world," Faris said. "We have to go home," he said. "Although my world is savaged by war, one day I will have to return. . . before my kind is destroyed. It will be a sad day. Either the humans, or my people will be destroyed. I only hope we don't destroy each other."

Faris watched as a blue light flickered in front of his eyes, and he twirled around quicly to watch it. He felt the hair on his neck stand on end, but it was only a little moving light. It twirled around Reikon in a circle, and he supposed whatever it was, had some sort of mind of its own.

The little blue light suddenly flashed, and instead a youth was standing there, an arrow cocked in his bow. He released, and in a flash the arrow was in Faris's shoulder. "Hello," he greeted. "Monster."

Kira did not lower his bow, instead he turned his eyes to Reikon and Hisa. "Don't get involved," he said, very calmly. "Least I turn this weapon on you."

Faris pulled the arrow out of his shoulder, crawling to his feet. Blood trickled down his arm, and he already looked worn out. "I thought we would be safe here, away from you," Faris said, his voice full of quiet rage. "What are you doing here, Kira?"

"Killing you filthy monsters," Kira replied, pulling back another arrow. "Come quietly, least I use 'her' on you. I wouldn't want to scare civiliens."

"Monster?!" Faris shouted. "You're the only monster Kira, I've done nothing to you!"

"Monster? In all due respect, I think you're the only monster," Kira replied, grinning snidely.

Kira lowered his bow, but he still had an arrow in his hand. "Why protect him?" he asked, almost in a low growl. "Don't you know what he is? He's done nothing here, but what about the people he's killed in our world?" Kira smiled. "Oh, did you leave that part out, Faris?"

"Reikon," Faris whispered, his voice horse. "If he finds out . . . you're a half demon he'll kill you too." Faris grunted in pain, a fresh flow of blood dripping down his arm. "He doesn't like anything that isn't human, you should leave. . ." Faris was overcome with a wave of pain, and fell to his knees. "Damn. . ."

"This heart works wonders on you monsters," Kira laughed, patting a sack at his side. "One arrow, and you're almost finished. You won't even have to change, will you monster?" Kira grinned. "I guess instead of a pretty dragon head, your heart will have to do."

Kira smiled at Reikon, "Don't worry. I only kill monsters likes him," Kira pointed at Faris, laughing again. "How do you feel, knowing that the only thing that stands between me and you is a girl? You've gotten weak haven't you, Faris?"

Kira shook his head, "You're pitiful. At least your brother and sister will fight back and maybe cause a scene. You Faris, you will simply wither away into nothing, and die as nothing. Tell me, what has made you so weak, what makes me laugh at you and actually feel pity?"

Faris held his shoulder, shaking. "It's something called compassion, and memory." Faris smiled, "Oh, I'm sorry. You haven't heard of that have you?"

Kira shot another arrow, narrowly avoiding Reikon and hit Faris over the heart. He was scowling, grinding his teeth in anger and agitation. 'Don't tell me about memory or compassion, I've suffered because of monsters like you, filthy oversized Lizard. Don't lecture me about compassion."

Faris crumpled into the safety of Reikon's arms, but not after pulling the arrow out of his own flesh. "Don't you think, I rather die then suffer?" Faris asked. "It hurts . . . to live with memories. That makes me stronger than you think. You kill to ease your pain, and I live in it. That's what makes us different Kira."

Kira screamed, "What, and you haven't?" Kira snorted, "Damn . . . making me all angry over nothing. Now, Reikon was it? Step aside so I can ease his 'pain' and end his sorry and weak existence!" Kira drew the sword at his side, slinging his bow over his back. "Step aside, or else get hurt. Your choice."

Faris felt warmer in Reikon's arms, and let his head fall into her shoulder. She sounded like Elixer, protecting him from people who didn't understand. They didn't understand why he existed, or why he tried to continue when everyone just hated him, but Elixer had understood. Reikon understood.

"E-Elixer," Faris whispered. "Thank you . . . thank you for protecting me." Faris closed his eyes, as Reikon's grip around him tightened. He wondered how long it would be until he saw her again, how long until he would see the person who had taken his heart.

'Faris! Faris please don't die!'

"You care about him?" Kira snorted, sounding disgusted by the mere thought. "You don't care, about anything he's done, and you're willing to forgive him for the sins he's committed. Even though he looks like a saint, you're making a mistake. His soul is pure black, and his hands are red."

Kira didn't move, although his hair and black robes swirled around him, making him look like he had just walked through a sandstorm. "And who are you?" he asked, rather calmly. "You really shouldn't interfer. I'm from another world, carrying out devine punishment. Our gods might be different, but we still like our privacy."

Faris felt safe in Reikon's arms, or rather in the darkness of death that had begun to consume him. His hand gripped losely over his heart, the golden pendant under his shirt curled in it. He was nothing but a weak being, and he fully deserved to die. Life was not granting his wish, and he somehow knew that this darkness would be forced away again. He only wondered what kept him alive.

Then he realized, it was Elixer. She was keeping him alive, not allowing him to meet her in the afterlife. It wasn't a curse, it was her blessing.

"Faris," her voice whispered in his ear. "Just because I am no longer one of the living, does not mean I wish the same fate on you. There are two people who love you very dearly, and you can't leave them can you? You understand that pain, better than they do."

Kira bit his lip, drawing blood. The red water ran down his chin, and dripped rhythmically. He hadn't thought out his plan, too happy at the chance to kill a dragon. Cornering them, and killing them off one by one was one thing, but when they created bonds, there was always interference.

"Damn," Kira cursed, and he slung his sword back to his waist. "Even if I do run, it's not like there's anything you can do. If he has no will to live, he'll still die. Good luck with burying him," Kira disappeared into the little blue light he had been before, and it shot into the sky and disappeared, before anyone could move.

Faris struggled to open his eyes, if only a little. "See Faris? This one cries for you; like you cried for me. You cannot leave this people behind, they need to be protected." Elixer smiled brightly at him, her curls of hair fraiming her forever youthful face. "When it is your time, you'll have replaced me Faris. Let go."

Faris looked up at Reikon with his half closed eyes. "Elixer . . ." he answered. He never wanted to forget her, he could never replace her. He closed his eyes again, wishing he could move to comfort Reikon. The pain was subsiding, but if his wounds went untreated he really would die, even if Elixer tried to stop him. He smiled, she really would be angry.

Faris opened his eyes quickly, and he looked surprised. His body was numb, but besides that he felt fine; if not slightly anemic. Faris groaned, "I feel like I was hit by a truck," he complained. "I'd never thought I said this, but I'm actually glad you were around, Hisa right?"

Faris sat up slightly, "Thank you Reikon," he whispered. His cheeks turned scarlet, and he began to speak even more softly. "I'm sorry for worrying you, I did not want to make you cry."

Faris then turned to the gentleman, the one who had saved his fading life. "Thank you," he said. "If not for you, Reikon could have been hurt." Faris touched the locket around his neck, absentmindly. "Thank you for keeping that monster away from me, for now. I only prey he doesn't find the others."