Kieran

     Six pairs of eyes were focused on Takaeyama, riveted as he took a few steps forward. He continued to the center of the clearing where he stopped. There, he stooped down and lay Blue gently on the ground, as though laying out a sacrifice to whatever demented god had caused this mess. He stood, his posture rigid, and without a glance at the others walked stiffly away. He sat apart from the rest of them, avoiding their gazes. His breathing was heavy and sweat beaded his brow.

     Yukiiae finished stitching Ayame in a flash, and hurried to where Blue lay motionless. She looked at the wounds on his leg, and knew immediately what had happened. She’d seen this before. She drew a shaking breath, then prepared to get to work. Blue stirred under her touch, his eyelids fluttered open. He looked at her, uncomprehending, for a moment.

     “Relax,” she soothed. “I’ll get you fixed up.”

     She turned away from him, ready to set about the impossible thing she’d promised. His trembling hand on her arm stopped her.

     “Takaeyama?”

     “He’s here.”

     “No… the trap. It… got him.” Blue’s whispering voice could barely be heard.

     Oh gods, could this get any worse? The gears in Yukiiae’s mind were grinding. She wasn’t sure she’d even be able to help Blue now, let alone after seeing to Takaeyama. Yet, if she didn’t give the antidote to the Corduran immediately… well, there’d be no helping him either.

     “Kazu!” the Decameron called.

     The Pantagruel hurried over.

     “I need you to hold here. Just like this. Feel it? Not tighter, not looser. Ok?”

     “Ok, Yukiiae. I can do it.”

     “Just like that,” she stressed. The Pantagruel were not a people who knew their own strength. Too much pressure on Blue’s leg could cut off his circulation, or compound the fractures she was sure were there. However, if Kazuki let his mind wander, slackened his grip… the Decameron shuddered.

     She hurried over to where Takaeyama sat slouching on the ground. She eased her pace as she approached, then plopped down beside him.

     “I heard you got stuck.”

     He looked at her, but didn’t respond. She fished through her bag, producing- with a show of triumph- a small vial.

     “Here we go. This’ll set you right.”

     He continued to stare at her, a look of abject misery clouding his features.

     “Here. Swallow it.”

     Takaeyama did as he was told, making a face when he tasted the concoction. After swallowing the contents of the vial, he stared at her a moment longer, then burst into tears.

     “Don’t cry,” Yukiiae said in a placating tone. “You did great. Now, what is there to cry about?”

     “He’s dead.”

     “Who? Blue? No he isn’t. What is it with you? This is the second time you’ve thought that. He’ll be ok. You two will be back to talking about whatever it is you guys talk about in no time. Meanwhile, I’m gonna ask someone to come sit with you. It’s lonely over here.” She patted his arm. “You’re going to feel pretty sleepy soon. Try to stay awake, ok?”

     She went to where the others sat, thinking quickly.

     “Chieko,” said the Decameron in a friendly way, “can you go sit with Takaeyama?”

     “Ok.” The GelbFaust stood up.

     “He might pass out. Try to keep him awake if you can, but if you can’t it’s ok. Come get me right away if he starts seizing, alright?”

     “O… ok.” Chieko looked crestfallen as she went to join Takaeyama.

     Yukiiae turned her attention back to Blue.

     I killed a man.

     Kat’s thoughts would scatter, then reform, always gathering around that one fact. She’d killed someone.

     He head throbbed where the bullet had grazed. She looked with envy upon Mina, wishing she too could sink into sleep. The pain in her head brought with it frantic worries of death and scarring.

     I killed a man.

     She’d been hit with the bullet as soon as they’d arrived at the HeadHunter’s camp. The shock and pain had made her faint. She’d awakened later to Yukiiae hovering over her. The Decameron had already treated the gash on Kat’s head. A bit away, the battle still raged on. Kat couldn’t see anyone else in the dark, but could hear the sounds of gunshots and clashing steel. Terrified, she bit her lip to hold back the sobs that threatened to burst from her body.

     “It’s alright. It’s almost over. You’ll be ok,” the Decameron said soothingly. Kat stared at her blankly.

     “I don’t want to die,” she whimpered.

     “It’ll be ok. Why don’t you start back to camp, alright? You can wait for everybody there.”

     “My head…”

     “It’s ok. You’re ok. It’s just a cut.”

     “Will I have… a-a scar?”

     “No. I’ll give you a poultice for it later, ok? I promise, no scars.” Yukiiae smiled her soft smile. Kat felt a bit better.

     “Alright. See you later.”

     Kat headed off toward camp. She’d been walking for a few minutes when she heard shouts behind her. She whipped around, and was nearly trampled by Kazuki and Chieko, who were holding Ayame between them.

     “Go back to camp, quick!” Kazuki bellowed. “More guys’re coming!”

     They barreled past. She was alone in the darkness. Fear gripped her, leaving her standing, paralyzed, frozen. Every logical nerve within her was screaming Run! Run! She couldn’t turn. She couldn’t run. She did nothing.

     Kat could hear the sound of the men approaching. She heard gunshots. Run! She was going to die. She couldn’t force herself to move. She could hear someone coming nearer, crashing through the forest, floodwaters that would drown her.

     “Kat!”

     Harata burst from the bushes, hurtling forward. He skidded to a halt and put his hands on her shoulders.

     “Kat, are you all right?” He nearly shouted the hurried words. When she didn’t respond, he said, “Come on, let’s go. I’ll stay with you. I won’t let them get you.”

     Taking her by the arm, he gently pulled her around. The movement was enough to get her started. They took off into the woods.

     Harata was true to his word. He repeatedly fought back the oncoming forces while Kat cowered in his shadow. For a time it seemed he had to fight for every inch of ground they gained. Finally, it appeared the enemy was falling back. The Clanless bled from a multitude of minor wounds, but hadn’t lost the air of determination she’d come to associate with his persona.

     They were both breathing a sigh of relief when it happened. One of the Angemal, hidden in the dark, pounced on Kat. For a fraction of a second all she could see was the man’s snarling face. Then, she became someone else. Her body moved, but not because she willed it to. She felt her own arm raise, felt the slippery grip of the gun in her sweating hand. She felt the gun buck as she fired, and she watched the man’s face disappear, replaced by a red blossom of death. She bit her lip to hold back one of the sounds that wished to escape her- a sob, a laugh, a scream.

     Kat stumbled, and Harata came to hold her up.

     “Good shot,” he said approvingly.

     They continued through the forest. Harata did not let go of Kat until they’d nearly trampled Mina, who was lying face-down on the ground.

     “Mina!”

     The Sabian screamed as Harata shook her. He turned to look up at Kat.

     “We have to get her out of here.” He gathered up the Sabian and walked hurriedly to where Kat stood. “I’ve gotta go quickly. Will you be ok?”

     “Go,” she answered flatly.

     “I’m sorry,” he said.

     And then he kissed her.

     It was quick and somewhat awkward, but the shock of it had left her stunned. Harata turned and barreled away through the woods, leaving Kat with her fingers to her lips.

     Now, as she sat huddled in the campsite, she wondered why he’d done that. And she wondered how she felt.

     “Where’s Keisuke?” Harata’s furious voice finally let loose the question on the minds of the waking Champions. None of them had wanted to bring up the obvious absence. The Clanless turned to Ayame, who sat beside him. “Have you seen him?”

     “No,” she answered softly.

     “Kazuki?”

     “No, not in the woods.”

     Harata stood and walked over to where Chieko sat with Takaeyama.

     “I heard you,” said Chieko. “I haven’t seen him either. I wonder what happened to him?”

     “Takaeyama,” said the Clanless firmly, ignoring Chi, “did you see Keisuke in the woods?”

     “No.”

     “Mina might’ve seen him,” offered Chieko, “but we can’t ask her now, I guess.”

     Harata sighed and walked over to where Yukiiae was still attempting to patch up Blue. He knew he couldn’t break her concentration, so he sat and waited until she turned her head slightly and said,

     “Yeah?”

     “Have you seen Keisuke?” He asked in a hushed voice.

     “No.”

     She didn’t say anything more for a few minutes, then added, never looking up from her work,

     “There’s a good chance he’s been killed. The Angemal don’t take kindly to those who leave the flock.”

     Harata stood and went back to his place. I’m not so sure he did leave the flock. Those HeadHunters were pretty ready for us.

     No one spoke again until much later, when Yukiiae came to sit with the others. She flopped wearily to the ground, letting out a long breath. Something in the look on her face made the rest of them reluctant to ask questions.

     “Chieko,” Harata called to the GelbFaust, “could you and Takaeyama come over here?”

     “I can,” Chi answered, “but Takaeyama’s sleeping… or something.”

     “Ok, come here. Kazuki, can you move Takaeyama?”

     “Sure.”

     Once they were all assembled, Harata sighed and said,

     “I want to get out of here. I think we should go as soon as possible. Yukiiae, can we move Blue and Mina?”

     “It’s really better if we don’t… but if it’s a matter of emergency…”

     “What about Keisuke?” asked Chieko anxiously.

     “There’s no way of knowing what happened to Keisuke. He might be dead… or…”

     “You think…” Chieko’s voice dropped.

     “Those HeadHunters knew we were coming. We can’t take any chances. If Keisuke’s betrayed us, they know exactly where this camp is. They can get here anytime.”

     “Where can we go?” asked Ayame desperately.

     “We’ll just keep going south, see if we can find a secluded place.”

     “Harata…” Yukiiae’s voice was reluctant. She didn’t want to say what it was she had to. “If we knew where we were going… but, I don’t think… They might not make it.”

She didn’t look at any of the others.

     Harata looked at the disheveled band of Champions. They were all exhausted. If it came down to another fight, they’d be finished in minutes. He felt as though the weight of each of their souls was being pressed upon him. If the Angemal returned to kill them, he’d be responsible… but if they left… that might mean the death of Blue or Mina- or both of them.

     “Chieko,” he said heavily, “go get the map, please.”

     She hurried off, careful not to glance at her fallen comrades. After some rummaging, she returned with the map. They all spent a few frustrating minutes trying to plot a course.

     “Kieran.”

      For a few seconds, everyone looked around at each other.

     “Kieran,” Takaeyama sputtered from where he lay on the ground.

     “What’s a ‘kirin’?” asked Chieko brightly.

     “My… my brother.” Takaeyama struggled to wake up. He felt as though he’d been chewing on a wad of cotton, and his head throbbed. As he fought to sit up, colored starbursts blossomed before his eyes. Yukiiae reached out to help him. “He lives very close. We should go to Kieran.”

     “Can you show us? On the map?”

     The Corduran forced himself to focus.

     “Here.” His finger stabbed the map. “We can go this way.” He pointed out a hiking trail that led into a winding mountain road.

     “You’re sure he’ll help us?” Harata fought back nagging memories of a reporter at the press conference asking Takaeyama something about an estranged family.

     “We can trust Kieran. We should go.”

     “Guys?”

     The rest of the Champions nodded in assent.

     “That settles it, then.”

     It was just after dawn when they arrived at the door of the secluded house. Not one of the Champions felt they could’ve made it another step. Blue and Mina were borne on makeshift stretchers by Kazuki, Chieko, Yukiiae, and Harata. Ayame’s stitched shoulder ached, and Kat felt like the walking dead. Takaeyama shook visibly.

     “Wait,” he cautioned, then went ahead.

     He rang the bell as the others hung back at the edge of the property. He rang again. After what seemed like an eternity, a pajama-clad man opened the door.

     “Taka!” he cried out. “What are you doing here? I saw, on television-“

     Takaeyama cut his brother off, saying something the others couldn’t hear. After a brief, muted discussion, the door swung wide. Takaeyama motioned to the remaining Champions.

     That Kieran was the brother of the Corduran Champion was obvious. He too was tall and lean, and possessed the same ice-blue locks. His hair, however, was trimmed neatly. He wore glasses over his pale blue eyes. There was a genteel ease about the man who stood in the doorway, quite unlike the rumpled sorrow they’d come to associate with his sibling.

     “Please, come in.” Despite being shaken, he did his best to sound welcoming.

     There was a flurry of activity as the Champions piled into Kieran’s house. He quickly guided them upstairs to the guestroom, where Yukiiae promptly sequestered herself with Blue and Mina. The remaining Champions straggled back to the first floor. They stared around dazedly, none seeming sure what to do. Finally, Harata broke from the others, extending his hand to Kieran.

     “I’m Harata,” he said, trying to make his voice sound warm.

     “I’m Kieran. Well met.”

     “Thank you for letting us in.”

     “Think nothing of it. You all look done in. You have the run of the place, so just pick a spot and make yourselves comfortable. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.”

     “This is really kind of you.”

     “Like I said, think nothing of it. I’ll be here all day. If you need anything, just call.”

     Harata thanked Kieran again, then turned back to the Champions. He nodded, and they all began shucking packs or collapsing onto sofas. Kieran turned and went into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. Takaeyama followed after him.

     Kieran’s house was exactly the way Takaeyama remembered it- spotlessly clean and entirely lacking in clutter. Everything inside was tastefully arranged and kept in strict order. The furniture, rich woods and muted fabrics, was highly polished and free of stains or dust. In the kitchen, the countertops were perfectly clean and chrome glistened in all the right places. The house smacked of order and organization- just like Kieran himself.

     “Thank you,” Takaeyama murmured gratefully. Kieran smiled his easy smile.

     “You got yourself in quite a mess, little brother.”

     “I’m getting good at that.”

     “Is it true? I mean, is that guy- Harata- really the Clanless?”

     “As far as I know, yeah.”

     “How did you get picked as a Champion?”

     “I don’t really understand it. Apparently we were all just… well, born as the Champions. We had to find each other.”

     “Crazy. So… do you believe in it, then?”

     “Yeah, I guess. I dunno… but if it is true, and I just ignore it…”

     “Yeah.” Kieran was looking hard at his brother. His smile had faded, and his expression took on a serious cast. “Taka… have you been sick?”

     “Oh, it’s ok. I kinda got poisoned earlier, but Yukiiae took care of it.”

     “No. I mean before tonight. You don’t look so good… You looked pretty rough on television last week, too.”

     The truth was, Takaeyama looked terrible. He’d lost a lot of weight, and there were shadows under his eyes. His usually gleaming hair hung lank and untended. Everything about him seemed disheveled, and his eyes now stared lifeless, without focus… like a zombie, like a ghost- nothing like his mild-mannered, easygoing younger brother.

     “I’m fine. Just been… tired, you know?”

     “Well, go get some sleep.” Kieran clapped his brother affectionately on the shoulder. He knew that Takaeyama was lying, and decided that he’d just have to find the truth on his own.

     Kat was seated on a loveseat, staring dejectedly out the window at the grey dawn. Mist was clinging to the trees and bushes of the well-tended garden outside. She was worn out, fatigued, but sleep would not come to her. Her mind was full, churning. She barely noticed Yukiiae weaving through the room, didn’t register until the Decameron stood right before her.

     “Hey,” Yukiiae said softly. She held up a small jar. “I brought your poultice.”

     “What about… about Blue and Mina?”

     “They’ll be ok for a minute. I left Kinjal with them. He’ll signal me if I’m needed.”

     The Decameron went to work, smearing the cut on Kat’s head with a fragrant substance.

     “There, finished.”

     “Thank you,” Kat said in a hushed voice.

     “No problem. I promised, right?”

     Yukiiae smiled at Kat, making her feel as though she and her petty worries about scars really did matter, even in light of the others’ far more serious danger. The Empirian felt overwhelmingly grateful. She watched silently as Yukiiae rose and turned to head back to her charges. She stopped to apply a salve to Ayame’s stitches, then to settle the blanket over the already slumbering Chieko. On her way out of the room, she paused to speak to Kazuki, who was leaning in the doorway.

     “Kazu, you were great tonight. Thanks so much for all your help.”

     “Aw,” he replied bashfully. “It’s no big deal.”

     “It really helped me. Now, get some sleep, ok?”

     “Ok.” He grinned after her as she patted his arm and left.

     Finally, she spoke to Takaeyama. What she said Kat couldn’t hear, but she watched as the Corduran smiled shyly up at Yukiiae. The Decameron turned and headed back upstairs. Kat realized that while she herself might sleep sometime within the coming hours, that blessing would not be granted the red-haired girl. No, she would labor, awake for gods knew how many hours… yet she still took the time to keep her promise, and to do so with a smile.

     Realization hit Kat with a jolt.

     That’s the kind of woman I want to be- brave, kind, loyal. For a moment, Kat could not believe what she was thinking. How could she think such a thing, hold this person of so low a Clan in such high esteem? Her mind began to rebel, but the truth shone through. Birth didn’t seem all that important anymore. That night she’d cried like a child in the face of danger. Yukiiae had shouldered her burdens. What did Clan status have to do with anything, really? Oh, to hell with it.

     She stretched out on the two-seater, and like the others around her, mercifully drifted into sleep.