#kaelah

Reiken sat curled up on his couch, just staring at the fire in the fireplace.  A cold cup of tea stood next to him.  Shivers ran through him as sat there.  A shrill screech sounded through the air.  

He flinched, his head snapping in the direction the sound came from.  

For a moment his eyes widened as he stumbled to his feet, knocking over the tea cup.  

"no...." he whispered, feeling the fear rising in his chest.  

He couldn't really much at the moment.  His power stayed out of his reach.  Holding his hand against his chest, he stumbled towards the door opening it.  

The sound of the demons felt like they were cutting through his soul.  

Reiken whimpered, almost pulling back into himself.  He was terrified of going out.  Only he couldn't leave the demons.  They will go to the down to the village and he could not risk that.  

Shutting his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath.  

Clenching his jaw he started moving to where the sounds were coming from.  Even if he had to fight the demons with his bare hands and sai daggers.  He was not going to let the demons get to the village.  

It took him longer than it should, to find the demons that made the calls.  

Reiken nodded as he shot forward.  

Immediately the demons turned their attention towards him.  He stumbled slightly as pain shot up his leg.  The sai daggers fell into his hand.  

Taking a deep breath he shot forward, constantly reaching for his power that stayed just out of his reach.  He was lucky that they weren't high level demons, or else he'd be dead already.  

One of the claws caught him across the chest, throwing him back.  

Out of reflex he reached for his power, only to feel the bracelet around his wrist burned white hot.  The pain made him drop his dagger.   His back slammed into a tree and he whimpered, sinking down.  

His vision blurred as he gasped for breath.  Pain tore through his chest.  

The world started disappearing.  And the last thing he could make out was the image of the demons moving towards him.  

Maybe this was it.

His time to atone for everything he's done.  If they kill him, maybe that will be enough.  

A new sage will be born.  

Someone that can be worthy of the title.  

It might be good.  

Everyone can have peace.  They can be happy.  Everyone can be happy.  They wouldn't have to worry about him, because he wouldn't be there to cause them any more trouble.

So will it really be that bad if he just gave in...?

If he'd let them kill him now?

Would that really be so bad?

Demon claws ripped through his abdomen, lifting him of the ground.  A weak scream sounded from his throat.  

His hand weakly held on to the demon's hand, as his vision faded again.  

Slowly the corner of his mouth lifted in a sad smile.  A weak cough, sounded from him as blood dripped from his mouth.  He could taste a rancid taste in his mouth as he started fading.  

The last thing he saw was a flash of brown, black, white and blond.  

Pain tore through his body, before everything disappeared.

Pain shot through Reiken like lightning.

He wanted to scream.  But he did not know if any sound came out of his throat, maybe there was.  He didn't know.

"...."

A long familiar voice sounded.

"...."

More familiar voices.  

Why did everything hurt so badly?  Couldn't they just leave him to sleep....  Who every they were....  The familiar voices.  

Brown and Black.  

They stayed with him as a flash of colour filled his eyes.  It didn't want to make any sense.  

Something warm took his hand.  

It was gentle.

Misha?  What was she doing here?  

He was tired.  Wanted to sleep and rest.  To get away from the pain and the confusion.  Why would Misha be there with him?  Wasn't she....

He couldn't even finish that thought.  

Why would he think about her?  When she couldn't be with him, when she left him....  No wait....  That's not right...  He's the one that left her...

"...."

The voices again.

Not Misha.

"...you cannot die yet..."

"...don't think we'll let you off so easily...."

"...Rei....  you'll be alright...."

"...I WOULDN'T let you die!"

"...Just hold on..."

"We've got you"

The colours merged together.  He felt so confused.  The pain slowly pulled him back into the darkness.  

***

Slowly Reiken started waking up.  He couldn't feel his arms.  Pain throbbed in his abdomen.  It was echoed by the pain in his head.  

Waking up, surprised him.  

He did not expect that.  

Opening his eyes felt like a chore.  As if it was the hardest, most difficult thing he'd ever done.  

What he saw was a canopy of green above him.  He couldn't make out what it was made of, and he couldn't figure out what the hazy figures were moving around them.  

"...he's waking up" a voice said.

That voice belonged to the blond, not that was the brown...  He wasn't sure anymore.  It confused him.  

"...Then we leave"

That was the black...  He was sure that the black.  

Blond moved into his field of vision, before followed by black.  Immediately his entire body went cold.  Pain shot through his body.  He wanted to scream again. 

Maybe he did.  

He wasn't sure.  The pain clouded his mind, leaving him feeling weak and cold.  He wanted to reach for his power to warm him up, but it stayed out of his reach. 

A gentle hand brushed back his hair.  

Slowly his vision cleared.  

Finally he could make out what was going on around him.  

"Slowly" a voice said "Don't move to fast"

Reiken slowly turned his head to where the voice came from.  "...Waneta..." he whimpered.  

The blond head nodded.  "Yes..." she said "Are you... feeling alright?"

For a moment Reiken just blinked at her.  His eyes widened as his mind caught up with what was going on.  Immediately he pushed himself up, only for his arms to give in beneath him.  

Someone caught him, lowering him back to the ground.  "You should stay down for now" a new voice said.  

Sigurd sighed, when Reiken just stared at him with a terrified expression.

"....I'm sorry..." Reiken whispered, pulling back, away from Sigurd, as if terrified of getting into trouble.

Sigurd lifted his hands slightly in a show of peace and shook his head.  "Easy there, Fire Sage..." he said "We're not here for trouble, Reiken"

Reiken all but curled up into himself, his body trembling.  

"...sorry..." he whispered.

"You should have been more careful" Acheron said as he walked over to him "What the hell did you think going out like this?"

Reiken immediately looked away, his body trembling.  

"Ash..." Waneta said "Back up...  You're not helping"

Acheron rolled his eyes as he pulled back.  "He should get back to his cottage....  because he croaks" he said coldly.

"He wouldn't die" the last voice said, Kaelah.

Reiken stared at the other immortals.  It felt like he was hallucinating them there.  Why would they help him?  

"Why're... you here?" he whispered, still tasting blood in his mouth.  

"You were going to die" Waneta said, tilting her head slightly "We couldn't just leave you to die like that"

She held out her hand towards him.  

"It's okay, Rei....  You're save now...  I wouldn't let anything happen to you"

Slowly Reiken reached out to her, taking her hand.  

Waneta smiled as she helped him up.  Immediately she had to catch him again as his legs gave in.

Sigurd sighed as he went to Reiken's other side, putting his arm over his shoulder, holding him up.  "Come on...  you will probably fall over if we leave you alone..." he said.

Reiken just looked down at the ground.  "...sorry..." he whispered.

"You power is exhausted" Acheron said with a frown "What did you do?"

When Acheron started talking, Reiken flinched.  ".... demons.... they... attacked the village" he said quietly.

"And you used all of your power for that?" Acheron asked, frowning.  

Reiken nodded slightly.  "...A hoard" he said and felt Sigurd stiffen next to him.

"A hoard, are you sure?" Sigurd asked.

"Of course he's sure" Waneta said "What kind of idiot do you think he'll be if he didn't know.....  All of us know what a hoard looks like"

"And he used all of his power for that?" Acheron asked again "He shouldn't have had to do that"

"You forget the seal" Kaelah said quietly.  

Acheron paused for a moment before he nodded.  "Right..." he said "half his power... right... that makes sense now... Just take him home so we can get out of here"

"You really have to work on your personality, Ash" Waneta said, shaking her head "It's starting to get really bad..."

Reiken just looked away.  He could feel Acheron's dark eyes on him, like daggers in his chest.  All he wanted to do was to go home and curl up on his bed.  

"....Can I go home... now?" he asked, voice barely audible.  

Waneta looked over at Reiken, smiling slightly.  "Alright.... let's go" she said "You look terrible"

***

Reiken closed the door as the others left.  He could barely stay on his feet, so he was thankful that they brought him back to the cottage.  

Wringing his hands together, he limped back to the living room.  The fire that was there, had long since gone out.  He sighed as he sank down on the couch, curling up.  

After a few more second he struggled back up and stumbled to the fireplace.

He went down on his knees as he put some logs in the fireplace.  It took him a few tried before he managed to get a fire started with the firestones.  Immediately heat filled the apartment.  

He was to tired to do anything else, so he just curled up on the floor, in front of the fire.  

Reiken sighed where he was sitting under the tree, in the shade.  He pulled his knees up against his chest, just closing his eyes for a moment.  

It was a calm day.  Clear blue skies and a few clouds in the air.  The grass was green and the sun casted a beautiful shadow on the grass.  He liked it outside, under the trees.  The best part was when it was a fruit tree.

Acheron would yell at him if he saw him now.  

He sighed again before slowly getting up and folding his hands behind his head.  Before he could start walking, a blur of golden hair ran towards him, jumping into his arms, forcing him to catch her.  

Reiken stumbled back slightly, wrapping his arms around the petite figure.  With a slight smile he gently put the girl down again.  

“Misha” he said with a smile.

The girl laughed as she looked up at him.  “Hey, Rei-Rei” she said “I thought you could use some company”

“Is that so?” Reiken asked, the dimples forming in his cheeks as he he grinned.

Misha smiled up at him, her silver eyes gleaming brightly.  She poked Reiken’s ribs, making him squirm and laugh as she started tickling him.  

“Mia....” Reiken laughed, trying to get away from her “S...s... st... stop...  Mia...”

The girl laugh before pulling away from Reiken, folding her hands behind her back.  Her soft pink hanfu swirled around her legs.  

“So what do you think?” she asked, giving a twirl.

Reiken looked her up and down.  “A new one I take it?” he asked with a smile and Misha nodded smiling brightly “You look really pretty”

Misha grinned at him.  “Thank you” she said “Lea helped me to make it”

“Kaelah helped you to make it?” he asked, trying not to laugh.

“Yeah well...” Misha said with a pout “You know that I’m not good at needle work...  So you don’t get to laugh at me”

Reiken pressed his lips together, the dimples going deeper in his cheeks.  

Misha narrowed her eyes at him.  “You are laughing at me” she said pointing a finger at him “Don’t you dare....  Rei-Rei, I swear I’m going to smack you on the head if you do”

“I’m sorry...” Reiken said with a chuckle “I wouldn’t laugh I promise”

Again Misha smiled at him and gave another turn, showing of her hanfu.

‘All of those you love will die’

Reiken tried to ignore the voice, to pull away from memory, but it kept on echoing in his head.  

‘You are cursed....  Everything you touches dies....  That is your curse...’

He tried.  He wanted to get away, but the demon’s curse voice kept on whispering in his mind.  This was the one thing he did not want.  The memories that always came back.  He didn’t want to remember them.

Reiken gently picked Misha up and carried her into the cottage.  There was a worried expression on his face as the girl snuggled into his shoulder.  

“Why didn’t you tell me, you weren’t feeling well?” he asked as he gently lay her down on the couch.  

Misha looked up at him, smiling softly.  “I’m sorry, Rei...” she said quietly.  

Reiken sighed and brushed some of her golden hair out of her face.  “Mia...  You need to tell me, if you’re not getting better, we need to let Acheron know...  Maybe he can help you”  

“Rei, Ash isn’t as all powerful as you wish him to be” Misha said quietly.

“He can still help you”

“And what if he can’t?”

“Then.... then I’ll find another way”

Misha smiled at him, putting her hand against his cheek.  Her hand was cold, so he covered it with his.  “Don’t be an idiot, Rei” she said softly “You cannot save everyone”

“I don’t want to save everyone...” Reiken whispered and closed his eyes “Just you...”

Misha sighed and pulled Reiken’s hand closer, gently pressing her lips against his knuckles.  “Oh Rei” she said softly “Don’t do anything stupid...”

“Mia...” he said softly.

‘Do you see that?  You’re the one that did this’

Reiken shook his head.  “NO!” he called out “This wasn’t my fault...  She was sick...  I didn’t....  I didn’t make her sick...”

‘Being near you killed her.  Being near you made her sick’

“No.... please...  You’re wrong... That’s not true...”

“What did you just say?” Reiken snapped as he grabbed Acheron by the front of his robe.

Acheron took Reiken’s wrist and pulled his hands away.  “I said...  There’s nothing I can do for her” he said through a clenched jaw “I can’t heal her...  It’s to late...”

Reiken stared at him, his eyes wide as tears started running down his cheeks.  He started shaking as he sank to his knees.  

“No.... please....” he whispered “Ash...  No...  Please...”

Kaelah knelt next to Reiken pulling him into her arms.  “Rei” she said softly “I’m so sorry...” 

Gently she brushed Reiken’s red hair back, before starting to stroke his hair, rocking him from side to side.  She just held him as he sobbed.  

“Reiken” Acheron said softly as he knelt next to Reiken and Kaelah “I’m so sorry...  You know I would do anything for her... and you...  You know that...  There’s nothing I can do”

His voice were strained, like he was having trouble keeping his own tears from falling.  

Reiken nodded, but didn’t say anything.  

“I’m so sorry....” Acheron said.  

“Why her...?” Reiken whispered, just holding on to Kaelah “Why...?  She doesn’t....  She doesn’t deserve this...”

“I know, Rei-Rei” Kaelah said softly just stroking his hair back “I know...”

***

“He’s not waking up....” Hein’s voice said.

Reiken could hear them, but the memories kept on coming back. 

Over and over again.  Overwhelming him each time.  

“What are we going to do?” Gruen’s voice asked “He’s been like this...  for days...  What are we supposed to do?”

“That healer...” Leia’s voice said quietly “We need to get him.... Maybe he can help...”

“He’s to far away...” Saffron’s voice.  

“There has to be something we can do...” Hein’s voice said again.  

Reiken felt himself finally drifting into darkness and silence.  The memories slowly fading.

Leia gently wiped away from of the tears that’s been running down Reiken’s face.  They found him, barely conscious in the middle of the road, surrounded by the corpses of demons.

Slowly his eyes flickered open.  

“Leia...” Gruen said, leaning over Reiken “He’s waking up...”

Leia gasped.  “Rei...” she said softly as Saffron and Hein also gathered around the bed.

“Hey...” Saffron said softly.  

It took a moment before Reiken’s eyes focused on them.  “...hallo...” he whispered.

“You’re back...” Saffron said and just pulled him into a hug “We were so worried...”

Leia nodded as she also hugged him and then Gruen and Hein joined as well.

The ground trembled, cracked and disappeared beneath Acheron and Reiken.  It swallowed them and the demons around them.  

Reiken tried to reach for his control of earth, but before he could manage that.  Something slammed into his head.  The world around him blacked out, the last thing he saw was Acheron, reaching for him.  

Slowly the pain pulled Reiken back to consciousness.  

He blinked a few times, struggling to see anything in the semi darkness.  There was a blinding throbbing in the back of his head.  

“...”

A voice sounded up, but Reiken couldn’t understand a word of it.  It just sounded like foreign words with no meaning.

“...”

The voice kept on.  It got louder and louder.

“... Rei...”

Reiken flinched and blinked a few times.  A small flickering fire hovered in the air, casting a pale light in the darkness.

“REIKEN!” the voice snapped.

Slowly Reiken turned his head towards the voice.  It took him a moment before he understood what he was seeing.  

Acheron lay a few steps away from him.  it looked like he was trapped beneath some rocks.

“Ash...?” Reiken muttered as he slowly got to his feet.  

“Reiken...” the other immortal said “What just happened?”

Reiken blinked a few times.  “I....  I don’t... know” he muttered “I couldn’t reach...  earth fast enough...”

Acheron nodded.  “Can you move?” he asked.

“Yeah...” Reiken muttered “I think so...”

Slowly he sat up, feeling the pain in his head making the world turn.  He moved towards Acheron.  Everything around him moved.  Somewhere in the distance he could hear the sound of demons.  They sounds closer and far away at the same time.  

His shoulders stiffened.  

“Reiken!” Acheron snapped, drawing the red haired immortal’s attention back.

Reiken blinked turning back to Acheron.  “Are you... alright?” he asked hesitantly “Can you move?”

“No...” Acheron said, pain lacing his voice “My legs are trapped beneath some boulders.  You will have to move them before we can get out of here”

It took a moment before Reiken made his way over Acheron to make sure about what was going.  He just blinked at Acheron’s legs before his eyes flickered over the other guy.  

“Let me make sure that you don’t have any other injuries...” Reiken muttered.

“Like hell” Acheron snapped before groaning in pain “Just get me out of here and I’ll take care of myself...”

Reiken clenched his jaw.  “NO!” he said, sounding angry “You are not going to suffer like that...  Let me help you”

Acheron groaned, his eyes flickering closed.  

“Ash....” Reiken said “Ash, wake up...  open your eyes...  Come on man... open up your eyes.  DON’T go to sleep!”

For a moment Acheron groaned and his eyes flickered open.  

It took a few seconds before Acheron’s black eyes focused on Reiken.  Reiken breathed out and pulled back slightly.  

“Thank you...” he whispered.  He placed his hand on Acheron’s chest.  “Take it easy...  I’ll take care of you, just hold on a little”

“Rei...” Acheron muttered, closing his eyes.

Reiken clenched his jaw and shook his head.  “Just shut up, Ash” he snapped “Shut up and let me help you, alright”

Acheron groaned before nodding.  “Thank you...” he whispered.

Taking a deep breath, he moved his attention to Acheron’s legs.  “This is bad...” he whispered.  

He placed his hands on boulder on Acheron’s legs.  

“This is going to hurt...” he said quietly.

Acheron nodded.  “Yeah I know....” he said quietly “Crush injury...  the boulders probably crushed my legs.  You will have to heal them”

Reiken nodded slightly.  “I’m so sorry....” he said quietly.  

He closed his eyes, pushing the pain to the back of his mind, as he reached for his power and then lifted the boulders.  Acheron’s scream echoed through the darkness of the hole they were trapped in.  

Without hesitation, Reiken moved and rapidly pulled Acheron away.  

Pain ripped through his wrist as the bracelet burned him.  He let go of the boulders and the sound thundered through the small space.  

Both Reiken and Acheron fell on to the ground, gasping.  Reiken flinched as he looked over at Acheron’s bloody legs.  “I’m so sorry...” he whispered “I don’t know if I have enough....  enough power to... to... to fix that”

“Give me your hand” Acheron said.  

Reiken nodded slightly and held out his wrist, Acheron gripped his wrist tightly.  

“Start” he said.  

Reiken shut his eyes tightly before holding his hand out over Acheron’s legs.  He could feel the power rushing through him, adding to his own borrowed ability.  Slowly he started healing the injury.  

Acheron’s grip on his wrist tightened as the pain tore through him.  

After a little while, he could feel Acheron’s power fading as the immortal started losing his consciousness.  

“Ash...” Reiken said, as he turned his attention to the other guy.  He’d done all the healing that he could on the guy’s legs “Ash... wake up...  Please...  Ash... You have to wake up”

The black haired immortal stayed motionless. 

Reiken could feel the panic rising in his chest.  He couldn’t let this happen.  Not again.  Not while he was there.  He was not going to let someone else die while he was there.  

“Ash...DAMMIT!  WAKE UP!” he screamed.  

The power exploded around him.  It torn at his body.

“REI!” Acheron’s voice snapped “STOP IT”

No...  That wasn’t right...  He was not...  Acheron was not.

Arms grabbed him, holding him tightly.  “It’s alright....  Take it easy...  It’s alright” the voice whispered “Sshhh...  It’s alright...  No one is going to die...  We’re all alright”

Reiken gasped, pulling his legs up against his chest.  Slowly his power calmed down.  

“There you go...  It’s alright Rei-Rei...” Acheron muttered as he rubbed Reiken’s back, trying to calm the other immortal down “Deep breaths, Rei....  Come one Kid...  Deep breaths”

Reiken finally managed to draw in a deep breath, as his power calmed down.  

“There you go...” Acheron said quietly “Calm down, Kid...  Calm down...  It’s alright”

“I’m okay....” Reiken whispered “I’m alright...  I’m sorry...”

Acheron breathed out and nodded, continuing to rub Reiken’s back.  “Just hold on a little...  Sigurd will get us out” he said gently “Don’t use any more of your power, alright.  We’re fine”

Reiken was trembling, just staring out at nothing, struggling to get his breathing back under control.

“Come on Kid” Acheron said “I don’t hate you so much that I want to see you suffer like this”

“Sorry... Sorry... Sorry...” Reiken muttered. 

“Close your eyes, Rei” Acheron said quietly “Close your eyes and stay calm...  I’m here...  I’m not going anywhere, you know I’m to stubborn for that.  You know that...”

Reiken shut his eyes tightly.  “I’m sorry....  I couldn’t... I couldn’t help more...” he whispered.