A/N: Ok, I've only seen the first season-I'm giving a year's leeway for whatever happened in the second season to happen. But, no new characters except for an OC on my part and perhaps Flamesoul will appear...dunno about that one though. First Orphen fic, so bear with me. I understand that I'll be missing some things for the miss-out on Season Two. I hope I will be recieving feed-back from this chapter.
Warning: Spoilers from the First Season (accurately written down from the English dub: sorry if you didn't like the English version)
That's enough of that for now:
Tragic
By: Apherion
Original story by: Sawada Hajime
Cleao's Heart-Ache
It's been a long time, I thought, looking down at pendant of the Tower of Fangs. Too long, I sighed heavily and placed the damned thing in the drawer of my vanity, underneath the fake bottom. I didn't want to look at it… It would just remind me of…of…of him. I couldn't bring it upon myself to feel the pain again, but I seemed masochist by wanting to feel that pain well up inside me.
What I wouldn't have given for some release. But that was four years ago, when I wore my heart on my sleeve. I still do, I force myself to feel the pain. Why, I haven't the faintest clue. I, Cleao Everlasting, have never felt pain like this before. And I coax my body to give into the pain I bring upon myself.
Damn, I thought as my tears overflowed my eyes, running down my now pale cheeks. The droplets hit the wooden floor with a rhythm. Teen…teen, teen, blended into the padding of feet on the steps running to my room. Mariabella opened the door; I didn't even have to look up from my hands. I knew it was her. I had already asked Mother not to bother me tonight. I wasn't up to facing Mariabella's fiancé at the dinner table, even though it was just Hartia, Shrimpy…
'I am the Black Tiger! The embodiment of fear and darkness…' I choked on my sobs; I had forgotten his long winded speech. I remembered him showing up in a gondola; he didn't give the speech that time. He wanted me to give… Mariabella had her arms around me, rocking me, soothing me, hushing me…like I was her child who had had a bad dream. I swallowed down the last of my tears, my pain. I put on a brave face for my sister. I wanted to show her I was up to seeing her happy. Despite his fan boy intuition for one certain comic book hero, Hartia was a great guy. Like…like… I lost it again.
"Cleao, Mother and I are both worried about you. Why won't you talk to us? We could help you, you know." We could help you, you know. The words repeated themselves over in my empty head…and the only obstacle seemed to intensify the words. Anger coursed through my small form. I broke away from my sister's grasp.
"You don't know what it's like!" I shouted emotionally. Surely, Mother and Hartia had heard me. Sure enough, here they come, she sneered inside her head.
"Cleao, Mariabella, what is going on?" Mother had asked in her patient, yet worried voice. I had my hands balled into fists; I wanted to hit all three of them, Mother for being so happy all of the time, and my reason for wanting to hit Mariabella and Hartia…because of their love. I reached inside my drawer for the pendant. It was weighty enough to break something with it. Hartia gasped when he caught sight of it. I whirled around to face my mirror square-shouldered. I reared my arm back to throw it at the mirror, but then I saw his face.
His arms were wrapped around me. He was bent down, lips by my ear, whispering something that time couldn't hear. I blanched and his pendant dropped from my weak fingers, falling heavily to the wooden floor. The chain clinked on top of the pewter dragon, sword, and ribbon arabesque. I covered my tear-strewn face with my hands and pushed past Hartia, the one blocking the door.
I ran down the stairs and past the room where the Sword of Baltanders used to reside. I tore through the remaining corridor to the double-doors of Mother's mansion. I passed by the tree I saw him and his apprentice 'bird watching'. I ran until I was stopped by the water. I saw the tower, where I first laid eyes on him. I sank to my knees and wept. My body was convulsing with long suppressed sobs that had yet to make their appearance.
"W-why…m-me," I whispered woefully, choking softly, and then spluttering out words. "I, I d-did no-nothing b-but c-care f-for y-you. W-why d-did y-you s-say it? I do-don't un-under-understand. Or…m-maybe you f-found it a g-game…" my voice was a hoarse mumble. I could feel my body racking with fresh sobs, but then I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Go away, Mariabella! I d-don't want to talk about, about it!" Whoever it was though wasn't who I thought it was. I screamed in drowning misery when I saw who it was. Someone was bound to here that too. I looked wildly around, cornered. Finding nothing that could keep me from focusing on him, I gave in and looked at him through sorrow-filled ocean eyes.
"Why are you here? Wasn't it enough for you to destroy my heart?" He didn't answer me. I shook my head mournfully. "No, you also had to take away what sleep I could get and you had to take away what happy thoughts I had during the day." I cried out in anguish once more, hitting my forehead with the palm of my right hand.
"I'm such a fool," I said, my voice cracking, my head leaning against my palm, my eyes tightly shut.
"Cleao, oh thank heavens." Mother and Hartia waited for her at the top of the hill. "For one minute we all thought you had fallen down this ravine." I looked passed my sister and at him. Mariabella followed my sight and then looked back at me.
"What are you looking at sister dear?" I didn't say anything when he disappeared in a puff of glittering moonlight. Mariabella dragged me up the hill and Hartia offered to carry me into the house. Mariabella obliged and let him.
"Such a gentleman," Mother cooed, "he'll be a fine father." Mariabella giggled like a lady should and Hartia blushed profoundly. I felt the warmth of the mansion and the cushion of the couch beneath me before I came to again.
"She was crying again," Hartia spoke softly, I kept my eyes shut.
"I wonder what she was dreaming about." Mother mused in a voice quieter than Hartia's.
"It was about Or," Mariabella's tiny voice was intercepted by my own, more harsh voice.
"Do not dare finish his name," my voice was jagged and tears fell anew. "I can't bear to hear it," I sobbed lightly. I already had his name flowing like a river through my mind. I couldn't take it if I heard it. It…it would cause me to go over the edge. I might try to kill myself because of it. I blinked my bleary eyes and Mariabella motioned to say something. Hartia put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. I inwardly thanked him and walked off. I walked off out of the doors to Mother's mansion, back down the ravine, and to the lake. No one followed me. They knew I wanted to be alone.
"Is this a game to you? Seeing how long I can survive? I'd say you're doing a hell of a job winning, but you already know that." It was heart clenching, and I couldn't breathe under the excruciating pain. I fell onto my side, breathing in the grassy scent. Tears were welling up in my eyes again. How long will Azalie keep you, Orphen?
Orphen's New Life
He was truly happy here. He finally had Azalie with him. She accepted him to be with her. He knew she'd always love Childman…but that didn't stop him from trying. Maybe one day, he thought wistfully, she will love me as much as she loved him. Besides, she can't love him like that anymore.
Azalie looked at him softly; he felt a blush rise into his cheeks. She grinned and he laughed. Seeing Childman as a kid was actually a funny thing. And it brought her back to her pure self. It had been four long years they had been away from Totokanta, and he didn't miss it.
"Krylancelo," Azalie looked back up at him from her position on the floor with Childman in her arms.
"Yes?" He said his heartbeat picking up like it had back when they were at the Tower of Fang, still studying sorcery.
"Are you leaving?" He shook his head at her question. "It's been a long time since you've seen your friends."
"I'm not going back."
"Don't you miss them? Don't you want to see what's become of Majic?" He shook his head again.
"Majic's doing just fine. I know he is."
"How can you be so sure of yourself, Krylancelo?"
"I just am. Now, please, let's just drop it." Azalie sighed heavily.
"And what about that girl, Cleao… Aren't you worried about her? She looked distraught when said you were coming with me when I visited with Childman four years ago." Orphen gave her a questioning glance. "It was in her eyes." He remembered some of the things she had said to him.
"What would you do if someone really close to you vanished?"
It didn't bother him when he heard her voice; he just blocked it out like all annoying voices.
"So, you're not going back." It wasn't a question; it was more a forced statement. He didn't like the tone in her voice when she said it either. It sounded like her voice when she was overcome with rage and hatred.
"No." His reply was more reaction than anything else; there wasn't any conviction in it. It was emptier than a glass.
"I can't believe you. Krylancelo, at least go to see Hartia. See how he's fairing. He was, and still is, your best friend." He nodded and sighed.
"I'll go if it'll get you off my case." She laughed at him and told him to pack his things tonight. He would be leaving in the morning.
"Everything I do for her… Where'd I put that…? So that's where that was hiding… Hmm, didn't know that that was there… Azalie! What in the name?" She giggled, a three-year-old Childman, sucking his thumb, holding onto Azalie's hand.
"I honestly didn't know that was there. How's the packing coming?"
"Wonderfully."
"You're sarcasm never ceases to amaze me, Krylancelo. I'm off to bed with this little rascal, be seeing you in the morning." He waved her off, still looking for things. How they had spread out between now and four years ago… It just made his eyes widen. I know I'm not going to be able to sleep. God, why am I going back again?
"Don't worry about us, Krylancelo, we'll be fine!" Azalie called from the house that was shrinking in the morning light.
"I'll see you two later," he whispered to himself, walking away from the house he had called a home. It was going to take a four day sailing to get back to Totokanta. He didn't have one problem with it. Not one problem. Or so he thought.
He recovered from another wave of sickness that hit him as they crossed two half a days across the clear, blue ocean. Of course, it could always be worse. Speak of the little devils, he thought ominously. Volcan and Dortin somehow had found him. Though, they couldn't spend a long time to bother him. The two were…sliding across the ship's polished surface? Orphen sighed heavily, leaning against the ship's railing. Who was he going to be bombarded by first? He wondered placidly to himself, not really caring what the answer was. He sighed again.
"Would you mind not doing that?" Orphen looked wildly around. "I said it, oh pertinent one." It was a girl. Flaming red hair, acutely the color of Hartia's hair, she also had the same number of freckles on her cheeks. She had a little paler skin and her eyes were a bright green.
"What did you call me?"
"Important, anyway, I don't think you know me, so I'll go ahead and introduce myself. I'm Ire." She didn't smile when she said her name. She seemed grave, despite all that her appearance said.
"You look familiar, like one of my friends." She laughed coldly.
"Totokanta, Tower of Fang, Hartia…correct?" Orphen's jaw dropped. "Hartia is looking forward to seeing me, Krylancelo." His eyes widened in shock.
"H-how do you…"
"I am like Lai; I met him when I traveled to Totokanta for…business about four years ago. Somehow we bumped into each other and he convinced me to come with him to the Tower. I visit every now and then from my home. Hartia's the one who introduced me to Lai and Hartia and I are half-siblings if you're still wondering about that, as I know you are." She smiled, closing her eyes.
"Just passing through, Krylancelo," she whispered, and as suddenly as she was there, she wasn't. Strange, he thought to himself. Could she have been lying? Though, why would she lie? He shook his head and figured he'd sleep the rest of the journey to Totokanta.
Cleao's Surprise
I couldn't believe that I had slept for nearly two days! I hopped out of bed when Mariabella spoke. I couldn't believe they let me sleep so long. I didn't get far before collapsing on the hardwood floor. I needed food for my weakling body. I slept in until two days after crying my eyes out, and now gravity and hunger are deciding to play a joke on me. For once! I pleaded; for once in my miserable life could you show me some sympathy? Yeah, like that's going to dissuade you. I grumbled, as did my stomach, as I got to my feet. Apathy was not a feeling that came to my mind when I bolted down the stairs concerning my stomach's pangs of indignation.
"Cleao, you're finally awake. I'm glad to see that." Mother smiled at me, I only returned the smile half-heartedly. "I suppose you're starved, I'll fix you something quick. Stew sounds all right to you?"
"Anything sounds good," I said, sitting as gracefully as I could in a chair by the table. What I wouldn't give… I sighed placing my head against the table. It had been around five days after she had had her little spill. For some reason, she kept having nervous breakdowns. What I wouldn't give to end my pain forever…
"Cleao, honey, here's your stew…if you're up to eating." Mother placed the bowl down with a spoon already in it. I took tentative bites, not too sure of myself. My heart was heavy with the heart-break and my mind weighed down with thoughts of how much I loved him.
I dove into the pool of clams; the water was freezing due to the cold sweeping in. The water glowed brightly, as I kept searching. I hummed softly as I looked. It was hard work. I kept coming up short.
"Show me a red clam, please…" and I saw it. It sat there, by the bank, almost laughing at me, mocking me for being drenched with water. I snatched it up and ran to find Orphen. I had to give it to him. I stopped a few feet in front of him, heaving for breath.
I finished off the stew, full surprisingly. I stretched, reaching far up with my hands. I didn't know exactly what I was going to be doing, but I knew I wasn't going to be sewing with Mariabella, or cooking with Mother, or playing the piano. I wanted to do something I hadn't done since Orphen left…I wanted to shop. I didn't ask for Mother for permission.
"I'm going out, mind if I take some money?" Mother nodded and handed me a couple of bills, large bills. I smiled and hugged her. "I'll be back before sun down."
"Sure thing, sweetie," was Mother's reply, but I was already out the door. I couldn't believe how much the shops had changed. It was rare that I didn't want to go shopping four years ago…but since Orphen left, I really didn't fancy it as much. I didn't need it anymore because Orphen was gone. Orphen was probably the main reason why I shopped. So I'd have an excuse to have him by me. So I could playfully tease him. Maybe I was finally getting over him…about; four times twenty-four was…ninety-six nervous breakdowns later. A stunning number of mental collapses, and that didn't calculate all of them. I know I had more than two a month over the past four years. Yet I didn't know how many I had, ninety-six is a good average.
"Hey Cleao, how's it going?"
"Look, crazy lady's out of that manor."
"Cleao, did something happen?"
"Nothing's wrong I assure you," she said to the person who had asked that last question. I actually felt light-hearted once again, I couldn't believe it. The voices of the townspeople left me alone after I spoke a couple of times to them. They realized I was feeling better than I had in years. Oh, blissful moments right now. I hummed slightly to myself; window shopping at the moment, too amazed at what all had shown up during four years. I wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone.
"Watch it, Cleao; you may end up bumping into everyone." Cleao laughed softly and smiled.
"Shrimpy," she said.
"Wha- oh forget get. You're going to call me that no matter what I do." I laughed softly as Hartia talked.
"I can't help it, natural reflex Hartia. At least, I'm going to call you that more and more often once you and Mariabella get married. After all, that's what brothers and sisters do." It was Hartia's turn to laugh. He smiled at me; Hartia had become a friend over the years Orphen had left. It was during the year the Orphen, Majic, and I were gone fro Totokanta that Hartia met Mariabella.
"You want to come over and see Majic?" His question was light hearted.
"Sure!" I said, "I'd like to talk to Majic. It's been a long time since I've spoken with him." Hartia laughed again and we began to walk to the tower. I sighed blissfully aware of how many times I've always second-guessed myself. I wasn't going to do that anymore. After I let Orphen leave without telling him how I felt, I was done with regrets. I smiled when we passed by the guards and actually let out a laugh.
"What's so funny? Oh yeah, I almost forgot about Leki. Where is he?"
"He stays home mostly; he's getting just a little too big to be constantly traveling with me." Hartia nodded and they walked into the huge building.
"Yeah, well, it would be difficult with a wolfen around. Listen, when we go into the library, I beg you not to touch anything. Majic's informed me that it was you who knocked over the bookcases." I stared, fuming.
"Why that little creep! I didn't even know how to read them!"
"Ah! Screw it!"
"Cleao," Majic's voice was reprimanding.
"I'm sorry, but there's like a million books in here and FYI, I can't read them."
"Well, he just felt inclined to walk down memory lane as I gave him a tour." I laughed as we entered the library. There was Majic, sitting on a chair, looking through some books.
"Ambitious aren't we, Majic?" Hartia said.
"Ma-master," Majic scrambled to his feet and bowed. "I was just looking for something that could help me pass my exams." Hartia smiled.
"It's quite alright. Just don't get too ambitious…we don't want history repeating itself." Majic nodded fervently. "I have a guest with me, you remember her?" Majic seemed to have been biding his time for Hartia to say this.
"Cleao, I can't believe you're here!" Majic hugged me tightly then let go.
"It's nice to see you Majic. Hartia let us sit. These heels are murdering my feet." Hartia laughed and conjured up two more chairs. I sat down, as did both Hartia and Majic.
"I was just telling Cleao how you blamed the library fiasco on her." Majic laughed blatantly.
"It's true. You got mad and leaned against it, almost coincidentally after I had found the correct book."
"Yeah, that is true, but still, you didn't have to pin it on me when those questions weren't being asked." Majic nodded, laughing again.
"I remember when I first met you, Master."
Loud cackling could be heard on top of the roof, some guy in a cape with a knife.
"Just in case…something happens."
"Something will happen, boy, by my hands! I am the assassin of the night. I live in the dark and hide my face by day. I am the embodiment of fear and evil. My name is…" The roof caved in.
"Yeah, I remember too, Majic, you're lucky, he didn't interrupt your bath."
"It wasn't my fault," Hartia countered, "Carolina's weight plus my own exceeded the roof's holding capacity." I looked at him like he was crazy.
"It was your fault that the roof fell in, not the fact that my bath was underneath that particular roof. But still, it was still your fault."
"I am the assassin of the night. I live in the dark and hide my face by day. I am the embodiment of fear and evil." Some pervert dropped in through the roof.
"Hey!" I only had a piece of the bathtub covering me. I knew my face was hot. "Look, pervert, you little freak! Get out!" I was so mad. "How dare you try to look at me while I'm bathing," I said in one breath, throwing my toiletries at him. "What do you think you are doing, have you know shame? Do you think you can waltz in here with your cape and your bull and almost land on top of me, is that what you think?" I said this all very fast, all the while throwing everything I could reach at the Peeping Tom. After hitting him with the piece of the tub that was just big enough to cover me, he fell through. I wrapped a towel around myself and ran down the stairs. I picked up his scythe saying,
"Hold it, pervert!"
"I'm not a pervert!" He stood up with as much grace as he could muster; his voice had been child-like.
"I am the assassin of the night. I live in the dark and hide my," I cut him off mid-sentence.
"I already got that part!" I rushed him.
"Oh, uh, ok, uh, all right then…I am the embodiment of fear and evil," he said in the less trying-to-be-deep voice, closer to possibly his real voice, with a bit of a laugh combined. Then he went right back to trying-to-be-deep. "I am…Black Tiger."
"You're Black Tiger?" I just realized Majic was there.
"So you know this pervert?" I asked unbelievingly.
"Stop calling me that!" This Black Tiger fellow's voice had become child-like again. Then Majic went into useless mutterings trying to remember who the Black Tiger was. I was still holding Black Tiger's scythe.
"Silence!" He said in that stupid, fake, deep voice. "You are useless to me. Where is the dark sorcerer?"
"Orphen? He stepped out for a minute." My voice sounded like I didn't care.
"He's not here?" He whined.
"I remember now!" Majic made his appearance known once more. "So, you're Black Tiger?"
"Yes," his voice was pompous.
"Black Tiger's a shrimp!" Majic said, pointing at him. "A type of shrimp from the sea." I was stunned; some shrimp boy was looking at me while I bathed? But I couldn't get properly mad at him because he fell to the floor in defeat about his identity. Then he got back up.
"So Orphen's not here huh? C'mon Caroline," his voice was childish and defeated.
"Don't move, Shrimp Man," I said, moving the scythe into an attacking position.
"Don't call me that," he grumbled, still in his normal, childish voice.
"What do you want with my master, Shrimp Man?" Black Tiger seemed to go into hysterics on his bull.
"Will you stop calling me that? I am not named after a shrimp!" He reverted to his deep voice, "I am Black Tiger."
"You forgot your knife," I said bitterly, tossing the scythe at him, "Shrimp," I added as an after thought.
"It's Black Tiger!" He hissed.
"And it was after Orphen came back he explained that Black Tiger was a comic book hero," I confessed.
"But he didn't really believe us, did he Cleao?"
"Not in…the…least," I said shaking my head.
"And you two decided to keep calling me 'Shrimp'?" We nodded smiling. "Well, seeing that I'm your master now, Majic, you can't call me that." Majic nodded, "only on certain occasions when we are away from here." Hartia smiled truly. I became distant form the conversation. All this talk about Orphen and…
"Master, a man is waiting to speak with you," a boy around Majic's age stepped in. Hartia looked up.
"Allow him to enter," Hartia said calmly. The young sorcerer nodded and walked out the room to fetch the man.
"I wonder who it is, don't you Master?" A chuckle came from the corridor.
"I remember you called me that." I gasped louder than necessary.
"Ma-ma…ma-ma-master?" Majic stumbled over his words. Hartia stood up rapidly.
"Krylancelo…it's been a long time," Hartia's voice was dark. I was too busy trying to ignore tears beginning to well up in my eyes. I covered my face with my right hand and pushed past him with my left. He let me pass to my surprise. Tears fell from my eyes, and I felt my right hand's wrist being pulled away from my face.
"Ah-ah!" I tried to get my wrist free, but it wouldn't budge in the least. He looked at me. So quizzical, so lost…oh, his eyes were still the same. A tear fell from my blue eyes and he was shocked. His grip loosened and I ran. I ran before I changed my mind about not breaking my heart for the hell of it again.
I didn't hear them call after me. I was hurting. How dare he try to face me? He wasn't facing you, Cleao. He was there to see Majic and Hartia. You just happened to be there. The soft, reasoning voice was right. Tears were cascading down my cheeks. I felt my eyes grow red. I was almost out of there, I could see a light but I tripped before reaching it. I reached out for the light ahead, but darkness engulfed me like a shield. I felt my tears dry salty on my face.
"What's that? Why don't you come closer? Let me see it." His voice, his alluring voice, I swallowed hard.
"Orphen, do you know? I can't tell what it is?" He looked at me, his face grave. I snatched my hand back away from him.
"It's your love for me. It's consuming you whole." He stepped away, and I felt my heart tighten. He stepped closer and I felt my heart open wide. He moved away and it constricted again.
"Stop it," I cried weakly, the stress on my heart breath-taking.
"But I can't help it. Torturing you is so much fun. You wear your heart on your sleeve and you act as though it's a play thing. Well, I'm making that a reality for me. It must hurt something horrible." His smile was sadistic as he turned away from me. He began to walk away. I called for him to stop, but he didn't. He kept going. I tried to cry out for him again but my voice wasn't cooperating with me. I couldn't breathe; I couldn't feel anything besides my heart.
"Ahh," I gasped desperately for breath. I wasn't breathing in my sleep. I knew I hadn't been. Seeing him there, loving all of my pain. Enjoying it like it was a good movie, or a yummy candy. I swallowed; my throat extremely dry. My eyes were unfocused, but the blurry pictures were coming into focus slowly. Hartia, Majic… Orphen wasn't with them. I must've been talking in my sleep.
"What did I say?" I asked softly.
"What didn't you say? You were accusing Krylancelo of terrible things, saying that he enjoyed your pain, saying he loved to torture you. Cleao, are you ok?" I nodded, lying beyond all reason. When in doubt, or when all else fails, deny, deny, deny. It had yet to fail me, though I knew it would eventually.
"Is he still here? I need to tell him I didn't mean it."
"It was your sub-conscience. You meant every word." Hartia's voice was colder than normal.
"No, no! I couldn't have!" I felt my nose begin to burn and tears fighting to fall.
"Master, she's done it before. Not everything she says in her sleep is true." Hartia nodded unaware.
"Where is he? Where is Orphen?" I begged for an answer. I couldn't just let him leave. Who knew when he was going to be coming back? I didn't know, and I know I was going to run…but I knew he'd try to stop me…and he did.
"I'll get him," I cut Majic off at that moment.
"No, I want to go to him. Not the other way around." Hartia looked as if he was going to protest, but he seemed to think better of it.
"Do what you will," he shrugged. Majic helped me up from my chair that I was in and we walked outside of the room. Majic led me down a few hallways, through some doors and then…
"He's not…where'd he go?" Majic gasped inaudibly. I looked around at him, but seemed to have missed something. Then it all clicked. I slumped against the wooden frame of the doorway. Shoulders heaving as dry sobs racked my entire body.
"Why?" I whispered to no one as I looked inside the empty room, with its windows flung wide open, curtains swaying elegantly in the breeze.
A/N: Please review, I know it's not much right now, a lot of heart-tearing at the moment. Cleao's kind of in shock at the moment, first of all because Orphen's finally come back and the fact that he's gone kind of hits her a bit harder. I promise a little bit more fluff in the later chapters, but this is an Agnst/Drama-with a twist of Romance. My insane mind is going for 'breaking down and building up' on Cleao part. Orphen will be learning more and more about himself as this story goes on as well.
READ AND REVIEW! I'LL TAKE FLAMES TOO!