Koinu: OhMiGawsh! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOO sorry this chapter is late. My beta finished it ages ago, and it's just been sitting there... probably because I've been dreading the news that I must tell you all...
This is the last chapter of Eclipse of Memories! -sits in corner and cries-
I'm so very sorry, but the fic just seems to end here. Don't worry though, I am working on a continuation installment to the 'Amari Chronicles' so Liz isn't dead... yet... Kadaj might just kill her yet... --;; -sweatdrop-
Eclipse of Memories
Chapter Eight
She had been this way for weeks now.
Kadaj sighed. "Comatose, they call it…" He muttered quietly as not to wake his brothers. His eyes traced Liz's face for the millionth time that hour. "Imoto-chan… why is it that you do not wake…?"
With a sigh he pushed himself away from the wall and paced the length of the room. Yazoo was asleep in a chair by the door, and Loz was sleeping his head and arms on a desk beside the bed where Liz slept.
They had tried everything, but still she didn't wake up, didn't even move. If you didn't look closely for rise and fall of her chest as she breathed you could have sworn that she was dead.
"The world is a cruel place…" Kadaj mumbled to himself as he settled back against the wall. He sighed heavily and looked out the window. "When we think that we have you back we find that it is only your physical form that we have…" Laughing bitterly he looked back to his sister. "You mock us, don't you? You elude us even when we have you here with us again… Tell me, imoto-chan… what did we do to get you to hate us so?"
Liz gasped and opened her eyes. For a moment her veins burned with mako, only for the pain to fade away as the remnants of the dreaming-memories did. She was covered in a cold sweat and her body ached all over, a dull, throbbing ache that was barely noticeable until you lay completely still.
She tried to lift her hand only to have it jerked still, course rope digging into her wrist. Liz sighed and closed her eyes. Of course she would be bound after what she had done…
Upon further inspection she found that her wrist were loosely tethered to the side frames on either side of the bed. And, worst of all, she wasn't alone in the room.
Liz opened her eyes again and let her head fall to one side. She was immediately able to see Loz. He was sitting so close that she could have reached over and touched his knee if she wanted.
She couldn't bring herself to. She was afraid she would hurt him more than she already had.
Yazoo was in the far corner, near the door. The moonlight that filtered in through the window made both her brothers' look almost angelic, with their silver hair and pale, relaxed features as they slept. It reminded her all the more of what a demon she had become.
How in hell was I able to forget them…? Why in hell did I forget them…? Liz mentally beat herself up for a good minute straight for all the mistakes that had been out of her control.
"Liz." His voice was so harsh and accusing that Liz's attention was literally ripped to the speaker, but she looked away soon after spotting him.
Kadaj stood at the foot of the bed she was laying, trapped, upon. His eyes were hard and cold; his body rigid with what she guessed was suppressed rage.
"Liz." He repeated himself, his voice just as harsh as the first time he had spoken, though there was a trace of guilt. "Liz, do you know who we are? Do you know who I am?" His words were quiet enough not to wake the other two in the room, but they rang in Liz's ears as if he had been shouting instead of whispering.
Liz closed her eyes but was unable to stop the tears that had come to her unbidden. She swallowed, trying hard not to whimper.
Kadaj growled and lost his temper. Damn her, damn her to hell if she was going to be like this. He strode to the side on the bed, gripped her shoulder with one hand and then lifted her up a few inches only to slam her back onto the hard, unforgiving mattress.
Liz whimpered slightly and cried out weakly in protest, her eyes still closed. Kadaj slammed her back down again, but went as far as to draw Souba this time. He rested the blade against Liz's neck.
"Tell me." He demanded. He would get her to say something, anything. He had to, just had to after all these weeks of staring endlessly at her as she slept, protected from his growing wrath by her coma.
Liz whimpered and went completely still as the cold edges of the double blades touched her skin. A shiver went down her spine. "Nii-san… please… please stop…" She begged, opening her eyes and crying freely.
Kadaj faltered for a moment, but then hastily drew Souba away from his sister's neck. With two quick movements he had severed her bonds, freeing her. But all Liz did was curl into a ball with her back to him. His eyes widened with realization. "What have I done…?" He asked himself quietly.
"Nothing worse than what I did…" Liz muttered angrily to herself. Anger towards her own self. She shuddered as Kadaj laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, then regretted her action when he drew away.
"I'm sorry…" Kadaj murmured. Liz almost jumped when she became conscious of the fact that his voice was right by her ear. She heard the bed creak and felt him sit beside her, his hand returning to her shoulder.
"I am too…" She mumbled quietly. Her eyes were on the wall across from her, studying it intently. Those kids seemed to be avid artists, and quite realistic as well… Cloud was scowling in each and every one of their crayon portraits of him. She scanned the wall again, and then stopped. There were more pictures, a few for each of her brothers, and then, most surprising of all…
One of her.
It was a simple picture, depicting her smiling, with her blindfold on. Written in green crayon below her were the words 'have you seen her?'. She almost cried all over again.
Misunderstanding her silence, Kadaj sighed and stood back up again. "I'll leave you alone now…" He voiced quietly as he turned away.
"Please don't leave." Liz pleaded as she rolled over to face him and the rest of the room.
Kadaj half turned to face her, surprised. "Okay…" He said, his voice still quiet. "I'll stay…" With a sigh he sat back down beside her, a small smile on his face.
Liz sat up and edged as close to her brother as possible, leaning on him heavily. Sitting up had hurt like hell but she wanted to be as close to him as possible.
"Don't ever let me out of your sight ever again…" She half sobbed, half laughed as he put an arm around her.
Kadaj chuckled. "That might be hard…" He felt her shudder against him, "but I'll try…" he added. "Now hush… you should sleep…" He laid down, dragging her with him. She ended up with her head on his chest, his arm still around her protectively. Who knew Kadaj made a good pillow?
"But…I've been asleep for a while now…" She argued weakly. In all actuality, she was afraid of what she may dream about this time.
"Shush…Its okay, I have you…" Kadaj murmured. He had sensed her unease. "Just rest, you need it…"
Liz nodded into her chest. "Okay…" She said quietly, eyes already half closed. "Thanks, Kadaj…"
Kadaj smiled and stroked her head as she fell asleep. He'd be nice now, seeing as she would face hell tomorrow when all the others found out she was awake. "Anytime, Liz… Anytime."
He had always been good at deceiving, and this was no exception. Yazoo had woken to his brother's voice but wisely decided to stay silent. He heard his musing and then his outrage when his sister had awoken. At first he, too, wanted to jump up and berate her, but after a moment allowed Kadaj to do so. He remained in his position just listening. He'd get his chance to say something in the morning. He was happy, however, that his sister was back with them after so much trouble and worry. He opened his eyes a crack and saw Kadaj's rare moments of tenderness and smiled to himself. Yes, it was good to have her back.
Koinu: Yes, yes, that was the last chapter -bows- I would like to thank all of my reviewers;
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note: the names with () by them are the people that read and reviewed The Amarimono when I first uploaded it.
Thank you all for the wonderful reviews that I have received! I always looked forward to hearing from you! Thank you all so very, very much.
Oh, and on another note. I'm an avid roleplayer, and I do roleplay Liz quiet often, so it you wish to RP with me please go to my website. The link is the one for my homepage on my profile.
Thank you all again so much!