Curled in between his knees, he was cold and scared. Beyond bothered to take notice of his surroundings. Ripped away from everything he knew and thrown into a new, yet familiar, sense of chaos. For all he knew, it could have been days since he was brought here. With no where to go and retaining only his clothes a broken watch, he resigned himself to a certain fate.

The sudden resonance of footsteps seemed deafening in the normally quiet ambiance. He jumped, startled at the thought of another presence. Almost failing to stand, he quickly recovered himself, caught off guard by the near darkness that swallowed his present quarters – a small cell. But he moved quietly. This could be a possible means of escape. And knowing his luck, it would probably be his only opportunity.

As the sound came closer, he noticed it wasn't as heavy as he once presumed. The footsteps were light, and seemed almost airy. Hesitantly, he peered into the caged window that suffered his only source of light; where he was greeted with the warm face of a woman. And despite his situation, she smiled.

Unexpectedly, a bright light escaped into the cell. Momentarily stunned, the cell's occupant didn't notice the appearance his guest. She was a slim figure dressed in what he assumed to be black. Neither tall nor short, there was something recognizable about her. He couldn't discern much more, as her cloak was hooded and successfully hid any important detail. But as she progressed closer to him, there was something missing that he should already know.

"What do you want?" Still, he thought he should make the first move.

"Hello, James." Her voice was soft and pure. Notwithstanding the tainted nature he felt from her soul.

"Hello, Akira. I wondered if I would every see you again." Aside from the odd number of years between now and their last encounter, he would never forget her voice. Its gentle timbre was one of the few significant things in his short life.

"Then you know what I'm here for." It wasn't questioning in the least. A cold statement that contradicted the smile he received but a moment earlier.

"Of course not. I wasn't told much for a reason. Didn't dad tell you everything you wanted"? He may relish her, but could do nothing to hide the disgust in his voice.

"I haven't the time for you to answer one simple question." She began to grow impatient. "You knew your father. Discovering my identity consequently led him to keep to himself. He wouldn't tell me any more."

"Is that why you killed him"?

"We had no other choice. Surely you understand that by now."

"That's no excuse. How could you kill someone you love"? He wasn't supposed to feel this way about something that happened so long ago. Aware of the pressure of oncoming tears, he concentrated on the floor. He couldn't let her see what she could still do to him.

"You must not understand what I'm saying. Ever since the loss of Melfina to Hilda, Hazanko has been after the Dragon." It seemed even shared memories brought some sort of compassion within her. For a moment, he may have thought she seemed contrite. "This pains me, as well. Do you remember, James?" Now facing her, but wary to speak, he could only give a small nod in agreement.

"Where lies the Galactic Leyline, also lies the Dragon." She was cryptic, but more forthcoming than she had been in the past.

"Why couldn't you just pick up that android?"

"Melfina was lost. I will speak no more of someone else's error. Too many resources were wasted as it was." His scoff was ignored.

"And then your father stumbled upon me by chance. I'm sure you know the rest."

James was angered by the callousness of the woman before him. Then again, his father always said he received his cynicism from his mother. "Was it ever real"?

Akira paused for a moment. As if she was looking for the correct phrasing of her answer. "We were wed by the insistence of my brother. But what is in the past, remains."

James knew better than to expect anything different from her. But he still held onto a foolish notion of hope.

"Did he leave you anything valuable? Something that appears to be of use"?

He could tell her what he did know. Maybe he could finally be free. He could lie, betray the truth he always gave but she never deserved. Either way was probably going to end messy.

"Only the clothes on my back. I guess I should be grateful you take didn't these," He pointed to his torn garments, dirtied from constant use and little wash, "Or I would have really been in trouble." James gave her a cheeky grin that spread throughout his entire face, despite his faked mirth.

But whether or not she paid heed to his antics, he couldn't tell. And maybe we would never get the chance as her reply was interrupted by the slamming of the cell door.

Hazanko.

Nothing needed to be said. A simple glance in Akira's direction reduced her to little more than she once was. Her detachment buried underneath the will need survive.

She replied in that soft voice. The one that shouldn't belong to her, because it betrayed her true nature. "No." Aware of his disappointment in her, she kneeled. But even in this, James sensed, there was some sort of mockery.

As he watched the power struggle between the two figures before him, James unconsciously fingered his broken watch. He didn't know why he didn't sell it or something. It could have to do with the fact that it was broken beyond repair. Or the fact that his dad had given it to him and pleaded James to keep it safe. It remained hidden underneath his shirt, attached to a thin chain.

But Hazanko noticed. Apparently the broken watch was of some worth if Hazanko continued to stare at it.

"Let me see it boy." His voice was familiar. Similar to Akira's in its beguiling nature. But the power in his eyes sent a shiver throughout his spine. His only thought was to move away, to run and escape this place.

James was momentarily spared as Hazanko returned his attention to his Akira. "How could you overlook this? It was here and you did nothing."

Far from being reprimanded, Akira held her head down in practiced obedience. But James could see the clear defiance in her eyes as she held his gaze underneath the growing anger of Hazanko, whispering silently under her breath.

Seemly satisfied with Akira's actions, James once more became of immediate interest.

Alarmed and caught unaware by the sudden force around his neck, James struggled to breathe as it became harder to receive air in his lungs. It was an effort quickly forgotten as he was slammed against the cool concrete of the wall.

"What's…happening"? He was frightened. Was he going to die alone, like his father? Was Akira going to leave him, too? She had an anxious look in her eyes, but continued to kneel, gently whispering something he knew was probably just as detrimental to his health as Hazanko's ire.

Because as Hazanko looked at him determinedly, James knew he was searching for answers he would never find.

His hands were around his neck grasping air, trying to pry the invisible force from his throat. "Akira…I...can't." Out of sheer desperation, he painfully turned his gaze to her. His vision was starting to dim due to his lack of oxygen. He was going to die and more importantly, she was going to let him.

He couldn't hear her voice anymore, but he did wonder if she was faintly calling his name. A spell that would overpower Hasanko? She could do that just as he could bring his dad back to life. But he heard his name. It was faint but quickly growing louder. It sounded like Jim. Although it was nice, she only called him James. And he didn't remember her voice being so…masculine. Then again, dying can do things to one's hearing.

And with a final gasp, James took his last breath as Jim Hawking woke up in the arms of Gene Starwind.

I'm redoing this because frankly, my writing style has changed drastically and the old version scares me. Although I'm not as fascinated by OS as I once was, I still would like to finish this, if not in an attempt to make it better. And I apologise to those who may have liked this story.

:crickets chirping: