Yuna stood there with the bow and arrow within her hands. Everyone looked at her as if in shock and couldn't move. The other soldiers looked at their fallen captain and backed away but very slowly. They knew better than to leave without the girl, for if they did, they would receive a punishment even worse than death. Cocking another arrow, Yuna spoke to the soldiers.

"Leave and live," she said with a malicious look within her eyes.

"We will not leave without the girl," one of the soldiers said.

"I said leave and live. If you don't leave, then I will ease your pain by killing you all."

"You may have killed our captain but we will not die without a fight."

Still looking at Yuna, Hitomi could see her soft eyes glinting with not hate but a mysterious look. 'How strange that she should look that way, when many have died before her very eyes . . .' Hitomi thought. Hitomi tried to figure out what Yuna was doing.

"I warned you to leave, but you didn't listen," Yuna said as she released the arrow. Whizzing through the air, the soldier tried to block the arrow but was too late in trying and the arrow pierced him in the chest. The soldier fell to his knees and gasped as he tried to pull out the arrow. The other soldiers came and helped the soldier up.

"There's no point in trying. He'll die within two hours. I made these arrows and tipped them with a deadly poison that reacts fast. So even if you tried to help him, your efforts would be in vain," Yuna said as she put her bow down to her side and stood there as if she killed enemy soldiers all the time. The soldiers told the others to back off from everyone and to retreat. Yuna walked forward as she and the others watched them leave the corridor. The two masked people got up from the ground. The woman was wounded in the leg and the man was wounded in the arm. Yuna looked at everyone and could see the shock on their faces.

"I'll explain everything later, but first we have to help those that are injured," Yuna said with no feeling.

"I don't even think anyone could ever survive this attack," Prince Chid said with a raspy voice.

"Your highness? I'm sure all hope is not lost yet. There may be some survivors," the woman said. Prince Chid turned to the two people in the masks.

"To you two, I owe my life," Prince Chid said with dignity. The masked figures merely bowed there heads.

"Hitomi!" Van yelled as he was running through the second floor with Allen right beside him. Hitomi turned to see Van and Allen running towards them. Slowing down on seeing that Hitomi was fine, Van and Allen gasped for air.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Van asked calmly.

"I'm fine Van, but I'm not so sure about the others," Hitomi responded while looking at the others. Yuna was helping the two figures whom were wounded. Merle was sitting on the ground with a look of fear on her face. Millerna was tending to Allen and Prince Chid was talking to the two figures. Hitomi turned back to look into Van's worried eyes.

"I'm all right. Don't worry," Hitomi said while putting a hand on Van's face. Closing his eyes, Van felt Hitomi's warm and comforting touch realizing that no matter what happens she would always be with him. She leaned in towards Van and laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him. Van dropped his sword and put his arms around Hitomi.





"Van I'll never leave you. I promise . . ." Hitomi said. She closed her eyes and breathed her last. Van felt Hitomi's body go limp. "Hitomi! Hitomi wake up!" Van cried as he fell to the ground on his knees while holding Hitomi. The others looked at them in disbelief with tears going down their cheeks. Allen was off in a dark part of the corridor with his hair shadowing his eyes. Allen slowly backed away from Van and Hitomi. Van looked at Hitomi's face longingly. "Hitomi . . ." Van whispered as he got up from the ground and left her body on the ground. Van walked down the other direction of Allen and stopped abruptly. He slightly turned around and looked back at Hitomi's lifeless body. "Hitomi . . ." he said with sadness and feathers flew around him. "It's all over. You've killed everyone and you've hurt the one you loved the most," a voice said, "How does it feel Hitomi? You've killed everyone . . . including yourself." The voice began to laugh with a tone of triumph and evil. The laugh was all around and echoed throughout the walls of the palace where blood had been spilt. Pure, innocent, red, blood . . .





"Hitomi . . ." Van whispered in her ear. Hitomi opened her eyes with a start.

"No! No!" Hitomi shouted. Pulling away from Van, Hitomi tried to run down the corridor only to find that Van's grasp on her arms were strong.

"Hitomi what's wrong?" Van asked with a hint of worry in his voice. He held on to Hitomi while watching her weep and shout. Hitomi kept struggling while shouting pieces of words that didn't make sense to anyone.

"I . . .I . . .no," Hitomi kept mumbling, "It's over. It's over. I killed everyone . . . everyone is dead . . . I killed them . . . I killed them . . ."

"Hitomi it's okay. There just visions. It's not real," Van kept repeating to her. The others just realized Hitomi was shouting and turned from their duties to look at her. Yuna got up from tending to the two figures wounds and looked at Hitomi. She touched the base of her neck and felt a hard necklace. Grasping it within her hand, she walked towards her bow and picked it up.

"I'll be waiting for everyone in the courtyard. We need to help with the bodies," Yuna said plainly and walked down the corridor, back to the courtyard.

"Will you two be all right?" Prince Chid asked the two figures.

"Yes your highness. We will be fine," the woman said.

"We've had other worst case scenarios. This isn't as bad as the others," the man said gruffly.

"We will meet up again young prince," the woman said while walking down the other side of the corridor, "But next time . . . we might not be there to protect you." The woman and man walked down the corridor and suddenly disappeared from the castle.

"Van. Let me take care of her. You should go downstairs and help the others. Allen already went," Millerna said while taking Hitomi by the shoulders and letting her lean on hers. Van gave a sad look to Millerna, picked up his sword, and gave her a nod while turning his back and walking toward the courtyard.

"I killed them . . . I killed them all . . ." Hitomi whimpered. Millerna held Hitomi in her arms and gave her a reassuring hug. Whispering into her ear, while walking towards the end of the corridor.



COURTYARD: Yuna stood next to Allen in the courtyard and overlooked at the damage done to the castle. Bodies, blood, and weapons were scattered everywhere. There were no wounded soldiers because of the brutal attack that was done by the enemy.

"Look at this place. It's like a graveyard," Yuna whispered with no feeling. Yuna walked towards the dead bodies to see if some of them were still alive. She pushed a soldier with her foot as the soldier fell to the ground with a thud. Still standing and looking at the destruction, Allen heard Van coming behind him.

"Look at this," Allen said with anger, "It was a massacre."

"We've seen worse. Remember the last war," Van said. Walking back towards them, Yuna realized that she had blood on herself. Van and Allen looked at her wondering if anyone survived the attack. Shaking her head from side to side, Yuna looked down at the ground.

"Everyone is dead. The Lords, the Ladies . . . everyone," Yuna said. Van turned to look at the bodies and noticed something on the ground. Picking it up, Van saw that it was a black dragon with two ruby red eyes. Holding it within his hands, the pendant at Van's neck started to glow. It spun around in small circles and pointed directly at Yuna. Van looked at Yuna.

"What is this?" Van asked.

"It looks like Zaibach is tagging their soldiers now," Allen said. Van's necklace started to glow brighter as he moved towards Yuna. Upon seeing this, Yuna moved towards the doorway. Van watched Yuna back away.

"It was you," Van said with hatred, "You signaled this massacre." Yuna turned her face away from Van's cold and hateful stare.

"Listen to me Van," Yuna said quietly.

"No. You don't deserve to live," Van said while moving into attack position.

"If you could just let me explain," Yuna pleaded. Van went straight towards her with his sword ready. Dodging his attack, Yuna quickly cocked an arrow and pointed it at Van just as he was ready to strike again.

"The arrow is faster than the sword," Yuna explained.

"But the sword has the power to destroy the arrow," Van responded. Yuna pulled the string back further, while Van raised his sword ready to strike. Suddenly Allen moved in between them.

"Allen what are you doing?" Van shouted.

"I don't think your accusation on Yuna is fair. You automatically take a pendant's word that Yuna is part of Zaibach and ordered this massacre," Allen said with his head bowed and eyes closed.

"But she is part of Zaibach," Van said, "Look." Allen looked towards Yuna and saw two small red glows coming from her neck. Yuna still had her arrow cocked but loosened her string a little.

"Put your weapons down. Van . . . let her explain," Allen said still with his calm composed voice. Yuna released the pressure on the arrow, but Van still had his sword up. Yuna reached into her cloak and pulled out a black dragon necklace with the eyes made out of rubies. The eyes were glowing brightly and the pendant around Van's neck was glowing brightly as well.

"You're wrong Van. I'm not part of Zaibach and I did not order this attack," Yuna said with frustration.

"How can I believe you when you wear the proof," Van said.

"This I can't tell you because if I did, I would have to lie to you."

"Everything that comes from your mouth is a lie. You killed all these people. You ordered this massacre and for that you will pay!" Van ran towards Yuna, ready to kill her. Van was blocked by another sword, and saw that Allen was holding him back from Yuna.

"Restrain yourself Van! You can't kill this girl! If she is part of Zaibach then we can use her for information! Have you thought about that?" Allen said straining to hold Van back. The others came into the courtyard while looking at Van and Allen try and fight against each other. Millerna had left Hitomi in the room and came down to the courtyard to help with the others. Immediately she went in between them and tried to separate them.

"Stop this!" Millerna shouted at them. Two soldiers that were attending to Prince Chid, pulled the two apart.

"Sheathe your swords. I will not have this useless fighting in a time like this," Prince Chid said. Allen sheathed his sword and did as Prince Chid asked him to. Van pushed the soldier that was holding him and stormed out of the room. Watching him leave, Millerna whispered, "Van . . ." Prince Chid looked at Yuna and noticed that there was a black dragon necklace on her.

"So, Van was right. You are part of Zaibach," he said quietly.

"You're wrong. I wasn't the one who ordered this attack," Yuna said looking away from him.

"If what you say is true then why can't you tell us why you wear this necklace?"

"Why must you know? Is it because you need proof? You of all people should be of good judgment."

"I'm not trying to blame you for anything, but at this time I need some answers."

"Be good to yourself Prince Chid and leave the things that you don't understand alone," Yuna said as she was heading toward the exit. Two guards stepped in front of her and blocked her from leaving.

"We can't permit you to leave. You wear the symbol of the enemy," Allen said gently.

"Even you don't believe me," Yuna scoffed. Yuna stepped back a little and the soldiers and Allen cleared the exit again. Moving slowly to the right, Yuna made a sudden movement and ran toward the exit while pulling a sword from one of the guards. Allen saw this and immediately pulled his sword out and headed towards her. Being the more faster and agile one, Allen ran ahead and blocked her. Being the more graceful one, Yuna struck out at Allen. Allen blocked her attack and tried to attack back at her, but Yuna ducked and artfully went behind Allen and pulled his arm back while having her sword about ready to slit his throat.

"You weren't the only one to be trained by an expert swordsman," Yuna said in Allen's ear.

"I can very well see that," Allen retorted.

"Allen . . . I'm not going to hurt you, but you have to let me go. If you let me go now I promise that everything will be explained in due time."

"Why can't you explain it now? It would be better."

"Because no one will trust me right now. Especially Van and I didn't come here to lose his trust. In fact I came here to gain it."

"What have you to gain with all this deceit?"

"If only you had let me explain," Yuna said and quickly released Allen while running the other way.

"Allen!" Millerna yelled while running over to where Allen had been pushed. Allen sat there holding his neck while Millerna put her arms around him.

"Are you all right?" Millerna asked.

"She came here to gain it," Allen whispered while looking up at Prince Chid.

"What are you talking about?"

"Yuna came here to gain Van's trust."

"She tried to tell us didn't she."

"I don't know."





Yuna ran through the corridors and out the palace gates. The dragon's eyes on her necklace became dimmer as she ran farther and farther away from the palace. Gasping for breath, Yuna came to a stop in a field of grass that was swaying gently in the breeze. Standing back up after a quick rest, Yuna slightly looked back.

"There's nothing you can do just by standing there," a woman's voice said.

"I should have known," Yuna replied while looking back at the open field. She saw two figures on horseback and an extra horse waiting for a rider.

"Come with us my lady," a gruff voice said.

"How can I go with you when the blood of so many rests on your hands."

"Our hands? I see no blood," the woman said looking down at her hands.

"How dare you mock me Minagi."

"My lady I mock no one, especially you."

"You killed those people. You told Zaibach didn't you?"

"My lady time is running out and the master grows more impatient," the man said with little patience.

"I'm not going with you Shoji. You can tell your master that I'm fine on my own."

"We can't do that. You are still part of us no matter how much you want to escape it," Minagi said. Yuna's necklace began to glow fiercely. A blast of psychic energy erupted from above the three as it hit Yuna. The energy exploded as a dome was formed around Yuna. She looked up and saw a young man with wings of pitch black color.

"I hope you have not forgotten that I am as strong as you," Yuna said.

"I did not forget," said the young man in a calm manner as he landed on the ground and his wings retracted and folded in.

"How could you do this? All for Hitomi."

"Not just her. I was there for you as well," the young man explained as a wave of energy emitted from him. The energy passed through the dome, shattering it while going through, and hitting Yuna. The energy pierced Yuna but it didn't injure her. Yuna fell to the ground on her knees as she cried in pain. She bowed her face down to the dirt and gasped in pain, trying to keep her crying inside her. Yuna held herself with her arms as two crystal tears dropped from her eyes. Blood began to soak the back part of her dress. The blood seeped through her white dress and began to appear on her cloak. Two wings of pure white appeared from her back and blood dripped from her cloak. The wings enclosed around her body. The three figures stood there watching as a bright light flashed before them. Appearing in front of them was Yuna in a loose white dress that started from her shoulders and ended far down her feet. She had a tiara of silver with rubies embedded into it placed on her head. A collar of silver was on her neck with a black dragon placed in the middle of it. Her hair flowed in all directions and her wings were widely spread to show more of her elegance. She landed on the ground as her dress covered her feet. The young man stepped forward and took Yuna by the chin and held her face towards him. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "This is your true self. Never forget." He withdrew himself from her face, let go of her chin, and looked deeply into her eyes. Then he turned, spread his wings, and flew away.

"I have not forgotten . . . but I am discontent with who I am," Yuna whispered to herself as a tear fell down her cheek and landed on the ground forming a small crystal flower.



A/N: sorry that it took so long to put up this long awaited chapter but i was a little busy with school and finals and all that crap (even though all of that was like two weeks ago) . . . anyway so i know it's REALLY late but . . . MERRY CHRISTMAS!! . . . and since it's not too late for this . . . it's a little early but . . . HAPPY NEW YEAR!! . . . . i think i went a little too far with Yuna . . . i never meant her to be some goddess with ice tears that forms flowers . . . but this is how she turned out . . . and what is up with this "master" dude and the two figures?? . . . well anyway . . . stick with my next chapter which will reveal Yuna's past and the whole Zaibach thing . . . so yeah . . . until next time!!!