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Sunlight Raye - Part EIGHT |
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The night came when they were to storm the Darak’s castle. Raye walked in through the door and when no alarm went off they allowed her to pass through. So far so good, she looked around for her father. She had no idea what he looked like now, if he still looked human. She spotted him, he hadn’t changed at all but hopefully she had changed enough that he would not recognize her as his daughter. She walked over to him.
“Tani?” asked Raye. She tried to act calm.
“Manto?” asked Gaksu. He hadn’t recognized her. It was better for her that he didn’t but for some reason it hurt her. Her father had no idea who she was.
“Yep, show me the place.”
“Follow me.” He led her into a dark room. She looked around and spotted the machine in a corner.
“Damn.”
“What?”
“It’s much more complicated than the old schematics suggested.”
“Can you still deactivate it?”
“Of course, Darak’s no match for me.”
“Pretty cocky.”
“Pretty true,” said Raye and she knelt down in front of the machine. She started to mess with it. It was extremely complicated but she was sure she could handle it. She’d seen and worked on a lot types of machinery in her life. When she was homeless she’d gotten a job as a mechanic in Shano in a small shop called Mashu Mechanics.
She’d worked on everything from bicycles to security systems to bombs. But she’d never seen anything like this before it was truly fascinating. If she’d had more time, she would have just studied it. Unfortunately the circumstances were forcing her to destroy a machine that was truly a form of artwork.
“This is taking really long time,” said Gaksu but Raye ignored him as she cut two wires and it beeped off, “Done?” She still ignored him, if she talked to him, she would loose it and just go nuclear.
“General it’s Manto,” said Raye as she pressed a hand to ear so she could talk to Hinaka through the communication device in her ear.
“Done?”
“Yes, when you’re ready, go.”
“Way to go Kuto.”
“Wait Kuto Manto?” asked Gaksu.
“I don’t want to talk to you,” said Raye as she got up.
“What about Raye?”
“You don’t have any right to ask about her, you b*****d.”
“I know I deserve that but I did the right thing. Someday you’ll understand.”
“I already understand, that doesn’t stop it from hurting.”
“Hurting?”
“You old fool. I’m right here in front of you and you can’t even see it.”
“Huh?” She turned around. She hadn’t meant to say that.
“Wait,” said Gasku and he reached forward and grabbed her chin, “Raye?”
“Well-.”
“What are doing here?”
“We don’t have time for this.”
“Dear god, Raye, how have you been?”
“I don’t want to talk to you,” said Raye then she heard some beeping from behind her, “s**t!” She stared at the device.
“What’s up?” asked Gaksu.
“Stop!” screamed Raye into her earpiece.
“What?” asked Hinaka after he had halted the attack.
“There’s a failsafe. It’s a bomb. If it goes off, we are so screwed. They’ll know what’s going on.”
“Can you turn it off?”
“I’m trying, get out of here Gaksu.”
“No. I won’t leave you again.”
“Hey I don’t like saving you but I gotta. If I don’t disarm the bomb and you are here they’ll know you are on our side. So if this attack fails, with you still on the inside we still have a chance for another attack. So get out before I change my mind.”
“You’re very wise,” said Gaksu and he put a hand on her shoulder, “When this is done we’ll talk. There are so many things I need to tell you.” She wanted to ignore him but she couldn’t. He was her dad.
“Promise?”
“I promise.” He left. Raye worked as fast as she could as she watched the countdown number got smaller. She had built bombs and even designed a few but it was just as ingenious as the machine. She was sweating and she was down to three wires. One would disarm it the other two would detonate it. It was all up to this moment now. She pulled a knife and looked down and the green, red and blue wires. She grabbed the blue, closed her eyes and cut it. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She was still alive, she’d done it. It was over.
“The bomb’s been disarmed.”
“Way to go. Meet up with us at the gate.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I won’t.”
“You’re going after you’re cousins?”
“I don’t see any other choice. They’re here because of me.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is to me.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks,” said Raye
“Anytime,” said Hinaka and Raye ran to the prisons. They were scary and covered in blood, vomit and feces. It reeked of death and pain. Then she spotted Kuto and Enari. They were chained to the floor and asleep. She let out a sigh of relief. She picked the lock to their cell and entered. She knelt over them and shook them awake.
“Kuto, Enari, it’s me Raye,” said Raye, “Wake up, I’m here to rescue you.” Enari opened his eyes and sat up. Raye hugged him tightly.
“Raye?” asked Enari, it sounded weird, “What’s with your hair, Raye?” She had not been called Raye in a while.
“That’s right Enari. Help me wake up your brother.”
“Kuto. It’s Raye she’s here. Just like I told ya.” Kuto opened his eyes.
“Raye?” asked Kuto and he sat up.
“Kuto,” said Raye and she hugged him, “I’m sorry, you’re here because of me.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s good to see you, Raye.”
“It’s good to see you too, Kuto. We gotta go.”
“Right,” said Kuto and Raye picked the locks on their chains, “You’re eyes, hair.”
“Yep, they’re green now. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Sure, let’s get out of here.”
“I just got to tell the General first.”
“Stay still,” said Hinaka, “We don’t charge until we hear from Kuto about the hostages. Got that?”
“Why?” asked a man.
“Because we have to know where everyone is to plan the attack,” said Hinaka.
“Yes, sir,” said the man.
“General Hinaka,” said Raye.
“Kuto?” asked Hinaka, “Have you recovered the prisoners?”
“Affirmative,” said Raye, “We’re heading to – AHHHHHH!” Her scream cut through the system of earpieces
“Kuto?” asked Hinaka but there was no response. Then there was just static.
“General Hinaka?” asked Naro, the rest of Raye’s squad was right behind him.
“Go on,” said Hinaka, “There’s another entrance around back.”
“Thanks,” said Naro.
“Good luck,” said Hinaka and they took off around the back of the castle, “Everything’s been set now, it’s up to her to figure out the rest.”
“Sir?” asked one of the soldiers. The team snuck in; at least the system was down. They worked their way to the center of the castle. There they saw Raye, Kuto and Enari. They were on their knees, with their hands tied behind their backs and Raye’s face was covered in blood. A demon was standing in front of them and two behind them.
“Who are you?” asked the demon in front of them.
“I’ll tell you nothing,” said Raye and it slammed its fist into the side of her head, sending her to the ground.
“Your impudence will only cause you pain,” said the demon.
“I don’t know the meaning of the word,” said Raye defiantly as the demon gave her an evil look, “Seriously, impudence, what does it mean?” Naro and Huja smiled.
“Since you care nothing for your own welfare maybe you care for his,” said the demon and he pointed to Enari. One of the demons lifted him up Enari and dragged him forward. Raye tried to fight back but the last demon held her down.
“Let him go,” said Raye, “He’s got nothing to do with this.” It hit Enari and he fell over. There was blood around his mouth, his lip had busted.
“Enari!” yelled Kuto and Raye closed her eyes. She reached her mind out until she found Huja’s mind.
“Hey Huja,” thought Raye.
“Wow,” said Huja.
“Wow what?” asked Naro.
“Say it was nothing,” thought Raye.
“Nothing,” said Huja.
“Huja. Can you blow up these three idiots?”
“Sure.”
“Sure what?” asked Naro.
“Never mind,” said Huja.
“Think it don’t say it,” thought Raye.
“Sorry. Is this your power?”
“Part of it. On my count.”
“Right.” He felt Raye leave his mind.
“One,” counted Raye, “Two.”
“Three!” yelled Huja and he jumped in the room. He pointed at the demon on the left, which exploded. He twirled around so he could see the other demon with his good eye. He pointed at that one too and it also exploded. Then he flipped in the air to face the last demon and he blew it up too. He did all of this in seconds so no one could figure out what had happened. Raye jumped up and ran to Enari. She lifted him in her arms and looked at him.
“I’m fine,” said Enari.
“Don’t scare me like that.”
“Sorry.”
“Hey Kuto,” said Huja and both Raye and Kuto looked at him, “I thought you were tied up.” Then the rest of her squad walked into the room.
“So did the demons,” said Raye.
“Have you always been able to do that?” asked Huja.
“Pretty much yeah,” said Kuto, “He’s always been weird.”
“Standing right Sano,” said Raye, hinting to Kuto the name she had given to him. He gave her a really weird look. The others looked at each other and Kuto mouthed “Sano?” to her and she shrugged.
“What just happened?” asked Jaso.
“No time,” said Raye, “We have to-.” She stopped dead in her tracks. Her team turned around and they stopped too. Standing in the door was unmistakably Darak. He was wearing what appeared to be a long black dress that blended with his long black hair. He had pale, almost grey, skin and bright red eyes. But his most prominent features were his leathery black, bat-like wings, which protruded gracefully from his back. Raye took a deep breath of fear but then her eye popped at what happened next. He pulled his arm into the room he was dragging her father.
“Oh my god,” said Kuto, who instantly recognized her father, “You’re here?”
“Yeah,” said Raye, “He’s been here the whole time.” Then there was silence, Raye’s heart was beating insanely fast. She was panicking and she couldn’t stop. Darak was in front of her, no one had ever survived an encounter with him, except for her. But she’d been eight that time and hiding not fighting. It was like all of her courage had just gone away and she was left with an intolerable fear. She knew she was going to die. It was so obvious, there was no other possible outcome. She was going to die. Darak threw her father to the ground and walked over to her.
“I know you,” said Darak his voice shook her, “I’ve heard so much about you. You’re the prodigy of the humans, their hero. Look at you, shivering like a baby. Are you going to cry now? I bet you will.” He walked around her, examining her and watching her. She was afraid him.
“Go to hell,” managed Raye.
“I was born there,” said Darak and he pressed his hand on her face, “Well aren’t you so pretty. Who ever scared such beautiful flesh should be killed. Tell me who did this?” She felt so compelled to tell him the truth.
“A demon.”
“I know I killed him. But what about the others?”
“I did those.” She felt her head go fuzzy; she couldn’t concentrate.
“Why?” He had bewitched her; she had to break it.
“I had to because I-,” said Raye and she shook herself, “Your spells don’t work.”
“Don’t be so sure of that,” said Darak. Raye let her mind out, doing her best to keep her eyes open, so as not to give herself away. She was afraid of what she was doing even as she did it. She was very aware of what might happen to her as she left her mind open to the most evil creature on the planet. She saw into his mind and it hurt her, the evil in there was terrifying. She’d been in the minds of monsters before but this was so much worse than she had imagined. She started to shake again. She saw why the war had been started. It was mind-boggling and heart breaking. When Darak was a kid he had had a vision of her and that she would kill him. So he had started the war to find her and kill her before she could kill him. Every person that had died in the war had died because of her. She fell on to her knees and started crying.
“May God have mercy on my soul,” said Raye.
“That’s an interesting little gift you have,” said Darak and he squatted in front of her, “To see into people’s minds. I bet it’s useful. But of course now it hurts you.” He leaned forward and forced his mind into hers. She screamed and grabbed her head. She fell over and started sobbing uncontrollably. It hurt so much, his presence alone was enough to kill but his thoughts. She wanted to die.
“Kuto?” asked Naro.
“Kuto?” asked Darak cunningly as he stood up, “Do you know in all of the times I relived this day over and over in my head, I never knew your name? You know my other power, other than seeing the future, yes?” Raye nodded from the floor as she cried. She had seen his power in his mind. He had the power to control people from their names. It was then that hope entered her soul.
“Power?” asked Jaso.
“Kuto stand up,” said Darak and Raye stood up, “Kuto come to me.” She walked over to him and stood in front of him.
“Kuto?” asked Naro as Darak placed a hand on her cheek. Naro tried to step forward but something stopped him. Darak had cast a spell.
“It’s so good to finally see you in person, my Beloved. Lay down Kuto.” Naro’s stomach wrenched as Raye obeyed and laid down. Everything was so fuzzy, she couldn’t figure out what was going on. She couldn’t even think about disobeying him.
“KUTO!” screamed Naro but she didn’t react even when Darak lowered himself to lay on top of her.
“Kiss me, my Beloved.” Raye lurched up and their faces connected. Her lips touched his. It was like ice. Everything was so cold but the hazy sensations in her mind prevented her from feeling that or seeing that Naro had fallen to his knees. She’d just kissed Darak, the man, or technically woman, he loved had just kissed another person.
“Get away from him!” She couldn’t hear him.
“Tell me you love me, Kuto.”
“I love you.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper as she tried not to.
“I love you too, you are my Beloved.”
“You’re Beloved?”
“You would never kill your master would you?”
“Never.”
“Good.” He brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her again.
“Kuto?” She tried to turn to look at Naro and she nearly did.
“Who?” asked Raye but Darak forced her to look at him.
“You will stay here with your master?”
“Yes.” He pulled her up and kissed her again. Raye wanted to stop, to do anything but be this near to him. He pushed her off to his side and he looked at the others.
“You!” yelled Darak. Naro drew one of Raye’s knifes, which she’d dropped on the ground, and threw it at him. Raye stepped in front of him and Huja reached forward and blew up the knife. He barely made it in time.
“Kuto?” asked Naro and Darak looked at her.
“You will protect me?”
“Yes.” He kissed her again.
“Stop it!” yelled Naro and the real Kuto looked at him.
“You must be Naro,” said Kuto. He was calm.
“Huh?”
“I figured, you’re a lot like I imagined you.”
“Imagined me?”
“He talked about you in his letters all the time.”
“He did?”
“Yes.” Naro looked at Raye, who was still kissing Darak. He was flattered and happy that she’d written home about him but there were more important things.
“That’s nice but -.”
“You want to save him?”
“YES!”
“Repeat after me.”
“Huh?” He looked back at Darak, who was kneeling on the ground so he could kiss Raye’s stomach.
“Sunlight’s Raye will wake you up.”
“Excuse me?”
“Just say it, loudly.”
“Okay then, Sunlight’s Raye will wake you up!” Raye shot up and bolted away from Darak as fast as she could.
“Wow,” said Raye and she looked at Naro, “You called?”
“What? How did you-?”
“A spell,” explained Kuto, “It was written for him years ago.”
“I’m going to be sick,” said Raye as Darak stood up.
“YOU!” yelled Darak.
“Right,” said Raye as she caught her breath. She looked at her dad, who was staring at her. They would really have to talk now.
“Kuto, come to me,” said Darak.
“No,” said Raye but her legs were forcibly being dragged towards him. His spell was strong, but weaker this time now that she knew what he was doing.
“Kuto draw your knives.” She drew her knives.
“Kuto?” asked Naro.
“Kuto, kill him,” said Darak and she jerked. She had to break the spell or else. She started to walk towards Naro. She tried to stop but she had no luck.
“Kuto?” She lifted her blade behind his back and prepared to strike.
“Hold on a second,” said Darak and she froze, “You will see that I’m not so cruel. Say good-bye to him.” She didn’t know what to do.
“Kuto?” asked Naro, “What’s the plan?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Oh?”
“I’m sorry.”
“So this is it?”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“So this is how I die?”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” But it was, it all her fault. The war, everything, it was all because of her.
“Naro I-.” She wanted to tell him. But the Magi were ever vigilant in watching her. They were sticking to their word they wouldn’t let her tell him the truth.
“I love you.” She gasped and looked up him.
“What?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was confused, I still am. But I love you.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I love you.” And she started crying. She hadn’t cried since she was eight. She didn’t think she still could. But she was crying.
“I love you too.” The Magi couldn’t stop that.
“Don’t cry.” He leaned forward and licked her tears but more came. He loved the salty taste of her tears and her skin.
“Naro I-.” She had to try. She should’ve been able to break the spell. He controlled people through their names but he was using Kuto. Her name was Raye and she shouldn’t have been affected by it. It didn’t make sense until it hit her. A name was something more than what her parents came up with for them. It was what people called her, it was how she introduced herself. That was what her name was. And for almost three years now she had been Kuto Manto to every person she had met since she had left Shano. Her name was Kuto Manto now.
Raye Tani was stuck three years ago, back in Shano, about to open a door and get handed a letter that would change the world forever. She was stuck in that moment. In that moment she had become Kuto Manto, a rebel solider, instead of Raye Tani, a girl who wanted to be a rebel solider. She closed her eyes and looked back at the life of Raye Tani. Her friends, her family, the whole Tani Clan, the massacre, her father; they all coursed through her mind and it ended, somehow, with her mother. She was leaning over her crib and singing to her. That was of course impossible. But looking at her mother’s face broke the spell. She dropped the knife and pulled away Naro. She had to act quickly.
She spun around grasping her other knife as hard as possible. She plunged it into Darak’s stomach and pulled out another knife.
“What?” asked Darak as he staggered away, “Impossible, my power.”
“My name’s not Kuto Manto,” said Raye, “It’s Tani.”
“Tani! I killed every Tani!”
“You missed one!” She threw her other knife.
“I can’t be killed.”
“Everyone dies,” said Raye as she leaned forward to whisper in his ear, “That’s what you get for pissing off Raye Tani.”
“Ratené,” said Darak and blood spurted from his lips. He was dead.
“Oh my god,” said Raye as she realized something.
“Kuto,” said Naro, “You did it, you killed Darak.”
“Kuto?” asked Huja, “That isn’t possible. No one can resist Darak’s power.”
“What is his power?” asked Naro.
“Don’t you mean was?” asked a voice and they turned around to see another demon walk into the room. He was tall and thing. He was pale but not grey like Darak. His hair was black too but his was short. He was also wearing pants instead of a dress.
“Who are you?” asked Raye.
“That’s Hagnu, Darak’s second in command,” said Gaksu.
“Smart, for a traitor,” said Hagnu, “All three of you are traitors to your race.”
“We’re demons, so what?” asked Raye.
“Demons?” asked Hagnu, “You dare to give yourself that title when you chose to fight on the wrong side.”
“See that’s where you’re so wrong,” said Raye, “We chose the right side, we chose our side. That is the demon way after all. Think of yourself.” She wasn’t coming up with any good comebacks. She could see from his point of view, Darak had left traces of himself in her mind. She, Huja and her father were demons that hadn’t fought for their own agendas but rather had fought whole-heartedly for the cause of the humans.
“Retched fool,” said Hagnu, “We true demons keep no secrets like the ones you three harbor in you. We care not what others think or feel. Especially you, little girl.”
“Uh oh,” said Raye, hoping they hadn’t heard that last part.
“Secrets?” asked Naro.
“Revasna Trela Seclu,” said Hagnu and Raye, Huja and Gaksu started to glow. They rose into the air and when the glowing stopped they fell to the ground. Gaksu was blue, Raye could barely make it out. It looked like armor that was actually his skin. There were scales and his hands and feet were claws. His eyes and hair were blue too. Huja looked similar but he was red instead of blue. She looked down on herself she was green. But the worst part was that she was wearing different clothes. She was wearing a light green skirt that was very short in the front but a very long train in the back. It was torn, she like her clothes torn so it was her style. Her shirt had one sleeve, her right sleeve. It was low cut and very short, reaching to just before his stomach. Even worse was that anyone who saw her dressed like this would have no trouble identifying her gender. As she looked closer at herself she realized she had no weapons. While everyone was staring at Gaksu and Huja she snuck around behind Naro.
“Give me your sword,” whispered Raye. Naro made no noise, he just slipped his sword into her hands. Then she crept over to Hagnu, who was sniggering at Gaksu and Huja for being weak.
“Some demons you are,” said Hagnu, “A healer, a seer and a fire-starter.”
“Some demon you are,” said Raye, “Too cocky to realize that I got up, stole a sword and got right behind you.” Hagnu twirled around and saw her standing behind him with a sword in her hands. He grabbed his own and swung at her. She blocked it gracefully. It was strange that she looked so beautiful in a battle to the death.
“You little brat,” said Hagnu, “How did you-?”
“Did you know?” asked Raye, “That the moment you walked in this room, your mind was an open book to me. It was weak and I broke in so easily. I saw your life, your friends, your family. I feel what you’re feeling now. You loved him?”
“Shut up,” said Hagnu and Raye walked over to Darak’s body. She put the tip of her sword to the dead demon’s throat.
“He couldn’t tell,” said Raye, “He was too obsessed with me to see how much you cared. You must really hate me. He paid so much attention to me instead of you. How hard was it, watching him thinking about me? You must feel horrible right now. He died and I killed him. You weren’t there, you couldn’t protect him, you couldn’t save him. You let him die at the hands of the one you were so jealous of.”
“Shut up,” said Hagnu.
“I ruined your life was before I was even born,” said Raye, “Do you hate me enough to kill me?” Hagnu swung his sword again but Raye just knocked it away.
“I’ll send you to hell with him,” said Hagnu.
“He just used you, he wasn’t even a good lover right?” asked Raye and this made him angrier and he charged her without a sword. She lunged down and she stabbed him inn the gut. Hagnu staggered and fell over.
“Listen child,” thought Hagnu as he entered her mind, “I wanted you to know that I wasn’t evil, I just followed the man that I loved without a second thought. I know your heart is pure. So I will use the last of my strength to give you Darak’s powers, so that you may use them for good. But beware little one for they hold great power. Also I must tell you that the Prophecy of the Ratené is actually called of The Prophecy of Raye Tani. It was about you and it always was. Please can you take me to him so I can lay with him and look at him once more.”
“Sure,” thought Raye as she lifted Hagnu onto her back.
“What are you doing?” asked Gaksu as Raye started to walk over to Darak’s body. She laid Hagnu down next to him carefully. She was crying; they had just loved each other. Darak had loved him too. That was why he had tried so hard to live.
“Goodbye Darak,” said Hagnu and he closed his eyes, dead too.
“What just happened?” asked Naro.
“Are we alive?” asked Jaso.
“Apparently,” said Kalan then Raye gagged and they stared at her. Her eyes filled with sudden, confused pain. She pressed her right hand against her right side. She tilted her hand off it slightly and they could see it was covered in blood. She looked at it and her eyes blanked over.
“Ow,” said Raye. She sounded so confused and then she fell over. They saw Hagnu’s sword sticking out of her back. People were screaming, someone was crying.
“Raye!” screamed Kuto as he and Enari rushed over to her. Gasku was first.
“Dad?” asked Raye as tears streamed down her cheeks, “It hurts.”
“I know, I know, it’s okay, sweetie, you’re going to be fine,” said Gaksu and he pulled the sword out, causing Raye to scream in pain.
“I’m sorry I was so mad,” said Raye, “I’m sorry I said those things to you.”
“You’ll be fine,” said Gaksu, “It was Dead Will Sword. It attacks when it master dies. It missed your vital organs.”
“It hurts.”
“I know, I can heal you.”
“It’s too much, you can’t.”
“I can too,” said Gaksu and Raye closed her eyes, “Stay with me.” It was no use she’d slipped into unconsciousness. She was already going cold; her heart had stopped beating. Gaksu held his hands over his daughter’s wound to heal her. She was right, no one could heal this big of a wound. That was, unless they were prepared to give their life for the one they were healing, which he was. He made her wound disappear.
“What’s going on?” asked Jaso.
“She’ll be unconscious for a while,” said Gaksu, “When she wakes up tell I’m sorry, for everything.” Gaksu fell over, Raye’s wound was now on him.
“Gaksu!” yelled Kuto.
“What is going on?” asked Naro he looked over at Raye with great concern, “Will he be okay?” Jaso looked down at Raye.
“I think he is a she,” said Jaso.
“Oh thank god,” said Naro.
“What?” asked Huja.
“Nothing,” said Naro and he picked Raye up, “Lets go.”
“Okay,” said Kalan.
“You two with us, someone tell Hinaka what’s happened,” said Naro.
“Right,” said Kuto and did as he was told. Naro looked down at the unconscious Raye in his arms. She was beautiful and there was no denying her gender now.
“Oh thank god he or she’s okay,” thought Naro, “And thank god I’m not gay. I think, maybe, I don’t know. How is this possible?”
Naro carried the unconscious Raye inside the infirmary. He was in utter shock. He’d just told the one he loved how he felt and had learned he’d been lied to. She was a girl and he wasn’t sure what that meant. It completely baffled him. Hinaka, Jaserard and Dagus rushed into the tent.
“Dear god it’s true,” said Jaserard as he started at her, “A woman?”
“Looks like,” said Hinaka.
“What’s going to happen?” asked Kuto.
“Who are you?” asked Jaserard.
“Um, well,” said Kuto.
“He’s the real Kuto Manto, I think,” said Huja.
“And she is?”
“Her name is Raye Tani and you will refer to her as such,” said Kuto.
“Why are you talking?” asked Jaserard, “I don’t know you.”
“Um, and I don’t know you, but what are you going to do to her?”
“The law says she must die.”
“You can’t kill her.”
“I must obey the law.”
“Wait a minute,” said Hinaka and they stared at him.
“What?” asked Jaserard. There was a long pause.
“There has to be a way to save her life,” said Dagus, “There just has to be.”
“There might be.”
“Oh?” asked Huja.
“It’s unheard of but this whole situation is pretty damn strange and unheard of.”
“What is it?” asked Jaserard, who do anything rather than kill this girl.
“A General’s Trial.”
“Seriously?” A General’s Trial were rarely called. In fact the last time one was called was to settle the impeachment of a series of important generals for various crimes. Their purpose was to determine the fate of criminals in the military. And Hinaka was right, it was the only way to save her life. Her only chance was if they ruled in her favor.
“I’ll send word.” Hinaka left the infirmary tent and saw a crowd forming. They wanted to know what was going on and the truth was spreading through the camp. Huja pulled Naro out of the infirmary after that and people were asking them questions but Naro couldn’t hear them. His mind had just completely shut down. Raye’s true identity had been an utter shock and he didn’t know what to do.
In a matter of days the Generals started arriving. They didn’t have too much to do. The war was almost over. They were just dealing with some straggling demons who were panicking over Darak’s death. The humans were celebrating everywhere. The demon was dead and they wanted to know who’d done it. They didn’t know how much that they weren’t going to like it.
“A girl!” yelled one of the older Generals.
“Yes,” said Hinaka as they all gathered in the meeting tent.
“A girl killed Darak?”
“Yes, her name is Raye Tani.”
“Why are we here?”
“The law says -.”
“That she must die.”
“Yes, but I think she’s earned the right to live.”
“Oh? And how’d she earned that?”
“She killed Darak.”
“So?”
“It couldn’t have been done without her.”
“He has a point.”
“But we will need the whole story.”
“Gather the whole party.” The tent’s flap opened up and they filed in in silence. Jaserard was first, followed by Huja and Jaso, then Naro and Kalan. Naro looked dead, he was pale and clearly hadn’t slept since any of this had happened. After Kalan came Dagus and then Kuto and Enari. They all sat down and looked around.
“Identify yourselves,” said one of the Generals.
“Lieutenant Calik Jaserard, sir,” said Jaserard and he stood up.
“And what’s your relationship with the culprit?”
“I’m in charge of this camp, sir.”
“Sit back down, next?”
“Private Huja Nigaka, sir.”
“And?”
“I’m on his, I mean, her squad.”
“And I’m Private Jaso Yiano, also on that squad,” said Jaso standing up next to Huja before he sat down. He didn’t think he could do any standing in front of the Generals, at least not on his own.
“I am Private Kalan Mushu, same squad.”
“Good, now all of you sit down and him?” Naro forced himself up.
“I am Private Naro Izu, I was…second in command to um.” He sat back down without finishing the sentence.
“Doctor Demio Dagus,” said Dagus curtly, barely bothering to stand.
“And you two miscreants?”
“We’re not miscreants,” said Kuto and Enari hung his head. For someone who was so smart his brother could be so stupid.
“Just tell us your names.”
“I’m Enari Manto and-,” said Enari and he looked at his brother.
“I am the real Kuto Manto.” Naro looked at him. Of course he’d already figured that out but hearing it made it so much more tangible. It hurt to hear him say that. Naro had used that name as the one he loved and hearing the real Kuto Manto throw his own name around like that was agonizing. He’d treasured the one he thought that name had belonged to but meeting the real one made it all feel like it had all been one horrible lie.
“Very good. Who wants to start?”
“I think I should,” said Kuto and they nodded. He walked forward so they could all see him, just like Hinaka had told him to. Hinaka had also told him to appear strong, which was something he failed at with such utter misery when he tripped and fell on his face. Enari slapped a hand to his head in embarrassment.
“Begin,” said a General, completely ignoring it.
“Raye is my best friend, always has been and always will be. And that’s sort of how this whole mess began. When Raye was a kid her parents both died at least her mom did I guess her dad mostly just abandoned her. Well she lived next door to me so my mom and dad sort of adopted her. Raye never lived with us, she hated hand outs. Raye just liked to fight. In fact all she ever wanted was to join this senseless war. But you guys being the mindless military idiots that you are wouldn’t let her just because she was a girl even though she’s probably a better fighter than any of you. So Raye sort of made it her life’s purpose to protect me because of this promise she made to her dad. Then I got the letter. Okay technically I never got the letter because she stole it before I ever saw it. Then she stole most of my clothes and left. She left without saying good-bye and didn’t explain anything. She left a note but it was covered in blood.”
“Blood?” asked Hinaka.
“Yeah, she cut her face up pretty bad in my bathroom.”
“Why?”
“She thinks about things. I mean when you met her what’d you take away from her face at first? Was it that she kind of looked like a girl? Or was it that she had a few nasty scars on her face? Something tells me it was the scars.”
“Okay.”
“So that’s when she left, took my letter and got it set in her head that she was going to pretend to be me.”
“Did she have your permission?”
“Not when she left but in our letters I’d thank her for doing it for me.”
“Why?”
“I can’t fight, I’m a klutz, violence scares me and blood makes me pass out.”
“In other words you would have been completely useless to us?”
“Yeah, pretty much. Not like Raye. The best fighter in Shano despite being a GIRL! That’s who Raye Tani is. And Shano needs her. I don’t know if any of you have ever actually been to Shano but it’s not a good place to grow up in. Most of the friends I had as kid are dead. They were killed by demons. The same demons you all are supposed to be fighting in this war, the war that supposed to have started in Shano. But it is the people Shano who are really paying the price. In fact of all the kids born the year I was born in Shano, which was like seventy or so I think, not the highest birthrate but these are dangerous times. Do you know how many out of that seventy are still alive? I can name all four. And I know that I wouldn’t be standing here today if I hadn’t met Raye. And I know that you know what I’m talking about because I know that she’s saved your lives a thousand times over. She never meant to hurt anyone. All she wanted was to protect me. And I don’t think she actually hurt anyone, except for maybe Darak. Who we all agree totally deserves and don’t think anyone like her deserves to die.”
“You thoughts are noted.” Kuto looked to the youngest man at the table of Generals, who had been writing down everything he said. Hopefully accurately.
“I guess I should go next,” said Huja as he took Kuto’s place up front.
“Go ahead.”
“Let’s see I met Raye after she came here. It was our first day and those demons had attacked. If you didn’t know. She’d evaded their raids unlike me. I’d been captured.”
“How were you captured?”
“That’s not important is it?”
“Just answer the question.”
“Well I was in my tent and I heard some noise. So went out, saw the demons and started laughing like a crazy person.”
“Why?”
“Because clearly I’m so lucky that I can’t go a whole day without getting into a fight. I got into a lot of fights back home. But anyway I attacked some demons, killed a couple and gave up when I realized I couldn’t get away. They took me to their weird little prison and kept me separate from the others. I think they knew I was really a demon. I’m a half-demon too by the way. Then they threw her and Naro into my cell. The crazy girl was smiling, she had a plan. It was about as crazy as she was. I followed it anyway. What can I say? She’s a natural leader. We saved the day and she got out only a little bit hurt. Her arm, I’m sure you’ve heard about it. She was turning into a demon. Then Jaserard put me on the same team as her. We got really close but I never figured it out. She’s a damn good liar, sticks to her story. But apparently while she was lying to me I was telling her the truth. I told her all about me, kind of makes me feel stupid. But she had this air about her where you felt like you could tell her anything. So I did. She didn’t judge me and she took care of everyone here. She’s a good person if only a little bit weird. But who isn’t?”
“Thank you, next?”
“That’d be me,” said Jaso and he walked up to them. Huja patted him on the back as he walked past him.
“What to you have to say?”
“I met Raye when I tried to take her horse to the stables. It strongly refused to come with me. And you know why? Because she told him to stay. She’s great with animals. This one time she found this hurt little bird. Kalan wanted to kill him and eat it because that’s sort of what he does. But she wouldn’t let him. She nursed the little critter back to health and then released it. She was so happy to watch it fly away. I mean she was sad afterwards, she missed the thing I guess. But she just had a way with animals. She loves life but she’s a great killer. And she had ways of knowing things.”
“What things?” Jaso froze.
“Just things. And she really is a good leader. I hate fighting. I like plants and gardening. I don’t know how to fight at least I didn’t until I came here. I didn’t want to come, I guess you get that a lot. Well after I met her, I sort of liked staying here. She made me like this horrible, horrible place. She even taught me how to fight. But before that my faith in her got me to charge into a battle that I couldn’t possibly hope to win. That’s who Raye Tani is.”
“Thank you. Who wishes to speak next?”
“I guess that’d be me,” said Kalan.
“What do you know of Raye Tani?”
“Pretty much nothing,” said Kalan, “We weren’t the closest of comrades. We had a lot of eating contests. She always won. Now that I think about it that’s kind of embarrassing, being out eaten by a girl. That’s not something that I’m going to tell people when I get home. But she could tell jokes. She’s funny as hell, usually when she doesn’t mean to be. She also likes to threaten me when I talk too much. I tend to do that and do it loudly. And Kuto, the real Kuto, is right, she did save my life. In fact that’s the first thing she ever did to me. And I tried to pay her back but that wasn’t so easy. In situations where her life was in danger she could always fight her way out protect herself. But I can do it this way and I will do this way.”
“Okay. Who is next?”
“I’ll go next,” said Dagus. He stood up nervously. This was the time for the truth to come out.
“When did you first meet Raye Tani?”
“I delivered her.”
“Huh?”
“I was there, the day she was born. I knew her parents. Both of them. I was there when her mother died. I was there when her father abandoned her. I was there when her entire clan was massacred by Darak. I was there when she tried to kill herself. I’ve known this girl her entire hard life. And it’s been hard. But whatever life’s thrown at her she’s somehow managed to come out the other end smiling. It’s amazing really. Actually insane is more the word. And I’ve seen her through this war. She’s been strong. She’s faced her worse fears. I was there when she went through the Talen Sai Fasu. I saw her afterwards, dealing with that pain. Then despite that horrible agony she worked with Hinaka and myself to draw a picture of Darak. And I saw her get the knowledge of Darak put in her brain and give a copy of it to Hinaka. I saw her when she left for that mission. She faced the man who abandoned her to save someone cared about her. She killed the thing that killed her family and for this you think she should be put to death?”
“Dagus, hiding a criminal is against the law. It is also punishable by death. Did you know that she was Raye Tani and not Kuto Manto?” Dagus took a deep breath, the decision was simple. Tell a little white lie or die.
“Yes, I did.” They gasped and stared at him.
“And you admit this?”
“Hell yes. I found out when she went into the Talen Sai Fasu.”
“And you protected her?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Because my brother and I promised her parents that we would. Raye Tani might have thought she had no one but there were a lot of people who loved her.”
“You’re under arrest.”
“Fine.” Two men walked in and slapped chains on him. Kuto was going to protest but his brother stopped him. They dragged Dagus out of the tent. He supposed he should have lied, it would have been better for him. But after all the lying it felt better. All he cared about was that Raye survived.
“Are you going to say anything, Private Izu?” Naro looked up. He didn’t want to talk. What could he say?
“I wasn’t necessarily planning on it.”
“Speak your piece or we’ll drag you off with Dagus.”
“What makes you think I care?”
“Private Izu,” said Jaserard, “I will order you to testify.”
“You want me testify? I don’t know Raye Tani! I thought I knew Kuto Manto! But that was all a lie. I don’t know her. But the person I thought I knew was a good person but I can’t be sure if that was true either.”
“Honest, good. Did she ever try to tell you the truth?”
“No.”
“That’s the last of you then. Leave.” They filed back and Kuto turned on Naro.
“You lying b*****d!” yelled Kuto.
“Excuse me?” asked Naro.
“She tried to tell you! We both know she did!”
“Then why didn’t she?”
“I don’t know.” He ran off, nearly in tears as Enari followed him.
“An emotional little runt isn’t he?” asked Huja and he nodded for Jaso and Kalan to go away. He wanted to be alone with Naro.
“More like an annoying little bug,” said Naro.
“Yeah, but did she try to tell you?”
“I think so.”
“Why didn’t she?”
“I think someone was stopping her.”
“Who?”
“If I had to take a guess I’d go with the Magi.”
“What was with your testimony?”
“What was I supposed to say? That I fell in love with her and I did it while she was pretending to be a guy? Was I supposed to tell them that I wanted nothing more than to hold this strange person in my arms for the rest of my life but now I don’t know what I feel? That I tried to kiss her on so many occasions? That I used to sneak into her tent and watch her sleep because that was when she looked peaceful? That her laugh sends shivers through my spine? That every time she looks at me or touches me it makes my day? That her smile always made me smile too? That I want her more than anyone in the world? That I want to spend every waking day with her? That every moment that I’m not with her I feel like I’m dying? What was I supposed to say? Should I have said that?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t even know what I feel anymore.”
“It’s not fair.”
“No.”
“But wasn’t it you who told me that it would be easier if he was a she.”
“Yes but-.”
“And now she is well, a girl.”
“But all those lies.”
“I know. You just need to sort it out.”
“It shouldn’t be this hard.”
“No, but nothing worth having, comes easily. You’ll have to sort it out. And you may not have a lot of time.”
The Generals reached their decision eventually. It took a week and it was an awful week. Waiting could be the most painful thing they had to do. But at the same time that it was hard Kuto was thankful for every moment they debated because that was another moment that Raye was alive. He wished she was awake, she would’ve been able to think of something. She’d escape, she’d do something. She’d find someway to live, to survive. That was what she always did, but he couldn’t do it. They were being guarded, he couldn’t get her out of the camp. She would’ve been able to save him if their roles were reversed and he hated himself for not being good enough to do the same.
When they finally made up their minds they called them all back into the tent where they had testified. Kuto and Dagus were separate from the others because technically they were on trial as well. The both of them could be hung like Raye if the Generals decided that way. Kuto couldn’t care less about himself and neither could Dagus. At the moment everyone in that tent only cared about Raye. They held their breath as the General’s stood up to make their announcement.
“In that matter of the punishment for the real Kuto Manto, because you had no prior knowledge of her actions and knew only after it was too late, you will be let go and never allowed to return to army,” said one of the Generals. Kuto felt like that was practically a reward. What he could he want in the army? But he knew what to do.
“Thank you,” said Kuto, rather angrily in truth. A second General stood up and looked at them.
“As for Dr. Demio Dagus, you had knowledge of her crime and the opportunity to tell someone but you choose not to. This, unlike Mr. Manto’s actions, is a crime. And you must receive a punishment for this crime. The law states that the punishment is death. But under the circumstances and taking into account your relationship with the girl and her parents including that you were honor bound by a promise to protect her; we have decided to spare your life,” said the General.
“Thank you,” said Dagus. His was more grateful than Kuto’s.
“But you will be punished. This is yet to be decided.”
“Excuse me? What does that mean?”
“We couldn’t agree on your punishment.”
“Okay. What about Raye?” There was a long pause as the second General sat down and a third stood up. This man was the oldest. That wasn’t the best sign. If anyone would have spared her it would have been the youngest. The law about women in the army was old and out dated and the younger and more modern Generals would have been more lenient. But this one was the oldest, who would have been the most likely to want her dead for lying.
“All of our deliberation went into the case of Miss Raye -,” said the General.
“Lady,” said Dagus and they started at him, “Sorry, it’s just that she is of noble blood in Shano. She is Lady Tani.”
“Right, in the case Lady Raye Tani there were a lot of factors in play. For one, like Dagus she was keeping a promise to her father and her intention wasn’t to hurt anyone. She only wished to protect her friend. Secondly there is her impressive record, which should have gotten her a good number of promotions. She has certainly helped the war a great deal. And most of all she killed Darak AND his second-in-command Hagnu. That has pretty much ended the war, with a few exceptions. And for this we are all grateful. We will spare her life.”
“Thank you, god,” said Kuto, who didn’t even try to hide his joy, as the group sighed in relief.
“But,” said the General and they sucked in the breaths they had just released, “She cannot stay here and for other reasons we cannot just discharge her. No one wants to see the Hero, or um, the Heroine of Gaselu as a cross-dressing criminal. So she will retire.”
“Okay,” said Kuto.
“But,” said Jaserard, “A private isn’t allowed retire.”
“We know that, so she will first be promoted.”
“Promoted? The lowest rank that is able to retire is Colonel.”
“Yes, she will be a Colonel of the Gaselu Army.”
“Okay,” said Hinaka.
“You’re dismissed.” They stood up and Kuto and Enari rushed out of the tent. Huja turned to Naro.
“How are you?” asked Huja.
“I don’t. I’m glad she’s alive and all, don’t get me wrong, but beyond that. I just don’t know,” said Naro.
“It looks like you’re going to get some more time to figure out what you want.” At the same time Kuto was telling Raye the good news even though she couldn’t really hear anything he said.
“Hey, Raye,” said Kuto as he sat down and grabbed her hand, “They passed the sentence today. Dagus hasn’t got a punishment yet, I think he’ll be fine. Mine was that I’m never actually allowed to join the army. But that’s what you want isn’t it? You got off pretty much scot-free yourself. You’re getting promoted to Colonel and you have to retire. I don’t know if you’ll want to but I don’t think you’ll want to stay here. Oh, Raye, please wake up, please.” He squeezed her hand as hard as he could. He didn’t know what Raye was doing at that very moment.
“Kuto!?” screamed Raye, “Hey! Kuto! Where are you? Kuto!!” She was well somewhere. She couldn’t quite tell where it was exactly. Mostly it was white, she supposed it was room although she couldn’t feel anything. She couldn’t feel anything, except for this pressure in her right hand. It was like someone was holding it.
“He can’t hear you,” said a voice and she turned around to see Mistress Magi.
“YOU!” yelled Raye and she ran at her but she went through her, “What the-?”
“Calm down.”
“What’s going on? What happened? Where am I? Why am I here? Why are you here? Am I dead?”
“Relax, you’re not dead.”
“What happened?”
“Don’t you remember?” She put a hand to her head, she felt like she had a headache even though she felt no pain.
“Darak? I -, oh my god, I, I killed Darak.”
“Yes.”
“And Hagnu?”
“Yes.”
“Oh dear, god. What the hell? I did it? Me. ME!?”
“Yes, you.”
“Holy s**t!”
“I know this is a little hard to grasp.”
“He called me Ratené. As in that prophecy.”
“Yes that prophecy. Are you okay?”
“Are you sure I’m not dead? I was definitely stabbed.”
“Yes, I’m sure you’re not dead.”
“Then where am I?”
“This is your mind.”
“Really?”
“You sound surprised.”
“It’s really…white.”
“Yes it is.”
“Why am I here? What’s going on?”
“You’re in a coma.”
“What!? Am I okay? Will I wake up?”
“Yes.” She heaved a sigh of relief.
“Why are you here? No offense.”
“I’m here to make sure that you’re okay.”
“Well I’m in coma, but other than that I think that I’m okay.”
“Good, that’s very good.”
“That was the task, wasn’t it?”
“Excuse me?”
“The task you said I had to do. It was to kill Darak?”
“Not exactly.”
“What? But the prophecy said that ‘Ratené will be bring death to the demon oppressors of Gaselu’. It says ‘Ratené will kill their evil leaders’.”
“Yes, but it also says that Ratené will usher in a new era of peace.”
“What?”
“Your task wasn’t just to kill Darak but it was end the war.”
“What?”
“Killing Darak was the only way to stop this horrible war.”
“Why not tell me?”
“It was the safest way.”
“Just as you wouldn’t let me tell Naro the truth. Oh dear god, Naro.”
“Huh?”
“I was wearing a dress, anyone could tell I was a girl.”
“Well-.”
“They’re going to kill me, they’re going to have to. This is my destiny!? All this and I don’t even get to live?”
“Raye, they’re having a trial, you’ll be fine.”
“How do you know?”
“The others are there. Your friends are fighting for you, you’ll make it.”
“So I was supposed to end the entire war?”
“Yes and you have.”
“Why me?”
“You are special.”
“It’s because I started, isn’t it?”
“How do you know that?”
“He told me, before I killed him.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” She didn't believe her.
 Zegwarian310 · Thu Aug 09, 2007 @ 05:44pm · 0 Comments |
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