Note: This will end the Erts "Epic"…but not the story I intended to tell. Instead (if you choose to keep reading, anyway) the story will shift its focus to a certain Candidate for Goddess. It'll get back to Erts and the Pilots eventually, though.
Thoughts and/or telepathic speech are in italics.
Foresight
(Epilogue of the Erts "Epic")
by Nate Grey
"Just ask her."
"No, I can't. She'd…she'd take it the wrong way."
"Then explain it to her so she doesn't."
"But…I can't afford to hurt her, not even for a moment."
"Either you tell her what you're thinking now, or later. She's going to ask if you keep staring at her like this, anyway."
Erts blinked and looked away, his cheeks flushing. Whether it was the realization that he was talking to himself (the irony of a telepath doing that was just too great to miss) or Tune's distracting beauty, he couldn't be sure of. What he did know was that he (or, at least, one of the voices in his head) was right: Tune WOULD sense his eyes on her if he kept staring. He certainly didn't want to explain why he was doing it, or what was going through his mind at the moment.
"Just think of what would happen if SHE were the telepath."
Erts pushed that embarrassing thought from his mind and attempted to focus on anything else. Inevitably, his thoughts turned to the future…and the question he'd been trying to ask Tune for almost a week now.
"When this is over…will you come with me?"
It was a fairly simple question: "this" being his term as a Pilot, "over" meaning when either his EX, body, mind, or any combination of the three finally gave out, and "come with me" translating into an invitation to Zion…if that was indeed Erts's final destination, anyway. He certainly hoped he was different from Ernest in that respect.
Tune had no remaining family, and Erts had no desire to be with his "parents" again. He'd never forgiven them for forcing him into GOA. Granted, now that he'd had a chance to reflect, it was a good thing, or he wouldn't have met Rome, Zero, Kizna, Yu, Kazuhi, and more importantly, Tune. Still, they'd never treated him like a person…just a thing that wasn't to be touched under any circumstances.
Erts had even tried to plan for Tune's possible reactions.
She might let out a happy shriek and try to hug him to death…although as nice as it sounded, he couldn't really see her acting that way.
She might burst into tears and run off without answering at all.
She might burst into tears of joy and say yes.
She might smile and say yes…but only because Ernest wanted her to look after him.
She might smile and say yes…because she just wanted to be with him.
She might just say no. But reasons why weren't worth thinking about, as they were all too depressing.
Of course, this all really depended on the abilities of the next Pilot and Repairer team of Reneighd Klein. Erts was assuming that the Repairer would be talented enough where it wouldn't be necessary for Tune to stay on instead. After all, that was how he'd been partnered with her in the first place.
Erts sighed and stretched out on the ramp. "I really do think too much."
Better too much than not at all, Pretty.
He reached up to trace the edge of the cockpit with his fingers. "It's…different out here, Emily. In battle, I have to analyze everything; it's my job. Out here…overanalyzing can get me into trouble."
Inside.
Erts could almost picture her amber eyes peering out of the darkness of the cockpit at him, arms outstretched invitingly. It almost hurt him to refuse her. "No. I can't."
Why? Her tone held surprise and something startlingly close to pain.
"The same reason I used to push people away. I'm not going to be your Pilot forever, Emily. And when that time comes…I have to be able to let you go, and you have to let me go. I'm sorry."
Cannot let go, she reminded him. Always remember. Forever.
"The closer we get, the more it'll hurt both of us when we're separated."
Never separated. Only distanced. Together always.
Erts shook his head. "You can't know that." He paused. "Can you?"
He could almost sense her smiling confidently, as if she knew something he didn't. Inside.
"Later," he promised, looking over the edge of the ramp. "There's something I have to do first."
* * * * *
In a sense, there was no real reason for Kazuhi to be in Yu's room. The Tellia Kallisto was in excellent working order, her duties for the day had been done, and there was nothing else that the Pilot needed.
At least, nothing he would admit he needed. Yu Hikura was not one to ask for or even indicate that he needed aid. Ever.
Perhaps that was why she really worried.
Because while his Ingrid was in top condition, Yu Hikura, despite all outward appearances, was most certainly not.
Of course, Kazuhi was the only one aware of it. Well, maybe Teela, but if so, she shared Yu's ability to overlook certain things when necessary, such as a certain Pilot's health. But then, just being a Pilot meant ignoring pain (momentary as it usually was, thanks to skilled Repairers). They had been trained to ignore pain brought on by the Victim.
Not pain that was brought on by disease.
Yu had always been stronger than most, stronger than Kazuhi, at least. He was the eldest, her guardian and entire family now. Still, Kazuhi considered herself responsible for him, too. He was so busy taking care of her, at some point he either forgot or chose to ignore his own body's needs…and its failings.
The Hikura bloodline was a prestigious one in their homeland. All were not rich, and all were not in positions of power. Despite that, all were respected without question. One could not be of the Hikuras and not command a certain social status. It was unnatural. The Hikuras were bound to the status by blood.
And, so it turned out, to a curse.
Nothing mystical or magical, or anything of that sort. More like a sickness with no name and only one preference: Hikura blood. Male Hikura blood, more often that not, as female victims were rare, but not nonexistent.
Kazuhi sometimes imagined that Yu had actually willed the sickness upon himself, just to protect her. Whether it was true or not, she was only a carrier, and suffered from nothing but Rio's blatant flirting, Garu's yelling, and the stubbornness of her dying brother.
And Yu was dying, whether he ever admitted it or not. It was not his EX slipping away, but his very life. Granted, the process had been slowed so considerably by his extraordinary will that it was nearly impossible to detect. But the stress from being a Pilot was unlike any other job, and nothing fooled Kazuhi Hikura for very long.
Especially not her beloved protector.
People were vulnerable when they slept, unconscious and quite honest with the world…as well as anyone who might be watching them just then.
Try as he might, Yu was no exception. His fatigue was almost obvious now. His skin was paler than it should've been, and covered in tiny beads of sweat, despite the room's cool temperature.
There was nothing to do, though.
If Kazuhi touched him in the slightest way, he would wake up and know she'd been worrying again. Worrying which implied that he was not fine, and would die sooner than most boys, just on his back instead of in intense, glorious battle. Then he would be upset, and probably worsen his condition.
For all his devotion to protecting her and Zion, Yu never stopped to think how she would feel if he died. But then, since he'd convinced himself that he wouldn't die (at least no time soon), that was to be expected. It was just another thing for Kazuhi to worry about each time he engaged the Victim…and his own body…in endless battle.
* * * * *
Something told Tune to look up. She couldn't determine whether it was woman's intuition or simply a suggestion planted there by a certain telepath. All that mattered was that when she finally did look, Erts was looking back at her. No, he was actually staring, and probably had been for a good while now. Something also told her that he was not as interested in Reneighd Klein's repairs as he was the person doing the repairing.
Tune appreciated an interested glance or even obvious ogling at times (after all, Rio could be very charming in his own way), but Erts had not asked her permission. This would definitely require some teasing.
"Erts?"
He blinked rapidly, as if coming out of a daze. "Yes, Tune?"
"Could you come down here, please? I want you to take a look at this."
Erts all but charged down the ramp, and was panting when he skidded to a stop in front of her.
Tune pretended to ignore that, though. "Do you think Reneighd Klein's legs should be another color?"
Erts stared at her. "Her…legs?" he asked weakly.
She nodded. "At first, I thought it was her hips, but now I'm certain it's the legs. Particularly the thighs."
Erts's eyes had nearly doubled in size. "I…I think she's fine the way she is…"
"Really? I could've sworn her breasts were-"
Erts suddenly became the victim of a vicious coughing fit, doubling over and grasping the railing for support.
Tune only looked slightly concerned. "Maybe if we dressed her up in hot pink…"
Erts's head suddenly whipped up. "You….you set me up!" he accused.
"Why, whatever do you mean, Erts?" Tune asked innocently. "I was only asking for your thoughts on the appearance of our Ingrid."
"You," Erts muttered somewhat angrily, "were trying to make me uncomfortable." He paused. "You win."
"Of course I do. I'm a girl, you're a boy, and girls always mature-"
"WillyoucometoZionwithme?" Erts blurted out.
Tune paused. "What…?"
Erts tried again. "When this…" He made a vague gesture at Reneighd Klein, and then the other Ingrids. "…is all over…will you…come to Zion? With me?" He tried not to look too hopeful.
Tune stared at him.
He looked as if he had not planned for that reaction. "Of course, if you've got other plans, and I completely understand why you'd have other plans, forget I ever mentioned it. In fact, forget this whole-"
Tune pressed a finger to his lips. "You're babbling."
Erts blinked and nodded.
She slowly removed her finger. "You want me to come to Zion with you?"
"Yes…" Erts was having a very hard time reading Tune's surface thoughts, for some reason.
"Why?"
"Because GOA has made me completely codependent on highly intelligent, attractive young women?"
Tune smiled. "I seriously doubt that. Anyway, laziness does that. You're not lazy, you're just shy."
"I used to think the same about you," he admitted.
"Used to?" There was a wary edge in Tune's voice.
"I know better now. Shy people don't go around making me blush on purpose and maintaining Ingrids."
"What about Kazuhi?"
Erts frowned. "Kazuhi never makes me blush on purpose, and she isn't shy. She's just somewhat antisocial."
"With everyone but you and 'Onii-sama,' you mean."
"They're orphans. Surviving ones, at that. You can't expect them to be as outgoing as Rio."
"No one is as outgoing as Rio," Tune reminded him.
"Are you avoiding my original question, Tune?"
"I prefer to think of it as stalling. I'm not going to answer it now."
Erts visibly deflated. "Oh."
"But make me a promise."
"What promise?"
Tune placed her hand on his cheek. "Promise you'll ask me again when that day comes."
"Why then?" he asked.
"Because by then I'll be much more inclined to say yes." She smiled and patted his cheek. "You're bound to be even cuter then, anyway."
Erts blushed and gently removed her hand, squeezing it lightly. "Do you ever think that us…being partners…was fate?"
Tune shook her head. "No, Erts," she murmured, looking thoughtful. "I know it was."
* * * * *
Yu remembered that he'd seen a raven perched on his grandfather's door that night, but hadn't considered it important.
Kazuhi certainly hadn't, and probably never even saw the bird. She was too excited about meeting her grandfather for the first time, as was evident by the way she bounced along beside her big brother, occasionally turning to smile at him before skipping a little ways ahead.
Yu maintained his steady pace, though. He'd warned his sister only once that if she tired herself out on the way to their grandfather's house, he would not carry her. That wasn't true, of course, but Kazuhi didn't know that. At any rate, she seemed to be full of energy at all times, and never got tired. She also had a habit of forgetting her brother's wise (if not many) warnings.
"Onii-san, how much further is it?" she asked for the tenth time that night.
"Not far, imouto," he replied, glancing at her. "We should reach sensei's house in a few minutes."
Kazuhi gave him that odd look she used when she didn't quite understand something, but decided not to ask anything else.
Until two whole minutes had passed, anyway.
"Why do you always call him that?"
"It's what he is," Yu replied simply. "He's the only one I've ever had."
"Will ojii-san teach me, too?"
"We shall see. There's his house now."
Kazuhi instantly ran forward, but Yu continued to walk, admiring the mountains just beyond his grandfather's home. He was a few feet from the door when he saw the raven touch down on the frame.
If one believed the old legends, it was a bad omen. Yu didn't, really, but this raven was rather large, which supposedly meant that more than one bad thing would happen this night.
"Many thanks for the warning," Yu muttered to the bird, "but I believe only in destiny and myself. Not stories and legends."
The raven seemed to look directly at him before flying away.
Yu watched it go, then entered the house. He found Kazuhi standing in the main room, admiring all the detailed paintings on the wall.
"Ojii-san made all these?" she asked in awe, staring at scene of the mountains beyond the house.
"I suppose you should ask him, if you really want to know." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Come, imouto. He's waiting."
Kazuhi nodded, suddenly looking a little nervous. "Do you think he'll like me, onii-san?" Seeking comfort, she slipped her small hand into his.
Yu squeezed her hand slightly. "I don't think so. He's far more likely to love you." He didn't turn to see her smile, but instead led her down the hallway to their grandfather's bedroom. "He'll want to meet you first. Alone."
"Alone?" Kazuhi asked, sounding two feet tall.
"It's how I met him. Don't worry, imouto. I'll be out here waiting." In a rare act of affection, he kissed her forehead. "Take my courage with you."
Kazuhi nodded, looking a bit more determined, and slipped into the bedroom.
Yu returned to the main room and sat down to clear his mind and meditate.
Nearly three hours later, he opened his eyes, suspecting that his grandfather would be just about done with Kazuhi.
Then he heard the scream.
Yu was instantly on his feet, racing to the bedroom. He threw open the door, only to find Kazuhi standing there. Large tears were streaming down her face, and there was a huge amount of blood on her brand new black robes. "Imouto," he whispered, hardly able to process the sight. "What…?"
Kazuhi wailed and buried her face in his chest. "Ojii-san!" she cried, clinging to him tightly. "He's….he's…!" She trailed off, sobbing loudly and pointing behind her.
Yu looked past her, finally spotting their grandfather's body. The old man had fallen somehow, managing to land on his side. His mouth was covered in blood, and Yu quickly realized what had happened. But now was not the time to explain it all to Kazuhi.
"Hush, imouto," he said soothingly, stroking her hair.
Kazuhi stopped whimpering, but wouldn't remove her head. "It's all my fault," she mumbled into his chest.
Yu wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. "No, it's not. Sensei was sick for a long time. Tonight was just…his time."
"Then…I-I'm cursed!"
"Imouto, calm-"
"Everyone's going to die because of me-"
"Kazuhi."
She slowly raised her eyes to his. Yu almost never called her by name, except when he was angry.
"You are not cursed. This would've happened even if we hadn't come." He cupped her pale face in his hands. "You should bathe and go to bed. I'll…clean up."
Kazuhi nodded and quickly left the room.
Yu wiped up the blood and covered his grandfather with a sheet. He'd thought about moving the body, but it hadn't seemed right to disturb it. Only then had he been sure to clean his own clothes.
After he was done, Yu went to check on Kazuhi. He found her sitting up in bed, clutching a pillow tightly.
"I can't sleep," she said. "I keep seeing ojii-san lying there…" Her eyes filled with tears again.
Yu sighed and sat down beside her. "You didn't do anything to him, imouto. These things happen."
"Why?" Kazuhi whispered.
"Because fate can and will be cruel, even now. It's best to prepare yourself while you still can."
"You're not crying."
"No. Sensei wouldn't expect me to. He has taught me to keep a tight reign over my emotions."
"Is that good?" she wondered.
"The pain is still there, but it hurts only as much as you allow it to."
"Could…could you teach me, onii-san? How to be like you?"
Yu started. "I suppose. Is that what you want?"
"Hai," she replied in a small voice, blushing. "I've always wanted to be like you…"
"We'll start tomorrow," he promised. "For now, try to rest." He reached over and brushed a lock of hair away from her cheek. "We'll make it through this together, imouto. I promise you that."
Kazuhi nodded. "If you say so, onii-san."
Yu began to stand.
She caught his arm. "Please don't go, onii-san. Stay with me tonight? Please?"
He paused, then sat down again. "Just for tonight," he agreed.
Kazuhi nodded in silence, then stretched out to rest her head on his right leg before he could protest.
Suppressing a sigh, Yu placed a hand on her back and traced gentle circles until her breathing slowed to near-silent wisps. Then he closed his own eyes and tried to plan what he would do tomorrow. He did not know, of course, that all the planning would be irrelevant when the Victim arrived in the next two hours and took away everything they knew.
Except each other.
In retrospect, Yu was somewhat glad that he would spend the remaining years of his life in space.
There were no ravens to warn of misfortune. Therefore, within the combined awareness of the Tellia Kallisto, he could no longer blame himself for missing a sign from the gods.
Or the Goddesses.
* * * * *
"Imouto."
Kazuhi looked up at once from where she was sitting. "Is there something you need, Onii-sama?"
Yu stared at her for a long moment. "Perhaps. I need rest. So do you."
She didn't move.
"Go to bed, imouto. I'll be fine."
Kazuhi looked as if she didn't believe him, though wisely, said nothing.
Yu forced himself to remain calm. "Kazuhi," he said, turning her name into a threat.
She moved, but not towards the door.
He closed his eyes and laid down, pointedly ignoring the soft yet firm fingers that traced his bare back in precise circles. Although his weary body had no such issues with Kazuhi's touch, and instantly relaxed. He suppressed the silly, childish urge to inform her that she was cheating, bending his carefully constructed rules. Especially when her hair just barely tickled his neck in all the really sensitive spots.
"You never said which bed, Onii-sama."
He had not. But Yu could not find the strength of will or body to be angry with her. Anyway, it would've just made the small smile on his lips even more absurd. So for a few, vastly comfortable hours, he surrendered himself to silence, stillness, and a sister's eternal love.
* * * * *
Teela stood virtually alone in the docking bay. Virtually because a) she could sense two minds within the Reneighd Klein, and b) where the Ingrids were concerned, she was never truly alone in the docking bay. And yet, never before had she truly felt so lonely.
The Pilots were each drawing away from her, and she knew why.
Gareas couldn't forgive her, Erts, himself, Rei, or his Goddess. Eeva Leena was stressed enough without her Pilot's trust. He could only fight on so much longer before the connection shattered completely. She was afraid that it would be quite painful for both.
Rio, as defensive Pilots tended to do, was weakening faster than the others. He usually did work the hardest, so that was expected. Teela could sense pain behind his warm smiles, and was really somewhat fond of him. She had never encountered a more cheerful Pilot, and he always boosted morale around GIS.
Yu was…Yu. He'd been a precisionist from day one. But he, too, was in pain. Though he wasn't one of the Next, Teela knew he'd be there when Rei arrived. How long after that was uncertain, as was his sister's path. Yu's would just be…shorter. Tellia Kallisto would mourn him greatly.
Erts was quickly finding his way now, and rarely needed help anymore. He was bonding with his Goddess, staying with her even when it wasn't necessary. That would be important in the coming days.
But most of all, Teela feared for Rei. He would be in the middle of his second year now, and Kuro had said there would be harsh trials for him. Teela wasn't certain what bothered her more: that Kuro had known first, or that she hadn't truly known at all. Her gifts…her life…were fading. And while there wouldn't be a mess as with Kuro's end, she dreaded the day when she would no longer be Top.
It would be the end of so many things, and more uncertainties were sure to come.
Rei would have to prove himself…or suffer countless losses on the road to failure.
And when it was all said and done, the new Top would step forth and lead humanity into a new era.
Perhaps it would be Rei, perhaps not. But the next time they saw each other, she would know. THEY would know.
And the Goddesses and their destined Pilots would never be the same again.
The End. (for now)
Probably not the BEST place to end it, I suppose. And no matter what I say, someone's bound to assume that Yu and Kazuhi are going to get intimate. Well, I have news for you. They ARE intimate. Just not the way YOU'RE thinking, so get your mind out of the gutter. This is an anime series, after all. It's yaoi you have to look out for, not incest. But if you're against yaoi, I'm amazed you could like ANY anime. And if I see one more Hiead paired with just about ANYONE, I might scream. Unless it was Teela. Then I'd faint and scream when I woke up…
Continued in the upcoming Partners "Trilogy" (notice how NONE of my stuff is really what I call it? I'm weird that way). I mean, MK fanfiction is like chips. You can't write just ONE…or three united ones…and expect a sequel, prequel, or in-betweener not to pop up.
The Zero/Kizna friendship/partnership has always intrigued me. And now…I'm going to exploit with plenty of Zero angst, dreamy visions, and Candidate humor. Should be fun, if not terribly exciting. Thus, my attempt at a decent summary…
Partners – Story 1: Victim-ized
SUMMARY: When the Victim strike close to home, Zero is forced to re-evaluate his priorities. But which is more important: the survival of humanity, or the life of his Repairer?