Rebuilding
Worlds Collide
~~~ - means flashback
*** - forward turn of events,
change of character viewpoint, etc.
Italics are thoughts
There is also a color scheme.
Usually:
Citan Uzuki/Hyuga
Ricadeau --- green
Yui Uzuki/Yui
Gaspar --- blue
Emperor
Cain --- gold or greenish brown
Azuire
--- violet
The colors are to make up for
those dialogue portions. From the words and speech pattern, it is possible
to decipher who the speaker is. The most obvious would be Citan or Hyuga.
He never or rarely uses contractions.
Chapter Twelve of Worlds Collide
The Best-laid Plans...
by YEN
version (11/20/99)
final edit (02/05/2000)
"What were you two talking about?"
Hyuga sighed and said again, "I have told you it does not concern you."
"That's bull!" Yui glared at him and grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop walking and face her reluctantly.
"Of course it concerns me!" Her eyes were the darkest shade he had ever seen them in, anger practically spitting gold fires at him. "You are not a good liar, Hyuga," she said softly, dangerously, "You two are up to something. One moment, you're both doing your damn best to kill each other. The next, so chummy together."
Hyuga straightened defensively but refused to look at her directly. "We just discovered something in common, that is all. Why do you not ask him instead?"
"You are easier to handle than Uncle," Yui answered immediately, saying it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He knows me too well."
He glanced at her questioningly, then turned away and continued walking. "I may not have the privilege of knowing you as well as he has, but I know enough. I cannot tell you."
"... Just what are you two up to?!"
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You cannot know, and I cannot tell. The truth may hold all the answers, but it may not solve all the problems.
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"You planned this all along, did you not?"
"What are you referring to, Guardian?"
"You never intended for the invasion fleet to be a success."
"Hmm... do not blame your failure on me. What makes you think so?"
"You let her read my mind that first time. The mental block was established to make certain that Gaspar's descendants would not detect my presence. I did not remove the block, you did."
"..."
"You wanted her to feel sorry for me, and thus, she spared my life. Had my mind remained closed off to her, she would never had helped me."
"The woman would still have interfered. I did not want to have to search for another guardian angel."
"..."
"At the very least, it worked. You are still alive."
"... You did not have to save me."
"Do you really consider me so heartless?"
"I am more of a liability than an asset to you now."
"Hmm... to Solaria perhaps, but never to me."
"... You are Solaris."
"Once long ago I was. Hardly now, and I have much work for you to do."
"... Am I to return to Solaris soon?"
"No, you are to remain on Shevat until further notice."
"..."
"You are pleased."
"... I am."
Cain smiled ever so slightly. "I understand..." Hyuga lowered his eyes, refusing to look at those amused orbs. "Why are you so lenient?" He asked, sounding hoarse even in his own mind.
"Because I find that I like and admire you, Guardian." Hyuga jerked and looked back at his master in disbelief. Cain continued, "Despite all that has happened to you, that core of humanity remains, bruised, shaken, but still whole. You are also wise and correct, even if the woman had not interfered, I would have made certain that Shevat would not have fallen."
"... But why...? The Ministry..."
Cain's eyes narrowed. "They will do anything to find and to claim their precious Animus. It matters little if the whole world is destroyed in their search for immortality. Shevat's destruction is not necessary, but they are willing to sacrifice everything except their own to fulfill that man's will."
That man...
"And what he desires is nothing less then the annilation of everything that we have ever achieved."
...What then am I working for...? "...And what do you wish, your majesty?"
"... I want to determine if truly this is the only path we have..."
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There are always alternatives in any situation...
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Azuire was lying down on his back, staring thoughtfully at the sky. The shade of the lone tree, dotting the floating green isle, kept the glare from the bright sun off his eyes, and he felt sleepy, lulled by the sultry heat and a lovely breeze blowing lazily by. He could hear it whistling through the leaves. What a beautiful day... He thought and rolled to his side, just in time to keep from being impaled by a sword. He sighed and moved to sit up, leaned against the tree trunk and glanced at the shiny blade half-buried into the grassy ground. ...Oh well, it is still a beautiful day.
"I take it he has not told you anything," he called out to his attacker.
A shadow dropped from the thickly-covered branches above, and Yui grabbed the sword hilt. He watched as she stood up, pulling out her weapon and placing it back into its scabbard.
She is not at all pleased. Azuire barely managed to get out of the way, and the sheathed sword slammed against the tree trunk instead. "Little one," he said softly, only the slightest bit reproving as he slowly stood up, "this is no way to treat your elders."
Yui glared at him and turned away, presenting a stubborn back to him. He sighed again. "Aren't you being just a trifle bit immature about all this?"
"So what?" She glanced at him with narrowed eyes. "I'm still a child as you are so fond of reminding me."
One black eyebrow went up. "Well, technically, literally, philosophically, emotionally," Yui turned back to him, her own brows furrowed. "and all that... except lawfully speaking, you are already an adult."
She continued to stare at him suspiciously and after a few silent moments, finally ventured to ask, "Why do you say that now...?"
Azuire smiled brilliantly, and Yui's eyes widened in stupefied realization. "You already found someone." He just couldn't resist saying it and immediately regretted it when Yui yowled in frustration and tackled him head on. "Uncle!"
He hit the ground hard, and her hard head did not at all feel pleasant slamming into his stomach like that. He groaned painfully when Yui squatted on his chest, her full weight forcing the air out of his lungs. He wheezed, "Yui, get off me..."
"Not until you tell me what you and he are up to."
Azuire coughed, trying to inhale more air in. "...I can't speak well with you sitting on my lungs..."
"I am certain you can manage, dear Uncle Azuire," she said sweetly and adjusted her position to sit more comfortably even as he tried to roll over.
... This is going to be difficult.
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Everything is fine...
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He ran his fingers through her hair, the strands silky smooth and fragrant. His other arm moved down to her waist and pulled her firmly against him, the contours of her back fitting to his chest snugly. He sighed contentedly and rested his chin on top of her head.
A sudden sharp pain on his foot made him yelp and jump back in pain. "Ouch!"
"Don't you dare touch me!" Hyuga forgot his injured foot and backed away as Yui turned to him angrily. "What are you two up to?!"
He winced as she jabbed a finger into his chest painfully. "Why won't you tell me?!"
"Uh hem... Why don't you just distract her?" He gritted his teeth and forced back a retort at Cain's suggestion. That is what Azuire told me to do as well...
He could see the Emperor smile somewhat smugly in his mind's eye. "You do have a certain something..."
"Your majesty, please shut up." He knew that was not the way he should address his superior, but... A chortle, and Cain withdrew his presence back to the recesses of his servant's mind. ...I am glad someone at least finds this amusing...
Yui was still waiting and glaring at him, arms crossed stubbornly, and her expression fairly menacing.
"Having second thoughts?"
"Sir!"
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The best-laid plans are the simplest ones.
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Author's note:
^^;; It is suppose to be serious and angsty, really!
Ugh! I intended for WC to be a 14-parter at the most, including the at the end to be added Prologue and Epilogue. sigh... Expect 18 chapters for now.
Yen
alex@gsilink.com