Night fell once more. Colder than previously, the boys took shelter in a cave under a waterfall. Snow fell, and the water acting as a doorway would not freeze.
Takabi stood against the wall, hand holding a jut out rock for support. His exhaustion was great, and the rest was currently welcome.
While he recovered from earlier, the long walk seemed to take much more effort than initially hoped. Kairas sat back, watching the fire dance in the freshly dug soil. His thoughts felt fractured.
He was worried about Jewel, about all three of the girls, but his heart was locked firmly on scaling the mountain. Not because he was worried about Garuga, but because he felt Garuga was a means to get closer to his father.
Killing Girston, even now, is a venom that plague's Kairas' soul. He wants nothing more than to avenge his broken family, despite Takabi reuniting the three siblings together. He was grateful to and for Takabi's existence, but Kairas couldn't let go of who he was, who turned into.
He felt, at his core, he was always meant to avenge them, and all the souls that died at Girston's hands, good or bad. A man such as him, who so easily turned his family into strangers, is one that cannot be forgiven in Kairas' point of view.
His green eyes fell on the hand that rested on his knee. Gazing into his palm, he squeezed it tightly. Revenge is his goal.
It was always his goal.
"Snow is letting up," Takabi said finally. He turned to Kairas, stepping over and sitting next to the fire. "We should get moving soon."
"Are you able to? You don't look so good."
Takabi shrugged, placing his hands within the flames, drinking in its heat. "I don't feel so good either. Doesn't matter though, we can't afford to wait. Someone's hunting for us, so sleeping isn't an option. Besides…" He paused, voice fading faintly as his gaze grew distant. Garuga was on his mind. It was obvious, based on the way his mood dropped.
"We'll find the flowers. Don't worry, alright," Kairas sat up and patted his shoulder. His twin looked at him and smiled warmly, before returning his gaze to the flames.
---------------------------------------
An hour had passed. The Snow let up faintly before, then came down even more fierce before they could leave the cave. The cold didn't bother Kairas, but it was Takabi who was feeling the effects. He wrapped himself up in thick blankets Jewel packed. They helped very little, and since his own heat was very faint compared to when he first arrived, it was possible he could face frostbite.
Tired, and exhausted. Takabi shivered in place, huddling himself in the fetal position to hold as much of his heat inside as possible.
Kairas watched him closer, before standing up and walking towards the waterfall. He said nothing as he stepped through the rushing liquid, over the water surface and into the snowy darkness.
His green eyes pierced through the blanket of white and black, scanning over different fruit in hopes of each one being edible. Naturally, their bodies could wane out the poison almost instantly, but Takabi's current condition meant he needed to be careful. It was hard to tell if his sick body would allow him to consume things recklessly.
Once his hands brushed against a black fruit, he ripped it from its steam and he looked it over. It was rigid, with thin thorns along the sides and fur along the top and bottom. Shaking it, he could hear the juices inside swish. He couldn't tell if it was ripe or not, but he tucked it under his arm anyway and picked three. Next, he made his way further down the path and grabbed a simple banana from the tree above, which quickly turned into picking apples. By the time he finished, he had an ice basket full of familiar and unfamiliar fruit.
Making his way back, he stopped short once he noticed something off. The darkness wasn't as dark as it was when he passed through the first time. It felt like everything had shifted, even if it was only slightly.
Lowering the basket into the snow, he glanced around slowly, before raising his arms up swiftly, ice shooting from the soil and blocking arrows of shadows. Kairas hopped back, willing shards of ice into his palm, throwing them with enough force that they pierced clean through a tree.
Silence gripped him once more. Not too far off, the waterfall remained, and Takabi lay in wait for him.
"Who's there!" His yell fell on the sounds of crickets and owls.
Paranoia filled his heart. He hated the idea of being stalked and not knowing who or what could be watching his every move. Kairas grit his teeth, clenching his fists shut, tight enough to break skin and draw blood.
"I'll freeze the whole damn mountain if you don't come out! Enough of these games!"
Games, came a voice.
The shadows danced, slowly coming together and rising up slowly behind him. Kairas felt the presence of an intense Mana source, and turned slowly. Upon spotting his enemy's mask, he jumped back, grinned and cracked his knuckles.
"An assassin?"
"You could say that," He replied. "I've been noted to be the bringer of death."
"Edgy. Almost cut myself on that one," Kairas retorted, raising his fists just before his face and sliding a foot out faintly. "Where are the girls?"
"Safe." He pointed to his right. "Just up the mountain. A building there that's run down."
"Why take them? What's your goal?"
"The boy." He held his hand out. "I want the white haired one."
"What for," Kairas asked in a low growl. Green faintly began to outline his body. "Why do you want my brother, and why take the others instead of just trying to capture him?"
"I need not explain myself to the likes of your kind. Either give him to me, or suffer the consequences of defying a higher being."
Kairas held back a laugh. His arms lowered, as Green tattoos shot up his left side. They burned greatly, but the anger he felt brewing inside allowed him to deal with the pain. He moved, faster than the man of shadows could follow, bringing a sword of Green ice out from his palms, striking with intense force.
The man, as well as the forest near him within a forty mile radius, froze instantly into a land of green. Kairas bit his lip, drawing blood, willing the Green Gems power to fade. Once it did, he dropped to a knee and breathed deeply. "Don't… Touch my brother."
Shadows ripped through him. His arms, sides, and legs bled deeply, fresh red dipping into the snow before Kairas fell face first, unmoving, mind numb to the pain as blackness gripped his vision. From the ice, the man of shadows eased his way out, fingers stretched out as the darkness wrapped itself back around him.
"Raising your hand against a God. Fallen Angels always were fools, so I'm not exactly surprised."
------------------------------------
"Kai…" Takabi opened his eyes slowly, raising himself.
The sun was beating down outside, and the rushing water allowed a strong heat to wash over. He unwrapped himself, shivering still, and walking through the waterfall. It was difficult to keep his balance on the water surface, but once he touched land, he dropped to his knees. The soil was wet from melted snow, and the climate felt more of a tropical jungle than a mountain encased in cold.
He had no idea how long he had been out, but he would guess a couple hours at the minimum.
"Kai," He called louder through a raspy, dry throat.
Nothing met his words, and worry settled in his heart. Getting to his feet, he trudged forward through mud and rock, only stopping down the path once he spotted the green ice that still encased the trees. His eyes were wide, more at their color than the fact they were there to begin with.
"Did he go berserk again," He muttered, before breaking into a cough. His symptoms felt as if they were getting worse.
Is this what being sick feels like? Fuck, I feel like I'm gonna kheel over any minute.
"Berserk is not exactly how I'd describe it, but it was close."
Takabi turned weakly, eyes looking at the man behind the mask up and down. "You can't be real. What's with the outfit?"
"Had to keep it a surprise. Your eyes only. After all, if anyone had known, there'd be no way I could hide this well." He stood from the tree, touching his mask. "You know what I want. Give me the Gems."
"Can't do that, sorry. Me and them, kind of have a symbiotic pairing thing going on." He touched his chest. "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. They choose their vessels, not the other way around."
The man lowered his hand, speaking low. "Funny. Kairas said the same thing."
His words sent a chill through Takabi, one he would have killed him for, if he had the strength.
The man shrugged, laughing quietly. "Just up the mountain. That's where they all are. Meet me there by sundown."
"Hold up, I'm not one for orders," Takabi replied. He took a step forward, hair dropping in front of his left eye. "Give me a good reason why I should listen to anything you say. For all I know, they could already be dead."
The man looked around, before whistling.
In response, Lightning crashed down between the two. From it came Lukas, his yellow eyes burning with a sudden age that came over him. He was taller, more physically built, sporting a sharp spiky haircut and yellow bolt tattooed across his chest. Next to him, the taller one removed his hood. Despite the disfigured change of blackness along his skin and eyes, Takabi recognized the face anywhere, and certainly wasn't surprised to see him of all people.
"Carlos. Lukas."
"Sup, old pal," Carlos said. "Heard you were in a bit of a sticky situation."
"The hell are you doing here?"
Lukas grit his teeth, stepping forward. "My Grandfather." Even his voice sounded deeper. "I'm here because of him, and you're in my way."
Carlos looked at Lukas, speaking in a threatening tone. "At ease."
Lukas grit his teeth but took a step back. He waited a moment, before Carlos returned his gaze to the Fallen Angel.
"You don't have much of a choice. Nana. You want to save her from me don't you?" Gauging his reaction, an eye twitch and stern jaw, Carlos smiled in satisfaction. He raised his hands in defense. "I won't touch her. You have my word. Well, until I see you beaten within an inch of your life."
Takabi looked at Lukas. Despite the change in age and appearance, he was still a boy in his eyes. He looked angry, true, but unsure of his actions. He wanted to save his grandfather, but was hesitant about his methods.
"You're on the wrong side of this," He said. "The Kult is using you."
Lukas threw his arm forward, a stream of yellow striking the boy. Pain rushed through his body, so mind numbingly painful he drooled when he hit the floor. Slowly picking himself up, his eyes fell on Carlos and the other two fading away. Vision blurry, he dropped, face first into the dirt, heartbeat slowing greatly until he was met with that familiar feeling of nothingness.