Echoes of the Past

[JxSlaughter]

"No, I don't. I was in the middle of my job when we first met, but my job is to take care of you now." He smiled, the laughing interior expressed itself outwards. It was a pathetic statement really, since he was called weak possibly more than three times since this journey began. "All I need is my light pack, and my sword." He touched the sword's hilt.

Joking aside, he soon came to the realization that whatever was going to happen next he would have to overcome it and become strong enough to protect Echo. He would leave his merchant self behind. He decided that from this point on he would be dead. Even if he got stronger, so that if he couldn't live up to his word, it would be easier for him to let go.

He took one last look and inhale of the chaos they had left behind. With a girl with such power, surely he had to take death into consideration. All those times he had been called weak, didn't help him feel strong at all right now. Strength seems like a distant dream, far beyond his reach. He always considered himself to be 'regular'. Or a bug... easily squished. But even this thought he had to leave behind.

He was more than ready. Zhijiru made a fist, biting his lower lip and looked up at nothing, with a determined look on his face.

[laraine]

Echo, surprised at his announcement turned her head abruptly from view. The truth was, the instant he said that, she started to blush. She didn't know why, but she felt...happy. Jiru saying that he would take care of her and be by her side, seemingly throwing his old life away, for her?

She wasn't sure how to answer him, this felt so unreal. And yet, she stared at her hands, made from pure stone and rock. Everything was all to real to her. She still wasn't sure if Loki had lied to her. But if her brother was telling the truth and if Loki himself really did intend to put her in danger because she was useful and nothing more, why was she still alive? Loki must have been bound to his promise, or she hadn't completed what Loki wanted her to do.

It hurt to think that way.

She looked back over to Jiru and gave him a smile. She reached out her hand and grabbed his own softly. "Well then, lets go and thank you for everything." she said short black hair brushing gently against her cheek.

"Alright, if you two are done now lets get moving. We don't have a lot of time." Sterling said in a bored tone.

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru resisted any expression on his face, but anyone who was paying close attention could tell that he was growing attached to Echo.

He looked over at Sterling who was expected to be quickly murdering him at any moment-- even though at this time, he appeared to be letting it slide.

But the connection between them probably wasn't as close as it could have been if her hand was human. He felt the stone hand, reminding him of before her hands were this way. It already felt like eternity since he felt her human hand before. He didn't think it would ever be like this, and almost began regretting not knowing before. But that couldn't be helped.

"So, you mentioned the angel earlier..." Zhijiru said, trying to keep Sterling from ruining the moment, "Do you know where it is located?"

Zhijiru's grip on Echo's hand became slightly more firm at the thought of freeing Echo from Loki. Surely an angel would hold no contract against her, and even heal what has already become of her.

[laraine]

Sterling noticed how tightly Zhijiru was grasping his sisters hand and his eyebrow raised slightly. But for the time being he decided to focus on the question. "Vaguely." he said. "It's from a town somewhere in the North. I'm sure if we head that way, we can use more rumors and tales to find this angel. " he shrugged.

Echo blinked as Jiru's hold on her tightened. She could hardly feel it, considering her hand was made of stone. But the pressure was there. She looked up at Zhijiru and realized his face had looked different than before. He seemed to be stronger, if only a small amount.

"Well lets go, we don't have too much longer before sundown to find a place to stay. We shouldn't stay here any longer either or the townsfolk will chase us out with sharp objects." Sterling smirked and led the way out of devastated town.

Echo turned a bit to look at the chaos she caused, then closed her eyes and turned back to the road before them.

This was her only chance. Still she couldn't tell the boys that she didn't hate Loki. Despite the fact that Loki was using her for some reason. She didn't feel any hatred towards him. She didn't understand why.

But she couldn't hate her lord. She couldn't hate the one who brought her back to life.

But she also didn't want to die again and become his.

[JxSlaughter]

The group continued to head North. Since they would travel far, Zhijiru kept to himself and to his thoughts when there was no conversation going.

No one was certain where the destination would be. They might end up checking every town they happen to come across. But there wouldn't be anything for miles. Sen Sei city had destroyed any nearby competition for land and resources. That was the game his uncle played-- money, property and resources are more valuable than human lives. Those people's broken dreams had their sweet revenge thanks to Echo, and Zhijiru. People will catch rumor of what had happened to the Sen Sei, no matter how hard the formerly rich citizens will try to hide it. It will come out eventually. With that, soon gossip about who caused it will spread too, but hopefully will be exaggerated enough to keep Echo safe.

[laraine]

As day soon turned into night, they neared the next town. It was getting harder for Echo to move with those arms. The stone began to weigh her down and she became quite tired and . The power inside was consuming her the more she used her magic and it was becoming apparent to the boys that Echo didn't have a lot of time left.

Sterling noticed it and as they got rooms, he gave Echo her key, telling her to go to her room. As she started up the stairs, he turned back to Jiru and frowned. "This isn't good. I thought Loki would at least keep her body stable until she was supposed to kill the rest of the group. But it looks like, with me just standing she is barely hanging on. I'll go see if I can get her food. She eats a lot right?"

[JxSlaughter]

Thankfully they came across a decent town soon enough without having to set up camp in the wilderness. But it took miles of walking. This town was able to stay alive because they were in very good relations with Sen Sei. Which was a huge honor. Since this town looked highly upon the city, they would be the first to know about what had happened for they were in near proximity of each other. But the city would definitely be able to keep its secret because they didn't want to show any weakness and be frowned upon. If they could keep it from spreading nearby, it would take longer to carry farther.

Sterling and Zhijiru went straight to the nearest inn they could get their hands on for Echo's sake. One of the travelers who were also going to be staying at the inn were bringing in his horse into the stable. It was a part of the inn. Most of the convenient inns offered them for those who rode with horses.

Zhijiru noticed this, and hoped that he could get a chance to buy a horse for Echo while they were at town. He recalled that when he first met Echo she did have a horse, but he didn't remember what had happened to it. He thought of what happened to Ginta and assumed the same had happened. But inside he still had hopes that they both were okay.

The group got to the room's location and received keys. Jiru and Sterling would be staying in one room, while Echo had her own room.

"This isn't good. I thought Loki would at least keep her body stable until she was supposed to kill the rest of the group. But it looks like, with me just standing she is barely hanging on. I'll go see if I can get her food. She eats a lot right?"

Zhijiru tried to reassure Sterling. "Maybe she has become weak because we travled a long way on foot. Before most of this she had a horse." He nodded with 'nearly' all seriousness, "And yes," he said, refering to his question. "She could and would eat the planet if it was a giant steak. I'm sure she'll get her energy back after some rest and food. It's been a while since we ate. Should I come with you to do my own shopping? I'd like to get a horse for her." He asked because he wasn't sure if Sterling wanted to leave Echo at the inn on her own, or if he didn't want him and her alone together.

[laraine]

"Fine by me, just don't slow me down." Sterling replied, waiting for him to follow as he walked out the door. As they walked, Sterling stole a glance at Zhijiru every few seconds. "Just letting you know ahead of time. Just because we are on this journey doesn't mean I trust you at all." His stare was colder than ice. He pulled his gaze away smirking and wondering if even phased Zhijiru at all.

Meanwhile, Echo was lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Thoughts began to flood her mind as she remembered the events of the past few days.

But the one thing that seemed to occupy her thoughts more than anything else was the screams. She pressed her hands to the sides of her face, trying to block out the destruction from her mind. The faces of the townspeople as they left the town, the city being torn apart by her powers. She couldn't deal with it.

I thought I was stronger than this....I thought I had killed so much that I lost this emotion. This guilt....

Yet tears freely slid down her face in rivers. Her figure amidst the chaos of the elements. Buildings, animals, people being torn apart by the wind, water, fire and earth. The deep anger she felt inside for those people as she destroyed everything. It felt as if her entire body was screaming for blood.

"What am I?" Echo whispered, looking at her hands. She smiled weakly. "Certainly not human anymore. "

Her soul she felt was once so pure was becoming tainted by a darkness. She expected as much when she made the pact with Loki. But this was starting to eat away at her soul.

"I'm scared.." She whispered to no one. "Can I really be saved?"

She looked up as the tears continued to fall from her eyes. She closed them and tried to regain her composure. She couldn't let them both walk in on her like this. Wiping the tears away, she let herself start to slowly drift off to sleep. But the dreaming was far more scary than reality.

[JxSlaughter]

The cold stare Sterling gave took Zhijiru back, even though it was expected. But he shook it off nearly as soon as it came. He was more determined than insecure about the lack of trust. It seemed that at times he did trust him, but it seemed to only be when Sterling thought he wouldn't be around. Being away from the destruction of the last location must be keeping him from worrying about that now. While they walked Sterling took glances back at Zhijiru, as if he was checking if he was still following. Zhijiru would definitely have to work on their trust. Maybe if he worked on it, Sterling might trust him more.

When Sterling got to the location where he was going to buy food, Zhijiru told him that he would be back before long. He did have to wait for the line, and the food to be cooked after all. Jiru tried to quicken his pace, so not to keep Sterling waiting.

He was always a wealthy merchant, whether he worked for his poorer village Tamashi in drabs, or if he was working for Sen-Sei in uniform. It was times like this were he was glad that he worked hard to become finacially wealthy and didn't spend his money on useless things. He felt that this was finally a time where he could use his money on something that was truly useful, because he was spending it on someone he cared very much for.

He caught up with Sterling again after shopping. Zhijiru managed to get a female horse, with black long hair. The body was white, near the face and legs it faded to brown, and the face, ears and legs were black, the hooves white. Though there were streaks of white in the mane and tail. Of course, any horse wouldn't do. It had to be extremely healthy as well as look nice.

Zhijiru felt like he was spoiling his kid for the first time-- though he never had one. Hopefully she would like it. The horse, along with the food, made him hope that she would feel better. But since he bought the horse, he hoped that she would specifically like his gift more.

He kind of chuckled a bit when he met up with Sterling.http://petcaregt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/mustang-horse.jpg -

[laraine]

Sterling raised a eyebrow as he saw his companion return with the horse. He held out a bag, filled with food to him and hoisted the other bag over his shoulder. "This should be enough to last for a while." he said, starting to walk back with Zhijiru following.

He eyed the horse once more before shrugging. "You certainly paid no expense with the horse." his voice was almost monotone.

Meanwhile Echo was having somewhat disturbing dreams. She tossed and turned but failed to awaken.

[JxSlaughter]

They headed back to the inn. Zhijiru left the horse at the shelter. He would show her in the morning. It was late already. When Zhijiru caught up with Sterling in the inn, they knocked lightly on her door. They were being sensitive to the fact that she might be fast asleep. She didn't answer the door.

"Should we wake her?" He asked, wondering if they should knock harder. "Or should we wait until morning? I'm sure she's starving, but I'm sure she's just as tired."

[laraine]

Sterling thought for a second. He looked at the door, frowning slightly. "Hey boy? Did you see what she did?" He turned his face towards Zhijiru, his eyes cold as ice.

"Of course you probably didn't see exactly what happened. But Echo let loose all of her power at once. It wasn't something I expected her to do. But she probably blames herself." he finished. He stared at the door.

"I guess the question is, should we leave her alone with that guilt weighing on her. Awake or asleep, the demons within her must be stirring. She needs her rest. But I think she needs something else more. What do you think?" Sterling said, taking a step away from the door.

[JxSlaughter]

What Sterling said was true. Sterling knew what was best and knew more about Echo's feelings more than Zhijiru probably ever would. They were family and siblings unlike him. Zhijiru was grateful that her brother was there to guide him to make the better decision. After Sterling took a step back, Zhijiru inhaled deeply trying to prepare himself to take the weight on his own shoulders. He reached out for the door. Would he know the right words? Would they even come out right? Would they be understood the way he intended? The door opened gently, and the light from the hallway came through the room. Remembering that Sterling took a step back, Zhijiru closed the door behind him, understanding that her brother was going to make him go through this alone.

By this time now, it was nightfall. Outside was dark, and so was the room. Zhijiru opened a very small slit on his left eye, and managed to find one of the room's lanterns. He closed his bandage filly before striking a match and softly lighting the room. He carried it over to the end table next to the bed. Now being able to see, it was apparent that Echo was struggling in her sleep. He wondered; did Sterling mean demons in her dreams, or real ones? Zhijiru sat at her bedside, and touched her shoulder gently. "Echo?" He asked, hoping to awaken her.

[laraine]

Echo's eyes snapped open and she sat up in bed, breathing hard. At first, she didn't even realize that Zhijiru was there, but then she saw him and blinked.

"Jiru?" She asked, confusion evident in her eyes. "Why are you here so late?"

Noticing that he had a strange look on his face, she swallowed.

He looks so serious. I hope I haven't done anything wrong.

Despite already being awake, she noticed her arm was shaking. She grabbed it with her other hand to stop the tremor, but her other arm began shaking as well. Deciding to hide the shaking from him, she pulled the covers up around her, cocooning herself in the blanket. She looked away from his eyes, unsure what to say.

[JxSlaughter]

The moment Echo woke up, something about her seemed frazzled and panicked at the same time. Moments later she was focusing her attention on her arm, eventually covering herself under the security and defense of her blanket. Zhijiru sought her eye contact. He leaned in slightly, "Echo, are you alright?" He wasn't sure what else to say. "Your brother and I are really worried." He paused for a bit, hesitating, as if he assumed that whatever was happening to her, she wouldn't want to tell him.

All he wanted was for her to feel safe, and to get her rest for tomorrow. "I just came in, and even with just a moment's time I noticed you struggling in your sleep." If she wouldn't say anything, atleast he would let her know that he knew something was wrong. "If there is anything I can do to help fight against your troubles and make you feel better,"

"I'm here."