Pride(4)

*Cough*

*SPLURT*

Dark crimson blood spurted from Jean's mouth like crushed cherries. His body twitched and convulsed as he gasped in pain. Blood seeped through his clothes slowly. It was a fatal wound, and he knew it wouldn't be long before he bled out.

He grasped for air that felt as though it was constantly slipping away from him. He needed to focus on something, anything. His eyes gazed at the red dancing flames, his eyes squinted, too bright. The blazing sun overhead certainly wasn't helping either.

Jean's vision blurred periodically. He didn't want to close his eyes, not when that bastard Porter is still alive and kicking. But he was so tired. He felt...torn. A part of him just wanted to close his eyes and sleep, to be done with all of this and for as long as possible. Another wanted to jump up and kill porter immediately, ridding this world of another disease, But the other was rooted on one prime concern…..

Jean's unfocused eyes wandered to the crying children.

"Jean please…."

He could hear the muffled cries of Sorren, Callie, and Cale.

"don't you leave us too…..sniff….sniff, I'm sorry for being weak. I could have done something more but…..sob….sob….Jean please" wet tears dripped off Jean's face as he stared at the crying boy.

A small wrenching feeling coursed its way through the pit of Jean's stomach. It lingered there, making its way home.

"Sor-ergh" Jean could barely push out the boy's name, he clenched his eyes tightly to focus. He needed to tell the boy to take his siblings and leave.

"Listen here lad….ummph" Jean peeked one eye open as he spoke.

"T-ake...the kids...and run…..d-don't look back….there should be...m-more hounds near-"

"I'M NOT LEAVING YOU SO DON'T SAY THAT" Sorren vehemently refused, his green eyes flaring in shock and anger.

Jean winced at the boy's tone. The boy wasn't dumb, He knew what Jean was getting at, and he didn't want to repeat it again. Jean felt the wrenching pain increase.

"S-sorren…..all ya heard…...was true…..I really did those things so…..please go…..don't...waste your time…..with an old sack...like me" But Sorren wasn't listening to that, his green eyes were primarily focused on the blood that looked as though it would swallow jean whole.

"I-I need to stop the b-blood...I-I can call for help but I can't leave...I-I" Jean watched as the boy gazed around helplessly, confused tears streaming down his face like waterfalls. Yet, the boy still refused to leave.

'This kid…' Jean couldn't help but sigh internally. Despite all they heard about him, these kids still refused to leave his side. How stubborn children could be. Jean's throat constricted as he fought back the oncoming sensation of tears.

'How foolish….'

Those thoughts repeatedly filtered through his head. But, he didn't know if it was for the boy who refused to listen, or for him who decided to throw everything away at this moment.

"Jeanie….Jeanie ok?" Callie patted Jean's head, though young she could understand that Jean was in pain.

"Jean you're going to be ok, I-I will think of something, r-right herbs I can find some herbs and…"

He felt regretful.

The fact that he wouldn't be able to see these young kids grow anymore truly made its way known to not only himself but to the kids as well. A weak hand trembled as it rose in the air, coated in blood. it slowly made its way forward, until it made contact with soft chestnut hair. Sorren, through his teary eyes, gazed at Jean, who smiled weakly.

He had to tell them….he had to say it, it was the obvious thing to do.

'Kids...I don't think…" yet the words refused to leave his mouth.

Jean's hollow eyes reflected a young boy, who looked just like him.

'You're a child no longer….'

At that moment, Jean finally understood the words that old man Jenkins said to him when he was a lad himself. A calming sensation began to seep through his consciousness.

'Yea….Not yet...just a bit…...longer' Jean thought. as his gaze wandered to the passing white clouds.

--------------------

Hellacious fire flickered and danced, scorching the air like a pier. With a tightened grip on her rapier, Riza glared fiercely at Porter. The blade tip gleamed as it locked steadily at its obvious foe. Porter's gaze was calm as he eyed Riza. But, his body was stiff as the stone floor he stood on. With a clenched jaw, his obsidian eyes were ablaze.

He didn't expect this, no rather, it was so mind-boggling that Porter froze in shock.

'to think she would come here at all times…'

Porter hated unexpected happenings, especially when he was in the midst of those happenings. His long-term goal was finally bearing fruit, but a blazing drought had to interrupt his harvest.

'Annoying insects at every twist and turn….the name befits them' Porter straightened his body. 'Perhaps I should just...ERADICATE THEM ALL' Jeans' hands twitched upon the deadly thought that enticed his body to act, but soon he paused.

'No...No. Let's not be too hasty.' Porter knew that any hasty actions could cost him gravely, it was best to feel things out slowly. Like a winds blow, His expression cooled, a warm smile invited itself to embrace his entire face.

'Instead, I can use this to my advantage, things ALWAYS come to those who wait.' With that in mind, Porter set his sights on Riza, greeting her warmly.

"Riza...Long time no see. How have yo-"

"I asked you a question, Porter...Protocol dictates you answer now" Riza was firm in her demands.

Porter's warm smile stiffened. She blatantly ignored him. Porter's eye twitched but he resumed his initial flow. Patience Patience.

"How cold Riza. you can't even greet an old friend you haven't seen in years? Especially in the regard that we are in separate segments of the hounds too" Riza said nothing, her eyes still narrowed.

There was a short silence.

Porter sighed in resignation. She was always hard to deal with, that fact hasn't changed at all.

"To put it simply, blanks entered these premises without identification, as the law dictates, unidentified people are treated under the guise of intruders" Porter shrugged

"Violence ensued and I acted to protect the citizens" He gestured to the fallen bodies of his comrades, his hands lingered on the decapitated body of Dormon. Riza's eyes followed his movements, it settled on Dormons body.

"W-What…." Her brown eyes widened at the horrific sight.

Porter's tone dripped with trembling resentment "Blood was spilled and the situation escalated where I had no choice but to use force." Riza was stiff, her eyes still staring at the body of Dormon.

"I lost valuable comrades….one of them was a friend. It was all thanks to those fugitives….that you seem to be protecting. Tell me Riza...that certainly isn't true...right?"

Riza lowered her sword, But the hand that gripped the handle was so tight that her knuckles were white.

Sorren bit his lips in anger. He couldn't believe that the bastard was lying. His body trembled uncontrollably until he could hold it in no longer

"LIES!!! HE'S TELLING LIES. W-WE WEREN'T THE ONES WHO STARTED IT, THEY DID. THEY TRIED TO KILL US"

Porter snorted. His eyes oozing with contempt

" A common use of deceit. I guess even children would use any means to get out of the thick of things huh. I stand by my oath to always be pure before God and the golden light of this kingdom."

" TRYING TO TAKE MY THINGS AND KILLING YOUR OWN FRIEND COUNTS AS BEING PURE???!!!"

"Haah, this is why children are naive. That item is an artifact of noble lineage, a mere suburban commoner such as yourself would never have such an item. Therefore I deemed that the item was stolen and simply wished to investigate it. The boy refused, so as I stated before, I had no choice but to act."

"But then Jean…." Porter shook his head. Jean spit out blood at the call of his name, it was the only form of protest that he could conjure up.

"He came by shooting that bow, killing both of my comrades one by one. Dormon put up as much of a fight he could but...in the end, he lost his life to one simple mistake…"

Sorren gaped in shock. He knew when and how he received this item. He saw it with his own eyes. This guy was seriously lying with a straight face, how he was able to do something like that so casually was completely beyond Sorrens comprehension.

Sorren gazed helplessly at Riza who was still silent. He may be young, but he wasn't stupid. He knew it was a young child's voice against an authorized individual with loads of experience and credibility. The victor was beyond obvious.

But deep down, somewhere even he wouldn't guess, he hoped that someone would be different. That someone could see through this man's lies.

"PLEASE, DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! W-WERE TELLING THE TRUTH!"

Begging was all the boy could do.

"Riza, we have been trained to not be swayed by any lies even from a mere child. What would the others think of your credibility of being swayed by such an easy target" Porter spread his hands wide.

He knew about Riza, she was one of the few females in the hounds, and she took her reputation and job very seriously.

'But that just makes this all the more mystifying.'

Why the hell would Riza side with Jean, who he knew for a fact, hated his guts, especially regarding that incident years back.

" Come now Riza, will you honestly take the hands of these bastards who deceive and kill for fun. That same bastard is still alive and kicking even after killing our dear friends Dormon...and even Anna"

At that Riza flinched. Her body trembled and she lowered her head.

Sorren watched with anxious eyes. 'Anna again, that means that even she knew her too...then'

"M-Mrs Riz-"

"Enough"

A low voice filled with rage prompted Sorren to clamp his mouth shut. The boy shrunk at the venomous tone.

"As a fellow hound, as per protocol number 262 states, I hereby pronounce you under arrest for the suspicion of murder…."

Sorren dropped his head in despair, while Porter grinned victoriously. However, both soon found themselves stumbling in shock.

"Porter Machin"

*SLICE*

Riza swung her blade powerfully, and a blade of raging fire shot its way in the air aiming directly at Porter. Porter immediately chanted and a wall of clear water rose and blocked the oncoming onslaught.

*Siiiiiiiizzzzz*

The hot steam from boiling water rose in the air. Porter stumbled back from the shock of the blast. He could feel the heat even from a distance.

Sorren's mouth dropped to the floor….

'S-she attacked Porter?' somehow, the woman named Riza was now defending them, he was so sure that he and his remaining family would be behind bars, or worse tortured and killed.

Jean tried to sit up but groaned in pain, the wound was now aching badly, and he lost so much blood, the only reason he was still conscious was because of one of the charms he had left from granny Jo's home. It was a light affinity charm with a bit of healing that activates upon contact with blood.

Though it worked, it wasn't effective enough to actually heal jeans fatal injury. If anything, it simply alleviated a bit of the pain and stopped a bit of the blood flow.

"R-Riz..a" Jean tried to call out.

"Don't speak…." Her voice was firm.

"Just keep quiet until we can get you healed up"

Riza whipped her sword, slicing the air cleanly as she readied herself in a stance. Porter whipped his hands through the hot steam in anger.

"What the hell is the meaning of this Riza"

"Hah..do you take me for a fool Porter?" Riza sneered in ridicule.

"I may not be a part of the eyes of the hounds but you forget, I am of the ears" Porter frowned not grasping where she was getting at.

Riza took out an item from her breast pocket. It was a small bead that was about the size of a grain of rice.

Sorren frowned 'what's that supposed to be?'

Porter's eyes were wide.

"Good. it seems like you know exactly what this is, so don't resist and just surrender quietly."

Porter was silent for a long long while. His lanky body was stiff, his eyes bloodshot. He gave a deep sigh and closed his eyes, when he opened him, he was surprisingly very relaxed.

"I see."

Porter then flicked his wrist.

Riza quickly twisted her heel, her body twirled allowing her blade to slice cleanly through the spike of water that was aimed at her heart.

She glared fiercely at Porter.

"Porter you…"

"A shame Riza, but I can't let you leave here alive"