Chapter 12, Love

When I got out of the bath I noticed everyone was in a good mood and talking and my eyes fell on Alexis who was sketching something.

"What're you drawing?" I asked as I sat down beside him.

"The person I like." He said and I saw the back of someone again. "It's not done yet but it will be soon."

"You have to tell me when it's done." I said.

"Of course I will. The first ones to see it will be you and Layla." He said and Alistar turned to us. "I'm going for a bath now."

"Okay." I said.

"Thanks." Alistar said as he sat down beside me drying my wet hair with the towel. "Back then, just mentioning Layla around him filled him with regret but now, his smiling again, like he used to in the past. It must be thanks to you."

"It's not me you should thank. It was Ms. Layla's wish." I said.

"You've done so much for the two of us, which is why we'll never forget it." He said and I smiled.

Just then the world began to spin and then I saw a vision. This time it was Zhen. He is with an old man, they seem to be talking and Zhen seems really happy. I'm brought back to reality by Reinhardt who tells me it's time for dinner.

After dinner we gather in the living room and do our own things. I lean my head on William's shoulder as he reads a book.

"Something wrong?" He asked patting my head.

"Nothing." I answered.

"It's getting late, let's get you to bed." He said and picked me up.

The next morning we were free since it's our day off. I look for Zhen and find him in the garden tending to the roses.

"Oh, Arata, did you need something?" He asks when he notices me.

"Nothing. I just had some free time." I told him and leaned against the trunk of the maple tree I was sitting under. "What are you doing?"

"Tending to the flowers." He said. "My eyes are on you."

"Oh, Sunflowers." I smiled as he handed me a boquet of them.

"Flower Language." He said and sat down beside me. "I wanted to give you tulips but they haven't bloomed yet."

"What did you just put in my hair?" I asked.

"A red rose." He said. "Don't worry, I've trimmed off the thorns. Here, have look."

He hands me a small mirror and I look at myself and smile.

"It didn't occur to me that you would like gardening." I said.

"I didn't at first but someone taught me about the beauty of nature." He said. "I used to only know fighting you know."

"Really?" I said in surprise. "You generally seem so carefree and mild."

"Does it surprise you?" He asked.

"Yeah. But... I guess that's what makes you." I smiled. "Going from the carefree and gentle puppy to a raging, unstoppable wolf."

"Arata, are you calling me a dog?" He asked and took my face by the chin. "I'm not a little puppy you know."

"I think you are." I answered and smiled. "You're like a puppy. Cute and obedient."

"Arata, just so you know, I'm only a puppy to you, to anyone that dares to hurt you..." He takes my hand. "I'm a wolf."

"Whether you're a puppy or a wolf, I trust." I said and patted his head. "Hey, I'm going ask this because I had a vision of it. Do you know an old man?"

"Old man? Oh, was I a kid when you saw me?" He asked and I nodded. "It was probably my grandfather. He was smart, caring and gentle. He also told me that fighting wasn't the only thing in the world."

"I'm glad there wasn't any bad memories associated with my vision." I said and smiled.

"Grandpa was kind, caring and loving towards me. My parents raised me to be a weapon of war." He said sadly. "But grandpa saved me from that place. He showed things I had never known before. He taught me love."

"I want to meet your grandpa one day if I can." I said. "He must be a very kind person."

"He is or he was. He died a year ago." Zhen said and I felt bad for making him remember. "Ah, don't worry. I'm fine talking about it."

"Sorry." I said.

"You remind me a lot about my grandpa." He said. "You have the same vibe as him."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah." He said and smiled. "Hey Arata, can you promise me something?"

"Sure. What is it?" I asked but then the warning bell rang.

"We have to go." He said. "Come on."

We go off to the battlefield and I join the medics. According to May the one everyone is fighting is a Ophiuchus. A rare one. Ophiuchus are extremely rare and dangerous. The ones who are shrouded in mist carry the power to disorient and confuse Braves.

"That's a nice flower." May said as she pointed to the sunflower Zhen placed on my shirt.

"Thanks. Zhen gave it to me." I said and smiled.

As the battle raged on, I suddenly got a vision. Zhen. What happened to him? His hair turning bright red and his eyes burning with rage, it's as if he isn't in control of his own body.

"Little one, can you stop my foolish grandson?" A voice said and I immediately looked for it and I saw an old man. Zhen's grandfather. "The power I sealed away for him is trying to resurface. If it does, Zhen will be driven into a corner. Please stop him."

"I will, I'll stop him." I said and he smiled.

"Thank you my boy." He smiled and as I snapped back into reality in time to hear a scream came from outside.

"What happened?"I asked as I opened the curtain.

"Zhen activated Madness Mania." May said as she turned her eyes to the direction of the fight.

I saw him, fighting so recklessly as if he couldn't care as to what would happen to him. I immediately run for where he is. I have to calm him down somehow. I arrive in time for him to kill the Ophiuchus.

"Zhen!!" I called out his name.

"Arata! Don't get near him! It's too dangerous!!" William said as I approached Zhen who was still in rage. His weapons, I see them for the first time. Throwing knives with dark black blades. "Madness Mania... is a dangerous ability!!"

"Calm down... I'm right here." I called out to him

I manage to get closer to him and I take his face in my hands.

"Zhen, calm down." I said and hugged him. I noticed that he was about to stab the both of us with his knives. "Zhen!"

I hug him tighter and continued to call his name. Slowly, he begins to lower his knife and just then his hands come to my ear. To the rose he placed and the other to the sunflower.

"A-Arata?" His voice called out to me.

"Zhen, I'm right here." I said and hugged him.

He hugs me back tightly and a golden light engulfs us. This is, the same as the others.

"Arata!" He hugged me and didn't let go till the light faded. "I'm back."

"Welcome back." I said and smiled at him. He kneels down and takes my hand and plants a kiss on it and I see the Brave Crest on his back hand. Six Kites. "I'm back, Arata."

"Welcome back." I said and suddenly my body felt heavy. "Z... Zhen."

I lose consciousness immediately but somewhere in my fading consciousness I heard a voice whisper thank you.