"A Piece of Me"

Chapter 2

  " Any details about the changes yet, Jessiah? Rumors are flying all over Jugend. " Hyuga asked as he settled into his usual place besides Sigurd.

  The shokudo, lunch area was relatively deserted with only a few students and officers having an early meal as the noon classes would only be over in another hour's time. As was habit, the four friends had gathered at their usual table.

  " Yeah, I heard there would be some reshuffling within the ranks after losing Vernan on the surface. Everyone's been speculating who will get sent down next. " Sigurd shifted, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table. " I hope the brass will sent Goken, I can't stand the way he babbles on an on about his so-called mighty war history. "

  " Goken? He's a very likely choice since he does have some surface combat experience. Well, at least he claims he has. " Kahr said as he refilled his cup with more tea.

  Jessiah lifted a forkful of food into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully as he replied. " Actually, it'll be announced officially tomorrow but I guess it won't hurt to reveal it beforehand. " The older man paused to take a sip of tea before continuing. " You all have it right, Goken has already left yesterday. The interesting thing is who will be his replacement. I sure didn't expect it to be her. "

  " Did you say 'her'? " Sigurd raised one silver brow with interest. Besides Miang, there were not that many female Jugend officers of sufficient rank to replace the previous commander.

  " Hoping for someone you knew? " Kahr playfully prodded Sigurd with one finger. The three had long been exposed to tales about Sigurd's exploits, hearing it both from the man himself and from others. There was probably no female within Jugend that Sigurd had no knowledge of.

  " I would be surprised if you didn't know her, Sigurd. I'm pretty sure you know every woman here on a first name basis. " Hyuga grinned openly, his amusement plain on his face.

  " That just shows that I'm sociable, not like someone who prefers to spend his time cooped up in some obscure laboratory, dissecting animals and Lambs. " Sigurd retorted, shaking his head.

  Hyuga lowered his eyes, glancing at the katana that was propped against the side of the bench. You won't understand, you can't understand, Sigurd. I cannot surrender to it again… " Well, one man's meat is another man's poison. I recall that you have never scored particularly well on science-related subjects. "

  " Spare me! The very thought of being in the same place as Krelian gives me the cripples, much less working with him directly. Plus the fact, I never liked science anyway so you can enjoy Krelian's company all you want, Hyuga. I prefer to spend my time on more pleasurable pursuits. " Sigurd mock shuddered before turning the full force of his mesmerizing blue eyes on Hyuga.

  " Save it for the ladies, Sig. I won't fall for you. "

  " Ouch! You have wounded me deeply, Hyuga. How could you be so heartless? I thought we were friends? " Sigurd clasped his hand to his heart dramatically, pretending to be hurt.

  " Enough, guys. Jessiah has not even said who she is yet. " Kahr shifted the conversation back to the beginning after laughing at Sigurd's antics.

  " Speaking of Krelian… it happens that he trained her personally. This was supposed to be semi-confidential but some of those strategies from Conceptual Tactics that you all went through were designed by her. You can see her mark on some of those new gear classes as well. All I can say is that she is highly qualified. "

  " Krelian's student? I was not aware that besides me, he had another. Does that mean she's not from Jugend? " Hyuga removed his glasses, carefully wiping them with a piece of clean white cloth.

  " Correct. She's not from Jugend even though she holds the rank of Tri-Element. Knowing you, she'll probably be your next target once you catch sight of her. " Jessiah said around another mouthful of food, directing the comment at Sigurd.

  " Really? " Sigurd's eyes began to hold a speculative sparkle.

  " By the way, you most likely know her already, Kahr. "

  Surprised, Kahr almost dropped the spoon he was going to stir his tea with. " I know her? Besides Igraine… who else… don't tell me it's her!" His look of puzzlement was soon replaced by one of delighted realization.

   " Her name is Areya Morian. "

  " Can't say I've heard the name before. Kahr, you know her so is what Jessiah said true? " Sigurd picked at his food, seemingly nonchalant.

  " You'll know when you see the lady, Sig. Plenty of chances to get up close and personal since Kahr and you have already been assigned to work with her. The official set of orders will come down tomorrow with the announcements. " Jessiah answered before Kahr could reply.

  Kahr nodded in agreement. He was happy to hear the news yet he could not help but wonder. He has kept Reya with him for so many years so why did he sent her into Jugend now? There are other possible candidates already in Jugend that I could name besides I thought Krelian preferred to keep Reya's talent away from public knowledge. What is the reason for sending her then?

  " I better get going or I'll be late. Have a lab session with Krelian. " Hyuga rose from his seat in one fluid motion. " I won’t be…"

  " You won't be joining us later, right? We know we can't beat Igraine's company. "

  Hyuga flushed a little at Jessiah's teasing remark. It had become an open secret that Igraine and him had something going just like Kahr and Miang. Beating a hasty retreat, Hyuga picked up his sword and headed out of the shukudo.

  " I'll be off as well. There are still some matters I have to attend to. "

  " Still trying to find out who saved your hide that night? " Jessiah lifted his glance as Sigurd stood up.

  Sigurd had woken up with the worst hangover to discover himself in the Jugend infirmary and all he remembered was sharing a few glasses of wine with Jana. It was only through Jessiah that he had learned about the attempt on his life. Security had subsequently discovered Jana dead on an overdose of one of the designer drugs that Gazel favored after questioning the unconscious youth they had brought in. It was better that they found her death since the Gazel youth was sentenced to serve as a 'voluntary' subject in the Research Facility and Jana as the provocateur would have suffered a similar fate. Sigurd felt sorry that his affair with the Gazel woman came to such a dangerous conclusion yet tried as he might, all endeavors to find out the identity of his mysterious rescuer drew a blank.

  " Good luck then, something tells me you'll need plenty of it. " Jessiah's words were nearly unintelligible as he spoke into his cup.

  Kahr waited until Sigurd was out of sight before turning to Jessiah. " Out with it, Jessie. Something tells me you know more about this. "

  " Perhaps, but I'm not saying anything. Why don't we let nature take its course? Things will be much more interesting that way…"

  Reya sat alone in the church garden with her eyes closed, basking under the afternoon sun. The sunlight warmed her face yet could not entirely chase away the chill that was lodged deep within her soul. A light breeze blew, the wind gently dancing through the strands of her long ebony dark hair. Everything was so tranquil and idyllic but Reya was not at peace. Her mind was dwelling on the recent past when she heard the soft rustle of a dress. Before she could see who it was, a pair of hands slipped deftly from behind and covered her eyes.

  " Guess who? " A light clear voice filled with mischief asked.

  " Graine! You never grow up, do you? " Reya smiled, Igraine never failed to bring her out of the gloom with her exuberance for life.

  " Oh, I missed you so much. Krelian didn't allow Kahr and me to see you at all after he whisked you off into training and those twilight meetings we had were always so short and rare. I really wish he could make up his mind about you, Reya. First, he dumps you with the Gazel, then he snatches you back under his wing and now he sends you out again. Like you said last time, no one probably understands how that man thinks. Anyway, this time I'm glad that he has sent you into Jugend. Kahr was elated when he heard from Jessiah that you'd be working with him. He missed you terribly too. " Igraine shifted her hands down from Reya's face, wrapping her arms around her sister's neck for a hug.

  " Graine… " Reya clasped one of Igraine's hands, giving it a gentle squeeze. It had been very difficult for them to see each other after Krelian had turned his attention on Reya. Kahr and Igraine had to sneak in and out of the Lab under the cover of darkness just to spend a few hours together.

  Igraine glanced down into her sister's emerald eyes that always seemed full of concern for her. Keeping her hand in Reya's, she settled down on the quit, Reya was sitting on. She was the older of the two by a year but it was Reya who always behaved like the elder. She was often the one who looked after Igraine and Kahr, keeping the two of them out of trouble. Not that Reya was very successful sometimes given how naughty Igraine can be when they were young.

  " What's wrong, Reya? You looked so troubled just now. "

  " It's…nothing. " Reya started to speak then fell silent as she turned her head away.

  " That's what you always say. Why can't you share your problems with me? Didn't we promise to tell each other everything? Don’t shut me out like this, please? Tell me what happened. " Igraine's voice was mildly annoyed as she trapped Reya's face between her hands, forcing Reya to look at her directly.

  Those blue eyes, so clear and unblemished, held no judgement. Under Igraine's knowing glance, there was no place for Reya to hide. With a sigh, Reya related the event that happened a few nights ago. Igraine listened in silence without saying a word until she finished.

  " Does he know about this? "

  Even though she did not mention any names, Reya already knew whom Igraine was referring to. " No, I managed to keep it under wraps within Security. You'll be surprised that it was the association with him that made them believe all I said and persuaded them to keep it quiet. He would be annoyed if he knew I got into tangles like that so I ensured that they would keep my identity confidential. Jessiah knows about it though, since he was the one, they called in to identify that Jugend student. I was still there when he came. "

  Reya fell silent again as she remembered how the Gazel youth had died under her hands. Having grown up together, Igraine immediately knew what bothered her younger sister.

  " Reya, there's no need to feel guilty over what happened. It was nobody's fault that things turned out this way. Don't blame yourself, you hear? " Igraine held her sister tight, giving whatever comfort she could. " Don't blame yourself, you didn’t do anything wrong. "

  Reya close her eyes, resting her head against her sister's shoulder and let out a deep breadth. " …Thank you, Graine. I guess I really needed that. "

  " Good, so next time don't ever keep such things inside again. It'll drive you mad and I don't want that happening. Keep in mind that you can always come to Kahr or me. Okay? "

  " Yes, Graine. I'll come running whenever I need help. " Reya hugged Igraine back, unable to keep a smile off her face.

  " That's right, you should smile more often. You are so much prettier than me when you smile. I can't imagine the amount of Jugend men that will come chasing after you once they catch sight of you, Reya. So you are the one who rescued Sigurd... "

  " Sigurd? "

  " Sigurd Harcourt, a very attractive man with his lethal combination of silver blond hair and dark amber skin. From what I heard from Hyuga, he's something of a ladies man in Jugend following after that Shitan Uzuki. Hmmm…Maybe it's not a simple coincidence that you rescued him after all. " Igraine grinned.

  " Shitan Uzuki? Was he the one who was hitting on you until you 'discouraged' him? "

  " Yes! " Igraine's wide grin dissolved into peals of laughter as she recalled the hilarious incident with her over ardent admirer.

  " So things are different with the one called Hyuga then… Could it be that my dear sister is in love? "

  Taken unaware by the question, Igraine blushed a becoming red. Love… maybe that is what I feel for him then… He's seems so lost sometimes and those things that they had planned for him… I wish I had the strength to stop them. How could they destroy such a beautiful soul? She fiddled with the hem of her dress, trying to regain some equilibrium before answering.

  " Well…Er… I don’t know. I feel something when I'm with him but as to what he feels, I really don't know. "

  " Don't worry about it. If it was meant to happen it will. I'm sure Hyuga would return your feelings, Graine. He would be blind not to. "

  " Hopefully, that would be the case. So when are you expected to be on active duty? "

  " Tomorrow. Even though I'm replacing Goken, I won’t be surprised if I get sent to the surface sometimes as support. Krelian was talking about holding some live exercises as well. "

  Reya was about to say more when she noticed that someone was standing at the gate that lead into the spawning garden besides Igraine's dwelling. It was a man dressed in the uniform of a Jugend student and he was about to turn away when she called out.

  " Hello. Are you here to look for Igraine? " Igraine turned to see who Reya was greeting.

  " Oh! It's you, Hyuga. I've clean forgotten that I was supposed to see you today. This is so terrible of me. " Igraine apologized as Hyuga swung opened the gate and approached the two sitting women.

  Igraine's companion was a dark haired woman with clear green eyes that shone like emeralds with an inner radiance and Hyuga had never seen her before. He would definitely have remembered if he had for she was not only beautiful but there was a distinct mien about her that would have made her stood out in a crowd. She rose to her feet in one lithe movement, smoothing out the rumples her dress as Igraine did the same.

  " Hyuga, you are in luck today. Meet my sister, Areya. Reya, this is Hyuga. " There was no concealing the pride in her voice as she spoke her sister's name, introducing them.

  " Pleased to meet you, Hyuga. " A slender hand clasped Hyuga's in a firm and sincere shake.

  Up close, Hyuga could see that she had luminous green eyes that were just like Igraine's, brilliant orbs that saw right through him, into his very soul. He was surprised. Besides Igraine, he never thought that there would be another who could see him without the defenses that he had so carefully built up. Turn away…look away before you see what lies within me. Before you see the repulsive creature that I am. He was about to avert his glance when she gave his hand the slightest of a squeeze. A little started, Hyuga looked up. Hazel eyes meet emerald and he was surprised once again. There was no judgement, condemnation nor any indication that she found him unworthy. Strange enough, what he thought he saw was acceptance and an understanding.

  " My pleasure. Pardon me but are you… "

  " Yes, she is. Reya is the new Tri-Element that everyone had only heard about. That's why I said you were lucky. " Igraine cheerfully interrupted, anticipating his question.

  " Oh, I am indeed fortunate then. Sorry to have disturbed your conversation, I'll make myself scarce then. " Hyuga politely offered to leave.

  " No, I'm the one who's going. I didn't know that Graine was meeting you since I just dropped in without checking. I should apologized to you, Hyuga for taking up the time that you want with Graine. Enjoy each other's company then and I'll see you tomorrow. "

  Reya tactfully said goodbye and left the two alone in the garden. Dusk was falling, briefly covering the austere white church structures with a cloak of aged gold woven from the rays of the dying sun. Reya dragged her feet, lingering a bit to enjoy the natural splendor that was only visible in this section of Solaris. The shield that shrouded the floating city blocked out the sun almost totally except for the church sector where it was left for adornment purposes. Citizens had not cared much about this, preferring the artificial lights that brighten the city. It did not matter since Reya doubted many of them ever looked up into the sky anyway, being so engrossed with their own existence that they could see nothing else.

  " No wonder Jessiah said that to Sigurd… " Hyuga murmured under his breadth, a smile of mirth on his face.

  Intrigued by his expression, Igraine's curiosity was aroused. " What did you say? "

  " Jessiah mentioned that Sigurd would probably make Areya his next target once he caught sight of her. I think he'll have one hell of a competition from every man in Jugend though. "

  " Poor guys, Reya would probably leave a trail of broken hearts along in her wake. Hmm… Sigurd won't have it easy this time. He'll be in for a rude surprise if he dares try his usual tricks on my sister. She's not like most women. "

  " Sig would have a challenge on his hands then? You called her your sister…" He let the question hang in the air.

  " There's no blood relation between us. I think that's quite clear since we look so different. We grew up together and Reya's a year younger. " She smiled at his surprised look.

  " Yes, she's younger than me but from the start she has always been like an older sister, keeping Kahr and me out of trouble all the time. Reya was always the one who defended us when Krelian was angry at something wrong that Kahr and I had done. I don't know much about her ties with Krelian though and Reya herself doesn’t know as well because he never said anything to her about it. Hyuga, she is very dear to me just like Kahr. " Her smile was like a miniature sun blazing, chasing away the darkness that was in him.

  Dare I hope I would become dear to you one day… Hyuga took her hand. Increasingly, he was aware that the feelings he had for her were beyond that of a friend. And it seems that she sensed it but Hyuga could not be sure.

  " By the way, has Sigurd found out who rescued him that night yet? You told me last time that he was still trying to discover his savior's identity. "

  " No, not yet. What he got from Security was that there was no one else at the scene when they arrived. Seems to me that they may be withholding something. "

  " I see. "

  For a while no one spoke and a comfortable silence settled as they simply enjoyed the close proximity of each other. Hyuga knew he could have easily reached out and held her but something held him back. If Igraine was aware of his hesitation, she did not show it.

  " Haha…Something tells me that sparkles will fly between Reya and Sigurd. " She turned to him, grinning impishly like a little girl.

  " Why? "

  " I don't know but I just feel that it'll be like that between the two of them. They seem right for each other somehow. Maybe Sigurd will make Reya laugh more often. She's always so serious and I really want her to be happy. Hmm… I have an idea! " Hyuga raised a brow at the excitement in Igraine's voice.

  " Now, just what do you have in mind? " He raised his hand, gently brushing away a strand of her light blond hair away from her face.

  " Why don't we bring them together? "

  He was struck silent for a while.

  " Hyuga? "

  " Ah, yes? You were saying to bring them together? " Hyuga almost could not believe his ears. Bring a woman together with Sigurd? Why as if the man needed any help!

  " That's correct. " Igraine's blue eyes seemed to darken into a deeper shade of sapphire as the evening slowly turned into night.

  " But we don't even know if your sister will like him. For all we know Areya may very well hate Sigurd at first sight. "

  Shaking her head, Igraine laughed merrily as she tapped his nose with one finger. " Hyuga, you are speaking nonsense. You should know Sigurd better than that and I know my sister well. Trust me, they won't hate each other. "

  " I'm not sure about this, Igraine… "

  " Oh, don't worry. I promise I won't start anything unless I'm certain that they show sights of liking each other, okay? My, it's already nightfall. Care to join me for dinner? " She walked backwards towards her house, waiting for his answer.

  Nodding, he gladly followed.