Epiphany- A New Point of View (open)

[David Blaze]

Footsteps fell on a warm cobblestone path, leading in through a back entrance in the new School for one David Blaze. On his back was a simple t-shirt, his pants a plain, slightly baggy blue. No flaming name, no ornaments (save his necklace and previous fight garb from 259), and no real indication that it was him. The reason for this transfermation? A new perspective on people and himself. See, David was a heroine- if there were a book written about his life, he would be the brave knight saving everyone from incredible dangers, like robbers, murderers, and Dragons(pun intended). He was always the good guy, thinking of others before himself. But now...Now he had gone through a long thought process, a meditation.

David was a changed man.

See, within the month it took for him to be transferred to this new school, he had gone through a reflection on his life, and discovered something that disturbed him terribly. This realization caused him to totally re-think how he lived, and now he felt, for the first time in a long time, happy. Sure of himself. Confident in every way. He was no longer the vigilante, the Captain, the Pillar, the fighter. He was relaxed and calm, and felt no need to run to the aid of others. It wasnt as though he became dark or bad, but that he became more aware of the reactions of those around him, of the lack of gratitude, of the sneers and gestures and the constant challenges when all he ever tried to do was help.

Now, only now, would he truly leave those students to suffer the consequences of theyre own actions. They didnt want him, they didnt need him, they rebuked him.

Let them live theyre own life.

He stepped through the doors, taking a big breath of fresh air. This school was nice. Neat. Orderly. Nothing like 259 or 809. Sure, he could see a few fights, but it was probably because of the transfers, not because of him. He grinned as he watched two kids duke it out. He felt no need to step in. Hell, he felt no need to even watch. He walked around the group and headed to his locker, looking at the little slip of paper and rolling in the combination. The locker slammed shut as he pulled it open, a student who looked like the typical male punk rocker leaning against it.

"Hey transfer, we don't want your fucken kind here. Run back to where you belong jackass."

He chuckled, his little friend giving a deep dumb laugh behind him.

David looked him up and down.

"Uhh....Tell you what. How about you go that way and i go this way. That way you can make it to class on time."

David was in a damn good mood- he'd let them off with a warning.

The kid grabbed David by the shirt and brought David to his tiptoes.

"Wrong thing to say bitch."

David sighed, hoping someone would intervene before the kid threw a punch. He really didnt want blood on his new shoes....

[Bastille]

A sword blade would press around the mans shoulder. Despite her obvious shortness Bastille stood on her tip toes in heels her sword pressed ever closer. Sure it was dull, but he didn’t know that. Her eyes glimmered over his shoulder.

“how about…you let him down, or I slit your throat and make you drink it while I put a cheese grinder where the sun don’t shine?” her threat was razor thick but not without its seductive tone. The guy would be forced to let go as of right now for she also had, although empty, a pistol to his back. If he called her out of her bluff she would then persist to knock him on the back of the head with the butt of the pistol.

Whatever the case she would step back from the dude and look at Blaze. She said nothing, she preferred he make the first sentence. He wasn’t the only one who had obvious changes both body and mind. Bastille wore a black riding pants along with a white blouse and her now shoulder blade length hair around her shoulders, half up. Her crimson eyes looked into his and she decided to make the first statement.

“what no thanks?” she would say rather quickly not giving him much time to thank her in the first place. Her eyes never avoided his however. She sheathed her sword and then would turn to face him in full her shortness getting the better of her. She let out a low grumble. ‘god, you could have given me a few inches before I came here, JUST A FEW?!!!’ she screamed in her head, though the sentence was probably apparent on her face.

[David Blaze]

He grinned at the blade that appeared over the guys shoulder. Looked way similiar to the time he first met the red-eyed fury, and, as the guy glared, he spoke. "Lucky for me hot chicks with big swords are my friends, right?" The guy flipped him off, never realizing that, right then, he had probably met one of the strongest transfers, if not the strongest transfer from 259. He turned and scratched his head, opening the locker and tossing his book bag inside. He stepped to Bastille and kissed her, softly. No tongue, just a lips to lips connection. He pulled away, looking around at the thankfully, wonderfully, empty halls.

"Hows that for thanks?"

He felt a small rush of adrenaline, and pulled away from her body. Now, don't get confused- David is not with Bastille. However, he does have a certain amount of....feelings for her, and that cant be denied. Besides, she had surprised him far to many times with kisses for him not to return the favor. He looked around, then turned his eyes to her.

"Lets go get a soda, you and me."

[Bastille]

Her face flushed and she grumbled now turning away. She twirled her hair around her finger as was her new, well…old habit brought back. It was for when she got nervous. She had learned to loose it with short hair but now that it was longer walla…nervous tendencies reappeared. She gave one short quick nod as if she where perturbed.

She was happy though, he wasn’t changed too much. Not too much anyway, and that guy was lucky he walked away…Bastille wasn’t kidding about the cheese grinder. Homi always carried one…speaking of Homi…she had ditched her upon seeing blaze in a grind. Talk about protective instincts…but really show some decency dolts. Homi was probably in class by now enjoying herself. Bastille smiled at that and went to follow Blaze.

“i..” she paused and thought about it a moment then shook her head. She would ask him to help her across the golden gate bridge later…since this morning she was force to find a small bridge due to lack of bravery when it came to heights. It wasn’t something she felt comfortable asking anyone else anyway. She would just walk in silence behind him. A sword at the side of a master made no comments and right now that was all Bastille was committed to being.

[David Blaze]

David rounded the corner as he walked, hearing her say a word before going silent. He would have to dig that up in a minute. He walked up to the stand and ordered TWO soda's handing Bastille a cup with a wink, as if to say 'just because we transferred doesnt mean our war is over'. He got himself some Bargs rootbeer, and took a seat at the little table. He would wait for her to take her seat before he spoke. "So, Bastille. I've been thinking, and, since you know im not one to beat around the bush, i figure i'll jump right into it." He leaned forward, taking a drink from his soda. He swallowed and continued.

"You owe Mathew a debt. I'm going to offer him one Favor, no matter what it may be, and in return he will be forced to give you to me, to serve out whats left of your contract under my juristiction." He would smile if she argued, cutting her off. "Good thing its not up to you, Since i'll offer it whether you like it or not."

[Bastille]

She blinked and almost dropped her soda. She clung to it now crunching the can slightly. Her eyes wide she looked at him perplexed.

“WHAT?!” HE KNEW ABOUT THAT?!! Well that’s not saying much seeing as a good portion of the school knew, but come on…oh wait didn’t she tell him herself, no...oh god. She wanted to cry she was so embraced, and that was a lot of emotion for her at once. She just stared at him perpetually perplexed. She didn’t know what to say, seems like he was going straight to it…crap. Her eyes narrowed…oh this was not going to be good. Mathew had told her he was keeping her for other purposes besides a slave…no in fact she was sure he was going to train her, and well she could use the training but…this could end up with David hurt…she continued to let the thoughts run through her mind her lips slowly forming a line as she looked to her soda and drank it in sips. Her brows furrowed.

“you know im going to-“ he interrupted her. She shook her head. There was nothing she could do. Maybe if she threatened his manhood to a cheese grinder or a rusted potato peeler he might rethink this. But she couldn’t help the feelings…free from Amtrum…it sounded to good to be true. Her lips didn’t smile.

“you know, the only thing we will accept is your own life in exchange for mine…” she said solemnly.

[David Blaze]

He looked up at her, a smile coming across his face.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

He didnt say he'd accept...but he didnt say he'd say no either. He seriously doubted that Mathew was going to ask that- his life for hers? Damn gross overstatement and obvious abuse of power. Hell, Giving mathew one damn favor was overdoing it for him- who knew what kind of sick and twisted things the bastard would come up with. Regardless, he'd do it for her. Giving up his life though? That would be stretching his hand out far, though he didnt discount it. He knew Mathew had a big head. David pointed at the seat, then smiled. He gave her an innocent look.

"Now what would i do with the red-eyed Bastille as my slave...hmm..." He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye- something normally unlike him, but today he felt somehow...

Invincible.

[Bastille]

“don’t be a pervert it doesn’t suit you” she said quickly and with a bit a spice. She had no intention of doing horrible deeds, though she would probably submit to more with blaze then she would with Amtrum.

“your forget however…I am still your servant regardless… a sword never abandons its master” she said quietly but in a monotone. Her eyes narrowed and she met the opposite wall. She wouldn’t look at him. She couldn’t, she felt like she would melt away if she did, so she refrained. She hated these girlie feelings, these things that could and would at the given moment crumble her to shattered pieces. She feared love more then death. Yet for him, it seemed love would stick with her.

She sat silently her arms crossed one hand still twirling the now empty soda can.

[David Blaze]

He smiled faintly, before looking away from her. He stared off into the school then turned back to her, a sudden change coming over his feelings. Her words cut him- not the part about being a pervert, but about her being his sword. H spoke distantly, a question that would hopefully give the girl pause to think.

"What do you even know about me Bastille. In all honesty, you know nothing. You find me to be an honorable man, a man of worth. A man of....Power?" He stared into her eyes coldly. "You don't love someone you know nothing about." He stood placing his hands in his pockets. "Maybe my perversion was a failed attempt at being funny. Guess trying to be a little more bouncy just doesnt work out for me, does it?" He continued to stare at her "You are a free woman, nobody holds claim to your life. Not me, not Amtrum, nobody. Your life is yours alone- rise up and live it." He qouted that from a book he read long ago...inpiration to him. He Began walking away.

"If it makes things official- I release you from your self-proclaimed slavery to me. Go away, and live in what way you see fit."

David began walking away, a pain in his chest but a blank look on his face. He grew tired of so many people acting like he was suppose to act a certain way, that he was suppose to rule just because he was strong. He didnt want it- did want any of it. He would do to this girl what he did to the girl whose name he refused to speak, his friend, his best friend, from Public High School 809. He would make sure Bastille was on the same road. His words made everything abunduntly clear.

He was shutting her out.

He would still go to Amtrum for her contract, and he would still try to free her. He still cared about her, but he knew, deep inside, that nobody was meant for him. Not this girl, not Emily, not Olesya. He would stay alone, forever.

'Thats just....just how it has to be.'

[Bastille]

“what I want is to be your sword, and maybe….someday” she said aloud on the bench. She had stretched her arms in front of her lacing the fingers and curving her back to stretch it too. Her eyes however looked relaxed and fondly at the ground.

“ill be able to pierce your heart, but for now…a sword I will stay until I can make good on my promise.” The promise she refused to tell anyone…until it was fulfilled. “so stop making excuses of why I shouldn’t be around you, im no longer a escape goat David…you cant use my enslavement to him or you as a way out of this…”

She had stood up and walked down to him taking his hand in both of hers and holding it tightly. she looked up at him smiling.

“I’ve told you why I fell in love with you, why I still am in love with you, why I refuse to leave you…what more must I answer for you to see im not leaving…im living my life….before you go at use me as an excuse try and live yours...”

She dropped the hand and took a few steps back.

“I may be blind to your life and what has happened in it, but I don’t need to know such things…sure im curious…but that’s all it is, a curiosity in hopes it will bring me closer to you…but you can count that I wont fall for someone else, im used to love not working out for me” she said and turned her back going back to the bench and sitting down next to her rapier.

“a sword…” she said and let the tassel at the hilt slide through her fingers.

[David Blaze]

He stared.

"A way out of what? I...I don't know what you want from me. You act like...like you care so much about me, yet i know im not the only one you have feelings for. Why don't you go tell him you love him, and be with him. I'm sure he'd be accepting." He turned back around to walk away, sighing as he stopped. He would turn back around and walk over to her. He felt...drawn, somehow, to the unyeilding way in which she constantly presented her feelings. He was reminded of that night in the hotel...He sat back down. He stared at her without speaking for several moments before finally saying, softly-

"Bastille...i want...i want you to tell me the truth. I've asked you this before and all you seem to give me is confused answers." He took a deep breath.

"What...What do you want from me? You said acknowledgment that you love me. Okay, i acknowledge it. What now? What do you want me to do?"

If she didnt tell him the truth, if she didnt tell him what she wanted in whole, He would get up and leave. He was tired of playing games- he just wanted to live his life in peace.

[Bastille]

“what do I want?!” she asked herself aloud amused with his ranting. But hurt by it two. She wanted to tell him how she had thought of nothing and no one while recovering from her sisters bomb attack on their home but him. Over those months of working up her strength and body to move as efficiently and quickly as it had she had worked to sort out her life, her duel personality problem, and once more her love situation. She had worked hard on it endless hours of the day and while sitting in that hospital bed she had come to the realization. So much she could say in a long monotonous ramble to justify her feelings for him. But the realization she made that day as the water streamed the window of her hospital room and the lights shinning through the dark stormy night reflected on her one good eye was not that she had finally over come her past, or that she didn’t love Amtrum at all, or that she now knew exactly what she wanted from life…but that she would never be able to outright say what she wanted.

She would lower her head to stare at the floor. She was alone in her universe and she was ok with that, for she was more herself and more sure of herself then ever. She knew everything, and despite still being slightly confused on which personality was dominant she knew in time she would finally fade into being comfortable with that feeling. She knew she didn’t love Mathew, never had, and in fact would do better to have him erased from existence…she couldn’t wait to see everything he had done to others shoved back in his face. She knew she wanted to be an assassin again, because in truth it would be the only line of work to satisfy a girl who had grown up on the run and in the constant center of anxiety and adrenaline. She hugged her shoulders but her face remained much the monotone expression. For she also knew…that in life some things could not be explained with logic or calculation. She would never be able to explain why she loved Blaze or what she wanted when in fact…

If he turned away and got up and left she would speak before he got to far. If he sat waiting she would suddenly speak.

“nothing,…. And I say that because I want nothing.” It was all she could say.

Her crimson eyes stared at the ground.

[David Blaze]

David sat for a long time, his eyes on the girl. It was obvious, to him, that she wasnt going to answer. He shook his head before getting up and walking away without another word. Why was it that he put faith into those words? What meaning were they suppose to have for him? He took only a few steps before she spoke, David freezing in place. This caused him to wonder- Did she really want nothing from him? She just...just loved him, for who he was? He half turned back to her, staring at her in silence before he turned back around and walked over to his seat, a sudden passion in his eyes.

"There is something you want Bastille, i know there is, deep inside. If you want it....If you ask it of me...i will give it to you."

He knew that, somewhere inside her, she wanted to ask a question that he never wanted to hear from anyones lips until that moment. What about what she said made him feel that way? Nothing. That was the point. She wanted nothing from him. Just...him. He wanted her to ask it.

He wanted her to ask him...to tell her he loved her.

[Bastille]

“tell me David, before I get up and walk away from this very spot..” she turned and smiled to him sincere, she wasn’t being deceiving and it would be impossible not to believe her. She bit her lip and and shrugged her shoulders.

“before I walk away and work as your silent sword weather you want me or not, only because I want it…but tell me…how is it you feel for me?” she didn’t see this as asking something from him. It was an answer…not a request that he do anything and she made that clear.

“I want a simple answer, at this very moment, how do you feel for me?” she said with a stern look. There was nothing to say. Nothing to do. He had gotten up and walked away only to be repulled in by her words, and then to ask her a question. Silly guy why did he think she wanted something. She would ask this…it wasn’t an answer she wanted…but she would need to ask it. If not now, eventually she would want this answer from him. This reminded her of that one anime she and Homi had watched during the daily hospital lags. Something about absolute angels…oh kyoshiro to towa no sora..yup…sounded like it. Well she smiled… a sword was a sword, and it was what she wanted to be until she returned to the life of an assassin. Maybe his answer would keep her from that path…either way she would stick by his side because she wanted it. Not him.

[David Blaze]

David let out a breath of air, leaning back again without answering. So many thoughts ran through his head.

'I think your a sweetheart. You surprise me in so many ways. I love the way you smile. The way your stubborn. How your loud and sometimes totally immature. I love that you carry a sword around with you. I love that you want ntohing from me when everyone in the world wants so much. I love you'

"I don't know, Bastille." He let out a breath and leaned forward. "I..." He shook his head. "This was a bad idea....You...you should probably go." His words said he wanted her to, but his eyes said what his mind thought- That he loved her. He was being a hypocrit, he knew. Telling her she knew nothing of him and that he couldnt be loved by her because of it, yet he himself felt that same way for her. Why? What caused all this? He didnt want it...He...He reached under his shirt and pulled out that which no person had ever seen since he first got it. It was a ring. A ring given to a girl...so long ago.

He stared at it and...and...

A tear fell from his eye.