Zayla Eternal

The Hymn Glaive... Siren's Song

Bodoku slowly came to, his vision blurred as he sat up. His head lolled slightly until Zayla came into view. "Zayla..." he croaked feeling a slight tingling in his body, he got up and immediately regretted it. His legs barely carried him towards her but he reached her and fell to his knees, checking her pulse. He sighed with relief, she was alive. He gently lifted her head, "Zayla, are you alright?" He asked. She moaned opening her eyes, "Bodoku...? What happened?" "You uh... you used lightning magic", he replied hesitantly. "I did...? Where's Hex!?" She sat up quickly. "Take it easy, she's..." he glanced over to the spot where Hex was laying, "smoking", he finished. He watched as she held her head, "wait here, I'll check on Tidus", he stood up only to fall back down gripping his leg wound. Zayla stood up, "you wrap your wound, I'll check on him". Bodoku was in no state to argue, "stay away from Hex", he said, before wrapping his wound. He reached down and checked Tanjiro's pulse only then realizing his neck burns had vanished, he frowned with intrigue and concern. Zayla knelt down, "Tidus?" She gently stroked his face, his eyes opened and he blinked her face into view, she smiled, "are you still with us?" "Ah... I think so..." She helped him sit up and checked the back of his head. "Just a bump, you'll be alright". Tidus nodded and strained to stand so she assisted him, "thanks". They walked to Bodoku. "Good to see you're still with us Tidus". "Same goes for you although... she cut you, don't you need some antidote?" Bodoku shook his head, "I'll be fine". Zayla raised a brow putting her hands on her hips, "is that your proud, egotistical typical brooding 'I'll be fine' or 'I'll be fine' I'll be fine?" Tidus blinked staring with confusion, "I hit my head too hard for that sentence..." "I'll be fine, I thought we'd run into her again so I drank the antidote while Tidus was resting, it hasn't been long and it was already working through my system before she cut me so I probably won't even feel the effects". Zayla nodded, "well that's all well and good but it doesn't change the fact that you're injured". Bodoku looked at her, "I'll be alright". Tidus shook his head, "no I agree with Zayla, we all need to get to someplace safe. Goa Del Sia is clearly not safe anymore..." Tanjiro suddenly jumped awake, "GET AWAY!" He yelled sitting up and making the others flinch back. He took in his surroundings and the people around him, "oh..." he muttered, "heheh sorry about that", he looked at Zayla, then her friends, "looks like I ended up being a burden after all..." "Don't say that", Zayla said, "we came back to help you because you did the same for me", she looked pleadingly to Bodoku who went on to say, "you're a very brave warrior, not many would have had the courage to stand up to what you did. Thank you for keeping Zayla from harm". "So I did protect someone after all... huh". Tanjiro jumped to his feet and held out a hand to Bodoku, "I'm Tanjiro, thanks for saving me". Bodoku looked at his hand then grabbed it, he was helped to his feet, "I'm Bodoku, that's Tidus and you've already met Zayla". Tanjiro's hand was released, "that I have", he said smiling at her. Zayla blushed. Bodoku's eyes narrowed, "Tanjiro, you knew the woman who attacked us?" "Uh yeah, she was Hex-" "And she said something about you going back, what did she mean by that? Do you know why she's after Zayla?" Tanjiro gulped under his hard, intimidating gaze. "Bodoku", Zayla cut in, "what's your problem...?" "Zayla, you've been searching for answers, they've presented themselves in the form of this boy. I thought you out of all of us would be the most eager to learn what he knows". Zayla paused, it was true she wanted answers, and Tanjiro had given her only few, but there was still more that she wanted to know. Who is Devari and why does he want her so badly? If there were others before then why did they not satisfy his research? "Zayla", Bodoku called recognizing her thoughtful expression, she glanced at him, "I-" "She's gone!" Tidus said suddenly. The rest of them turned to look at Hex, but she'd fled. Bodoku rushed to retrieve his swords, snatching them up and looking around. He turned back to the others, "Tanjiro, where did he go?" Zayla and Tidus searched the area, "his gone..." "I'm sorry Zayla", Tidus mentioned. She sighed, "You shouldn't be the one apologizing". Bodoku took a breath looking over at her, "there's just no pleasing you is there? You wanted to save the boy, so we put our lives at risk to rescue a stranger", he took steps towards her, "you wanted answers, so I asked the question". Tidus tensed feeling the air between them go stale, "uh let's just calm down-" Zayla tensed as Bodoku growled angrily down at her, "you charge head first into danger and wonder why we end up getting hurt, I'll tell you why! It's because you have this stupid idea in your head that you'll get revenge on Aido for killing your father, well guess what kid we haven't the slightest clue where he actually is and even if we did somehow find catch up to him you wouldn't do anything! Because you're just a little girl, a child who can't grow up and surpass her own desires and actually think about her actions for once!" Zayla stared up at him, her fingers had small bolts sparking between them, Bodoku didn't show any signs of flinching. Tidus looked between them feeling his own heart racing. Zayla straightened, "I've had a think, and I know what to do next". Bodoku gave a slight nod, "that's more like it". "I've decided I don't need you anymore". "Wait what?" "I'm sorry you've wasted so many years protecting a stupid girl, well now you won't have to", she turned to walk away, but he grabbed her arm. "Zayla! It's dangerous out here, you can't seriously think I'm just going to let you- Ahh!" He cried out firing back as a jolt stung his arm. He landed hard on his back and coughed. Tidus looked at her with surprise, "Zayla-" "Save it", she looked down at her hands getting the lightning under control as tears fell from her eyes, "I will find Aido. Without your help! And when I do, I will kill him for leaving my father to die", she scowled at him, "just like you did Bodoku". Bodoku lowered his head with a hurt expression, but she didn't waver, "goodbye", she began walking away, Tidus went to follow, "unless you want a lightning bolt up your ass, I'd stay there", she warned. "But-" He sighed watching her leave, then shook his head looking at Bodoku, "are you gonna get up?" Bodoku exhaled hard as he struggled to his feet, "you're mad at me". "No dir. Why'd you blow up at her like that? And what was with that lightning thing she did?" Bodoku glanced at the ground avoiding his questioning gaze, "fine, keep your secrets, but you need to pull yourself together because Zayla needs you and that hissy fit crap you just did... how is that going to help anyone? Get stuff off of your chest fine, but do it with your sword... that's what you and the Gonaga unit taught me". He watched as Bodoku took a long breath, "Tidus... you're right. I'm angry at myself and I took it out on Zayla... I need to show her something, something her father left for the both of us to read together, but I read it alone and now I fear I've left it too long..." Tidus eyed him, "is it that letter I see you reading over sometimes?" Bodoku gave a nod, "so it was from Kaizen, you're afraid". "I- what it says, could change her forever..." Tidus placed a hand on his shoulder, "or it could help her understand, and may even bring you two closer, ya know if you stop being a complete ass". "Watch it". Tidus shrugged, "hey deny it all you want but you know it's true". Bodoku gave an annoyed sigh, "let's just catch up to her, she's bound to get lost in the desert". Tidus shook his head as he shoved past him, "it would also be nice if you had a little more faith in her too you know".