The Ballet of the Swans

Act Ten

"Neko-sensei won't be happy about us leaving" muttered Rue as the four of them reached Fakir's house "but we can't stay at school."

"As things are now" Mytho agreed "nightingales might pop out of nowhere." Ahiru nodded, as her mind wandered into a different thought: The Truth, and the only one who could reveal it, Akiro.

'I must know' she thought as she walked into the house, and headed upstairs. 'I don't care if it hurts me, I need to know!'

"Ahiru, wait up! Akiro could be asleep" muttered Fakir, as he followed after her along with Mytho and Rue.

As she made it to Fakir's bedroom, Ahiru hesitated on opening the door. 'No! I must learn the truth, I have to know!' she told herself as she grabbed the knob and walked into the room.

Ahiru was up, and out of bed, looking through the window when Ahiru walked in, followed by the others. "Akiro, you shouldn't be up, yet" The redhead turned around, surprised to see Ahiru at that time.

"Ahiru, why are you home so early?" He asked, before noticing the presence of the other three in the room, his hands formed fists. "Was it Garhyn?" He asked, Fakir nodded, and the amethyst eyed punched the wall.

"Stop it!" Ahiru said grabbing the red haired's arm as he prepared to hit the wall again. "You are only going to hurt yourself!" Her pleading eyes calmed him down, but they could all feel his anger fuming. She brought him back to the bed, and helped him to lie down.

"I should have been there, damn it!" He exclaimed.

"You are wounded!" Replied Ahiru, they all flinched to her voice, as she had never sounded so angry at anyone "you wouldn't have been able to help us, even if you wanted to, besides, we made it just fine! Stop blaming yourself!"

Akiro looked down to the blankets, feeling ashamed of his own behavior. "I'm sorry, Ahiru" he apologized "I was just..." she silenced him, by placing her hand on his head.

"It's alright, Akiro. But we came back because we... rather I have something to ask of you" he looked at her and shook his head quickly.

"You have no need to know about that man. You shall not know." He said turning away from her.

"Akiro, I will not take a no for an answer!" Ahiru declared grabbing his wrist "I must know the truth! If I don't know how to stop Garhyn, everyone I love will surely be taken away from me!" AS her eyes began to dampen, Akiro felt the sting of guilt shooting through him.

"Ahiru, calm down." Said Rue, putting her hand onto her friend's shoulder. "Before you break down."

Akiro kept silent for a few moments, but he finally decided to speak again. "I give up" He said "Sit down everyone, I will tell you everything." Ahiru let go of the redhead's wrist, and sat next to him, rue sat at the end of the bed with Mytho, while Fakir leaned against the closest wall.

"The reason for the hatred between Garhyn and me, why he thinks you belong to him... It all began with the legend of the Holy White Swan." Began Akiro, closing his eyes, as he recalled the story. "It began over a thousand years ago; when the land around the town was nothing but a big lake. A gentle song beckoned animals and humans to the lake, since from its center, a bright light shone down from Heaven, and a beautiful white swan descended from within the clouds."

"The Holy White Swan" Rue breathed, as she saw the image of a sawn coming down to the lake.

Akiro nodded "Yes, as she touched the lake's surface, plenty of the small and large islands appeared. People and animals, began to walk over those, hoping to get closer to the swan's pure light. As they were all drawn towards her, music played, and the swan began to dance by herself. It is said, that her dance was more beautiful than the rays of sun and moon together; and soon, everyone began to dance with each other, while the swan's light shone upon them."