The Legend of Legaia

Zeto and Juggernaut

One of the huntsmen started to explain what had happen, trying to fight back tears. "The Mist came earlier than usual. He was attacked by a Seru monster."

The words seemed to render the town complete and total silence.  Mei's look of glory immediately faded into tears of sorrow and pain as she neared the group of people..  Now her father was gone.  She was clueless as to were her mother was and now...her father! 

I paced over to where she was kneeling next to her father.  A look of fierceness was left on his motionless face.  His brown hair drenched in blood along with his once handsome hunting clothes.  Finally, Vahn came over and knelt next to Mei, placing his hand on her shoulder.  Mei began to cry, "Father!  Father!  Oh, no!  Please, open your eyes!  No!  Don't leave me all alone!  Please!  Don't!"  She broke into inaudible sobs and put her head on Vahn's shoulder as he embraced her.

Acknowledging the fact that she was safe in Vahn's care, I glanced once more at Juno.  He was like a second father to me.  He would tell Vahn, Nene and I stories and make us laugh; he was one of the few who would inform me about the Mist.  A part of me was now gone.

I walked at my slowest pace down onto the beach.  Tetsu soon joined me and put his arm around me.  "Tetsu, why did Juno have to go?" I asked, knowing that the question was ridiculous.  Everyone has their time to go.  Not everyone can live as long as they want.

Tetsu understood and just replied, "I don't know."  We continued to sit until the sun had finally set.

Now that it was getting dark, Tetsu and I decided we should go and check on Mei.  As we climbed the stairs, we noticed a chill that was coming from the beach.  Either something wasn't right, or Juno's death was getting to me.

As we entered Mei's house, we saw her crying in Vahn's arms.  Vahn looked over to us while Mei fled from his arms.  She now knelt next to her bed where her father's body was lying now more peaceful-looking.  Tetsu strode over to pay his respects.

After a while I had to break the silence and say, "Vahn, we'd better go home now.  Father might be getting worried."

Mei - soundlessly and wordlessly - embraced all three of us and gave us each nods of thanks and smiles as we stepped out of the house.  She watched Vahn the closest.  I knew that Vahn had been the biggest help to her.  It always helps having the man you love take care of you...Especially if you've just lost your very own father.

Tetsu turned to Vahn and I and bid us good-night.  He hugged me and grasped Vahn's shoulder.  He walked up to the Village Elder's house and remained standing by the fence overlooking the city. 

When we returned to our house, Nene was fast asleep.  Her blue hair was resting upon her pillow.  Our father, on the other hand, was sitting restlessly by his crutch at his desk.  "Are you two ready for bed yet?  You were out awfully late."

"We were consoling Mei, " I replied.  "She's still crying over her father's death.  Vahn, Tetsu and I brought her spirits up a little bit.  I think she'll be fine."

Father nodded his head and hugged and kissed us both good-night. 

Without changing into my night-dress, I climbed carefully into bed making sure I wasn't going to awaken Nene.  Vahn mimicked me and we both attempted to fall into slumber, but I knew he wasn't going to fall asleep soon.  He was crying.  I nudged his arm and said, "Hey, you okay?"  Tears were streaming from his eyes.   He nodded and said, "Yeah.  I j-just feel bad for M-Mei.  I remember when we lost our m-mom."  I knew he didn't want to continue to talk about it so I hugged him and hummed in his ear until his sobs turned into deep breaths.