Chapter Eight: The Flower Field
Nightfall came unexpectedly soon. Under the light of the florescent moon, Vincent and Miyo watched as young Kohana picked the rare spider lily flower, the sign of the village's celebration. The threesome had decided to break away from the festivities in the village and spend a moment in peaceful tranquility. There, the two adults nestled themselves amongst the meadow of flowers and continued to vigilantly watch the young girl.
"It's a gorgeous night," the man said as a warm breeze greeted his face. He gave a small smile and looked up at the radiant moon casting its mysterious light, like a beacon of hope. "I wish it would last forever."
Watching Kohana playfully pick flowers, Miyo smiled. She couldn't remember the last time she had been this happy. Everything seemed perfect as she knelt down on one knee to picked up the rare flower. "You know, this flower really blooms during the night," Miyo stated as she stood up, looking at the Spider-lily. "Most people pick them before they can really blossom."
Vincent nodded and looked at the flower in Miyo's hand. "That Spider-lily reminds me of a flower that used to bloom in my world," the man said as he sat down in the field of flowers. "Back then, times were good and pure. But now, everything is dying and there seems to be no hope left in people's hearts. This world is still unmarred by the scar of sin that my planet carries."
Miyo looked at the star-filled sky. As the moonlight touched her face, she replied, "I suppose so. It might not be compared to your world, but Riyona has really taken a turn for the worst over the past few years. Our lives have been a lot more hectic than they once were. The only good thing that has happened was you..."
Kohana gradually grew tired and yelled from a distance, "Can we stay here for the night?"
"You want to stay here?" Miyo replied with a raised eyebrow. "What do you think Vincent?"
Vincent nodded. "I think I would like that," he replied as looked up at Miyo and then glanced at Kohana. "It's pretty pleasant out and the fresh air should do us good. That is, if it's alright with you, Miyo."
"It's fine with me," she said smiling at Vincent. She looked at Kohana, signaling her to come over. "I hope you picked enough flowers for me too, Kohana."
"Don't worry, I did," Kohana replied giving Vincent a handful of Spider-Lily Flowers. "Here Vincent, you can take some home with you too."
Vincent nodded and took the flowers from the girl. "Thank you, Kohana," he said with a small smile as he tenderly put the flowers away in a safe pocket. "That's very kind of you. I'll keep them nice and safe."
Kohana sat down and Miyo followed suit by taking a seat on the soft grass. "You seem a lot more cheerful than before," Miyo said to Vincent. "But you often seem lost in thought. Is it because you're homesick?"
Vincent turned to Miyo and then looked down. "It's not that," he said with a sigh. "I'm actually glad to be away from Kalm. It's just... ever since I've gotten here, I've been thinking about someone who was dear to me over thirty years ago. I can't seem to get her out of my head."
Miyo looked up at Vincent, noticing the sadness in his eyes. Kohana was resting her head in Miyo's lap and playing with the petals of the flowers she had collected. "She hurt you?" Miyo replied showing a sympathetic smile, "You don't want to show it, but the pain is there, isn't it?"
Vincent was silent for a moment and he simply nodded in reply. "She did," he said softly as he continued to look down. "She was the reason that I'm like this now and she's the reason I'm still alive. She chose Hojo, dammit. Why couldn't Lucrecia have let me die when that bastard shot me?"
Miyo looked down as she played with Kohana's hair. "Maybe she still loved you and didn't want to see you die. In her heart, she might of loved you, but was clouded by this 'Hojo' man," Miyo said softly.
Vincent sighed and glanced over at Miyo. "Well, even if she did actually care about me, it doesn't matter now," the man as he looked up at the moon. "That happened thirty three years ago and she's encased herself in Mako crystals. In other words, she's in suspended animation forever."
"I've always been alone," he continued. "I never had a family to care or love for me. All I had was my father, and he was never living with me or near me. When I met Lucrecia, I actually thought that I was worth something, and maybe life was worth living. But when she betrayed me and rejected me, I felt like my heart was ripped out."
The Turk's red eyes glowed as he stared up into the moon. "Besides, who would care about a man like me?" he asked softly. "I mean, look at me. There's nothing to see."
"There's plenty to see in you," Miyo said, staring into the man's eyes. "Kohana has been happy ever since you arrived...and I have too. I know it's only been a day, but you bring this pleasant feeling that pushes my worries aside. You may appear distant on the outside, but on the inside you're full of compassion and love; I see it in your eyes." She looked away and added softly, "I just want to see you happy, that's all."
Vincent looked down at Miyo and was silent once more. He tried to think of what to say, but his mouth failed to pull out words. "Thank you," he simply said after a few moments. He sighed and tented his fingers. "I guess... I want to see you happy, too." The man smiled and then lowered his head.
Miyo placed a wilted flower she had been holding inside Kohana's basket and picked out another one. She took in a deep breath and looked at Vincent.
"You don't have to say that if you don't mean it," Miyo replied. "You can be honest. I don't want you to say it just because I did..."
Miyo picked another Spider-lily and glanced at it. She continued, "I want to see you happy because it makes me happy too. I'm sure Kohana is happy when you're happy as well. I don't know much of your past, but I can see you've had it rough. You deserve so much Vincent; you have to believe that you do."
Vincent blushed and turned his head away. He pondered, "I never thought...anyone would--"
Suddenly, the Turk's thoughts were interrupted when a cloaked figure burst into the scene. "Isn't this lovely?" the shadow, whose voice seemed to belong to man, uttered with a hint of sarcasm. "Tell me, would you two mind if I stick around for a little Q & A?"
Chapter Nine: The Cloaked Schemer > >
