Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ The Distant Cousin ❯ Revenge ( Chapter 3 )

The Distant Cousin

The Memories

Kayko had lived in Falters Valley almost all her life. Her father owned the land and it needed protecting. She was only 16 and yet was the most powerful fighter in her whole fathers army.

"My lady another intruder has been found of the northern border, what should we do with the man?"

"Did you bring him into our camp, chained and all?"

"Of course my lady"

She turned and slapped him hard. The soldier flew across the room and looked up in confusion.

"You idiot! now we have to kill him. He knows there is an army here and if the humans find out about that they will invade. All this time my father has trusted me to keep this land safe, and we have done a hell of a good job. Do you know how we did that Captain?"

"uh.."

"From killing all who enter and by scaring away all the others."

The soldier relized by capturing the man he had sealed his life. He knew they couldn't let any humans know they were here, the numbers were great and they were powerful but the could not defeat a human army. He sighed,

"Then I will have him killed."

Kayko grunted in response and looked at the map on her table in disgust. >Why must we kill the humans maybe we can come to a truce with the closest villages< But the minute she thought it she knew it could never be. >The humans resent us the always have<

Kayko felt like training, so she grabbed her sward and stepped out side her tent. She reached be hind her to untie her over shirt. It soon fell to the ground to revel a tight leather halter top. The back had to be cut out so she could fully spread her wings. It was very nippy and she was glad she had decided to wear her leather pants instead of her cotton ones. She allowed her wings to come to full length before taking a running start to lift of the ground. She flew a little ways before landing in a great meadow; she always trained there along with the rest of her troop.

It took to much energy to retract her wings so she went through her drills with them out. She was fluent like water and never missed a step. Without her knowing 6 of her men were watching her, studying her, the wanted to know how a women of such young age could be so powerful. All of the sudden Kayko missed a step and fell to the ground. She sat there in shock, not from the fall but from the fact she had made a mistake. >I must have gone through that drill one hundred million times I never miss a step< This most defiantly put her in a bad mood when she returned to camp. She went to her own tent to rest, as she laid down on her excuse for a bed she looked at a picture of her and her cousin Van in front of Escaflowne her uncle's faithful Geameloth. It had taken hours to paint she could remember every second of that happy day.

***Flashback***

"Come on daddy i wan to see Van!"

"Slow down Kayko we will see him so enough along with your aunt and uncle and other cousin"

"OK" she pouted.

Kayko only agreed to come to these visits to see her cousin Van. Everyone always said the looked like brother and sister, and being an only child that meant a lot to her. She had long midnight colored hair and deep brown eyes, she normally kept to her self always wanting to train with her instructor to master her sword play. One thing that always bothered her though was that every time they went to visit her aunt and uncle she was told the same thing over and over again.

"Never show your wings when we get to the palace understand Kayko?"

Her father had never told her why and her mother had died during childbirth. She had always been close to her dad and usto only speak to him but when she met Van she became very talkative. She always had something to say and Van would always listen.

But this visit would be extra special. She and Van were going to get a portrait done of the two of them next to Escaflowne. When she asked what a portrait was her father merely laughed and said,

"It's just you and van standing still in front of Escaflowne so a man can paint you."

When they got there Van rushed out to meet her.

"Hi Kayko how have you been?"

"OK but I've missed you soooo much i can't wait to have our portrait done."

"I can." Van said sadly.

"Why" Kayko asked now worried.

"It takes a long time to do Kayko it will probably take all day."

"Oh no you mean we shan't be able to play, this sucks." she pouted.

"Come on you two time to start the portrait." Van's mother said sweetly.

"Do we have to?" Van asked knowing the answer.

His mother just looked at him to give him his reply. It took hours and they weren't allowed to speak the could barley move without the artist yelling at them but in the end it was worth it.

"Look how beautiful it is." Van's mother remarked.

"Very well done indeed." Kayko's father added.

"Why don't you keep it Kayko so you can have a picture of you and Van forever." Her uncle remarked.

"Oh can I?" she questioned with glee.

"I will take good care of it i promise"

***End of Flashback***

"And i always have" Kayko whispered to no one.

Nothing but bad news had fallowed that day. First her uncle had died to her aunt's dismay, Kayko cried for almost a week straight not eating or sleeping. But it seemed almost as soon as she got over her uncles death her more news came telling her elder cousin had died fighting the dragon to claim the throne. She felt traumatized but was a little old and dealt with her heart ach but training that much harder and pouring herself into her work. She had started to show promise in mental abilities such as telekinesis and telepathy. She had hardened herself to the core when more news fallowed saying that her beloved aunt had gone out searching for her son and was reported dead. Kayko felt cheated, not only had she lost so many people close to her in a matter of years she had not seen Van in what seemed like an eternity. >No one should go through this much pain its not fair, well no use crying over it<

Kayko wiped a tear from her eye and rolled over to sleep. >Why can't things be as before?< she asked her self the same question ever night. As she finely slipped into sleep her dreams her haunted by thoughts of those sunny days in that green country, and the happiness it held. >At least i can always count on Fanalea to always be there<

The News

Kayko awoke to sunrays playing on her young face. No one ever bothered to wake her in the morning in less there was something to report so normally she slept in some what late. When she woke she checked where she was, every morning she looked to see if she woke up in Fanalea with all of her family. But every day she awoke to her little tent in the Falters Valley.

She had been left to command the troops about a year ago when she was 15. Some of the men reacted to this but her father had let them speak there peace. Anyone that thought Kayko couldn't lead an army could challenger her for the position. Out of all the men that challenged her only one even ripped her clothing.

She had turned 16 3 full moons ago and the troops had made it a special day. The women had made a cake and every one had hand crafted a gift. Most of the gifts were arrows or other weapons but she loved all of them. It was the first time she remembered being happy since her aunt died.

She looked at her dull reflection. Many of the men would say things like,

"If only you were older..." or

"If you weren't the princess..." and

"To bad your my commanding officer..."

And other things like that whenever she felt depressed about her looks. So she figured she couldn't be to ugly, but she never felt to beautiful. She had the same midnight hair as before, but her eye color had deepened to more of a maroon color then a brown.

She got up and quickly dressed. She knew she would be flying today so she took out a black leather halter top with almost all the back cut out. She stuck her hand out side winter was coming and the temperature was dropping, so she took out a pair of thick leather pants to keep her warm.

It had to have been about nine when walked out of her tent to the food court to have a little rice for breakfast. She made some small talk with Uya their weapons specialist. He said the arrow supply was low and that they needed some more to be made soon. She thanked the cook for the breakfast and went to the fields.

She had been training all the rookies personally to ensure a great army. Most showed potential, but others looked like they had never held a sword before. >Every one has to start some where.< She constantly reminded her self as she showed the same step over and over before her challenged students got it right.

To complete her average day she went to all the look out posts to get any updates.

"Nothin' seen or heard ma'am"

It was the average response nothing ever seemed to change in the valley but nothing good normally meant nothin bad so she was ok with the whole situation.

Kayko returned to camp earlier than usual so she decided to go take a bath so help her relax. There was a strict rule for the whole camp that stated, no one was to bath alone. So trying not to be a hypocrite she started asking the female soldiers to join her. Most were dizzies or had all ready taken a bath, so she was stuck with the two people she hated bathing with.

It wasn't that Sakura and Tori were bad it was just the were so annoying. All they did all day was blab about the cutest boy in camp or how ugly some women's hair was. All they ever did was gossip and frankly it got annoying. But Kayko learned to put up with it so she could enjoy her bath.

She slipped into the cool water and let the current sweep her troubles away. She thought about battle tactics and weapon arrangements but nothing needed to be done. It was rare they had anyone come this way, all the villages near by was afraid of the valley. It was very boring but she liked time to think and that was about all she did.

When about an hour went by Kayko started to get up to leave when she slipped on a rock and fell back down.

"Ouch!" she cried

Her shoulder suddenly was full of pain. >I must of cut myself on a rock.< She reasoned as she felt the wound. It was warm and as she looked at her figure tips she could see she was bleeding.

"Is something wrong?" Tori asked in her bubbly voice.

"Ya, i think i cut myself." She answered trying to feel how serious the wound was.

"Here let me have a look at it, I am a medic you know." Sakura pointed out as she scooted over to Kayko.

"OOO that looks bad we should get you to the medic tent right away."

Kayko frowned, it couldn't have been that bad. She hated wasting materials on flesh wounds. But since she couldn't see it she thought it best not to argue.

They had to walk back because Sakura didn't want Kayko to fly. She had said the feathers might harm the wound. She had hoped to walk alone but the girls wouldn't have it.

"We're not going to leave you alone. What if an animal attacks you?"

Kayko didn't have the energy to argue, she was perfectly capable of taken care of her self but thought it best not to mention it. They soon made it back to camp and her shoulder was bandaged in no time.

"I'm going to plot better security for the valley." She mentioned as she left the tent.

She walked slowly to the middle of the camp, she knew she wasn't going to do anything once she got there so why rush. >I suppose i could write in the Commanders log if I have nothing else to do.< She thought silently.

When she reached the tent she took out the old book and wrote the few things that had happened that day. With nothing to say it went fast. She looked over some reports before deciding there was nothing more to do. She got up ready to leave when her first general came in. He looked a little distressed.

"What's wrong Kenji?" She asked her friend, Kayko and Kenji had always been friends he was only 18 and seemed to understand her.

"My Lady, (huff) news (huff) from your (huff) father."

Kayko was ecstatic. She loved getting news from her father normally it was nothing special just saying hello but today was going to be different.

"Well give it to me." She said excitedly.

He handed her the parchment and watched her face. She quickly opened it and she could feel the blood drain from her face as she read the words. Kayko fell back wards and would have hit her head on the corner of the mapping table if Kenji had not caught her. She was in shock by what she read; >Why must these things always happen to me< Tears filled her eyes as she dropped the parchment on the floor.

To my dearest daughter,

I know this will come as a shock but i have to tell you some terrible news. Fanelia was burned to the ground byZaibach, there appears to be no survivors. I am sorry please don't do anything rash.

Your loving Father

Revenge

Kayko woke up in the medic tent with a wet cloth on her forehead. She felt faint, the blood was slowly returning to her head.

"Were am I? Never mind I know."

"My Lady are you alright?" Kenji asked with concern.

"Do you think I'm alright my cousin that I haven't seen nearly 10 years is probably dead, my aunt's home country has been burned to the ground and I can do nothing about it!" Kayko passed out again.

Kenji took her hand to comfort her. >Why did it have to happen again? She has lost everyone but her father, why must whatever family she has die?< Kenji thought to him self.

Kayko came around again but Kenji was sure to not let her sit up. She looked at her with her deep maroon eye and he could almost feel her pain. Tears started to rise and she let them flow. He had never seen her cry, openly anyway. He wiped a tear from her cheek and whispered,

"It will be ok i promise."

"How can you promise me that." She whispered weekly.

"We will get Zaibach back, we will have our revenge."

Kayko stared in a amazement, she had never herd Kenji speak of revenge before but she defiantly liked it. Kayko thought about it for a moment. >How are we going to get our revenge on a country as great as Zaibach?< She looked into his deep blue eyes, she had never saw how beautiful they were.

"I like the sound of that, we can't take the army and leave the valley unprotected."

He had allowed her to sit upright and now was trying to get up.

"I know what if you just took an suicide group?"

She looked at him, a suicide group had 5 people plus the leader. Could they avenge Fanelia with that few of people? They could try.

"Yes, that would be most efficient who would I take with me?"

"Besides me you mean?"

"Don't you think my second in command should stay and...well...command?"

"No way your cutting me from this I'm going with you or your not going!"

"OK, OK." She was a little startled by his force but it made him seem more aggressive.

"How about Uya, we are going to need a weapons pro." Kenji pointed out.

"Yes, he can just leave the men to make more arrows he wanted more made any way. As much as i will be annoyed by her i think Sakura should come she is a damb good medic."

"I agree, and Tori is the best shot in the camp." He added

"Who shall we select for the final position?" Kayko thought out loud.

"How about Kale?"

Kayko's blood ran cold. Kale was a master swordsmen she had to give him that, but his stare made her shiver. Kayko didn't know his back round and didn't want to judge him on appearances but he just plain gave her the willies.

"Your right, he should come I'll speak with the camp and send a letter to my father, we leave at dawn."

The meeting

They had been flying for hours. It was important that Kayko and the others flew low, it would be big trouble if they were seen by humans.

Kayko looked at were they were headed.

"Do you think we can even find survivors if there are any?" Sakura asked with a doubtful tone.

"There has to be survivors! There just has to be."

Kayko wasn't ready to admit that Van could be dead. He had always be very resourceful he was preparing to be king maybe her could control the Escaflowne. It may have been far fetched but she had to hold out hope, hope was the only thing she had.

All of the sudden her head started to hurt. It felt like her telepathic abilities were reacting to something. She opened her mind to hear Kenji's voice.

>He's alive, I can feel it. It will be alright.<

Kayko looked at him and gave him a warm smile.

>I know thank you.<

They soon had to land and rest. Kayko's brain was about to explode from stress she had to stop working so had. Or maybe she just had to practice more either way she was tiered now.

"Should we just stay here to night i mean, we can only fly for like another hour before it gets dark might as well sleep all night and leave at first light." Sakura was tiered too, she kept rubbing her shoulders.

"No way we should fly through the night as well as now we will get further." It was the first time Kale had piped up about well anything since they left.

"And risk getting lost in the night or one of us falling to our doom sleep flying I thought you had a tactical brain." From the begging Uya had shown that he did not approve of Kale being here. Uya took every chance to swipe and make fun of Kale just to make him mad.

"We stay the night and leave at first light." Kenji said as he stepped between the to now very angry soldiers.

Kenji looked at Kayko. She was holding her head in pain and every muscle on her face told him she hurt badly. He felt terrible. >Maybe I shouldn't have tried to make contact with her< He felt really bad, but he was in charge of the troop right now and should start taking charge.

"Everyone bed down, sleep well we have a lot of flying to do tomorrow so rest while you can. I'll take the first watch." Kenji said and walked over to the fire.

Kayko awoke to see Kenji's arms around her. At first she was frightened but the she realized she liked Kenji rapped around her. >What am I thinking Kenji is.....kind and sweet, so cute and.....your co-worked!< She screamed to herself. >So what who better to get involved with and besides it would be rude and embarrassing to wake him up so make the best of it.< Kayko snuggled up to his warm. body

The moon was starting to submit to the sun as its warm rays invaded the cool night. Kenji had always been an early riser but had never woken up with a girl in his arms before! It was all he could do not to move or make a sound, it would be extremely embarrassing for both of them if he woke Kayko up. Be sides she hated getting up early should already be grouchy from the getting up at dawn he didn't want to wake her any earlier than necessary. >OK, really weird i remember lying down next to her but i don't remember being this close and i sure i didn't have my arms in this position.< Kenji thought franticly. >Should i wake her, or just let her sleep?< Kenji deicide to try to gently remove his arms and try to get up. He almost was free of her when she stirred and looked at him.

Kenji just stared back to bewildered to anything else.

"I.." Kenji started but Kayko put a figure to his lips to silence him.

Kayko leaned in and whispered in his ear,

"Thanks for keeping me warm last night."

She lightly kissed his earlobe and rolled over to sleep a little longer. Kenji sat up and stared at the beautiful woman in front of him. >Did she just do what i thought she just did because if she did what I thought she did what she did was....< He let his thoughts trail off. >Can I be in a relationship my commanding officer? Who is also a princess and she is 3 years younger than me.< He thought for a minute before his head started to hurt and decided he could talk about it with her when there mission was over, nothing would happen until after Kayko's revenge, he was sure of it.

Soon Sakura, Uya, Tori, and Kale woke and started to cook breakfast. By the time breakfast was done Kayko had woken up and was getting ready for a whole day of flying.

"If we have on short stop and no interruptions we should make it to Fanelia's far boarder by night fall." Kale said as he and Kayko looked at a map of the area.

"We will be passing over a very populated area we should walk once we reach....here." She pointed to a spot on the map that was a bout 30 miles from Fanelia.

"If we walk from there it will take another day to even get to the boarder, we should just fly." Kale said as if her pulled rank.

"We will be shot down if we fly over this city and going around will add 2 days to our travels, we walk one we reach Pllace." Kayko said as she went over to Kenji to help finish packing.

"What was that about?" Kenji asked a hint of concern in his voice.

"Oh he just to eager to get us all killed."

"Don't worry, you have yet to fail us i have total confidence in you." He said with a warm smile.

"Are you just saying that because i made junior here fight gravity?" Kayko asked as she lightly tapped him on the abdomen and walked away.

Kenji exhaled hard. He couldn't believe she had just said that to him. >The girl is too bold for her own good.< Kenji smiled to himself as he grabbed hi pack and got ready to lift off.

"Ok everyone i will lead, Kenji and Uya will be at my right and left Sakura be at my rear and Kale will fly above me." Kayko almost said for kale to be benithe her but she dicide against it she wasn't sure if he would be to happy about the position.

"Ready...Set...lift off!" Kayko cried as they all spread there winds and flew toward Pallace.