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[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken was surprised to hear the girl addressed as "Princess", but he remained mindful of Steel all the same. Steel said that he knew the answers to his questions, but what did he know?

"There you are Ken. However did you get this far away from the army?"

Ken was taken aback by the rather casual remark. He regarded Steel with a mindful and serious eye--he could only remember Steel as being an accomplice to Crowe.

"How exactly do you know me?" Ken asked carefully.

[Steel Samurai]

"Know you?" He studied the young warrior's face. "So. Tis as I thought. You must have lost your memory during the battle. What do you remember?"

"I remember feeling like I was lost somewhere... There was small band of traveler's who said they found me on the beach. Someone in charge of them decided I was not welcome, so I left after my wounds were hastily tended tooo. Soon after that, I met Jordan and XI, and then Shadow. Past that, all I remember is this man with yellows eyes, hair that was red and black...... And after that, all I remember is mother... And then, sometimes, I think I remember this wolf who had silver fur..."

Steel sighed.

"Your name is Ken Miyamasa. Lieutenant, first class in the Forsaken Fortress Navy. You were found drifting on an abandoned vessel by one of our raiding parties several years ago. They kept you alive and, when they returned to the Fortress, you decided to join us. Due to your rather unorthodox fighting style, your chief duties were smithing until recently, but lately you've helped tremendously with several missions. During the recent dorm war you were under my direct command, but we were separated during a particularly heated skirmish with the woods and I hadn't seen you since then."

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

For awhile, Ken was unsure of what to think. The information came all at once, and took awhile to process. The story... it made some sense. Some bits of memory flared up in his mind. Images mostly. Eventually, some of them came together.

"Wait..."

Ken pulled up once of his sleeve. Right there, on his shoulder was a tattoo he had been wondering about.

"I remember a little... This is the Fortress's mark, isn't it?"

Ken looked at Steel again.

"I think I remember traveling with you... And some other people... A guy who reminds me of foxes for some reason..."

There was a battle--that skirmish Steel mentioned. Ken remembered a disturbingly familiar feeling of stabbed through his torso. That feeling of coldness throughout his body, it was...

"... That battle you mentioned, I remember. I fought someone... I remember... I remember..."

The thought struck Ken.

"I died."

[JRPomazon]

Jordan sat back in his chair and listened to everything. Steel knew a lot about Ken it seems, but what real was a shock was the fact that Ken was a member of the Forsaken Fortress. Previously unable to make the connection between the two parties, Jordan felt a tad dense. Still, a lot of information was being revealed here and Ken's memories were restored. . . mostly.

"I died." Ken said.

The words rang in Jordan's head for a moment. He "died"? What could that mean?

"You died?" Jordan asked, raising his brow in question.

"Like a close brush with death or an actual fatality? Trust me, I know the difference."

"Jordan, I doubt that's really important." Gwen commented as she cooked dinner.

------------------------------------

In the afterlife, Pharos and Argus watched the events unfold.

"So, he's gone and decided to join a dorm. It's pathetic that my student can't even fight for himself." Argus said, disgruntled by Jordan's decision.

"Come now Argus," Pharos replied, "It's not like he doesn't have the ability to fend for himself. He has just chosen a different path than you."

"He is a blasted fool for making this choice. Those who carry the title "Whirlwind Spear" are destined to wander the world and never say put. They don't just control the wind, they practically become it. We can't settle and stick around for too long, we have to move sometime. A dorm life will merely bind him down to servitude."

"That may be true, but we all know that destinies aren't always predetermined, they can also be forged."

"Hmph. You have got some confidence in this kid."

"I suppose you could say that. But the truth of the matter is that by joining the Pirates, he will be able to let go of the burdens Crowe and I placed on him and obtain the strength for his future battles. He will have one tough life, but not as rough as you or me."

"What makes you say that?" He asked as he raised his brow.

"Your daughter Gwen will be there to welcome him home." Pharos said cheerfully.

Argus looked at Pharos with dismay.

"My Gwen deserves the best! Not some idiot student who can't take care of himself!"

"But he is your idiot student."

Argus began to steam up as Pharos began to laugh. After a short while, his laugher faded away and his face grew more solemn.

"So it seems that he won't fulfill my last wish and rebuild the Hall of Heroes after all. Perhaps this is for the best though. If the Labyrinth discovered his affiliation with me, it could lead to him being killed. At least he will be safer with the pirates on his side."

Argus sighed.

"I see, so that's why you were so happy for him for joining the pirates. Let me just say that your descendant is unpredictable. He could pull off a few more miracles before he see us again. Your dream might be realized. But if you ask me, the Hall of Heroes no longer has a place in the current era. Same goes for the Labyrinth. The past is best left in the past. As long as it isn't forgotten, then it won't be gone forever."

Pharos looked over to Argus.

"Well then, we'll have to see what happens from here on." He said as smile returning to his face.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken strained his memories as they slowly faded in.

"I--I am not sure. But..."

The memory of the silver-furred wolf came back.

"That wolf... before the war, he told me I would pay a great price... and then..."

The woods.

"In the woods, I remember... I felt seperated. I had become seperated from myself. I was just a restless spirit that refused to move on to the next life. There--that was where I forgot. All of the other spirits in the woods, the ones who would lead people astray, they made me forget. I became just some trickster spirit. Then that wolf... He appeared before me, carrying my body over his back. All of the other spirits seemed to fear him, but not me. I followed him out of the woods, becuase I knew I just had to..."

Ken stared at the floor.

"I followed him for what felt like ages. I did not even know why. Eventually we stopped and he placed my body down somewhere. He gave me back my life somehow. I was barely alive--but alive nonetheless. Then that wolf, he told he would watch over me a little while longer. I think he was telling me the truth. I heard him and saw him a few times when travelling Jordan. And then, in that battle with Crowe's dragon, he said he could no longer stay, that I could no longer rely on him..."

[Steel Samurai]

The room was silent for a moment.

"It may be that more of your memory will be restored when you return to the Fortress. Which is where I'm heading now. Jordan, Ken, how soon do you wish to leave? And will the lovely miss Gwen be accompanying us?" Steel questioned.

Princess Hina sat down at the table to eat the hot stew Gwen had fixed for her. She wondered how long they would stay here. She wondered what the fortress would be like. She doubted it could be very comfortable, with all of those nasty pirates milling around, probably trying to peek into her room when she was changing. Her ears perked up when Steel said that Ken and Jordan might be coming with them. Oh, she hoped they would come. She didn't want to spend any more time alone with that horrible man than she had too. She could barely look at him without thinking about Him. She tried to remember the special moments they had had together, the stolen kisses in the garden, his warm embrace when she had had a particularly bad day . . . not her last memory of him, pale, powerless to save her at the last. But the memories . . . they were starting to fade. She turned and looked at Steel. His fault. It was all his fault. If it wasn't for him she would be safely away with her beloved or dead with him. She looked into his eyes, trying to fathom how one man could be so cruel in some ways, and yet have a semblance of kindness in others. His eyes sparked and twinkled as the light from the fire played off of them. They were deep pools of darkest black, as though behind them were lakes which had no bottom. Entrancing eyes. Eyes one could explore for a thousand years and have never fully explored their depths . . . She snapped back to the present. No! He was her enemy, though for now she might cooperate with him, he had killed her love, and for that she would not, could not ever forgive him. Hina turned back to her stew, and resolutely stuck a spoonful in her mouth. Her eyes widened suddenly at the boiling heat. She swallowed, the hot broth burning her throat as it went down. She felt his eyes on her, and didn't flinch. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of watching her suffer any more.

Gwen watched her. The man Steel had addressed her as Princess. Princess of what, she wondered. She saw the way she looked at him, her expression slowly changing from pure hatred to enrapturement, and then flash back to anger as she turned away. Gwen pursed her lips. An interesting relationship to be sure. She wondered where it would go from here.

[JRPomazon]

Jordan's eyes subtly shifted from Ken to Hina, the two of them were acting strangely. Jordan folded his arms and kept silent, almost ignoring the food. Almost. This kind of cooking was too good to pass up. Taking a spoonful of the stew, Jordan began to process what he had just heard. Jordan took a good look at Hina, feeling as though he had seen this woman before. But where exactly? A light flickered in his head, a brief memory flashed in Jordan mind. She was at the Lost Sanctuary, Crowe's former haven. She was lying down at the time, most likely unconscious. He only saw her for a second, in between evasive maneuvers during the previous fight.

She must have been with Steel since before he and Jordan met. But how far back? Where did Steel come from previously? Jordan took another bite of the stew, maintaining his silence as the others spoke. He looked over to Gwen, who appeared to be curious about a few things herself. He also noticed that Gwen's apron was still white after cooking. Wait, apron. . . clothing. Steel's clothes reeked of gunpowder and smoke. It was noticeably strong, meaning it was a recent fragrance on his body. Gunpowder and smoke usually mean war, so that means. . . Van'Duras.

Jordan took another bite, his mind working to figure things out. They had come from Van'Duras, which didn't seem physically posible. However, since Crowe could teleport from any location he wanted, he could have picked them up and dragged them to Sornaiid. Steel called her "princess" too, which seemed to me more than a pet name. Steel was formal, he wouldn't give people "pet names". This means that she is indeed a real princess. A princess from Van'Duras. . . wait, why was the term princess familiar? He had heard someone else mention the word before. Jordan thought back.

"Oblivion." He softly muttered, everyone else unable to pick up his words.

Oblivion was an reanimated knight in the service of Crowe. He was given incredible strength, but his body and mind couldn't take the strain and fell apart prematurely after being stuck by Jordan's spear. It was like he was merely a prototype of sorts, perhaps for the soul offering needed to strengthen the red dragon Arcus. He mentioned a princess before he faded back into death. He also mentioned the reason he fought was for love. The love of the princess? Jordan froze, everything seemed to make sense. Oblivion was once the man this woman loved.

Jordan felt bitterly sick after figuring all this out, the knowledge becoming too much to bear. He pushed his stew away and jumped out of his chair. He ran outside and proceeded to vomit on the ground. Crowe used Oblivion's past life merely as a means to control him, To force back from death and into murder only to be killed once again. Gwen came after Jordan.

"Hey, are you alright?" She asked, concerned for Jordan's health.

"I'm OK. Oh, and it's not the stew." He said.

Gwen nodded and went back inside. She looked over her shoulder to see Jordan again, who was slowly getting up.

"Crowe, even in death you cause nothing but misery." He thought as he walked back inside.

He looked at Hina, who was surprised and worried after the random rush to the outdoors. Should he say anything to her? What could he say? No amount of words would make a difference now.

"Don't worry, the stew is perfectly fine. It just went down the wrong way. Sorry about the show there." He said as he reclaimed his spot at the table.

"As for departure Steel, gives us a day or so."

Edited by JRPomazon, 08 February 2008 - 10:35 AM.

[Steel Samurai]

OOC: K guys, let's try and get things wrapped up ASAP since the war's coming, so, since I believe you're the only one with stuff to wrap up JRP, feel free to timeskip next post.

Steel nodded. A day or two rest would be good for the Princess. She was tired, he could tell, though she was hiding it well.

"Very well. We'll leave at sunrise day after tomorrow." He yawned and stretched. "I believe I'll get to bed now. Obviously there's not enough room for all of us, so I'll just sleep outside." He arose and walked outside, and then settled himself against the wall nearest the fire. As the moon rose before him, he slowly fell asleep.

[JRPomazon]

Night moved in swiftly, everyone with a place to rest as they dozed off into sleep. All except one that is. Jordan remained awake, staring at the armor formally owned by his master, Argus of the Whirlwind Spear. Its emerald color almost glowed as the moonlight shimmered off its metallic surface. It was a masterpiece, to say the least. Jordan took a look at his own armor, forged by Ken. It had similar characteristics to his old armor and his masters, like some sort of fusion. With a sigh, Jordan gathered his armor and his other belongings so he would know where they were when the time came to depart.

A soft footstep echoed from the back of the room. Jordan turned around slowly, finding Gwen out of her bed.

"A bit late to be haunting around don't you think?" Jordan asked, curious as to why she remained awake.

"Well, I can't sleep." She replied, taking a seat on the room's couch.

"Same here. I'm too worked up over tomorrow."

"I suppose I can't blame you. After all, you of all people just can't hang out in one place too long. Staying at the Fortress will be hard on its own."

Jordan chuckled, finding the truth to be funny at times.

"It should be interesting."

The conversation died down, only sounds of feint clunking objects echoed in the room.

"How come you haven't asked me to come with you?"

Jordan stopped, the sounds of packing halted.

"Why ask a question you already know the answer to? Even if I did ask you, you still wouldn't be able to come with me."

Gwen lowered her head, staring at the floor below her.

"I see." She replied.

"It seems you haven't forgotten after all, that I have to stay here."

Jordan finished moving his things and took a seat on the couch.

"It?s because of your duty to your father, right?"

"Yes. My father asked me to stay here in Sornaiid until the "great change" was to occur."

"Heh, only that man would have his daughter stay out in the frontier like this for some phenomenon."

"Jordan, please don't speak like that about my father. You know full well that he had the best intentions for having me stay here."

"I know, but the great change of winds happens once in a great while. You'd be lucky if it happened within the next 70 years."

"Contrary to what you may think, I don't mind waiting so much. This is a nice place to live and the village nearby has a great market. I'm perfectly fine here."

Jordan smiled. This was probably the best place for a girl like Gwen. Peaceful and calm, with the exception of an evil wraith here and there. Gwen looked at Jordan, her blue eyes staring right into his.

"Jordan, what you said to me today, was it true?"

"Yeah." Jordan replied, his face blushing a little.

There was a sudden sensation of warmth covering his body; Gwen had fallen into his arms on the couch.

"Jordan, I really want to go with you. I would go anywhere in the world, as long as-"

"Gwen, please don't. . ."

"I don't want. . ."

She stopped herself.

"Gwen?" Jordan asked, curious as to what she would say.

"I don't want. . . you to leave again."

There was silence, Jordan's eyes wide with surprise and Gwen holding Jordan tightly.

"I hate it when you off without me. I hate it when you leave alone. So please. . ."

Her voice trailed off. She looked up at Jordan, her eyes shining in the moonlight that came through the window.

"At least let me hold you like this. Just for a little while longer."

It was a strange moment. Jordan had always thought of Gwen as a younger sibling, using sibling ties a reason to protect her. All this time he had been ignorant to her true feelings. Could she have fallen in love with him? Jordan's surprised expression faded away, moving his arms to hold her. He couldn't protect her, he couldn't even keep her company most of the time, but for some reason she loved him. His feelings felt out of sorts and he wasn't sure what it was he felt at that moment. A strange sensation came over his body, where he was relaxed and tense at the same time. It seemed he truly did love her, but he wasn't sure what he should say.

The two of them stayed together for the entire night. Gwen woke up before Jordan and had crept out of bed to make breakfast. The rest of the day that followed went by quickly, almost as though it didn't happen. Eventually, the next morning came. The sun was a mild yellow, brightening the world with a soft light. After gathering his things and placing his armor back on his body, Jordan, Ken, Steel and Hina were almost ready to head off to the Forsaken Fortress. Gwen decided send them off, packing them some prepared meals for the trip. Steel and Hina began to head off first, closely follow by Ken who thanked Gwen for her hospitality. It was just Jordan and Gwen, waiting outside the small house.

"So, this is goodbye for now it seems." Jordan started.

"Yeah, so it seems." She continued, disheartened with the idea of goodbye.

"Please be safe while you rough-house with the pirates, OK?" She asked.

"Yeah, yeah. Sheesh, you act like my mother sometimes." Jordan said, complaining as he scratched his head.

"I mean it you know! Be careful! I can't possibly explain that any more than I have already." She responded with a lecturing tone.

"I'll come back to you." Jordan said, switching from silly to serious in a second.

Surprised by his words, Gwen froze at that instant.

"Jordan! Hurray up or we'll leave you behind!" Ken called out from the distance. He appeared to be in a good mood.

Jordan began to turn around when he felt Gwen tug at his hand.

"I'll be waiting." She said as a smile appeared on her face.

Jordan gave his natural carefree smile and grabbed one of his spears from its sling. He walked a few feet away and swung the weapon horizontally. A massive gale blasted through the entire field, cutting the tall grass to a manageable length. Jordan looked back at Gwen.

"Yard work is done. Take care Gwen." He said just before heading off to rejoin the group.

"You too." She replied.

She headed back into the house and closed the door. As Jordan and the others continued on their way, he looked back at the seemingly endless field and the purple mountains that surrounding it's boarders. He took a good look, not knowing when he would see this place again. I was to the Forsaken Fortress now. New battles awaited at his destination and perhaps a reunion with a certain young pirate. Jordan of the Whirlwind Spear headed off, knowing he always had a place to return to.

Reclaiming the Past: The End

OoC: Anything that you guys post beyond this point will be non-canon, thus not a part of the actual story. That is all.