Kino: (sniffle) I’ve been sick the past two days, so I really haven’t gotten to putting this up. I wanted to get this up at, like, six in the morning, however, it turned out I couldn’t get it up due to computer issues.

Disclaimer: I annoy you, don’t I?

Summary: Deep from within my tearful eyes, your unchanging self is reflected. How far does this world extend? When will the tales of this age come to an end? Even on cold, stormy nights, I search for you endlessly. Tell me, oh wind, which traverses the sea. Our prayers will cross through time. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; whole misadventured piteous overthrows do with their death bury their parents' strife.

Forever Star-crossed

By Kino Lady of the Divine

As he ran, Matoro tied on cape and mask of the Blue Typhoon.

No one else should have to risk their lives…

He jumped and landed atop the structure that held the captured Matoran.

“There he is!”

“Our savior!”

“The Blue Typhoon!”

There he stood, proud, shrouded in a blue cape, hat and mask. The Matoran below looked on with relief and sobbed with joy. Their family members would be spared!

Vahki stood at the ready, flaming arrows notched into place and aimed at the pile of wood drenched in kerosene.

Above the center of the city, Onewa and Vhisola tended to the unconscious Aka. Her long lashed eyes fluttered open.

“Wha…?” she breathed. “Where’s… where’s the doctor?”

“Hush,” Vhisola said, smoothing out the wig covering her friend’s long hair.

“Drink this.” Onewa said, holding a flask of something to her lips. Aka drank deeply, ignoring the burning sensation in her chest.

“It will help you wake up.” the brunet continued.

“Where’s the doctor?” Aka asked again, more awake this time due to the alcoholic beverage she had been given.

Vhisola stood up and looked out to the scene below. Immediately, Aka stood up, disregarding the nauseous sensation sweeping over her. Onewa steadied her swaying form and helped her to the stone railing of the bridge.

At once, the nauseous feeling was gone and her body was numb.

“No…”

“Release the accused men at once.” Matoro demanded in his deep, mighty voice he never knew he even had.

“What was that?” Redunds snarled. “You dare command something of me? No wanted Matoran can make demands!”

“When the true Blue Typhoon has appeared what is the need of the accused ones?”

The crowd agreed with him and urged the Vahki and Redunds to let them go.

“Stop!” Matoro said, holding up a gloved hand. “No Vahki can turn their weapons on helpless Matoran. Are they not to protect Metru Nui’s citizens?”

The demands of Matoran accused and gathered overwhelmed Redunds.

“Do not desist!” he ordered. “Keep your lines!”

The crowd gasped as a burning arrow, let loose, grazed Matoro’s shoulder.

The doctor winced, doing his best to ignore the searing pain and slap out the small fire on his cape. When the flame on his shoulder was out, he pulled the arrow out from the top of the cage for the accused Matoran. It had buried itself deep enough to stay put, but was not a strong enough flame to set the dry wood on fire.

“My apologize, Blue Typhoon,” Redunds chuckled. “I will release these Matoran, seeing as how you are here now. Would you forgive me?”

A Vahki slid the bold out of place and freed the Matoran, who ran out to embrace their families.

“You should show some gratitude for my compassion.” Redunds said, smirking up at Matoro. “However, you will not be receiving the same treatment! Once you are a corpse we will unmask you to reveal your true face.”

“I’m afraid you will not have the chance.” Matoro said, holding the flaming arrow. He held it up, showing the Matoran, the Tahunga and the Vahki. “The Blue Typhoon will vanish here! But a new storm will form and be stronger than I ever was. As sure as rain, a new storm will bring new hope! Embrace that hope and let it stir a storm in your own hearts! If you do this, the world will change, and we will be free! It is the time of freedom.”

He dropped the arrow, not watching as it plunged into the kerosene drenched wood, which caught in a second, hiding him behind a wall of flames.

“Let me go!” Aka cried. “Let go!”

She struggled against the strong arms of Onewa and Nuju, knowing it was in vain. Matoro was gone and she had no hope of seeing his kind face again.

“No!” Nuju said, his voice much more rough than she remembered it being. “We need you more!”

“I’m going to save him! Let me go!”

“It’s already too late.” Onewa said softly but sternly in her ear.

Her vision was blocked by tears as she fell to her knees gasping of breath as she sobbed.

The large cage that held the accused Matoran was hidden from all sight behind a wall of flames and smoke. All knew they would never see that man again.

The sight of flames and smoke in the night had drawn unwanted attention of two young nobles.

“It looks bad!” the green clothed noble said over the wind.

“Do you know what it is?” his friend dressed in red and gold asked.

“No. But I can take a wild guess.”

The two landed near Redunds, who looked completely surprised by the friends.

“Lord Vakama! Lord Matau!” Redunds gasped. “What brings you here?”

“What is this uproar?” Matau asked.

“What is going on?” Vakama demanded, frowning as a Vahki threw a Matoran to the ground.

“‘What,’ you ask?” Redunds said dryly. “The death of their great and powerful Blue Typhoon has simply agitated them, is all, nothing for you to fret over.”

“The Blue Typhoon is dead?”

“Vakama, please, be calm!” Matau reminded his friend. The Blue Typhoon was still a touchy subject for the two.

“Indeed he is. It was I who brought him to bay, myself.” Redunds said bowing. “He abandoned all hope and chose to immolate himself. The Blue Typhoon is dead. This resolves the matter.”

Vakama looked at the burning mass in the center, eyes wide in fear and dread, brimmed by tears that he would not shed until he was in the air.

Nokama…

He and Matau leapt on their Kewa mounts and headed away from the chaos of the night.

He’s dead… This means that…

From above, he spotted a form he recognized. Smiling in relief and joy, he and Cielo descended to Aka and her companion, a female.

“Nokama!” he called.

Aka and Vhisola heard the noble approaching on his Kewa and turned, realizing he wasn’t alone.

“I am so glad!” Vakama said, sliding off Cielo. Matau landed, but did not dismount, nearby. “You are safe.”

“Vakama.” Aka said softly, eyes brimmed with fresh tears.

“I am relieved.” he said, stopping not too far away from her. “I was convinced you were the Blue Typhoon.”

“He must be crazy.” Matau said to himself. “That puny, little guy being the Blue Typhoon?”

Aka did no meet Vakama’s eyes.

“I can’t see you any more.” she said quietly, so only he would hear.

“What? Why?”

She reached up and pulled her wig off.

Matau, even more baffled, had to blink several times as to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. Was that guy really a girl?

“Because, I am the true Blue Typhoon.”

Vakama watched as she flipped over the railing of the balcony and landed gracefully on the bridge below.

“Nokama!”

Forcefully, Nokama shoved her Blue Typhoon outfit into a box, before carrying it down to the depths of Lhikan’s theater.

“Nokama?” Vhisola asked. “Do you want something to eat?”

“I’m fine.” the blue haired girl said, heading back to her room.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Once, safe in her room, Nokama collapsed on her bed, not caring if her skirts wrinkled or her hair was tousled. She breathed in the scent of her hair and shampoo of her pillow, holding it close to her face.

Underneath her pillow was a handkerchief, the very handkerchief she had made for the one she now wanted out of her life and her thoughts.

She looked at it and sighed.

I won’t ever give it to him now. He won’t forgive me.

Trumpets blasted as Archduke Teridax Montague and his son entered, taking their seats at the council meeting for nobles.

“Well, well, well!” Iruini said, taking his seat next to Zaktan. “You are having a tough time, Lord Mayor!”

His voice was slurred and hardly understandable due to the amount of alcohol consumption before the meeting.

“Lord Iruini!” Zaktan gasped. “The council is about to be called into session!”

“Order!” Montague said, banging his gavel. “This session has been opened. Our first item to discuss is: The punishment for the Vahki present at the uprisings. Second, the rebellion that is forming that was reported directly to the Vahki. It will cooperate with them and allow citizens to search out restless elements themselves.” Vakama looked over to his father, surprised. “These aforementioned provisions are to be the new pillars to support Metru Nui. The above motion is to be passed unanimously.”

“I-I object!” came from the crowd.

No!

Vakama turned and saw Matau’s father standing, fists clenched.

“Doing such a thing is extending the martial law indefinitely!” Zaktan said.

“What is your opinion, Lord Mayor?” Teridax asked, amused. “You seem to know the Matoran well enough, don’t you?”

“Resentment towards the Vahki has risen to unprecedented levels.” Zaktan said. Vakama noted how many were not paying attention. “Strengthening their authority will not help our given situation! Furthermore, starting a citizens’ militia will only split the Matoran into pro- and anti-Vahki factions! It will only fuel this fire!”

Montague waved his hand, signaling he didn’t want to hear more. He said, “By virtue of cooperating with the Vahki, they will undoubtedly come to learn the nature of peace and the nature of their protectors. The Lord Mayor seems to be under the false impression that I am trying to suppress the Matoran. But if this city if led astray, is it not the duty of the father to enforce strict discipline? The father must use the whip; even as he is doing it, he weeps. My children have disrupted the order of this fair city, and must be punished by the law!”

He stopped, relaxing before saying, “It seems our Lord Mayor is an ally to the Matoran. If you like them so much, you should become one of them. The House of Zaktan Baldino is hereby stripped of their title and noble status. All in order of this action, rise!”

“I’m sorry.” Iruini whispered to his friend, standing up.

“Why did you do that?” Vakama asked his father.

“He was guilty for allowing the uproar to boil over.” Archduke Montague said coolly.

“If that is the reason, should the Tahunga of the Vahki not be punished first?”

“At times like these, we nobles must show strength. Tahunga Redunds is a fine Tahunga. We need him right now.”

Vakama shuddered and turned down a hall leading away from his father and the mess he had been brought into.

“The doctor’s family don’t know, do they?” Huki asked innocently as they floated down a cannel. “That he became the Typhoon and died.”

Aka sat facing them, but away from where they were going, deep in her own thoughts. Nuju steered them and Onewa decided to ignore Huki’s question.

“Could it be?” someone, a girl, from a bridge asked.

“It’s Lord Onewa!” her friend squealed, hugging her bouquet of flowers closer.

“No! Oh, it’s true!”

“Please accept these!” a girl next to the cried, tossing miscellaneous flowers down to the boat below.

“My deepest thanks.” Onewa said, catching a white one. “Though none of these flowers could compare to your beauty.”

The girls squealed in delight.

“What the hell are you doing?” Nuju asked.

“Simply allowing beauty its due.”

“Please accept these too!” the first girl cried, throwing her own flowers down on them when they reached the other side. Following in suit, the second girl threw her own.

One landed on Nuju’s head. The man in all white simply snarled and shook his head.

“Look here!” he barked. “We have a vital mission! You know that!”

“Matoran need to replenish their hearts.” Onewa said “Nu-oo-ju!”

“Don’t you dare touch me! You’re disgusting!”

“Look, even your skin needs replenishing.”

Aka snapped out of her daze watched the two with Huki, both struggling to hide their amusement in the simple fight the two commonly shared.

“What are you babbling about?” Nuju asked.

What can I possibly say to Matoro’s family?