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| - He looks rough. The wound may be small, but it's blackened and severely burned, nearly beyond recognition. The fire-spitter's bed was in the medical labs, part of the north side of Haven. The ward where we all kept vigil over the prone body of Xaedan was comfortable enough; Lightstones dot the walls and the windows were all open, a warm summer breeze causing the curtains to flutter gently. I remember that day. The day when Xaedan and Tsukumi were arranged to duke it out, just as a simple spar. Some tall person burst out of Xaedan and proceeded to lay waste to both him and Tsukumi. I saw everything, every last detail. Tsukumi rashly trying to finish off Xaedan and then the newcomer responding with devastating force. Finally, Xaedan shields Tsukumi and takes in a life-threatening hit. The aforementioned Toa of Water's here too. In fact, she was the one who rushed Xaedan into the medical labs as soon as the mysterious woman vanished. I think "Mary", as Xaedan called her, disappeared once he fell unconscious. And thank Mata Nui, I don't want to have anything to do with that crazy killer. The door to the ward quietly opens, and in comes Kaixin and another heavy-set, thickly armoured Toa. The latter was Korvald, the team's Toa of Iron. He doesn't say too much, really. I don't know a lot about him as we never got the chance to talk to each other since we arrived on this beautiful island. Kaixin rushes over, shoving aside me as she nears Xaedan’s side. Korvald stays by the door. "Has he done anything yet?" Tsukumi tersely shakes her head. "Out of the way, Kaixin, I'm not done yet." I gently steer Kaixin away, and we grip hands. Well, I gingerly grasp her hand with a claw while she winces slightly as I cut her. Close enough. "He'll be fine, just you watch," I mutter to Kaixin. Tsukumi, with the tip of a finger, dribbles a pearly drop of water into Xaedan's wound. I find all this rather odd, if you ask me. One second, Tsukumi wants to beat Xaedan to a pulp, the next she's fearing for his life. And, according to her, he was teetering on the very edge. With no Kanohi Kiril around, Tsukumi has done her best to extinguish the shadowy flame with her water. That's something else worth mentioning. I've seen heard stories of the Makuta and their beams of Shadow. This was nothing like it. Black fire, neither giving off light or heat. And it was just a spark! Just a tiny pinprick of shadowflame inflicted this much damage. Korvald strides over. With a wave of his hand, he peels away the layers of the Toa of Fire's armor. Together, they are the closest we have to surgeons. "Surgeons". More like an irritable doctor, and an assistant who communicates primarily in grunts. What a strange team we are. Kaixin sighs, and heads for the door. She cares for Xaedan, but she sure is impatient. "Kaixin, wait for me," I call after her with a shake of my head. Xaedan I remember the pain. I thought that side of her part was long gone. No. She promised me it was gone. I wake to a brilliantly blue backside. Tsukumi, of course it was she, was bent over me, face scrunched in complete concentration, the tip of her tongue poking out. Trying to compare this to the hardcase from before is rather ironic. In a good way. Upon the tip of her outstretched index finger was a droplet of water. I recognize that water-based curing ability. She, of all people, tried to heal me? She started all of this! Along with Tsukumi was another Toa, one of orange, gunmetal, and heavy armor. That would be Korvald, Toa of Iron. Yet another battle-scarred veteran, along the lines of Anzix. Korvald, however, doesn’t speak our language, as he prefers to use the near-extinct dialect of grunts. "Hello," I decide to say. It’s something safe to say, yet it heralds my return to the living. Korvald drops a pair of massive pliers and Tsukumi recoils in shock, upsetting a tray of wicked scalpels and wire cutters. I'm glad I woke up when I did. The tiny orb of water instantly elongates into a swirling ribbon of water. "You idiot, scaring us like that!" Tsukumi yells. "You repugnant maggot!" At her raised voice, the door caves inward, leaving behind half a door and splinters. Obviously the work of Caine's foot. Honestly. Doorknobs were invented for a reason. "Oh, so we're calling him 'maggot', now?" Kaixin says as she hops lightly through the gaping hole in the wall. "Damn right, sister! This is the maggot that nearly scared me to death! He's repugnant!" While Kaixin laughs, Caine sidles up to me, concern plastered all over his mask. I suddenly become aware of Korvald's absence; He must have slipped out while I got called a maggot. Go figure. "How are you doing, Xaedan?" Caine asks in hushed tones. "Better than I thought... brother." It sounds weird at first, calling Caine 'brother', but it soon settles and it feels right. We Toa truly are brothers and sisters. How odd. Is this what people call a proper conversation? I don't think I've had one in... a certain period of time far too long to remember. "Want a quick walk to stretch? After all, you have been asleep for two days, fire-spitter." I nod. A walk. Yes. Why not? "Hey, Tsukumi, you're done with Xaedan now, right?" Caine calls. "Get the maggot out of my sight!" Caine "So, Xaedan," I begin. "What do you think of the team now? Does it still seem strange to you?" He grins slightly. Though it may have been small, it was still a smile, no doubt about it. "Of course. Kaixin is a bit of an idiot, you're too normal, and Tsukumi's not normal enough." I chuckle at being called normal. "Then what about you, Xaedan? What are you now?" "I think I'm quite alright, thank you very much." I find myself actually agreeing with the Fire Toa's statement of himself. He's a good guy once he finally opens up. I do wonder how he ended up like this, I've never heard of a shy Toa of Fire, though it would be rude to pry. Xaedan then turns to me. "We're asking questions anyway, so do you mind if I start asking?" I gesture for him to go right on ahead. This is an excellent opportunity to grow closer to Xaedan. "What do you think about her, Caine?" "Her? Kaixin? Tsukumi? Amea, that Toa of Sonics? Or do you mean Formos-" I look beside me only to find an empty patch of grass. Xaedan was waving at me from underneath the park's willow tree. I've heard it was his favourite place to be. Apparently, he's been known to fall asleep there for hours at a time. The park was back in tip-top shape. Valaryx, the team's Toa of Plantlife, restored it to its former glory after everything was said and done. I jog over to Xaedan and take a heavy seat next to him. I am greeted with a most disconcerting response. "I meant "Mary". Who else?" Rather unexpected. No, maybe dismaying is a more accurate word. I was just beginning to think the fire-spitter was alright, too. As soon as the last syllable drops from Xaedan's mouth, I feel it. That dismay. It tints my vision a cold blue and I involuntarily clench my hands. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. It isn't normal to have an irrational fear of someone you've only seen once. Just... calm down. I do my best and try to answer honestly. "Well, she's... scary," I manage to blurt. I want to take back such a stupid reply, but Xaedan's actually nodding, like he was expecting this. "Do you want to know more about "Mary"?" I don't. Not in the least. But it seems as if we are still playing the question game, so I nod, tentatively, against my better judgment. Xaedan laces his hands behind his back and leans back against the tree's trunk, looking like he was just simply spending a relaxing evening outdoors. Perhaps he was. I certainly won't be, with what I'm about to hear. "I've been with "Mary" for a long time." I sense a story, and a long one at that. I really do not know what's making me stay and hearing this all out. "For over twenty years, she and I have been paired like this. Caine, you of all people know that I was very quiet. As a Ta-Matoran in Metru Nui, it was even worse. You had no excuse to be alone since you were literally surrounded by others. "No one really had a use for such a silent, unsociable fellow like me, so I was pretty much treated like dirt. Until one day." At this Xaedan's eyes light up and a slight grin suffuses his mask. "Caine, I know this will sound hard to believe, but..." Xaedan's voice breaks off as he laughs. "There was this little cloaked man. He had a top hat, too. He said that I could have everything I wanted: the power to redeem myself, and to never be alone again. Then, he said I had to take part in this deathmatch thing. Weird, right?" I stare at Xaedan. Little... cloaked... man? Deathmatch? He goes on, oblivious to my shock. "Power came in the form of a Toa Stone. Companionship?" Xaedan taps the side of his head. "That is what "Mary" is for." I gulp. This was crazy. What did Infernum have to do with Xaedan? This was... Madness. At last, I push a reply through my mouth. "Then why be paired with a crazy psycho? She nearly killed you and Tsukumi!" Xaedan turns to me, the setting sun lending a hellish glow to his mask. Fortunately, his voice is still friendly enough. "Oh, she's quite nice if you get to know her. I was actually thinking of introducing "Mary" to the whole team tomorrow, or did you want to meet her now?" I scramble backwards. "Hey, listen, Xaedan. It's getting late. I, uh, I'll head home now." I'm already half-running away before Xaedan can even open his mouth to reply. First I had to witness "Mary" nearly kill a fellow Toa, and now Xaedan reveals he's in the Deathmatch. The compartment on my hip suddenly feels heavy, very heavy indeed. A stone tablet should not be this heavy. Xaedan Caine seems to be in a bit of a hurry. Who knew someone like him would be scared of little old "Mary"? The Air Toa could probably take on Teridax himself and come out smiling. I gasp in pain as my head seems to split right in half. Here it comes again! "Did you mean it, Xaedan? Did you?" With chains dangling and clattering lightly, "Mary" stands over me, eyes wide, hopeful, and burning with a fell radiance. "Yes, "Mary", I will introduce you to everyone tomorrow, that's a promise." Her wings are fluttering and her tail twitches from side to side. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" "Mary" cries jubilantly. "You have no idea how much this means to me! I've always wanted to meet other people!" I just simply smile. "Mary" was such a simple being, yet kind and gentle-hearted, a perfect partner for me. I've already forgotten what she did two days ago. It's what she's like now that matters. "Mary" comes over for a quick hug. "I love you, Xaedan," she breathes. I pause. The willow branches above me begin to sway with the gentle breeze. I say nothing.
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