the other part of DOE

Akito sighed and knelt down in front of him. "You're right. I don't know how that feels. But I feel something of equal value." she lowered her voice to just a whispered, "My...my brother...he murdered my boyfriend." she muttered, tracing her finger in the sand. "Right in front of me..." she wiped her eyes quickly and looked at Ivan. "But you can't let that effect you all your life. You gotta believe that there's someone out there still. You can't give up," she looked down, "And you can't let depression take over you." A couple seconds of silence and her eyes widened. She stood up quickly. "I...um..." I can't believe I just said that!!! 

Ivan's head turned to her; clearly shocked at what she had just said.
"Your brother--did-what?! WHY?!"
Now it was Ivan's turn to feel embarrassed:
"IDIOT! WHY are you prying into your guard's PERSONAL LIFE?!"

Akito shook her head. "Uh...I...I shouldn't have said anything." she pointed to the plate of food. "Eat." she muttered, turning and facing away, with her back to him. Akito crossed her arms and sighed, closing her eyes and putting a hand to her forehead.

"I won't eat until you tell me why your brother did that!" Ivan fumed for the first time. He was surprised at the amount of couragous gall he was displaying by saying this.
However, at this point; Ivan's obnoxious curiosity got the best of him, and he wouldn't rest, eat, or travel any further until Akito told him everything.

Akito opened her eyes and turned around. "W-what?!" she glared and walked over to him. "You think just because you can threaten anyone that makes you the king of the world?!?!" she crossed her arms. "Fine, don't eat. See if I care." her eyes widened. What in the world did I just say?!? Akito winced. "I...I didn't mean that...I meant..."

"I know," Ivan smiled: "So, please satisfy the hunger of my curiosity, before I satisfy the hunger of my stomach," His smile then disappeared as he declared: "If you don't, I shall be faint from lack of nourishment later on, and YOU'LL be held responsible."
Akito's eyes bugged out of her head, as Ivan snickered.
"Even as prisoner, I still hold all of the cards," He winked as he sipped some water: "Please explain your tale in better detail."

Akito smirked, then sighed, giving in. "Fine." she muttered, sitting down. "But...you can't tell anyone." Akito sighed. "His name was Jonathan.." she pulled up her knees to her chest and started to tell her story. 

"There's nothing to apologize for," Ivan concluded as he started eating: "I know what it's like to mourn for loved ones--I've been doing all of my life it seems," His eyes wondered to Ivy and Lazereth who were feasting merrily with Kanon.
His eyes met Akito's:
"If this gives you any sympathy or eases the burden of forgiving Anthony ; your brother did love you very much in his own twisted way. He went to such extremes of wickedness because he thought it was best for all of you (just like I did with Ivy and Kanon). Also be aware that Anthony feels the pain of what he's done..."
Ivan stared at his meal, uncertain of anything else to say.

Akito nodded slowly and smiled, standing up. "Thanks. I've gotten over most of it, but sometimes I still feel the pain. But...no matter what some of it will still be there." she laughed a little and walked away, calling over her shoulder. "You're not as dense as I thought you were." 

Ivan glared at her; not angrily, just mildly annoyed.
"I observe many things, Akito--you know as well as I do that Krusaders are trained to be vigilant."
Akito rolled her eyes as she chuckled:
"I was kidding--mostly."
"I was kidding--mostly," Ivan mimicked as he finished his meal. As much as that remark stung his ego; he couldn't help liking her sense of humor--or her gentle smile.
He breathed in deeply, as a small grin found its way to his mouth.
Yes, Akito had a gentle, and quite lovely smile indeed.

Akito smiled and walked up to where Lazareth and the others were. She grinned. "Hi!"

Ivy grinned:
"Hello! Won't you join us?"
Kanon chimed in:
"YEAH, join the PARTY girl!"
Lazereth munched on the last bits of dried meat on his plate, and asked Akito.
"How's the prisioner?" He frowned, as he watched him: "He seems to be enjoying himself."

Akito glanced over at Ivan, then shrugged, smiling a little. "He's doing good." she grabbed a piece of bread and chewed on it absent-mindedly.

Ivy smiled slyly:
"He seems to think you're very pretty; look, he's watching you right now."
Kanon smirked:
"Akito and Ivan sitting in a tree..."
Ivy pushed her sister, as Lazereth rolled his eyes.

Akito turned a little red and she rolled her eyes. "Yeaaaaaah, yeaaaaah. Whatever." she laughed a little and sighed, wondering where they were actually going.

"We need to get moving again," Lazereth added, as they finished their meals: "It's going to be dark soon."
"And HERE I WAS getting COMFORTABLE!" Ivan called...his chains clacked as he stood up, and cried out in pain!
"I'VE--" He gasped, not managing to finish: "AKITO--SOMEONE--unnnhhh."
He feel over--his body lied still in the sand as they rushed over to him.
He looked dead--completely dead.

Akito gasped and ran over. "What in the world...what...what happened to him?!" she knelt down and felt his pulse. "Ivan?!"

"Lazereth," Ivan's voice rasped as Ivy and Kanon rolled him over to face them: "I--I didn't plan this, I s-s-swear..." He started shivering: "I'm--s-so co-old."
Kanon felt his forehead; he wasn't kidding. It was as cold as ice.
Lazereth looked over him, and noticed a small dart in Ivan's left hand. He plucked it out, as his voice hissed through his teeth:
"Assassins...this is one of their sickeness darts--they use it on their victims who they want to suffer before they die."
Kanon's voice wavered:
"DIE?"
"Just as wel-l-ll," Ivan's wavering voice quipped: "I w-won't be a burden to you anymore."
"That's just it," Lazereth concluded in frustration: "They're trying to use you to slow us down until they catch us--or you die in the process."
Ivan raspily cackled:
"Wonderful..."

Akito glared. "So what?! Are we just going to sit here and watch him die?! Can't we do anything?!!?" she looked at Ivan and grabbed the front of his shirt. "You better not die Ivan!!!!" she yelled.

Ivan managed a grim guffaw.
"You're RRRRIGHT, Akito," Ivan managed to stand; wobbling as he stood: "I won't--" he started to fall over, as Akito grabbed him: "I won't die immediately--it takes days--or even," he coughed: "Weeks, before the--potion *gasp* takes full--affect."

Akito sighed and still held on to Ivan. She looked at the other three. "Can't we do anything to get rid of the poison in his body?"

"Not unless you have a super-secret lab handy," Lazereth stated
Ivan just remembered:
"There was a lab-b that---*swallow* was inside the f-fortress...it'd be a suicide mission to t-t-try and break innn." He rolled his eyes; he was starting to really feel nauseas: "Annnnd I'm not worth the trouble."

Akito glared at Ivan. "You be quiet." she sighed and looked at Lazareth. "Do you know where this lab is?"

Lazereth rolled in his eyes in thought:
"I know WHERE the FORTRESS is, but not the lab."
"I'll--show you," Ivan collapsed in Akito's arms.
Kanon moaned:
"This just keeps getting better."

Akito stumbled back a little from the weight of Ivan but still stood up. She sighed. "Fine! I'll go by myself!"