Yakari's POV;

Looking straight at the blue sky images of activities that went on between lorytha and I swept across my mind. My lips could still taste her olive flavored lips.
My body was still aching from all the sliding movements, her presence could still be felt in my soul.

"Hey, yakari!." It was interrupted by the call of my name. Who is this bastard who would disturb my sweet daydream. Of course. It would no other but Fred. I was hesitant to respond as kept approaching.

"Where have you been, dick head?" He said as he lay beside me on the grass with the sky our only view. I didn't wish to respond but I had no choice as it was sure he would bother me till I could resist no more.

"I've been staring at the sky all morning, as we know it this could be the last we see of such beauty" I said before cocking my head to look at Fred who had already fixed his eyes on me.

He let out a light smile as he sat up and cleared his throat.
"You know,a man dies the moment he has declared himself dead. Now it does not matter if we have to be at the front lines or support crew , someone who is gonna die is gonna die".
I opened my mouth and closed it immediately as my eyes widened in surprise. 

He then turned his eyes to mine and gave out a loud laughter. I seemed confused, this wasn't the mood of one who knew his life would be in danger the moment he enters the battle field and as far as I knew he had never even been in a battle in his life let alone the front line of it. I stared at him for a while before sending my gaze back to the sky that was soon barren of clouds.

"What would you do if I died on battle?." I asked not knowing what kind of answer I wanted in response. He didn't say a word for a while before he bowed his head and placed his eyes on my face with a long smile breaking from his lips.
"You can't die because I won't even let that happen. I would put my life on the line just to save you." My heart felt flustered, who would do something like that for someone he met only a months before. Could he just be bluffing.
They more I thought about the more serious it began to seem.

"Hello." A voice from behind called out snatching our attention.
My body froze as the person approached. His silver hair was shining as it trapped some of the golden rays of the sun in it. His traditional human attire was quite unique featuring long boots that ran from his knee. With a hat in his hands which he placed by his side. His silver hair was brushed to the back of his head and tied to a ponytail with some falling on his face. His lips let out a smile as he reached very close to us.
It was peine. What could he be doing here and how long has he been following me. I didn't have time to notice Fred carefully noting all the lines of worry that drew itself on my forehead.

"Have you two met before?." Fred asked.

"Yes." Peine replied before my lips could even release any word. " we met at the market actually, and i must say this fella is really a kind one. He paid the bill of a stranger even at the first meeting." He said with the smile refusing to wear out of his face.

"That nice. And you are right yakari is quite a kind person although he doesn't like to show it." Fred responded as he smiled sheepishly at me.

"What would be your name young lad?." He asked as he sat beside me but eyes fixed on fred.

"I'm Fred ganner,sir"

"Nice name you have their, by any chance are you in the army as well?." He said as he cocked his head.

"Yes sir, I'm one of the riders if the cart-man. And I can only feel..." Fred stopped and a frown was drawn to his face, "just who are you sir. You still haven't introduced yourself."

Shit. Fred must know who this guy is.

"David O'Neil" I answered hurriedly. Fred turned to me looking curious like he had more questions to ask.

"Very well, nice to meet you O'Neill. But it looks like yaky isn't to thrilled to see you."

"Who are you calling 'yaky'?, please don't call me that again."

"I think it's a nice nickname, so you should be happy bearing it." He said as those beautiful green eyes of his turned to me.

"Tsk. I wouldn't bear that name even if I were dead" I responded placing a look of disgust on my face.

Peine then let out a loud laughter before returning his eyes to me.

"You so much remind me of myself when I was your age, you know." With that he brushed some of his hair behind his ear revealing the earrings had pierced in them. He really was a cool character this guy.

"Which of you has been to the battle field before, which of you has experienced battle first hand?." He asked as he broke the short period of awkward silence.
Fred quickly pointed to me without thinking. I felt like hitting his head with a stone I picked from the ground just seconds ago. Turning my face to him I could swear I saw pity in his eyes for merely a second before it disappeared. How can a mass murderer like himself feel pity?. Or could he be feeling pity for us before he kills us right here?. This thoughts made my skin crawl.

"War..." He said raising his head to the sky as if searching for something he lost, "Is never a good thing." My eyes widened and my body began to feel unusual like I finally saw someone who reasoned the same with me. But how would he be saying such. Could this man in front of me really be peine the mad hatter.

"I wish you lads wouldn't have to fight for the benefits of some rich folks at the top who only want to use your blood and sweat and dignity to boast off to the enemy and claim they are superior when none of them has ever held a sword." I watched as a frown began to knit itself to his forehead. He seemed pained. Broken I must say.

"Did you lose someone in the war ?."  Fred asked.

"Yes."

"What did you lose?."

"Everything. My family, my life, my soul." The tears that dropped from his eyes sparkled. He then placed his face into his hat for a while as he continued sobbing.

"I'm sorry." I said without thinking. Why the fuck am I feeling remorse for you?. Didn't you kill your own comrade?.

"But I don't blame us for anything that has happened to this point." His face looked plain as he brought it out of his hat and placed his eyes straight ahead. His voice seemed more coarser and was mixed with anger.
Now this is the peine I've been waiting to see.

"Yakari, do you believe in gods?." I swallowed as he asked me with such seriousness in his tone.

"Yes, but..."

"So who would you blame for all the massacre in this war. The people who kill each other or the ones who kept us here in the first place?."
I was confused at what he was getting at. It was blasphemy to insult the gods In such a way. Though I wasn't taking religion all to seriously now a days but I could not comprehend what he was saying.

"After the death of my wife and two sons, I vowed to kill off all the orthorox until not one of their race existed but one day it hit me, this people weren't killing us out of their will. It was the so called destiny this gods have placed upon us." Anger flashed his eyes, those green eyes were no longer beautiful but fearful.

"So what then?." Fred asked.

"I tried all means to torment them. I began to hurt what I thought the loved the most." His voice had a tone of disappointment in them, "But it still wasn't enough."
Fred swallowed as he had just realized that the man with us wasn't just telling us stories or wishes but meant the real deal.

"But I've found what they love the most." Moulding his hands into a fist, "They cherish their own lives more than anything in the entire universe and that is why I have resolved to put an end to their miserable selfish lives." He released his hands and out of it flew the remains of a flower he had crumbled.

"Its not possible to kill a god, how so do you plan to?." Fred asked sounding more interested.

"I will find a way, I know I will."
There was a minute of silence that was then broken by the sounds of trumpets from the camp.

"Oh boy, it seems I have to leave you two, its time to gear up the army would soon be marching to the warfront. I have to be their on time and so do you. I hope I see you two in good shape after this war." Walking out of the gathering he didn't turn back as he spoke and in seconds he was out of sight.

"That man is crazy,don't you think mate?"

"I know, but he is serious"

"What ever, let's get to the camp and gear up too, we have to be early to the march parade."