Thrust For Blood; Hunt For Glory; Search For the Black Rose

Gumi looked at him. "Its okay. And yes, I think thats what it means."

 

"So what exactly happens when the time runs out and how much time do we have left?" James asked, so many questions and if time was involved in this, so little time.

 

Gumi re-read the poem. "I think it means that we'd all be driven to-"
"Madness and death." Lelouch suddenly said.

 

"Well...that's something right there," James laughed uneasily and gulped. He got up and walked over to the window for a closer look outside, frost was beginning to set in, this wasn't exactly surprising considering it usually did this during the winter time. "So this holy land, what exactly are they talking about when they say that?"

 

"The Holy land for us is a place where Darkness is strong and pure. Maybe there?" Gumi asked, frowning.

 

"It makes sense then I guess. 'Shall its thorns drive the purest heart black' could be related to that, a place where you would find a rose which can turn anyone's heart black would probably be found in the darkest of places," He said. He was happy now, even if he didn't show it. They were finally getting somewhere in terms of finding out about the rose. "Diverting from the tale a bit, but I've been wondering about these destroyers. Who are they exactly?"

 

Gumi shrugged.
Lelocuh shook his head.
"We have no idea."

 

"Right. Oh well. Guess we'll have to find out." James said and then continued "So this forest full of mist, it must be pretty hard to find it with all that mist there. Do you know where this forest is?"

 

"Actually, it'll be easier to find with all that mist." Gumi said. "I react to mist and I can find places centered around mist."

 

"Oh, that's interesting. That will be helpful," James looked at Gumi grinning before going back to his observation of the town. "'Who knows the path? The way to it's doors?' That's pretty self explanatory. 'Don't grab it with lust or pride or grief' is just as self explanatory."

 

"Question? What mist are you talking about? Cloud, weather mist?" Gumi asked.

 

"Well, the tale said roiling and ever swirling mist, didn't it? So then it could be some sort of enchanted spell put on to the black rose for protection by its previous owner or something." James said, magic mist... maybe there was a way to get rid of it.

 

Gumi shook her head. "Mist is hard to get rid of."

 

"Oh. Well I think that's all we can get out of this tale for now, unless you can think of anything else?" He asked and started tapping the window matching the pattering of the rain drops.

 

Gumi nodded. "Thats all I can think of." She sighed, putting the book down.

 

"So was your father the only one who knew about the Black Rose in the Demon world?" James asked, did he just see a cat fly in the air? No, that couldn't have been a cat, he was going insane already and he hadn't come in to contact with rose yet.

 

Gumi nodded. "He left us, saying there was something important to do. He never came back." She said.

 

"Anyone in the human world?" James asked. There was a small glimpse of hope that there may be someone still alive who knew about the Black Rose.

 

Gumi shrugged. "Only Lelouch's parents knew as well, but they died looking for it aswell as my father."

 

James sighed, everyone who knew a whole lot about the rose were dead. He went back over to the seat and sat down staring at the fireplace this time. He soon said "So, what's the plan then?"