This is a fiction story based on certain anime/manga stories that
should become apparent upon reading. Should the creators of the manga
wish to hurt me or my pocket over this, then I'll disavow all knowledge
of my actions and claim a moment of sanity.
---
Deliverance
by Darthpeanut
---
The icy wind drew another flurry of snow through the open doorway of
the cabin. Ice ecrusted walls around the doorway testament to the
deathly cold of the air. Bare, undecorated walls with shuttered windows
held the cold mostly at bay and a small group of figures sat huddled in
the corner around a sputtering fire which barely heated the small
pocket of air between the group. The faint light of the fire shone upon
the gaunt faces of a group who had obviously not eaten for weeks. They
were barely holding on to their lives and the light of hope was absent
from their eyes.
They were dressed in dirty cloaks and a variety of faded, yet warm
clothes, which would once have been considered stylish. A strong scent
wafted from the group, letting any who might approach be aware of the
unwashed state of these beings who once were humans. No sound was heard
from the group barring a shallow breath as they waited for the cold to
take them.
The wind abated briefly and I could tell that she approached. She would
offer them safety and warmth within her companions arms without telling
them the sacrifice required. Hidden within my veil of invisibility, I
waited for her, wishing there was some other way to help these people.
But she was the only way I knew that guaranteed their safety.
The great ice which had been spreading for the past several years had
finally caught up with this little corner of the world and I would do
all in my power to help. If that required calling for help from one who
was of darkness yet not, then so be it. I would still work to save
many.
The wind suddenly gusted and a figure appeared in the doorway amidst a
flurry of snow. He was wearing a dark, ice-encrusted cloak and he swept
a piercing red gaze across the room before stepping to the side and
allowing a smaller figure to step into the room. It was her.
As always, her white yukata and red ribbons were strangely free from
ice, and peace radiated from her smile. A smile that I knew hid her
full nature from those who she would be offering salvation. She stepped
lightly forward to the group and I marvelled yet again at her
supernatural grace. While she didn't approach the grace I'd learned,
hers was entirely natural and somehow more beautiful for it. Then she
smiled and I could tell that the group huddling around the fire felt
the wave of warmth that characterised her methods flow over them.
She opened her perfect ruby red lips and spoke with a soft, sibilant
voice, "Children, I offer you salvation from this icy end. Please
accept my embrace and be saved."
Her smile never wavered throughout the short speech and she held out
her hand, waiting for any signs of acceptance from the group. And she
wasn't long in waiting. Hesitantly, one reached forward, and she turned
her smile fully upon the supplicant and took his hand, drawing him
carefully to his feet. She pulled him close and whispered a few
reassuring words into his ears. Then she directed him to her companion
who opened his dark cloak to invite the first into protection. She just
returned her gaze to the others of the group and offered her hand once
more.
The others followed quickly, their hesitation gone. Hope had dawned in
their eyes and they leapt at this opportunity, however small it may be.
She whispered in each of their ears comfortingly and each had a smile
as they moved to her companion. And then she whispered to the last of
the group, a young boy, and he froze in place, his expression turning
from hope to fear and to resignation all within moments. She turned to
the empty room and glanced around, her strangely sad golden eyes
sweeping over my position without a pause before she bit into the young
mans neck and began to feed.
The young man fell to the ground, his life force spent. She turned back
to her companion and stepped into his comforting embrace before
speaking softly to the room with a sad voice.
"This isn't any easier for me."
She sounded as though she hated the salvations as much as I did.
Perhaps I'd been wrong in reading her feelings on this duty of ours.
Perhaps this woman that I loved/hated in every way was more human than
I'd thought. Maybe even more so than I was.
I looked at her closely and made out a crystalline tear upon her cheek.
So I stepped close, still holding the invisibility, and brushed the
tears from her cheeks. Her breath caught and she leaned her head into
the touch, but I had already slipped away. I waited for a few moments
to allow the feelings brought forth by the touch to receed.
"Thank you," I finally spoke, my voice conveying as much gratitude and
hope as I could manage. "Thank you for showing me."
Her one comment hadn't been enough to change things between us, but it
was a start. And with that, I slid away, leaving her standing, held in
the embrace of her companion, in this frozen cabin amongst a barren
forest as the icy winds continued.
---
For those of you who didn't guess from the description, the woman and her companion are from Vampire Princess Miyu and the observer you'll have to make a guess about. The story is loosely based on the great freeze from the Sailor Moon Universe.
Owari