Tying Loose Ends
Hello everybody! This fic is actually a continuation of a short story by Yukiru Sugisaki called "N" is for Nishiki, which can be found at the back of the TokyoPop manga D.N.Angel vol. 1. I don't know whether the author ever actually continued the story or not, so this is my idea of how it could be continued. But first, for those of you that haven't read the story, here's a (not-so-brief) summary of it; if you are familiar with the story, you can click to Chapter 1.
Note: Don't be scared off if you're reading the summary! The chapters are written a lot better
Summary of "N" is for Nishiki
5th grader Kokoro Nagahara and her big brother Kodama live alone, since their parents disappeared long ago. But their family has the ability to summon shikigami (projections of magic that take the form of a creature, animal, or human that act as guardians/servants to their summoners). Kodama's shikigami is a girl named Kujyo who appears the same age as him and has a small symbol on her cheek. Kodama is always harsh towards Kokoro, since she practices summoning shikigami every day but can't seem to get a decent one. Their family is vulnerable to demonic attacks, so he just wants her to get a good shikigami for her own protection. But Kokoro doesn't act as seriously and just calls him "mean".
Right before school starts one day, Kokoro meets up with her friend Kaname (who is a boy). A girl named Misaki then rudely bumps into Kokoro. Misaki apparently hates her guts because Misaki likes Kaname and he and Kokoro always hang out together. Then during school, Kokoro and Misaki meet up in the hallway and start to argue furiously, leading up to Misaki saying, "I wish you would just disappear!". Then Misaki gives an evil glare and Kokoro starts getting swallowed by darkness. While she struggles, things that her brother has said to her start flashing through her mind, about how she must learn how to summon a shikigami. She screams for someone to help her, and just in time a boy with spiky blonde hair dressed in ancient Japanese combat clothes drops into the picture, draws out the demon from Misaki and saves Kokoro. He says his name is Nishiki, and he comes in three sizes ;;. Kokoro freaks out and Nishiki explains that he is a shikigami that she summoned, and he thanks her for "picking him" by kissing her hand, and then licks it, which makes a small symbol appear on his cheek. Of course Kokoro screams and slaps him. ;
Later, Nishiki tries explaining that he had to have "part of her being" to complete their bond so they'd always be together, and that's why he licked her, and the symbol is proof of their bond. Kokoro screams that she doesn't want to be "always together" and that she doesn't need him. Nishiki looks hurt and says he'll leave her alone then, and Kokoro realizes she never thanked him for saving her after he disappears.
The next day of school is parent's day, but Kokoro is mad/sad because she has no one. Suddenly Nishiki's voice says, "I'm here for you so, do your best." Kokoro tears up and says okay and thanks him for saving her, and also apologizes for being mean to him. Just then Kodama stumbles in the room, and although late, Kokoro's glad he came for her.
After school, Kokoro tells Kaname about her big brother coming to parent's day and about Nishiki. Then Misaki pops up and asks Kaname if he'd like to walk home with her, and Kokoro says he can go ahead. Misaki then apologizes about their argument, and Kokoro concludes that she's not so bad. But when she tries to talk to Nishiki about it and he doesn't answer, she panics and runs home. When her brother learns what's going on, he keeps telling her she won't find him, but Kokoro insists that she won't stop looking till she finds him, and that she does need him. She then notices a bunny plush toy with that same strange symbol on his cheek, so she grabs it and starts yelling at it. Nishiki says, "Calm down, I just thought this way, you wouldn't notice me.. I'm sorry, am I still in the way?" Kokoro smiles and says no and hugs the cute plushie Nishiki and says, "Nishiki.. always stay with me.." Nishiki thinks, 'In that case..' and then he pops back to boy form, 'I'll be changing back now', and he tries to hug the severely blushing Kokoro back, but gets punched in the jaw.
The End!
Sorry if that was a rather extensive summary, but it really is a very cute story. And I really loved the Nishiki/Kokoro possible couple, so that's why I wanted to do a continuation for their relationship... Well, what're you waiting for? Click to Chapter 1!