Secrets Held Within

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Chapter 1

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"What?" the young man bellowed, leaning onto the desk and into the guards face. "What do you mean no one can leave town—Why?"

The pale man still held his emotionless demeanor, and coughed slightly. "The enemy country has attacked too near this town's border. Our Marshall decreed last night no one is permitted to leave. You see, he fears some poor traveler may stray into a hazardous war zone..."

Leaning off the wooden surface and running his fingers through purple locks of hair, the young male scowled and muttered, "You've got to be kidding me…"

"Afraid not. Now, if you would be so kind, please return to your daily life inside the town-"

Dark sighed heavily as he left the small roadblock, and stormed back into the small town of Azumano.

Azumano had been first founded over a century ago, Dark had come to learn. Only a dozen people inhabited the small town, each and every one of them eager to talk to him. Even for a traveler, he still got plenty of attention. Why, just last week some crazed old woman had up and cornered him just to rant about how some great lord, and his son and what not built the place and continued to help it prosper and…stuff.

The violet haired male sighed, clearing his mind of useless information. What use was knowing who founded this town—he was just going to leave as soon as he could, anyway.

"Oh! Dark, can I speak to you for a moment?"

Dark turned to face a girl, and he smiled faintly. "What can I do for you, Miss?"

The shorter, auburn haired girl before him raised her eyebrows and gave him a reprimanding glance. "I have a name, and you know it."

Smirking, Dark shrugged his shoulders. "Picky, picky, Riku...I would have thought you'd enjoy the compliment. It takes a fine eye to tell that there's a woman under all that muscle. Especially given the fact that you don't wear dresses…it really makes me wonder, sometimes"

Riku rolled her eyes and then angrily gestured towards the inn her family ran. "My father says that if you can't find anywhere else to stay, we'd love to have you as our guest. Because of the road blocks, and all…you know."

Dark nodded. "That'd be great," the male murmured, releasing a long sigh.

A wave of concern might have swept across the young girl's face, had she really cared. More curious than worried, she crossed her arms and asked, "What's wrong?"

Dark shrugged. "Nothing. I just wanted to leave this place, I guess…"

Riku leaned back a bit, resting on her heels. She peered around, taking a quick look at the town around her. She eyed the small wooden homes and stores roofed with thick patches of hay and dried mud. She watched the people clad in worn clothes, and the animals lingering by the side of the road. "You mean you don't like it?"

Dark stood up straight and shook his head, a grin appearing on his features again. "Of course not! I just don't like being held up—I'm a very busy man you know!"

"Sure you are," Riku said, sarcasm tainting her voice. She opened her mouth to say more, but before she could form the words a large, explosive sound radiated across town. Her amber eyes shot towards the inn--obviously the source of the noise, she guessed, with the smoke billowing out of the windows. She cast a hasty look at Dark, wide eyed, and made a dash towards her abode. "I left Risa alone!" She said quickly, "Gotta go! I'll catch up with you later!"

Dark smiled to himself in spite of his luck, turned on his heels, rolling his eyes as the mud beneath him made a sickening gushing sound under his feet. "Ew," he muttered, before sauntering down the abused path and into the core of town.

He passed a multitude of buildings and sites, taking slight interest in their unique architectural fashion. Strange sculptures adorned archways, elegant pillars were littered across some of the older stone buildings.

He must have been wandering for at least a few hours, and the vibrant violet eyes were have concealed by sagging eyelids, worn down from treacherous treks through the mud. With a huff of annoyance, Dark turned a corner and started off towards the Harada's Inn, mildly surprised that it was still in tact upon his return.

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Taking a sip out of the cold mug, Dark stared gloomily at the dirt-colored contents. That had been…a week ago, maybe two? It didn't matter anymore--it felt like he'd been in this boring town for an eternity. Looking outside, he saw nothing, though the patter of rain was still heard."

"Oi, Dark," the barkeep said in his rough accent. "Ye'd best be getting home before the rain comes too hard."

Dark nodded, and sighed again before draining his glass and standing up. He dropped a few coins--an ample payment for his set of drinks, and walked across the wooden floor of the bar. He opened the door and grimaced into the darkness before stepping out into the frigid rain.

His eyes were downcast as he stepped through piles of wet mud and rain; he paid little attention to where his feet took him. When he looked up again, he released a curse, noting that somewhere along his blind traveling he had taken a wrong turn. He looked around, shielding his eyes from the still falling rain.

All around him there were dark, looming trees, creating a woven wall of branches and leaves. He took a few hesitant step forewords before he was enveloped by a strong, bright light. Immediately he screwed his eyes shut, wincing.

There was a long pause before he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze darting quickly around. It was only then did he realize where the luminous white light had come from...It was the moon.

Dark frowned, lowering his hand slightly to grant himself a better view. His eyes rested solemnly on a large, ancient looking building illuminated exactly under the moon. From what Dark could tell from this distance, it looked old...abandoned. Most certainly had this structure been around for quite a while…

It was tall, and though ancient looking appeared to still be quite sturdy. Decorated fluently with stone sculptures similar in appearance to winged serpents ad gargoyles, the statuettes served only to draw more attention. Even from a distance, Dark could tell that most of the ornate windows were still in tact, and only a few had been cracked or shattered. The whole of the mansion was grand in appearance, and when compared to the beauty of central Azumano, the town looked to be nothing more than a village of sticks and stones.

He stared, marveling at its brilliance for a long time, unsure why he was so attracted to the building. Then he realized something, how the moon was positioned exactly above the huge building...how in a perfect ring around the house, the clouds just stopped.

It wasn't raining there.

Dark was thoroughly confused. Regretfully, he averted his gaze from the house to scan the vast grounds before him, searching for some plausible explanation that the clouds would be repelled from the scene.

It was at that time that Dark saw a long figure. A tall, looming figure that wore a dark suit—black, it seemed, and had tied back a long stream of flowing, golden locks. Male or not, Dark couldn't tell. The figure's back was to Dark, and after another brief moment of staring, the traveler realized that he was almost too eager to see the face of the mysterious character before him. He took a step forward, unable to suppress his curiosity.

In mid-step, he was jerked backwards, a hand clasped tightly onto his shoulder. Dark let out a quick yelp and turned quickly.

Riku stood before him, eyes wide and confused. "Dark? Are you all right...?"

Dark shook his hand quickly, "No--Yeah. You startled me, that's all. Hey…" he turned back to the house. "Did you see that?"

Riku moved to stand next to Dark, peering at the field and house before him. She raised a brow, seeing only the large mansion coated in rain and darkness. "See what?"

"The moon—it wasn't raining, and-" He stopped speaking as he noticed her shaking her head. He too, turned his gaze back to the mansion, frowning. "But it was just..." He sighed heavily and began again. "What about that person, did you see him? Or her, I don't know…?"

A small smile tugged on Riku's lips and she put a hand on Dark's shoulder. "Come on, let's go home. I think you've had a little too much to drink."

Dark shrugged, shaking his head. "Nah..." he protested, but followed the girl's lead, anyway.

They were about halfway home when he suddenly asked, "Hey Riku, what were you doing out there anyway?"

She sighed, patting him on the shoulder. "I followed you—It looked like you took a wrong turn and I wanted to make sure you hadn't got lost."

As the two entered the inn, Dark shivered, realizing for the first time just how soaked he was. "Well...Thanks. 'Night, Riku."

Dark retired to his room, changing clothes quickly before dropping into his bed and snuggling deep under the covers. "I did not drink too much," he said, as if to convince himself. He closed his eyes, blowing out the only candle that illuminated his room. "And...I know I saw someone," Dark said, his voice drifting off.

In a long moment or two, the room was completely silent, save for Dark's gentle breathing and the soft splashing of rain off the inn.

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This story is not the first fan fiction I have ever written, although it is the first I have posted, so please forgive me if there are any mistakes-I was in a bit of a hurry to have this finished for Dark Mousy 0, in which this story is dedicated to.

Disclaimer: I own not the characters nor the series, thank you very much!