Wing of Dragon, Song of Goddess
Disclaimer: Don't own, so no suing me!
A/N: I thought I'd take a different spin on things here, so please let me know what you think!
Chapter One: First Day, First Step
Welcome to another miserable year at Atlantian High School, Yukari moaned as she maneuvered her car into the parking lot. A year of tests and homework. She glanced over at her friend in the passenger seat. The girl's eyes were closed, swaying slightly to the music. Well, at least you seem optimistic, she teased.
Hitomi opened her emerald eyes, startled out of her own little dream world. Oh, c'mon Yukari, it's not going to be that bad, she answered with a sigh as she reached over to turn down the radio, flashing a brilliant smile. Besides, you have Amano to keep you occupied. the red haired girl agreed as she pulled into a parking spot and turned off the engine. And that reminds me, we have to find you a boyfriend this year! I mean, yeah we're Seniors, but we hafta plan for our future!
Laughing, the two girls got out of the car and joined the throng of teenagers making their way into the large high school building. Still joking, they squeezed their way towards the science and math hallway for their first class, greeting old friends and picking up Amano on their way.
Hey Kanzaki! a voice cried from somewhere down the hall. Wait up!
She turned around, and heard Yukari say with some surprise. Millerna Aston is talking to you? I thought she only talked to the people in her
There were only two real exclusive groups in the school, and Millerna belonged to the crowd that everyone called the White Dragons. They were a group of teens in varying ages who hung out together and mainly just were friends with each other since forever. Their rivals were the other cliché in the school, who had twistedly declared themselves the Dragon Slayers. While the members of the White Dragon weren't all that bad, the Dragon Slayers went out of their way to cause trouble and bully others. All in all, most people liked to remain on friendly terms with both groups.
We're sort of friends, Hitomi responded as she watched the slender blond haired girl making her way towards them. It looks like she has the same class as us though.Hey, haven't seen you for quite some time, Millerna greeted her, nodding to Yukari and Amano before returning her full attention to Hitomi. You got Honors Chemistry too, right? As always, she managed to look glamorous and delicate at the same time, radiating a helpless aura, but at the same time managing to get the point across that she wasn't to be messed with. She wore a pair of tight black pants, a white lacy tank top, and a light pink jacket over it, casual yet classy.
Of course, we had the same Applied Chem together last year, Hitomi responded as the blond girl fell into step with her. Remember me spilling the acid and eating a hole through your book?
Millerna giggled, her lavender eyes shining. Yeah! That was too cool! And I accidentally started that fire!
Hitomi bit back a chuckle as she waved goodbye to Yukari and stepped into the classroom. At least yours was an accident, unlike some people we know, she said meaningfully, glancing at a boy lounging in the back of the room sulkily.
The other girl got the joke and laughed out loud as they slid into seats in the front of the room. Well, old Dilly there is a pyro, what do you expect? she whispered. He lives to start fires.
As if hearing their remarks, the boy in the back of the room grunted. He was an albino, his eyes a startling red in sharp contrast to his eerily white hair and skin. His name was Dilandou Albatou, and he belonged to Millerna's rival group, one of their leaders in fact. He had a reputation of having a nasty temper, being a bit of a psycho, and having a fondness for fire.
Hitomi shuddered and turned her gaze away from him to watch the students entering the room. There was just something about him that freaked her out, almost something evil about him. She saw no one else she recognized though as a friend, and turned her attention to a talk with Millerna about summer vacation then compared schedules to find them nearly identical. Their conversation was cut off though when the teacher began talking, forcing them to pay attention. It was a typical first day in a new class, just lectures and passing out the rules.
Jeez, you'd think he'd give us a break, Millerna muttered as they filed out of the room an hour later to head to English together.
You would, Hitomi agreed. I wonder how Mr. Fessa will be.Not too bad, Millerna assured her. I've had him before, and he's a friend of my father. She winked impishly, cocking her blond head. Which means I can get away with murder in that class!
Mr. Fessa was a tall man about twenty-eight with shaggy brown hair, bright eyes, and round glasses. As Millerna had predicted, he greeted the blond girl warmly, calling her Princess', and yanking a lock of her blond hair teasingly. While she stayed up there to chat with him about her father, Hitomi selected a seat and sat back to wait for the class to start.
Her emerald eyes watched as more students entered the classroom, among them two different groups of boys. The first group made her shudder, consisting of more Dragon Slayers named Shesta, Gatty, and Miguel. These were some of Dilandou's closest buddies, and were dressed like carbon copies of him, grungy and all in black. The second group, two members of the White Dragon, caused all female eyes to turn toward them, including Hitomi's own. The first was a tall young man with sparkling blue eyes that made girls swoon, and dazzling waist length blond hair. He was Allen Shezar, and the boy who was right beside him was his best friend, Van Fanel. While Allen was the type of guy that parents tended to adore, Van had the appearance of being a bad boy,' though that wasn't exactly an accurate description. With his raven black hair that fell messily in his dark chocolate colored eyes no matter how often he brushed it back, Van had a mysterious air about him that was irresistible.
Allen strolled over to Millerna to flirt, with Van slightly behind him now. Hitomi felt her mouth go dry as he glanced in her direction with a small smile, dropping her pencil and accidentally knocking her notebooks and folders off her desk. She groaned softly under her breath as she dropped to her knees to pick them up, chastising herself mentally. Oh sure Hitomi! Act like an idiot in front of one of the most popular guys in school! Just because he's incredibly sexy is no reason to loose your head!
Suddenly she realized someone had knelt down beside her and was now offering her the notebook. Hitomi started to say, then glanced up to look at the person, and finding herself drowning once more in chocolate, froze.
Van responded easily, his eyes sparkling with something akin to amusement. It's Hitomi Kanzaki, right?
She nodded blankly, swallowing hard as she forced herself to think of something to say. Yes, that's right. I- I'm surprised you know it. . .
The amusement in his eyes became even more pronounced as he picked up her folder and pencil, placing them in her arms. We've had some of the same classes since freshman year, he pointed out with that little smirk of his. Are you doing track again this year? I've watched you before, when I went to watch Allen, and you're good.
Her heart was racing, her breath catching. He thought she was good? He'd seen her? Yes, I am, if I have time to while still taking choir. Are you still on the basketball team? Hitomi couldn't believe she was actually having a real conversation with him, instead of just a passing comment.
Van nodded as they both rose to their feet. Yeah. Though I'd rather be doing other things.Like what? she asked curiously. She began to fiddle nervously with the pendent around her neck, a gift she'd had ever since she was a child. It was a brilliant teardrop shaped stone in a setting of gold, pink in some lights, crimson in others. She never took it off.
His grin was flirtatious, eyes gleaming mysteriously. You wouldn't believe me even if I told you.
Before Hitomi could ask him what he meant, the bell rang, and Mr. Fessa sent Millerna and Allen to find seats, rising from his seat. Okay everyone! Lets move it so we can get the boring lecture out of the way!
Hitomi hastily sat down, aware of Van taking the seat behind her, Millerna the one next to her, and Allen the one behind Millerna.
The teacher was scrawling something on the board, then stepped back so that the class could see the words Dryden Fessa written in elegant script. Alrighty, this is my name here. I'm cool with you all calling me Dryden, unless administration comes in, then you all better be Mr. Fessaing' me, understood?
Everyone laughed, and Hitomi grinned. She liked him. He didn't seem too bad for a teacher. It looked like this class wasn't going to be too much torture after all . . .
This year I thought we'd do somethin' different than the regular old English stuff, Dryden was saying as he passed out the traditional list of rules. We're gonna study legends and mythology this year!
There were moans from the Dragon Slayers, but more murmurs of interest from the rest of the students. Behind her, Hitomi heard Allen lean over to whisper to Van.
Mythology and legends, that should be right up your ally, Dragon, he hissed in a teasing tone. Dragon was simply the name that Van had acquired over the years, though no one was quite sure when it had started.
Yours too blondie, Van shot back, once again sounding amused.
Its like he has a secret from the whole world and laughs whenever someone unknowingly guesses the truth as a joke, Hitomi thought with a shake of her head, though her lips had quirked into a smile. Dryden only talked to them for a little while longer before allowing them the rest of the class period to themselves.
So, now that we're almighty Seniors, what should we do? Millerna asked Hitomi.
The girl laughed. Rule the school, of course! She ran her hand distractedly through her long light brown hair, finding it hard to concentrate with Van goofing off with Allen just behind her. They were dueling with their pencils, drawing a small crowd of twittering girls.
Of course, the blond girl agreed. Say, what are you going to do after high school Hitomi?
Startled, Hitomi shrugged. Go to collage I guess, unless I get married. I've always wanted kids. What about you?
Millerna's face suddenly saddened, and Hitomi more felt than saw that Allen and Van were suddenly paying attention. Oh, I'm not sure, she said lightly, plucking at invisible pieces of lint. My Dad- well, anyway, my Dad has really high expectations for me. You know how it is.
However, Hitomi wasn't entirely convinced, seeing how relieved Millerna looked when the bell rang for lunch. The two girls parted ways, since Millerna always ate lunch with her group, and Hitomi wandered over to her old lunch table to wait for Yukari and Amano.
The remainder of her day was uneventful, up until about midnight. She'd been lying awake for about an hour and a half, simply staring at the ceiling, even being stupid enough to try and count sheep. Feeling too restless to fall asleep, she slipped to the floor, reaching under her bed for a candle, a box of matches, and a small rectangular box. Her pale blue nightgown, the one that Yukari called her goddess' nightgown, rustled softly as she moved.
She lit the candle, casting a faint, flickering orange glow over her as she opened the box and pulled out her Tarot cards. A faint smile touched her lips as she caressed their worn edges, remembering the last time she had used them. She'd been about fourteen, young and silly, truly believing that the cards could tell her future. She hadn't touched them in years, but tonight seemed an appropriate time to find a little wisdom for what was sure to be a life-changing year.
Quickly she lay the cards out in their proper order, closing her eyes as she decided to simply call on the wisdom of the Tarot. Hitomi then opened her eyes and began flipping over the cards. Her brows suddenly knitted, a flash of unease going through her. The Tower? Ace of Serpents? Wheel of Fortune? The High Priestess? Death? Lovers? Hitomi exhaled shakily, deeply unnerved. Never had she received such a reading! Separations, courage, changing lives, mystery, death, and love, all in one reading made her suddenly apprehensive about the new school year.
Shaking her head as if to dispel her fears, Hitomi shoved the cards back into their box, blew out the candle, and returned to the safety of her bed. Silly! She chided herself mentally. They're just cards! Don't get freaked out by a pile of paper! The girl prayed fervently that sleep would come quickly, and that it would bring blissful, sweet, simple dreams. But she was sadly mistaken.
&&&
Screams of people, some dying, others about to, echoed in the girl's ears. A magnificent city in the heart of a deep green valley was under siege. Hitomi suppressed a gasp, her vision filled with fire. Everything's burning. . .' she whispered softly. But why? Why?'
A child's cry caused Hitomi to whip around, and felt her stomach churn. A radiantly beautiful raven-haired woman lay sprawled at the bottom of a marble staircase. Her eyes were closed, lying motionless in a pool of her own blood, white feathers drifting down, stained crimson. She was dead.
At the top of the stairs, apparently drawn by the chaos and noises outside was a dark boy, no more than six or seven. He was staring down at his mother in horror, tears flooding eyes the color of the flames that curled around the trees outside.
Hitomi felt her heart rip in half at the sight, but her attention was drawn by the appearance of several soldiers who gestured at the boy, and started towards him with drawn swords. The child screamed, and the watching girl could stand it no longer, drawn to him in a way she couldn't begin to understand. With speed born of long track practices, she bolted up the stairs, and snatched the boy up into her arms, momentarily startled by how warm and real he felt against her body.
She didn't waste anymore time, racing back down the stairs without any real idea of where she was going to go. The boy's arms encircled her neck, his face pressed against her shoulder. She could feel his tears dripping down her back. Frantically, Hitomi ran faster, hearing the sounds of pursuit behind her as she fled through a pair of magnificent double mahogany doors.
They had entered an imposingly large room with an impossibly high ceiling. The floor was marble, with what looked like dragon skeletons embedded within, the walls glass and metal. Everything was on fire. On a dais at the other end of the room, two men were fighting. One was kingly, older and raven-haired in the same manner of the boy Hitomi clutched, the other strikingly similar, but with hair that was pale green.
You killed your mother, and now me, simply because the signs were not on your side! The black haired man bellowed, his sword clashing against the younger man's. You are more of a fool than I thought!It is my birthright! the other snarled, his eyes blazing with rage. I will not stop until I have killed my brother with my own hands and regained what is rightfully mine!
The soldiers burst into the room, blocking Hitomi's escape, and the little boy cried out again as he clutched at her tighter. The men finally realized their audience, and their eyes fell on her and the child.
Wing Goddess! the regal man shouted out to her, stretching out his hand imploringly. I beg you, take my son and fly away! Your sign was in the sky the day of his birth, save him now, take him away from this place!
Hitomi didn't know what he was talking about, didn't understand what he meant, but was willing to save the boy if she was able. But the man, so busy begging her, didn't notice the younger man lifting his sword to strike. The girl cried out in horror at the sight of the fresh blood, tightening her grip on the child as the evil man turned his attention to her, beginning to descend the stairs.
No Father! the boy screamed. Don't leave me!
She crushed his small body tighter against her, taking a step back as the man drew closer, his blade glittering and dripping droplets of scarlet. Someone, please help!' Hitomi cried inwardly, one of her hands creeping up to clutch her pendent. Pink light emitted from between her clenched fingers as a hauntingly beautiful voice began to sing.
Win dain a lotica
En vai tu ri
Si lo ta
Fin dein a loluca
En dragu a sei lain
Vi fa-ru les shutai am
En riga-lint
The soldiers behind her fell back as if in shock, and the flames surged forward, cutting off the man's path as white light enveloped Hitomi and the boy. A figure had appeared, so radiant with a soft white light, it was hard to tell what she really looked like. She smiled slightly, and held out her arms.
It's safe now Hitomi, I'll take him. Her voice was melodic, a whisper of wind through trees. I'll take him somewhere he'll be safe, for a time.Is he really? she whispered, somehow finding her voice. The boy had fallen asleep in her arms, looking peaceful and content.
The ethereal creature smiled. Yes. You'll meet him again, someday.
Hitomi felt the mysterious woman lifting the boy from her arms, and he awoke, staring at her with those intense eyes, eyes that she had seen somewhere before. . .
Hitomi, time to get up for school!
Her mother's cheerful voice startled her, and she sat up with a gasp, her body trembling. Was it a vision, or a dream? Hitomi whispered softly, running shaky hands through her tangled hair before clutching at her pendent. Or was it. . .
Her fingers brushed against her neck, and felt moisture, tiny drops, as if the tears of a child.
. . . real?