A woman past her prime sat in a large and richly designed chair, the white fabric stitched with golden thread that created a soft vine pattern. Her worn coal eyes gazed upon the silent street outside with slight interest as she twirled a strand of her graying brown locks with an aged finger. Her other hand clutched her black and dismal gown absently, as her gaze soon rested upon the small blooming cherry blossom tree located in the yard below her. The tree reminded her of the young girl who silently slumbered in the room on the large oak bed, her chest rising and falling with each quiet breath she took.
The old woman smiled at her charge in the darkness, watching as the pale moonlight fell upon rose-colored locks. She knew that if the girl's eyes were to open, bright emerald orbs would smile at her fondly. She had known this child ever since the day she was born and loved her like she would her own flesh and blood. She practically raised the young girl since her parents were constantly busy in the affairs of the court they loved so much. The Lord and Lady of the house always put the court before their children, and took off without a thought of what they were missing as their children grew. This thought alone made the woman huff roughly as she rose from her seat slowly, her body protesting the movement. She slowly wandered over to the young girl's bedside and stared down at her still form. Her hand went to brush the girl's pink locks when suddenly the girl awoke with a small start. When emerald orbs focused on the old woman a small smile spread across the girl's rosy lips.
"I'm sorry Sakura, did I wake you?" The old woman asked softly, her hand continuing it path and brushing the hair out of the girl's face.
The little girl shook her head before smiling more brightly, her eyes shining with sheer delight at the woman's comforting touch. "No, I woke up on my own Akahana," Sakura said happily.
"Did you have a bad dream?"
"No, I just thought my angel came!" The girl exclaimed before she quickly jumped from her bed, much to Akahana's displeasure, and rushed to the large window that the old woman was looking out at the street a moment before.
"Your angel?" Akahana asked in slight surprise at what the young girl had said. Soon a large smile stretched across her face as she gazed upon the child who was frantically looking out the now open window. "What's her name?"
"It's not a girl! It's a boy!" Sakura stated with a small frown on her face.
"Oh! Then what's his name, sweetheart?" Akahana enquired as she fixed the girl's bed, straightening the sheets and pillows before she would usher the girl back to bed. For she knew that if Lord and Lady Haruno were to return and their daughter was not in bed she would be lectured along with the child.
"I don't know," Sakura mumbled softly, her bright eyes shinning with sheer sadness. Her gaze soon returned to the dark street below her, her eyes searching for her "angel" amongst the shadows. Akahana sighed softly before beckoning the girl back to bed.
"Come on dear, it time for you to go back to bed." Sakura left the windowsill reluctantly, casting one last glance over her shoulder before running over to her bed where her nurse waited for her patiently. Once the young girl was within Akahana's reach, she guided her up the bed's side and tucked the small child of ten in the sheets. Before she parted she kissed the young girl's forehead before making her way to the window. Just as she was about to shut it Sakura cried out.
"Please don't shut it!"
"But dear you might-"
"Please keep it open! He can't get in if it's closed!" Sakura cried, her eyes pleading. The old woman sighed and shook her head before smiling at her charge.
"Alright," she said in defeat making Sakura smile. "But you must have another blanket. I don't want you to get sick." With that Akahana went to a small closet and pulled out a large thick white blanket off the top shelf. She brought it to the young girl, who helped her lay it upon the bed's large surface.
Akahana gave a Sakura a small peck on the cheek, and made her way to the door. As she closed it she whispered, "Sweet dreams Sakura."
"Goodnight Akahana," the girl whispered back as the door shut with a silent click.
Alone in the darkness Sakura gazed at the window from her bed, hoping to see a figure leap into her room. She knew he would come, for he always did… but only when she was sound asleep. While she slumbered she always felt a hand brush her hair softly and cool, almost cold, lips press against her forehead and then her nose. She wished to see her angel and learn his name at last! But sadly whenever she tried she would fall asleep and wake feeling sad and disappointed.
But tonight she will stay awake! She will finally meet her angel and be whisked away to a land where knights, dragons, and princes and princess awaited her. Just like in the stories her nurse, Akahana told her before bed. As her thoughts began to drift to the wonderful possibilities only a child could think of, her vision began to blur as sleep overcame her. Finally, the young girl gave in and let her eyelids close as she entered the world of dreams.
A shadowy figure watched the girl fade from the window, a small smirk on his lips. He silently stepped into the room, his eyes locked on the little girl. He crept closer to her, his black cloak trailing behind his form, softly brushing the wooden floor below his feet. Once he was at her side, he brushed the back of his pale hand against her cheek. He then leaned toward the young girl, letting his lips hover next to her ear before he whispered softly, "We may never meet, but remember… I will always look after you, protect you, while you sleep."
The child's "angel" sat on the edge of her bed, his gaze soft as he watched over her for the night. But before the morning light he would be gone, only to return when night returned. For his kind could never walk in the light of day, they were creatures damned to thrive on the blood, the life source, of mankind. They were cold beings who walked the streets only at night when the rest of the world was asleep for that was their curse.
Except the creature was not here to drain the young child of her blood. He wanted her to live, to grow into a woman and have a family if she so desired it. He wanted to protect her from all the evils that could find her as she slept. For he had promised himself that as long as the moon hung in the dark and star filled sky, he would watch over her for all of her existence on this earth.
Little did the creature know that fate had another plan for him and the young girl. One that would that would break the rules laid out before him by the elders of his Coven. For creatures like him were never supposed to fall in love with a human being.