Disclaimer: Don't own Dais but I do own everyone else that is not mentioned in the series. Don't own Santana either. The Lyrics are from their Super Natural CD. The song is Wishing it Was.
Beauty and grace is what touches me most…
Dais watched Rose as an illusion of a tree. He had been watching her grace her presence on the mortal realm for a while now. For the past four years, since she was sixteen. He never planned on letting Cupid's poisoned arrow hit him, but somehow it did. Rose's grace had filled his viewing mirror from the Nether Realms while he was duking it out with Sehkmet. Of course the Warlord of Venom said something; Dais promptly decked him unconscious and threw him out of his room.
Good times can put me into fear
I always feel safe when things are bad
So I cannot let you come near…
Now, as a tree or a wall or something, Dais watched her. Each day passing he felt the strange sensation in his chest grow stronger. He hated himself for it. Love was something that never touched him. Why now? After so long without experiencing life on the mortal realm it decided to show it's ugly face? As much as Dais tried to fight it, he just felt himself slipping farther and farther down the painful path of love.
Rose was talking to her friends. She seemed upset, crying over a current lost boyfriend. Dais sneered. Caleb was never good enough for her. He was always breaking his promises to her. Seeing Rose's pretty face turn from it's usual happy expression to its current heart wrenching look made Dais want to find Caleb and show him what pain meant. But no, he had to stay here and try to comfort Rose, even if she didn't know he existed. He silently begged her to stop crying. He hated to see her cry. He wanted to go up and hold her, tell her he wasn't worth her love. But he couldn't. She didn't know who he was.
It seems that I thrive on the dark side
of things
I always feel alive when the death bell
rings
Now you come and bring out the tears
in me…
Not being able to bear seeing her cry anymore, Dais vanished back to the Nether Realms. He effectively punched a stone wall down to vent out his frustrations. He walked into the place her called home. It was an old shrine, but it was the only place where his viewing mirror worked properly. Whether it was an Ancient's power or something else, he didn't know or care as long as he got to see Rose when he couldn't go to her realm.
He laid on the makeshift bed and laced his hands behind his head. For a moment he wondered what it would be like to have Rose there with him, holding her in his arms. Then he made a face at himself. Him and Rose? Not in this life. He has been considered dead for several centuries now. And he could never adjust to the mortal realm. How could he? He was just a shade, practically something transparent when it came to her. He let out a frustrated sigh and closed his eyes.
There was a knock at the door. Kale came in before Dais even answered. "Dais, where have you been? Kayura's been looking all over for you."
Pain never makes me cry, but happiness
does
It's so strange to watch your life walk by
Wishing it was.
Wishing it was more like a fantasy
Where every day surprises me
Wishing it was
Dais simply scowled at Kale. "Go away. Kayura can hold on a few more hours while I take a nap."
Kale smirked. "What's the matter Dais? Get turned down by the mortal?"
In an instant Dais had slammed Kale up against the wall, holding him by his throat. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I suggest you leave before I kill you." He released Kale.
Kale rubbed his throat and glared at Dais. "So it is true, you have fallen for a mortal. Forget it Dais, you couldn't be with her."
Dais couldn't restrain himself from slugging Kale. "Shut up. You wouldn't know anything about it."
Kale left. Dais returned to the viewing mirror. Rose was now doing schoolwork. Probably to get her mind off of Caleb. Every now and then she'd grab a tissue. Dais touched the portal lightly, causing the image to flicker. Damn that Caleb! How could he have done that? It wasn't right, there was no logic in it. With a resentful sigh, Dais lay back on the bed and closed his eyes for a nap, imagining Rose besides him.
This feeling won't cause I
cannot survive
I tell you I've been here before
When it's moving this fast
It's a matter of time…
Dais was awakened by cold water being sprayed on him. Dais sat up, shivering and spitting out water. He glared at the water bearer. Sehkmet was holding a bucket. "About time, lover boy. Thought that this should cool you off some. Now get up, we've got a meeting to attend to."
Dais wrung out his hair. "Go drowned yourself, snake boy." He said irritably. He went to the castle where Kayura now stayed. Throughout the meeting, which was of almost no importance to Dais, the Warlord of Illusion stared out the window. What did he really care about Kayura confiscating the Warlords armor due to hell and havoc on the world above they were causing? He didn't need it. After it was over, Kayura asked to speak with him alone.
"I hear that you have actually fallen for somebody, Dais," she said. "I didn't think that was possible for you."
Dais didn't answer her. He continued looking out the window.
"You have yet to introduce yourself, haven't you?" Kayura put the kanji orbs into a pouch.
"What does it matter to you?" asked Dais. "It really isn't any of your business."
"You're right, it isn't. But I just want to give you some advice: Talk to her! Love can be reached if you're willing to go to extraordinary heights for it." Kayura went to lock up the Kanji orbs.
One of us walks out that door…
Dais spent the rest of the day wandering aimlessly. He was thinking hard of what Kayura told him. There was a war going on between his head and heart, trying to decide whether he should actually talk to Rose or not. He knew everything about her. But she knew nothing of him. How would that work? Perhaps he should ask one of the Ronins…
A few moments later he was a Ryo's house, he was going to go in when he heard Ryo talking to somebody. He was talking to Rowen, by the sounds of it. Dais decided to go talk to one of the other Ronins. He didn't feel like explaining what was going on to two people at once. He wasn't going to ask Kento either. Neither of them got along very well and Kento would just laugh at him. Wait a minute, Cye. He was always reading those romance books and had a way with the ladies. He vanished from Ryo's yard and appeared next to Cye.
Cye had been reading, of course, and was so deep into the novel he didn't hear Dais show up. Dais cleared his throat to get Cye's attention. Cye promptly jumped ten feet into the air and dropped his book.
"Dais! How many times do we have to tell you guys? Knock before entering!" Cye picked up his book. "What do you want?"
"I want to know how to talk to a girl."
Cye's mouth dropped. "You…want to talk to a girl? Oh wow…this is new."
It seems that I thrive on the dark side
of things
I always feels alive when the death bell
rings
Now you come and bring out the
tears in me
Dais listened intently as Cye tried to explain how to get a girl to notice you and talk to one. One method was to randomly go up to her and start flirting. Another was just to start sending letters telling her how beautiful she was or how he felt. By the time Cye was done, Dais's mind was reeling.
"So, who is she?" asked Cye. "Is it Kayura?"
Dais made a gagging noise. "Hell no! It's not her. That's Kale's secret love. Rose lives in the here in the mortal realm."
Cye choked on his drink. "Rose? You mean Rose Miramatsu?"
Dais nodded. "Why?" he asked, not liking the way Cye was reacting.
Cye shook his head. "Nothing. She just got over a bad break up, that's all."
Dais nodded again. "I know. Thank you, Torrent." And before Cye could ask how Dais knew, Dais vanished.
He made himself an illusion again, so he wouldn't frighten her. He was a wall, facing her and watching as she finished up her schoolwork. It wasn't that late, but as always, it was darker then midnight outside and the lights were on. The shallow yellow light dimly scattered across Rose's room. The room had a desk, a bed, a dresser with a mirror and a computer, but otherwise bare. Dais remembered the mirror being filled with picture of Caleb. Now they were in the trash. He tried to bring himself to speak to her, but again his courage failed him.
Give this some thought
And I'm sure you will know
This is the way it must be
Emotions will rise, emotions will flow.
Hours past and Still Dais couldn't do it. He left the room as she went to change for bed. He couldn't dishonor her that way. About ten minutes later he saw her light go out. He went in and saw her settle for sleep. Able to now hide in the shadows, he stood at the edge of her bed, listening to the sound of her breathing. He waited for her breath to become regular. Then he sat on the edge of her bed to be by her side. Dais gently pulled a strand of hair out of her face, being careful not to wake her. The moonlight fell onto her face causing it to glow softly. Dais felt his heart beat pound against his chest.
"Rose…" he whispered. "Don't let that fool Caleb bother you. He doesn't know what he lost today. You weren't meant for him. You were meant for somebody deserving of your beauty, even if it isn't me. I love you, Rose."
Her face became somewhat more serene then it had been and she smiled slightly. Dais leaned over her and kissed her forehead lightly. Then he stood and vanished, having said his peace.
You bring out the tears in me.