Saving Kurena
By Im4Nick
From the TV Anime series and book series DN Angel
Part 1: Meeting again
Hi, my name is Kurena Martez. I am 14 years old. Today is my birthday and something strange happened. I turned into someone else! I learned from my mother and my grandmother that our family line was descended from one of the great angels named Rhienna. She was a great protector and phantom thief many years ago and her spirit has been passed down our female family line, and whenever a girl turns 14, she becomes part of Rhienna. My mother has been training me for many years to fight evil and now…my time has come.
"Mom! I'm gonna be late for school!" I said impatiently as my mom tried to put a coat on me.
"Alright, alright! Go! I'll see you after school and don't be late! You Grams and I need something done tonight!" my mom said waving as I ran out the door.
I just barely made it to my first class and then at the end of the day, I was running to get out of there when I ran smack into Daisuke Niwa-kun!
"Oh! I am so sorry Niwa! I didn't see you!" I said getting flustered as I helped Niwa pick up his books.
"Oh, Ms. Martez! It's alright! I should have been more careful!" Niwa replied, smiling.
"Oh, no, I should be more careful! I was in a hurry to get ho-oh my!" I said glancing at the clock. "I'm sorry, Niwa, but I have to go! I'm gonna be late!"
"Oh, alright, see you!" Niwa said and then blushed and turned around as I dashed out the door.
"I wonder why Niwa was blushing?" I thought as I ran to the house and put my backpack down.
"Mom! Grams! I'm home!" I said looking around to see where everyone went. "Mom? Hello? Ahhh!"
I almost fell through the floor as I realized they were testing me.
"Not again!" I mumbled as I ran through the halls, trying to dodge the traps. I finally made it to the door and opened it and went in out of breath.
"Great! You made it. Now you're ready. Go put this on before you transform!" My mom said as she handed me an outfit that was disguised as a dress but had shorts underneath.
I went to change and then went out and transformed.
"Ah, Rhienna, long time no see!" my mom said excitedly.
"Same to you." I said as I glanced around the room. "So, what am I doing?"
"We need you to take the golden key. There's something someone evil wants to use it for, but we have to take it before they get it. Oh, and watch out for Dark." My mom said as I suddenly looked up.
"Dark? He's back?" I asked quietly.
"Yes, so be careful." Mom replied as I began walking out the door and down the stairs.
"I will." I replied and flew into the night.
"Okay, let's see, oh, hey Star!" I said, as a cute little bunny hopped out of my pocket. "I guess mom didn't forget."
I reached the museum where the key was being held when I saw another figure going inside as well. I went in and walked down the halls to where it was and was about to grab the key when I heard a very familiar voice.
"Long time no see." The dark figure said as I slowly turned around.
"Dark." I said in a whisper. "I heard you'd be here. Are you here for the key also?"
Dark nodded before we heard a crash. I sprang up as Dark turned.
"Someone else is here." Dark murmured softly. "You should get out of here."
"What about you?" I asked.
"I'm sure we'll meet again." Dark replied and turned to me.
We got so close that I could smell his sweet breath before he suddenly turned around and ran off.
I successfully made it home with the key and gave it to my mom and changed back.
That next night, I went out again to get a painting when I ran into Dark again.
"Dark!" I said in surprise as I saw him walk up to me.
"So we meet again. You know, we really have to stop meeting like this." Dark said, grinning.
"Yeah, I agree. Why are you here?" I asked.
"Same reason you are. So, how have you been?" Dark asked quietly.
"I've been well. How about you?" I asked, and before I could react Dark reached out and kissed me tenderly before he replied.
"I've been well." Dark said as he moved a few strands of hair out of my eyes.
"I've missed you." I said, smiling as Dark kissed me again.
"Me too." Dark said and then we both turned as we heard someone yelling down the hall.
"We'd better go." Dark said, taking my hand.
"When can I see you again?" I asked as we rushed out of the building.
"Maybe tomorrow. I know that I may have to be doing something then. Listen to me, from now on we have to be very careful. We can't alert anyone that we know each other. I can't let anything happen to you." Dark said, looking at me with dark piercing eyes and concern.
I nodded as we flew through the night and Dark stopped short a few yards to let me appear to be alone. I waved goodbye and Dark nodded sadly as he turned and flew the opposite way before I went inside.
"Here's the key." I said as I walked in.
"Oh, good you got it. Thanks." My mom said as I transformed back into Kurena. "Go and get some rest sweetheart. You must be tired."
"Alright." I replied as I went sleepily upstairs and changed into my nightgown and was about to snuggle in and go to sleep when I felt a light breeze brush past my face.
I suddenly sat up and sighed with relief as I saw Dark standing over me.
"Dark!" I said softly as he smiled and sat down next to me. "What are you doing here?"
"What? Are you not happy to see me?" Dark replied in mock hurt.
"Oh, no of course not. I was just surprised that you could sneak in. I don't want anyone to find you." I said as I curled up sleepily in Dark's arms.
"Don't worry, I'm very good at hiding. Now, just get some rest. You've had a long day." Dark said, stroking my hair.
I fell asleep quickly and when I woke up, I still felt Dark sitting next to me, but this time he was asleep. When I shifted in his arms a little, he woke and then smiled sleepily at me.
"I guess I fell asleep." Dark said and then I laughed softly.
"Yeah, I guess so." I said as I sat up and then went to change.
When I came out Dark was standing to the side of my dresser, staring out the window and I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around his upper body. He laid his hands on top of mine and we stood like that for what seemed ages before I heard someone climbing the stairs.
"Oh! That's probably my mom! You'd better go!" I said as I released my hands from around him and Dark put his hand briefly on my cheek before he climbed out the window.
"Kurena!" my grandmother exclaimed as I turned around to face her.
"Grams!" I said, trying my best to smile.
"Why did you make him leave? I wanted to talk to that boy!" Grams replied and then she laughed at my shocked expression. "Don't worry, we knew that he was here. It's okay though. Get him back in here."
"I-uh-okay. Dark?" I called through the window and then Dark gracefully climbed back into the room and went to give my grandmother a hug.
"Oh, Nimi! I haven't seen you in so long! It's great to see you!" Dark said, smiling as he gave her a hug.
"Dark, it's so wonderful to see you as well. I'm assuming you're still half Niwa too, am I right?" Grams asked as Dark nodded.
"I haven't gotten far enough to break the curse." Dark replied.
"WHAT?! There's a way to break the curse?" I exclaimed as Dark and Grams turned to me.
"You didn't know that?" Grams asked.
"No, how can you break it?" I asked excitedly.
"Well, legend says that when you find your true love and they confess it to you, you will become your true self. In your case Kurena you'd be Rhienna and Niwa would be Dark." Grams said as I blushed and Dark had to hide his face.
"I know you two are going out, don't worry. Wait, how long have you been dating?" Grams asked.
"I-uh-well-we-I-2 years." I said. "I was 12 when I met him."
"Whoa! Wait a minute, you've been going out since you were 12?!" Grams exclaimed.
"Hey, if I were Rhienna I'd be 16 almost 17 so ha!" I said as Dark smiled.
"Yeah, well, it's just that Dark is almost 18, so ya know." Grams said.
"I know." I said quietly.
"AHA!!" Grams exclaimed.
Dark and I jumped and then looked at her.
"Dark! Can I speak to you for a minute?" Grams asked excitedly as Dark looked confused.
"I guess." Dark said, glancing at me with a confused look before they went out in the hall.
"Dark, do you love her?" Grams asked with a sparkle in her eye.
Dark remained silent as he knew the answer but didn't know if he should respond.
"Dark? It's alright. You can tell me. I won't tell her." Grams said, coaxing him.
"I-I do. I do love her." Dark said, a gentle smile coming across his face.
"I knew it!! Dark, this could break both of your curses!" Grams exclaimed.
"Yes…but…what if she doesn't love me?" Dark asked.
"Dark, have you even seen the way she's looked at you? She loves you, no doubt about it, and besides you have been dating for 2 YEARS!!" Grams shouted.
"SHH!! She'll hear you! I'm not ready to tell her yet anyway." Dark replied quietly.
"Oh. Well, when the time is right it'll happen! Don't worry. But don't you want to be Dark forever?" Grams asked.
"Yes…but Kurena or Rhienna mean a lot to me. I don't want to scare her off." Dark replied with a solemn look on his face.
"You care about her very much don't you, Dark?" Grams asked with a soft smile.
Dark nodded.
I was getting anxious, after Grams' last outburst so I called to them. "Dark? Grams?"
"Oh, we're coming sweetheart. I'll go start breakfast!" Grams called as Dark walked back into the room.
"Sorry about that! Um, ya wanna head downstairs?" Dark asked.
"Yeah, sure why don-" before I could continue I suddenly felt really dizzy and almost fell on the floor but Dark caught me in time.
"Kurena?! What's wrong?" Dark asked with panic on his face.
"I-I feel really dizzy all of a sudden. I…" but I went unconscious before I could continue.