I finished editing this after going on a trip to England. Hope All the changes are there but please let me know if you see something and I'll gladly change it.
Chapter 1
Yuki sat in the middle of some ancient ruins, her dress and hair billowing around her. A cloaked man clenched his teeth as he knelt beside her as the enemies approach, drawing his gigantic black and silver sword from thin air. Flames surrounded them and she gripped the man's cloak.
"Please, I beg you. When it's the end, please..." she murmured in a hushed whisper, "Please... Kill me. If it is my fate to go mad and die, then I want it to be freed by your hands."
"All right, I vow not to do anything that will cause you pain. But that's something that may not come to pass. I'll protect you. Believe in me... I will not betray you!" the man said as he stood and held his sword out next to him.
"W-wait, LUKA!" Yuki screamed, and was thrown out of the strange dream. Yuki found herself lying on her bed, her hand out reached as if grasping for something. She sat up and rubbed her hair, which was much shorter than it had been in the dream. That was because to everyone else's eyes, Yuki was a boy. She had disguised herself ever since her mother had died ten years ago with a sickness and had told her to hide herself at the local orphanage. 'Weird,' Yuki thought, 'Lately, I've been having weird dreams. Just now, I felt as if I called someone's name. But when ever I wake up, I forget them. Even though I feel as if it's something that shouldn't be forgotten.'
Her alarm clock beeped and she shook her head, shaking away her thoughts and got up from her bed. She quickly bound her upper torso with heavy bandages so that her chest was flat and got changed into her karate uniform for her morning practice with the orphanage manager. She went to the dojo behind the dorms, careful not to disturb the other children, and opened the door. The manager was already waiting for her and said, "Ah good, let's have a quick sparing match."
Yuki nodded and took a ready stance. They exchanged quick blows and suddenly the manager grabbed Yuki's robes to flip her. Yuki instantly swatted his hand away and knocked him to the floor with a solid punch.
"Okay, let's stop here," the manger panted.
"Okay," Yuki said, wiping her brow, "thank you very much."
"You've really grown strong, Yuki. Sorry for always having you practice with me after work," the manager said.
"It's not a problem since I enjoy learning martial arts from you, director," Yuki said with a bright smile.
"I see. By the way Yuki, it seems like you're looking for an apartment. But, with going to school and working part-time. Living alone would be tough. Just because you're in high school now, doesn't mean that you have to leave in a hurry. You don't have to act like a stranger you know," he said.
"Ah, I know. It's just that I'm a little slow, so if I'm going to be independent I thought it would be better sooner rather than later. Please take care of me for just a little while until I find independent," Yuki said as thoughts ran through her head. 'That's right, I shouldn't be so reliant. It will be harder to hide my secret the more I grown up.'
She got changed into her school uniform and began her morning cleaning.
"Excuse me, Yuki-chan? Sorry to trouble you, bit could you look in the mailbox for me?" one of the nurses who worked at the orphanage asked.
"Okay," Yuki said and put down the broom. She went out to the front of the orphanage and opened the mailbox. The only thing in their was a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and her eyes widened as she saw the crudely pasted words on it. [Sakura Yuki Die!]
'Not again,' Yuki thought in dismay and out loud said, "This is the second one."
She had thought that it had just been a prank when she had found the first note in her shoe locker, but why would someone want her to die? She thanked God that the residents of the orphanage haven't discovered it as she crumpled the piece of paper in her hand.
'There are people who don't need me. I know that, but in any case, I have to hide it or it will cause trouble," she thought as she walked to her room and shoved the note in her desk, 'Please, someone tell me... What is the reason behind my birth? What is the reason why I'm here? I... I don't want to be anyone's baggage anymore.'
"Yuki!" voices cried, startling her. She turned and found the younger kids of the orphanage gather around her.
"What's up?" she asked, smiling as they hugged her legs.
"Yuki-chan, when you come back from school today,would you make us necklaces? Please?" they asked.
"I'd like one that has a flower," one piped up.
"I-I'd like a really cute one!" another added.
"Okay, you got it. I'll make you a cute one, okay?" Yuki said with a smile. 'That's right. Here, at least there are people who need me...'
-SOMEWHERE ELSE :P-
A peach haired girl sat next to her silver haired brother on a bench on one of the major streets of town. Her name was Touko, and her dashing brother was a boy named Tskumo.
"It's jut about time for him to pass by, isn't it Tskumo?" Touko asked.
"Yep," Tskumo said dreamily as he munched on his snacks. Touko pulled out a photograph from her pocket and cooed. It was a picture of Yuki in her boy uniform from about a few months ago.
"You know, Yuki-chan is so cute, hasn't changed one bit!" Touko said.
"He's cute, but he's a boy now Touko," Tskumo said.
"It doesn't matter if Yuki's a boy-" Touko started, but she was interrupted by a loud shout.
"Hey, you there, stop cutting in!" a man in his fifties said.
"What did you say old man?" A teenager said as he and his gang members sneered.
"Just look here. Everyone's lined up. Obey the rules," the man said.
"What rules? Who the hell do you think you are?" the teen shouted back as he kneed the man in the stomach, "Eh?! Geezer It's because you go up against us, geezer. Get him!"
The others people at the bus station looked away, not wanting to get involved in the violent teens.
"Hey! Why is everyone's pretending they don't see that?" Touko said angrily, "I'm going over there!"
"Wait Touko-chan," Tskumo said.
"Please stop! If you do something like that, he'll die!" a voice said as a figure approached them. It was Yuki, all dressed in her school uniform, her bag slung over her shoulder.
"Who the hell are you?!" the teen yelled.
"Um... just someone passing by," Yuki said honestly and Touko and Tskumo sweat dropped.
"It's none of your business," the teen said as he walked over to Yuki.
"But, violence isn't good," Yuki said in an innocent tone,as if talking to a younger child. The teen sneered, grabbed Yuki's collar, and said, "Just because you have a cute face, don't think that I'll go easy on you!"
To to his surprise he was suddenly thrusted forward onto his knees, his hand twisted painfully in Yuki's grasp. Touko and Tskumo blinked in surprise and the other gang members stared in bemusement.
"Ouch, it hurts! Let go!" the teen shouted.
"I'm sorry, just stay still," Yuki said but her mind was suddenly filled with visions. The teens voice narrated as he watched as a man and woman began walking away.
"Betraying our family, and having another woman... that bastard father! I can't forgive him! Damn! Damn it!" the boy said. It hadn't been the first time that Yuki had seen another person's memories. If she came in contact with someone with strong memories, they instantly flowed into him if she simply brushed against them. She was suddenly thrown back into reality and the other two boys tried to jump her. But a foot stuck out and tripped them.
"I got them both with one trip. Lucky!" Tskumo said, then turned to Yuki, "are you okay?"
"Uh, yes, thank you," Yuki said.
"You guys are so uncool," Touko said as she twirled her phone around her, "I called the police. If you don't want to be caught, you had better leave."
"The police would be bad... let's go," the teen said and ran with his friends.
"Did you really call the police?" Tskumo asked.
"Nope, it was just a bluff,"Touko said as the other spectators clapped. Yuki helped the man to his feet as Tskumo and Touko approach him.
"Hey you, It's dangerous going up alone against a bunch of bad guys like that," Touko said as Tskumo patted down Yuki's uniform.
"Ah, thank you," Yuki said.
"You're strong, but there were three people against you. Number- wise you were at a disadvantage. Many people don't understand the pain of strangers, but you have a gauge to help... we're in a horrible world," Touko said
"If you hadn't helped, I don't know what would have happened to me. Thank you very much," Yuki said with a bow.
"Sounds like this kid is... kind hearted to the point of stupidity," Touko said as Tskumo gave Yuki some chocolate, "The truth is, I like people who become rash for the sake of others, over those who pretend they don't see anything. But, make sure to take care of yourself as well. It seems like we can get along. From now on, let's work well together."
"Eh?" Yuki asked in confusion.
"Yuki? What's up? What was all the commotion?" Yuki's childhood friend, Kanata, asked. Kanata was one of the only people who knew Yuki's true gender.
"Ah, Kanata. It wasn't anything major," Yuki said as he turned back to where the odd siblings had disappeared from.
"Yuki, I met you at just the right time. I gathered some handy articles, so why don't you come by today?" Kanata asked.
"Really? Thank you," Yuki said, "It wouldn't interfere with your college classes will it?"
"They only go through the morning. So, anytime from the afternoon on is fine."
"Um, then is it okay if I stop by on my way home from school?" Yuki asked.
"Sure, is everyone at the orphanage well?" Kanata asked.
"Yes, everyone really wants to see you," Yuki said, unaware that they were being watched from the forest next to them.
"WIll he be okay?" Tskumo asked.
"He'll be fine. Yuki-chan is much stronger than I expected," Touko said.
"That's not what I meant. With that abundance of kindness and purity I wonder if he'll be able to endure the oncoming fight," Tskumo said mysteriously.
"True... that's right. But I think he's a nice boy, one who won't lose to you in kindness. Ah, by the way, were's Zess?" Touko said
"He's probably watching from somewhere. Ever since Yuki-chan was born, he's followed him to the corners of the Earth. So that'd be fifteen years? He's watched over him the entire time. It must be love! Someday, I want to be loved that way too!" Touko said.
Miles away a black haired man, the same one from Yuki's dream stood on the roof of the building.
"Only a little longer until Warpurgis Night," he murmured as the wind rustled his knee length black coat.
-WITH YUKI-
"Sakurai-kun, we heard you beat up delinquents this morning," a student said.
"T-that's-" Yuki started as students swarmed her.
"A girl from the class next to us saw you!" a girl from his class said, "that's so cool!
"Though Sakurai looks cute, he's actually quite manly," a boy said.
"That's what's good about him. There are a lot of girls saying that are Sakurai-kun would be nice to have as a boyfriend. Hey is there a girl you like?" another girl asked.
"Eh? No, I... uh..." Yuki stuttered as she backed away from them. It would be weird talking about her love life when she was undercover, "That's kind of... um..." And she bolted.
"Ah he ran away! Wait you're definitely going to tell us today!" the girls shouted as they chased after her. They ran half way around the school when Yuki spotted a familiar face.
"Uzuki-kun," she shouted, "um, those flowers are pretty. Did you get them somewhere? Huh? A part of your neck is turning red. Did you get bitten by a bug or something?" and grabbed her friends shoulders. To her surprise, images flew through her head. "I really hate you! Introducing yourself to me and speaking in a kind voice... you were just pretending to be friendly, weren't you? Always appearing to be my friend. Hypocrite!"
"Let go of me!" Uzuki shouted.
"Uzuki!" Yuki shouted but the glasses wearing teen bolted away.
"What's up with that? as usual he's creepy. He's so gloomy all the time, I don't like him," one student said.
"Yeah, and you can never tell what he's thinking," another said, "Seems like things at home are the cause of that bad personality of his. I went to the same primary school as he did, you know, his mom wasn't one of those maternal types. Uzuki was almost killed."
"No way! Even though she was his mother?" a girl squealed.
"Then he transferred for middle school. His parents got divorced and it's just him and his dad," the second girl continued.
"As expected of a single parent. It leads to problems in a child's personality," a girl said, "that may be true. He's different from us."
Yuki held her throbbing head and sank to her knees.
"Sakurai-kun? W-What's wrong? Are you okay?" a girl asked, but Yuki couldn't hear them. 'I'm sorry Uzuki-kun. Figures that he still can't forgive me. I just wanted to be friends with Uzuki-kun again, like in middle school."
In the greenhouse of the school, Uzuki sat against the door, out of breath. A demonic voice hissed, "What? You're not friends with him?"
"There's no way that would be possible! I hate him, always laughing frivolously, every time I see him, I feel wretched," Uzuki shouted.
"If that's true, go through something painful. It'll make you feel refreshed," the voice hissed., "I'll help you."
After school, Yuki used a nearby pay phone. She called up Kanata to let him know what she was doing.
"Yes, I'm heading over there right now. Thank you in advance Kanata-san," Yuki said. She couldn't help but think of the possible connection between Uzuki and the death threats. She suddenly spotted Uzuki across the street, his hand extended towards her.
"W-wait a second!" Yuki shouted and ran across the cross walk. But right when she got to the middle of the street, he disappeared. Yuki found her feet frozen to the side walk. She couldn't move them. A car suddenly came towards her and she prayed in her mind. A man in black tacked him to the side of the street out of the car's path.
"Whoa, that was dangerous! are you two all right?" a woman asked. As if possessed, Yuki looked up and found a pair of silver eyes boring into hers.
"Ah, we finally meet," she whispered in a daze, then frowned. What had she said just now?
Chaos reigned around them. People gathered around the car.
"Why is the door missing?" someone asked.
"What happened?" another said. Yuki looked down and found her rescuer bleeding.
"Your hand! It's hurt," Yuki exclaimed.
"Let's go," the man said in a musical voice.
"Eh? U-um..." Yuki stuttered.
"Before we get involved in something troublesome," the man said and grabbed her arm, "Hurry!"
They ran hand and hand to the park, Yuki blushing all the way. Never in her life had she been more aware of her real sex. At the park she quickly treated his hand an wrapped it with a handkerchief.
"Are you all right? Um... maybe you should go to the hospital," Yuki said worriedly.
"I'm fine. Something like this doesn't even count as an injury," the man said, "But thank you for this."
"No problem. The same goes for me. Thank you very much from such a dangerous situation, and then getting hurt on top of that..." Yuki said and trailed off. They stared at each other and Yuki began thinking to herself. 'What is this atmosphere? It feels as if it's awaking something inside of me with that gaze of his. I feel as if I know these eyes. But, I don't know anyone so beautiful. It's like he's not from this world.' Yuki though as she squirmed a bit uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Ah...um?" Yuki said.
"Oh, right. Sorry. Before you could not move because you felt temporarily paralyzed, right?" the man asked.
"Eh?" Yuki exclaimed, how had he known?
"That wasn't what you wanted to to do right? Do you go through such inexplicable situations often?" the man asked. Yuki nodded and the man said, "I see, You've gone through some scary experiences."
"C-can I tell you something?" Yuki asked. The man smiled gently and nodded.
"That time, the classmate that was on the other side of the street disappeared. I clearly saw him, he was even beckoning," Yuki said, she wasn't quite sure why she was opening up to this man, but with him she felt a strange comfort, "to be honest, I have this...weird ability."
"Ability?"
"Well, my words may sound weird so I don't know if you'll believe me or not. When I touch someone, their emotions flow into my mind. It's not a constant thing. It's just happens all of a sudden. I can't control it myself. At times I get images, like the person's past and such. It's a burden. In the past I often made mistakes. That classmate I spoke of was also someone I messed up with. That time was also sudden, as usual. I saw a past that he undoubtedly didn't want anyone to know about. With something tiny like that it's not like I thought I understood everything about him. But at that time I just... just because it was painful for me after touching his emotions... I'm such an idiot. He was trembling with anger."
Tears filled her eyes and the man said, "You're wrong, it wasn't solely your fault. That darkness is something he created himself. He doesn't want to see reality. That's why he blames others and runs away. If you don't fight, it's like you're already dead even though your still living, right? Due to his weakness, you were also hurt. Don't take it to heart. You won't be able to hold up. In any case, I'll look into it."
"Eh? What do you mean by that?" Yuki asked.
"It just means you don't have to worry," he said.
"W-Why would you go that far for me? I mean you don't even know..." but she trailed of. Something deep within her told her she had met this man before. She looked into his eyes desperately and said, "Have I met you some where before...uh. L-Luka?"
She had no clue why the name had popped into her head, but it seemed to fit. The man smiled at her gently and said, "It'll all become clear to you soon. I'll support you even if you can't remember me yet. It's better than being alone, right? You don't have to burden yourself with everything; I will help you."
A tear rolled down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away, perplexed . 'Why am I crying. Maybe I was lonely all this time?'
"Well, I have to go. Make sure to be careful of your surroundings, Yuki," Luka said, "I'll come see you soon, be careful of your surroundings."
With a pat on Yuki's head, he froze, "Hang on a second. Are... are you a girl?"
Yuki jerked up and her eyes widened and she trembled and back away from Luka fearfully.
"H-How... no! No ones supposed to know!" Yuki shouted hysterically. Luka instantly sat her down and said, "It is okay. I won't tell anyone. I'll help you and protect you to the best of my ability. I will not betray you."
Yuki instantly calmed down with the somehow familiar fraise and leaned into his arms. He was warm and his breathing matched hers. For some reason, she felt totally at peace with this stranger.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"I have to go, will you be okay?" Luka asked. Yuki nodded and said, "I'll be waiting for you, I have a lot of questions."
"And I promise that I will answer them... in due time. But for now... farewell," Luka said, kissed her forehead and disappeared. Yuki rubbed her forehead, jittery, excited, and a little fearful.
