A/N: This story takes place 2 years after the end of Ryuusei no Gemini (Gemini of the Meteor). I consider it AU because it takes place on the Earth that Shion copied/created. This Earth was only briefly mentioned at the end of the episode "The Ark of Stars," so there is a lot that is left open. I will simply take advantage of that. :)

All characters were created by the amazing Tensai Okamura. I only wish to borrow them.

A warning- I don't feel this writing is as good/polished as the other things I've submitted so far. I have several ideas for this, but it's coming out slowly. I didn't even realize right away that the story had practically decided it needed told over the course of several chapters. Still, I thought I might as well post what I had so far and see how things went.

I do know that I intend to also write about Suou and July meeting- that's why I set the story two years ahead, so they'd be a bit older/mature. I also believe I'll end up having all mentioned characters cross paths with each other at some point...

Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Maybe that'll help smooth ideas out in my head. :)

DTB: Faded Memories

Ch. 1: Meeting

She felt eyes on her back. There were many people at the shopping mall; she could hear their shoes "click, click" as they walked past the bench where she was sitting. Why didn't the hairs raise on the back of her neck, like people always claimed they should? She knew someone was watching, but she didn't feel uncomfortable about it. No- it almost felt like something she'd been expecting. The silver-haired girl listened as a set of shoes padded over and halted beside her seat. It wasn't Elis. His footfalls were harder, not like these softer ones. The girl angled her head to the side where she'd heard the person stop.

"Did you need something?" she asked.

The man peered down at the girl, unseeing violet colored eyes pointed in his general direction. He ran a hand through his short black hair. "I felt I should say 'hi' to you. You look lonely here by yourself."

The girl blinked. "I'm not alone. My teacher is in the store across the way. He'll be back soon."

"Why didn't you go inside with him?" the voice was friendly, curious, a younger voice, the girl assessed.
"Because I knew you wanted to talk with me."

The man smiled and took a seat next to the girl. Upon closer inspection, he'd say she was older than he'd first thought. Probably early twenties. A sigh escaped through his lips. That felt better.

Just glad I'm not gonna look like a total pervert- she's definitely of age.

The man swallowed. "Oh yeah? How did you know?"

The silver-haired woman looked straight ahead. "I don't know. I just had a feeling. Like deja vu or something." She reached a hand out tentatively towards her bench partner. A warm hand grasped it and shook gently, the man speaking up. "I'm Hei. It's nice to meet you."

"Yin."

The young man withdrew from the hand shake, "Yin, huh? Well like I said. It's nice to meet you."

"Kirsi- Is everything okay?" a brown-haired man stopped short in front of the bench where the two were sitting. He had a bag in one hand and his other in a coat pocket. The young woman's mouth lifted into a small smile. "Yeah, Elis. Everything is fine."

Hei looked up at the newcomer. The man looked to be in his forties, with thinning brown hair and blue eyes. This must be the guy she said she was waiting for.

"Is there something I can help you with?" the man's eyes focused on Hei, an expression of uncertainty flitting across his features.

Yin spoke up, "I know him. This is Hei." The girl stood up and smoothed the folds of her sun dress. "I'm gonna go with him for awhile; don't worry, he can take me home." Yin reached a hand out towards Hei. He blinked a couple times, taking in the young woman's words. He stood up and slipped his hand back into the girl's. Elis stammered, "Uh- well- I don't know about-"

Yin extended a finger in a "hush" motion to the older man. "But Kirsi-"

"It's fine. I have my phone. I'll call you if I need anything." The girl pulled on Hei's arm, and with a shy smile, he nodded to Elis before walking away with the young girl. The duo heard a bag drop behind them as they made their way into the crowded walk way.

"So- uh- where are we going, exactly?" the dark-haired man gave an awkward chuckle.

"Away- it's too noisy here." The girl's hand tightened on Hei's.

"So, do you really go by 'Yin'? That guy, Elis- you said, kept calling you something different."

Yin nodded as she moved beside the young man, just a small step behind him. "He calls me that- I think that's my birth name, but it's never felt right."

"What? Really?"

The girl nodded her head again. "Yeah- so just call me 'Yin.' That's what I prefer."

Hei let out another small chuckle, "Of course. Whatever you say. So where are we going, again?" He gave the girl's hand a quick squeeze, "since I'm leading the way and all."

"Let's go to the park. The one with the big meadow. I want to go there."

Hei picked up the pace a little, fueled with a newly designated destination. "You got it. We'll take the bus."

The grass made little crinkle sounds under the couple's feet as they entered the meadow. It had been a particularly warm day in the city and nature had dried out a bit. Yin slipped off her sandals before continuing on- the grass poking at her feet and tickling her toes. "Hmm..." the girl sighed as they moved farther away from the trees. After a couple minutes, the two made themselves comfortable, sitting a few feet apart from each other, Hei's hands reaching behind him so that he could lean back. The sun had begun to set, and the sky was tinged with different shades of peach while wispy clouds drifted slowly with the breeze. A light hum of dragonflies could be heard in the distance.

For a long time, the two didn't speak. What words were there to say?

This should be really strange. I just wandered off with someone I just met, isolated myself with him, and now we're sitting in the park. What am I thinking?

Hei was the first to break the silence. "I know this seems weird, but it also feels really comfortable. Like we've hung out many times before, you know?"

Yin nodded. "I know- I was just thinking the same thing. It's strange, isn't it? I keep feeling something tugging at the back of my mind. I keep feeling-"

"Like we've met somewhere before..." Hei completed her sentence.

The sun was officially down and the moon had begun to rise. The silver-haired girl shivered.

Hei shrugged out of his jacket and placed it across Yin's shoulders, the girl's hand reaching up to pull the collar closer around her. "Thanks."

"So, what do you think about this? What do you think is happening?" Hei stretched out on the grass and folded his arms behind his head. He suddenly wished he'd known to bring his telescope. The stars are going to be bright tonight. Yin closed her eyes and tried to focus on the nagging thought in her mind; she tried to pull at it. Small flickers of sensation suddenly brushed against her consciousness.

The tight cling of the catsuit. The knowledge that her twin was standing nearby. The grass as it gave underneath her shoes. The cold hardness of the small boulder she sat on. An odd energy swirling around as it collected and concentrated around her. Life forces, Yin realized. And then nothing.

Yin let out a big puff of air. The dark-haired man's eyes shifted from the sky to the young woman next to him. She was really beautiful, he thought. Quiet, but she had a sense of confidence even while being led around by someone she'd barely met. Hei decided this was a good thing. A breeze skimmed past the girl, her silver hair fluttering up in pieces but her pony tail holding firm.

A sun hat. To go along with her sun dress. Why had she asked the hotel manager for the hat? Hadn't he told her not to speak to anyone? What if they were noticed? What if other Contractors came?

Hei's breath hitched. What the hell was that? He cleared his throat. "I just had the weirdest thought. Do you own a sun hat or anything?"

"A sun hat?"

"Yeah- I was just thinking your dress looked like it'd go well with one." The girl shook her head.

"No hats. I don't care for them much. But then I don't really need them. I don't spend a lot of time in the sun if I can help it."

The man unconsciously plucked a small handful of grass.

Of course not. What are you thinking, dumbass? How many people wear sun hats these days anyway?

Hei's attention was brought back to the girl as he heard the soft "thud" of his jacket being dropped onto the meadow. He watched as the silver-haired girl closed her eyes and lifted her face towards the sky. Small goosebumps quickly scattered across her bare arms as she reached out, palms up, like a child who was waiting for their parent to lift them into an embrace. The moon had risen enough that it was clearly over the trees, and its light was illuminating a face that was unlined- completely relaxed. The girl could have been meditating, for all he knew.

"I can feel it, you know," the girl whispered softly. "The moonlight. It's the reason I wanted to come out here. I love the feel of it, and the city lights always drown it out. And Elis is always too busy to bring me out here..." A smile spread across the girl's features. Hei watched transfixed. He felt his heart clench and he drew a deep breath. He had the sudden urge to reach out to the girl, to weave his fingers through the silver strands that were suspended from a thick ribbon. The tails of the bow shifted slightly as another breeze passed by. Not yet. It's too soon. The dark-haired man ran his fingers through his own hair instead. But thank you for trusting in me, Yin.

The two sat in silence until the girl's cell phone rang and dragged the two out of their reverie. "Yes- I'll head back now. Don't worry. Yeah- I'll see you soon." The girl stood up and stretched her back. Hei followed suit. "Let's get going. Elis is waiting for me. I missed piano lessons tonight, so he's pouting." The young man snickered. "Oh- well we shouldn't keep him waiting any longer now. Sorry if our time spoiled your lesson."

The girl reached a hand out towards Hei. "It's no problem. I expect we'll be seeing each other again. When we make it to the bus, I want you to put your number in my phone." The dark-haired man grinned, "Sure. That'd be great."

END CHAPTER ONE

A/N: So that's what I've got so far. It took a lot more editing than I'd thought. This is the first time I've written about a character who is blind. I kept catching myself writing visual images for her- kept going "Wait a minute! That doesn't make sense!" So there was a lot of rewriting. Silly of me, since I once had a blind roommate for 2 years, and had asked him questions about this same thing- what he "saw" and all that. But it's been a long while since those questions. Anywho, that's all I've got for now. Laters (hopefully). :D