I am sooooooo sorry that I haven't updated this one for the longest of times. I got writers block and I'm writing this one as I go unlike my other story, A Love So Strong. I'm not finished with that one either, but I have a lot more of it done.
We finally have some YYH in this chapter! Oh, and for those who don't know, Shiori is Ren's mom. OK?
I'll write faster if I had more reviews. Thank you to nightmare rose for reviewing! She was the only one out there who seems to like this story. So if you want this thing to be updated quickly, I'm asking for 3 reviews, OK?Thanks!
Chapter two: Deceit
(Thirty-three years earlier.)
Hate. She hated them.
Shiori stalked through the tall grass gloomily until she found the spot for which she had been searching. It was a long forgotten cottage close to the edge of the barrier. Few people came here in fear of a demon braking through the pale yellow wall; Shiori was not one of these people. She and her friend, Kiri, had stumbled upon it two years earlier and had decided to make a 'secret base' if you will.
Her friend had been sent off to the ninja village in the dessert about a year after their discovery; she had been caught kissing one of the Royal Nights. Shiori had known about this relationship for quite some time, and was very sad to see them broken apart. The Knight's name was Timothy, and he hadn't spoken a word since.
Shiori didn't feel like sitting inside sulking since it was such a beautiful day. She decided to go to the lake that lay very close to the barrier. It was a few minutes walk from the back of the small house and when she reached the shore, a pod of yure where surfacing for air. She felt her anger subside a little at the beautiful sight.
Shiori sat down on the soft, green bank and began to think.
'Why do they always have to control me? I don't want to get married yet, and I never want to marry that bastard, Salmar."
Shiori brought her knees up to her face and rested her head on them. She felt hot tears burn at her eyes but fought them back. Her parents had just told her at lunch that she would start seeing Salmar, whether she liked it or not. It was tradition that the Royal family's eldest, or sole in this case, daughter be married to the youngest son of the Chief Advisor. The Royal family never gave birth to a girl before the Chief had had at least two sons. Then they would have a girl within the next four years, the later, the better.
The Chief's eldest son was a man named Meisei. Like his name, he was a very just and honorable. Shiori had liked him from the moment she had met him eight years ago when she was five. She had grown up around him and over the years had grown to love him. His younger brother, on the other hand, was a different story.
Shiori had met Salmar when she met his brother. It had been on the day of her revealing party. It was Angel tradition that a new member of the Royal Family was introduced to the city when they were five years of age. Shiori had met Salmar and Meisei the morning of the party. She had been introduced and both gave a very polite bow. Meisei had been thirteen and Salmar was only nine, but already you could tell that the two where like Yin and Yang.
While his brother was a polite, gentle man, Salmar had an aura like black smoke around him. It seemed to Shiori that she was the only one who could see this and began to worry. It didn't help matters when her father told her that Salmar would be her escort. She did her best to appear calm while on the inside her heart was racing.
The rest of the day went by uneventfully in Shiori's mind. Of course there were the final preparations for the party to be made: a last minute adjustment on her dress, a review of the evening's events, tasting of the cake, (This was her favorite part). As the time for the party drew nearer, she felt a tightening knot of anxiety in her stomach. She hoped with all her heart that the evening would go without incident.
Salmar was already at the Great Hall when Shiori and her parents arrived. Salmar told them that Meisei was inside waiting for them. When they walked inside Shiori was over whelmed by the noise. Shouts and laughter echoed off the huge arches and hit her like a ton of bricks. She stopped suddenly and was soon forgotten by her parents as they wandered into the crowd. Salmar stood silently and watched her calmly for a few minutes.
"You've never been to a big party like this, have you?" he inquired curiously.
She shook her head slightly, to shocked to speak.
"Can I lead you to a table? You can sit down until the introductions are made."
Shiori felt slightly taken aback. She had been getting the worst vibes from him, and she still was, but he was being so nice. She didn't understand the feeling she was getting, but she decided to be cautious. Even so, she let him guide her to an area where there tables had been set up for the guests to rest if they tired of dancing.
Even though there were many people here, it was significant enough to help calm her stomach. Salmar returned in a few minutes with two glasses of punch. She took a sip and then turned her attention to the stage.
Her mother and Father were standing and talking to each other. They looked very elegant in their dress cloths. When her mother nodded and said something to her father, he tapped the microphone that had been placed in front of them.
"Good evening everyone. We hope you are having a great time so far tonight. As you all know, this is the revealing party for my darling daughter, Shiori."
At this, everyone burst into applause. Salmar took this opportunity to guide Shiori through the crowd and to the entrance of the stage. He stood patiently until her mother motioned for them to come out onto the stage.
Shiori's hands trembled visibly as she looked out over the huge crowed of angels. Her mother put an arm around her daughter.
"Shiori will be our only heir to the throne due to the disease that I have been battling with for the past few months. It is very unfortunate that Shiori will be an only child, but she will not be lonely. We have found an abandoned human girl her age who will grow up along side my precious daughter."
Shiori blinked in surprise. This was the first time she had heard of this, but her heart leapt with joy. She had never had a friend before and was very excited at the possibility. Her mother and father continued talking for a while and then suddenly it was all over.
People were clapping as others made their way to the door. Her mother pushed her back into Salmar as she followed her husband toward a small room to the left of the stage where Shiori knew Meisei was awaiting them.
Salmar tugged at her hand and she reluctantly followed him through the only other door that led off the stage. They stepped through the tall frame and out into a deserted hallway. Salmar closed the door behind them and burst into laughter.
"You looked so scared up there!" he choked out through fits of laughter.
Shiori knotted her brows and put her hands on her hips. "Well, it was scary! There was like, a lot of people out there!"
"You had better get used to it, brat."
Shiori froze. He had just called her a brat. Just like that! He said it so calmly as if it was her name.
Salmar was suddenly in front of her. "Is there something wrong with what I called you?"
Shiori was shaking at his sudden closeness, but she nodded her head anyways.
"Yes, I'm not a brat."
She yelped as Salmar's hand came into harsh contact with her cheek.
"What did you say? I can call you whatever I want bitch!"
Shiori covered her ears as she slid down the wall into a fetal position. "Stop it!" she cried out.
Salmar kicked her in the in the side of her head and stormed away; never once looking back at Shiori's huddled form. Tears streamed down her cheeks like rivers.
She remained in that dark hall the rest of the night.
Shiori closed her eyes as she tilted her face toward the sun.
Those thoughts, they brought with them so many moreā¦
Tears began to make their silent trails down her smooth cheeks; a path they had followed many times before. The silence was almost foreboding.
Then, like lightning thundering down from the skies above, a noise creaked and boomed from beyond the barrier. Shiori stood quickly and was frozen to her spot on the soft white shores.
What had happened? There was no noise but that of her ragged breathing as she scanned the trees on the other side. This silence was unnaturalā¦
Then she saw him for the first time. His body was mangled almost beyond anything remotely human. His head was hung and blood dripped from his open mouth and he was supporting himself with his right arm; his left hung limply from his side, shattered. His ruffled black hair was matted with blood and dirt.
Shiori made a startled noise and the boy tensed.
Slowly, oh so slowly, he raised his head.
Shiori fell over from sheer amazement. His eyes were so red that they reminded her of a lake of fire she had once seen a picture of.
When he had gotten a good look at her, he seemed to relax a bit, as if he had decided that she would not harm him. Then his body shook with convulsions as a coughing fit tore through his badly weakened body. He stopped suddenly and fell forward, hitting the ground with a loud 'thud'.
So, what so you think? Just so you know, you won't find out about what happens after this till the fourth chappie: P
Please tell me what you people think! Arigato gozaimasu! (Thank you)
