Dark. Such a simple word for something that holds more meaning in its four letters than most words combined. But there was no other word for this place except that. It was dark.

I felt myself floating; my eyes squeezed shut in concentration. If I kept them closed, the darkness outside them wouldn't seem so dark. But I couldn't resist from opening them and staring into that never-ending dark.

As I stared though, the world surrounding me began to lighten with an orange glow, warm and comforting as it fought away the dark. I found myself lying on a grassy slope as the orange glow chased away the dark. A single tree, green leaves ripe with summer beauty, stood behind me at the top of the slope. Past the grassy slope, a sea of darkness boiled and rolled in waves of black and purple as if it were in a tempest. I was on an island of light in a sea of dark.

Standing up, I stretched, enjoying the stiff pain of extending muscles. I glanced at the tree, its branches swaying in a gentle breeze. Hiding in the upper most branches of the tree, the orange glow emitted between the branches, creating a halo of light around the tree's canopy. The glow was soft and gentle compared to the blaring dark background and it was a sight for sore eyes.

I wanted to be closer to it, to feel the glow on my skin, to steal it from the tree and to keep it for myself. I walked towards the tree, looking up in its branches for the glow. But the branches were thick and obstructed any view of the glow.

This angered me, this denial to the warmth. I would not settle for it. The tree was mocking me and I would not have it. So, staring at the tree, I gripped the lowest branch and pulled myself up. The bark was rough, moss covering it in some places, a layer of wet skin to the already thick-skinned tree. Searching for the next branch, I reached and pulled myself up again, avoiding thin branches and breaking twigs as I did so. I kept climbing up the tree, getting higher and higher in its branches, never glancing down. As I climbed though, the branches seemed to get thicker rather than thinner. It felt like I was climbing through a labyrinth of branches and I was unable to tell up from down, left from right.

Still I climbed, jaw set with determination to find that light. I had to have it. This tree could not protect it from that rolling sea of darkness, but I could. I didn't know how, but I felt in my gut that only I could protect that glow from the sea of dark.

After what seemed like an eternity of climbing, a soft glow greeted my eyes from above the next layer of branches. Excitement raced through my veins, as I looked for a branch halfway between the glow and myself. There was none. I couldn't back down though, not this close to finding that glow. I coiled into a squat and balanced precariously on my branch, shifting to keep my balance and aligning myself with my goal. Taking one last breath, I jumped, releasing my legs and stretching my arms. The world seemed to go into slow motion as I flew through the air, the next branch seeming to get further away rather than closer. Just when I thought I would never reach the branch, my hands made contact with rough back, my palms scrapping against it.

Hanging for dear life, I pulled myself up slowly, my arms burning from the exercise. Squatting on the new branch, I peered through the branches trying to find the glow. Gently, I pushed aside several branches, walking along my branch further from the trunk as I followed the growing orange glow.

Pulling aside one last branch, the glow grew to a brilliant light, momentarily blinding me. When the light subsided, I peaked over my arms to find a room made from the tree's canopy, interlocking branches creating walls and a sturdy floor. Looking behind me, I discovered the branch I had come from replaced by a web of interlocking branches. Turning back around, I found the orange glow surrounding a young man with two-toned hair, the glow matching the top color of his hair. He was turned away from me, but his head was tilted down and he was hugging himself.

"Judai," I asked, moving towards him. "Are you okay?" Cautiously I walked around Judai, coming to stand in front of him. "Judai," I said again, hoping he'd look up. He did nothing.

"Judai!" I shouted, anger mixing with fear in my voice. Carefully, I reached for one of his hands that covered his face, and pulled it away from him. The hand dropped to his side as did the other, and with their fall, it revealed a face that made my heart hurt to see. Judai's face was red and tear streaked, his normally smiling mouth, now contorted into a mix between a frown and grimace. His eyes disturbed me the most. They flickered between two colors as tears streamed from their corners. The first color I saw was a soft warm chocolate color, gentle and innocent like a puppy's eyes. When he blinked though, they changed to an acidic gold, glowing with malice as he peered at me with slanted eyes. Then he would blink again and they'd be that gentle brown once more.

I stumbled back a few steps, watching with worry as Judai's eyes rapidly switched between chocolate and gold. We both stood unmoving, the only sound was my beating heart and soft moans of crying from Judai. I didn't know what to do, frozen in place from shock and fear. Suddenly, Judai reached a trembling hand towards me, "Help…me," he stammered.

Over my shock, I took a step towards him but suddenly he shouted, "Stay back mortal! Do not take another step!" His eyes radiated that acidic gold again, but then he closed his eyes, grabbed his head and whimpered as he curled into a ball on the ground. The canopy room grew dark as the glow that once surrounded Judai died to but a faint sliver of light against the dark.

"Judai," I shouted, stepping towards him again. As I was about to take another step though, a loud crack echoed around the canopy. Looking around a dark purplish looking cloud began swimming along the edges of the room, crawling through the branches towards the center. Towards Judai.

I started to lift my foot to take another step towards Judai, but another crack echoed through the room and I felt myself falling. I looked up as I fell, screaming for Judai as the dark clouds reached him and smothered out the little orange glow that was left.

. . . .

My eyes flew open, heart racing and breath coming out in gasps. What the hell was that? Those eyes, that dream, the darkness. I shivered, partially from the memory of the dream and partially from the cold sweat covering my body. Trying to get my breath back, I looked around the room, still dark except for a faint glow peaking from the window. Judai still slept soundly next to me, oblivious to my startled awakening.

God, how did that boy do it? A dragon could storm through Neo Domino and he would still be asleep I bet. Wish I could do the same. That dream left me weary and more exhausted than before. It seemed so real, but there's no way it could be.

Sighing, I tried to get the dream off my mind by watching Judai sleep. His head still lay on my lap, but he was curled into a human ball beneath my jacket, the quilt having slid off him while sleeping. He was shivering beneath the jacket, his face slightly flushed. Pulling the blanket over him, I felt his forehead again, my cool hands meeting a clammy and warm face.

"Damn it, he's got a fever now," I cursed. Gently lifting his fuzzy head, I got up from the bed and laid his head back on a pillow. He didn't move while I stirred or while I tripped around the room, changing into a fresh pair of jeans and shirt.

Taking one last look at Judai, I left the room, closing the door as quietly as I could, not that it would have mattered. As I walked down the stairs, my mind whirled with what to do first, thinking back to the time when Martha cared for me and the other kids.

Heading to the makeshift kitchen in the garage, I filled a pot with water and set it on a hot plate. As the water heated, I grabbed a mug and scooped some tea leaves into it. With that done, I went over to my computer, checking messages and scouring the news for anything that might explain why Judai was in this time period. Finding nothing, I sat in frustration.

The whistle of the teakettle interrupted my frustrated thoughts. I rose from my spot at the computer and walked to the pot, pouring the boiling liquid into the mug. The sweet and fresh smell of peppermint wafted as the tea leaves steeped, curls of steam rising in small clouds in the cold garage air. I stood there, staring at the mug, when I heard the soft creak of a door. Shaking myself from my trance, I grabbed the mug and turned to see Judai standing at the top of the stairs.

"What are you doing up? It's much too cold for you to be in the garage. Go back to bed, I'll be up in a minute," I scowled, striding towards the stairs.

"Who are you to tell me what I should and should not do?" Judai growled. His eyes were cast down, staring intently at the floorboards. "If I wish to get up, so I shall. You are nothing, an insignificant worm. Yet you attempt to control me and command me? I should have you beaten for such a condescending tone and insulting gesture against your King."

"Your king?" I laughed. "Judai, I think the cold got to your head. The only thing you're a king of is being lazy." I started to climb the stairs when he shouted at me in a bone chilling voice, "Stay back mortal! Or so help you, I will send you to the greatest depths of hell!"

I paused, trying to understand why my hands shook. It was just Judai, hyperactive, sunny Judai. So why was I shaking as though a dark figure loomed behind me, tracing cold fingers across my neck?

No, it was just your imagination. I was overreacting from that dream last night. It was Judai standing at the top of the stairs. Not that other gold-eyed person I saw in my dreams. I continued walking up the stairs, stepping cautiously as though I were a mouse sneaking behind a cat. I got halfway up the stairs when Judai looked up, glaring at me. I froze. There were those same acidic, gold eyes from my dream, glowing with malice and anger. So it wasn't just a dream.

Stumbling back, I caught myself before I went tumbling down the stairs. Judai continued to glare as he hissed, "You dare disobey the Supreme King? You will pay for your defiance!" Judai took a step towards the stairs, arm stretched out. A dark purple glow emitted from his outstretched hand and a high-pitched squeal like a pig caught in a tornado filled the silent garage.

Suddenly, Judai put his hand down, the glow disappearing, and grabbed his head, screaming with a pained expression. "No! This is my world, I am in control," he screamed, tears streaking down his cheeks.

"Ha, you call this control? I've seen more control from a Ojama that's had one too many drinks. You are a weak fool that would be nothing without me. I give you power and what do I get in return? A closed up mind, never free from that dark prison. Always bottled within you. Always alone," he paused, wincing at a memory. "Well no more!" Judai shouted, yet his voice seemed deeper and edgier than before.

"No, I won't let you," Judai whimpered as he stumbled at the top of the stairs. Suddenly his knees gave out and with half closed eyes, Judai began falling forward down the stairs. As he tumbled, I braced myself as he whacked into me, knocking the mug in my hand to the floor and causing both of us to fall down the stairs. We tumbled down the rest of the stairs, me taking the blunt of the fall as I grasped Judai to my chest.

When we finally reached the bottom of the stairs, I didn't move. Wiggle the toes, now the fingers. Move the neck and arm, now the back. My body was sore and my breath uneven from it being knocked from my lungs, but I seemed okay. Sitting up, I was still cradling Judai against me. As I went to move him off me though, my arm sang with a stinging pain. Looking at it, I saw a large cut about the length of a cell phone across the top of my arm, soaking my jacket with crimson. How did that happen? But then I remembered the mug, which had fallen from my hand.

Gently, I moved my arm and moved Judai away from my chest. He was crying softly but for the most part he seemed unscathed from the tumble. He kept mumbling to himself, "Have to control… protect friends…no, don't…"

A soft expression enveloped my face and I clutched Judai, hugging him tightly and stroking his head as I tried to whisper words of comfort to him.

We sat like this until Judai fell back to a feverish sleep. Then I carried him back up the stairs to the bed, my arm screaming in protest. As I went to lay him down though, I realized Judai's jacket was damp. I mentally smacked myself. Why didn't I take his jacket off earlier? Of course he has a fever now, between sitting in the cold snow and sleeping in a damp jacket.

Picking him back up, I set him up right on the bed. Using my bad arm as a rest for him to set against, I used my other arm to work the jacket off of him. With some difficulty, I got his jacket off and threw it across the room, but realized with desolation that his shirt was just as damp as his jacket. The shirt was even more of a challenge then the jacket. Being a long-sleeved shirt that was pulled over his head with a collar, this shirt posed problems with taking it off a knocked out Judai. My arm seared in protest as I worked the stretchy material over that Kuriboh head. Once free I tossed it to the side as well.

Taking the now shirtless Judai off the bed, I rolled back the covers and sheets before putting him back in the bed and covering him up again. Despite only wearing pants now, he was breathing hard and sweating as though he had run 5 kilometers.

With Judai back in bed, I stumbled to the bathroom. Carefully stripping off my jacket, I examined the cut in the mirror; long with red liquid slowly streaming down my arm, the abrasion wasn't too wide, but it was very deep. I cleaned the wound, grimacing when the warm water hit raw skin and sighing when the antibiotic cream cooled the stinging pain. After dressing the wound, I stood staring at myself in the mirror. My hair seemed even more disheveled then normal, the yellow streaks dull seeming to have lost their luster. Faint dark circles lay in the shadows beneath my blue eyes, which shone dully from exhaustion, and my face was pale as though I had coated it with flour. Perhaps another hour or two of sleep wouldn't be such a bad idea.

I started back to the room but froze as the memory of the dream and Judai's eyes came to mind. No, sleep would have to wait.

Exiting the bedroom I stepped carefully down the stairs, avoiding the shattered pottery pieces. Once at the bottom I grabbed a towel cleaning up the mess from the fall. After cleaning, I went back to the teakettle, which was still warm, and made myself some tea. Sitting down in my familiar computer chair, I sipped my beverage as my thoughts ran tiredly round in circles always coming back to one question, "What the hell is going on?"


AN: So there's the first two chapters Clockwork. I'm still brainstorming for the next chapter so it may be a few days before I post again, but I hope you enjoyed what you've read so far. As many other authors have said, reviews and recommendations are always appreciated and taken into consideration, so don't be timid to leave one for me. I also apologize for any lingering questions you may have about the story. Hopefully I will be able to explain them more in the next chapter, but we'll have to wait and see.

~BlackLily22