A/N First of all, I have to apologise for the very VERY long delay between updates. Sorry! I've had midyear exams and I've been way too busy with music and schoolwork lately. Plus, I have to share the compy I write on. Enough excuses though, I am seriously going to try and do as many updates as I can to make up for it. I might add here though, Django is really hard to characterise. He doesn't really say much in the games, so I'm aiming for a kind, considerate selfless character, which is what I consider him to be. Also, he's not really shy like Lita when it comes to their relationship, I just don't think he really knows what to do, having focused mainly on fighting the undead his whole life. Hey, that's my opinion, but this is also my story too!
I don't own Konami or anything affiliated with Boktai, or there would be many more sequels with much more character development, courtesy of me! ;)
Chapter 2: Solar Reflection
"Something the matter Django?"
A small sparkle signalled the return of Otenko to Django's side as he walked through San Miguel's streets. His pace didn't slow, but Django considered the sunflower for a moment as he snapped out of his thoughts.
"Otenko, what do you think about the undead at the moment, now that Jormungandr's gone."
The sunflower thought for a moment, thinking through his vast knowledge about the undead.
"Jormungandr was the ultimate Immortal. One created by evil spirits for nothing more than the purpose of destruction. They disrupted the balance of Sol and Lunar by funneling their power into the Lunar side, causing it to destroy life. The Immortals were created simply to exist, nothing more. Sol and Lunar are life and death respectively, they represent the continuing cycle of life returning to the earth after death, before being reborn again. Jormungandr was the first Immortal, created by sheer incidence. The sheer power eminating from this being, resulted in the creation of other Immortals by means I do not understand. As they destroyed life, their power grew and more were created. Now that Jormungandr is gone, I do not believe there is reason for them to come back."
"So, what you're saying, is that the Immortals existed due to the presence of Jormungandr, right?"
"Indeed Solar Boy, the Immortals represented nothing more than an evil created by a disruption in the balance of Solar and Lunar. They served no purpose in existing and you were able to destroy their core."
"Which means, that by destroying their creator, the Immortals have no source of power and should now leave this realm."
"Right."
Satisfied with this explanation, Django resumed walking again, before something that was nagging at him finally popped back into his head.
"What does that mean for us Otenko, our duty is to ensure the balance of life and death is maintained, but now the Immortal are gone, what now?"
Otenko thought again for a moment, "I can feel the darkness weakening by itself, quite rapidly too. I don't believe we need to take care of it. As for now, I believe that staying here might be the best option. Jormungandr's lair is hidden deep within the earth, quite suitable for the Immortals. It might sound obvious, but anywhere else would be a give away."
The pair reached the end of the avenue, which lead on to the road where most of the city's stores were located. By chance, the road lead to the front of Lita's store. Otenko noticed this.
"Tell me Django, has Lita voiced her plans to you yet?"
Django was caught slightly off guard by Otenko's question, "Not yet Master, she might have other solar trees to plant, I suppose she might have to leave to do that," replied Django, a slight tinge of disappointment in his voice.
"Actually Django, being planted in the City of the Sun was the best option for this solar tree. It's power is slowly being amplified, such to the point that other solar trees might not even be necessary."
Django slightly brightened up, "Really? That's incredible!"
"Besides Solar Boy, you two work much better together, I don't think she would leave without you. An Earthly Maiden can't do everything by herself."
Otenko floated in front of Django, "As of now Django, we do not have much to worry about. There are things that I need to take care of and due to that, I will have to leave for a time. I want you to take a break Solar Boy Django, even your father knew when to relax, now is that time."
Django couldn't help but agree, "Thanks Master, good luck." Otenko nodded in reply and vanished again, leaving Django to his thoughts.
'I know, I'll go to the solar tree, that'll help me think.' thought Django as he set off.
The solar tree stood in the middle of the esplanade, its light pink glow luminating the surrounding area. The orange sky at dusk created a harmonising contrast anyone could appreciate. There were two paths leading out from the solar tree. One went out into the rest of the city, while the other lead back to the shops and residential areas. As Django walked along he spotted a familiar sight.
"Lita!"
The sound of his voice caused the earthly maiden to stop in her tracks and turn around, but not before a huge smile crept onto her features.
"Hi Master Django, what brings you out at this time?" Lita enquired.
"Well, um, I actually thought maybe we could go somewhere and talk if you aren't busy or anything" Django said, with a degree of awkwardness that surprised himself.
Lita blushed a little at the thought of finally having some time alone with Django. "Of course Master Django, you know I wouldn't say no."
"Great! Oh, by the way Lita, you don't have to call me Master, it's not like we're at a function or anything."
This caused another blush, "Thank you Mast...I mean Django." The solar boy chuckled a little.
Eventually the pair reached the solar tree and decided to go and sit under it on a newly installed bench. They didn't sit too close to each other, but close enough to feel a little nervous befre Lita broke the silence.
"So tell me Django, what plans do you have now, I assume you and Master Otenko have to leave again, right?" Django couldn't help but notice the evident withdrawl of Lita's tone.
"Well actually, Otenko told me that it would be in our best interests to stay here, although I don't really know where I'll stay, I don't think Zazie wants to put up with us for much longer..."
Lita's face brightened up, "You can stay with me Django!" she exclaimed, before realising what she had just said, "I mean, um, I've got a spare bed and you can stay with me if you want to..."
"Lita, I don't want to intrude on you or anything," Django then noticed her pleading emerald eyes and a slight disappointment, "But I'd like to stay with you Lita and I'll make sure I earn my keep and..."
Django couldn't finish as Lita had jumped on him and was giving him a crushing hug a bear would be proud of. She then realised what she was doing and backed off, her face as red as a solar fruit, Django's equally the same colour. After composing herself she thanked him proper.
"Thank you Django, I was hoping we would be able to stay together this time." said Lita, remembering how sad she was after Django had been forced to leave for San Miguel after the first tree was finished. Django had felt it too though, he'd felt down not being able to spend time relaxing with Lita.
"We ended up together again anyway Lita, I sort of regret not asking you to come, we work much better as a team." admitted Django.
"We do don't we?" added Lita.
The two then fell into an awkward silence, not knowing what to say. The two stole a glance into each others eyes, causing them to blush without fail, smile and look at the ground again. They both knew they liked the other, but they wouldn't admit it. Django simply didn't know what to do or say, whilst Lita was convinced that Django couldn't possilbly like, even love her, the same way. At that moment though, something glowed in Django's pocket. Both of the pair noticed, and Django removed the offending item.
"Django that's a..." Lita said with a gasp.
The item was a seed that Django had found in a chest in his travels. It was smooth and had a pinkish hue to it. He couldn't force himself to throw it away, so it had stayed in his pocket the whole time. Django had planned to ask Otenko about it, but it had quickly slipped his mind. In the light of the solar tree, it was glowing quite profusely. Then in an instant, it burst, creating a shower of pink fragments around the pair. What resulted in Django's hand, was the most delicate flower they'd ever seen. It, like the solar tree, had a pink hue, but had extremele delicate petals and seemed to shimmer around its leaves, which opened up like a rose.
"...Lunar rose, I'd only ever heard rumours about them. They say it only blooms under a full solar tree at dusk, I'd only heard rumours about them. I never thought I'd ever see one in my life..."
Django looked at the delicate flower, then into Lita's eyes, his light hazel eyes connecting with her emerald orbs that fit so well with her light brown hair. Django slowly took Lita's hands from her lap and faced them palms up under his. With his other hand, he placed the rose in her open hands and slowly closed his fingers around it. Both of their hearts were racing, Lita's feeling like it was ready to burst out of her chest. She looked at the rose, then back at Django's smiling face and felt a tear roll down her cheek.
"Lita?" asked Django in a quiet voice, "I have to tell you something." All she could do was nod. "I had a really hard time when my mother was kidnapped, I had no-one to go to. Then Otenko came, and helped me find her again. But then when we were fighting the count, we found you captive. Then when we saved you, you fought your way out by yourself without asking for any help. We found you at the solar tree and it turned out you had the same mission. When we defeated the queen, the tree was finished and I thought we could relax, however, we had to leave again."
Lita could feel the tears starting to flow down her face and shifted closer to Django, both not minding.
"I felt terrible, but I had to do my duty. Then when I was bitten by my father I started to lose hope. But I heard your voice, and had the will to keep going, even though things looked bad. Then when I passed out performing the piledriver, your voice made me come back and I regained my human form. You've done nothing but support me and help me no matter what, and I don't know how to give anything back. I don't know how to say it Lita, you're the person that matters the most to me and give me my strength, you're so kind and considerate and...beautiful," the last comment was made with the red creeping back onto Django's face.
"Django..." Lita said, placing the rose on her lap so as not to damage it and circling her arms around him, her mind begging for him to feel the same.
"Lita, I think I...I love you."
"I love you too Django!" replied Lita with no hesitation, "I always have, you've given everything to save us, and so much more to me with no expectation of return. When you gave the first solar tree life, I tried so hard to tell you, but I just couldn't. I've tried ever since, but I didn't know you felt the same way."
Lita was crying, not for sorrow, but joy. Django responded by pulling her onto his lap, Lita cradling the rose in her hands.
"I felt terrible when you were bitten. I thought I might lose the one person who gave me reason, who showed me that my work did more than I believed it did. I never knew what my solar trees could do until you came along. You've been so selfless Django, you almost sacrificed yourself to save the earth. I didn't give up though, because I knew that you would never want that."
Django was surprised that the girl in his arms had gone through so much and responded by tightening his hold. They stayed like that for a while, before the breeze picked up. The pair stood up and straightened themselves out. Lita hesitantly held out her hand, which Django accepted with a smile, causing her to do the same, before the pair left to begin their new relationship in San Miguel.
Please review and tell me what you think! Don't worry, there's more to come! Update: Typos fixed, new chap is on the way!