Trinity Blood: A Brighter Night
Part 2: In a Storm

December 7, 2208:
The sun was so bright. Aran shivered his breath rising as buff in the air. It was bright but he couldn't stop shivering. A hacking cough stopped Aran in his tracks. The cough tore at his throat and made his chest feel tight. When it died away he looked around. The man in white hadn't followed him, good, but then where was Azul?

Coughing, Aran stumbled. His shoulder struck the wall. He hardly noticed it. His body convulsed. Knees biting into the hard ground, Aran doubled over. Every cough sent a jolt of pain through his body. His body shook from the uncontrollable chills which wracked him.

"Azul," Aran muttered. His back pressed against the rough stone of a wall. Sliding to the ground, he just sat their, his arms wrapped around his legs. Shivers coursed through him. For a long time he just sat there. The sun crept across the sky until it hung low.

"Aran!" the sound of bare feet against the ground sounded. Aran slowly looked towards the sound. Azul was racing towards him. "I'm happy to have found you," Azul knelt down and embraced Aran. "Come on," he stood, holding out his hand. "We've gotta get food today, 'specially you." Aran took his brother's hand. It was hard not to cough. He held his breath, following his brother. "We'll get some today," Azul said excitedly, "I found a great new corner while looking for you. It'll have tones of people there!"

Aran coughed. It escaped him before he shut his mouth. Azul glanced at him. A frown was on his brother's face. Aran managed a small smile, "Great! Let me help this time, please?" He felt so tired. All he wanted to really do was curl up someplace warm and sleep.

"All right, it's not a dumpster this time," Azul smiled. Aran nodded. He felt a little better at this. At least he could help.

December 8, 2208:
It would have been midnight in the old time. Abel drummed his fingers against the table. His eyes locked on the foggy window. Outside the temperature was dropping. The moon and Ark were hidden behind a thick layer of storm clouds. It'd been easy to slip out of the Star Palace. All right, Sara had noticed. Then again she noticed everything. Before leaving he'd asked her to get the two spare rooms ready for two boys. She'd been more than happy to do so. Now getting back into the palace with the boys would prove far more difficult.

"Here you are," Abel turned his attention to the woman. She pushed several papers across the desk. "The boys' names are Azul and Aran Fortuna." Abel stared at the pictures. "We had to turn them away," she started, "after what their parents did. We couldn't risk the imperial family discovering we'd taken in traitors."

"Traitors?" Abel stared at the woman. "Their parents betrayed the empire not these two boys."

"Look, if you want them then it's your head," stated the woman. "I won't stop you, just know the emperor would—" emperor, again with that damned title.

"I'd what?" Abel growled. The woman stared at him as he pulled down his black hood. "They're children and aren't responsible for the crime their parents committed. They're parents paid for their mistake with their lives. Now tell me, where are the Fortuna brothers?"

"My lord? I'm sorry I had no idea it was you!" the woman leapt to feet before bowing low. Well duh, if he'd wanted her to know it was him he'd have told her.

"Just give me the papers and tell me if your people know where they are," Abel tried and failed to hide the anger in his voice. They were kids, damn it, kids!

"Right away!" she pushed several more papers to him and placed a pin down. "Y-you're going to adopt them, Majesty?"

"What do you think? I asked for the papers because I felt like it?" picking up the pin, Abel read through the legal documents before signing them.

"The-they were last spotted on this corner," the woman pointed to a street on the map. "My lord, I don't know how long children can last in a winter like this one. They might be—"

"They're my sons now," Abel stated as he stood. "You will address them as such," with those words he turned from the woman. The door slammed behind him. Umbrella in one hand, Abel glared at the clouds, matching their anger with his. "Damn it!" Whipping around, his fist slammed through the adoption sign. "What a joke," he growled, "they think they can do anything. Ha, well as soon as I can, I'm finding knew management for this place." Ripping his hand from the sign, Abel glanced at the sky. A rumble sounded over head. The umbrella opened. He'd best get going. The one boy had looked ill and Abel didn't want to lose them before he even knew them.

The first drops of freezing ran hit the ground. Abel broke into a run. The drops quickened. He had to get to the boys, he just had to!

xxx

"Please, we need food," Azul pleaded with the passersby. He had a sign out and everything. Aran shivered, coughing. Azul seemed too engrossed in trying to get food to notice. Aran sank to the ground. A little nap and he'd return to helping his brother. Yeah, just a short nap, then he'd help. He wanted to help.

A drop of ran hit Aran. He curled up on the ground, not noticing the cold. Another drop hit him. "Man, it's starting to ran," Azul's voice was distant. Aran felt so tired. He just wanted to sleep. "Come, Aran, let's find a dry place and come back when the rain stops." Aran didn't move. He blinked, eyelids heavy. "Aran?" he heard the scraping as his brother knelt down beside him. "You can't sleep here," Azul told him.

Can't sleep? Why not? It was warm here, why couldn't Aran sleep here. He wanted to sleep here. He just wanted to sleep. That's all he wanted, to sleep. It was so warm here. The rain felt so good.

"Aran! Aran, don't go to sleep. We'll find a warmer place," Aran's eyes were closing. He just wanted to sleep. Why couldn't he sleep here? "Stay awake, brother," someone was shaking him. His eyes felt so heavy. "Stay awake! Please, stay awake." It was so warm here. He wanted to sleep. The shaking stopped. Aran saw his brother on his feet now. "Someone help!" Azul raced over to a stranger. "Help, please, my brother—"

"Get away, filth!" splash, Azul struck the ground. Water flew up around him.

"You've gotta help!" Azul was back on his feet. Aran closed his eyes before forcing them back open. Why? "Aran," Azul was back, "come on, we'll get you someplace better. Remember, a brighter night. Brother, please."

The rain stopped. Aran blinked. He could only just make out a tall man over them. The man had a worried expression on his face. Aran blinked. The expression was replaced by a warm smile… or was it? His eyes closed.

"Help!" Azul's shout slipped into the background. It vanished into the darkness which surrounded Aran.

(Author's note: Well, I suddenly had the urge to write up the next part for this fan-fiction. I kept having to remind myself Abel has a short temper.

Sorry about how long it is taking to update this one. I am taking my time on this because there are only five parts in all.

This story is dedicated to Crusnik O2.

A request: if you read this story please, please leave a review or a comment even if you don't have an account for fanfiction. Comments and reviews help me get motivated to write when I am not in the mood do so.)