AN: Hey everyone! I wanted to thank all you lovely people that added my fic to your alerts or reviewed!~ I never expected it to get attention, especially because I wrote so little... I've been quite busy recently, so again I apologize if I have to post short chapters just to keep you updated, or if I can't update for a while because of school work! I can't wait for summer, seriously. I know it's probably still really confusing thus far, but don't worry! Things will begin to make sense as the story continues. Now to respond to my reviewers!
red. robin .yummmmmm: Aha! Thank you very much, I'm honored by your enthusiasm! (づ。◕‿‿◕。)づ
Anano: I know... I couldn't resist having a little fun with Shion's emotions!~ Makes for an interesting fic, eh? Things will begin to make sense soon! Hopefully Nezu-chan will be able to help him through this! Thank you for the kind review~ ^-^
Now on to chapter two!
The Hands of Time
Chapter 2: Grasping Reality
"Shion!" a voice called out distinctly and clearly. It sounded quite familiar. "Ah… what a nice voice… I wonder where it's coming from…." Shion thought, his eyes opening slowly, only to find a pitch black void surrounding him.
He looked around, slowly but surely. The black abyss displayed no signs of life. "Shion… Shion!" The smooth voice repeated, ringing and echoing through the void. He continued to wander the darkness, barely able to see his hands in front of him.
"Where am I?" He thought aloud. The white haired boy was feeling tired and discouraged. There was nothing here, just darkness.
He snapped out of it when he heard a faint sound. It reminded him of dripping water, but he had no way of being sure. Once. Twice. Three times. The sound continued, urging him onward. Shion quickened his pace in fear that the sound would cease.
"Shion… wake up already!" The voice commanded, seeming desperate now.
"I am awake though… aren't I?" He mentally questioned, striding towards the source of the sound.
He soon reached a small pool of water, barely visible in the blackness. A drop of water was dripping and splashing upon the surface methodically, creating slight ripples in the water. Shion was unaware of where the water was falling from, but at the moment he could care less. The slender boy leaned over the small pool of water, but could not see his own reflection.
It was someone else's…. Nezumi's. He was sure of it now. He recognized the familiar face shape, complete with starry silver eyes and sleek dark hair. "Nezumi?" Shion inquired in disbelief, staring into the water. His red eyes widened as the reflection in the pool began to move. "What's going on here?" He thought, bewildered, before hearing his name called again.
The reflection only blinked in boredom and ignored Shion before turning away so that he could no longer see him. "Nezumi!" Shion shouted, but the figure seemed to grow further away by the second, slipping out of sight. "Wait! Nezumi! Please…don't….don't leave me here! I want to live… to live on with you!" Shion cried out, reaching into the pool towards the slowly fading figure.
Much to his surprise, his limb simply disappeared into the cold dark water, adding to his misery. The boy felt his heart clench in pain and betrayal as Nezumi's reflection continued on, his back turned, ignoring Shion's outcries.
"Wake up already! Shion! Get a grip!" The voice shouted at him, leaving him to wonder as to where it came from. Nezumi was speaking to him, yelling for him to wake up, and yet he had just seen Nezumi's reflection walk away without a second thought? What kind of twisted dream was this? No… it was more like a nightmare.
In a desperate endeavor to follow the figure that had faded from him, and seeing little other options, the white-haired boy thrust himself into the small pool of water, immediately being swallowed up and immersed in the icy darkness. He shuddered and shivered while attempting to curl up into a ball, but felt a strong weight pulling his legs down. Shion could no longer move them.
He clutched at his arms and looked around frantically, his snow white locks drifting in the water. There was no light to be seen, no noise to be heard, and nothing to feel but the pain of this cold, miserable, sickening nightmare. It felt almost real, though… Every touch evoked an emotion in Shion, every call of his name rang through his ears, and the absence of his most important person left a stabbing feeling in his heart.
As he continued to look around, he spotted something in the distance. A white glow that shone radiantly. Shion felt the strong urge to reach out and touch it, as it was an arm's length away, but realized he could not move his arms when he tried to do so. "But why…? My body is perfectly fine! Why can't I move my arms and legs?" He thought, feeling frustrated and upset. The very thought of his limbs being rendered useless shook him to the core.
Upon further inspection, Shion noticed that the white lights were all around him. They almost resembled a starry sky in contrast with these deep black waters. The lights appeared to be slowly expanding, enveloping the white-haired boy in warmth. It was soothing to his chilled body, and brought about a calming sensation amongst all this madness. They began to grow larger and hotter by the second, though.
Soon it was uncomfortably warm, and the white glow surrounded his fragile form. "Wait…s-stop!" Shion shouted as his entire body was enclosed in the now unbearably hot white lights.
He shut his red eyes tightly as his skin began to burn, incapable of looking directly into the light.
It was as if he was a child again and had been trying to stare at the sun.
