Court Intrigue and the Soul Garden

Suriel swiped her hair out of her face in frustration as she glanced into the mirror. "I hate court functions." A light tinkling laugh met her ears and she turned to see her mother sweeping into the room. Suriel frowned in the mirror.

Nerali stopped just behind her daughter and then began to comb through the thick black locks that fell well below her shoulder blades. Her daughter hissed in frustration; Nerali again laughed, "Little one," at her daughter's scoff she relented, "All right, you are not so little anymore, but this court function is to commemorate your coming of age test. You are a full warrior of the dog tribe; it is something to be proud of." Nera began pulling her daughter's hair up and into a styled messy bun. She then turned her daughter around and began to carefully apply makeup. The daughter made a sound that was perilously close to a growl.

"Make up is for princesses too soft to become warriors. Father says that all the time." Nerali grinned lightly. She had heard that before and her reply was much the same as always.

"Your father said that only so he didn't have to buy more expensive makeup when his daughter began to grow up before his eyes. I wear makeup, little one; do you think I am soft?" Nerali glanced at her mother, even if the dog demons had no need for makeup; Nerali had made it into an art form. Her makeup was artfully spread to accent her eyes and lips.

"No, mother, you are not soft. You are a warrior too," She added rebelliously, "and you don't wear makeup often."

Nerali stepped back to survey her work, Suriel's emerald eyes were accented by a careful line of kohl around the lids and her lips were slightly brushed with gloss. Her daughter really didn't need much, anything else would be overkill, "Neither do you. When you do however," She turned Suriel to face the mirror and watched as her daughter's eyes widened slightly, "you are even more beautiful, little one. Raziel will be very impressed." The last teasing jibe was lightly stressed. Suri suddenly blushed and swiped at her mother.

"Raziel is just my protector, mother. You and father know that." She exclaimed before pulling on the red orange kimono that accented the sunburst marking on her forehead. She quickly made her escape from the room with a mumbled thank you. Nerali shook her head and smiled—how did the young not see what was right in front of their face? She swept out and followed her daughter to the ball room where the music was loud but the guests more so. A coming of age ceremony, of the princess no less was definitely something that all the demons looked forward to.

Nerali walked to her husband's side and both watched as their daughter conversed with a bandaged demon, he had been one of those facing her for her 'pretest' warm up. She was talking animatedly to him and the others surrounding her (not so surprising to the mother, but very disconcerting to the father, the fact that they were all males). Levielan growled and Nerali hushed him, "Quiet, you. She is just talking to them and anyway they know better than to think what you think they are thinking. She is one whose bite is definitely worse than her bark; they are her teachers, nothing more, especially since they can see you watching. Few could equal her anyway."

"For their sake, I hope you are right."

Nerali laughed, "I am, and anyway haven't you seen the way that Raziel is always near her?"

"He's her protector, he should be near her." The male demon said to his wife with a look that said quiet plainly that having Raziel close was his job—nothing unnatural in that.

She smirked at his complete lack of actually getting what that meant, "Darling, protectors do not always shadow their charges and haven't you noticed how she always is following him? Her eyes are always watchful, and sometimes there is an angling of her body around him. She moves he moves; he moves she moves; they mirror each other all the time." Her husband scoffed and Nerali simply inclined her head towards Suriel and the approaching Raziel, "Watch, if you doubt me."

Suriel laughed at Desoto's comment, "No, I didn't mean for the Phoenix swipe to be so strong…the dog got the better of me I'm afraid. I didn't hurt you too badly did I?" She questioned as she gently rested a hand on the bandaged arm of Desoto. She stilled for a moment and then quickly turned with a wider smile to greet Raziel. She hugged him, "Razi! We were just talking about my test." She missed the looks of jealousy that flashed across the gathered demon's faces; Raziel did not. He grinned smugly. Nonetheless…however much he enjoyed teasing the guards of the castle, he loved Suriel more than she knew. He would never do anything to hurt her and his posturing was simply that, posturing—a show for those gathered. Many call him fickle like the cat he was, but if he was fickle he gave to Suriel nothing but devotion and loyalty.

Raziel returned the hug while glancing at Desoto's arm, "Yeah, she didn't hurt you too badly did she?" While Suriel was completely oblivious to the small barb and mocking glance of Raziel the other male demon was not. He huffed slightly before turning his eyes on the princess again and stepping closer. Raziel's eyes narrowed slightly and he kept his arm around her waist protectively, unknown to her she leaned slightly into the touch or her protector.

Suriel slightly tensed but kept her smile polite even at Desoto's close proximity and reply, "No, Princess. I am fine, well enough to train with you tomorrow if you wish. We could further practice your control. Now, if you'll excuse me…" he grabbed her hand and kissed the back before disappearing into the crowd. Raziel watched him go before dropping his arm (smiling in acknowledgement to her mouthed thank you) and moved a few feet to the left and to Levielan's complete surprise Suriel turned to accommodate the movement so he remained in her field of view, however she was talking with another demon and seemed completely oblivious. Then she turned again to talk to someone new and this time it was Raziel who moved to mirror her, keeping her in his view.

Levielan stilled with shock, "I don't believe it."

Nerali laughed at her husband's shocked expression and opened her mouth to reply. A small dark shadow spoke and Nerali turned to her friend to hear, "Levielan is having a hard time believing what he is seeing isn't he? Reeve is the same." Nerali turned to look at Reeve who had come up to her Lord's side and was also wearing a similar look of shock. Nera grinned.

"Mishka! How good to see you again. Yes, I don't think he was quite aware of what was occurring."

Mishka nodded, "I was just explaining to Reeve, over by the doors, he had been complaining that Raziel never talks with us when the Princess arrives because of his protector duty. I simply corrected him but he seems to have trouble adapting to the fact."

In fact, both of the males were still watching the pair with incredulous expressions of shock which grew each time Suriel or Raziel moved to mirror the other. Levielan shook the shock first, "Adapting to the fact isn't the problem, we all discussed what we would do if this happened, though I admit I thought it was a woman's folly," His wife swiped at his arm and he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips in apology, "It's just… they are completely oblivious… don't they know what they are doing?"

Nerali and Mishka shared a laugh and Mishka replied, "So sorry to burst your delusion, my Lord, but you do much the same thing with Nerali." Levielan blinked at that.

Nera spoke now, "Reeve, you do as well, for Mishka, of course." It was Reeve's turn to blink now and the two females shared a look. Nerali was the first to get to business, "Shall we go then? We have a few minutes before we need to present Suriel with her coming of age gift. I bet she will like it."

Leveilan nodded, "Yes, let us go. You said you've heard rumors from the West of a half-demon growing in power? That is folly. Half-demons cannot be that strong." The male panther demon shook his head in dissent, while swiping a clawed hand through his long black hair, his amber eyes troubled.

"No, Lord. It is true. I saw the spies myself, before they were killed. I believe he, for his name is Naraku, has set his eyes on the next territory—here. He finds slaughter and games quite amusing." The four demons crossed the ball room and entered into a small chamber where they began to talk.

Now a slow song began to be played by the gathered musicians and Raziel sauntered over to Suriel. He bowed over her hand, "My lady, do you care to dance?"

Suriel move into his arms and they began to twirl, unaware of the many eyes on the pair of them, "I should say not but seeing as I will have to dance tonight, you are the only one that I wish to dance with. Why is it that the others are beginning to fawn over me?" Raziel's amber eyes glinted with amusement.

"Why, it couldn't be that you are the princess, could it? Perhaps because you are strong, smart, beautiful…" He trailed off and blushed lightly while Suriel also blushed. The duo had an awkward moment when each was trying to avoid the eye contact of the other.

"Raziel…."

He quickly but gracefully moved her through the ball room and out onto the balcony, they danced for a while longer but as soon as the music stopped he released her and stepped away. He nonchalantly leaned against the balcony, his elbows steadying him but then glanced back at her, his blush gone, his eyes shielded, "No, Suri. I didn't mean anything; it was just the truth is all." She shook her head but moved to sit beside him. She dangled her legs over the edge and reaching for his hand. He allowed the contact and continued after looking at their intertwined hands, "I'm your protector princess; I'll always be there for you."

She smiled at him, "I know you will, Raziel. We are partners, unstoppable in battle if we work together." Suriel spoke the truth. They were an incredible duo together, probably because they were so in sync with each other that they hardly needed to talk. The pair looked towards the garden below. A single fountain was lit by the swarming of fireflies. "They're beautiful."

"Yes, beautiful." Suriel blinked once, trying to frame that memory to keep forever, times of peace were few and far between but then looked towards Raziel; he was looking towards her. She again blushed and swiped a piece of her black hair behind her ears and lightly punched him in the shoulder.

"Stop it, Razi…." He raised his hands in surrender an easy smile gracing his features, his amber eyes glinting with amusement once again. She glanced back towards the fireflies and then gracefully swept her legs up and over so she was facing the drop to the garden. She released his hand, "Come on, we can go back to the party in a little bit, let's go look at the fireflies." She dropped to the ground.

Raziel stood on the balcony awhile longer, watching his princess twirl about by herself and chase after the glowing fireflies. 'Let's go pick those pretty blue flowers Razi! Momma will like them so much!' An echo of memory followed by its shade swept Raziel up. A little dog demon princess (appearing to be only 5), her hair in disarray and dirt smeared on one cheek, small clawed hands beckoning her protector and only friend for the others in the palace only worried over her title and not her. Her amber flecked eyes glowing with excitement. A careful older cat demon (appearing seventeen or so), surveying the field before allowing himself to be pulled out of the shadowy forest and into the vibrant splashes of blue, red, orange—a literal rainbow on the ground. The cat demon watching the princess impassively for a moment before she bounded forward and grabbed his hand to pull him further into the flowers and the light, unknown to the young princess; when she reached for his hand, she touched his heart.

"Raziel, are you coming?" Suriel called up to him, worried about the darkness in his eyes, not knowing the memory he was replaying in his mind. He looked down towards her and his eyes cleared.

"Always, Suriel." The panther demon answered before dropping down to the ground lightly, at her side. They walked through the garden until they reached the sparkling fountain. Suriel sat on the lip of the fountain but Raziel remained standing. She swirled her hand in the water before carefully splashing in the direction of Raziel. The water droplets fell directly on his hair and face but remained off of his dress clothes. He made a face. "Charming."

She laughed lightly and patted the stone beside her when he sat she carefully wiped away the remaining water after he had shaken his head, "You needed to lighten up, I figured a refreshing bath could do the job." Suddenly the flickering firefly glow disappeared and a stronger glow arrived. Suriel glanced about her at the sphere-like objects that floated in the air guided by soft whispers of wind. Violet, indigo, golden, silver, white—the colors were muted in the spheres and small downy wings that beat at the air were ribbed in the color of that sphere. Suriel gasped at the beauty around her and she tensed slightly as voices met her ears. Whispering voices that spoke in what was apparently another language. "Raziel…what are they?"

The panther had gone silent at the arrival of the spheres and watched them for a moment. His eyes hardened as Suriel reached out a hand and his hand moved to his dagger but then there was a bright flash and the voices seemed to grow slightly angry but when he stopped reaching for his weapon the light muted, the voices grew playful. The small sphere had landed on Suriel's outstretched hand and the wings fluttered back and forth for a moment before they flapped in earnest and once more the sphere was airborne.

Raziel's eyes grew wide with astonishment, "Those spheres…they're souls of the departed, Suriel. They are on their way to the next world. My mother would tell me stories of them on the nights when she and father stayed at the palace. She said that the souls that stayed behind…the good ones… they sometimes stayed until they could finally say good-bye to their special someone. Others stayed to bring light and love and happiness to strangers—to give them hope while they traveled. These ones must've been curious about what was going on here, they can sense energies and emotions through the air—it hums to them."

Suriel smiled and leaned against Raziel while she watched the spheres play and flutter about above her. She listened to his story with wide eyes, much like she had when she was a little girl begging him for a story full of magic, love, and heroes. She spoke again after he was done, once again much like she had when she was a little girl. A young child believing in the magic of the moment, "Then for tonight at least, we are in the midst of a soul garden." Raziel ran a hand through her hair, his eyes not leaving the spheres of starlight.

"Yes, for tonight at least, we are." He agreed quietly, adding a last thought to himself, 'Together.'