AN : Late update and small chapter. You have every right to kill me. I'm sorry my chapters are getting SHORTER, but I'm hacing a HUGE Writer's Block alias WB, and I have some stuff planned for later chapters. So bear with me T_T. I do hope you're gonna enjoy this, and ofc IGNORE MY GRAMMAR ERRORS. And aside that... Nothing new. And btw! Check out Angellikal on dA. He drawed an amazing picture of an adult Akyo! And I'm probably gonna post her portrait tonight, so check that out too. And to avoid confusion Yukine = Akyo . She took up that name so she wont be recognised. And I've also treated a subject peachycupcake left in a review. Hope to also clear some other confusion.
Shoutouts to those I couldn't reply :
Coski : Oh, and the tension is FAR from over xD . J-just calm youserlf, I promise I wont put Akyo on deathbed again... Also, sorry about your final bro. I know that feeling. I'm flattered that I 'cushioned' the blow, and also hope to bring out more smiles with this chapter :D!
Guest : Why are you? D:
Spazway2 : Lel~ . I know really, she is. I'm so flattered you're shipping them! It means so much to my heart ^^'' . Well dear sir, how about you get high again? :D
Sabrine321 : When I'll put romance, I'll make you guys drown in it, because I'm also dying to get to fluff, but I'm so laaaazzyyyy T_T . Dun worry, romance is prob three or four chapters away :D .
Guest : Glad you do. Here you have it. AkyoxZed 4evaaa~~~! xD
Guest : tank iu. I uill.
Disclaimer bleh bleh blehh~~
There is light in darkness chapter 2
The wind blew softly, moving the grass around. The birds chirped happily as the sun let it's warmth spread joy to the ground below. The sky was blue, soft white puffy clouds here and there. The forest was filled with life, and yet in the same time quiet as two small figures stood in a clearing. They were both seated on the ground with their legs crossed, looking asleep. However, one of them, a girl with brown hair wasn't as calm as her partner, who also had brown hair, and which eventually led to him opening his crimson eyes to gaze at her.
''Something is bothering you.'' he told her and she sighed in defeat. She opened her white irises to gaze into his own, a worried expression on her face.
''I...'' the girl trailed off, looking towards the ground. This only raised the boy's worries.
''Come on. You know you can tell me anything.'' he told her in a soft tone, and she sighed. She bit her lower lip before she tried to express herself.
''You... You are a lot more competent that me in a lot of things...'' she said while furrowing her brows in an attempt to gather her thoughts. The boy only arched an eyebrow.
''I don't get it...'' he told her as she huffed a little before explaining herself.
''What I mean is...'' she looked at the ground sadly before letting out a soft sigh ''you, you could always rise above the others. And that would mean you would leave me behind...'' the boy frowned a little at the girl before he realised what she meant.
He chuckled. The girl frowned and looked confusedly at him. The boy hold one of his hands to his mouth in an attempt to keep his laughter but when their eyes met, he failed. He let out a few snorts and chuckles and the girl's confusion only grew. Finally after his laughing fit downed down, he looked at her with kind eyes and an amused smile across his face.
''That is what's troubling you? Really?'' he asked her, and she looked away blushing in embarassment and confusion. She still didn't understood what was so funny in all this.
''You little fool.'' he told her as he caught her in a warm embrace. The girl's blush grew madly at his action, her heart threatening to explode in her chest. She had her hands on his chest, as well as her right cheek. The soft tune of the beating of his own heart managed to calm down her own a little. ''How could you even think of that?'' he asked her, his voice reverberating trough his chest making her heart go on a race again.
''Well...'' she shyly mumbled making him shook his head.
''That would never happen. I would never leave you Akyo. It's a promise.'' he told the girl, as she smiled tenderly. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her heart calming down on her own.
''I'm glad you never will, Zed.'' she told him, and he closed his own eyes while smilling.
But then, darkness ensued. Everything was gone. The birds, the sun, the forest. Everything. He was standing alone in the never ending darkness. He didn't panicked, darkness was his home but it still troubled him. Then, a voice he never had the pleasure of knowing resounded in the emptiness.
''Gone...'' she said, and then when he blinked he saw the scene that should've remained in his memory as the most succesful day in his life. When he had completed his technique. When he had brought the downfall of The Kinkou. When... she died.
He looked at Zayenn confusedly. She had her back to him, but he was sure she wore the biggest smiles she ever had.
''What do you mean by 'gone'?'' he asked her and she turned to look at him with a dead panned look.
''What would I mean by gone other than dead, Zed?'' she asked him with a roll of her eyes, and her attitude changed when she felt him growing angry.
''You promised Zayenn.'' he told her coldly and saw her flinch in fear. The heated gaze he was sending her was hot enough to burn holes in her head. She tried to regain her composture.
''I know I did. And I would've kept my promise, but she stopped me from doing so.'' she told him, and Zed crossed his arms over his chest.
''Oh really? How so?'' he asked Zayenn and she took a deep breath.
''I followed her in the fray. I tried to persuade her into joining us, but she just kept telling me how high and mighty the protectors of balance are, and how we are going to regret this. The drop that filled the cup was when she told me it was better than she won that trial.'' he said with disgust across her face, her eyes narrowing and glaring at the ground.
''So let me get this straight. You tried to get her join the Order, but she refused you and angered you. So you killed her.'' Zed told her, and she nodded at him. He knew these were pure lies. This didn't sounded like Akyo at all. He knew way to many years have passed since they last time met, but she wasn't the type to change. Yet, something told him it would be better to show no emotion towards this event whatsoever. He turned his attention towards the fray, just as Zayenn did. She didn't observed the small shadow stretching forward and draging the necklace into darkness.
Zed opened his eyes only to be greeted by darkness again. However, the moonlight that shone out the window to his right proved him to be awake. He propped himself onto his right elbow looking trough his room. He brought two fingers of his other hand to the bridge of his nose, pinching it to shoo away an incoming headache. It usually followed after such a dream.
He wasn't unfamiliar with dreams and nightmares. But this kind of nightmare bothered him a lot more than it should have. It had been plaguing his dreams in the following months after The Kinkou fell, but then it just didn't happen anymore. Until now.
He raised in a more comfortable position and closed his eyes. He had no idea why this 'nightmare' if he could call it that way, suddenly returned. Looking to his left, he saw a small nightstand next to his bed as he stretched one arm to search trough the contents of the small drawer it had. After a few minutes he retracted his arm and looked at the small thing in his palms.
A small necklace consisting of a black satin material which went around the owner's neck, with a small round white jewelry which had in the middle a stylized red 'S' . The only material memory he had left of her. He really didn't knew why he kept it. It only brought up painfull memories. And yet, he couldn't have let it there, and forget about it. As he looked at the jewel, he couldn't help but think of the newest trainee the order had.
She looked a lot like Akyo, and yet she was a far cry from her. This girl had blonde hair and brown eyes, and a sharp tongue to follow none the less. Akyo had brown hair and almost white irises, something that intrigued him a lot. She had always been a more of an introvert and a silent type. They were different but why they were so alike?
Yes, they both mastered that staff, but he knew it wasn't an unique weapon, letting aside the runic one Akyo used. Besides that and the familiarity in her fighting style, these two girls had nothing more in common. Akyo had swore to her mother to protect the balance of the world, while Yukine only soughts out to destroy it. There was something uncertain about Yukine. Zed felt like she was hiding something, but in the weeks to follow he will find out. Or the better said, the week to follow.
He remembered he had this one week to set things in order here before he left for the Institute. It wasn't his choice, but the summoners insisted that he had to live there so complications to summoning would be avoided. So he had only one week to see what this girl was hidding, if she had something to hide at all.
He turned his head to look at the clock. Observing the time, he couldn't help but let a slight cruel smirk spread across his face. She was a personal apprentice after all, and that meant 'special training schedule' . Oh, he couldn't wait to see if she was going to pull trough this.
~(o-o)~
Moonlight flowed softly trough the window. She was asleep on the bed on her left side, with a small hand coming to rest next to her face on the pillow. Her hair was let free, and Zed had to admit he had a hard time deciding if he should wake her up or not. Her face was serene, looking as peaceful as ever.
However, that changed when her brows furrowed. She looked uneasy about something, as she shifted her postion slightly. She mumbled something under her breath, and then her palm slowly turned into a fist as she looked... scared? He could see that she was having a dream of some sorts, but when she abruptly stood up with wide eyes and an audible gasp it was clear she had a nightmare.
It took her a while to realise what was going on. When she did, she let out a tired groan as she pinched the bridge of her nose, her eyes closed and brows furrowed. When she was sure the headache wasn't comming anytime soon, she let her eyes wonder trough the room. When she landed them onto Zed's figure she looked surprised and confused about his presence.
''What are you doing here?'' she inquired, rubbing some sleep away from her eyes. Zed only stood a few feet away from her bed and let the same slightly cruel smirk play across his features.
''It's training time. Get up.'' he told her, as she looked him up and down. He donned a simple black suit consisting on a sleveless shirt and slightly baggy black pants and boots. A belt of the same color was around his waist and his face was free of his mask.
She did the mistake to look at his face. With some help from the moonlight, she saw his features for the very first time in years. Time surely had been kind to him, as the same messy brown bangs and deep crimson eyes she had never forgotten had remained slightly unchanged. He had much more masculine features, and the same annoying devilish smirk that sent her heart overdrive and melt her body plastered across his face. She had to stop herself from cursing out loud. He couldn't be more handsome, couldn't he?
Realising she had been staring for a while, she turned her head to look at the blanket, with an awkward clearing of her throat and an embarrased blush across her face. Zed's smirk grew more.
''It's...'' she glanced at the clock. ''Five o'clock. What it's so important that can't wait another... Let's just say three precious sleep hours?'' she asked him with an arched eyebrow, and a slight pleading spark in her eyes. He just gazed at her.
''You have half an hour. I'll wait outside.'' he said while turning around, and noted with another evil smile her groan of annoyance. It strucked another familiar chord. He remembered when... Zed shook his head. No more dwelling on the past. It would only bring out pain.
Half an hour later, Yukine exited her quarters with the same outfit she had the day prior, but without the cape. She had also took her staff with her, the same one which had the clear dent Zed's blade did to it. She turned around and saw Zed was a few feet away leaning on the wall with his arms crossed and eyes closed. When he heard her close the door, he turned his head to look at her and opened his eyes.
He just arched his eyebrows, asking her if she was ready to go to which she replied with a nod. He took the lead, guiding her outside the order. She was just one foot behind and curiosity was getting the better of her, so she couldn't help but ask.
''So, where are we going?'' she asked him, and he ignored her for a while before replying.
''You'll see.'' he told her, as they just had passed the training grounds. They were heading for the woods, and the path they were taking was extremely and painfully familiar. Once they stopped, the time itself halted.
It had been years, but it was still the same thing. The big clearing with the dirt and logs. The big oak tree in the very back of it. Everything was still the same. Akyo tried to keep herself from looking anything but surprised. Way too many memories filled her head. Laughter echoed in her head. A distand, childish laughter. It belonged to her, but she knew she wasn't laughing. All kind of events that had taken place into this clearing, from the very first day they met, until the night she sought confort here were playing in front of her eyes like a movie. She wasn't participating in any action, she was just witnessing. Witnessing as she grew, as she evolved, as she fought and trained. As she loved and lost. Everything seemed like a painful nightmare, far away from the present. It felt strange, and yet she knew the truth. Eleven years had passed since she firstly visited this clearing. Eleven years had passed ever since she had loved for the first time. Eleven long years...
Zed was fully aware of her absence. Her eyes were distand, she was disconnected from reality. She really looked pained and hurt. Why would she? It wasn't like this clearing hold as many memories for her as it did for him. This simple clearing was his refuge from everything. When he needed peace and getting away from everything, he just came here. Even if it was painfull to bring back the ghostly memory of Akyo, and the time they had spent bonding over here, it was a bitter-sweet emotion. It pained him, and yet it felt just right. He couldn't find anywhere else the peace he found whenever he was here.
''So, what's this place?'' he heard Yukine ask and he refocused again.
''A secret place I found years ago. It's quiet and private. I do prefer to train alone.'' he explained to her and then spoke again . ''And it's the perfect place where to start your training.'' he saw her nod.
''With what do we start?'' she put one hand on her hip while the other was balancing the staff on the ground.
''You have speed and brains. Strength is something we have to work on, but for now we'll start with something that will help you control the techniques of the shadows better. It's called meditation.'' her mouth dropped.
''M-Meditation?'' Akyo couldn't believe her ears. H-he was teaching his students how to meditate?! It made sense and all, but meditation was something for inner balance, something Zed clearly hated. And yet, why did she felt like having a stone in her belly...
''Yes. Meditation. Never heard of it before?'' he asked her with arched eyebrows and she shook her head to clear some of the confusion.
''I-I did. But...'' she trailed off.
''But?''
''I heard it's something that's used to gain better self control and inner balance.'' Zed slightly narrowed his eyes, before he realised what she was hinting at.
''As stupid as it might seem, an old friend taught me this. Before I learnt how to meditate, I was a clumsy fighter. She told me I had potential, but I didn't had control over my powers. The old master had once tried to teach me but he failed. Yet, she succeeded.'' he explained to her, and Akyo's heart skipped beats everytime she heard him say 'she' or 'old friend'. She nodded to him.
''Alright. Makes sense.'' she said as she slowly sat on the ground. She crossed her legs and took her usual meditaion posture. She saw Zed was looking at her intriguedly and she had a moment of pause in her brain.
''So let me guess you know how it's done?'' he asked her. She delayed her response for a while but then nodded fastly. Zed also found himself a comfortable spot on the grass, just across her. He saw her close her eyes and slowly disconnect from the world. He, just like Akyo did the first time he meditated just looked at her and watched her. The sun started to rise slowly, bringing the first rays of warm light.
It all felt so strangely familiar. It felt like it was days ago that Akyo was meditating with him in this clearing almost everyday. How she always scolded him for faking his meditation sometimes. But how she always smiled kindly to him, how she always called him by his name, and laughed. That laugh... It still ringed clear in his ears.
He was The Master of Shadows. He was cold, merciless, calculated and relentless in his quest to make the Kinkous realise what they're trying so hard to defend is a lie. And yet, that's how he looked to others. He wasn't a crybaby himself either. But his past concerning a certain white eyed girl was bringing out one of the greatest emotional pains. He missed her. Deeply. He knew that when he came to attack the Order three years ago, she wasn't mortified by him, neither disgusted. No. She was just scared and confused. And if he might add, with another pang of pain, hurt. Her memory snoothed him. Even if it was painfull, he found pace and coolness in her memory. Her smile, her laugh, her eyes. Everything that defined her.
If only... she would still be alive.
He heard his name being called. He realised that he spaced out, and opened his eyes to look at Yukine who was calling him and waving a hand in front of his face.
''You doozed out. And I thought I was tired.'' she said with a slightly amused smile and he only scoffed at her with a roll of his eyes.
She sat back on her legs and looked at him. With a sigh and a slight roll of eyes she spoke.
''Listen, I know you're not somebody who trusts easily. But I assure you I'm a person who can keep it's mouth shut. If you feel like you need somebody to talk to, I'm listening.'' she told him, looking at him straight in the eye. He saw she was honest. He was tempted by it, but couldn't quite let it out this easily.
''That's very nice of you, but you have a lot of training to do before.'' she pouted a little, but got up none the less. They both readied themselves. Zed his blades, who he had brought to the clearing earlier, and Akyo her staff. It was time for serious bussiness.
~(o-o)~
Zayenn observed from afar the interaction between these two. Her eyes narrowed bruning holes in Yukine's head while she let out a small growl. Who was she thinking she could just show up and steal all the light?
Zayenn had always been Zed's right hand. She had always helped him make decisions, with the students, the box, everything. She had always been superior to all of them, and almost an equal to Zed. She wasn't emotionless however. She had feelings. At first, she just wanted nothing more than making sure she was safe, by standing at his side. However, after so many years she had started falling for The Shadow Master.
He was strong, intelligent, merciless, calculated, unbiased in his judgement by others. In other words the epitome of how all the men should be. And aside that devilishly handsome. She was trying hard to please him in everything she could. And by now, she was quite sure he had forgotten her unkept promise ( AN : Oh, the irony XD ) . And yet, she couldn't help but feel that there's something off with this little girl.
She wasn't gealous! She was sure this girl had something to hide. She didn't liked her from the very first second she saw her. And the fact that Zed was one week away from officially being presented into the League only made the matters worse. She was just going to keep a close eye upon this girl's head, and make sure she didn't try anything.
''You can't fool me...'' she whispered to nobody in particular, and she felt her anger flare.
AN : Soooooooo...Chapter 2. What'ya think? I'm sorry this came SO LATE, but I had an incredibly Writer's Block. So soz, pls forgive me. Anyway, letting those thoughts aside, some questions from the last chapter were answered. So Zayenn is pissed because another girl is messing with 'her man' . Of course she's just dreaming ... By now, nobody has yet to see trough Akyo's disguise which means my summoners does a good job ^*^.
Unfortunatelly, no romance yet. You do have that piece of a memory at the beggining, but for this week to follow, I dun think I'll write romance between these two. HOWEVER, Akyo wont leave The Shadow Order without giving Zed a goodbye present. Ooops, I spoiled a little :3. But I swear that the wait will be worth when these two will get down to bussiness * wink wink *.
Anywayzzz. To make up for being a lazy ass, I'm typing ch3 already, so it SHOULD come out sooner, but don't rely on that.
So, that's everything I wanted to say. AGAIN, sorry for the usual late update. I do want to keep the maximum gap of days between updates at four days. It does depend on my mood, but blehh. C'est la vie.
See you next time~~~! c: