A/N: My, it certainly has been quite some time, hmm? Ne, do I still got readers? -gets worried- -bows- My apologies. It's my senior year in school, so it's been a bit hectic. I just got through with my college applications, and I'm on edge about hearing replies -depression- School was starting to bum me out a little because I've finally gotten my lazy bone for it - it only took a few years... but Winter Break is here, which means I'll get to update all my series at least once~ :3
Thank you for the support while I was away -sends KuroFai cookies to all- The meaning of this chapter is "Two Moons." Also, I don't own the song I use in this chapter, called "Under a Violet Moon," for it belongs to the wonderful and lyrical group of Blackmore's Night. I recommend them highly!
For sweetsweetsorrow43 on Youtube :)
VI: Zwei Monde
Even before he opened his eyes, Kurogane knew he was submerged in cold darkness. His red eyes looked around, finding himself completely surrounded by abysmal black. Somehow, he was standing on something solid, even though he couldn't make out where or what it was.
"What's he making me dream now?" the ninja wondered out loud. Ahead of him, he saw a circle of light on the ground. It's a better bet than nothing. He readied himself for anything, because the familiar weight of Ginryuu wasn't present in the dream world.
He kept walking straight for the ring of light and when he finally approached it, he found it wasn't light at all, but a weird white substance. Kurogane didn't even try to wonder how he could see it if there was no light, so he took a step inside it. Immediately, his surroundings altered, the black of the world melting away to be replaced with a landscape – trees surrounding him, all covered with the same white stuff on the ground. A glance up at the light-gray sky and the breath visibly leaving him confirmed his thought: he was in the middle of a snowy forest. He frowned, not recognizing the place at all, and looking around only produced more trees, more snow, and more sky.
He took a few steps, wanting to walk about, but as soon as he did, the scene flooded away and gave way to black once more. Kurogane blinked in surprise, glancing down. He was put out of the circle now. A walk back into it caused the forest scene to come back, but the darkness returned once he stepped out.
Red eyes scanned the blackness of the dream. In the distance were some more circles, scattered like flat orbs, showing snow, frosted grass, and even a tree or two.
"What is this?" he asked to the prince, wherever the hell he was. He kept stepping into circles, met with forest and cold each time. "What am I supposed to be doing? Prince! Get out here! I don't feel like messing around, you fucker!"
His voice didn't even stir an echo, and he growled in frustration. "PRINCE! HEY, YOU BASTARD!"
As he went through the circles, he kept an eye out for Tomoyo. Surely if this was his dream, she'd be here. But nothing seemed to change, save the fact that the circles appeared to be clustering together now…
Then he heard it – so faint, it was… Someone was mumbling to themselves, voice cracking as if they were crying. Kurogane took it was a sign of progression and kept heading for the one large circle ahead of him, where the voice was coming from. As soon as his boot fell onto the edge of the snowy ring, the scene of the forest unfolded one more.
But it was different this time. He was in a clearing where, in the center of it, was a well. Its wooden roof was frosted with snow, and the pulley was nowhere in sight. Shriveled vines wrapped pathetically around the stone cylinder, and discolored flower petals were scattered and dead around the form of a slim figure wrapped in a dark-blue cloak. Kurogane frowned. The figure was too tall and lanky to be Tomoyo, not to mention their voice wasn't hers at all. Kurogane took a tentative step, tensing.
The figure continued to mumble to themselves, almost a monotone now and sounding like someone dead. The wind picked up as Kurogane stepped forward, and the hood blew back, and tangled blond hair began to fly in the wind. The ninja froze, because he knew those wavy locks… Anger and determination crossed his face as he went over and stopped right in front of the figure.
"What, no fancy theatrics this time?" Kurogane growled sardonically. "Not going to claw me death in your bird form again, prince?"
The blond was still talking softly, not even seeming to register that Kurogane was there. Something was wrong. A single word kept falling off that tongue, but Kurogane didn't have the patience or care to figure out what it was. "Hey!" he called, crossing his arms. He bent down to grab the prince's shoulders, shaking him. "Look at me, you bastard!"
The prince's head lolled to the side, his cold cheek pressing against Kurogane's hand. His blue eyes were fixated straight ahead. The ninja only made out the words, "So sorry" before clear water eyes blinked to life. Kurogane frowned. Had the blond really been out of it and not heard him this whole time?
"The fuck is going on with you, Yuui?" he snarled, gripping harder on the shoulders. They were so thin and fragile, like Kurogane was holding on to nothing more than a bird's wings.
"Yuui?" questioned the prince in a faraway voice.
"Come off it!" bellowed Kurogane, slamming him into the well. "I've got some questions for you, prince, and you're going to answer them, got it?"
But the blond looked like he wasn't going to be fully aware of anything anytime soon. He blinked again, not even seeming to register the fact that Kurogane was handling him roughly. His large blue eyes held none of the ice Kurogane was accustomed to as he slowly took in the ninja's face. "You said…Yuui," he whispered. "Were you…talking…to me?"
"See any other cursed bastard around here!" countered the ninja impatiently, but he was growing confused. Why was he acting this way, like he was lost? This wasn't the caster of nightmares that Seresu knew.
"Cursed," repeated the prince. He searched to Kurogane for help. "I am? Yes, of…course I…" He blinked yet again, but this time, he didn't appear lost and faraway. A familiar sparkle of awareness glittered in the blue orbs as he locked gazes with Kurogane with a surprised countenance. "Youou Shiyuu."
Kurogane started. It was the first time Prince Yuui had referred to him as anything but "Mr.Black" and it was tha tretched name on top of it!
But the blond wasn't done. An almost enraged look crossed his face as he gripped Kurogane's wrist and flung his hands away. "What are you doing here? How is this possible?" The ninja couldn't even open his mouth before hands pushed at his chest, repelling him away. "Get out of here! Get out! Get out!"
The ninja staggered but continued to hold the blue eyes. They still weren't icy, but they weren't empty either. Rather, they appeared like two glass balls, ready to shatter and cut his pale face.
"Get out of my own dream? You're not kicking me outta nowhere this time until you answer me, Yuui!"
"Stop that," the prince suddenly snapped tersely, like it was a bad idea to argue. "Don't call me that."
Kurogane stepped forward. "Whatever, that's not the issue here. I want to know where the mirror is, the magick one. Tell me how to get inside the castle so I can get it."
"You'll not get in here!" bellowed the prince. There was a panicked look in his eyes, and his gaze was going everywhere, like he was searching for something – or avoiding it. He stepped back, pressing himself further onto the well.
"You have something I want. Your father owned it, as I recall. Did you steal it, hide it somewhere perhaps," instigated Kurogane, "after you killed him?"
A tortured look passed the blond's countenance. He got up, stomping a foot on the snowy ground. "SHUT UP!" he screamed, and a gale of wind blew Kurogane back so that he fell onto the frozen earth. "You've no right to talk about that!"
The outburst almost made Kurogane laugh. "What's this?" he asked, rising back up. "That was an interesting reaction there. Maybe you don't just lurk in the sidelines of nightmares." He didn't have Ginryuu with him, but he got into a fighting position for hand-to-hand combat. "What else have you got for me, Yuui?"
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" demanded the prince. He was clutching the sides of his head, covering his ears and shaking violently. "Don't you dare-! Stop saying that name! Stop saying it!"
What the hell! The ninja surveyed the scene before him, trying to make heads or tails of it but coming up with nothing. Wasn't this his nightmare?So why was the prince acting so peculiar? Moreover, why was he so disturbed about the things Kurogane was saying to him?Nothing was making sense, even by the dream world's standards. "Prince-"
"I'm not a prince! Stop saying those things!" came the outcry. The blond shook his head, and Kurogane could swear there were tears falling and flying in the cold air. "My name's not Yuui! That's not my name, so stop it, stop saying iiiiiiiiiiiiiit!"
The ground was rumbling, and the well was beginning to fall apart. Screams still shook the air as icicles the size of trees sprouted from the ground and attempted to stab the sky. Kurogane dodged one that sprung right near him. Why was his dream going so differently? Why was it reacting to Yuui's emotions rather than Kurogane's? Clarity tore through the ninja's mind as soon as he saw gnarled, branchlike arms emerge from the pit of the well and grab the prince's shoulders. The icicles were forming an image on their surface, a bloody image that he couldn't quite make out.
The prince's head suddenly snapped up, his blond hair disheveled and blue eyes wide and red and soaked with tears. He noticed Kurogane's stares, burrowing his gaze deep into the ninja even as the branches began to cut his skin.
"GOAWAY!"
xXxOxXx
The guest room that he and Souma were staying in at Sakura's house was a worn gray color when he opened his eyes. He was staring up at the ceiling and when he sat up, a blanket slid off his chest. At the same time, a piercing pain shot through his head like he'd gotten stabbed with a dagger. Kurogane almost swayed, but he composed himself, because he sensed Souma watching him from across the room.
She was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed and coat folded tightly over her chest. Her dark eyes were glaring at him disapprovingly. "Well, that wasn't as long as we thought it would be," she remarked tautly.
"How much time has it been?" Kurogane asked, tossing the blanket off his body. His coat had been taken off and was folded on top of the dresser. He got up and took it., ignoring the continuous stabbing pain in his head.
Souma followed his movements with a critical eye. "It's evening now. But you've been asleep for about a day now," she replied. Her eyes softened only a little, and her arms remained crossed. "Sakura-chan said with the amount you drank, you'd be gone for two, maybe three days. We never expected you to be up already."
Kurogane scoffed. "I had no choice in the matter," he said gruffly. His mind ventured to the events of the dream world, and how oddly things had happened. The prince had overreacted, and hadn't been at all composed and mysterious and complacent. None of that was present in the man he saw in that dream.
Souma noticed how silent the ninja had gotten and detached herself from the wall. "I'm going to go get Sakura-chan," she said, opening the door. She gave one last glance at Kurogane, pointing to the bed sternly. "You shouldn't be walking around so much, not when you didn't let the full effect of the juice run its course. For all we know, you could fall down asleep again."
As Kurogane wordlessly debated whether or not he'd like that, Souma left, but she left the door open. He heard her call out Sakura's name as she bounded up the stairs. He sensed that Yuzuriha was somewhere on the porch, Inuki right beside her. The aura upstairs along with Sakura belonged to Syaoran. Yukito and Touya didn't seem to be inside or near the house.
"My name's not Yuui! That's not my name!"
"Who the hell was that, then?" Kurogane wasn't at all surprised when his question was answered in Sakura's voice.
"So you had a particular dream, hmm?" She walked over to him, wiping her hands on her dress. Like Souma, she had a disapproving look crossing her face, but her eyes were wide with worry. "How are you feeling, Kurogane-san? You've awakened earlier than expected."
"Is he okay, Sakura-chan? He won't go back to sleep or anything?"
Kurogane didn't say anything as Sakura took his hand and felt over his pulse. Her nimble fingers brushed over his forehead, and she looked meaningfully into his eyes. "I don't think so. Your mind was suddenly torn out of the dream realm."
"Because of the nightmare?" Souma inquired. Her expression held no indignation anymore, and now she was obviously worried. Her hands fiddled with the collar of her coat.
Sakura shook her head. "No. How does your head feel, Kurogane-san? Does it hurt?"
He frowned, but nodded. "How do you know I was kicked out of the dream?" he said suspiciously, looking at her intently as she produced a vial from a pouch attached to her hip. The vial was filled with a red liquid, and Kurogane recognized the scent as soon as she uncorked it. "Blood," he said.
"You'll feel better once you drink it. A little nourishment usually drives away the headaches," the strawberry-blond explained placidly. She seemed not to give any notice to the accusing tone the ninja had taken on, forcing the vial into his hands.
Without further complaint, Kurogane drank down the blood in one swing. Although he knew what the substance was, he noted that it tasted just the slightest bit different. It was made from the seeds that Sakura had, so of course it wouldn't taste the same as human blood, but it wasn't unpleasant. Almost a perfect substitute.
Syaoran appeared, taking in the scene quietly. He offered a smile to Kurogane. "It's good to see you awake again. That was reckless though, to drink the juice." He frowned, tilting his head questioningly. "Why'd you do it, though, Kurogane-san?"
"I wanted to talk to the prince," he replied simply, licking the remaining blood from his lips. Already it was warming his body and making the stabbing turn to soft buzzing. Little by little he was becoming more aware and his mind was beginning to function more clearly. "I needed to get into the castle and get the mirror. So I met him in the dream world to tell me where it was. But something went wrong."
He fiddled with the vial in his hands, thinking. If all that he saw while he was asleep was real – a foolish question in this country – and true, then he had just one thing that troubled him. "The guy I saw looked exactly like that prince bastard, but he said he wasn't him. He screamed it at me like the name really pissed him off. He said he wasn't a prince and that his name wasn't Yuui. Everything in the dream reacted to his emotions, not mine, and the images only held terror over him, not me."
"What's that mean?" Souma asked in a whisper.
"Sakura," Syaoran began quietly. He looked over at the strawberry-blond girl with thoughtful eyes. "Do you think that what Kurogane-san saw wasn't his dream at all?"
"It most definitely wasn't," she agreed after a beat of contemplation. "Based on what you've said, when you went to sleep, you entered his dream instead."
Kurogane nodded. "I figured as much. Want to tell me how that happened?"
"The linking of dreams actually isn't all that uncommon," Sakura explained. She took the vial from him and corked it again before placing the glass back into her pouch. "I've heard it is very possible between people who have very strong bonds with each other. However, your dream didn't become linked to his, and that's what...confuses me a little. You went into his dream, having no ties within it."
"That's right; none of the usual things I saw in the nightmares he gave me were there. So how did I end up in his dream?"
Sakura looked at Syaoran, but he seemed as lost as she was. Finally, she admitted, "I don't know."
"Then how about this," Kurogane said, tilting his head challengingly, "why was he denying himself as your prince?"
Syaoran shook his head, looking down. "I don't know why he'd say such a thing. There's only one son between our rulers, and his name is Yuui. Why he would deny himself is beyond me."
The whole time the conversation took place, Souma was looking back and forth between the three of them, her eyes growing harder as each of them spoke. Now, with the end of Syaoran's sentence, she blurted, "So that's it, then? You put yourself under for nothing?" She shook, her hands curled into fists at her side. "Kurogane-sama, how can you be so reckless? And doing it without me... Why am I even here with you if you can't trust me, or if we can't work something out together? You're just a pig-headed idiot!"
Kurogane glared at her, and he sensed her heart rate pick up speed as he glared at her with ruby-red eyes. "You let yourself tag along with me," he said matter-of-factually, almost coldly. "I never once said that I needed you to come on this search with me. That was just you and your worried self following me along until I had to accept it. But don't confuse that for me needing you."
Souma blinked, her eyes suddenly growing shiny and wet.
"Kurogane-san, you shouldn't say such things-," began Sakura indignantly, but Souma was already turning around and heading out the door. A few seconds later, the front door could be heard opening and closing gently. Yuzuriha was saying something, but Kurogane didn't care to hear it. A few beats of silence followed in the guest room before anyone spoke.
Stepping a little further into the room, Syaoran said, "Did you really mean what you said to her?"
"She came of her own accord when she heard I was leaving. Any favors she's done for me," he thought of the times when she ventured out for more information, or was able to get friendly with people because her demeanor was kinder than his, or when she gave him her blood so many times, "I've never asked them of her."
"But she's stayed by your side for so long," Sakura whispered sadly. She was looking down, wringing her hands on her dress. "You shouldn't say such things that make her think you've abandoned her…"
"You should apologize," Syaoran agreed. "Even if she wasn't in your original plans, she's still helped you and supported you."
Kurogane growled. "I never needed her."
"But she's helped you get this far," Syaoran stated. His words didn't hold the tone of someone who was arguing, but of one who was simply stating fact. "Who knows? Maybe she could help you get even farer."
There was a creak as Kurogane settled himself back on the bed, running a hand through his hair as he sighed in exasperation. Why did he have to apologize? He was no good at that sort of thing, Souma knew that. The last thing she'd expect from him was an apology. Just as he was about to argue more, he heard the distant sound of music coming from outside. If he listened even closer, he could hear people talking with one another.
He frowned. "What's going on out there?"
Following his eyes, Syaoran said, "The Silbern Sterne Nächte celebration began today. It's almost night, so people are probably out building fires and dancing. Sakura and I were getting ready to go ourselves."
Kurogane couldn't help but raise a skeptical brow. He remembered how dead and hopeless the town had been when he and Souma first arrived. No one had been out of their home, and the sound of laughter and pleasantry was nowhere in sight. How could they hold a celebration with light and dancing and song, like none of the bad things existed?
As if sensing his thoughts, Sakura smoothed over her dress and walked toward Syaoran. She turned around, clapping her hands together. "I know! Why don't you take Souma-chan to town? That's where everyone is sure to be, so you can take her there and have fun!"
"I don't have time for fun."
"Don't be such a spoilsport," deadpanned Sakura with a pout. "You sound just like Touya. It'd be a good way to get your mind off things. I bet you haven't gone ten minutes without thinking about the mirror."
Well, that was a bit extreme, but Kurogane just couldn't muster up the energy it took to argue with her. He looked up when Syaoran moved over towards him.
"Everyone in the kingdom will be there. Right before we see the first signs of Valeria in the sky, people sit around the fires to tell stories," he explained with a small smile. "Some of them are made up, but most of them are true historical and religious accounts, since this is the celebration of Valeria. Who knows? You might hear a story that'll help you."
"You're leading me to more endless circles," protested the ninja. "The castle is right there, and I know the mirror is inside it. I can just go in and get it."
Sakura gave him a skeptical look. "Then why haven't you, yet?"
Kurogane hesitated and growled in frustration when he couldn't come up with an answer.
"So you're heeding the warnings, then," said Sakura, "the ones about how difficult it is to get in and out of the castle. That's very smart."
Kurogane sighed in defeat and got back up again. He grabbed Ginryuu, which was also perched on top of the dresser, and bounded out the door. "Fine! I'll to your damn campfire sing-along!" He was met with the usual cold breath of Seresu as soon as he walked outside, but he just wrapped his coat a little tighter and went out to search for Souma.
All these stupid people in this stupid kingdom… It seemed like everyone was leading him in circles and not being direct with him! Curses, a hatred for witches and magick, a tall tale about how dangerous the castle was, and a prince – that probably wasn't even a prince! – that went and gave the town nightmares! Really, what was next? He had quite enough of all this nonsense. He just wanted that mirror so he could bring Tomoyo back to life. It really wasn't a difficult thing to wish for something…
…but Kurogane was unfortunately learning the tough lesson of how hard it was to have a wish granted.
This is tiresome… It was no problem for him to pick up Souma's scent and decipher it from all the other humans milling about town – he had spent nearly his whole life with her. Ever since he turned ten, there was hardly a day that passed when she wasn't there.
When he finally caught up with the kunoichi, he had also sensed Yuzuriha and Inuki with her – that much he had already figured when he didn't see either pup lounging outside Sakura's house. They were already at the heart of the town where many other of the Seresu denizens were busy making fires to ward of the darkness of the approaching night. Some were gathered around people playing instruments that Kurogane had only seen in books and singing in their native language.
"Hey," he greeted roughly.
Souma turned back to look at him in surprise. "Oh, Kurogane-sama…" Quickly though, she looked away from him and set her lips in a thin line.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He really wasn't good for these types of things… "That girl was talking about how we should go to this party thing here in town. Said maybe we could get more information about the mirror and how to maybe get inside the castle," he said.
Souma was quiet for moment but she glanced at him briefly. "Oh, is that so? You…we should take advantage of the situation, Kurogane-sama?"
"Don't reply with a question! If you're going to be with me in this, you have to be certain, always! Be decisive!" he told her as he crossed his arms disapprovingly. Shaking his head, he said, "And I've told you time and again to drop the 'sama' suffix. If you can't even listen to these simple things, how can I expect you to follow directions when I really need you to?"
Yuzuriha was looking back and forth between the two of them, a smile slowly spreading on her face. Souma blinked in surprise, not seeming to know what to say. But after a few moments passed, she nodded energetically. She straightened her posture and took a dignified breath. "Y-yes, sir!"
xXxOxXx
"A few yelled insults and a scowl… It really will be the closest you get to saying you're sorry to someone."
"I'm not good at that. And I wasn't apologizing."
"Keep lying like that," Yuzuriha said, petting through Inuki's fur, "and your nose will grow longer."
"Who the hell told you something like that could happen?" Kurogane demanded, throwing her a dirty look. When he only received a laugh in return, he rolled his eyes and brought Ginryuu closer to his chest.
Night had fallen upon the Seresu kingdom, but none of its people seemed as though they were going to sleep anytime soon. Even children were laughing and playing in the snow, under the watchful eyes of their parents who were swaying in time with the songs being performed by musicians. Three separate and moderately-sized fires were burning in the middle of the town clearing, the orange flames the brightest things Kurogane had seen since he first arrived to the kingdom. The fires chased the darkness and cast shadows on everyone's faces, each one having a smile.
Kurogane watched as people enjoyed themselves, wondering why the people would get suddenly animated over a festival. Celebrations weren't foreign to him – Nihon had its fair share, mostly hosted by Chudoku – so the ninja supposed he had some understanding of it all.
At present, he was by one fireplace with Yuzuriha and Inuki, sitting on a wooden bench while she snuggled in the snow with her dog. Souma was out at one long table set up to the side where the food was, picking out something to eat for them. Kurogane had to say though, that amongst the festivities and laughter and cold night, he was learning absolutely nothing pertaining to his mission.
As if noticing his frustration, Yuzuriha offered him a wide smile. "You know that parties are for having fun, right? Why can't you let loose every once in awhile?"
Not for a second was Kurogane fooled. He was already on edge about being left alone with Yuzuriha after what she said to him yesterday. She knew who he was, and she could tell anyone. Worse, she could tell no one and just rub the fact in his face. But what the ninja wanted more than anything was to forget who he was in the past. But more than ten minutes had passed, and the young girl wasn't saying anything. She didn't even hold a questioning look in her eyes. It was like it never happened, and Kurogane couldn't be more grateful for that.
He sighed, sheathing Ginryuu into the snow. "Besides the fact that I just simply don't want to?" he returned sarcastically.
"Little girl say good thing. You need fun and to smile once in awhile." The bench creaked slightly as Nakuru settled herself right beside the ninja. She waved to Yuzuriha and smiled with her ruby-red lips at Kurogane. "I did not think you come to celebration. Is it fun for you?"
"Nah, he's just been lazing on this bench here for the longest. I just decided to join him for awhile," Yuzuriha answered, smirking at the ninja. "Sakura told me she'd be singing on the platform in the middle of the fires when Valeria became more visible, so I'm just killing time."
"What? Sakura-chan is going to sing!" exclaimed Souma suddenly. She arrived back to the group, her hands balancing three plates of food.
Yuzuriha nodded, smiling. "Yes, it'll be great, don't you think? I can't wait!"
Souma noticed Nakuru and nodded in acknowledgement. "Hello, Nakuru. I'm happy to see you've come as well."
"I not want to miss party," the brunette confessed with a grin.
"Oh! I've brought food. The lady who was helping serve people told me that people tend to save up a few things just for this celebration," Souma informed as she handed out the plates. "There's still not a lot, but everyone seems happy. I like it."
Kurogane declined her offer at the food. "You can give it to Nakuru," he said flatly as the brunette accepted happily.
Once she had settled herself right next to Inuki and Yuzuriha, Souma looked up and asked, "So Nakuru, do you know anything about the…the Silbern Sterne Nächte, I think it was?"
"I have come a few times," she replied. "I think my favorite is when Valeria is in sky. She is very pretty, and colors all over sky. But that is on seven night."
"That's true," Yuzuriha said, looking up as Inuki took advantage of the situation and took a slice of bread from her plate. She laughed and ruffled his hair. "Right now, Valeria is just barely visible in the sky. Look, that's her right there, that bluish-white dot."
Kurogane followed their gazes up to the sky. The clouds were scattered, still gray with snow, but through one was a white dot, the brightest star he had ever seen. The moon was a fair distance away from it, and the Evening Star still seemed to pale in comparison to the wonder and shine of Valeria. Next to the other stars in the sky, she was like the shining jewel on a silver tiara.
"She's just a spot now," Yuzuriha went on to explain, "but as the nights go by, we'll see more of her, and she'll grow even brighter to the point she'll rival the moon."
Souma continued to stare up in wonder. "That'll be so beautiful to see," she whispered in awe.
"Very beautiful," echoed Nakuru, who was similarly transfixed at the sight above them. Kurogane could only silently stare, and wordlessly appreciate the scene.
Cheers erupted from the crowds of people then, a few meters away from them. People were beginning to rouse themselves from their present entertainment to make their way to the platform beside the middle bonfire. Sakura was climbing up on top of it, laughing and smiling as people began to cheer her on. Kurogane noticed the priest Sora there too, a stringed instrument in his hands and a grin on his face. Another peasant girl in a braid was holding a tambourine and shaking it energetically.
Inuki's ears perked up at the sound of the commotion and stood up. Yuzuriha wasn't far behind him as she bounced with excitement. "Oh look! Sakura is going to sing now. C'mon, let's go hear her!"
Already the crowd was trying to hush itself as Sora began to strum the opening melody of the song. Yuzuriha ran off towards the platform with Inuki at her heels.
"You coming, Nakuru?" asked Souma as she got up.
"I eat first. But I can hear. I come later," she promised in her broken Japanese. Souma accepted it and turned expectantly at Kurogane, who waved her off, promising the same thing the brunette had. The kunoichi nodded and bounded after Yuzuriha.
Sakura began singing in a soft voice, the lyrics in her native tongue so Kurogane didn't understand it at all. But Sora's strumming was soothing and the girl with the braid was chiming her tambourine quietly. It seemed like a soft song, like a lullaby.
Her light-blue dress twirled like a flower petal around her as Sakura swayed, her hands clasped over her chest as she sang. The crowd was also swaying contentedly, some small children spinning in slow circles with one another. Kurogane watched them, saw Souma hold Yuzuriha's hand as the danced in a languid circle. More energy, like electricity in the air, seemed to begin to build up as the chorus came closer. Even Kurogane had to admit that the melody had an alluring beauty and sound...
But something seemed to change then. The words pouring out of Sakura's lips were still foreign, but…Kurogane blinked a few times, shaking his head…because now he could understand her.
"Raise your hats and your glasses, too
We will dance the whole night through
We're going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon…"
He started, getting up from the bench and settling a shaky hand on Ginryuu's cold, scaly hilt. Nakuru noticed and looked at him. "What is it?" she asked.
"It's..." The ninja stared at the dancing Sakura, staring at her lips that spoke words he shouldn't understand...
"Cheers to the Knights and days of old
The beggars and the thieves
Living in an enchanted wood
Under a Violet Moon..."
"What language is she speaking in?" Kurogane demanded, turning to the brunette.
Nakuru gave him a strange look like he was crazy. "She talk words of Seresu. It is what they all talk in," she replied simply, her brown eyes staring at him in bewilderment. "But I know what she sings."
Yeah, so do I...The music picked up speed for a moment, and Sakura raised her voice as she sang the chorus. People danced more fervently in approval, smiling as they moved. The ninja frowned, still wondering just how it was he was able to suddenly understand the language of Seresu. This doesn't make sense…
Two kids suddenly rushed by Kurogane – one hidden in a dark, poison-green cloak and the other had waves of blond hair. At first he paid them no mind... But then the one with blond hair turned around, revealing his large blue eyes. Even though it was most definitely a child...still, the resemblance was uncanny... Those blue eyes were the exact same ones that held ice when malicious, glass when frightened...
Why did they remind him so much of Yuui?
Nakuru noticed him move and waved. "Bye, Kurogane." But the ninja hardly heard her in his sudden pursuit. The two children were giggling to themselves, holding each other's hands as they went deeper into the crowd. People were clapping their hands in time with the music with the same beats as the shaking tambourine, and no one else gave any notice to the two newcomers.
The cloaked one pulled back reluctantly, halting their movement. "Yuui, I don't know if we should do this. What if we get caught?" the child asked dubiously.
There it was again. They were most definitely not speaking Japanese, but Kurogane understood each word. Even if he hadn't though, he knew he'd recognize that name anywhere. He's also named Yuui? Who is this kid? Kurogane's boots crunched in the snow as he got closer to them, but someone walked by, and – just like that – the children were gone.
"What the-?" He looked back up on the platform again where Sakura was, only to hear that he couldn't understand her anymore. He pressed a hand to his forehead, where a familiar dull ache was. Had he not fully recovered yet from what happened earlier that evening?
"Don't be scared, alright? I'm the prince of Seresu! No one can tell me what to do! 'Sides, you got that cloak on, so no one can see you."
A flash of a green cloak over at the edge of the crowd caught his attention. A switch had been flipped again, and Kurogane could understand everything again.
The two children were dancing around in the snow, kicking up the frost with their boot-covered feet. A laugh left the one with the cloak and Yuui smiled approvingly. He began to sing along with the song as the chorus repeated itself.
"Raise your hats and your glasses, too
We will dance the whole through
We're going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon..."
Another girl with long black hair had joined the musicians and was fervently blowing into a weird pipe that gave the song a more magical feel to it... Maybe Kurogane was under some spell right now.
"Who are you?" Kurogane asked the children, stepping closer to them, but they didn't even waver at his appearance. In fact, they seemed not to notice him at all as they continued to move and Yuui sang. The cloaked boy broke off from him, spinning and spinning in his own circle. He reached his small arms up at the sky, and Kurogane saw a flash of a smile under the shadows of the hood.
The way they moved and acted... As if no one else was there...
Yuui laughed, clapping in time with the music and singing to encourage the other on in their solo dance.
"We will dance the whole night through
We're going back to a time we knew..."
The boy spun and spun, laughing...
"Under a Violet Moon – hey!"
Yuui rocked in place as he clapped... His companion settled into the snow as the song went on, falling back onto the frost. In the process, their hood fell back, and a tangle of blond hair fanned out like a halo around his face. His cheeks were red and there was still a smile on his face as he struggled to catch his breath. When he opened his eyes, they were the exact same as Yuui's.
No...everything about him was like Yuui...
Twins...?
Before Kurogane could even react, Yuui was above his identical friend, pulling his hood back up. The last thing the ninja heard before the two boys disappeared like mist was,
"I'm glad you decided to come with me, Fai."
He was surrounded by cheering and claps as the song ended, leaving Kurogane staring at only snow with no evidence at all the boys had ever been there.
xXxOxXx
Ending A/N: Ah, update - it has been done -sighs in relief- That was hard to get out, haha. I've been thinking of this chapter for awhile now, so I was excited to get it all out. At the same time, I'm hoping I conveyed everything I wanted to in it (does it all make sense? owo;;)
The plot is progressing slowly but surely 8D;; Thank you so much for enduring the slow pace thus far. I'm really hoping the plot moves forward next chapter, or at least we get some action. That much I know will be present. But we got somewhere this time, right? A predictable plot twist just happened and will be elaborated next chapter. But right after cliffhangers, my specialty is plot twists B) So I have bigger and badder things in store, ohohohoho~
Oh! Ho! Christmas is upon us! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and happy holidays! -bows- Thank you again for reading. A review/CRITIQUE (-stabbed-) would be a really awesome present to give -insert chibi eyes of d00m that you can't resist-
