Welcome to 'Shadows of Doubt'! First off I'd love to welcome my new reader, because it's always fun to gain new readers into a project I love so well. Please feel free to enjoy the rest of my beloved project, and thank you so much for reading it! I shall continue to put forth my greatest efforts for you and my other readers. Thanks again!
In a short amount of time, I've gained quite a lot of inspiration. One source is a very close flower of mine, who sent a spark off for several wonderful ideas. The course of the story has shifted in ways you won't even imagine-but you'll find out just by staying with me. I promise that this adventure will be worth your time. If you'd like to find out more information about this project of mine, feel free to take a peek at my updated profile. I would appreciate it dearly! I'd like to thank you all for your time, very much, and brace yourselves for events yet to come!
Small warning. Due to the upcoming content of my fic, I may have to increase the rating one level. If this will come at the expense of reader satisfaction, please let me know as soon as possible. I do not wish to upset anyone with the battles that are about to arise. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Theme of 'Shadows': 'Sanctuary' of Kingdom Hearts 2 OST, 'How Much is the Fish?' by Scooter
The High Court of the Angels had also fallen victim to the predator known as 'Envy'. Cold and cruel, it crept through the dark halls of the haven in the form of an elusive beast, sharing its poison with anyone that desired its presence. Almost all were affected by the horrendous plague, and none of its recipients possessed the drive to shake it off. Even in the midst of heavenly beauty its participants were willing to shelter the horrid ailment known as 'envy', cradling it as though they had been responsible for giving birth to it. Even the youngest members of the Court were lost amongst the snake's teeth, trapped between both sets of vicious fangs without a single complaint against their captor. Unwittingly bearing the same plague of their enemies, they wandered through their darkened haven as though they had been transformed into malicious demons…demons that cradled hatred against a certain bond.
Once blessed by the warm melody of serenity, their haven was now tainted with an incurable emptiness. The reason for that emptiness was misunderstood by the haven's denizens-they assumed that a certain Seraph's disappearance had caused their haven's light to die out, and were quite adamant about that belief. Once blessed with golden light, their walls were dark, icy and lifeless. Once blessed with the warmth of a newborn sunrise, their air was cold and unfit for any being to consume. Invincible waves of frost shook their clammy atmosphere as the denizens took it in, mechanically walking about with the same ice within their eyes. Hatred glimmered within the hearts of the angels, shining with a light that was equal to the icy light burning the divinity of their sanctuary. What was once warm was now cold and bleak, not bearing a single shred of light.
Voices fluttered throughout the large sanctuary. Dark, soulless and empty, they drifted from the mouths of their owners and into the cold air. Bitter hatred burned within each voice as it struck the crystal blue walls, each syllable releasing an invincible flame of greed. The reason for their haven's darkness was quite misunderstood by its inhabitants, but none of them were willing to look upon the truth-their hearts had been tainted far beyond liberation. They were lost, trapped within an abyss they had doomed themselves to-an abyss none of them would ever be able to escape from. One angel had been affected by the largest amount of the plague, eyes gleaming with a degree of hatred that was almost demonic. He was a being that had been betrayed in the past, one that refused to look beyond that betrayal and move on to the future.
Long amber locks transcended over his slender frame. Azure blue eyes glistened with beastly hatred as they peered into the outside sky, a velvety blanket filled with glimmering stars. A hand was placed on his hip, highlighting the anger that burned within his once beautiful eyes. Memories, swift but just as clear as the present, streamed through his head and increased his anger, each one just as potent as the last. There was a companion at his side, one that was two years his junior but equal to him in regards to their anger levels. It was another male angel, one with short black hair and radiant black eyes. From a glance one could tell that they were both close, if beastly creatures could even carry affectionate bonds. Within the past they had evidently been close, and their bond transcended their transition into anger. Even similar facial expressions placed themselves on their faces, causing both of them to glow with the light of family.
The younger one turned to the older angel and spoke, his youthful voice filled with enthusiastic, passionate spite. "It's been too cold here lately." he began. "Far too cold for my taste. I've become rather irritated by this ice hole we've been doomed to spend eternity in."
"Well, it wouldn't be cold if a certain someone hadn't abandoned us." his companion said darkly, ignoring a small gleam that arrived in the corner of his eye. Someone was listening to their conversation in the background-someone that had become a bit of a nuisance in the last couple of days. The High Order had not been too happy with the fulfillment of a certain Prophecy, and so the air had been quite tense with anger, confusion and even infiltration. Only one visible member of the Court had the audacity to fight against the prominent members of their Society, and she needed to be eradicated as quickly as possible. Insects were never too pleasant to deal with. "I've found that I can't stop thinking of my betrothed. Erudice, I'd give anything to have him back…absolutely anything. Curse that wretched mortal for stealing him away from me. By all rights, he should be here…at my side." he continued angrily, turning his back against the window his eyes had peered out of. Surveying the empty seats of the conference room, where a gathering had just taken place to discuss the recent outbreak of darkness, he shook his head in frustration.
"Those fools shouldn't have allowed that to happen. That Prophecy of theirs was a rather large mistake." he snapped viciously, fingers digging into his hip. "If I had the chance, I'd undo their precious Prophecy and take that angel back for myself. Curse those old fools for believing a mortal could truly earn the heart of such a creature. I should show them a thing or two."
"That's not a nice tone to take, considering those 'old fools' are Arim's parents."
Elysium Aradeius' response was instant. "Well, the heavens should have granted him a smarter set of parents. And don't get me started on that sibling of his. She's been pestering us ever since the matter of their Prophecy has risen back to the surface of conversation. I'm rather tired of her pestering the entire Court. One ant should not wield the power of a million workers. She can't possibly believe that she can accomplish something on her own."
The younger angel, a male named Erudice Tetsaiyus, noticed that his companion was edging towards the exit of the Conference Room. His heart skipped several beats in anticipation, causing his black eyes to light up with excitement. "Where do you think you're going, teita?" he asked his dear friend, a part of him already knowing the answer. Elysium whirled around on him angrily, eyes still gleaming with unbreakable hatred. Amber brown tresses swept over his frame as he turned to face the other, time freezing itself for the angel's every movement. "I believe I have some business with the members of the Counsel." he confirmed with the other. "If you'd like to assist me, feel free to do so. I would appreciate the support, my friend."
Cold, clammy footsteps drifted out of the conference room…brightening a violet set of eyes with anger. Hands gripped the wall a back had slumped against, accompanying the rapid beating of a young heart. Wisps of long, flowing pink hair rose upon a heaving bosom as tension swept through blood, trapping a young body in the black ice of despair. She was momentarily frozen, though, and as soon as she regained her ability to move about she too dashed from the area…in secret. Not wanting to have her intentions discovered by the two males.
Without you, I feel empty.
Without you, I feel lost and lonely.
Without you…there is no life. Only death.
It's only been a few hours…but I feel as though I've been torn away from you…
…for eons.
Where are you, my beloved husband?
When…where will I be able to find you?
How will I be able to find…the one that keeps my heart breathing?
Led by his steadfast brother and childhood friend, the greatest romance novelist of Tokyo found himself walking through the palace halls as though he had been transformed into a mechanical machine. Simple movements had become painful, rigid and automatic executions, no longer giving him the light he had enjoyed in the presence of a certain someone. His feet mechanically moved in synch with the feet of his young sibling, his heart pounding against his chest in the same manner. Cold winds crept through him as he followed his small fellowship, eyes bearing tears but mouth bearing no words. Pain swept through him repeatedly, crushing him as though it were a hammer crushing glass windows. He could hardly even breathe through such pain, but surprisingly found himself able to still operate with the capabilities of a human. Despite that surprising fact, though, he found that his chest was burning-and not with the anguish of a heartburn. The insides of his chest were burning, his reddened eyes were burning, everything seemed to be burning-
Time elapsed, but he failed to measure it. Somehow he returned to reality, eyes fluttering and registering the place his brother had led him into. It was the chamber of the Holy Anurynian Priests, a seemingly small realm of ancient luminosity. Ancient inscriptions, radiating golden light, had been carved throughout every inch of the chamber's walls, highlighting the melody of the spirits drifting throughout the cold air. The small fellowship examined the chambers their guide had led them into, and quickly realized they had been transported to a place none of them would soon forget. It was a place of the kingdom's history, a place of bygone memories and immortal legends…a place of beloved times and events. The Priests themselves were drenched in everlasting light, glowing with radiance that would inevitably transcend the reach of time.
A small group of them greeted Princess Niha's companions with respectful bows, adhering to the customs of their people. They, in return, received bows from their new friends in the same manner. Unfortunately, pleasant introductions and warm embraces could not follow the usual manner of Anurynian greetings. The Priests were rather grave about their current findings, and Niha's fellowship wasn't faring too much better. Not a single smile could be found on a single face. At least one thing was for certain-throughout their small trip, the members of the fellowship had become closer to one another. Silence was just as powerful as words, and would continue to be just as powerful as any word. Tatsuha, Tohma, Hiroshi, Suguru, Mika, Ryuichi and K were all deeply concerned about their dear Eiri, who had fallen into the first stage of 'separation' anxiety'-their beloved friend could hardly even stand, let alone breathe. This wasn't a normal case of separation anxiety, though. K had playfully made a reference to 'separation anxiety' several weeks ago, saying that if the precious couple were ever to separate themselves from one another, even for a few minutes, both of them would suffer from a breakdown. K now found that his words, which had only meant to serve a harmless purpose, were now ringing in reality.
Reading Suguru and Niha's thoughts, the Head Priestess executed another bow and began to speak. She emitted a warm, motherly radiance as all Priestess did, but this current aura was tainted by sadness. "Please allow me to explain the predicament that has risen, dear friends." she began gently. "I am heartbroken to report that our Arim, the Guardian of the High Order-" she went on, her words alarming the grief-stricken Eiri. "-has been taken deep into the Shadow Realm."
Glancing at Eiri's colorless face, Hiro stepped forward. "Excuse me, milady, but kindly explain your use of the name 'Arim'. Last time we checked, the missing victim's name was 'Shuichi'."
"That's the name he bears within your world, yes. But to the world he was born in, he is none other than 'Arim'-the name he was meant to keep, the name he was destined to bear." the Priestess went on, sending pain through Eiri's eyes. He released the hand of his brother Tatsuha, no longer able to hold it. "So what are you trying to tell me?" the novelist asked, voice hoarse and faint from tears. "That everything was a mistake? One large, fucking mistake? Was he not supposed to come and find me? Is that what you're trying to tell me?"
"The Court meant for him to take a different course of action, dear spirit." the Head Priestess explained sadly, lowering her head in the desire for an alternative answer. "They didn't mean for their most beloved anchor to fall away from them. Through his actions he broke the laws of his land…giving his heart to a mortal he should not have sought."
Giving his heart to a mortal he should not have sought.
"But…but why-"
Taking his brother by the arm, Tatsuha Uesugi challenged the Priestess with a fiery glare. "What 'Shuichi' does is none of their damned business." the young Priest snapped, his voice cracking against the air in the form of a whip. The Anurynian Priests cringed in awe at his voice's power, wondering how a mortal could hold such fire within his voice. "Tell us how to find that 'Shadow Realm' he's been dragged into." the young one continued, taking his brother Eiri into his arms. "We don't need any extra information."
He gathered Eiri before he could fall to his knees, noticing that his brother barely had any strength left in him. Sadness struck his soft blue eyes as he supported his heartbroken brother, silently wondering what his sibling could possibly be going through. Unbeknownst to him, unfortunately, was the fact that his brother was due for a lot more pain. The present could not compare to what was yet to come. "Finding the doors to the Shadow Realm won't be easy, young Priest of the mortal realm." the Priestess replied, still in awe of her counterpart's strength. "I'm afraid they're hidden…trapped within the days of long-ago memories. Two doors, one to the past and one to the future, need to be unlocked-but the path to both doors will not be an easy one. As for how to reach them…I'm afraid I cannot tell you. Destiny shall take its course. We shall not interfere."
"Hearken to this, Hidden Liberator." another Priestess, a rather young female with long, silvery blue locks, spoke to the pale novelist within Tatsuha's arms. "Animosity lingers within the air, in regards to your marriage. Acrimony is brewing, not only within the world of darkness…but within the world of light as well. We cannot ensure the safety of your bond…for more darkness is yet to come."
What is the most delicate thing in this world?
Even so, it is there to protect us
Even out of the words as numerous as stars
I want to hear it from your voice
So tell me it's love
Tell me that's love
Even though we're like two anonymous flowers
To fall in love
To be so strong
Because I want you to feel the same thing too
This tiny fleeting love
Suppose it's time to change the future
I want to laugh by your side and change it too…
-Namo Shirenu Hana of 'Ai Yori Aoshi'
