I like demons. There, I said it. I have an OC who's a Fricken Demon of Fear for crying out loud! I dunno, I just find them cool. :/ So enjoy Shadow Demon!Yuma, 'kay? I think next I might try my hand at a dark fic with Astral as the main character. We'll see. Depends on my mood.

I own nothing. Enjoy~!

Word used: "Shadows"

Being a demon of the shadows, Yuma was used to being completely ignored.

He looked out at the moonlit field as an entire caravan passed through without noticing him. Once the last person had left, Yuma stepped out of the surrounding shadows with a sigh. He looked up at the sky, staring at the moon.

Why had he been born as a shadow demon? It was so lonely, unable to reveal yourself to anyone. He looked towards the trees. Ryouga, a water demon, and Kaito, an air demon, were the only company he had these days, since the last of the priests who worshipped demons were executed. One of them had been his friend, Kotori, betrayed by her own family. He would never forgive them. She had been his best friend.

"Who are you?"

Yuma snapped his head around, staring at the individual before him with a surprised stare.

He hovered above the ground, and had light blue skin, matching hair that curved upwards and mismatched silver and gold eyes. Strange green gems and patterns decorated his skin, and he seemed to glow.

Yuma felt a bead of sweat rolled down the back of his neck as the individual floated closer, examining him. "Why are you here?"

"I am always here," the figure sighed, "You did not answer my question."

Yuma swallowed and looked at the figure, red eyes staring into mismatched ones. "My name is Tsukumo Yuma. Who are you?"

The figure didn't reply, floating in a circle around Yuma. Yuma sincerely hoped he wouldn't see his demonic mark on the back of his neck, but his hope deflated when the figure said "You're a demon."

"You didn't answer my question," Yuma snapped, repeating the figure's earlier words.

"My name is Astral," the individual said, "What is a demon doing here?"

Yuma shrugged. "No reason, really. I'm just here." Yuma glanced at Astral. "What about you?"

"I was cursed while I was dying," Astral said, "I am stuck in this clearing for all of eternity, unable to pass on peacefully."

"I see," Yuma said, "Must be horrible, unable to leave a place ever." He ended up talking with Astral, getting to know the spirit, throughout the night until morning came, at which time Yuma had to retreat to the shadows to hide from the sun's burning rays.

For days he met with Astral in the clearing. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and Yuma found himself falling in love with the spirit. It scared him, so he hid it, refusing to acknowledge the pounding of his heart, or the way his face would heat up, or the dreams that taunted him so.

However, he never thought one night things would change.

He entered the clearing, scanning for Astral, filled with excitement. He couldn't explain why he was excited, nor did he question it.

However, when he did find Astral, he couldn't believe what he saw.

Astral was kneeling on the ground, one hand wrapped around his abdomen as his form pulsed in and out of existence. Above him stood a familiar face to Yuma.

"Shingetsu!"

The orange haired fire demon looked up and smirked at Yuma. "Yuma-kun. What a surprise."

Yuma ran forward, stopping by Astral's side. "Why are you here?!"

"My business here is done." Shingetsu smirked at him. "Until next time, Yuma-kun." With that he disappears in a whirlwind of flames, the only proof he was there being the smell of smoke.

Yuma knelt next to Astral. "Astral, what's wrong?"

"He has banished me from this place," Astral managed, "In fact, he has banished me from existence."

Yuma felt his entire being freeze as those words left his friend's mouth. No. no. this could not be real. He had to be dreaming.

"No!" Despite knowing it was futile, Yuma threw his arms around the intangible spirit, passing straight through Astral and falling to the ground. "You can't go, Astral! You can't!"

"Yuma…"

"I love you Astral!" Yuma shouted, "You can't go!"

When he received nothing but silence, Yuma lifted his tear stained face to find Astral gone. Completely erased from existence. Yuma broke down again and cried in that clearing alone, his only comfort being the shadows around him.

Emilio: thank you!

XanaduHawk: thanks! :D

Theabridgedkuriboh: he does, doesn't he? XD

vividRegulator: same. I was disappointed when he revealed his true self. D: but thanks! :D

Leah Yamaguchi: No. 73 Assassin of the King: Mistress has said that Tsukumo Yuma is fun to make fun of, and now I see she was right. And if you wish for me to call you Ninny I will. I am only referred to by my full name or my number. And yes, I believe that is why she made Yuma cross-dress instead of Astral.

Mr Guinea Pig's bostik sandal: thank you! :D

Annika: same. :/ and I really like Loveless. Different people have different opinions-some like it, some don't-but in my opinions it's a cute manga with some pretty cool characters. If you want to check it out, go ahead. :3 and yeah, Yuma does make a neat girl. XD

See that little button that says "Review this Chapter"? click it please! Sayonara~!