She didn't know why her eyes were drawn to the sky as she rose to her feet, using her right hand as a visor to shield her eyes from the glare of the sun.

There, still a good distance away, she saw what could only be a plane heading in the direction of the airport, and there was no mistaking the ominous orange light that had erupted from its side, followed by a black plume of smoke that heralded its oncoming crash. Her heart plummeted at the sight of the plane suddenly tilting to its side, and she took a step closer to the edge of the roof, her free hand coming to rest on the parapet.

Oh, dear God…

Before her thoughts could go any further, a spiral of blue light seemed to envelope the teetering transport, before shooting to the sky like a beacon of hope for those on board, she felt its power race through her, not unlike electricity, but without the pain that accompanied the shock. The azure light then rose into the sky while still keeping the plane bathed within its cerulean glow, pulsating like a beating heart before breaking into a downward spiral. Her eyes followed the light's progress, awe, exhileration, and wonder replacing the fear that had only moments ago inhabited her being. The dancing light now changed directions, spiraling upwards to reveal a crystalline spear of dark blue that hovered in the air for a long moment before dissolving like rain to reveal a rapier like object with a glowing center of sapphire, surrounded, and gently caressed by the cerulean light that glided around it in a dance of serenity and life.

Her eyes didn't mistake how the plane was now gently descending from the sky, as if guided by a gentle hand, before it disappeared from her sight, the only proof that what she had seen was not a dream being the Sword of Damocles hovering in the sky, proclaiming the ascension of a new Blue King.

Thank God the plane didn't crash.

But still…

Would things be better now that there was a new Blue King…?

She was brushing her hair just before bed when she felt it again, the same exhileration and awe that she had felt when she saw the new Blue King's Sword of Damocles form in the sky earlier that day.

And yet…

There was an uncertainty and apprehension that followed the rush of emotion, and she knew part of it was due to her not knowing what the new Blue King would be like, or how he would handle individuals like herself.

Setting her hair brush down on the bedside table, she moved towards the sliding glass doors that led to the balcony outside her room, and saw the same pillar of cerulean light rising into the night sky. Sliding the glass panels back, she stepped outside, welcoming the chill of the tiles against the soles of her bare feet as she moved closer to the railing, her long hair billowing behind her in the light breeze. Once again, the Blue King's Sword of Damocles formed in the sky.

She didn't know how long she had been standing on the balcony, however, she felt her eyes widen, and she felt a frisson of fear run through her as she clutched her shawl tighter around her shoulders when she saw a ribbon of dark blue that was almost black merge with the beautiful light that had outshone the sky, becoming one with the dancing stars, and yet seeming so different….

Why…?

What happened…?

The painful constrictions caused him to collapse against the wall as his grip tightened on his saber, and he fought desperately to breathe, clutching at his throat.

No…

Not now…

He could not let the thirst and hunger that threatened to destroy him out, could not risk what it might do to those around him.

He had to fight it…

As she tried to continue down the route she normally took to and from school, she heard the unmistakable sounds of battle, courtesy of the clashing Kings; how far away they were, she didn't know, and she wasn't about to ask. She could also feel the shock waves that accompanied their clashing auras that caused the ground beneath her to shake, and it was all she could do not to stumble; she could hear some people on the street wondering if there was an oncoming earthquake taking place underground, and if there was another one on the way.

No, she thought silently. Those are Kings fighting.

She had seen the Swords of Damocles belonging to the Blue and Red Kings hovering in the air as she made her way back to her apartment, the sight making her stop in her tracks for a long moment to gaze at them.

To ordinary people, she might have seemed to be admiring the cloud formations in the summer sky since the Swords of Damocles were invisible to their eyes, but to people who were gifted – or cursed – with special abilities, it was a clear indication that a battle was taking place.

Being invisible to the naked eye, however, did not mean that the damage, or impact, or the sounds of battle were afforded the same luxury.

Suddenly, she had to grab onto a lamp post beside the building that she was passing by when she felt another power blast that shook her surroundings. Her eyes widened when she saw the blue and red auras flare up before a sliver of the former separated itself from them, making a beeline right above her, and colliding with the building she was standing beside. Quickly, she moved away as dust and debris flew about, tearing a path down the same granite structure. She could hear the cries of alarm as people panicked and fled the scene, but her eyes were drawn to the figure in dark blue she had glimpsed in the midst of all the chaos…

He rose from where he had fallen, ramming his fist into the wall beside him, his temper at boiling point.

" Damn it! " he growled. " Just what is wrong with that man?! "

" Uh…. " a young female voice drowned out the dark tornado that was rising within him. " Excuse me... but... are you alright? "

He turned his head sharply to the right, and saw a young girl dressed in the summer uniform of Ashinaka High School standing barely ten feet away from him, her eyes wide with alarm, the expression on her face one of fear and concern as she clutched the strap of her sling bag tightly.

The Blue King blinked, realizing that he might have frightened her, not only by surviving what might have been a fatal landing for ordinary people, but also his barely contained display of temper. Taking a deep breath, he rose to his feet, and turned to face her, pushing his glasses back up with his fingertips. " Pardon me, Miss. " he apologized. " I almost lost my temper. "

" It means that you're still alive, " she countered softly, relief and irony evident in her young voice as she took a tentative step closer to him, peering up into his face. " Still… are you sure you're alright? "

Her voice was like a soft breeze on a spring night, the gentle sound soothing to him and the slumbering darkness within.

To say that she was beautiful would not have done justice to the vision standing before him. Her wide, round eyes were deep violet gemstones, the long mane that was her hair like light lavender silk touched by moonlight; under different kinds of light, it could be white silver, or lavender, flowing over her shoulders before tumbling down her back, and past her tiny waist, with side fringes. Her hair was parted to the right side of the oval medallion that was her young, lovely face, and he found himself dangerously tempted to run his fingers through the silken strands. Her nose was small and pert, her lips light pink rose petals.

She looked so delicate and fragile, he feared that she might shatter into millions of tiny pieces if he raised his voice.

Moonflower.

Despite his almost black mood, he found the strength to muster a faint smile, although he also felt himself tense inwardly as something else within him roused itself and focused on the innocent girl before him through his eyes. " I am quite alright, Miss, " he tried to assure her. " I must apologize for that display of temper, despite your certainty that it meant that I am still alive and in one piece. "

Her worry melted into relief, and for a long moment, the tension and frustration that had come with the unpleasant encounter with the Red King melted away as she smiled up at him.

" I – "

" Captain! "

The sound of high heeled boots, accompanied by his second in command's voice shattered the serenity, and he saw jewel like orbs widen in alarm before the girl gasped in shock; he growled in frustration and reluctantly tore his eyes from the little flower in front of him to face the woman who had rounded the corner. " Yes, Awashima-kun? "

The buxom lieutenant stopped dead in her tracks at the sharp curtness of the Blue King's address to her, and the cold, black rage on his normally calm countenance. She swallowed. " Are you alright, Sir? " she unknowingly echoed the concern shown by the young girl concealed by his tall figure.

He breathed deeply, reigning his temper in. " Yes, " he answered. He took a step towards her. " Have you apprehended Daichi Yamata? "

Seri Awashima colored, and bowed slightly. " Uh… not yet Sir, " she reported, feeling unnerved.

The Blue King nodded. " I see. Then continue your pursuit. "

Awashima saluted. " Yes Sir. " She hesitated. " What about the Red King, Mikoto Suoh? "

The steel like hardness of the Blue King's eyes could have cut through stone. " Do not concern yourself with him, " he answered darkly. " I will handle him. "

The dark eyes within him turned, searching for the girl from earlier, and he did the same, a sense of sorrow weighing heavily within him due to his time with her being so short.

However, the girl was nowhere to be found.

She was gone.

Oh, my God…

As she ran through the streets, away from the man who she now knew to be the new Blue King, his image flashed in her mind, but she tried not to think of him lest she get distracted, and trip.

The stairs leading up to her apartment flew by in a daze, as did unlocking her door before she entered and slammed it shut behind her. It was only when she had slid the dead bolt in before sliding to her knees that she finally allowed the Blue King's face to fill her thoughts.

She had seen the Blue King barely land on his feet when he'd reached the ground, and had rushed over to see if he was alright, almost jumping out of her skin when he rammed his fist into the wall beside him, the expression on his face dark enough to make pitch black night seem bright. The part where his fist had made an impact on the wall looked like a sideward crater with a spider web of cracks, and she was glad that he still had the presence of mind to calm down when she'd approached him.

He was clearly an officer, judging from the way that he had composed himself, and a gentleman when he rose to his feet upon registering her presence.

He was so BEAUTIFUL.

He was tall, well over six feet in height, but the way he carried himself made him look much taller than he already was. His messy, dark blue tinted black hair had been parted to the left side of his majestically handsome face, his eyes like polished amethysts behind his frameless, rectangular glasses. He wore a high collared, long-sleeved dark blue trench coat left unzipped from the waist down, held together at the waist by a black belt with a gold buckle. Underneath his intricate coat, he wore a white shirt with an upturned collar paired with a fancy cravat that made her think of a Victorian nobleman, dark blue pants, and knee high boots with silver metal frames. The gold handled saber he held in his hand was sheathed in a dark blue scabbard that had several gold straps criss crossed over it, and she suspected that the said weapon was something he was able to wield without any trouble.

So, she thought as the realization of the man's identity dawned on her. You're the new Blue King.

He had struck her as a calm, undaunted individual, although the cracked indent he'd made when he'd slammed his fist into the wall while expressing his frustration told her that he was pretty scary when angered.

He had towered over her as she gazed up at him, unable to tear her eyes from his face, and she felt lost in his intense, jewel like depths, a warm glow spreading through her. She felt that same glow spread to her face, and she took a step towards him, fascinated, while he did the same…

But…

There was…

Something…

They now stood so close, she could feel the warmth of his body; it was different from the stifling summer heat, drawing her in. Backlit by the afternoon sun, his face was partially wreathed in shadows, his amethyst eyes seeming to glow, and for a moment, she felt like he wasn't the only one looking at her.

When the sound of heeled boots on the pavement cut through the moment like a knife tearing through silk, the soft glow erupted into a blinding storm of rage, the amethyst overtaking the whites of his eyes, his pupils seeming to turn into slits like a cat's eyes before he turned to face the intruder. She had heard the growl he'd emitted as he turned, and, still reeling in shock, she turned and left the scene….

My God, her shocked mind replayed the moment over and over again.

What was that?!