Title: These Fragile Flames: Side-story to a story not yet titled
Author: Anon Masako
Email: sandryrose85@yahoo.com
Rating: PG/PG-13
Disclaimer: I own the 'angel' in this story, as well as the idea that this portrays. I, however, do not own Nakago or any of his co-horts, or the concept of Fushigi Yuugi.
Author's Notes: This is a side story to a fic I am currently working on. The prologue should be out in the next couple of weeks. This side-story will make sense once I get several chapters in, I promise.
Well, I would appreciate it if you would tell me what you thing of it!
~~~
I once had an angel.
When I was a boy, not long after taken to the emperor's palace, an angel visited me at night. She wasn't one of the court concubines, or one of the officials' wives, or a servant. I don't know what she was- I just knew she was there.
The nights when the guards escorted me back from the emperor's chambers- those were the nights she came most frequently.
She was young in appearance, a whirlwind of emerald silk and embroidered brocade, an ephemeral creature in gauzy veils. Her hair swirled loosely around her, the color blending with her clothing: all of her a rich emerald, a shining, pure jewel in the corrupt tapestry that was the palace.
But her eyes... they were a soft, celestial shade that was an echo of the lavender of the dawn sky.
That was my angel. On the nights when I had been abused by the emperor, she would come and hold me gently, crooning a soft lullaby as I wept in shame and fear. She would talk to me once I had finished crying; things such as why the sky was blue, where my mother was now, the taste of fresh berries and fruits. She would subtly teach me about kindness and the endurance of the human spirit, of the respect we should bestow on all living creatures. I was happiest when she was, so it was my mission to make her smile. On these nights I felt safe, protected- innocent.
Innocent.
At that age I was no longer truly innocent- I had seen my mother raped and slaughtered. I had been molested by the ruler of the country. But my angel made me forget these things. She chased away the bad dreams with soft words, the menacing shadows in the corners with the glimmering light of her presence. She did her best to maintain what childlike innocence was within me.
Knowing that she would come was enough to keep me hopeful day after day, enough to keep me... human.
On the last day I saw her, her beautiful eyes were haunted like the prey of a tiger that stalked relentlessly closer. It wasn't until I looked back in this life on that day- our last day- that I noticed this detail.
I never saw her again in my time in Kutou. And, as time went by, I lost the hope and warmth her influence had impressed upon me. I forgot the lessons she had taught me. I became Seiryuu no Seishi Nakago, a heartless warrior. I felt she had betrayed me. Left me in my time of greatest need.
Thus I went about betraying others: my fellow seishi, and my miko. They became pawns in my game for power.
Perhaps, if she had stayed, I would have been a better person. I wouldn't have seen people as pawns. I might have fallen in love with her. I could have been happy.
I would occasionally awake in my bed in Kutou and would see a wisp of green silk, a flash of lavender eyes, softly murmured words of comfort. But they would dissipate and all I would be able to see was the wine color of Soi's hair, all I could hear was the light sound of her breathing. Threads of past memories tried to weave themselves back together, and I would ruthlessly strip them apart.
Ruthlessness, a greed for power, the art of betrayal.
They were perhaps the greatest lessons I learned from my angel- lessons that now, in this time, this world, I know were the ones she would have disliked my learning the most.
Author: Anon Masako
Email: sandryrose85@yahoo.com
Rating: PG/PG-13
Disclaimer: I own the 'angel' in this story, as well as the idea that this portrays. I, however, do not own Nakago or any of his co-horts, or the concept of Fushigi Yuugi.
Author's Notes: This is a side story to a fic I am currently working on. The prologue should be out in the next couple of weeks. This side-story will make sense once I get several chapters in, I promise.
Well, I would appreciate it if you would tell me what you thing of it!
~~~
I once had an angel.
When I was a boy, not long after taken to the emperor's palace, an angel visited me at night. She wasn't one of the court concubines, or one of the officials' wives, or a servant. I don't know what she was- I just knew she was there.
The nights when the guards escorted me back from the emperor's chambers- those were the nights she came most frequently.
She was young in appearance, a whirlwind of emerald silk and embroidered brocade, an ephemeral creature in gauzy veils. Her hair swirled loosely around her, the color blending with her clothing: all of her a rich emerald, a shining, pure jewel in the corrupt tapestry that was the palace.
But her eyes... they were a soft, celestial shade that was an echo of the lavender of the dawn sky.
That was my angel. On the nights when I had been abused by the emperor, she would come and hold me gently, crooning a soft lullaby as I wept in shame and fear. She would talk to me once I had finished crying; things such as why the sky was blue, where my mother was now, the taste of fresh berries and fruits. She would subtly teach me about kindness and the endurance of the human spirit, of the respect we should bestow on all living creatures. I was happiest when she was, so it was my mission to make her smile. On these nights I felt safe, protected- innocent.
Innocent.
At that age I was no longer truly innocent- I had seen my mother raped and slaughtered. I had been molested by the ruler of the country. But my angel made me forget these things. She chased away the bad dreams with soft words, the menacing shadows in the corners with the glimmering light of her presence. She did her best to maintain what childlike innocence was within me.
Knowing that she would come was enough to keep me hopeful day after day, enough to keep me... human.
On the last day I saw her, her beautiful eyes were haunted like the prey of a tiger that stalked relentlessly closer. It wasn't until I looked back in this life on that day- our last day- that I noticed this detail.
I never saw her again in my time in Kutou. And, as time went by, I lost the hope and warmth her influence had impressed upon me. I forgot the lessons she had taught me. I became Seiryuu no Seishi Nakago, a heartless warrior. I felt she had betrayed me. Left me in my time of greatest need.
Thus I went about betraying others: my fellow seishi, and my miko. They became pawns in my game for power.
Perhaps, if she had stayed, I would have been a better person. I wouldn't have seen people as pawns. I might have fallen in love with her. I could have been happy.
I would occasionally awake in my bed in Kutou and would see a wisp of green silk, a flash of lavender eyes, softly murmured words of comfort. But they would dissipate and all I would be able to see was the wine color of Soi's hair, all I could hear was the light sound of her breathing. Threads of past memories tried to weave themselves back together, and I would ruthlessly strip them apart.
Ruthlessness, a greed for power, the art of betrayal.
They were perhaps the greatest lessons I learned from my angel- lessons that now, in this time, this world, I know were the ones she would have disliked my learning the most.
