"Kero-chan! Tadaima!" The girl with honey brown short hair and dazzling pools of spring green shimmered with excitement as she pounced onto her bed happily. Tossing a bag carelessly onto the bed she hummed to her self, ignoring the little yellow guardian monopolizing her Nintendo 64.
Keroberos didn't look up as he kept his 'game face' firmly plastered on his stuffed animal countenance. "Okaeri! Did you have fun shopping?" Sakura looked at the screen and giggled softly reminding the little sun guardian of crystalline bells in a gentle breeze.
"It was great Kero-chan! I bought the début CD for Estrella today!" Stars seemed to dance in her eyes as she pulled the pressure object from the bag gently. "Wai! Want to hear it?"
Still not looking up Kero smiled inwardly at her excitement. "Hai! Let me just win this race!"
The small teen laughed and pulled the CD from it's wrapper and trotted enthusiastically to her CD player and inserted it carefully. Pressing the play button the nearly angelic voice and perfectly rhythmic music filtered from the speakers into her ears. "Kirie na…"
Miraculously, Kero paused his game in order to listen in a state of awe. "Hey Sakura-chan! That lady almost sounds like an angel! I approve!" Standing up beside the controller he put his paws on his hips happily. "I actually like this music better than the junk you normally buy!"
Sakura frowned and launched a pillow at him that he narrowly dodged and instantly started to complain about guardian abuse. "Kero-chan! If you think that is guardian abuse try this one!" She grinned playfully and tried to sound as if she were in authority. "No sweets for a week!"
"Oh man! That's cold kid! You can't mean that!" Kero seemed to pale as she saw her laugh enjoying her self too much in his opinion. "It's not funny Sakura-chan!"
Finally stopping she smiled and gave him a warm look that informed him that she was merely joking. Still smiling she watched him un-pause his game and put his look of determination back on his face. Turning to the window she looked out at the night sky. She didn't quite know what it was, but the songs and their words seemed to say more if you really listened to it. There was a high degree of melancholy that Sakura could feel in the girl's voice as she sang that made her want to shiver. The stars were shining brightly tonight and she loved the warmth she felt from seeing them.
Simple things always seemed to bring a smile to her lips; such as small animals, her guardians, friends, nature, and most of all her Syaoran-kun. Silently she wondered to herself if the girl singing the song felt the same way or whether just maybe, her pain was blocking out all of those little joys. Taking a deep breath she shook her head. I wish I could meet her… and maybe even cheer her up…
~*~
Running out on to the stage she felt the rush of adrenaline that flared through her veins like liquid hot fire. Here they were again, but this time they were in London and she'd never been there before. Their manager had told them that he'd been begged to do this show and in the end relented. Taking a deep breath she gripped her wireless microphone careful not to turn it on. The lights were shining all about the crowd as they chattered endlessly waiting for the three girls to make their appearance.
Solis looked to her side where Naisumi shifted slightly in worry. Whispering to her, a small smile crossed over her normally serious face. "Don't be nervous… I don't think we could really mess up." The small girl smiled back in agreement and nodded. Turning to her other side she watched Sadira stand there quietly unmoving. She seemed so vulnerable in that moment making Solis wish she could hug her. But, in deed that would be unlike her and she refrained. The only one out of three who didn't wear a headset, she always insisted on wearing a hat. Sadira had mentioned the hats before the performance and the conversation made her smile.
/ "Solis, if you wear all of Subaru's clothes… why do you always give your hats to the crowd? I don't think I could do that with such a precious item." The blonde frowned solemnly having a very valid point.
"Actually… I don't wear any of his hats. I only wear those for photo shoots or the music video coming up. I buy extra hats for performances." She smiled minutely at her blonde friend as the realization hit her. "I'm amazed you even noticed."
"Are you saying I'm dense or something?" Fuming slightly, Naisumi and Solis couldn't help but laugh and shake their heads.
"No… I'm not… Just saying that I didn't think you'd see how much the clothes mean to me…" The sad look returned and the subject was forever dropped. /
Soon the instruments began to play cuing their entrance. As if a button had been pushed they ran to the center of the stage just as the lights came on. Just to the front, Solis fashioned a black leather jacket and pants, though both were dull and hardly caught the light. The hunter green oxford beneath it was the only color to be seen since she once more had a black circular style hat covering her eyes and hair.
To stay in somewhat uniform, both of the other girls wore the same type of form fitting leather slacks topped off with perfectly formed shirts that were sleeveless. Sadira sported a soft blue shirt where her dark haired friend wore a deep maroon. All smiled at the crowd as the music moved into motion pulling them along with it. This time the choreography was done much more elaborately bringing the cheers of all that watched.
"I don't want to know where things go from here…" Instantly striking a pose gripping the brim of her hat for a moment with her gloved hand she received a round of cheering from the fans present. Smiling her best stage smile that she knew wasn't normally like this off stage. "I don't want to admit how I feel when you're near…"
The other two hummed and cooed in perfect sync with her words as they all dropped into some sort of acrobatic type dance that put the people in awe. "You can't keep leading me on…" Ending up in her knees she continued to sing while shaking her head in a meaningful way to coincide with the words. "Please just stop before I'm too-far gone…" Taking a dramatic approach she gripped at her heart with her free hand. "Don't you even care?"
The words hit her hard once again just as they always had whenever she sang them while her friends echoed her with their own words. "Maybe you don't…"
Almost as if she were crying from her heart she called out her next line. "It just isn't fair!"
"Life never is…" It never is… it's not… Choking she felt the need to cry that she swallowed instantly.
* Three years… It's been three years. Subaru-kun… why are you acting so cold? You… you weren't like this. Hokuto-san wouldn't like this. Why do you want to forget her Subaru-kun? Not all memories are meant to torment you… I don't want to forget her. Looking with shadowed eyes of pine green at the boy she swore to care for even with her dying breath. Somehow the handsome young man seemed so unearthly. Almost like a spirit or perhaps even a wraith. Hokuto-san would freak at the mere sight of him. Scampering a bit faster she shoved her waist length chestnut hair behind her shoulders. "Subaru-kun! Please wait for me!"
The nineteen year old slowed his pace minutely but didn't look back at her. "Gomen." That was all she ever heard from him. It seemed that words were lost to him and all that occupied his mind was how he was going to end the conflict between him and Seishirou. Lady Sumeragi had even fooled her self to believe that Subaru wanted him dead. Solis sighed softly and attempted to fall in step with him.
It was all wishful thinking of course. Solis knew what was in the depths of her precious Subaru-kun's heart. He wanted to die just as his sister had, at the same hands as well. Biting back the tears, she wanted so desperately to bring him back to life. "Subaru-kun… I miss you."
The boy instantly stopped and turned on his heel to face her with dark foreboding eyes of green. "What do you mean by that?"
Shocked her self she attempted to find the suitable words. Meanwhile, the wind curled her silk like brown hair in it's gentle grasp, her deep sparkling jade eyes danced in desperation. Subaru sighed to himself as he looked at her. She was so innocent. Innocent like he had been. Why did she even bother staying with him he wondered? The angelic child would be better off back in Kyoto at the Sumeragi estate, instead she begged and pleaded to stay with him. On her own accord she cooked and cleaned for him doing everything possible to keep him in good health. "You're… not the same… you don't talk anymore to me… you don't even try to take care of yourself. Hokuto-san…" She stopped and he found him self, wondering why. For once he had actually been interested in what she had to say.
/How could you let this happen? / The ice-cold words of accusation froze her in mid sentence. What right had she to say the charming deceased girl's name? "Nani desu ka?"
"Nani mo… gomen." He could almost see the tears welling up at the corners of her eyes. Part of him begged to just hug her and say it was ok, while the realistic side told him she had to grow up someday. Realism won and he just turned toward the school again.
Longingly her eyes never left his back until he disappeared in the opposite direction, accomplishing the task of taking her to school. Turning slightly she walked toward her elementary school and tried not to think about the pain she felt. It was so unreal. As she walked she felt something watching her. Looking about like a flighty deer being hunted, she searched for the source. There before her in a dark corner of the building was a group of boys from the grade just above her all smirking as they gazed upon her. Shivering she tried to ignore them as she walked on in hopes they'd leave her be, but the hopes were useless.
The biggest of the group of five grabbed her shoulder roughly and yanked her back causing her books to fall to the ground. "Itai! Let me go!" In truth she wasn't surprised that he didn't listen to her. Who would really? She was just a small child that looked older than she should. Another boy raveled his hand in her long silken hair and yanked hard causing her to fell to the ground.
"You're so cute and innocent…" The boy sneered into her ear causing her to yearn for the tears to be released. "It makes me sick." With that they dragged her into the shadows just beyond the building and with sheer hatred in their hearts, they stripped her of dignity and even her innocence.
Perhaps it had been hours since it had happened. She wasn't really sure; all she knew was that she'd refused to cry. Curled into a ball, the uniform jacket no longer had a sleeve and a few of the buttons had been completely torn off. The black pleated skirt was no better off with it's many spider web like rips. Breathing shallowly, she made no move to escape her fetal position on the cold ground. Her normally smooth hair was matted and knotted taking away its once shiny tones. Now… I'm worth no more than the dirt, which I lay upon. Clenching her teeth she still wouldn't allow the tears to come.
Suddenly the bells rang notifying that it was time for lunch. It had been half a day. No one looked for her, and no one worried about where she could have been. Breathing in deeply she finally rose to her feet and tried her best not to be noticed as she ran away. She ran so hard that her body ached in sheer agony. Upon reaching the flat her and Subaru were staying in, she looked for her key but didn't find it. Iya! Nani kuso! It's not fair…
Curling up by the door she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Subaru would be home soon and she'd have to find some excuse as to what she was doing home so early and why she looked like she'd been beaten to a bloody pulp. She wouldn't tell him that that was indeed the truth. He wouldn't have cared anyway. Would he?
Subaru walked down the hall silently returning home from training only to find Solis curled into a crumpled ball at their door. Gritting his teeth he couldn't stop the urge to slam his fist into the wall in anger. Unfortunately for the wall, it had no chance and his fist went straight through. At the noise, the tiny child stirred and sat up blinking at him tiredly. Instantly her hazy green eyes fell onto his fist and the trails of crimson running down its contours. "Subaru-kun… You're hurt."
The older teen arched a brow at her slightly due to the irony of her words. There she sat before him covered in cuts and bruises, not even mentioning her tattered clothing. Taking a deep breath he unlocked the door and stooped down to lift her into his arms. Today… I can't think of my pain… His forehead crinkled slightly as he looked at her sad face intently. "I'll be ok." *
"I guess you'll never even relent…" She almost sighed as she forced her self to keep singing. Why did that memory surface? She had tried everything to forget that day. You didn't say anything that entire night… I knew you wouldn't care… I felt… so worthless… Returning to her dance she amazingly never missed a step. Taking on a hopeful look she pressed on. "But I'd give everything to see you repent…"
Repent. Such a strong word. Did she really want to see Subaru break down and ask for forgiveness? No. Why would she? After all, his personality now was all due to the loss of his sister. And inevitably that was her fault. "I can't understand why you do this…" She didn't understand anything and that's what hurt her the most. She'd be home soon. She'd have to face him again. But now, she had changed as well. That was the day that I lost my fragile innocence. Did you even realize it? "I can't believe I was so careless…"
That was true. She was ultimately too careless and had seen her self as invincible. It was a bad move. "But you didn't even care…" The pain and shamefulness spread over her face as she crumpled onto her knees and hugged her self tightly in a dramatic way. It was amazing how well she could display body language.
"Didn't think you would…" The clear voices around her made her smile as she bowed her head.
"Your smile so rare…" Tilting forward more, the hat gracefully flipped down into her waiting hands and the crowd began to scream loudly. The river of perfect chestnut her pooled about her face and shoulders like a shroud sparkling in the fake lighting.
"Won't smile for me…" You stopped smiling after that man betrayed you… You stopped smiling for an eternity when Hokuto-san died… You're not the only one who misses her… But I understand how much it hurts… We both lost someone we loved… No… two people we loved… You were gone from that day on… I lost you forever didn't I?
* The next day Subaru searched madly for the small ten year old girl that had vanished from the apartment before he'd awaken. He'd entered the kitchen to see a table set for one and his breakfast in that spot. The chair she'd normally sat in was empty and he knew it had been all morning. She wasn't the only thing missing, the money she kept in her room was gone and her dress uniforms were thrown recklessly about littering her normally clean room. At that sight he had ran to the door and out of the building.
With hurried steps he ran down the side walk desperately seeking her presence. Stretching his senses he went beyond his means in order to find the power that radiated off of her in its familiar throb of warm power. Solis-chan… Where are you…?
Solis felt him, he was drawing closer to her and she wondered why he was even looking for her. It was easy to tell what his intentions were. Being around him so much and knowing the Sumeragi ways had taught her how to read his actions rather well. Sighing softly she ignored the feeling and looked up at the blooming Sakura tree. "I hate you…"
"Aw… you hate me?" Spinning about she saw the man she had hoped to see. There before her in Ueno Park was the Sakurazukamori. Anger seemed to seep from her every pore as she stared at him with an icy look.
"Seishirou…" Clenching her fist, she watched the carefully placed smile on his face turn into a frown. "How could you be so cold? You're not even human!"
"How did I know you'd say something like that fire cracker?" The smirk on his face caused her skin to crawl and a flash of fear entered her as he reached to pull off his sunglasses and reveal his mismatched eyes. "I could almost hear you calling me. I do hope I didn't waste my time answering that call." She looked into his sparkling brown eye, then at the fogged glass eye carefully.
"Don't talk to me like you're my friend… and you have no right to call me anything but my name." Sneering at him, she fought the urge to cry. "I have to know! Why did you kill Hokuto-san?"
The man smiled innocently and shrugged slightly. "She asked me to. Is that all firecracker? By the way… I love the new haircut. Did you trade your skirts in for slacks as well?" The grin on his face seemed to twist sadistically. "And the cuts and bruises… very interesting…"
Instinctively a hand reached up to the boyish haircut she now wore. The short feathery strands seemed to dance in the wind, as she never once looked away from him. That's when she noticed it. The faint scent of Hokuto-san's magic that rested solely on him. Looking a bit deeper she could almost read the last words she uttered before she died. Gasping she looked at him curiously. "My condition is none of your concern. Not that you're concerned…"
Slowly he walked over to the black clad girl and touched the cut trailing across her cheek before leaning close to whisper in her ear. "You can sense it can't you…? Tell me firecracker… do you want to make a bet? You seem like you'd be a blast to play with…"
She jumped slightly and felt a haze fall over her coming from his closeness. Every part of her ached and wished to yank away, but something stopped her and she couldn't move. "N…n…n-no…"
Suddenly Seishirou pulled back and looked to the side with what seemed to be glee. "Well, well… if it isn't Subaru…" The older man smiled and pulled out a cigarette. "What do you think… maybe she'll prove more interesting for me…" Softly he slipped his hand to the back of her neck then yanked her to him while intertwining his fingers in her rich brown hair.
Subaru nearly fell at the sight before him. Solis was staring up at Seishirou blankly trying her best to convince her body to move away, but instead, she fell against him limply. "Seishirou-san! What have you done to her?"
Seishirou laughed at the boy's anger and surprise, but he chose to ignore it and taunt him. "What do you think of firecracker's new look Subaru-kun?" The hand with the cigarette smoothed over her bruised cheek softly and into her short hair causing Subaru to quiver in anger.
Looking at her prone form against the man he had at one time cared about more than anything made him feel as though he were going to throw up. "Let her go Seishirou-san… This doesn't concern her…"
Peering down at her he smiled. "Hear that firecracker? He doesn't like your new look." The sarcastic tone burned deep into Subaru as he fought the urge to attack Seishirou blindly ignoring the fact that he could hurt her in the process.
Solis blinked twice trying to process the words then her face contorted with pain at the thought of being rejected by Subaru. Tears made trails down her cheeks as a sob escaped her lips causing Subaru to finally lose his control. "LET HER GO!" In sheer anger he threw out three ofudos that turned into silvery white birds and attacked Seishirou.
Caught off guard he dropped her form to the ground and glared at Subaru. "Don't be so angry Subaru-kun… after all… she did call for me." With an evil grin he disappeared in a flurry of pink Sakura petals leaving the crying girl on the ground.
Gathering her up into his arms he cradled her trembling form against him. Sadly he ran his fingers through her now short hair and shook his head. Why… were you trying to leave me too? No longer was she the beautiful girl that she'd been before, but almost like a really pretty boy. She wore a boy school uniform and her now short hair only highlighted the appeal. Shaking his head he lifted her gently and let her cry into his shoulder as he walked back to the apartment. *
That was stupid in the first place. If nothing else, Seishirou had a point. Subaru wasn't interested in her and he never would be. Gripping the hat tightly she raised her head to stare blankly out at the crowd the exhaustion in her eyes easily seen. "I'm tired of all these lies you tell me…" Lies… When had he lied to her? Suddenly, the song no longer made sense and she felt lost. "They're getting so thick I can't even breathe…" True… but they weren't his lies. They were the lies she told to her self-everyday trying to convince herself that he actually cared.
"I'm sick of crying over you…" Tears, they were an abundant substance that she didn't want to allow to happen any more. When was the last time she cried? It was so long ago. "Why can't I just say I'm through?" Jumping to her feet she threw the hat into the raging crowd at her excellent display of emotions only to smile as a girl nearly fainted as it fell into her hands.
"I'm giving it up…" She'd given it up a long time ago. Isn't that why she was here now instead of there?
"Did you hear?" Something told her as she listened to her friends that he had and she shouldn't be giving up like she had planned to.
"I'm so messed up…" Understatement of the year… Rolling her eyes she continued to dance in step with her two comrades.
"Can't take anymore…" All three at once shook they're heads sending intricate fans of silk to halo each of their heads. Why is it… that music seems to remind me… of everything?
* Lady Sumeragi looked steadily at Solis as she moved her hand over the ofuda slowly as if to gain a feel for the object beneath her fingers. A look of sheer concentration was on the pre-teens perfectly contoured face. "I… can't feel… it Sumeragi-baasan…"
"You're not trying hard enough." The old woman seemed to be glaring at the child before her. "You're 12 years old and your powers aren't growing as they should. What is wrong?"
Solis dropped her head in shame and shook it in sadness. "I… can't clear my mind of so many of my thoughts." Rubbing at her eyes gently she fought the urge to cry.
"You're emotions." The refined lady frowned at the young girl in the shinfuku. "I was asked to raise you so that you understand what you are capable of. Is it really so hard?"
Suddenly she couldn't take it anymore. "Sumeragi-baasan… I… I'm hurting… so deeply." Tears streamed down her cheeks in torrents as she stared at the twelfth head of the family.
"Ever since I agreed to allow you to live with Subaru…" The lady lowered her head sadly shaking it. "You've been literally worthless. You've digressed instead of progressed."
It hurt to hear those words. So very deeply. Never had Lady Sumeragi come down so hard on her in all the years she'd been alive. "Gomen nesai Sumeragi-baasan."
"Forget it. Let's try again. This time, focus." Solis nodded and looked down at the slip of paper that she would have to turn into a shikigami.
Placing her hands together over the ofuda, she clasped them together while allowing her thumb and index fingers to be pressed together and out stretched. Softly mumbling the incantations she thought about how the Lady Sumeragi had been right. This was her fault for slacking so much. She should have been at the Sumeragi estate studying under the previous head. Instead, she attended a private school in Tokyo while living with Subaru. Determination flooded into her heart as the flood of power flooded into the paper. "HA!"
Instantly a white bird of pure light was formed from the slip of paper and hovered before her. Her eyes were glowing a soft green as she looked at the animal without blinking. "Very good Solis-chan…"
Turning her head slowly she looked at the old woman with her blank eyes causing the bird to do the same. Slowly she out reached a hand to the bird and it lighted her arm gently. With a slight nod, Solis looked back at the bird and smiled at it softly. At that moment, Subaru walked in quietly and stopped dead in his tracks. Staring at the bird he felt a streak of pride in his heart over her accomplishment. As the smile crossed over his face, she reached out and gently slid a finger over its chest. To his surprise the light in her eyes seemed to drain and travel into the pure light bird and cause it to become a real living and breathing bird. Gasping, he couldn't believe his eyes.
The old woman smiled placidly and nodded her head. "So you have figured out your power more than you show. Very good. Take a rest and we'll try it again later with two." Lady Sumeragi turned and saw her grandson in the doorway. For a moment she seemed disturbed over his seeing it, but her expression fell. "Subaru-kun… A favor… From now on… help her in her study of the onmyouji."
Silently he nodded, unable to say anything at all. Solis smiled sadly and moved her arm slightly sending the bird into flight. In moments it had traveled to his shoulder and was chirping lightly in his ear. Breathing out softly in amazement he touched the soft feathers. "How…?"
The young girl smiled at Subaru, never once dropping her look of melancholy. "Even if I'm tainted… I'll always be the representative of life." She watched the confusion cross his face, but put up a finger to stop him from questioning. "All in time Subaru-kun… You'll understand someday." *
Smiling to herself, she was glad that the memory was easier to handle than the ones before as she started to put more effort into her steps. Her green eyes glittered at the memory of her first triumph in her ability to breath life into something that didn't have it. "I'm sorry that I was so naïve…" But all children are at some point…
"But someday I'll make you see…" Suddenly she remembered what her intent was in this song. Even with all of the melancholy, she had sworn she wasn't going to give up so easily. "I won't be following after you…" The line nearly caused her to laugh as the shine in her eyes intensified. "I won't hang on all you say and do."
Sadira and Naisumi highlighted the proclamation with an assertive "mm um" in an attempt to give her an even bigger boost.
The life flowed back into her limbs as she brought her steps closer and closer to perfection. It was all starting to make sense. She could mope and cry all she liked, but Subaru would always be a big part of her life. "But you know it's a lie!"
"I'm so sorry…"
"I don't want to cry!" Twirling about avidly she beamed at her fans as the adrenaline pounded in her veins.
"Please come back…"
I'm coming back to you Subaru-kun…
* The fourteen year old ran to catch up with Subaru as he walked to his next commissioned job. "Subaru! Let me come with you!"
"Lis-chan… Don't you have other things you should be doing?" Seeming agitated, he never once looked at her.
"I just want to help! Plus it would be good practice for me. I don't want Sumeragi-baasan to be angry with me again…" Suddenly she grew quiet causing him to look at her curiously.
"Nani desu ka?" Subaru arched a slender brow at her slightly in question.
"She… wants me to come back." Sadly she dropped her head letting the chin length brown hair drape forward into her face.
"Naze?" His shadowed emerald eyes went wide at the thought of her leaving his home.
"She says I'm not learning enough here. That I have a lot to cover before I can even begin to think of slacking off… Subaru-kun… will you be ok without me?" Worried eyes of forest green stared up at him in worry as he allowed a smile to curl his lips. It was something that he rarely allowed to happen in the last seven years.
"Hai… It will be hard. But I assure you that I'll manage. I'll miss your company more than anything." The girl smiled at him broadly before launching toward him and hugging his neck. "I would like it very much if you accompanied me today." His soft voice was gentle as he cautiously returned her hug.
"Just remember Subaru-kun… You have to eat three times a day or more and drink some green tea at least once! And please try to dress nicely, it's good for your health if you do." Subaru laughed extremely softly as he hugged her tighter.
"Aa… everyday you seem to be more and more like Neesan. Thank you Lis-chan… for helping me to get through these years…" Suddenly he jumped at the feel of her tears seeping through his thin white t-shirt. "Nani? Daijoubu?"
"Hai… I'll just… miss you…"
"I'll miss you too. But you can come visit." With tears in her eyes she looked up at him slowly.
"Honto ni?"
"Hai… Honto…" With that, he wiped her tears away and they started their walk together with no more words. *
"I'm still running in your wake." The funny thing was, this line was true in many ways. He was now, both the Sumeragi head and the Sakurazukamori. How could he do it? All of the power, and half of it being light and the other half dark. She was surprised it hadn't torn him apart. "My whole heart is at stake…" It had always been at stake she thought. From the first day she had moved in with him. Even knowing that he blamed her for Hokuto-san's death, she still did all she could to take care of him just as she would have done.
"I'd give it all up just for you." Yes she would have. She would have broken all of the rules if only to make Subaru happy. But she was lucky that she didn't have to. "Just don't tell me that we're through." Spinning about she struck another pose that left her shoulder length hair almost completely in her eyes, also bringing about the mad cries of the people watching her.
Then once more the responsive lines occurred and she relished the words on her tongue as they came out in a melody. "I can't even live on…"
"I feel so weak…"
She'd always felt weak when it came to him, but now, life was pumping in her blood and she didn't know why. "To you forever drawn…"
"Why do I love you?"
Now there was the question of the century. Why do I? Sighing softly she kept her smile perfectly on her face as they drew closer to the final stretch of their song.
* The slender teen stood poised perfectly on the high pole watching the battle before her. A long white cape like material swirled around her nipping at her form as the wind ripped her shoulder length chestnut hair through the air relentlessly. Thoughts cascaded in her head causing her body to ache. A small hand brushed the hair behind her ears as something else white and feathery spread into the air behind her. Looking closely one would realize that they were truly a pair of magnificent pearl white wings with an extremely impressive wingspan. Turning her head to gaze at the people trying to get to the fight, her pale green eyes glimmered in the fading sunlight. Though, her eyes weren't normal. The usually rounded black pupil was now stretched into a slit like a cat and was the color of sterling silver.
A group was running after a small slender boy with ebony black hair trying to keep him from interfering with the fight just up ahead. Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he called out to one of the men that was deep into combat within the spiritual barrier. Smiling sorrowfully she knew what the young boy was feeling and she nearly envied him. Where she was sentenced to merely watch, were it not for his friends, he could at least try to help.
Looking back at the conflict tears threatened to come but were bit back as usual. "Subaru-kun… Please… please don't give up like this…" Shaking her head, the silvery white wings twitched in anticipation. Suddenly she caught sight of two men tackling the slender boy that was crying and somehow restrained him. "So that's the Kamui… I didn't expect him to be so emotional."
Kamui wriggled in their hold, but the emotions made him far too weak to escape them. "Sora-kun! Aoki-san! Let me go! Subaru-san! I have to help Subaru-san!"
The younger of the two men yelled back desperately trying to keep his hold on the other. "Man Kamui-kun! Sumeragi-san can handle this on his own! There's nothing you can do! The Sakurazukamori is too strong for you!"
"I don't care Sora-kun! I have to go to him!" Kamui cried out in sheer agony that made the winged girl flinch.
Whispering to the wind, she looked at Seishirou and Subaru in the distance. "I know… how he feels… Remember Subaru-kun…" Looking back at Kamui she sighed. "Even if I'm not worth living for… at least Kamui-san will be there. People do need you…"
Suddenly the air grew thicker causing her to choke. A spell was being cast, and it reeked of a magic that she knew all too well. "Hokuto-san!" It was the remnants of Hokuto that she had sensed on Seishirou all those years ago, and something had triggered it. Taking to the air she flew toward Sunset Bridge with a sense of urgency when she heard the gentle words in her ears.
"Solis-chan… I told you… I wouldn't let that man have my brother… please… take care of him." With that, the girl's voice faded and Solis stopped in mid air.
"Hokuto-chan… even in death you protected him… Subaru-kun…" Diving downward toward the river she lighted down on the shore searching the water for her precious Sumeragi-san. After a while her eyes finally laid upon his beaten form at the water's edge. Cautiously she folded her wings on her back and approached him quietly. The gentle energy she had known to be him was now distorted with the evil radiance of the Sakurazukamori. Gathering him into her arms she found that she wasn't afraid.
As his eyes opened, she gasped at the site of only one deep green eye. "Subaru-kun…"
Blinking at her tiredly he almost smiled. "Lissy-chan… I… I'm… why?"
Hugging him close she shook her head. "I think you know more than you think…"
"I am…" Suddenly fear was etched in his eyes and he attempted to pull away.
"No… it's ok… It doesn't matter who you are… I'll still care for you. Just rest." Tiredly his eyes closed and his breaths slowly began to calm. In one fluid motion she kissed his forehead lightly and sent a jolt of life back into his limp form. "You'll be ok Subaru-kun… I'll never leave you…" *
"Forever the sun chases the moon…" You were always hard to get through to Subaru-kun, but I never gave up did I?
Sadira and Naisumi responded softly while keeping an eye on their seemingly distant friend. "I live on in your shadow…"
Yeah, that was it. I'm just a mere shadow of your brilliance. "Won't catch you anytime soon…"
"Just don't forget me…"
"Just want to be with you…" Solis smiled even broader as the music began to slow. She would be patient, and she would accept whatever curves life had to give, no matter how hard they would be.
"Let me reflect your light…"
The moon always reflects the sun. I suppose that's what you are to me. You are my sun. "Just to tell you I love you…"
Almost in a hummed whisper her friends closed off the song with a flourish of final steps and perfectly in tune voices. "You keep running away…" The lights slowly began to fade bringing a smile to Solis' face as she closed her eyes and just listened to them. "Always running away…"
Suddenly her eyes opened and she finished the song with her soft call that resembled a small songbird in the spring. "Away from me…"
* Standing on the rim of Tokyo Tower, her wide spring green eyes highlighted in silver stared at the slender boy before her. Her soul was torn to shreds from feeling the death of each dragon of heaven. She even felt the pain of a few of the seals that had perished. The ones that had seemed to have doubts over their works. Staring at Kamui silently out of his vision, she wasn't sure if he could sense her or not. All she knew was that her heart was on the verge of dead from the loss of Subaru, but she also knew that could change if only she could convince Kamui that life was worth it, and what he had done was also worth it.
Stepping from the shadows she ignored the pang in her heart as she watched him hold onto the head of his best friend crying. How she wished she could ease that pain. Tugging on the black kimono beneath her white dress cape, she attempted to find her voice. "Kam…. Kamu… Kamui-san…"
The boy merely continued to cry not even heeding her words. She wanted to cry with him, wanted to heal his heart, but she knew it wasn't possible to bring Fuma back, nor even poor Kotori. Fuma had lost his soul and Kotori was broken in two making it impossible to piece the halves together again. Taking a deep breath she folded her wings closely against her back and kneeled beside his quivering form. "Gomen nesai Kamui-san… I wish… I could bring them back for you…"
Suddenly eyes of blue indigo looked up at her for the first time with a mixture of pain and anger in them. "What do you know? Why do you even care?"
Smiling as warmly as she could she didn't notice the tears traveling down her porcelain cheek and the look of confusion it incurred upon him. "Because… I lost someone dear to me as well. The only one I thought I would ever love… I know what it feels like. I lost his sister as well."
Suddenly realization seemed to hit him hard. "You loved Subaru-san?"
"Hai… I did… I do…" Reaching out a hand to him she didn't expect what came next.
The boy fell into her arms and cried against her in waves. Bloodstains began to appear on her snow-white cape but she didn't pay attention to them. Instead she just hugged him close and enclosed her wings about them. "I'm all alone! I don't want to be alone! Naze? Uso! Uso!"
Caressing his dark hair gently she just closed her eyes and rocked him gently. "Kamui-san… Daijoubu… You're not alone… I'll stay with you…"
The young teen rose slightly to look up at her. "You're beautiful… Are you an angel?"
"Hai… I am the executioner… and because you won… I am the angel of life… I will heal those who have been lost. Though…" Sadness filled her eyes and she began to cry dropping her forehead against his. "Gomen Kamui-san! I failed! I couldn't bring Kotori back! I can't even bring Fuma back! Gomen!"
Suddenly he hugged her tight and they cried together for the longest time before he calmed down and just lay in her embrace silently. "It's ok… they would have liked it this way… I don't want them to realize the pain that has occurred. But I was right… wasn't I? I did the right thing… Didn't I? They both loved this world… and I saved it…"
Sniffing softly, she finally mustered a smile. "Hai… you did the right thing. They are very proud of you." Brushing his bangs from his eyes she only smiled. "Want to bring the seals back now?"
"You can do that?" Wide eyes of indigo violet widened in excitement as she nodded to him. "Yes! Bring them back."
"Hai…" Smiling lightly she leaned forward and kissed his forehead with the lightness that could rival a feather. In that instant the entire area seemed to light up in pure white light, a light that brought warmth and healing. It was the herald of the new age where humanity was granted the right to live on. She had fulfilled her first purpose, and she had brought back the man she loved more than life itself. *
TBC…
