Yume no Eien (Eternity of Dreams)
by Katie
Disclaimer: Miyu, Larva, and their whole world do not belong to me. Nor do Hari, Ruri, or anything else Nadesico-ish. Gomen, I know these shows have two completely different feels, but this is what happens when a Hari fanatic watches Vampire Princess Miyu for hours on end. *sigh*
Author's Note: Warning-suicide, character death. Not pleasant stuff. Ruri might be a little OOC-we (or at least I)'ve never seen how she reacts to the deaths of loved ones, so I'm going out on a limb. And this might move a little fast-my long stories tend to be choppy. *winces* Oh, and while I realize Ruri's eyes are more a cat-gold than a Miyu-gold, for my purposes they're the same color.
Welcome to the new, revamped (minorly) prologue! ^_^ Many thanks to Angel for her kind review. *hugz*
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Hari stared down at the river, watching the current with detached fascination. He had always loved water; he never learned to swim, but as a child would stare at the nearby lake for hours on end until somebody noticed and returned him to his work. It filled him with a sense of peace, a gentle reminder that the world did not center on him alone. It seemed only fitting that water would bring him his eternal rest.
He took a breath, then hesitantly stepped up onto the ledge. His feet trembled, his entire body shook; heights terrified him, perhaps because he was so small.
I don't have to fear heights anymore, he told himself. I don't have to worry about not measuring up, or doing my job right, or whether I've pleased her...
Her. He shook his head. He wouldn't think about her. If he did he'd chicken out, go running back to be her miserable little puppy, constantly used, always ignored.
One more step and I won't have to love her anymore...
What are you doing?
Hari started and stumbled back, falling back onto the bridge with a painful thud. A girl was seated on the ledge; where she came from, he didn't know. He had been alone a moment before-he had made sure of it!
W-who are you? he asked, ignoring her question.
Gracefully the girl jumped onto the bridge. Watching her, Hari felt like he was witnessing a dream. Her white kimono seemed to be made of moonlight, the ribbon in her hair a stream of blood, and her eyes... she had Ruri's eyes.
Why do you desire death, Hari? she asked. The young boy was too wrapped up in her eyes, Ruri's eyes, to wonder how she knew his name.
Nobody else wants me, he answered slowly, as if in a trance. Death seems to be the only one who cares.
The girl knelt beside him, raising a delicate hand to softly caress his cheek.
Somebody has hurt you a great deal, hasn't she? she said, her voice the gentle whisper of a summer breeze. Hari nodded dumbly. She uses you, but never thanks you, never shows any sign of pleasure. She is cold to you, but you can't hate her, no matter how much you want to, because she's so perfect and you're not.
Tears welled up in Hari's eyes as he nodded again. Agony tore his heart anew, ripping open festering wounds. The girl's eyes softened as she saw the pain in his face.
Death will bring you sleep, but it may not bring peace, she said. I can give you what you seek.
Her canines began to elongate.
Will you take what I give?
Hari nodded, his heart already filled with a strange sense of peace. The girl smiled at him faintly, warmly, then tilted his head to expose his neck and lowered her face to drink. He felt a slight prick of pain as she broke skin, but was soon lost in the feeding. He closed his eyes, feeling himself drift away. He was filled with contentment.
HARI!
It was Ruri. She sounded worried, but that was no matter. He'd open his eyes in a minute, and smile at her for caring, and her eyes would soften, and she'd smile back at him, that soft, special smile that made him feel like nothing could ever go wrong.
Miyu looked up when she heard her prey's name called; a young teenager in a captain's uniform stood at the other end of the bridge, eyes wide with horror. Eyes that looked just like her own. They locked gazes, and Miyu knew instantly that this girl was the reason for her feeding. This was the girl the boy had loved.
Miyu wiped the blood from her lips, and gently lowered Hari to the ground. Standing gracefully, she stepped backwards and vanished into the shadows.
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