Title:
Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: G/ PG 13+
Chapter: 1- A Place To Call Home

Darien walked across the road with his hands in his pockets. The laughing sounds of little children could be heard coming from the park, in the direction he was walking to. He looked around and slowly but steadily walked to his favourite place in the park. The red rose gardens, which were now covered with pure white snow and frost. Darien sighed, causing a white puff of condensation to escape his lips and fade away into the cold air. He was about to take a seat on the snow-covered park bench when he noticed out of the corner of his eyes, a black luggage bag, lying on the pure white snow. He cautiously walked towards it, curiosity getting the better of him. As he approached, he saw what looked like a hand sticking out from a shallow hole, where a young girl lay. She had a couple of gashes on her head where blood was slowly seeping out, staining the pure white snow around her, and she was clasping a small backpack.

"What in the world?!" Darien wondered to himself as he knelt down and felt her pulse.

It was very weak and she was freezing cold. Her skin had turned a pale purple colour, devoid of blood flow. Darien then decided to take her back to his apartment and treat her. He scooped her up into his arms, leaving her luggage bag there, and bolted back to his apartment. He laid her down on his couch and started tending to the cuts on her head. He then placed an electric throw over blanket and hot water bottles on top of her, hoping to get some warmth into her body. Her breathing was shallow and raspy. Occasionally she would shiver and Darien would sit down next to her and start rubbing her arms, hoping that the friction would help her get warmer. It was then that he noticed that she was still holding her little backpack. He slowly took it from her frozen grip and looked through it. There he found her wallet, with her ID in it. Her name was Crystal and she was 13. In the bag was also what seemed to be a small photo album and a small book, Her diary. He pulled the photo album out of her bag and a beautiful little crystal purple locket, in the shape of the planet Saturn, dropped onto his lap. Crystal then stirred and he remembered that he had left her luggage bag out in the snow, in the park. After arguing with himself for a few minutes, he decided to go get the luggage bag. He ran out the door and acquired the black luggage bag that was still lying in the same spot, at the park. When Darien came back, Crystal was tossing and turning. She was having a nightmare.

"Shh…it'll be alright, you're going to be ok" Darien hushed as he dropped the bag next to the couch and comforted the little girl.

Soon, her eyelashes fluttered and she opened her eyes, squinting because of the sudden rush of light she saw.

"Where am I?" She asked. It was then, that Darien realized that she looked familiar.

"You're in my apartment" Darien said taking a seat next to Crystal.

"What am I doing he-oww!" she exclaimed touching her head lightly.

"Don't touch that, I've just bandaged it up. You were lying unconscious, at the park, when I found you. Your head was bleeding so I took you back to my apartment and took care of it." Darien replied, making a cup of hot chocolate.

"Thank you" Crystal said softly "Do you mind if I ask who are you?" she said slowly sitting up and looking at her surroundings. She felt a little odd. She knew she was sitting in a strange room of a man she hardly even knew. She felt she should've been scared or at least a little concerned for her wellbeing, but there was something comforting about him.

"My name is Darien," He said simply, handing Crystal her hot chocolate. She took it, smiling warmly.

"So you're Crystal, huh?" Darien asked, sitting down next to her and watching her slowly sip the hot beverage.

"Uh huh, how did you know?" She asked curious

" I looked in your bag, and found your ID, I hope you don't mind…" Darien replied, waiting for her reply

"No, it's ok…" Crystal smiled taking another sip

"That's a really beautiful locket," Darien said picking up the Transformation Locket.

"Ohh... yeah, thank you." Crystal gasped slightly when he picked it up, "I've had it for as long as I can remember." Crystal continued. "It's very important to me."

They talked for a while longer, and spoke of their past, present and future hopes. Darien felt as if she knew Crystal, like she was an old acquaintance, yet her their age difference suggested to him that she was too young to have know him, or held his attention for long. Still, he couldn't help but feel as if he could tell her anything, even though she was 6 years younger than him.

"So, where are your parents?" Crystal asked, curiously.

Darien sat there, silent for a few seconds and Crystal knew that she had hit a sore spot.

"I'm sorry… if…" Crystal was interrupted

"No, it's fine. My parents died in a car accident when I was young. The doctors said that I had amnesia and couldn't remember anything before then. I lived in an orphanage since I was 6 and I finally left at the age of 16." He said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I'm so sorr…." Crystal was interrupted by a thought "How old are you Darien?" She asked suddenly

"I'm 19, why?" Darien asked confused and a little curious about the sudden interest in his age and where this was leading. Maybe she knew who he was? Maybe she knew more about his past? He watched her intently, heart pounding in his chest. Crystal was deep in thought, calculating. A look of realization dawned upon her face as her eyes darted up to meet his.

"D-D-Darien…Chiba?" Crystal stuttered as realization dawned upon her.

"Yes, how did you know?" Darien asked, full of curiosity.

"Darien…" Crystal started

"Yes…" He waited in anticipation for the words to slip from her lips.

"I'm your sister."


Crystal Saturn