A/N - Yes!! Finally found a plot!!  And no one will expect it!!  ^_~ Oh and FYI: 

Italics = Takato, his soul

Bold = Akari, Takato's good side

Underline = Yami, Takato's dark side

*Stars* = Aishuu, thinking

"Normal" = Aishuu, speaking

 

Chapter Eight: A Bit of Compassion

The wind blows through between the buildings
A night when even the stars have disappeared
My clasped hands are trembling, but
I'm looking up at the sky

~Translated from My Tomorrow

          What are you going to do?  The question, so innocently put, shocked Takato.  Those red eyes flashed dangerously.  Please don't hurt anyone…  I wouldn't want anyone hurt because of me.  Will you please promise not to hurt anyone?  Something in those innocent questions touched the hard heart of the Master of Darkness. 

          He did not response immediately.  Please, please say you won't hurt anyone.  No one innocent.  What if someone you killed was in love with someone?  Then somebody else would be very sad.  I don't want anyone to be sad.  Will you please promise?

          "I cannot promise to never kill someone.  But I can promise to never kill someone who does not deserve the death I shall bring.  Are you happy, tamashii?"  He stood up, and picked the long object from the ground.  It was a glaive, properly known as the Death Glaive.  "The Death Glaive is fatal to whatever it touches." 

          Thank you, Aishuu-san!  Aishuu…  The name seemed so natural.  I'm sorry, do you not like what I called you?  Gomen nasai--

          "Oh stop apologizing.  I rather like the name."  His eyes were hard and cold, but when he spoke to the sweet soul inside of him, he softened.  *If I am a creature of darkness, why do I feel such compassion for that pathetic soul?  It's almost as if there were something so very important that I was forgetting…* 

          Aishuu, please don't lie about your promise.  I know there are many things you are hiding.  Like what you know about my cursed body.  And what your true mission is. 

          *Such a perceptive boy!  How could he know--?*  Aishuu shut his eyes, and dropped his jacket to the floor, revealing his bare arms and shoulders.  He heard that soul gasp.  "You mustn't tell anyone, Takato… Did you tell anyone before?"

          No.  But why is my body like this? 

          "I cannot tell you Takato."  Why was it breaking his heart so to lie to that soul?  "It would be better not to tell you…"  *Why am I showing such compassion?  I was never like this before.  This soul is causing me to lose sight of my mission…* 

          What is your mission, Aishuu?  Is it a bad one?  I wouldn't want you to hurt anyone.  You will have a difficult time doing anything with my weak body.  It has…difficulties…exerting itself.  Perhaps it's becoming run-down?

          "You show too much compassion, tamashii."  Aishuu closed his eyes, as if pitying the soul.  "You can't always protect everyone else and forget about yourself." 

          If you are a demon of evil, Aishuu, why are you being so nice now?  I would expect you to ignore my insignificant words and resume with your mission, which I fear is a bad one.  Why? 

          *Why indeed…*