*
Thank you so much for all the reviews! 54? That is quite a bit! Yay!
Adrian: Oh great, look what you've done!
Me: Shut up, honestly.
Adrian: Why should I?
Me: /bonks him over the head with my every trusty umbrella/
Adrian: Itai! T.T
Me: ^_^
Adrian: Save me, honestly!
Takeru: /dryly/ You rather deserve it, you know.
Me: Ah, Takeru-chan! It's nice of you to come today!
Takeru: /settles down on a tree branch that mysteriously appeared, leaning back with his wings folded, and closing his eyes/ Just thought that I should check on the remains of his sanity.
Me: It's fine! Why don't you stay for tea? ^_^
Adrian: /twitch/ You-
Takeru: I really don't like tea.
Me: Don't worry! There's chocolate cake too!
Takeru: /perks up at the sound of chocolate cake, but trying to stay "cool"/ I might as well then. It's not as though I have much else to do.
Adrian: /mutters something uncomplimentary/
Me: That's meaaaaaan! /wails and starts chasing after him, throwing objects at him/
Adrian: /runs for dear life/ Help me!
Takeru: Bakas.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Comments:
Jay Man: Yes, I know that was mean of me. I am so sorry! /cries/
Silver Shadow: Thank you so much. To be honest, I don't know where I get the dialogue. Takeru is such a potty mouth!
Catgirl Rehan: /blushes/ You are too kind to me. I will try to continue as fast as I can.
*-*: Well, thank you very much.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hikari stared at her teacher incredulously. Her blade fell to the ground.
"Pick it up," a voice ordered imperiously.
She whirled to see Sora, impeccable in appearance as always, on the sidelines. The titian-haired woman seemed to be vaguely amused about something, but her lips were set in a thin line.
If someone had told her that a vampire would kidnap her before letting her go, told a rather tragic story by one of the brightest people she knew, and she would be in the fencing ring with the most unlikely teacher several weeks ago, she would have laughed her ass off.
Damn Fate.
"But-" she squeaked.
"Pick it up." The woman's voice was almost dangerously pleasant.
Bending, she did so, holding the practice blade in suddenly clammy hands. Kind eyes followed her.
"Is something a problem?" Kido Jyou asked her, dark eyes remarkably soft.
-------------------@
Miyako slammed into the wall of her lab in full force, her spell lashing out at her as it was shattered forcefully. Her glasses fell from her face, shattering on impact from the marble floor as breath wheezed out of her. The invisible blast would have killed an ordinary person, but then again, no one could ever accuse the sorceress of being an ordinary person.
She caught her breath, staring blankly at the pile of smoldering feathers and charred spell papers in front of her; the remains of her scrying spell. Then she started to laugh, at first a low, amused chuckle, then a full out bout of hysterical cackling.
"Takeru is certainly in a bitchy mood!" she shrieked in laughter, sinking to the ground and clutching her stomach. "And Ishida is more dense than I thought he was if he doesn't notice this!"
"I'm glad you find this all very amusing," came a dry voice from nearby. Ken, dressed impeccably in a plain gray kimono, an obi of black and silver tying it, entered, carrying a tray with a tea service and a covered set of plates.
Miyako gazed at him and smiled slightly. He tsked at her, setting the tray down on an empty area on her worktable and picking up the remains of her glasses.
"Mistress, mistress, what am I going to do with you?" he mock-scolded her. "Destroying your magical tools like this."
The shards of glass shivered in his palm before slowly assembling into the wire frame and mending together, cracks and breaks disappearing. With a bow, he handed them to her and watched silently as she got to her feet, but did not offer to help her. He knew very well that would make her angry. As much as he liked seeing her mad (She looked so adorable that way), he valued his hide, thank you very much.
She chuckled dryly, putting the spectacles away. "Arigatou. Your concern means so much to me."
Though her ironic humor and hot temper hadn't faded, the sorceress looked worse for the wear. The demon looked at her, something akin to concern in his eyes. "Mistress, have you been sleeping? I have not seen you in your bedchambers for the last few days."
She got up, hobbling to the worktable and sank into a chair, tossing back her lavender hair. There were streaks of white in it currently, marks of stress and work in high concentrations of magic. "Haven't got any damn time to sleep."
"Mistress-" He shook his head at her, pouring out the tea and pressing a cup into her hand. "You need to rest."
"Stop being a mother hen," she said tiredly, slightly irritable, but there was a gleam of approval in her amber eyes as she sipped the tea. She sighed, tasting the bitter blend of her favorite brew bloom on her tongue.
"I don't know how you survived without me." He uncovered the plates on the tray, revealing portions of her favorite foods.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know either." She reached for a tempting spring roll, grabbing it and biting into it with no regards for manners.
He positioned himself behind her and slowly started to massage her shoulders, loosening the tense muscles there and starting to undo the damage caused by her collision against the wall. She sighed in pleasure as his skilled hands worked there. Her eyes closed to amber slits as she leaned back.
Ken smiled slightly, cat like eyes starting to flicker pale cerulean. Being in a mortal shell may have had its disadvantages, but so-o-o many benefits.
~*~
Takeru opened his eyes, staring at the velvet canopy above him. He heaved a deep sigh.
"You should talk to her," Adrian said, appearing by his bedside.
"What do you want?" the vampire snarled, looking at the angel.
"Just some civility from you." He leaned against one of the elegantly carved bedposts, hand touching a snarling dragon.
Takeru sat up, glaring at him. "If you want civility, go up to Heaven and to your own kind," he snapped.
Adrian shook his head, bangs falling over both eyes. "I can't go. I'm supposed to protect you."
Takeru laughed bitterly. "And what does God want to do with a demon?"
Adrian sat by his side. "You are a demon, but not in spirit. Not all angels can be good, and not all demons can be evil."
"Save the preaching. What do you want with me now?"
The cat eye rolled about restlessly, glittering gold in the dim light of the room. "She still haunts you, no? She remains in your dreams, and you cannot take your mind off of her."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You know very well who I am referring to. You may be a vampire, Takeru, but you still have emotions. And you have a heart that can be broken."
"Bullshit."
"Takeru, I've been watching you my entire life. I know you better than that. You have the capacity to care, even after loss."
The vampire stiffened and his voice grew cold. "Don't bring Karasu into this."
"You cared about her, and you know it. Someday, you have to let go of her. Her death wasn't your fault."
"Shut up!" Takeru screamed, lashing out at the tenshi. "Just shut up!"
The angel's words were like glass, imbedding themselves into his heart, breaking into the ice about it. His fists hit the tenshi's chest, but he didn't flinch or show any sigh of pain.
"You loved her. You risked all those beatings, all those nights left alone in your chambers. She never saw you as a monster, even when you came with blood on your hands. She only saw you as someone she loved and trusted and someone who equally loved and trusted. Listen to me Takeru!" Adrian's hands clenched about his fists, his amber eye fierce and almost sorrowful. "You loved her, but when she died, you blamed yourself! You cannot be angry that someone loves you! Takeru, you have to let her go, and if the hatred does not go away, let it be for the real culprit."
Takeru sobbed. "She- she was my only friend," he choked out, trying desperately not to cry. "She may have been only a cat, but she was my only friend. Then- then they had to kill her! Just for being my friend! It was because of me, she was only an animal!"
"But an animal who trusted you and loved you more than any other," Adrian whispered softly and suddenly, embraced Takeru tightly. ((No! Not yaoi! Brotherly/fatherly assuring, people!)) "And that, Takeru, is a precious thing. You have to open your heart to love again, even if it means being hurt. We all take that risk after heartbreak."
After being embraced for the first time in centuries, a real, genuine embrace that offered unconditional comfort, one that was not in lust or passion, he broke down. He cried, clinging to Adrian. Tears of blood ran down his face, staining the gray material of the angel's shirt. In his fit of weeping, he numbly realized that this was the first time he had cried since Karasu's death, had finally wept for her.
Adrian held him tightly, even after the sobs subsided, even after he no longer shed any tears of blood. Takeru clung to him, getting himself calmed down.
"Feel better?" the angel asked softly. He fished a handkerchief out of thin air, handing it to Takeru.
Using the cloth, the vampire wiped blood from his face. His sapphire eyes were slightly red rimmed from the weeping, hair a mess. "Arigatou."
Adrian kissed his forehead gently. "It's alright Takeru. It was for the best. I am always here for you, until you are with your light."
"Light?" His eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"
Adrian shook his head slightly. "I cannot always stay here. Takeru, open your heart again, open it and let yourself love."
Takeru looked down. "I don't know if I'm still capable of it." His voice was soft, almost vulnerable, but held a touch of his old chilliness.
Adrian tilted his chin gently. "There is no such thing as being incapable of feeling. You can only choose not to."*
~*~
Hikari threw herself on her bed. She had no idea how she had staggered home, showered, and managed to get this far without fainting. Jyou may have been a somewhat kind, slightly bumbling man, but an easy taskmaster he most certainly wasn't.
It was surprising how he could be polite, and yet so- violent. He had a style that was unlike any she had seen. It involved using moves that incorporated both speed and the wit of the attacker, catching the opponent off guard.
She stared up at the ceiling, clutching her favorite stuffed toy, one of a white cat with enormous blue eyes (/cracks up/ coughGATOMONcough). Unconsciously, she stroked it, feeling the slightly worn fur under her fingers.
Slowly, she drifted off to sleep, cradling the stuffed plushie in her arms tightly. Someone, maybe Taichi, gently tucked her into her bed, wrapping the blankets around her. But it meant nothing to her as she slept.
Her dream was one of her usual ones. She sat under the sweeping branches of an oak tree, settled among the roots. Her eyes flickered about as she looked over the hill she was upon. A sea of green grass lay before her, like an immense mantle, worked with the embroideries of flowers. She giggled to herself as a butterfly landed upon the back of her hand.
"You have lovely dreams," a soft voice said nearby.
She jumped, swiftly turning around. The voice chuckled softly, if slightly sorrowfully. "Don't worry, I mean no harm."
"How- who are you?" she demanded sharply.
"I forget my manners." A man stepped out from behind her and she gasped, paling. "Ishida?"
The man smiled faintly and shook his head. "Not quite."
Scrutinizing him further, she realized he wasn't the infamous vampire. His hair was too pale and long, and his features thinner. Bangs fell over one eye, the other not blue, but amber and slit like a cat's. He was dressed simply, wearing a white poet's shirt, cuff bands left untied and dangling, and pants of a charcoal gray. Hikari thought fleetingly of the look that would most likely be on Tomoyo's face if the other woman could see him, and smiled.
'She would have a fit,' she thought. 'And start digging out clothing samples.'
"Then who are you?" she asked, no longer amused. "And what are you doing in my dream?"
"Adrian is what I go by." He bowed to her. "May I sit down?"
"Go ahead." She shrugged rather carelessly.
He bowed again, gracefully sitting down nearby her at a respectful distance. "I need to have a word with you."
"What is it?" She was curious despite herself. He seemed so sad, from what she could see of him, and somehow, she felt herself trusting him.
"About Takeru."
She froze. "What?"
"I am a friend- or rather companion- to him."
"So, you're a demon's acquaintance," she said frostily, glaring at him.
"Not as demonic as you think. He is starting to change."
"What? Become even more evil?"
He gazed at her. "He is far more hurt than you think, Hikari-san."
"So? He probably deserves it."
"Would a demon let you go free?"
She turned away. "He probably just tired of me."
"Ah, but wouldn't he have just killed you?" the man asked shrewdly.
She looked at him, lost for words for a moment. Then she said, "Fine then. Do you know why he let me go?"
Adrian seemed pensive for a moment then sighed. "You'll have to ask him yourself."
"Why the hell would I talk to that- that monster?" she spat out.
He looked at her sadly. "Don't call him that."
"Why shouldn't I?" she asked him bitterly. "He deserves it."
Adrian leaned back in his seat. "You can be remarkably judgmental."
"So sue me," she snapped. "I don't appreciate people walking into my dreams and suddenly telling me that the demon who kidnapped me and toyed with me is suddenly a saint."
"He's no saint," the man said softly. "And he never will be one. But he's a good person. If you only let him have the chance."
"Give me a break."
The butterfly flew over to the blonde and lighted on his fingers. Then it turned into a raven. "Darkness and light are only two sides of the same coin. Balance is the key that we look for." The bird croaked harshly before going off.
"What are you?" she asked softly.
"Just call me a guardian." He smiled a little as the raven somersaulted in the air, a ball of molting black feathers. Out of the black came a white dove.
"But- I never met anyone who could change a dream like this."
"I have a gift in that respect."
Hikari was silent for a moment. Adrian watched as the dove circled about, cooing sadly. It grew larger, form shifting into an immense swan, soaring through the sky.
"That's quite lovely," she commented. "But why does she seem so lost?"
"She can't find her mate," he whispered.
A black swan soon approached, flapping on ebony wings, sunlight glinting off of the glorious dark plumage. The white swan darted away, obviously fearful and the black swan followed. A fight ensued between the two birds, looking less like a fight, than a dance carefully choreographed and executed.
"No!" Hikari cried out, as the white swan seemed to fall, about to crash into the ground.
Then the black swan, first merely hovering, nursing battle wounds and looking rather pleased, dove down. The sinuous neck twisted, as the lithe, powerful body swerved, protecting the white swan from impact on the ground.
But it came at a price. The black swan absorbed most of the force, crashing into the ground with the white swan over it. Shakily, the white bird got to her feet, flapping wings of white and nudging the black swan with a cautious beak.
The black swan didn't move. More insistently, and almost desperately, the white swan pushed at the black counterpart. Slowly, very slowly, the black swan rose, looking somewhat worse for wear. The white swan crooned for joy, neck entwining about the others. Both swans seemed be stuck there, lost in an embrace. Then they disentangled themselves, taking off and soaring through the sky as one creature with different colored wings.
"What does that mean?" Hikari murmured.
"You are the white swan," Adrian answered her. "The black swan is your antithesis, but also, your soulmate."
"How?"
He smiled at her. "Open your heart, and you will be able to open another's." He rose. "Give Takeru a chance, and you will find that he is different than how he seems."
He bent slightly and brushed her forehead with a chaste kiss. Her eyes closed right before the gesture, as she felt only a gentle brush of air across her face. When they opened, she was alone in the meadow, no sign of the man or the swans, except for two feathers, one black, and one white.
When Hikari woke up the next morning, to sunlight drifting in through her curtains, she found the two feathers nestled in her hand. And she smiled.
~*~
Takeru: /sipping tea delicately and staring dubiously at the cup/
Me: /somewhat tipsy (from who knows what)/ Wan' some more?
Adrian: /rolls his eyes, taking another portion of chocolate cake/ Great, now I have to take her home.
Takeru: /looks over at him/ I can't say I envy you.
Adrian: /makes a face before starting on his cake/
Takeru: /causes the pot to float over to him and pours himself some more tea/
Me: Cool! /giggles/
Adrian + Takeru: /look at each other and collectively roll their eyes/
*Brownie points to whoever can trace that quote from ^^ I'll give you a hint, it's from one of Clamp's series.
Thank you so much for all the reviews! 54? That is quite a bit! Yay!
Adrian: Oh great, look what you've done!
Me: Shut up, honestly.
Adrian: Why should I?
Me: /bonks him over the head with my every trusty umbrella/
Adrian: Itai! T.T
Me: ^_^
Adrian: Save me, honestly!
Takeru: /dryly/ You rather deserve it, you know.
Me: Ah, Takeru-chan! It's nice of you to come today!
Takeru: /settles down on a tree branch that mysteriously appeared, leaning back with his wings folded, and closing his eyes/ Just thought that I should check on the remains of his sanity.
Me: It's fine! Why don't you stay for tea? ^_^
Adrian: /twitch/ You-
Takeru: I really don't like tea.
Me: Don't worry! There's chocolate cake too!
Takeru: /perks up at the sound of chocolate cake, but trying to stay "cool"/ I might as well then. It's not as though I have much else to do.
Adrian: /mutters something uncomplimentary/
Me: That's meaaaaaan! /wails and starts chasing after him, throwing objects at him/
Adrian: /runs for dear life/ Help me!
Takeru: Bakas.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Comments:
Jay Man: Yes, I know that was mean of me. I am so sorry! /cries/
Silver Shadow: Thank you so much. To be honest, I don't know where I get the dialogue. Takeru is such a potty mouth!
Catgirl Rehan: /blushes/ You are too kind to me. I will try to continue as fast as I can.
*-*: Well, thank you very much.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hikari stared at her teacher incredulously. Her blade fell to the ground.
"Pick it up," a voice ordered imperiously.
She whirled to see Sora, impeccable in appearance as always, on the sidelines. The titian-haired woman seemed to be vaguely amused about something, but her lips were set in a thin line.
If someone had told her that a vampire would kidnap her before letting her go, told a rather tragic story by one of the brightest people she knew, and she would be in the fencing ring with the most unlikely teacher several weeks ago, she would have laughed her ass off.
Damn Fate.
"But-" she squeaked.
"Pick it up." The woman's voice was almost dangerously pleasant.
Bending, she did so, holding the practice blade in suddenly clammy hands. Kind eyes followed her.
"Is something a problem?" Kido Jyou asked her, dark eyes remarkably soft.
-------------------@
Miyako slammed into the wall of her lab in full force, her spell lashing out at her as it was shattered forcefully. Her glasses fell from her face, shattering on impact from the marble floor as breath wheezed out of her. The invisible blast would have killed an ordinary person, but then again, no one could ever accuse the sorceress of being an ordinary person.
She caught her breath, staring blankly at the pile of smoldering feathers and charred spell papers in front of her; the remains of her scrying spell. Then she started to laugh, at first a low, amused chuckle, then a full out bout of hysterical cackling.
"Takeru is certainly in a bitchy mood!" she shrieked in laughter, sinking to the ground and clutching her stomach. "And Ishida is more dense than I thought he was if he doesn't notice this!"
"I'm glad you find this all very amusing," came a dry voice from nearby. Ken, dressed impeccably in a plain gray kimono, an obi of black and silver tying it, entered, carrying a tray with a tea service and a covered set of plates.
Miyako gazed at him and smiled slightly. He tsked at her, setting the tray down on an empty area on her worktable and picking up the remains of her glasses.
"Mistress, mistress, what am I going to do with you?" he mock-scolded her. "Destroying your magical tools like this."
The shards of glass shivered in his palm before slowly assembling into the wire frame and mending together, cracks and breaks disappearing. With a bow, he handed them to her and watched silently as she got to her feet, but did not offer to help her. He knew very well that would make her angry. As much as he liked seeing her mad (She looked so adorable that way), he valued his hide, thank you very much.
She chuckled dryly, putting the spectacles away. "Arigatou. Your concern means so much to me."
Though her ironic humor and hot temper hadn't faded, the sorceress looked worse for the wear. The demon looked at her, something akin to concern in his eyes. "Mistress, have you been sleeping? I have not seen you in your bedchambers for the last few days."
She got up, hobbling to the worktable and sank into a chair, tossing back her lavender hair. There were streaks of white in it currently, marks of stress and work in high concentrations of magic. "Haven't got any damn time to sleep."
"Mistress-" He shook his head at her, pouring out the tea and pressing a cup into her hand. "You need to rest."
"Stop being a mother hen," she said tiredly, slightly irritable, but there was a gleam of approval in her amber eyes as she sipped the tea. She sighed, tasting the bitter blend of her favorite brew bloom on her tongue.
"I don't know how you survived without me." He uncovered the plates on the tray, revealing portions of her favorite foods.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know either." She reached for a tempting spring roll, grabbing it and biting into it with no regards for manners.
He positioned himself behind her and slowly started to massage her shoulders, loosening the tense muscles there and starting to undo the damage caused by her collision against the wall. She sighed in pleasure as his skilled hands worked there. Her eyes closed to amber slits as she leaned back.
Ken smiled slightly, cat like eyes starting to flicker pale cerulean. Being in a mortal shell may have had its disadvantages, but so-o-o many benefits.
~*~
Takeru opened his eyes, staring at the velvet canopy above him. He heaved a deep sigh.
"You should talk to her," Adrian said, appearing by his bedside.
"What do you want?" the vampire snarled, looking at the angel.
"Just some civility from you." He leaned against one of the elegantly carved bedposts, hand touching a snarling dragon.
Takeru sat up, glaring at him. "If you want civility, go up to Heaven and to your own kind," he snapped.
Adrian shook his head, bangs falling over both eyes. "I can't go. I'm supposed to protect you."
Takeru laughed bitterly. "And what does God want to do with a demon?"
Adrian sat by his side. "You are a demon, but not in spirit. Not all angels can be good, and not all demons can be evil."
"Save the preaching. What do you want with me now?"
The cat eye rolled about restlessly, glittering gold in the dim light of the room. "She still haunts you, no? She remains in your dreams, and you cannot take your mind off of her."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You know very well who I am referring to. You may be a vampire, Takeru, but you still have emotions. And you have a heart that can be broken."
"Bullshit."
"Takeru, I've been watching you my entire life. I know you better than that. You have the capacity to care, even after loss."
The vampire stiffened and his voice grew cold. "Don't bring Karasu into this."
"You cared about her, and you know it. Someday, you have to let go of her. Her death wasn't your fault."
"Shut up!" Takeru screamed, lashing out at the tenshi. "Just shut up!"
The angel's words were like glass, imbedding themselves into his heart, breaking into the ice about it. His fists hit the tenshi's chest, but he didn't flinch or show any sigh of pain.
"You loved her. You risked all those beatings, all those nights left alone in your chambers. She never saw you as a monster, even when you came with blood on your hands. She only saw you as someone she loved and trusted and someone who equally loved and trusted. Listen to me Takeru!" Adrian's hands clenched about his fists, his amber eye fierce and almost sorrowful. "You loved her, but when she died, you blamed yourself! You cannot be angry that someone loves you! Takeru, you have to let her go, and if the hatred does not go away, let it be for the real culprit."
Takeru sobbed. "She- she was my only friend," he choked out, trying desperately not to cry. "She may have been only a cat, but she was my only friend. Then- then they had to kill her! Just for being my friend! It was because of me, she was only an animal!"
"But an animal who trusted you and loved you more than any other," Adrian whispered softly and suddenly, embraced Takeru tightly. ((No! Not yaoi! Brotherly/fatherly assuring, people!)) "And that, Takeru, is a precious thing. You have to open your heart to love again, even if it means being hurt. We all take that risk after heartbreak."
After being embraced for the first time in centuries, a real, genuine embrace that offered unconditional comfort, one that was not in lust or passion, he broke down. He cried, clinging to Adrian. Tears of blood ran down his face, staining the gray material of the angel's shirt. In his fit of weeping, he numbly realized that this was the first time he had cried since Karasu's death, had finally wept for her.
Adrian held him tightly, even after the sobs subsided, even after he no longer shed any tears of blood. Takeru clung to him, getting himself calmed down.
"Feel better?" the angel asked softly. He fished a handkerchief out of thin air, handing it to Takeru.
Using the cloth, the vampire wiped blood from his face. His sapphire eyes were slightly red rimmed from the weeping, hair a mess. "Arigatou."
Adrian kissed his forehead gently. "It's alright Takeru. It was for the best. I am always here for you, until you are with your light."
"Light?" His eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"
Adrian shook his head slightly. "I cannot always stay here. Takeru, open your heart again, open it and let yourself love."
Takeru looked down. "I don't know if I'm still capable of it." His voice was soft, almost vulnerable, but held a touch of his old chilliness.
Adrian tilted his chin gently. "There is no such thing as being incapable of feeling. You can only choose not to."*
~*~
Hikari threw herself on her bed. She had no idea how she had staggered home, showered, and managed to get this far without fainting. Jyou may have been a somewhat kind, slightly bumbling man, but an easy taskmaster he most certainly wasn't.
It was surprising how he could be polite, and yet so- violent. He had a style that was unlike any she had seen. It involved using moves that incorporated both speed and the wit of the attacker, catching the opponent off guard.
She stared up at the ceiling, clutching her favorite stuffed toy, one of a white cat with enormous blue eyes (/cracks up/ coughGATOMONcough). Unconsciously, she stroked it, feeling the slightly worn fur under her fingers.
Slowly, she drifted off to sleep, cradling the stuffed plushie in her arms tightly. Someone, maybe Taichi, gently tucked her into her bed, wrapping the blankets around her. But it meant nothing to her as she slept.
Her dream was one of her usual ones. She sat under the sweeping branches of an oak tree, settled among the roots. Her eyes flickered about as she looked over the hill she was upon. A sea of green grass lay before her, like an immense mantle, worked with the embroideries of flowers. She giggled to herself as a butterfly landed upon the back of her hand.
"You have lovely dreams," a soft voice said nearby.
She jumped, swiftly turning around. The voice chuckled softly, if slightly sorrowfully. "Don't worry, I mean no harm."
"How- who are you?" she demanded sharply.
"I forget my manners." A man stepped out from behind her and she gasped, paling. "Ishida?"
The man smiled faintly and shook his head. "Not quite."
Scrutinizing him further, she realized he wasn't the infamous vampire. His hair was too pale and long, and his features thinner. Bangs fell over one eye, the other not blue, but amber and slit like a cat's. He was dressed simply, wearing a white poet's shirt, cuff bands left untied and dangling, and pants of a charcoal gray. Hikari thought fleetingly of the look that would most likely be on Tomoyo's face if the other woman could see him, and smiled.
'She would have a fit,' she thought. 'And start digging out clothing samples.'
"Then who are you?" she asked, no longer amused. "And what are you doing in my dream?"
"Adrian is what I go by." He bowed to her. "May I sit down?"
"Go ahead." She shrugged rather carelessly.
He bowed again, gracefully sitting down nearby her at a respectful distance. "I need to have a word with you."
"What is it?" She was curious despite herself. He seemed so sad, from what she could see of him, and somehow, she felt herself trusting him.
"About Takeru."
She froze. "What?"
"I am a friend- or rather companion- to him."
"So, you're a demon's acquaintance," she said frostily, glaring at him.
"Not as demonic as you think. He is starting to change."
"What? Become even more evil?"
He gazed at her. "He is far more hurt than you think, Hikari-san."
"So? He probably deserves it."
"Would a demon let you go free?"
She turned away. "He probably just tired of me."
"Ah, but wouldn't he have just killed you?" the man asked shrewdly.
She looked at him, lost for words for a moment. Then she said, "Fine then. Do you know why he let me go?"
Adrian seemed pensive for a moment then sighed. "You'll have to ask him yourself."
"Why the hell would I talk to that- that monster?" she spat out.
He looked at her sadly. "Don't call him that."
"Why shouldn't I?" she asked him bitterly. "He deserves it."
Adrian leaned back in his seat. "You can be remarkably judgmental."
"So sue me," she snapped. "I don't appreciate people walking into my dreams and suddenly telling me that the demon who kidnapped me and toyed with me is suddenly a saint."
"He's no saint," the man said softly. "And he never will be one. But he's a good person. If you only let him have the chance."
"Give me a break."
The butterfly flew over to the blonde and lighted on his fingers. Then it turned into a raven. "Darkness and light are only two sides of the same coin. Balance is the key that we look for." The bird croaked harshly before going off.
"What are you?" she asked softly.
"Just call me a guardian." He smiled a little as the raven somersaulted in the air, a ball of molting black feathers. Out of the black came a white dove.
"But- I never met anyone who could change a dream like this."
"I have a gift in that respect."
Hikari was silent for a moment. Adrian watched as the dove circled about, cooing sadly. It grew larger, form shifting into an immense swan, soaring through the sky.
"That's quite lovely," she commented. "But why does she seem so lost?"
"She can't find her mate," he whispered.
A black swan soon approached, flapping on ebony wings, sunlight glinting off of the glorious dark plumage. The white swan darted away, obviously fearful and the black swan followed. A fight ensued between the two birds, looking less like a fight, than a dance carefully choreographed and executed.
"No!" Hikari cried out, as the white swan seemed to fall, about to crash into the ground.
Then the black swan, first merely hovering, nursing battle wounds and looking rather pleased, dove down. The sinuous neck twisted, as the lithe, powerful body swerved, protecting the white swan from impact on the ground.
But it came at a price. The black swan absorbed most of the force, crashing into the ground with the white swan over it. Shakily, the white bird got to her feet, flapping wings of white and nudging the black swan with a cautious beak.
The black swan didn't move. More insistently, and almost desperately, the white swan pushed at the black counterpart. Slowly, very slowly, the black swan rose, looking somewhat worse for wear. The white swan crooned for joy, neck entwining about the others. Both swans seemed be stuck there, lost in an embrace. Then they disentangled themselves, taking off and soaring through the sky as one creature with different colored wings.
"What does that mean?" Hikari murmured.
"You are the white swan," Adrian answered her. "The black swan is your antithesis, but also, your soulmate."
"How?"
He smiled at her. "Open your heart, and you will be able to open another's." He rose. "Give Takeru a chance, and you will find that he is different than how he seems."
He bent slightly and brushed her forehead with a chaste kiss. Her eyes closed right before the gesture, as she felt only a gentle brush of air across her face. When they opened, she was alone in the meadow, no sign of the man or the swans, except for two feathers, one black, and one white.
When Hikari woke up the next morning, to sunlight drifting in through her curtains, she found the two feathers nestled in her hand. And she smiled.
~*~
Takeru: /sipping tea delicately and staring dubiously at the cup/
Me: /somewhat tipsy (from who knows what)/ Wan' some more?
Adrian: /rolls his eyes, taking another portion of chocolate cake/ Great, now I have to take her home.
Takeru: /looks over at him/ I can't say I envy you.
Adrian: /makes a face before starting on his cake/
Takeru: /causes the pot to float over to him and pours himself some more tea/
Me: Cool! /giggles/
Adrian + Takeru: /look at each other and collectively roll their eyes/
*Brownie points to whoever can trace that quote from ^^ I'll give you a hint, it's from one of Clamp's series.