Darkest Just Before The Dawn Chapter 2
Ever since Jack had spent the night with the ghost of his childhood his spirit as well as his body. In times of rest his mind drifted to the memory of the night and smiled as happy thoughts of her drifted him into peaceful slumber. Her memory was always beside him in battle, helping him along the way, always.
He smiled as he arranged his bed for the night, spreading fallen pine needles for the base of his bed. An old lullaby his mother sang to him as a child reached his lips as he worked, his heart happy. He removed the tightly wrapped blanket from within his gi and shook it free of its wrinkles. He sent a mental thanks to the family that had so kindly donated such warmth for his nights in the forest. The air and sky had an aura of peace that put to rest all of Jack's fears and doubts of the future and left him in a world of love and peace.
"Keiko..." He whispered to the setting sun, a plea of the heart that wanted her at his side. Only as a young child could she have enjoyed such a sunset over the fields of their youth. She lived and died in a terror of slavery under that demon Aku, and here he was a thousand years ahead of his time still fighting against the tyrant.
He stood a silent statue facing the west, watching the last of the sun's rays cover the land in her holy light. "Someday, I will defeat Aku and return to the past. I will never give up, and I shall show you a happy life once more, Keiko..." His promise to her flew to the wind that blew to the east, where it would reach Japan and the ears of the ghosts that still resided in the fair city of Nara. He settled into his bed and pulled the blanket close to him; his eyes focusing on the stars as they gave in to the comfort hold of sleep.
* * * * *
Jack stirred uncomfortable and kicked off the blanket. Somehow it had gotten too hot for it, but how can that be? He quickly open his eyes, expecting trouble, but what he found was completely unexpected.
The layer of pine needles beneath him had now turned into grass, grass that had now turned yellow from the sun. The acres and acres of trees that surrounded him had now turned into acres and acres of fields in all directions, never a shrub or a tree to break the monotony. He leapt to his feet, "Where am I? How did I get here?"
His answer was a femimine laugh of great familarity. His heart skipped a beat as he gasped, could... could it really be? Praying to every kami he could think of, he turned around, his heart screaming what he wanted so badly to believe.
The laughter subsided to a smile as the wind blew the long ebony mane across her back and to make its home on her shoulders, her eyes beaming with amusement to see him in such a state of confusion. "Are you so cold, dear Jack, to require a blanket held tightly to you as you nap on a hot summer's day?"
Jack chuckled and shook his head, "I do when I expected to be somewhere far from here, my sweet Keiko."
She cried tears of happiness as she flew into his arms, holding him ever so tightly, never wanting to let go. "You begged for me just as I do for you, I could not wait any longer to see you." She rested her head against his strong shoulder, her heart content.
"Thank you," He said as he held her close. "Thank you for reuniting us here in the place of our youth." He kissed the top of her head and sighed in contentment. "I love you Keiko."
She lifted her head from his shoulder, concentrating solely on the soft light that bathed his handsome face. "I love you too, Jack." Her hand reached up hesitantly and graced his cheek, her fingertips falling to trace his strong jawline and most beautiful lips that gleefully kissed her as they passed. "Such beauty," She whispered, "And despite what all your eyes have seen, they are untouched by the horrors of Aku's future."
"They are blessed to behold such beauty, and it is for you that I continue my fight with an undying faith that I will succeed."
She closed her eyes slightly as his words carressed her and smiled. "I know you will," She whispered as her eyes met his and lost herself in the beauty that she found there. "Nothing and no one can stop you from fulfilling your promise to me, 'Someday, I will defeat Aku and return to the past. I will never give up, and I shall show you a happy life once more, Keiko...' "
Jack grinned widely, "So you got my message. I would die before I let you down."
She smiled as he confirmed his promise to her, "And I will help you in every way that I can. Anything to help you come back to me faster."
He nodded in agreement, "I can not wait for that day, when we will be free to be together again always, and live and love forever."
"Hai, forever..." She whispered , laying her head back down on his shoulder, losing herself in all that he was. He held her tightly to him and kissed the top of her head, stroking her long hair that paraded down her back. For what seemed like forever, they stood there like that, each refusing to let go and lose their loved one again. Jack wished with all his heart that this dream would never end, that he and Keiko could stay here together forever, in a world of peace that never knew the terror of Aku. But his mission, he knew oh so well, was to defeat Aku and return to this world and help it heal from the scars of 20 years of a tyrant's reign. He was to take his father's place as Emperor of Japan, and he smiled down at who would be at his side as Empress.
"Dawn is approaching," she whispered, "It is time for you to return to your mission." Gently she pushed him back onto his bed and pull his blanket around him tightly. She stood up, but Jack held onto her hand tightly. "Please, stay with me until I have to leave," He asked, his eyes begging her to stay.
She smiled and let a tear trickle down her cheek, "Of course." She laid beside him as Jack held her closer and pulled the blanket around both. He kissed away the stray tear but couldn't tear himself away. He kissed every inch of her face before settling on her lips, kissing her with all the love and passion he held for her.
Keiko smiled and laughed softly as he professed his great love for her, but nothing prepared her for what he did next. Surprised as heck, she stood still a moment before kissing him back. She knew well the traditions behind a kiss; in their day it was a marriage proposal. Could he... the Prince of Japan... he be proposing to her? Her? The daughter of a simple samurai? Was his love for her that great? A tear slipped down her cheek as she wrapped her arms around his neck, climbed on top of him, and kissed him harder. 'Please don't be joking with me, Jack.' She mentally pleaded. 'Don't let the future cloud your mind of what this meant back in our day. I could not handle it.'
She broke off slowly, panting softly from their intense kiss, keeping her face inches from his. She shuddered as he leaned up and kissed away the tear, his tender lips once more blessing her skin. "Jack, do you--"
"Shhh," He said as he placed a finger on her lips. He nodded slowly, his eyes locked with hers. He knew what he was doing when he kissed her. He wanted this with all his heart.
She gasped as her heart skipped a beat, he was telling the truth! Her eyes searched his and found only love and devotion, love and devotion that would last forever. She smiled brightly and laughed cheerfully as she embraced him tightly. She captured his lips with hers, a wonderful acceptance of his earlier question.
He smiled widely as she accepted, and met her lips with a great furvor. He held her tightly and swore to defeat Aku and return to her. "Keiko..." He whispered with reverence against her lips as he broke off.
"Jack..." She kissed his heart before laying her head upon it, savoring each beat that pulsed thru her body. "You must leave now, but do not despair. I will see you again soon, and I have complete faith in you that you will defeat Aku and return home to Nara, and me."
A tear slipped down his cheek, but their promise of love and marriage resonated thru his mind, and he would never foresake that. "Keiko, I will continue my quest and come home in victory both to Nara and you." He placed a hand over her heart and looked deep into her eyes, "I promise."
She smiled softly and covered his hand with hers, "I believe you." As he drifted into sleep despite his great struggle to stay awake, Keiko kissed his forehead and held his hand to her heart. "I love you," She whispered as she laid back upon him, holding him near until he awoke and left her.
"...love you..." Jack mumbled and opened his eyes...
* * * * *
...but what he found was not the fields of his youth and Keiko, but the tranquil forest that he had fallen asleep in before. He smiled sadly as he sat up, remembering with bittersweet tears what had transpired the night before. But with a detrimined nod of the head, he shook out his blanket, folded it tightly, put it within his gi, and continued with his quest.
Ever since Jack had spent the night with the ghost of his childhood his spirit as well as his body. In times of rest his mind drifted to the memory of the night and smiled as happy thoughts of her drifted him into peaceful slumber. Her memory was always beside him in battle, helping him along the way, always.
He smiled as he arranged his bed for the night, spreading fallen pine needles for the base of his bed. An old lullaby his mother sang to him as a child reached his lips as he worked, his heart happy. He removed the tightly wrapped blanket from within his gi and shook it free of its wrinkles. He sent a mental thanks to the family that had so kindly donated such warmth for his nights in the forest. The air and sky had an aura of peace that put to rest all of Jack's fears and doubts of the future and left him in a world of love and peace.
"Keiko..." He whispered to the setting sun, a plea of the heart that wanted her at his side. Only as a young child could she have enjoyed such a sunset over the fields of their youth. She lived and died in a terror of slavery under that demon Aku, and here he was a thousand years ahead of his time still fighting against the tyrant.
He stood a silent statue facing the west, watching the last of the sun's rays cover the land in her holy light. "Someday, I will defeat Aku and return to the past. I will never give up, and I shall show you a happy life once more, Keiko..." His promise to her flew to the wind that blew to the east, where it would reach Japan and the ears of the ghosts that still resided in the fair city of Nara. He settled into his bed and pulled the blanket close to him; his eyes focusing on the stars as they gave in to the comfort hold of sleep.
* * * * *
Jack stirred uncomfortable and kicked off the blanket. Somehow it had gotten too hot for it, but how can that be? He quickly open his eyes, expecting trouble, but what he found was completely unexpected.
The layer of pine needles beneath him had now turned into grass, grass that had now turned yellow from the sun. The acres and acres of trees that surrounded him had now turned into acres and acres of fields in all directions, never a shrub or a tree to break the monotony. He leapt to his feet, "Where am I? How did I get here?"
His answer was a femimine laugh of great familarity. His heart skipped a beat as he gasped, could... could it really be? Praying to every kami he could think of, he turned around, his heart screaming what he wanted so badly to believe.
The laughter subsided to a smile as the wind blew the long ebony mane across her back and to make its home on her shoulders, her eyes beaming with amusement to see him in such a state of confusion. "Are you so cold, dear Jack, to require a blanket held tightly to you as you nap on a hot summer's day?"
Jack chuckled and shook his head, "I do when I expected to be somewhere far from here, my sweet Keiko."
She cried tears of happiness as she flew into his arms, holding him ever so tightly, never wanting to let go. "You begged for me just as I do for you, I could not wait any longer to see you." She rested her head against his strong shoulder, her heart content.
"Thank you," He said as he held her close. "Thank you for reuniting us here in the place of our youth." He kissed the top of her head and sighed in contentment. "I love you Keiko."
She lifted her head from his shoulder, concentrating solely on the soft light that bathed his handsome face. "I love you too, Jack." Her hand reached up hesitantly and graced his cheek, her fingertips falling to trace his strong jawline and most beautiful lips that gleefully kissed her as they passed. "Such beauty," She whispered, "And despite what all your eyes have seen, they are untouched by the horrors of Aku's future."
"They are blessed to behold such beauty, and it is for you that I continue my fight with an undying faith that I will succeed."
She closed her eyes slightly as his words carressed her and smiled. "I know you will," She whispered as her eyes met his and lost herself in the beauty that she found there. "Nothing and no one can stop you from fulfilling your promise to me, 'Someday, I will defeat Aku and return to the past. I will never give up, and I shall show you a happy life once more, Keiko...' "
Jack grinned widely, "So you got my message. I would die before I let you down."
She smiled as he confirmed his promise to her, "And I will help you in every way that I can. Anything to help you come back to me faster."
He nodded in agreement, "I can not wait for that day, when we will be free to be together again always, and live and love forever."
"Hai, forever..." She whispered , laying her head back down on his shoulder, losing herself in all that he was. He held her tightly to him and kissed the top of her head, stroking her long hair that paraded down her back. For what seemed like forever, they stood there like that, each refusing to let go and lose their loved one again. Jack wished with all his heart that this dream would never end, that he and Keiko could stay here together forever, in a world of peace that never knew the terror of Aku. But his mission, he knew oh so well, was to defeat Aku and return to this world and help it heal from the scars of 20 years of a tyrant's reign. He was to take his father's place as Emperor of Japan, and he smiled down at who would be at his side as Empress.
"Dawn is approaching," she whispered, "It is time for you to return to your mission." Gently she pushed him back onto his bed and pull his blanket around him tightly. She stood up, but Jack held onto her hand tightly. "Please, stay with me until I have to leave," He asked, his eyes begging her to stay.
She smiled and let a tear trickle down her cheek, "Of course." She laid beside him as Jack held her closer and pulled the blanket around both. He kissed away the stray tear but couldn't tear himself away. He kissed every inch of her face before settling on her lips, kissing her with all the love and passion he held for her.
Keiko smiled and laughed softly as he professed his great love for her, but nothing prepared her for what he did next. Surprised as heck, she stood still a moment before kissing him back. She knew well the traditions behind a kiss; in their day it was a marriage proposal. Could he... the Prince of Japan... he be proposing to her? Her? The daughter of a simple samurai? Was his love for her that great? A tear slipped down her cheek as she wrapped her arms around his neck, climbed on top of him, and kissed him harder. 'Please don't be joking with me, Jack.' She mentally pleaded. 'Don't let the future cloud your mind of what this meant back in our day. I could not handle it.'
She broke off slowly, panting softly from their intense kiss, keeping her face inches from his. She shuddered as he leaned up and kissed away the tear, his tender lips once more blessing her skin. "Jack, do you--"
"Shhh," He said as he placed a finger on her lips. He nodded slowly, his eyes locked with hers. He knew what he was doing when he kissed her. He wanted this with all his heart.
She gasped as her heart skipped a beat, he was telling the truth! Her eyes searched his and found only love and devotion, love and devotion that would last forever. She smiled brightly and laughed cheerfully as she embraced him tightly. She captured his lips with hers, a wonderful acceptance of his earlier question.
He smiled widely as she accepted, and met her lips with a great furvor. He held her tightly and swore to defeat Aku and return to her. "Keiko..." He whispered with reverence against her lips as he broke off.
"Jack..." She kissed his heart before laying her head upon it, savoring each beat that pulsed thru her body. "You must leave now, but do not despair. I will see you again soon, and I have complete faith in you that you will defeat Aku and return home to Nara, and me."
A tear slipped down his cheek, but their promise of love and marriage resonated thru his mind, and he would never foresake that. "Keiko, I will continue my quest and come home in victory both to Nara and you." He placed a hand over her heart and looked deep into her eyes, "I promise."
She smiled softly and covered his hand with hers, "I believe you." As he drifted into sleep despite his great struggle to stay awake, Keiko kissed his forehead and held his hand to her heart. "I love you," She whispered as she laid back upon him, holding him near until he awoke and left her.
"...love you..." Jack mumbled and opened his eyes...
* * * * *
...but what he found was not the fields of his youth and Keiko, but the tranquil forest that he had fallen asleep in before. He smiled sadly as he sat up, remembering with bittersweet tears what had transpired the night before. But with a detrimined nod of the head, he shook out his blanket, folded it tightly, put it within his gi, and continued with his quest.
