"Once I was a content child with parents, sisters, brothers and friends.
But one day changed everything.
I lost everything I loved.
Nobody survived, only me.
I suffered because of the loss.
I got hard-hearted, cynical and introverted.
I decided nobody should get close to me, nobody." Except for Kakyu-hime he said to himself. He had not lied to Hotaru. And he hoped that she would understand him.
"That's..." She whispered. "Touching. I do feel with you."
"I was lonely all my life."
"Me too..."
"Why? How was your life so far?"
"More complicated than yours, it's pretty hard to explain."
"Would you try; nevertheless", he added, "for me?"
"My father is a professor, he led his own university and lacked the time to care for me. During an experiment something went wrong and my mother died. After that I grew up at friends."
This wasn't the truth, she knew, but she could hardly tell him that she died once and was reborn.
"It seems that the only thing I can do is hurt other people."
"That's not true. It's also very difficult for you to deal with your feelings."
"Yes, but you... you suffered as much as I did and still don't push people away."
"Because I'm a living being and as long as you are a living being you're also able to love."
At the sound of this word he glanced at her.
"Right. I should not drown in my sadness. That would be stupid."
"Yes, it's stupid."
She threw a stone into the water and saw little waves forming.
"I really do like you", she continued, "but I think we should remain friends." She tried to hide herself again.
He ignored her last remark. "It's just as if I have known you for much longer."
"Yes..." she whispered. Maybe our destinies are someway connected Hotaru thought.
The first drops of rain fell.
"It's starting to rain!" She exclaimed.
He looked up into the sky and saw dark clouds. "This is going to be a storm. Do you live far away from here?"
"Yes. Would possibly be an hour by car regarding the traffic."
"Alright. My apartment is just a few blocks away."
They started to walk when the rain got worse.
"Run!" She shouted.
"Oh, I hate physical activities!"
She started to laugh. "You're goin' to get wet by sweat or by rain, your choice."
"Don't tell me ya like sports!"
They continued running and stopped in front of a sky-scraper.
"Uh, I'm wet to my bones."
"Me too."
Yaten switched the light on and Hotaru was stunned.
The room was big with a large window allowing a good look over Tokyo's city.
"Wow." There was a inviting fire place in the middle.
Reprints of great painters hang on the walls.
"This is your apartment?"
"Yes, I share it with my brothers. Glad you like it. Should I prepare something warm for us?"
"Yes please. A coffee would be nice."
"I'd be right back."
"Should I help you?"
"No, thanks."
Before he could disappear into the kitchen the light went off followed by lightening and loud thunder.
Hotaru shuddered.
"Yaten! What was that?"
"I'd just say something hit the electricity thing. So much about our coffee. Where are you?"
"Near the fire place."
"Alright. Make yourself at house and I'll grab some blankets for us."
"Yes."
She heard him leave the room and return.
"Here."
"Thanks. Maybe we should make a fire else we will be ill until tomorrow."
"I say that I have never used this thing and I expect the power to be back immediately."
"Do you mind trying?"
"No, not at all. If you help me."
She leaned over to light on a match when he touched her skin.
"Hotaru, you are soaking wet. You're really goin' to be ill tomorrow. I'll get a shirt so that you can get out of these clothes. You can manage this alone?"
"Of course, Yaten."
After a few minutes a fire enlightened the room dimly and she saw him returning with something in his hands.
He had also changed and now wore a shirt with boxers.
She giggled.
"What?"
"It's just the print- teddy bears?"
"Something against bears?"
"No!" She started to laugh.
"Oh you!" He caught her and tickled her.
"Stop it!" She screamed. "I'm ticklish!"
"That's for making fun of me! And now redress!" He said in a dark voice.
"Only if you look away."
He turned and stared at the wall. "Happy now?"
She wrapped herself into the blanket and started dropping the wet clothes to the floor.
When she was about to pull the fresh shirt over her head she realised Yaten was staring at her.
"Please don't look at me like that."
"Why not?"
"It makes me feel uncomfortable." (*BIG GRIN* I'm slightly SW addicted.)
She shuddered. "Please..."
He lifted his hands up in defence. "I'm turning." What has gotten into me?
When she was done they sat near the fire.
For a whole time they sat there, staring into the licking flames.
Only thunder was audible next to cracking fire and light breathing.
Yaten sat with folded legs and absent eyes, Hotaru had wrapped herself into the blanket with only the head visible.
Am I a monk? There's an attractive guy next to me and I'm hiding like a frightened child. What am I so afraid of?
Rejection, pain, tears... I can't love, I'm a soldier and only another soldier would understand me.
But somehow... somehow he was different to the boys she had known.
His heart hurt just like hers...
"Angel of darkness..." he murmured.
"What?"
"You- you're an angel of darkness. You cloud yourself with dark things. You prefer dark clothes, you have dark eyes, dark hair and right now we are sitting in the darkness."
She giggled a bit. "What makes you think I'm an angel?"
"You are perfect."
That was and would ever be the nicest compliment she had gotten.
"That's... charming." She smiled at him.
The licking flames reflected in his emerald eyes.
She rested her body against his and let herself be kissed by him.
This time she broke it and drove with her finger over his lower lip.
"You are too good for me", she whispered.
"I can be even better", he answered kissing her neck.
He glided with his hands over her body but only on the outside of the blanket so that he felt her curves but not her skin.
"Don't hurt me again..."
"I won't, I promise you."
"Otherwise I will show you my power", she murmured under her breath before she was able to realise that she just spoke of her second self.
A little nervous she glared at Yaten who grinned at her.
"I'll show you my power, firefly."
She smiled at him seductively- and laid her arms around his neck to drown into a deep kiss.
They rolled on the ground and the blanket Hotaru had wrapped herself in began to loosen.
When their skin touched for the first time, she felt a shiver running through her spine.
Her heart beat to her chest and she was sure he would notice her being extremely nervous.
But maybe she was just too nervous to realise his nervousness.
Wild raindrops beat against the window and filled the room with an electric rhythm.
Unsteady to the rhythm were the kisses on her body which filled her soul with pleasure and passion.
It didn't care now that they were both completely undressed and screaming implicitly for the lover's intimate touch.
Their hands entwined into a dance of love and lust reflecting their owners' wishes.
Her ivory skin seemed like red velvet having the fire's light on it and his ever-moving shadow was displayed on the walls.
Their music filled the room.
Hotaru had never felt like this before, her body was still here, but her mind had melted away with that of her lover.
Her throat arched from the forceful need of air.
Never before she had been so satisfied.
Yaten had wrapped his arms around her and could feel her chest moving up and down.
He was out of breath and totally exhausted- but he was content.
Hotaru awoke in the midth of the night.
She felt a cold shiver and realised that the fire had went out.
In the darkness she began to search for her clothes.
Her head was still full of strange sensations and irresistible urges.
The happenings of just a few hours before went through her mind.
"What are you doing?" A hoarsy voice asked.
"I- I don't know..." She stammered.
From the little light coming from outside she could see that he had set up and now stared at her. " You intended to leave, didn't you?"
"I was thinking about it, yes."
"Why? What is wrong?"
"Nothing..."
"Why would you leave then or were you just interested in a one night stand?"
"What do you think I am? A prostitute?" she prompted out.
"Just tell me why you wanted to leave."
She sat down next to him and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. "Maybe because I'm afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"I- I thought you..." she broke the sentence which frustrated him.
"I would do what? How did I frighten you?"
She tried to avoid his gaze.
"How did I hurt you? I didn't intend to."
"I was afraid you... you would reject me the other morning."
"How do you come to think that? I fell for you the moment I first met you and I'm sorry I caused you so much pain but that will have an end now. Please trust me."
"I will trust you." She smiled and leaned her head against his bare chest.
In correspondence he embraced her.
Both took in the moment of warmth and the feeling of being loved.
But one day changed everything.
I lost everything I loved.
Nobody survived, only me.
I suffered because of the loss.
I got hard-hearted, cynical and introverted.
I decided nobody should get close to me, nobody." Except for Kakyu-hime he said to himself. He had not lied to Hotaru. And he hoped that she would understand him.
"That's..." She whispered. "Touching. I do feel with you."
"I was lonely all my life."
"Me too..."
"Why? How was your life so far?"
"More complicated than yours, it's pretty hard to explain."
"Would you try; nevertheless", he added, "for me?"
"My father is a professor, he led his own university and lacked the time to care for me. During an experiment something went wrong and my mother died. After that I grew up at friends."
This wasn't the truth, she knew, but she could hardly tell him that she died once and was reborn.
"It seems that the only thing I can do is hurt other people."
"That's not true. It's also very difficult for you to deal with your feelings."
"Yes, but you... you suffered as much as I did and still don't push people away."
"Because I'm a living being and as long as you are a living being you're also able to love."
At the sound of this word he glanced at her.
"Right. I should not drown in my sadness. That would be stupid."
"Yes, it's stupid."
She threw a stone into the water and saw little waves forming.
"I really do like you", she continued, "but I think we should remain friends." She tried to hide herself again.
He ignored her last remark. "It's just as if I have known you for much longer."
"Yes..." she whispered. Maybe our destinies are someway connected Hotaru thought.
The first drops of rain fell.
"It's starting to rain!" She exclaimed.
He looked up into the sky and saw dark clouds. "This is going to be a storm. Do you live far away from here?"
"Yes. Would possibly be an hour by car regarding the traffic."
"Alright. My apartment is just a few blocks away."
They started to walk when the rain got worse.
"Run!" She shouted.
"Oh, I hate physical activities!"
She started to laugh. "You're goin' to get wet by sweat or by rain, your choice."
"Don't tell me ya like sports!"
They continued running and stopped in front of a sky-scraper.
"Uh, I'm wet to my bones."
"Me too."
Yaten switched the light on and Hotaru was stunned.
The room was big with a large window allowing a good look over Tokyo's city.
"Wow." There was a inviting fire place in the middle.
Reprints of great painters hang on the walls.
"This is your apartment?"
"Yes, I share it with my brothers. Glad you like it. Should I prepare something warm for us?"
"Yes please. A coffee would be nice."
"I'd be right back."
"Should I help you?"
"No, thanks."
Before he could disappear into the kitchen the light went off followed by lightening and loud thunder.
Hotaru shuddered.
"Yaten! What was that?"
"I'd just say something hit the electricity thing. So much about our coffee. Where are you?"
"Near the fire place."
"Alright. Make yourself at house and I'll grab some blankets for us."
"Yes."
She heard him leave the room and return.
"Here."
"Thanks. Maybe we should make a fire else we will be ill until tomorrow."
"I say that I have never used this thing and I expect the power to be back immediately."
"Do you mind trying?"
"No, not at all. If you help me."
She leaned over to light on a match when he touched her skin.
"Hotaru, you are soaking wet. You're really goin' to be ill tomorrow. I'll get a shirt so that you can get out of these clothes. You can manage this alone?"
"Of course, Yaten."
After a few minutes a fire enlightened the room dimly and she saw him returning with something in his hands.
He had also changed and now wore a shirt with boxers.
She giggled.
"What?"
"It's just the print- teddy bears?"
"Something against bears?"
"No!" She started to laugh.
"Oh you!" He caught her and tickled her.
"Stop it!" She screamed. "I'm ticklish!"
"That's for making fun of me! And now redress!" He said in a dark voice.
"Only if you look away."
He turned and stared at the wall. "Happy now?"
She wrapped herself into the blanket and started dropping the wet clothes to the floor.
When she was about to pull the fresh shirt over her head she realised Yaten was staring at her.
"Please don't look at me like that."
"Why not?"
"It makes me feel uncomfortable." (*BIG GRIN* I'm slightly SW addicted.)
She shuddered. "Please..."
He lifted his hands up in defence. "I'm turning." What has gotten into me?
When she was done they sat near the fire.
For a whole time they sat there, staring into the licking flames.
Only thunder was audible next to cracking fire and light breathing.
Yaten sat with folded legs and absent eyes, Hotaru had wrapped herself into the blanket with only the head visible.
Am I a monk? There's an attractive guy next to me and I'm hiding like a frightened child. What am I so afraid of?
Rejection, pain, tears... I can't love, I'm a soldier and only another soldier would understand me.
But somehow... somehow he was different to the boys she had known.
His heart hurt just like hers...
"Angel of darkness..." he murmured.
"What?"
"You- you're an angel of darkness. You cloud yourself with dark things. You prefer dark clothes, you have dark eyes, dark hair and right now we are sitting in the darkness."
She giggled a bit. "What makes you think I'm an angel?"
"You are perfect."
That was and would ever be the nicest compliment she had gotten.
"That's... charming." She smiled at him.
The licking flames reflected in his emerald eyes.
She rested her body against his and let herself be kissed by him.
This time she broke it and drove with her finger over his lower lip.
"You are too good for me", she whispered.
"I can be even better", he answered kissing her neck.
He glided with his hands over her body but only on the outside of the blanket so that he felt her curves but not her skin.
"Don't hurt me again..."
"I won't, I promise you."
"Otherwise I will show you my power", she murmured under her breath before she was able to realise that she just spoke of her second self.
A little nervous she glared at Yaten who grinned at her.
"I'll show you my power, firefly."
She smiled at him seductively- and laid her arms around his neck to drown into a deep kiss.
They rolled on the ground and the blanket Hotaru had wrapped herself in began to loosen.
When their skin touched for the first time, she felt a shiver running through her spine.
Her heart beat to her chest and she was sure he would notice her being extremely nervous.
But maybe she was just too nervous to realise his nervousness.
Wild raindrops beat against the window and filled the room with an electric rhythm.
Unsteady to the rhythm were the kisses on her body which filled her soul with pleasure and passion.
It didn't care now that they were both completely undressed and screaming implicitly for the lover's intimate touch.
Their hands entwined into a dance of love and lust reflecting their owners' wishes.
Her ivory skin seemed like red velvet having the fire's light on it and his ever-moving shadow was displayed on the walls.
Their music filled the room.
Hotaru had never felt like this before, her body was still here, but her mind had melted away with that of her lover.
Her throat arched from the forceful need of air.
Never before she had been so satisfied.
Yaten had wrapped his arms around her and could feel her chest moving up and down.
He was out of breath and totally exhausted- but he was content.
Hotaru awoke in the midth of the night.
She felt a cold shiver and realised that the fire had went out.
In the darkness she began to search for her clothes.
Her head was still full of strange sensations and irresistible urges.
The happenings of just a few hours before went through her mind.
"What are you doing?" A hoarsy voice asked.
"I- I don't know..." She stammered.
From the little light coming from outside she could see that he had set up and now stared at her. " You intended to leave, didn't you?"
"I was thinking about it, yes."
"Why? What is wrong?"
"Nothing..."
"Why would you leave then or were you just interested in a one night stand?"
"What do you think I am? A prostitute?" she prompted out.
"Just tell me why you wanted to leave."
She sat down next to him and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. "Maybe because I'm afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"I- I thought you..." she broke the sentence which frustrated him.
"I would do what? How did I frighten you?"
She tried to avoid his gaze.
"How did I hurt you? I didn't intend to."
"I was afraid you... you would reject me the other morning."
"How do you come to think that? I fell for you the moment I first met you and I'm sorry I caused you so much pain but that will have an end now. Please trust me."
"I will trust you." She smiled and leaned her head against his bare chest.
In correspondence he embraced her.
Both took in the moment of warmth and the feeling of being loved.