Chapter One : The Master of None


Charles Gwyddion Terrin, alias Charlie, hereditary druid of the house of McCollough, stood quietly by the fireplace, staring at the dancing flames.


His 17th birthday party had just finished at 2am. After kissing his parents goodnight, he had gone up to his room. He had taken off his jacket and unbuttoned first two buttons on his starched white shirt. Putting his hands inside his pants pockets, he had then wandered towards the warmth of the fireplace.


The party had gone well. Everyone had gone home happy -- at least, most everyone did. Tomoyo Daidouji had gone home in a rather anxious frame of mind early that evening, escorted by Eriol Hiiragizawa in a rather thoughtful mood.


Eriol and Tomoyo. Charles smiled involuntarily. Those two are destined to keep each other company for a good long while. They just needed a little nudge in the right direction. That was why he couldn't resist chanting a small charm to clear the mind. 'It should be working right about this time.'


Suddenly, Charles' face became serious. It was very careless of him. Nakuru Akizuki had seen him. He didn't know if she recognized it for what it was or merely surprised to see something unusual. This happened at times, although very rarely. Not everyone can see auras. And not all those who see them know what they mean.


A simple charm like this shouldn't have been noticed as well. But he had seen her face then. She was surprised, definitely. Thinking quickly, he had asked her for a dance immediately before she can even begin analyzing what she had seen. For a while, she seemed confused and preoccupied. But in a few seconds, she just enjoyed the dance.


Charles chuckled. Now that he thought about it, the situation was a bit funny. He had been trying to avoid Nakuru for over a year now. She always reminded him of a butterfly, constantly flitting to and fro, flirting with every flower it meets. Her constant hugging and pestering made him avoid her like the plague. It was nothing personal, of course. He just wasn't used to such open-hearted public displays of affection. Besides, he didn't want her to get TOO close.


Charles sighed and walked toward the balcony. The moon was full and lit up the night. He put his hands on the marble railing and stared at the stars. 'I'm lonely...'


Was Grandfather ever this lonely? Obviously not. He said he met Grandma in his teens.


She was a gem. That's what he said.


In those days, some people still believed in magic and kept it alive. Nowadays, people get scared when you mention magic. Devil's making, some said. It was hard to find people who wouldn't be afraid of you.


Afraid of me.


If they knew, they would be.


His heart ached. There must be someone for me. Gods. What use is power... without love...


Charles curled his hands into fists. What's wrong with me? (Sigh) Maybe I'm just tired.


He moved away from the balcony, back to the darkness of his room.


@@@

Somewhere high above, in the shadow of the old oak tree beside the balcony, two pairs of eyes watched as Charlie's figure disappeared from view.


"I do not see anything unusual," Spinel Sun commented.


"Perhaps it was something random." Ruby Moon floated into the moonlight. "He may be one of those who merely dabble with magic."

"That would make him all the more dangerous to himself and to others."


"He certainly has the talent."


"We had better go back. I predict that our young Master would need us this night."


"True. Mistress should make up her mind soon. The Master deserves to be happy."

"We shall see." Spinel reared up and proceeded to fly into the night. Ruby Moon followed close by.


@@@

Charles watched in the shadows as the two flew off. Interesting. Two magical beings were spying on him. One looked like a huge cat, the other, a human form. Both had butterfly wings.


Butterflies, again. He had been preoccupied with butterflies recently for some reason. Perhaps the gods were telling him something.


"But right now, I have to get some sleep. I'll probably just do some divination tomorrow," he said aloud. With that, Charles sank into his bed without changing his clothes.


@@@

Charles was seven. Everyone was getting ready for his birthday party. He was very, very happy.

Granddad was coming to visit him. He loved his granddad very much. His Granddad was his bestest friend in the whole wide world. They always have lots of fun when they were together. Granddad would always have magic tricks to entertain him and his friends.

He remembered that day very well. He was waiting by the door. He was greeting his friends as they came in bearing him gifts. He was smiling and waiting expectantly for his Granddad to come. But he didn't. Surely he didn't forget. But he had to start the party, so Charles went inside anxiously.

The phone call came three hours later. His mom had answered it. A minute later, he had heard the front door slam and the car start. 

He had wanted to go and see what it was about. But he had guests. So he waited.

He waited until the party was over. He waited for three more hours.

Finally, his mother and father came... and told him. Told him his Granddad was dead. Dead from a sudden heart attack. Dead on his seventh birthday. Charles was in shock for three days.

On the third day, his Granddad's funeral was held at the old house. He wouldn't even go near the casket. Not until he was sure that no one was looking. Then he picked up a chair and peered in. Granddad was sleeping. He was sure of it. He poked Granddad on the shoulder. He didn't wake up. He didn't even wince, like he used to. Charlie punched his arm and shook him.

"Son."

His dad had seen him. He put his hands on Charlie's shoulders.

The tears just started flowing. He broke free from his father's grasp, climbed down the chair and ran outside. His father had wanted to follow but his mother held him back.

And so it was that Charles Gwyddion Terrin ran all the way back to the woods where he and his Granddad spent so much time together, learning about nature… and power.

When he reached their secret place, he stopped.

"BRING HIM BACK!!! BRING HIM BACK!!! YOU HEAR ME!!! BRING HIM BACK!!!" he shouted to the wind. But the wind only threw the words back to his face. His heart ached so badly as he sobbed and beat the bare earth. "Bring him back…"

@@@

Charles woke up breathing heavily. He could still feel the emotions coursing through him from his dream, or rather, his memory.

Damn it.

He tried to forget. He had tried to let it go. But it still managed to haunt him every year, on his birthday.

Charles looked at the clock. It was seven o'clock in the morning.

Five hours of sleep, almost. His head started to throb. He closed his eyes again. That's what I get for throwing big birthday bashes. Charles groaned and turned his head into his pillow. And fell asleep again.

@@@

Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun flew back home, to find their master in the garden all quiet and forlorn.

"Master, you look pale. Are you ill?" Ruby Moon had asked tentatively.

"Oh, Ruby Moon, Spinel Sun. Where have you been? No, I'm not ill. Just a little tired. Go on ahead. You two need to rest. I just need to think over some things. The garden is a good place for thinking."

Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun looked at each other.

*Something definitely has happened. Should we ask?*

*No, let him be. Some things are meant to be solved alone.*

*And Charles Terrin?*

* I believe we could do that on our own. No need to let the Master worry.*

"Very well, master. Call if you need us."

"I will. Now go and rest."

Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon went inside the house before transforming to their false forms. Nakuru climbed up the stairs, carrying Suppi in the crook of her arm. They went past Tomoyo's room. The light was still on.

Suppi flew out from Ruby Moon's arms.

"You go on ahead. I stay here and guard the door."

A sleepy Nakuru yawned. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, go on."

"OK. (yawn) Good night, Suppi-chan."

"Good night, Nakuru."

Nakuru made her way to her bedroom and closed the door. After a few minutes, she had herself changed into her pajamas. She sank gratefully into the bed sheets.

Good night, Charlie-kun. And in her dreams she gave him a kiss.

@@@

Nakuru shook her head to clear it of sleep. Pink tendrils fell all over her face. Carefully, she parted them and smiled at the sunshine that shone through the window. It was a wonderful morning.

Nakuru got up from the bed and started doing some stretching exercises. After a while she went to the window sill and stared at the willow tree just outside her window. Beautiful. The sky was blue, the leaves were green, and little birds were singing.

Then she remembered last night; the dancing, the music, the lights, Charlie-kun… Nakuru felt warm and tingly all over. So that's how it felt to be wrapped in somebody's arms. She smiled at the memory. Now if only the other boys would be as cooperative…

Come to think of it, Charlie-kun was really nice last night. He didn't run away like he used to. Why, HE even asked HER to dance. He did promise… notwithstanding the fact that she had seen his aura flare a beautiful blue. Did he notice that? Or was it just her imagination?

Whatever. She was going to enjoy that memory while it lasted. After all, who knows when she could get Charlie-kun to hold her like that again?

Humming a happy tune, Nakuru hopped her way into the shower. Just a wonderful day!

@@@

Charles had cried till the last of his tears went dry. Till there was nothing left. Then, he got up and wandered further into the woods, not aware of where he was going. All he knew was that he had to walk until the pain went away. And so he did. He walked and walked and walked, until it went dark and he was stumbling over branches and rocks; until his head was throbbing and light-headed from hunger and he had no strength left to walk. Then he lay down.

A few minutes later, he could hear people calling his name.

"Go away," he thought, "just leave me alone."

And they were gone; and he was alone and cold and he thought he was going to die.

A flash of red lit the little clearing at his right. He didn't care. He kept his eyes closed. Leaves rustled and a pair of arms went around him. He felt safe. He felt warm. He put his arms around the neck, or at least what seemed to be a neck.

"Granddad, am I dead?"

"Master. He is delirious." A female voice emanated from the body which held him.

"Perhaps he is the one they were looking for. We had better return him to his parents. But we should not be seen." This time it was the voice of a boy, although he sounded awfully mature.

"Yes, master." The slender arms around him tightened and his face was cradled on a soft shoulder. A sweet scent wafted up his nostrils, giving him motivation to open his eyes a crack. All he could see was butterfly wings. Large butterfly wings attached to somebody's back. They had begun to quiver, causing the air to move around them. They shot high up in the sky, where he promptly lost consciousness again.

He came to in a dark room. He was laying on a soft and very familiar bed, his bed, or rather, his Granddad's bed.

"Come on, we should go."

"Go on ahead master. I will merely tuck him in."

"Motherly instincts, Ruby Moon?"

"Shut up, Spinel Sun. Go on, master. I will just finish up."

"Very well. Spinel Sun, let us go. My mother and father will miss me."

A draft of air circulated the room. A blanket was thrown on top of him and carefully arranged around him. Charlie closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

A warm embrace encircled him. "Daijobu desu. It will surely be all right." And he felt as if it would. He sighed. He felt a soft kiss on his brow. "Sleep well."

He felt her move away. But he caught her arm before she could. He opened his eyes. All he could see was pink hair and butterfly wings.

"Will I see you again?"

"Perhaps." He could see a smile curve on her lips. "Now sleep."

She waved her hands in front of him. Instantly, his eyes were heavy and he felt comforted. A sweet scent of the forest enveloped him. He sank into a deep sleep.

@@@

Charles inhaled deeply and shot up from his bed.

He had forgotten about that! The butterfly girl! He had seen her before, sort of.

He looked around. He was still in his room. He sank back into the sheets. Thank God it was Saturday. No need to hurry. Butterfly girl can wait. I'm still too tired to think.

He lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling and remembering last night.

He caught himself smiling.

He did enjoy last night. He remembered how Ginnie tried to get him to herself the whole evening, and him trying to avoid her. And then there was Eriol and Tomoyo whom he played matchmaker with. Then there was Joseph Stratton, cracking jokes and generally making a fool of himself in the hopes that Anastasia Van Buren would care to look his way. And then, the girl he was trying to avoid the whole year was suddenly the one he wanted to be with the whole night…

"Nakuru." Charles said her name out loud.

He had found out that there was more to Nakuru Akizuki than met the eye.

She was far more intelligent than he had thought. Now that I think about it, she should be. After all, getting to third year psychology was not that easy a task. It was easy talking to her, like he had known her all his life. Plus, she could really dance. I suppose Eriol taught her. He could remember her smile, her enthusiasm. I guess her enthusiasm is contagious. Maybe I should be with her more often. Granddad would certainly approve.

Then he remembered the smell of her hair, the sway of her hips…..

He could feel his heart pumping fast.

Okay, hormones… We're treading dangerous ground. He took a deep breath.

I need to get laid.

Charles laughed into his pillow. Now he sounded like his friend Jeremy, the sex maniac/pimp. Jeremy had kept bugging him all night, telling him to take his pick. The girls were certainly crowding him last night. Thank God for Nakuru. Ironic how he felt safer with her than with the other girls. Maybe it's because she wasn't drooling over me…. Wait a minute. Why didn't she drool over me?

Charlie thought for a while. I'm not narcissistic am I? I mean, of course I'd want girls to drool over me. Not until now.

"Aaaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhh," he screamed into his pillow. Damn hormones. I don't want to think about this now.

He threw his pillow away and got up from bed.

Enough about Nakuru. She's too old for me.

He tried to stretch but his clothes restrained him.

Gods, I had forgotten. That was one long night.

He took off his clothes as he walked towards the shower.

~~~

Whew! That was long. I hope I got everything down right. Already ran spell check and grammar check on this.

 Whaddya think? PG or PG-13?

Thanks to June6 for the first review! I appreciate it.