Dark Love

By: Padfoot-chan

Thanks for the nice reviews; I am so glad that you like the story so far. I know about the bad grammar/typos but the problem is I type so fast and I never pay attention to what I am typing. I am in the process of reading the first and second chapter over so I can get rid of the typos and fix my grammar. Sorry, it annoys me when I find them later on. Trust me, I spend hours beating myself up because of the mess-ups. Also, I gave in to the total Japanese storyline. I am finally using everyones' Japanese name. Garcia is Felix and Jasmine is Jenna. I thought it was about time that I stopped fighting it, especially since this story is set in Japan. I really wanted to place it in Tokyo…gay capital of the world and everything. Over 700 popular gay Japanese bars in Tokyo. Eh heh. On with Ivan's chapter.

Maniac-Miko: I am glad that you like my story :3 And to answer your question, I like using the Japanese names as well as the Japanese names for the places. It is probably because I like to keep things as Camelot created it. Maybe it is also my little rebellion against the English adaptation. Sorry if it is too confusing. I like their Japanese names a little more as well, even though Robin's name is the only one that is actually a Japanese name. This is my current project now and until I can think of something to happen in the other stories, I am going to be working on this one for me. The third chapter should be done in a couple of days if writer's block doesn't hit me again XD

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Golden Sun characters. They belong to Camelot.

Warning: Shonen-ai a little later in the story. I sort of hint at it but not too much.

Read and review please.

Chapter 2: Light in Darkness

My plane landed in Sendai about an hour ago. I just came back from attending my grandmother's funeral in Hong Kong. I had to stay a little long than I planned to because the police were telling me about how she was murdered. They found her sitting in a chair; two puncture wounds in the side of her neck with all of her blood drained. Aside from the two small wounds in her neck, there was no other opening for the blood to be drained from. If my father had been alive to attend the funeral, he would have said that a vampire killed my grandmother. My father was very suspicious of supernatural things and would always jump to supernatural conclusions before even thinking that it could be explained naturally. I do admit, though, that this was a little too suspicious.

I walk through the sliding doors on the bottom floor of the airport, carrying my duffle bag in one hair and my laptop under my right arm. My mother said she would be sending someone to pick me up to take me home, even though our house is in Fukui. I still do not see why I had to take the plane to Sendai instead of just going to Fukui directly, it is closer to Hong Kong. Sighing, I set my duffle bag on the ground, set my laptop on top of it and put my foot over both of them before taking out my cell phone and dialing my friend's number, grateful that I had spent a year in Sendai before I went to Hong Kong. The phone rings a couple of times before the answering machine comes on. I sigh again, closing my phone and putting it back in my pocket. I wonder where he could be at this hour.

I go to pick up my laptop and bag again when a black sports car pulls up in front of me. I blink at it a couple of times and then the window rolls down, a pair of fiery brown eyes smiling up at me. "Jasmine? What are you doing here?" Jasmine was my friend's younger sister, a real stubborn girl but she knew when she was going too far and when to swallow her pride and apologize for something she had done wrong. She waved to me happily, climbing out of the car door and picking up my duffle bag and laptop.

"Garcia and I came to pick you up, of course. Your mother gave us a call a couple of days ago when you were still in Hong Kong and she asked us if we would be willing to look after you for a couple of years. You can stay at the academy that our parents run." I stare at her as she opens the back door to the car and set my bag on the floor and then my laptop on the seat behind the driver's seat. "I know it may come as a shock, and we did want to tell you about it before you came back to Japan but your mother said it would be better this way. At least you would not be able to protest." I nod to this unable to say anything because my mind was numb with shock at this sudden news. I just come back from my grandmother's funeral and now I learn that I have to live away from my mother for "a couple of years". How long was that going to be? "It isn't so bad, is it, Ivan? I mean, you are going to be among friends. You can attend school at the academy and I am sure you will be able to go to Fukui when we have breaks. I am sure your mother did not intend for you to stay away from home forever."

"Jasmine, we should really discuss this on the way home." Said Garcia, leaning across the seat to look at us, an odd look in his russet eyes. He sounds like he is really in a hurry, like someone was following them. Jasmine smiled apologetically before turning around to look at me, grabbing my arm and dragging me over to the car, pushing me inside before I could begin to protest. "You look well, Ivan. I trust that the funeral service was not too much of a strain on you."

I smile weakly at him as I buckle up, "It wasn't so much the funeral but having to listen to the police report before and then after the funeral. I know it was just their job but they spoke about my grandmother as if she was not even a person. I suppose it was the fact that it gave me chills to listen to them talk that bugged me." Garcia nods and starts the car, pulling out of the airport and driving through the crowded streets. "I am just glad that my mother was too sick to attend the funeral. I do not think she would have been able to stand it and then all the questioning for the police. They wanted to know if my grandmother had any enemies. I am a little apprehensive of how she died, though. The investigator said that she had been drained of her blood and the only wounds on her body were two small holes in her neck."

Jasmine gasped and turned to Garcia quickly, her long auburn hair swinging around and she turned. Garcia narrowed his eyes but kept looking at the road, sweat breaking out over his pale forehead. Jasmine turned away, looking down at her hands in her lap as she grabbed folds of her skirt. I blink at them, wondering what I could have said to make the two of them act so strangely all of the sudden. I decided to continue when neither of them spoke. "They also said that she must have known whoever killed her because she was sitting in her chair, reading when she was murdered. I do not have any idea who would have wanted to have killed her though. My grandmother was nice and everyone who attended her funeral was crying. Then again, I do not suppose the person who killed her would have dared to come back to pay their last respects." The air around me was still tense. Jasmine and Garcia were hiding something from me, something dreadfully important. "So how have the two of you been?"

Jasmine was the first to break out of her daze. She smiles at me in the mirror and waves her hand to me. "You know me, I'm still going out with Gerald, much to Garcia's disappointment. He thinks Gerald is not good enough for me or something. However, you know what, Gerald is one of the top students at the academy. Mother and Father are really proud of the progress that he has made since he first came to Sendai." Garcia harrumphed but chose not to comment further on Jasmine's praise of her boyfriend. From what I heard from Garcia the last time I was in Sendai, it seemed that Jasmine and Gerald had been dating since they were in elementary school. Garcia had always disapproved of his younger sister dating Gerald, but I think that if anyone else were dating Jasmine, he would treat them the same as Gerald, if not worse. "And Gerald's mother had another baby. It is a girl and she is just the cutest little thing that I have ever seen. I was able to see her when I went to England with Gerald a week ago. I came back because I had to see my favorite little prodigy when he returned to Japan." Her favorite little prodigy. That is what she likes to call me sometimes. I took a placement exam for the academy when I first came here and it showed that I would have been put in the most advance class, with Garcia. My mother did not want me to attend the academy, though. She had just wanted me to get a feel for another city other than Fukui, where I had spent most of my life. "I also thought you could use a shoulder to cry on but it seems that you have been taking the death of your grandmother very well."

I laugh weakly, rubbing the back of my head as my cheeks redden. "You think so. Maybe it is because I had to listen to the police report so many times that it does not seem real anymore, is sort of feels more like a dream that I am going to wake up from any minute. I am still waiting for my grandmother to call me from Hong Kong and tell me it was all a joke that my mother planned to get my mind off her sickness." I lean back against the car seat, pushing my bangs out of my eyes. "That is probably why my mother is making me stay at the academy for so long."

"There might be something else." Said Garcia simply making Jasmine and me look over at him, wondering if he was going to elaborate more on the statement. When he did not say anything more to this Jasmine sighed, shaking her head.

"Garcia can be so cryptic sometimes, it is really starting to get annoying." She said, turning around in her seat and smiling back at me. "I am really glad that you're here, Ivan. I have really missed you and a lot has changed around the academy. You should see how much Sheba has changed in such a short time and she has gotten a lot smarter. I know she is not your type and all but, you should go on at least one more date with her. She seemed quite taken with you last time, even after you dumped her. And you never know, you might like her now that she has matured a little bit." I let out an exasperated sigh.

"Jasmine, I really do not feel like going out and having a good time with someone like Sheba. Our personalities clash so much that I am afraid if she says something I do not like or agree on, I might leave her at the restaurant or wherever we go to and take the car before she can run after me." I smirk at the thought, getting too much pleasure in the idea of ditching the girl with the bill at some expensive restaurant. "I do not like Sheba, I didn't even like her as a friend when I first met her. She was too hyper and annoying, sort of like Garcia's ex-girlfriend on a sugar high." Garcia coughed at this, glancing back at me with a disgruntled look. "I don't care how much Sheba has changed, I still won't want to go out with her. My tastes are a little more…different now. Besides, I do not want to date anyone right now. I want to concentrate on my studies. I need to get my mind off things for a while."

Jasmine pouted, "Aw, come on, Ivan, the two of you would make such a cute couple." Garcia rolled his eyes and poked Jasmine in the side of her ribs, making her turn around and glare at him, puffing up her cheeks. "What'd ya do that for?"

"Because Ivan is too much of a gentleman to tell you to shut up. I, on the other hand, am your brother so I do not have to act like a gentlemen around you." Explained Garcia, smirking slightly before he continued, "Now, stop badgering poor Ivan. He had a long flight from Hong Kong and I seriously doubt that he wants to be set up with Sheba after returning from a funeral. Besides, she is annoying." Jasmine stuck out her tongue and smirked at Garcia. I knew that smirk. She was plotting something against Garcia. Sibling rivalry, after spending a year with them, I was more than used to them arguing.

"Alright, Garcia, let's change the subject to something else, shall we?" she asked, still smirking at him. I furrowed my brow, wondering what she could possibly be planning. "How is your current love affair with Picard? Have the two of you gotten to third base yet?" The car swerved, throwing both Jasmine and myself into the car door before Garcia regained control of the vehicle. He turned to his sister, eyes wide and his cheeks crimson.

"I told you not to talk about that! It's embarrassing!" Jasmine giggled, patting his shoulder and making him turn his attention back to the road before we crashed.

"Aw, Garcia, you're so cute when you blush." She teased him, "It isn't anything to be embarrassed about, really. Oh, wait! I see Gerald. Drop me off at the corner here." Garcia pulled over and Jasmine hopped out of the car, "I'll get a ride with him back to the academy. I'll see the two of you there."

"I thought you said you wanted to hang out with Ivan." Grumbled Garcia. I wave my hand at this, dismissing Jasmine so she can run off to Gerald.

"It's alright, Garcia. I was thinking about taking a walk around the town anyway, you know, check out the sites and all that." I smile reassuringly at the confused look he gives me before starting down the street again. "I did that a lot when I was in Hong Kong. I hated being cooped up in that house with only my cousins for company. I'm still used to being able to go out and take a walk for a couple of hours."

"Well, if you say so. I do not stay out too late, though. There have been strange murders happening all around Japan lately. I doubt that you have heard about it because it only started happening a while ago." Garcia turns in to a large driveway, pulling through an old wrought-iron gate and along a cobblestone driveway. The academy is an old mansion that used to belong to one of Garcia's rich ancestors. Garcia and I are related because the ancestor that built this mansion was my great-great-great-grandmother's brother. That was the reason I was staying in the academy before I went to Hong Kong, aside from wanting me to get a feel for another city, my mother had also wished for me to learn a little from the teachers here as well as getting to know my relations.

I step out of Garcia's car, brushing back my bangs as a breeze blows them in to my eyes. I look up at the five story building, whistling at it as Garcia steps out of the car, opening the door on his side and grabbing my bag and laptop. "Do you want anyone to go with you?" he asks, walking around the back of the car. I wave my hand and hurry along the walkway to the gate, waving back to him when I reach the gate.

"I'll be just fine. I think I will head over to the park for a little while. I will probably be back before sundown, but if I am not, do not worry about me. You know how slow I can be when I am thinking. I normally don't get back before dark when I am out for a walk anyway." I turn around and hurry off.

"Ivan, wait—" I hear him start to say as I round the corner. I glance down at my watch and sigh. The sun should be setting in about half an hour. That does not really give me enough time to head over to the park but I would like to see the cherry blossoms if they were in bloom. Plus, I did tell Garcia that I might not be back before sundown so he should not be too worried about me.

I wonder down the crowded street, neon store signs coming on here and there, as the sky takes on a purple hue. The streetlights flicker on as I turn another corner, walking down a steep hill. I can see the park a few blocks away from me and the cherry blossoms are almost in bloom. I wish my mother could be here when they blossom, she loves watching the sakura trees bloom. If her condition is still as bad as it was when I left Fukui, she might not be able to get to watch the sakura trees there either.

I let out a sigh and continue down the hill, the sun sinking below the mountains before I can reach the park. I glance down at my watch to check the time again, still walking down the street when I run in to someone turning the corner. I stumble backwards, tripping over my feet when the person I ran in to grabs my arm, saving me from falling to the concrete. I lean forward, breathing a sigh of relief as the person pulls me close. "Thank you for helping me." I breathe, "I'm sorry about running in to you, though. I should have been paying better attention…to where I…was going…" I look up and freeze. Beautiful, pale blue eyes staring down at me with almost a dead look in their depths but perhaps that is what makes them look so beautiful. My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears, I am sure that he can it as well. My is this man so…

He lets go of my wrist, letting it drop back down to my side. He side steps and glances back at me, pausing for a moment, "You should be more careful, kid. There is a murderer out on the streets. You do not want to be killed at such a young age, trust me. Go home." I turn around to walk him walk away gracefully, heat creeping up my cheeks. Something about that man was not normal…I just cannot place my finger on it. Something about he did not seem human…

I slowly turn back around and continue down the street to the park. I return to the academy after spending an hour in the park, just walking around and getting used to Japan again. When I returned, Garcia's mother practically attacked me, asking me if I was okay, if I had met anyone strange or felt as if someone were following me. When she was satisfied that there was nothing wrong with me, she led me to the common room where Jasmine, Garcia, Picard, Mary, and Gerald were sitting around in couches near a large fireplace. Jasmine jumps up and runs to me, throwing her arms around my neck and pulling me into a tight hug. "Jasmine…I can't breathe! You're hugging me too tightly." I gasp as she removes her arms from my neck.

"I was so worried about you! Why didn't you let Garcia or someone go with you? Garcia told me that he warned you about all those strange murder cases, why didn't you listen to him? You could have been killed out there tonight." She started crying, rushing over to Gerald and crying on his shoulder. I blink at them. They all looked so serious about this.

"The killer stuck again, while you were out. The reporter said someone saw that it was a man, about six-foot-one, looked to be about in his late teens, with white-blonde hair. The woman did not get a very good look at the man so she wasn't able to tell what the man's eye color was." Explained Picard as I dropped down in to one of the chairs. "The murder was near the park and the media wasn't allowed to release the sex of the victim, so we naturally could not rule you out. You really had us worried, Ivan. Garcia was going to send us out to go looking for you if you didn't come back soon."

"I am sorry that I worried all of you but what would have done if the killer was after me? He might have just killed you as well. You know, get rid of the witnesses." They all exchanged odd looks before turning back to me, Jasmine still crying on Gerald's shoulder.

"We are stronger than you might think, Ivan." Smiled Mary, "We can handle ourselves against one murder, you might just be surprised at what we can do. Next time, please allow one of us to accompany you when you go out for a night stroll. It would be much safer for you to travel with someone." So much for being alone with my thoughts, "Could I perhaps come with you next time? We could talk if you would wish to do so."

I smile weakly, "That would be nice. Thank you, Mary." Picard turns to Garcia, smiling. Garcia clears his throat.

"Why don't we play some board games to get Ivan used to us again. I hate awkward moments. Jasmine, stop your blubbering. Ivan is just fine."

"Stop being a heartless bastard, Garcia!" Jasmine yelled, grabbing a pillow from the couch and throwing it at his head. Garcia grabbed it before it could hit his face and threw it back at his sister, managing to hit Gerald instead. Gerald stood up, grabbing two pillows and grinning at us.

"Pillow fight!" He launches the pillow at Garcia, only to have him knock it aside, hitting Picard. Picard whacks Garcia in the face with another pillow Mary grabs the pillow next to her, throwing it at me to get me to join them. I grab the pillow I was sitting on and throw it at Gerald, our laughter filling the air as the night settles in around us.

One must remember, without life there can be no death. No death without life. And just as well, there can be no darkness without light. And with light, comes darkness in the form a shadow. It is a natural part of life and no one can fight it off. So why bother being depressed when you can live life to the fullest while you are still alive. I never want to be depressed. No matter how bad things are, I always want to walk through this world with a smile on my face. Because, there are people who love me and want to see me happy. I want them to be happy so I will always walk with a smile on my face. For them.

-TBC-

I didn't want to make Ivan angsty like I usually do in my stories; I wanted him to be happy. Robin is the one that is going to give off most of the angst but that is later and I don't want to give any the rest of the story because I don't have a clue where this is going either ::weak laugh:: But trust me, Robin and Ivan are my favorite couple so you know they are going to be together eventually. Plus, I know that Robin's hair is sandy blonde but I think being turned into a vampire might change it up a little bit and I love white-blonde hair and I thought it would compliment his eyes a little better now that they are "piercing blue" still pale blue but like he explained in the first chapter, they seem to give off the ability to piece into someone's very soul. And please notice how Robin did not kill Ivan but killed someone else instead, sparing him. ::nudges Robin:: Ohhh yeah. Oooooh yeah.

Robin: Just get Moonchild already.

Gackt-sama! Hyde-sama! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Read and review please.