Dragon Soldiers:: The Stranger

It had been about a week since Miya and Ryu had said a word to each other. When they would pass each other in the halls sometimes Ryu would flash a warm smile in Miya's direction, but they would never say a word to one another. Perhaps it was because Ryu and Miya were comfortable with being friends. To see a smile such as that on Ryu's usually cold face was rare but deserving.

Miya was gazing into the corner of her room. She was lying on her bed in the midst of the second messiest room in Japan (second only to Ken's). She always tried her best to keep her wing of the room clean, but Kazuki's "junk yard" always seemed to flood on over to her side. The room had blue and white striped print wallpaper that had been there since Kazuki and Miya could remember. They had always hated it and now it was peeling from age and a bit discolored. The blue rug they had wasn't old but it definitely needed cleaning.

For some reason on Kazuki's portion of the room the blinds were always kept closed so the space was always a little dark. Miya didn't want them open either, she liked the privacy from the outside world. Their room was their haven from the hustle and haste in the cradle of humanity.

Miya was wearing sunglasses and listening to her favorite American CDs. She closed her eyes behind the shades as there were a couple of firm knocks at the door. She couldn't hear them over her music. Then there was another knock. The person slowly creaked open the door and peaked in.

It was Ryu, wearing a white, sleeveless tee and blue jeans. When he saw Miya, he chuckled, she looked ridiculous. Her blonde, curly locks were scattered here and there around her face. She was wearing an over sized t-shirt --- probably Kazuki's (which would be too big for him anyway) --- and small denim shorts. Miya was smacking on pink bubble-gum and humming the melody to the song she was listening to.

Ryu struggled to get into the room. Miya obviously had no idea that she wasn't the only one in the bedroom. Ryu figured this, and wasn't gonna waste this chance to pull a good one on her. So he crept up to her bed side and stealthily grabbed at her sunglasses and snatched them from her face.

"What the hell?!" She shouted as she jumped up from her bed. Her face was red as a beet. "Oh, it's you Ryu," she paled.

Ryu chuckled again, "Don't sound so happy to see me, huh? You know, you shouldn't wear sunglasses inside a building. It's bad for your eyes." He stated.

Miya shrugged, "I'm happy to see you!" She paused, "Hey! I like my sunglasses!" She hesitated again as there was an uncomfortable silence surrounding them.

"Okay, this is taking too long. Miya-san, aren't you going to ask me why I'm here?" Ryu urged.

"No?" She replied dumbly. Miya scratched her head confusedly, "But while we're on that subject, why are you here?"

Ryu sweatdropped, "Can I sit?" He asked.

"Sure," Miya scooted over closer to the head of her bed. Ryu sat down carefully and his reddish brown eyes looked firmly into Miya's. "Well? I'm guessing your wanting to ask me something?" She foresaw.

"Oh, yeah, I was wondering... Could we hang out sometime?" He returned nervously.

"Oh! Is that all? Of course! I'd love to hang out," She giggled.

"Aww, now I feel stupid for asking." Ryu put on a pathetic face and scratched his neck.

Miya laughed, "Tch, see, you can be funny when you try." She gave a playful wink and stuck out her tongue.

"Yeah, well, only around you," Ryu smiled. He looked up, "So! I was wondering. Do you wanna go to the park? Ken tells me you're addicted to the-," Ryu turned, ready to face Miya, but she wasn't sitting next to him anymore.

"I'm ready!" She caught his attention and he sweatdropped. She had put back on her sunglasses and had slipped off her shirt that wore a pink tank-top underneath it.

Ryu's eye twitched, "Ah...O...Kay."

Miya grabbed Ryu's wrist and pulled him up hurriedly, "Cummon! Let's go!" She rushed out of the room dragging him behind her. As the door flew open it came into brutal contact with Kazuki's face. "Huh?" Miya stopped in her tracks and let go of Ryu's wrist. The door slowly swung back to its former fixation.

"Ow..." Kazuki groaned. Ryu had to muffle his laughter. The look on Kazuki's face was priceless.

"Oh my God! Kazuki, I am so sorry!" Miya's eyes widened humorously.

"Owww..." He groaned even louder, covering his face with his hand. "Where are you two off to in such a hurry?" He asked, still covering his face.

Miya grinned, "The park! Do you wanna go?"

Kazuki removed his palm from his face and showed a painful expression, "Why not? There's nothing else to do since I can't find Ken anywhere."

"Your okay with that, right Kasai-kun?" Miya smiled bright and innocently. (A/N:: Just in case I haven't mentioned it, Kasai is Ryu's family name)

Ryu growled softly and then shrugged, "Sure." He then turned towards the door and walked outside bluntly. As Kazuki rubbed the bump on his head he rose an eyebrow in Miya's direction. She brushed it off, then turned and followed Ryu out the door.

Ryu had his fists shoved down into the pockets of his jeans. His face was cast towards the ground and his dark hair covered his perturbed expression. He walked slowly next to Miya who strolled on with a skip in her step. Kazuki, who was to the left of Miya rubbed his flaming forehead. They were almost to the park and had been totally quiet all the way there except for a few of Ryu's usual low growls and moans.

Miya looked at Ryu, then at Kazuki questioningly. "What's with you two? Are you both going to be silent all day?"

Ryu didn't even look up. He just kept facing down at the cement as if he was in deep contemplation. Kazuki on the other hand asked, "So, then what do we talk about?"

"Um...I don't know," was all Miya could muster up, so she hung her head.

Kazuki shook his, but then he lightened up when he saw a hotdog stand nearby, "Awesome! They're selling hotdog's today! I've been starving! Is anyone else hungry?"

"Not me," Miya responded, "how about you Ryu?"

"No," he huffed. Then his stomach gave a long, ominous growl. He sweatdropped.

Miya giggled, "Sounds like your stomach would beg to differ, now wouldn't it? Go ahead if you're hungry. I'll stay right here." Ryu gave a wry smile and then followed after Kazuki. Miya hummed to herself as she waited.

"You!! Kamisaka-san! Over here!" a voice called. The voice was male. It had a familiar tone, Miya could tell, yet distant like an old friend long forgotten.

"What?" Miya playfully spun around. In an alley between two buildings was a dark figure.

"Hurry! Come here Kamisaka-san!" The voice called to her again.

"Who are you? And how do you know my name?" She cautiously stepped closer.

"It matters not who I am. You are Kamisaka Sen Miya and are 14 years old. This year you will be attending Miyazaki High School for the first time. You have a younger twin brother by five minutes named Kazuki. You both were born-"

"How do you know all that?" Miya shivered.

"Don't worry. I can tell your fear from your aura. Do not be scared, you are not in any danger."

Miya looked back at Ryu and Kazuki. Kazuki had spilt ketchup on his new shirt and Ryu was now ordering, paying absolutely no attention to Kazuki. She hesitated then slowly paced over to the figure. When she was only but two feet away, the boy grasped her fragile wrist and pulled her into the dark alleyway. Miya opened her mouth to scream but the boy promptly covered it with his palm.

"Maietoma eno-sha," he muttered darkly. He then let go of Miya's mouth, but still held solidly but gently to her arm. Miya once again opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Her face paled in horror.

"Now, TIME BARRIER!" His voice echoed. Miya still struggled to say something when there was a sudden white flash of vast, streaming light. Her eyes widened as it passed. She felt as light as a feather and everything seemed to disappear until the light was totally dismissed. Of all things, she could tell as she looked around, time had stopped, everything other than he and herself. She could see the fountain in the park, its spewing water had stopped in mid air. The birds flying from tree to tree had also. Miya's eyes drifted away from the still figures and onto the young man in front of her. He had a handsome face, but his eyes were dark, cold, and distant. In the front, his raven black hair reached as far as the crook of his neck, but passed his ears it was short. His skin had a creamy complexion but the light made it seem paler. His clothes were dark; an army green vest over a black t-shirt. His black shorts came knee high and were full of pockets.

Miya's sapphire blue eyes met his dark ones for a moment. His eyes somehow seemed relaxing to her; calming, and she fell helpless to them. Her body became weak and she allowed her guard down. Miya's knees locked and then gave way, "Oh..." the stranger heaved as he caught her in mid-fall. He then carefully knelt her down.

"I apologize if you're hurt Kamisaka-san," he took from one of his many vest pockets a capsule. Quickly he tapped it on his palm and twisted off a cap that had strange symbols engraved into it. The boy put the cap inside another pocket and pulled out a long strip of paper from the capsule with even more cryptic symbols on them. It was a scroll. "Quickly, tell me, can you read this?" He knocked his fist on the ground and the previous numbness Miya felt in her throat left her.

She gently touched her neck and the boy showed her the scroll. Miya looked closely at it, "I don't think...Um...this line, does it say, 'the Chosen Ones and dragons'? Um...and this line, 'Draco's Revolution, war of colliding worlds-'"

"That's enough, thank you," he muttered. "Do you have any idea of what you just read from?"

"No..." Miya's voice drifted away out of confusion.

"I did not think so. That was of the old scrolls from a time before this. It tells of the times with far more detail than any of these twenty-first century literatures of yours. I do not have enough time now to explain the reason I am here, but I can give you these." He handed her two medium sized yellow envelopes. "These belong to yourself and your sibling. I took them from your guardian long ago when you first came here. Read them when you and he are alone. You must keep these safe and do not lose them or let them get in the wrong hands." Miya nodded then hung her head. This was too much and too confusing for her to take seeming responsibility in or for.

The young man placed his left hand atop of Miya's, resting on her knee. "My name is Nanashi," he told her. "If you ever need to talk to me at any time-for any reason-come here to the park alone. I can't have anyone else know who I am, do you understand?" The boy, Nanashi, squeezed Miya's hand casually. She nodded once more, then he added, "Kamisaka-san, do you trust me enough to be friends?"

Miya raised her head, "Nanashi?"

"Yes?"

"How do you know my name?"

"I knew you very well long ago. If you wish to know more, read that paper inside of the envelope and come to me if things are still not clear to you. But now I must go." He explained, then smiled sincerely. Nanashi helped Miya up and she brushed off some of the gravel from her bare legs. Miya gazed deep into Nanashi's eyes instinctively, "Kamisaka-san do not forget about me." He looked regrettable as he grasped one of her hands again. A tear dropped from Miya's eyes, "What's wrong Kamisaka?"

She quivered a bit, "I feel like I know you so well, but I've never seen you before! This is all so screwed up! And don't call me by that stupid last name of mine!!"

"Kamis—oh...Miya -san..." Nanashi watched her, not well expecting this reaction from her. She began to lament uncontrollably and released Nanashi's hand to cover her face and hide her tears. "It's alright. There is a reason to cry. It'll all make sense soon." He held out a comforting hand. Miya brought her hands down from her face and stared at him. She did not take his hand. Unconsciously, she stepped closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder and continued to cry. She thought to herself, 'He just has to be a good person! I just know he is!!' "Miya..." Nanashi had an amazed look on his face. But he soon sighed and relaxed. He wrapped one arm around her placing its hand on her shoulder. Then he took his other hand hesitantly and slowly took hold of her's. 'As unpredictable as ever Kamisaka-sama.' He thought.

"I'm sorry," Miya sniffled. Nanashi let go of her but his hand remained attached to her's. She backed away, her face totally flushed. "This is so not like me; I'm usually not this conceited or so dramatic...I...I guess you should be going, huh?" Miya looked away in embarrassment.

Unexpectedly Nanashi briskly and reverentially took hold of Miya's chin, "If you must, tell your brother who I am but do not bring him here with you to see me. He must not meet me yet. At least not until I know the truth. It is for the safety of the ourselves and the world..." She nodded, wanting desperately to know what "truth" he was talking about. She closed her eyes. She could feel some kind of security emanating from Nanashi onto her and it engrossed her mind.

'I know that I have to know this boy somehow,' she thought to herself. 'I have seen him in my dreams. His face lingers across my very being. This must be true...My heart has never lied to me before...'

"Goodbye Miya." Nanashi sighed, 'Are you sure?' He didn't know if he was asking himself or Miya. All he knew was that this could change everything he thought about the world. This was the first of a new emotion he had never felt before, except maybe, just maybe, in another life. Nanashi tilted his head to one side, then he covered his lips over Miya's. Miya was first surprised, but when the kiss finally sank in she could think of no one else but Nanashi and herself. Miya closed her eyes. She could feel his tongue lightly graze her lip...but when Nanashi thought twice about what he was doing to her- he let go. When he did, Miya backed away, her eyes still closed while lingering in her emotions. Nanashi cast his hand back at once and everything that was still came back to life.

He kneeled down then caught Miya's hand one last time and kissed the back of it. Her eyes fluttered open. "Don't forget," Nanashi uttered. He effortlessly jumped atop the fire escape and disappeared aloft the building.

Miya touched her warm lips. "My first kiss," she muttered.

"Miya! Miya where are you?" Kazuki called. Miya turned and saw Kazuki scanning the area around him. Ryu stood, mildly worried, with arms crossed while Kazuki searched. Miya ran towards them.

"I'm right here!" She shouted.

"Where in hell have you been?" He grabbed her by the arm roughly by accident.

"Um...I uh...There was a cat. It was stuck, so I helped it." Miya lied and gave a fraudulent laugh. "I didn't mean for you both to worry."

Kazuki raised an eyebrow, it seemed farfetched. "Alright," he shrugged. Ryu tightened the grip of his folded arms, unsatisfied with Miya's excuse. He had heard a lot of sorry evasions in his life but Miya's was so half-witted that it was on the verge of imbecilic. He knew she was hiding something big to keep it from them both.

On the way back from the park they laughed about the attack of the evil ketchup bottle. Even Ryu forced a chuckle. They all walked up to the double doors of the orphanage together and then went their separate ways as they got inside. Kazuki was on his way up the stairs to one of his other friend's room when Miya comically grabbed at the collar of his shirt and literally pulled him back down the stairs.

"What-are-you-do-ing-Ouch!!" Miya dropped him. "What was that for?" Kazuki shouted.

"I need for you to come back to our room," she whispered secretly.

"Well you didn't have to do that. This is the second time today that you've caused me grief by physical pain," Kazuki rubbed his head and neck.

"I need to tell you something, so please hurry," Miya motioned towards their room.

Kazuki positioned himself on his bed while scratching his head.

"So the guy's name is Nanashi? Nanashi who?" He furrowed his brow seriously.

"Dunno, but he gave me these." She showed him the envelopes given to her earlier and handed Kazuki the envelope that had his name in Japanese writing on it. "He said to read what was inside and not to allow anyone else to see them, or for either of us to lose them." Kazuki nodded.

"Let's open them now," he advised.

"On the count of three?" Miya asked and Kazuki approved. "One... Two... Three..."