Wow! I didn't even come close to expecting this story to be so popular! You guys have been amazing and major thanks to everyone who reviewed. Well, here is the next chapter of my little fan fic, which is going to be about five chapters I think. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: If Demon Diary were mine, the last book would have been completely different and have a much higher rating.
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Raenef skipped happily through the crowded passages of the village, enjoying the rare burst of freedom he was given. Normally, he was surrounded by other stiff Demon Lords, by himself with Erutis and Chris, or unintentionally striking fear into commoners when they found out he was a Demon Lord. Here, no one seemed to care about his past or lineage. They just saw him as an ordinary kid and treated him as such.
Raenef pranced happily through the streets, followed closely by a frowning Eclipse, and examined the various things around him. Never had he seen so many trades displayed all in the same area. He saw people busy at work making fine weapons right there in the street, hammering away at chunks of metal that were transformed into wickedly curving blades in front of his very eyes. He saw jewelers who held out pieces of exquisite craftsmanship, asking prices that seemed far too modest for their beauty, or simply giving the crafts away when they felt they truly belonged with a certain person.
The smell of tantalizing food wafted to his nose and led him to a street packed with nothing but culinary masters. Entire roasted turkeys were being cut into sections and handed to the crowd, combine with barrels of ale and roasted corn still on the ear. Deserts too numerous to count were displayed for all to see, each one more exquisite than the last. Entire sculptures made of colored spun sugar were built and admired by the crowd as they munched on their buys. Piping hot pastries and pies were set out on long tables that stretched along the roads and Raenef ran along them, tasting a little of everything, unable to choose just one.
The night air was the exact perfect temperature needed to keep a crowd so large comfortably cool and it was always scented heavily with the beautiful Sakura blossoms. The torches and candles that flooded the village flickered with every breeze, but seemed to be kept lit by some form of wonderful magic that refused to let the enchanting atmosphere of the Festival be ruined. Raenef was already amazed with the Sakura Festival and he hadn't even seen the reason behind it yet. Winding his way deeper into bustling streets, he finally found himself at the very center of the village and was met with a sight that stole his breath away.
An ancient tree towered mightily in the center of the festivities, its great bows stretching so far up they seemed to tickle the midnight blue sky stretching lazily above. The trunk itself was so wide Raenef doubted a hundred people could ring it if they all held hands around its mighty perimeter. The leaves clinging to the branches were a bright summer green and looked as soft as morning sunshine. Thousands of blooming Sakura clustered over the boughs some fully bloomed while others were just barely beginning to open, though there was not a single wilted flower as far as the eye could see.
The Tree was the only part of the town not illuminated by torches, for there was no need to light it. Millions of tiny lights, which Raenef realized where blazing fireflies, bobbed and twirled through the branches, each giving off a tiny glow that combined with all the others illuminated the entire Tree. In addition to the fireflies, the blossoms themselves seemed to radiate with a glowing light that mimicked the lustrous rays the moon was shinning down on them in shimmering waves, making the blossoms look as if they were made of fragile light-catching glass.
Raenef's breath froze in his throat as his heart nearly stopped beating at the enchanting sight. He may have doubted Erutis' story before, but now that he had seen the Great Sakura Tree with his own eyes, he had no doubt in his mind that ancient magic flowed within its mighty boughs. The sight equally enchanted Eclipse, though he let none of his wonderment show through on his stony face. After several minutes had passed and Raenef showed no sign that he was ever going to move from that spot, Eclipse reached out and touched the boy's shoulder.
" Master Raenef, there is still much left to see before the Festival ends." Raenef started at his touch, and for some reason unknown to Eclipse blushed a pleasant shade of rose. He'd been thinking about what kind of vision he thought the Tree might send him come midnight. Raenef allowed himself to be led away by Eclipse, though he cast the entrancing Sakura Tree one final look over his shoulder, bidding it good bye until he would see it again at midnight. Raenef continued his admiration of the many different performers in the streets of the Festival. Every skill imaginable was portrayed in that one place. Everything from magicians to jesters to the different musicians Raenef had already admired.
Probably the ones that amazed him the most were the graceful dancers that seemed to appear from nowhere to gather around whenever a musician began to play. The dancers consisted of people from all walks of life, male and female, common and noble. Some were dressed in simply robes and kimonos while others wore costumes bedecked in beads and sequins and colorful fabrics. Woman wore flowers braided in their hair and had sashes tied around their arms that trailed after their movements, making great circles and spins in the air as they mimicked the motions of the dancers.
Some danced in pairs while others performed fantastic solos, telling entire stories with nothing but their bodies. Raenef wanted very much to join in, for more often that not the dancers randomly chose members of the audience and invited them in, but he knew he lacked the skill and nerve to do such a thing. He watched mournfully from the sidelines as the dancing storytellers twirled around him, tantalizing him with their sensuous movements and swan-like grace. They perfectly embodied the confidence and perfection he often wished he had.
Eclipse watched his little master carefully and felt his heart rip at the look of mourning on his usually bright face. He knew his master wanted to join in, but would never have the confidence to do so on his own. Eclipse watched his master for a little longer, knowing what he must do but being apprehensive of actually doing it. Finally, after taking a deep breath and willing away his instinct to kill himself for even considering going through with this, he turned to his master and extended his hand.
" Would you give me the honor of this dance, master Raenef?" Raenef blinked cautiously, Eclipse's words making absolutely no sense to him. As the proposal finally sunk in, Raenef let out a squeal of utter delight and grabbed Eclipse's hand, pulling the dark beauty to the middle of the crowd of dancers. Eclipse wondered briefly if it was too late to back out, but the look of utter bliss on his master's face was more than enough to quiet his pride. Raenef, being the cutie he is, was immediately surrounded by female dancers all of which wanted to be his partner, but a single death glare from Eclipse was all he needed to make them leave the two alone.
Raenef suddenly became shy, realizing that he was going to be dancing with Eclipse, but he found it was awfully hard to be uncomfortable around his enthrallingly beautiful servant. Eclipse stepped up to him, their bodies barely touching, and wrapped and arm around Raenef's waist. He caught Raenef's hand with his free one and stared into his shimmering summer eyes, drinking in their rich color and the look of surprised innocence they held at the sudden closeness of their bodies. Raenef cautiously put his other hand on Eclipse's chest and allowed himself to be led by the bigger demon, his eyes never leaving the amethyst pools that stared at him so hauntingly.
His heart beat quickened until it was thudding in his chest so loudly he was sure Eclipse could hear it. Raenef was completely unable to control the blushing that flooded his cheeks as Eclipse spun him through the complex motions of the dance as effortlessly as if they'd done this every day of their lives. He was completely oblivious to the people who had gathered around to watch the beautiful boy dance with the stunningly handsome man. He didn't even notice a certain female Sword master who was watching with more than mild satisfaction, noting how perfect the couple looked together and complimenting her skills as a matchmaker.
Raenef felt heat rush through him as Eclipse pulled him closer, their bodies swaying together in time to the music. He gazed up at Eclipse as their heads drew closer to each other, no more than a scant few inches apart. He felt as if he were drowning in a field of intensely dark violets, but it was only the fiercely sensuous look Eclipse was giving him as their eyes bored into each others, drawing them even closer together. Raenef swallowed hard as he heard Eclipse whisper his name. His warm breath tickled his ear and made shivers race down his spine and fire spread across his skin.
He felt his body melting as his servant's strong, muscled arms held him tight against his smooth chest. Raenef wanted to stay like this forever, in the warm embrace of his dark, stunning servant, being twirled under the midnight sky with the sweet perfume of Sakura blossoms surrounding him. Eclipse was finding it hard to keep a hold on his self-control. His master's tempting lips were so close to his, his summer eyes gazing up into his with such innocent trust. Eclipse wanted to kiss his little master like he'd wanted nothing else in his entire life. He wanted, needed, his master with a consuming intensity he'd never realized before.
He breath came in ragged gasps that he was grateful his master couldn't hear as he tried to hold back his desire. The more he kept it in, the greater his need to drink from his master's tantalizing mouth grew, until it was all he could think about. Raenef saw the hungry look that was growing in Eclipse's eye, but could not understand it. The idea that Eclipse might want him every bit as much as he did was just too profound a concept for him to grasp. As the music's pace became more urgent, so did the rhythm with which they pressed their bodies together, lust building within them with every smooth caress and heated touch that they danced over each other's skin, forgetting for a moment that they were surrounded by a gawking crowd of people.
The dance was coming to an end and both of them knew it, though neither wanted it to be true. These were the final moments they could have pressed so intimately together, then the dance would end and they'd have to separate and go back to being a servant and a master. For the last few moments of that dance, however, they were simply Raenef and Eclipse, two people more in love then any around them and yet they didn't even know it yet.
As the final note of the last song rang waveringly through the crisp night air, Eclipse pulled Raenef close in one final act.
" Raenef." He whispered in his ear as their mouths came within a tantalizing inch of each other's. Raenef's heart nearly stopped as he realized Eclipse meant to kiss him, but the final note of the song died suddenly, and they were met with total silence. It was then that the two remembered there was a crowd around them and they looked up to see hundreds of eyes watching them, waiting to see if the two would go through with the long-awaited kiss.
A groan rose up from the crowd as Raenef and Eclipse pulled awkwardly apart, the kiss never reaching its destination. Raenef avoided looking at Eclipse and stared at the ground, berating himself for letting his hopes get up and actually thinking that Eclipse was going to kiss him. In turn, the raven-haired servant was berating himself for not keeping a tighter reign on his emotions. Raenef gasped as he heard a nearby group of people talking about turning in since it was a few minutes from midnight. I have to get to the Sakura Tree! Raenef thought frantically.
He suddenly turned tail and took off into the crowd, making Eclipse stare after him in shock. Eclipse wondered for a moment if his rash actions had scared his master off. He decided that must be the case and felt unease wash over him. He needed to go apologize for his behavior that instant or his master might never trust him again. Eclipse ran after Raenef, completely oblivious to the real reason why Raenef had run off.
Raenef was running faster than he'd ever run before in his life, but seemed to be getting nowhere. He knew the Tree was at the center of the village, but he just couldn't seem to navigate through the streets well enough to find it. Every time he rounded a corner he seemed further and further from where he needed to be. Despair filled his heart as he glanced at the moon and could tell that midnight was quickly approaching. Raenef didn't know why, but he absolutely had to be under that Tree at midnight. He had to know who his soul mate was or he'd never be able to think of anything else again, including the beautiful servant he'd come to love intensely in the short time they'd been together.
This was Raenef's last chance to find the Tree, or he'd have to wait another thousand years for such an opportunity to come again.
To be continued.
Yeah, I know. You guys hate me for writing yet another cliff-hanger, but as long as you review regularly there will be no need for you to be left hanging for long. The next chapter is going to be VERY interesting, I'll tell you that much. Until then, thanks to all those who reviewed and a very merry ja ato de to you all. Sabishii!