Sorry, I had computer problems, and School PC is having one major bellyache. Well, looks like Soma was actually 18 in Aria of Sorrow – oops, well, I am not changing the age here. And to everyone who's guessing – keep guessing, it's getting fun!
****************
Soma was roosted quite nicely in the crook of the tree, a foot dangled lazily below him as he took in his surroundings.
The forest was sharp and vivid; the gentle wind seemed to caress his body as soft chirps and creeks echo faintly in the midst of these ancient trees.
It was... amazing what one can take in if they only stop for a moment. His azure eyes scanned the corpse of trees, seeing each leaf quivered and seeming to sigh with every touch of the wind – and the mimics crept among them, and despite Soma being able to see them – the sparrows seemed to have glossed over them in their search of food.
And much to his amusement as he looked down, it seems as though Benji wasn't really a natural redhead – that tan was his first clue. Was it brown, perhaps black? Didn't matter really, the albino thought to himself as he watched the smaller man twirled a fan-shaped gingko leaf lazily.
"So Cross..." The American was the first one to break the silence. "Now we're on the Shrine's land, what do you want to do now?" The dark hazel eyes looked up, a lazy smile spread across his boyish features.
"Call me Cruz or even Soma, don't call me cross." Soma murmured automatically. "I know Mina will help me... but her—"
"Her parents hate you?"
"No..." Soma started as he stared at his feet. It was the opposite, they like him—so much that they constantly tried to set him and Mina up to go date each other – an ideal neither of them found too much appeal in. They were almost like the aunt everyone can't stand but yet put up with for the lack of any real plan of handling her.
And well... with what happen – who knows what they might do... Would they want to turn me in – what do I do then? Just give up? The Albino thought to himself, his hand unconsciously grasped at the air – no, he can't just surrender, he ran too long, too far to just give up now – he tasted the sweet air of liberation that comes only when one is threaten with the loss of it – and he certainly did not want to lose it here, now, of all places and time.
"Cross?" Benji murmur quietly as he crept towards the dwelling. "I think I'll just see who's there, and I'll tell you if it's just this Mina girl or someone else, okay?"
"Say, Benji... Maybe you--" The azure-eyed young man sighed softly. No, they should split up – no sense in getting him involved more then he is already.
"Ain't going to go anywhere." The redhead quickly intercepted, and destroyed what the Spaniard was about to say. "In too deep, and I am sure you will probably flounder without some help! Besides, if I run now – what kind of person does that make me, Soma Cruz? Go on, say it."
Startled by the usage of his full name, the albino could not answer the question.
"A jerk, a genuine bona-fide jackass, that's what!" He stuck a thumb to his chest. "And there will be no way in hell is anyone going to have a good reason to call me either." The resolve in his dark hazel eyes was boundless – surely the taller young man would have more success with debating against a tree.
With that, Benji bolted for the house, and flicked on the intercom. I love these modern technology, he chuckled to himself as the intercom buzzed into life.
"Hello, is a Mina Hakuba home?"
"Yes, who is this?" The voice came back, a bit suspicious, and most certainly curious.
"Oh, a friend of a friend, is anyone else with you?"
Soma tensed as he waited for the answer.
Mina meanwhile was also tensing, was it the police again? No, they would have said so if they were from law enforcement. She looked behind her, and with a nod, she turned and answer the stranger.
"If your friend is who I think he is, tell him that the only one else here is another friend of his. Let me open the door." The petite woman unhooked the latches to her door, unconsciously brushing the strand of light red hair from her gray eyes.
"Cross?" Benji looked over, unsure about the turn of event.
"Mina wouldn't betray me, I know it." Soma replied shakily... for a moment, his mind nagged at him, and whispered of sinister scenarios, of friend turned enemy. Then he shook it away – he knew better, and he shouldn't let himself become paranoid.
"Hello, Mister... uh..."
"Benji Tsukiyobi, but call me Benji." The American-born man bowed.
"Soma, will you come out?" Mina called out softly, as she brushed a wrinkle from her blue turtleneck.
And he complied, and for a moment, he said nothing, and observed his childhood friend.
Mina was a year older then he is, and was about a several heads smaller – closer to Benji's paltry height of 5'6" then to his own 6'. The shrine keeper's daughter was quite pretty in a doll-like fashion, with her coppery hair in a pixie cut (though no longer wearing the ribbons she used to three years ago), dark-lashed large rain-cloud hue eyes, and small button-like nose, and pale creamy skin. Her frame was almost boyish, with slender hips and small chest, which made her even more doll-like. She wasn't a knockout or a ravishing beauty queen, but most men would probably take a second glance at her if she walked by. And she had the personality to complement her appearance.
"Oh! Thank god you're safe! Hurry up and get in, you two!" The redhead ushered the men in, and closed the door behind her.
The room was of average size, tasteful in it's eclectic style, and shows signs of life from the sagging cushions of the couch to the beautiful ink paintings that draped over the wall.
There was one other occupant.
Benji swallowed as he fought off a blush as he eyed the raven-haired man that sat regally and stiffly in the armchair. He's too gorgeous to be a man! The mix-race American thought to himself as he tried to politely look away.
Indeed, the stranger was indeed beautiful, almost like a prince of ice. His long pitch-black hair framed the long-lashed golden eyes that watched the three nonchalantly; his expression was strangely piercing, and yet serene in the same breath. The skin was silky, and had the color of vanilla petals; the long and agile fingers were curled around the ceramic teacup his pale lips were sipping from. Tall and lithe, this man could easily tower over Soma if he was standing, and the storm-colored business suit did little to conceal the elegant, androgynous frame. Cold, and yet a fire within him, Benji indeed believed he gazed upon an ice prince.
"Arikado!" Soma somehow managed to restrained himself from tackling the Dhampire, all too happy to see him at last. "So there you were! Good lord, I really needed your help!"
"I thought you would eventually come here, so I waited here where less attention will be drawn." The man rose up—and indeed towered over Soma by a whole two inches, as Benji predicted he would. "And, who is this?" He eyed the smallest man in the room with more then a fair amount of suspicion.
"Benji, he helped me get here."
The ancient man nodded as he folded his arms over his chest, expression didn't change, nor did he comment, even as he noted the necklace of bone, turquoise, moonstone, and sachet around the redhead's neck.
He really is a fucking hot ice prince... and Soma knows him?! Was all that managed to get through Benji's mind coherently. A blush did indeed appear over his face.
"I'll get you guys some coffee, you must be cold from riding in the rain." With a bow, the woman left the room.
"Say, if... you two wanted to talk... I'll help Mina." Benji shifted his weight as he watched the pale men, mind pondering of how close the two are.
"Thanks." Arikado nodded slightly, and faintly gestured to the kitchen – a silent signal of the preference of the redhead to do just that.
"Arikado... what's happening to me?" the albino whispered once he believed his companion is out of earshot– his voice full of despair and fear.
The dhampire formerly known as Alucard looked on almost helplessly at the lost expression that appeared on the smaller man's face.
"The underworld is changing, Soma, as humans become more brazen and arrogant in their minds, relying on the pure science rather then superstition, those that thrive on terror and fear will either die, or evolve, and those that don't, will have to change and adapt to a world that no longer sleeps at night, when cities start to outnumber the forests." He started, as he unconsciously paced, and peered out the window. "The change is usually slow, and subtle to even those who the keenest of sense... but suddenly, a week ago, something happened."
A week... It was a week ago when I killed those men! Soma swallowed nervously.
"Without warning, or reason—nature spirits—thousands of them, just simply died, leaving a power vacuum in the underworld." Adrian—or Alucard—or was it Arikado? brushed his raven bangs from the honey-colored eyes, a sigh filling his deep chest.
"And... is something trying to fill it?" did he squeak? Yes, you idiot, you did squeak in front of him – sheesh! The snowy-haired man scolded himself.
"Yes, However—what it is, I do not know yet – but it seems my father that lies within you is responding to it, his—no, your dark power has awoken again, that much we know."
"Then we must stop whatever it is that's causing him—me—whatever to react like I did to those guys... before I hurt anyone else!" Soma leapt up from his seat, hands outstretched, searching, wondering, questioning the centuries old half-vampire.
"Aye, but we can not start it if we can not understand what it is in the first place."
Benji turned away from the door – he didn't want... but he couldn't help himself, his sharp ears had pricked up at 'underworld', and continued to eavesdropped even when he wished it would just bugger off the conversation. He laughed weakly when Mina looked at him curiously.
I knew it, I knew it, and I knew it! The inner voice cackled. Soma isn't a normal guy... and this proves it! His brained rambled off into a muddled din, as he pulled out a few boxes of pocky.
"Coffee finished brewing, do you want to keep warmer on?" The tinny voice of the coffee machine broke the silence of the kitchen.
"No." Mina commanded the machine as she pulled out some cups. "So Benji, how did you know Soma?"
"Oh, we lived next door, he gets up early, I come in late from my classes-" he stifled a yawn. "We talk a bit, I steal half of his food, and try to get him to go out more—and well, I didn't mean getting out like this." He shrugged.
"Say, this necklace, where did you get it?" The woman abruptly changed the subject—an unconscious habit of hers—as she rubbed the buck-hide sachet between her nails, and felt two curved items in it.
"My Nana made it for me when I was – according to her, it's a Navajo medicine sachet – well, I believe her since she and dad were both full Navajo." He shrugged as he gently removed her hand. "Neat isn't it?"
"The necklace or your Indian blood?" She smirked as she cocked a brow. It was somewhat weird, she just met him, and already she knew about his major (Law), bloodline (Half-Navajo and half-something else), hobby ("You know, all these fancy electro-books, boring, you just don't get the same joy of a paperback!"), and already thought of him in a brotherly manner. She absent- mindedly put away the dishes as she waited for the answer – pondering if all American-born people are as talkative as he is—then again, Soma used to be known in High school for being so aloof and quiet – the so-call Ice Prince.
"Your choice!" Benji simply laughed as he took in a deep breath. "That coffee smells good." He looked back into the den, in time to see Soma Cruz plopped onto the sagging couch with a growl of frustration. "I think you should set the coffee machine to heat up the coffee after all."
"Good plan, so... tell me more about your university."
They sat at the kitchen table, and nibbled on pocky as they waited for the two pale ones to finish.
****************
Soma was roosted quite nicely in the crook of the tree, a foot dangled lazily below him as he took in his surroundings.
The forest was sharp and vivid; the gentle wind seemed to caress his body as soft chirps and creeks echo faintly in the midst of these ancient trees.
It was... amazing what one can take in if they only stop for a moment. His azure eyes scanned the corpse of trees, seeing each leaf quivered and seeming to sigh with every touch of the wind – and the mimics crept among them, and despite Soma being able to see them – the sparrows seemed to have glossed over them in their search of food.
And much to his amusement as he looked down, it seems as though Benji wasn't really a natural redhead – that tan was his first clue. Was it brown, perhaps black? Didn't matter really, the albino thought to himself as he watched the smaller man twirled a fan-shaped gingko leaf lazily.
"So Cross..." The American was the first one to break the silence. "Now we're on the Shrine's land, what do you want to do now?" The dark hazel eyes looked up, a lazy smile spread across his boyish features.
"Call me Cruz or even Soma, don't call me cross." Soma murmured automatically. "I know Mina will help me... but her—"
"Her parents hate you?"
"No..." Soma started as he stared at his feet. It was the opposite, they like him—so much that they constantly tried to set him and Mina up to go date each other – an ideal neither of them found too much appeal in. They were almost like the aunt everyone can't stand but yet put up with for the lack of any real plan of handling her.
And well... with what happen – who knows what they might do... Would they want to turn me in – what do I do then? Just give up? The Albino thought to himself, his hand unconsciously grasped at the air – no, he can't just surrender, he ran too long, too far to just give up now – he tasted the sweet air of liberation that comes only when one is threaten with the loss of it – and he certainly did not want to lose it here, now, of all places and time.
"Cross?" Benji murmur quietly as he crept towards the dwelling. "I think I'll just see who's there, and I'll tell you if it's just this Mina girl or someone else, okay?"
"Say, Benji... Maybe you--" The azure-eyed young man sighed softly. No, they should split up – no sense in getting him involved more then he is already.
"Ain't going to go anywhere." The redhead quickly intercepted, and destroyed what the Spaniard was about to say. "In too deep, and I am sure you will probably flounder without some help! Besides, if I run now – what kind of person does that make me, Soma Cruz? Go on, say it."
Startled by the usage of his full name, the albino could not answer the question.
"A jerk, a genuine bona-fide jackass, that's what!" He stuck a thumb to his chest. "And there will be no way in hell is anyone going to have a good reason to call me either." The resolve in his dark hazel eyes was boundless – surely the taller young man would have more success with debating against a tree.
With that, Benji bolted for the house, and flicked on the intercom. I love these modern technology, he chuckled to himself as the intercom buzzed into life.
"Hello, is a Mina Hakuba home?"
"Yes, who is this?" The voice came back, a bit suspicious, and most certainly curious.
"Oh, a friend of a friend, is anyone else with you?"
Soma tensed as he waited for the answer.
Mina meanwhile was also tensing, was it the police again? No, they would have said so if they were from law enforcement. She looked behind her, and with a nod, she turned and answer the stranger.
"If your friend is who I think he is, tell him that the only one else here is another friend of his. Let me open the door." The petite woman unhooked the latches to her door, unconsciously brushing the strand of light red hair from her gray eyes.
"Cross?" Benji looked over, unsure about the turn of event.
"Mina wouldn't betray me, I know it." Soma replied shakily... for a moment, his mind nagged at him, and whispered of sinister scenarios, of friend turned enemy. Then he shook it away – he knew better, and he shouldn't let himself become paranoid.
"Hello, Mister... uh..."
"Benji Tsukiyobi, but call me Benji." The American-born man bowed.
"Soma, will you come out?" Mina called out softly, as she brushed a wrinkle from her blue turtleneck.
And he complied, and for a moment, he said nothing, and observed his childhood friend.
Mina was a year older then he is, and was about a several heads smaller – closer to Benji's paltry height of 5'6" then to his own 6'. The shrine keeper's daughter was quite pretty in a doll-like fashion, with her coppery hair in a pixie cut (though no longer wearing the ribbons she used to three years ago), dark-lashed large rain-cloud hue eyes, and small button-like nose, and pale creamy skin. Her frame was almost boyish, with slender hips and small chest, which made her even more doll-like. She wasn't a knockout or a ravishing beauty queen, but most men would probably take a second glance at her if she walked by. And she had the personality to complement her appearance.
"Oh! Thank god you're safe! Hurry up and get in, you two!" The redhead ushered the men in, and closed the door behind her.
The room was of average size, tasteful in it's eclectic style, and shows signs of life from the sagging cushions of the couch to the beautiful ink paintings that draped over the wall.
There was one other occupant.
Benji swallowed as he fought off a blush as he eyed the raven-haired man that sat regally and stiffly in the armchair. He's too gorgeous to be a man! The mix-race American thought to himself as he tried to politely look away.
Indeed, the stranger was indeed beautiful, almost like a prince of ice. His long pitch-black hair framed the long-lashed golden eyes that watched the three nonchalantly; his expression was strangely piercing, and yet serene in the same breath. The skin was silky, and had the color of vanilla petals; the long and agile fingers were curled around the ceramic teacup his pale lips were sipping from. Tall and lithe, this man could easily tower over Soma if he was standing, and the storm-colored business suit did little to conceal the elegant, androgynous frame. Cold, and yet a fire within him, Benji indeed believed he gazed upon an ice prince.
"Arikado!" Soma somehow managed to restrained himself from tackling the Dhampire, all too happy to see him at last. "So there you were! Good lord, I really needed your help!"
"I thought you would eventually come here, so I waited here where less attention will be drawn." The man rose up—and indeed towered over Soma by a whole two inches, as Benji predicted he would. "And, who is this?" He eyed the smallest man in the room with more then a fair amount of suspicion.
"Benji, he helped me get here."
The ancient man nodded as he folded his arms over his chest, expression didn't change, nor did he comment, even as he noted the necklace of bone, turquoise, moonstone, and sachet around the redhead's neck.
He really is a fucking hot ice prince... and Soma knows him?! Was all that managed to get through Benji's mind coherently. A blush did indeed appear over his face.
"I'll get you guys some coffee, you must be cold from riding in the rain." With a bow, the woman left the room.
"Say, if... you two wanted to talk... I'll help Mina." Benji shifted his weight as he watched the pale men, mind pondering of how close the two are.
"Thanks." Arikado nodded slightly, and faintly gestured to the kitchen – a silent signal of the preference of the redhead to do just that.
"Arikado... what's happening to me?" the albino whispered once he believed his companion is out of earshot– his voice full of despair and fear.
The dhampire formerly known as Alucard looked on almost helplessly at the lost expression that appeared on the smaller man's face.
"The underworld is changing, Soma, as humans become more brazen and arrogant in their minds, relying on the pure science rather then superstition, those that thrive on terror and fear will either die, or evolve, and those that don't, will have to change and adapt to a world that no longer sleeps at night, when cities start to outnumber the forests." He started, as he unconsciously paced, and peered out the window. "The change is usually slow, and subtle to even those who the keenest of sense... but suddenly, a week ago, something happened."
A week... It was a week ago when I killed those men! Soma swallowed nervously.
"Without warning, or reason—nature spirits—thousands of them, just simply died, leaving a power vacuum in the underworld." Adrian—or Alucard—or was it Arikado? brushed his raven bangs from the honey-colored eyes, a sigh filling his deep chest.
"And... is something trying to fill it?" did he squeak? Yes, you idiot, you did squeak in front of him – sheesh! The snowy-haired man scolded himself.
"Yes, However—what it is, I do not know yet – but it seems my father that lies within you is responding to it, his—no, your dark power has awoken again, that much we know."
"Then we must stop whatever it is that's causing him—me—whatever to react like I did to those guys... before I hurt anyone else!" Soma leapt up from his seat, hands outstretched, searching, wondering, questioning the centuries old half-vampire.
"Aye, but we can not start it if we can not understand what it is in the first place."
Benji turned away from the door – he didn't want... but he couldn't help himself, his sharp ears had pricked up at 'underworld', and continued to eavesdropped even when he wished it would just bugger off the conversation. He laughed weakly when Mina looked at him curiously.
I knew it, I knew it, and I knew it! The inner voice cackled. Soma isn't a normal guy... and this proves it! His brained rambled off into a muddled din, as he pulled out a few boxes of pocky.
"Coffee finished brewing, do you want to keep warmer on?" The tinny voice of the coffee machine broke the silence of the kitchen.
"No." Mina commanded the machine as she pulled out some cups. "So Benji, how did you know Soma?"
"Oh, we lived next door, he gets up early, I come in late from my classes-" he stifled a yawn. "We talk a bit, I steal half of his food, and try to get him to go out more—and well, I didn't mean getting out like this." He shrugged.
"Say, this necklace, where did you get it?" The woman abruptly changed the subject—an unconscious habit of hers—as she rubbed the buck-hide sachet between her nails, and felt two curved items in it.
"My Nana made it for me when I was – according to her, it's a Navajo medicine sachet – well, I believe her since she and dad were both full Navajo." He shrugged as he gently removed her hand. "Neat isn't it?"
"The necklace or your Indian blood?" She smirked as she cocked a brow. It was somewhat weird, she just met him, and already she knew about his major (Law), bloodline (Half-Navajo and half-something else), hobby ("You know, all these fancy electro-books, boring, you just don't get the same joy of a paperback!"), and already thought of him in a brotherly manner. She absent- mindedly put away the dishes as she waited for the answer – pondering if all American-born people are as talkative as he is—then again, Soma used to be known in High school for being so aloof and quiet – the so-call Ice Prince.
"Your choice!" Benji simply laughed as he took in a deep breath. "That coffee smells good." He looked back into the den, in time to see Soma Cruz plopped onto the sagging couch with a growl of frustration. "I think you should set the coffee machine to heat up the coffee after all."
"Good plan, so... tell me more about your university."
They sat at the kitchen table, and nibbled on pocky as they waited for the two pale ones to finish.