A/N: Hello everyone, here is a quick update from me. Yes I know I'm jumping right into another story without completing others but I just have to say, I lack the attention span needed to finish stories. However, I'm about ready to put the finishing touches on the very first story since I joined: Howling Star: Dance in the Shadow of Light. If I estimate properly, I'll have it closed out within the next few weeks if the homework load isn't too much. Some of the others are almost done as well, I just haven't uploaded the chapters yet.

Cardfight Vanguard: Phoenix Dragon and The Darkest Truth are still on hold, my deepest apologies. Well I guess that's all I have to say at the moment, I do hope you all will love this story as much as I love writing it. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. Shakugan no Shana belongs to the rightful owner.

Chapter 1: My Crimson Savior

Gloomy days are the same as gloomy nights, neither light nor dark could arouse such emotions within my breast and yet, I couldn't resist the urge to release my held breath. The distance rumble of thunder and the quick flashes of lightning lit wonders and different shades of hue across the sky of our metropolitan area. It was like any other normal stormy days and I just awoke from my slumber.

I dreamed of those things again. It's the second week in a row, what does it mean? I rubbed the sleepiness away as I stared out of my window. Eyes the color of clear azure was a trade mark of my mothers and I obtained my sandy colored hair from my dad. It was a nice balance if I don't say myself.

Tch...I don't understand any of it...what time is it? Looking at my alarm clock, I realized that I might be late for school so I stumbled to the bathroom to wash up. Donning my blazer over a regular shirt and accompanied with pants and socks, I walked over to my desk. A picture of my parents stared back at me and next to that was a small box. It was for my birthday that was weeks ago from my parents. Opening up the box, I removed the object. It was a ring, not the best one but no less a ring. The preferred stone of choice was a quartz.

"This quartz...Didn't I pick this out from that time from the beach? Arrrgh...I don't know...gotta go make myself breakfast." I place the ring on my middle finger of the right hand, stuffed my school supplies in my backpack and glided downstairs in a brisked manner. Turning on the lights, I quietly cooked my own breakfast, the aroma of toast and fried eggs soon engulfed me and I sighed. Pouring myself a cup of milk, I took a bite of my egg sandwich, chewing softly. My eyes wandered to the pictures that decorated the refrigerator. It's been a couple years since my parents died, their lives up and away just like that. Their deaths traumatized me and I was sent to the hospital for weeks. I got over their deaths and held a funeral which included myself and a local church. Not many people show up to the occasion though, it showed how my parents acted within our society. Sadly I also adopted these traits from them but to a certain extent. I still wish to become a part of the world and be of use to everyone, not shunned away and left to die. Luckily the council of the city agreed upon recognition that I get to keep my home when the government threatened to demolish it.

"Please leave the boy alone. He has nothing left in this world and he will starve to death. Letting this house stay as it is could be the greatest gift we have to offer."

"What about the bills? How is he going to pay for it, not to mention that he still has to go to school. There is no way that he can pull it off!" The government argued.

"We'll take care of everything."

So here I am thanks to the wise men in the council. After breakfast, I placed the dishes in the sink, grabbed my backpack and left for school.

High School...

My high school is only a short train ride to and from my house. I'm a junior high student on the outside but on the inside, I feel like an immature brat. Grades are above average so I'm just your typical nut job. Some of my classmates feel like I'm a little too withdrawn, shelled in my little space only to study. In a way, it's true and frankly I'm not really concerned about it.

"HEY! TAKAHASHI!" I looked to see my best friend from childhood run to greet me.

"I wish you would stop calling me that." I sighed as he threw his arms around my shoulders.

"Sorry, sorry. I thought you didn't want me to call you by your first name." He grinned. "You know? Because of those rumors?"

"It doesn't really matter, I'll be fine."

"Yeah yeah, you always say that. Come on, let's get ready for class." My reckless friend, Yuji Sakai has been my childhood friend from way back then. It's surprising how he managed to get into junior high with me but it gave me some comfort to know that he'd be by my side no matter what.

"I heard that we're gonna have a huge lecture in English class today." Yuji stated with dismay.

"Yes, yes." I waved my hand in dismissal. "It shouldn't be bad.

"That's cause you actually understand the language." A voice spoke behind us and I turned to see my classmate Keisaku Satou. He glanced at me for a brief moment, "Burying your nose so far in those foreign books, it's a wonder you never fail that class but do so horrible in others."

"Hey at least he's trying. You can't blame him." Yuji rose to my defense a little too quickly.

"Hmph, whatever." was Satou's reply before walking off. Yuji was about to shout something crude but I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"The bell rang for class already." I don't think I have told anyone about my heritage except Yuji. Rumor has it that I was born into a family of demons since I always mutter some enchantment during lunchtime or when I'm by myself. I denied it, stating the fact that I was meditating at first but lately I allowed the rumors to settle and then it became a part of me. As we sat in class, my mind started to wonder on other matters.

"Takahashi-kun, are you of in dreamland again? Please read the next few lines." The teacher spoke, noticing my faraway gaze.

"Ah...okay." I stood up abruptly, flipping through the pages to find the correct spot. "Umm...umm..."

"Pfft he lost the page again." Some of the kids snickered. Luckily a girl sitting next to me helped me out. She wrote down the place on a torn piece of paper; page 17, 3rd paragraph.

I got it. I gave her a curt nod and proceeded with the reading. " My father had just returned from Tokyo. I was to start attending the school built where the family study center once stood. And now I have to make a long walk every day. To get to the school from home I had to pass through a wicket that was built into our west gate. There's still the remains of a guard house near the wicket."

"Very good." the teacher nodded and continued the class discussion as I sat back down and stared out the window, keeping a sharp ear on the lesson. It seems like the sky was starting to clear up just a tab, sunlight filtered in but it was still dark and forewarning.

After school...

The bell rang, signaling the end and students walked out in separate herds.

"Got any plans today?" I asked Yuji.

"Nah. I've got some free time. I think I'll check out the CDs by the train station. Wanna come with me?"

"Sure, I'm game." I smiled and we made our way to the store. What surprised us was that the girl that helped me during English class was browsing the selections when we arrived. She looked up and recognized us completely.

"Ah, Takahashi-kun! Sakai-kun!" She smiled.

"Oh hello Hirai. I didn't know you lived all the way out here." Yuji replied.

"Oh no. I live in Aizawo-cho, which is just after Shin-Misaki-Dori."

"That's really close by." I nodded as Yuji went to browse selections. "Oh, thanks for the help during class today."

"Well, sometimes I don't pay attention either. Cover for me next time."

"You got it." I smiled as I helped Yuji with his purchase. After we finished shopping, the three of us exited the door into a busy area. Before we could even say our goodbyes, this weird sensation hits us. A blue line with multiple ruin script writing, it must be some kind of magic, dashed by us at lightning speed. No one else noticed it but me and I had a feeling that it wasn't good. Immediately my senses kicked in and I looked around me with shock.

"What's going on?! What is this?" Time came to a halt, the people around me were statue still, like dead almost.

Am I the only one that can move? I moved about, trying to find the answer to this phenomenon. Hmm? Earthquake? Feeling a tremor underneath my feet, I looked up to see this gigantic baby and a floating mass of faces appearing out of thin air, how disgusting.

"Okay, I'm ready." The baby spoke, its' demonic face stretched into a big, toothy grin.

"There aren't as many as I first thought. But this should be more than enough. Let the feast begin." The second one spoke.

"Yeah! Let's eat!" The baby opened its' mouth wide and these blue flames started to flow right in. I watched in horror as one by one, people around me started to disappear.

"So yummy, tastes so yummy!"

"You mustn't talk while you're eating. It's bad manners." The other one reprimanded, scolding the baby as if it was its' mother.

"Sorry."

"H...Hirai! Yuji!" I cried out as I saw my two friends being eaten away.

"Hello? What have we here?" The baby turned in my direction, startled at my voice. Shit, I shouldn't have spoken. I gulped nervously.

"I don't know." The second one floated over, curiously looking at me. "He doesn't seem to be a denizen.

"But he's moving around inside the seal zone."

Seal zone? Denizen? What are these two and what are they talking about? I looked at them in curiosity, my mind was yelling at my legs to start moving but they won't budge.

"Ahh...he's a Mystes." The second one claimed with a smile.

"What? A Mystes? One of those torches with treasure in it?"

"Yes. But I don't sense anything rare about him. It's been a while since we found a good gift though. The master will be pleased anyway."

"Oh boy. Coming here was a great idea." The baby walked towards me, arms outstretched. In one fast movement, I was lifted into the air. "I gotcha."

I–I...if I don't escape...I'll die for sure! I looked straight into the jaws of death.

"It's yum-yum time!"

"L...LEAVE ME ALONE! LET ME GO!" I shouted and the hand released me, surprisingly. "Huh?...Ouch." I landed face first on the ground as the baby wailed with pain. The arm that held me squirmed about before disappearing in a blue flame. A small sound like feet landing reached my ears and I felt myself staring into the bottomless pits of my savior's crimson colored eyes.