Disclaimer: Do not own Crescent Moon. Itsuki, Sarah, and others are my own.
So far I've only gotten one review on this story, but neh. I would like more, but hey, I don't review on all the stories I read either. Anyways, continuing on.
This Chapter: Itsuki is sketching Nozomu's picture and is captivated by his dark beauty. They soon engage in conversation, but something about this moon is making Itsuki sweat, pant, and lose control. Suddenly, something happens and she flees through a window. The others appear having sensed the disturbance. Nozomu is baffled as to what had occured. As the others leave, he lingers, trying to think of what might have happened. Having no answer, he transforms and follows after them. Oboro is the only one who knows the actual cause: Her heart and her buried instinct that claws to the surface.
Chapter Two: Mistakes.
"Ok, um, face the moon. Yeah that's it. Perfect! Just hold that, ok?"
Itsuki looked at Nozomu's pose with pure delight: He was looking out the window towards the moon, his leg raised enough so he would bend his knee. His arm rested ontop of it while his other arm wasn't supported but lightly his idle hand rested ontop of the other. His other leg supported the rest of his body and kept him balanced. He had unbuttoned his shirt to give a more relaxed state to his pose.
"Now, just pretend it's you and the moon and I'll be set." She added as she readied her pad of paper and sketching pencil. When she looked up everything seemed to be set on pause. He looked so lovingly, yet longingly at the moon.
For a moment she could only stare until she realized she was staring and that he would get a cramp if she didn't start working. Using long, light, thin strokes she drew the outline of his form before working on the scenery. She added more detail, taking her time to get everything right. Once she had the sketch, she made darker, thicker lines. Shading was a more difficult task to take on. She constantly looked up to make sure she got it right: The softness of his eyes, the gentle curves of his skin and the color. Before she knew it, she had a replica of her subject and object of her affection.
Itsuki put the notebook down as she spoke, "You can move now.." Her voice was soft.
Nozomu shook and stretched, rubbing his sore muscles. An hour had passed. Oboro would be looking for him by now. He walked over and looked at the picture, leaning in close to see.
"Wow...you have a knack for this." He said, smiling.
"I still have to paint it along with Mahiru and Mitsuru's portrait, but I'll make sure to tell you when it's finished." Itsuki's face flushed at his praise.
When he got close, she stood up and stretched, almost hitting him as she cracked her knuckles. It was getting very warm in the room. He seemed a bit taken aback, but smiled nonetheless.
He tried to make small talk. "Nice tattoo. It's interesting that you would choose one with a moon.."
Itsuki shrugged, knowing full well where this was going. She still didn't truly believe she was one of the 'Lunar Race'. "Yeah? I've always had a fascination with it. I designed it myself."
Her tattoo was of a full moon with a bow and arrow crossing over a long sword in the center of it. It was placed inbetween her shoulderblades for a purpose. On either side of the darkened moon were crimson outlined wings filled in with black that stretched down to about the middle of her smooth back. It was interesting to look at, like a work of art at a museum.
"Cool." He responded, still smiling. He stopped smiling once he noticed three, long, wire thin scars that made it seem like someone or something had raked their nails over her back. His expression was grave.
She on the other hand was practically panting. What the hell was wrong with her? She looked towards Nozomu who seemed preoccupied and then towards the full moon. It called to her with its silver rays of phantom light. Her body pulsed and she felt her mind being pulled away. She felt dizzy, disoriented, and like the whole room had turned into a living inferno. Her body pulsed again.
Just keep calm. Keep calm, breathe. Repeating it over and over again like a prayer in her mind to keep her stable. She did calm down slightly though she was starting to sweat. This was different from all the other times she had ever glanced at the moon. Usually she felt warm and whole but now she felt lost and broken in half. She felt like she was going to explode, collapse, or even hurt someone. She felt uncomfortable and not herself. She had to get out of there!
Nozomu noticed her awkward behavior and had to surpress all surprise. He had the feeling she was going to transform and he wouldn't be able to control her. He advanced towards her, but she retreated, edging closer and closer to the shadowed corner in the back of the room. He tried talking to her but it wasn't working, it didn't seem to be reaching her. She was too far gone now.
Itsuki was on her knees, clutching her throbbing skull. Her nails had begun extending into claws, her hair reaching down to the ground and continuing to grow. Her pupils dilated and seemed to disappear all together as her irises turned completely black with a slim ring of silver on the outside. They reminded Nozomu of a Lunar Eclipse.
She looked at her hands, fearful of what was happening. The others had appeared, thankful that Misoka had informed them hours before and that they had had the time to shut down the club. Mahiru seemed the most concerned.
"What triggered her transformation?" She asked, her voice laced with worry.
Nozomu shrugged, baffled. "I don't know! She was fine and then she wasn't."
Itsuki had started whimpering when her headache had increased, but now those soft whimpers had turned to cries of agony. A wisp of shadow formed around her knees. Fangs had grown in place of small canines, the tips brushing her bottom lip. Fox ears had replaced her ever familiar human ears, and a tail as well had grown from where her hidden tail bone resided, the foreign appendages the color of darkness. Bones snapped and cracked with sickening snarls of glee and delight, causing her to scream even louder and dig her claws into the carpeted floor. She grew taller and slender, then suddenly the change stopped. For a moment it seemed she was done transforming, her body heaving from the aftermath of it all, sweat falling down in rivulets along the contours of her ivory skin. But the reprive was short lived.
The tired, changing woman was on her hands and knees, none of the others able to help but watch in regret. She breathed out, her voice small and choked, "Nozomu..what's...happen..ing..to me?" Blue droplets hit the carpet. She was crying. Her head was pounding, her body ached and she had no clue why. She had never felt pain like this before, not ever. She thought she was going to pass out.
"You're transforming for the first time. The pain will pass eventually. It's going to hurt more if you keep resisting.." He spoke quietly, silently pleading for her to forgive him.
The sound of flesh tearing resonated grotesquely through the entire building. A howl like scream broke through her reddened lips. Great silver and black outlined wings sprouted from out of her black, dripping greedily with her hot blood. They flapped a few times before settling against her back. Itsuki coughed up blood. The excruciating pain began to subside, but Ituski had no control over herself or her actions. She felt pure rage and the need to hunt, kill, feed.
Slowly she rose from the floor, her crimson locks falling to her waist. She was clearly a sight to behold. Lightning arched across her fingertips while fire seemed to burn in her eyes. The wisp of a shadow was now slowly rising and twirling around her bloody form. As she had risen, her clothes had ripped and torn, her shirt barely covering her cleavage, her pants torn to shreds. Feeling only with instinct, she fled through the window.
"NO!" Nozomu's swollen cryechoed as he tried to catch her, stop her from doing anything irrational. But he knew already that it wasn't really her anymore. It was her primal instinct that controlled her now. "Come back!" He sighed out heavily. Slowly, he turned to the others, unshed tears burning behind his blue eyes. They knew what to do even if it was harsh. They had to capture her and bring her back.
"We have to catch her," He spoke, his voice no higher than a whisper. "She doesn't know who she is anymore. She's scared. Misoka, can you find her?"
The fox appeared thoughtful a moment, his eyes closed in searching. "Barely. Her mind's clouded with the need to feed. She's headed towards the center of the city. She's hunting Nozomu..I don't think we can take this lightly."
Mahiru fidgeted, worried. She was hunting? She was going to...to...kill someone? But Itsuki was too nice for that! But then she remembered, they weren't dealing with Itsuki personally. "I don't think singing will work this time."
Akira smiled, wagging his tail. "It just might, but I think we'll be able to get her. We might lose her if we don't try. Sir?" He turned to Oboro. "We're going now."
Oboro nodded. "Hurry."
They dispersed in a flourish, transforming and taking off. Nozomu was the last to leave. He looked to her drawing book and then to the puddle of fresh blood on the floor before leaving. He just hoped her mind wasn't completely taken over. Itsuki...
Oboro stood in the darkened room, troubled. He picked up the forgotten notebook on the floor to see the drawing of Nozomu. He sighed deeply. Nozomu had unconsciously triggered it along with the quiet calling of the full moon, calling to her soul. The teen's other form had sensed the full moon, the month, that time of need...
Putting the drawing book down gently, he rubbed his temples. Instinct was something that Itsuki wouldn't be able to fight, she had never dealt with it before. Mitsuru had had enough trouble learning, but Itsuki was a whole nother story all together. If this was the first time she had transformed, how would she be able to overcome? It was a mystery and Oboro just prayed to the moon that they would bring her back safely. She was the key after all, to saving their race..
It's getting harder to breathe...Gods my body hurts. I have to keep going, I have to.. feed..blood...delicious blood. Itsuki was lost by then, all her thoughts focusing on the kill. She leapt from rooftop to rooftop, gliding occasionally. The city was quiet except for those poor souls who had dared to wander the night of the full moon without knowing that they were like sheep to the slaughter. She wasn't quite able to fly yet but running was good enough for her. She continued on until she came to the center of the big city, crouching among the shadows that whispered her intent. Her mind was a maze filled with strange words, the sensation and satisfaction her first kill would bring, Nozomu...
No! She couldn't think about him. If she did then everything would be ruined. Crawling down the side of the building with expertise, she sniffed the air, tasting it for any signs of injured prey. Nothing. Snorting with discontent, she dropped down to the pavement, her padded feet not making a sound. She gazed out from the shadows, lying in wait for her victim to pass by. No one yet. Someone soon. She licked the blood from her dry, cracked lips, moistening them in the thought of the heated liquid pouring down her throat, coating her tongue in estasy. It was almost too enticing to lie in wait. She sniffed again, picking out her choice of blood. No, not him. Not her, too thin blooded. No, too young to die at her hands. She wanted this delicious blood to be thick and from a full grown human, to hear their cries of terror as she tore out their throat and drank them dry. It sent shivers down her spine. As she was about to pounce on her unsuspecting prey, she was shoved against the hard brick of the building, the intruder pinning her arms behind her back. She tasted her own coppery blood in her mouth. She growled menacingly with malice coming from the very pit of her stomach. How dare they!
"Itsuki...I know you can hear me. Just come along with us. We can help you.." A distant, familiar voice whispered to her. Nozomu.
She growled a reply, struggling in his vice like grip. Her mind began to throb painfully, each time slow and more torturing than the last. She shut her eyes, trying to dull the pain. Nozomu's grip tightened ever more.
"Itsuki! Answer me please! I don't want to hurt you!" He pleaded as he raised his voice, trying to reach her. The two were pulled up to the tops of the buildings by Mitsuru. The others stood around her, boxing her in. Nozomu had loosened his grip, letting her go. She whipped out from underneath him and stood, claws at the ready, prepared to fight. No attack came but she didn't relinquish her guard.
Mahiru started speaking. "Please Itsuki! Let us help you! You don't need to continue on like this!"
Itsuki tilted her head, not quite understanding. Her ears twitched in hearing her voice, but it wasn't registered. It was jumbled about like a jig-saw puzzle. She couldn't make any sense of it. She loosened up her guard a bit, taking a more relaxed stance. She clacked her claws on the roof a sign to continue.
Misoka had set up an invisible wall around them, he being fully transformed as well since the full moon brought them the most luck, but seemingly it was lacking. They were losing Itsuki. He started using hypnosis.
"Itsuki, you don't need to kill. Change back and we can help you. Release this need to hunt. Come back to us, Itsuki.."
Itsuki clutched her head, fighting the influence but a few words managed to reach her. Come back to us, Itsuki.. No! She wasn't going to be tricked. They were going to capture her, hurt her, try to break her to their will. She had to escape, run, be free to do what she wanted. Be able to be what she wanted. She made a few growling, incoherent noises, once again regaining her defensive stance. The others sighed wearily. She couldn't be out of reach could she?
A familiar bat call reached her clouded mind, opening her up a bit to outside influence. What was that noise? The fox-vampire looked to the skies to see a small shadow against the dark, coming to land on Nozomu's shoulder (he had changed back). That creature..seemed familiar. She blinked a few times, tilting her head and lowering her arms. The big brown eyes looked to her and the bat made a noise. Sano? Sano, is that you? The thought entered her mind, erasing some of her earlier thoughts of hunting and feeding. Nozomu? Why are you all looking at me like that? Did I do something? She slowly started to become herself as the fruit bat came to rest on her shoulder, nuzzling and licking her cheek with affection. She gently pet the creature awkwardly as she suddenly heard the creature's thoughts.
Momma...Come back Momma...
Itsuki's eyes dilated, her body began to pulse painfully. Sano gave a shriek and flew to Nozomu as the fox-vampire fell to her knees, clutching her head. Her body pulsed again, more slowly than before. Her wings were sucked back into her back, causing the teen to howl out in uncontrollable pain.
Come back...
The words replayed as her claws vanished, her fangs retreating. She let out a hoarse cry as her mind became whole again, her breathing coming in heavy gasps. The rest of her slowly became the image of what she had been. Her hair was the last thing to change and it returned to its original length. On her hands and knees once again, she heard muffled footsteps. A cooling hand touched her tear-soaked cheek, causing her to look up into beautiful blue eyes. Nozomu gave a smile. She smiled back lightly as her eyes changed back to their astounding crystal blue color. She snuggled into his warming embrace. He held her close and her awkwardly soft breathing changed to regular, measured breaths. She was fast asleep. He stood, holding in her arms bridal style. The others let out a held breath at her recovery. They looked relieved.
"Is she gonna be ok?" Akira asked, sniffing.
Nozomu shrugged slightly, not exactly positive, but smiled nonetheless. "She just needs to rest for now. Come on let's go home."
As he looked into the sky, spying the full moon he sighed deeply, questioning the moon silently. Was this girl in his arms going to be alright? All he got for an answer was a seemingly knowledgable smile.
CLIFFY! Anyways chapter three will be up as quick as I can get it. Sorry for the delay. I wasn't exactly sure of how I wanted it. Anyways, reviews appreciated. See ya soon!