The Key to Starlight chapter 3

What's lost and damaged and what's found and repaired

This would make more sense if you have already read TiLiD. It's an alternate situation from the one that had already taken place in the plot.

Discussing rules with the High Council was probably the worst and the most boring thing in the entire universe. Zed would have willingly spent a day in The Kinkou than having Vessaria - pardon, High Summoner Vessaria as she told him multiple - painfully multiple - times to call her that way and remind him at every five minutes that it's completely forbidden to attempt to kill or severely hurt any champion of the League. But he really wasn't hurrying up to the order either. It was dark, the moon already on the sky, hence the darkness of the forest made it nice for a walk. Returning too soon would mean he'd have Zayenn on his head again.

She was a very competent fighter, and a good leader. She guided and trained the students with an iron fist, when Zed wasn't able to. She had always tried to help him and please him in almost every matter. He could've cared less. He knew in essence who she actually was, so the sweet smiles and personality she put up whenever near him, weren't having their desired effect.

However, there was something surrounding this Yukine girl, something he could not describe. He couldn't quite place a finger on it, but it felt familiar. The way she speaks to him like they know each other for a lifetime, and he finds it extremely comfortable that way. It's weird, but he feels like he can trust this girl. Not completely and not with big things, but there is this slight trust he has in her. She doesn't treat him like her master. She treats him more like her friend. And Zed had no idea if this should be bad or good.

He was so deep in thought he had not heard the slight footsteps behind him. They were soft and never meant to be heard, but when one made the mistake to step on a twig, the Shadow Master stopped. He didn't turn his head, but looked around him. He saw the shiny blades of what it seemed like ten or eleven ninjas, and they were just in his field of vision. They were dark clothed, but they were different from the ones in The Shadow Order. He couldn't help the low growl that escaped his throat.

''Kinkous...'' he whispered dangerously, as the movements became louder in the darkness.

One unsheathed his blade, and jumped from the darkness, aiming for Zed's back. Instead he just hit a black mass, and soon a cold blade slashed his throat, rendering him lifeless. Another came from Zed's right, as he grabbed the ninja by his weapon, and pulled it. The result was the ninja's abdomen being pierced by Zed's stretched blade. Throwing away the ninja's weapon and shoving his body aside, Zed was aware that they were many than he could count.

Another two tried to make a dash for him, but he jumped and threw two shurikens that got both of them in the middle of their heads, dropping down on the ground lifeless. When he landed on the ground in a crouched position, he dodged one blade aimed for his head and stretched one foot out to trip the other's balance. Soon, the ninja felt the cold steel of the blade tearing his neck apart, as he dropped on the ground.

Zed stopped as three ninjas pointed their blades at him. They had him surrounded and aside those, another four were starting to slowly approach them. He knew he wasn't going to be able to take all of them down and escape unharmed. He had to think of a way to trick them. But he was sure they had learnt to dodge shadows, and they got him in some sort of another clearing in the forest. The nearest shadow was one of a tree, and it was a solid fifteen meters away. He couldn't win, considering he was also low on energy.

But it seemed his lucky stars were on a roll tonight, as a muffled gasp was heard from those four ninjas who were approaching them. Now there were only three more. They looked baffled at one another, and not long after another one was swallowed by a moving darkness. Zed saw that his attackers started to panic. One who was in front of him before he turned around, now was completely gone. He turned his head again to look at the remaining ninjas but as he looked past them in the darkness, he held his breath.

Brown hair flowing gracefully and white eyes were looking at the ninjas in front of her. Zed's eyes widened, filled with surprise and uncertainity. He was having visions, he told himself, in an attempt to grasp what he was seeing. She was dead, wasn't she? Taking good a second look, he saw blonde braided hair and brown eyes looking at him expectantly. When he gave a slight nod that went unnoticed by the ninjas, Yukine wasted no time and jumped from her hideout in the dark. She brought her staff to strike one ninja across his head hard, rendering him unconscious, and when the other attempted to hit her, she jumped a few feet back and gave her staff a small twirl before repeating the process. This one's head snapped at ninety degrees, his neck broken. When she looked at Zed, the other two were laying in a pool of blood, deep gashes in their backs.

While she tried to make her way trough the blood and corpses Zed was soon to voice his thoughts.

''How did you know?'' he asked her, and she looked blankly at him.

''About this?'' she said while gesturing towards the corpses. ''I had no idea.''. She took a small pause before continuing. ''You said you should be back before sundown. As you see, it's long time past your curfew.'' she amusedly said, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

''Well, I guess I should be grateful you came after me.'' he said while Yukine just nodded. She saw he was a little off, something was bothering him deeply.

''Hey, what's wrong?'' she questioned, revealing her face. She approached him, as he turned his eyes towards her and he froze. Tilting her head to the side, her look confused, she continued to look at him. ''What happened?'' she inquired one more time, and saw his widened irises behind his mask.

There was only silence between the two, as the moon slowly and shyly made its way from behind the cover of the dark clouds. A gush of wind swiftly blew by them, rattling Yukino's hair and cape. She closed her eyes against the harsh breath of the wind, and opened them once more after it slowly settled down. By that time, the moon's light shone upon them and it was only then when she felt time stopped.

Her eyes weren't covered in blonde strands of hair, obscuring her vision. No, they were as brown as they could be, the chocolate-ish shade as natural as always. Her own eyes widened behind the strands of hair, and her heart went into an unnatural pace of beating.

Her breathing was slow, and fear and terror were the only emotions she could feel. Before the one man she did not want to see her like this, the spell that was bound to hold for another few days failed, and her true identity was revealed.

She was afraid to move, her body was frozen solid in place. Her head bowed slightly, so her eyes would be covered by the messy bangs completely. Her arms were hugging her body tightly under her cape and she did not dare to make any other move. Her eyes were averted towards the ground, not daring to look up. This was a very tight spot she found herself in, and she didn't wanted to know how it will end.

She picked up the soft footsteps in front of her and her body tensed even more as she closed her eyes. Zed stopped in front of her and she was still frozen in place, her fear knowing new heights. A hand went under her chin and slowly raised her head, and she felt the moon's light down on her from behind her closed lids. A hand just as gentle as the one that raised her head brushed the brownish bangs from her eyes and she slowly opened her them.

Zed's crimson irises looked at her own from behind his mask, and she could presume they had a slight softness in them. In the same time they were confused, as if questioning her very existence.

''You're alive...'' he whispered to her, and it was her turn to be confused.

''It surprises you?'' she questioned, her tone low and curious, albeit there was an edge of anger in them. She had not forgotten what her sister had said a few years prior. She hadn't.

''Zayenn told me you were dead.'' he explained, and she couldn't miss that tone when he said 'dead'. She sighed.

''Well, it was a close call but somehow I survived.'' She really didn't wanted to mention what had actually happened. Suddenly Zed let go of her chin, and his irises send her a very angered glare. She gulped unconsciously, wondering just what had suddenly changed his mood like that.

''What are you doing here?'' he questioned, his anger obvious in his voice.

''Care to elaborate?'' she responded, although her tone was unsure. His eyes narrowed in dangerous slits.

''Don't play the fool on me Akyo. You know very well what I'm talking about. What are you doing in my order?'' he questioned again and Akyo avoided his gaze. He continued to look at her, refusing to meet his eyes. It was then when it dawned onto him, and the realization hurt a lot more than it should have had. ''You're a spy.'' he noted simply and Akyo kept her gaze on the ground.

''What if I am?'' she inquired, as her eyes turned to look into his. ''With what does it affect you?''

Zed let a small growl escape his throat. ''It disappoints me to know that the one person I trusted the most can so easily betray me.'' he explained and he didn't missed the spark in her eyes.

''Look who's talking about betrayal!'' she shot back, her tone a lot more venomous than her words. ''You might have forgotten what happened years ago Zed, but I didn't.'' she continued, her own eyes narrowing as he approached her and glared her down.

''Care to help me remember, it seems I have a short memory.'' he said sarcastically, his glare just as hot as Akyo's. She didn't backed down, and let a very small growl escape her lips.

''You've forgotten how easily you've turned your back onto me after you've opened the box?'' she asked, a painful tug in her chest. ''I have tired and tried and tried but to no avail. To keep you away from it, from corrupting you and clouding your judgment. I didn't wanted to lose you, but it seems you were very fine with leaving me alone.'' she continued, tears at the back of her eyes. She forced them back.

Zed scoffed. ''I was the one who left you alone?'' he asked her, and for a second she looked confused. ''After the trial, you were the one who turned its back to me. You were always right behind master, never leaving his side, acting like his watch dog just like Shen. Not even one moment after that trial have you come to see me again. You simply discarded me like some sort of useless object, after its role has been fulfilled.'' he explained, and her eyes widened slightly.

She couldn't deny it, after the trial, she was thrown into a whole new world. Good bye the almost all the time free days and careless thoughts. It was true, for the time period between her trial and his expulsion from the order, Akyo completely had forgotten about him. She felt guilt pulling at her heart, but yet, she was still angry, and who was there to lash out at other than him?

''That gave you no excuse for what you did three years ago!'' she retorted, her eyes glazing with tears. ''You invaded the order, and killed hundreds of people. I still wonder, if I am your most trusted person, then why would you have sent Zayenn to get my head?!'' she asked angrily, the painful memories and deep bleeding scars resurfacing from their imprisonment in her heart. She felt the warm wetness of tears on her cheeks and bowed her head again, not letting him see her cry.

Zed was silent, and mostly confused for his part. ''I did what?'' he asked, his tone filled with confusion.

Akyo sobbed silently. ''Back that day when you invaded the Order, while we were retreating and I assisted the others, Zayenn found me. She told me you were the one who condemned me to death, and that she's going to fulfill that order.'' she explained, her tone a lot calmer than it should have been.

''So that's what she told you?'' she heard him ask, and she looked confusedly at him. She asked him with her eyes, and saw the calm stare in his irises.

''What... do you mean?'' she asked, her eyes filled with uncertainty, as she tried to keep her tone angry, but it came out more like a dejected one. Zed sighed and looked at her.

''I told her to not lay a finger on you. What I told her to do was to persuade you into joining us, The Shadow Order. The last person I wanted to die there from all of those fools was you. When she returned to me, she told me you responded negative to all of her persuasion and were the one who attacked her, and she killed you in order to live.'' he finished and her mouth fell slightly.

''S-She could have lied for all you know...'' she said softly, averting her eyes to the side, refusing to meet his calm gaze.

''She could, had she not brought me 'proof'...'' he said, and started looking for something in his armor. Akyo looked at him curiously for a moment, before her eyes widened at the object in his hands.

'It can't be...' she said, one hand going involuntary to her neck while her eyes were glued to the object in Zed's hands.

''It's... Mother's...'' she said softly, as one of her hands went to touch the silky material of the necklace. Her fingertips brushed against the precious white stone crested with a stylized crimson 'S'. ''Why...?'' she asked, although her eyes were still glued to the object.

''The last memory I could salvage of you... Since I never thought I'll ever see you alive and breathing again.'' he explained, as he reflected on what happened in the past few moments. He had involuntarily let out more emotion than he usually did, but it didn't particularly bother him. She was the only one he ever showed his emotions in front of anyway.

''I'm sorry,'' she whispered as she kept her eyes on the necklace, but there were tears on her cheeks, although her face was impassive. ''for everything that happened. For the entire grudge I ever had against you, I'm sorry.'' she apologized, as she closed her eyes and sighed silently.

He was silent, and she opened her eyes to look up and him. She saw he had a hard time forming the words in his mind, that's how he had always been anyway. Never the one with good apologies. But she saw in his eyes, that he was going to apologize too. Smiling up to him, she put one hand on his chest to make him focus on her.

''I know.'' she answered simply, and it seemed he looked very relieved. He sighed heavily as he started wiping the tears away from her cheeks.

''Tch, cry baby.'' he muttered under his breath and she chuckled silently. All of the sudden, it seemed everything has gone to normal once more. Back to the days when they were kids.

''What are you going to do from now on?'' he asked her and she realized that now, her mission was kind of screwed. She sighed and brought a hand to massage her aching head.

''I'll have to return to the Order since my disguise is blown up.'' she explained. ''But, you don't have to worry. Your secrets are safe with me.'' she hurried to say and observed the amused stare in his eyes.

''I know.'' he said slowly, his tone very wise, mimicking her own from before. She frowned slightly, before she put her hood on her head and took a few steps back.

''Well, I hope next time we meet it won't be like this.'' she said, motioning with her hand towards the dead ninjas. Zed looked questioningly at her and she smiled mysteriously at him. ''We'll meet sooner than you think, trust me.'' she turned around to leave, but Zed stopped her.

''Remember,'' he called from over his shoulder, as he looked at her dead in the eye. ''You may be my rival now, but my true enemy is your Order.'' he took a pause before he spoke again. ''I have not changed my mind Akyo. You still have a chance to join me.'' he finished as he disappeared into the shadows. Akyo took one last glance at the place before she turned around and disappeared just as swiftly.

~(o-o)~

Months later, in the Institute of War, a merry and happily atmosphere surrounded the entire building. Everywhere you looked, decorations in red, white and green covered all of the Institute's halls and rooms. Small blinking lights were also sparkling softly here and there, and the beautiful decorations made out of never melting ice gave the place an elegant and Freljordian air.

It was the night of the Snow Down, the party that had started not long ago, going on at a high pace, every champion and summoner and even some civilians, having the time of their lives, celebrating another year that was going away.

The moon was high into the skies, shinning brightly like a pearl onto a never ending, soft blanket of satin. With small diamonds shinning softly in its pale light next to it, the empty fields, devoid of snow, seemed out of place.

It seemed a northern current from Freljord, which would usually bring a three months snow upon the Institute every year around this time, was coming up late. But it didn't bothered Akyo, since it was still somehow warm outside, and she could enjoy the slight silence she had at the respective balcony now.

She had barely got out of that party, since it really wasn't something she enjoyed. She simply wanted to stay and listen to the Maven of the Strings play her beautiful etwhal and enjoy the hypnotizing music it gave off. After that, everything went towards a full party, accompanied by hardcore notes from Pentakill.

The chill air send some shivers down her spine, since she was still wearing that damned outfit Kaleyn had given her. It had been a total pain to work with it, she even had to punch two or three male champions in the face to make herself clear.

She really didn't understood how a revealing mini dress with stockings and high heels had any connection whatsoever with the season, but she was wearing it now, so what was the point in complaining anymore.

She let out a soft puff of air, as her crossed arms rested on the edge of the balcony. She kept her eyes trained on the sky, as her mind drifted from one thought to the other.

She suddenly heard something behind her, like soft muffled sounds. She tensed and stopped her thinking, and listened carefully. It wasn't long before she heard an amused scoff and clear steps.

''Well, that's the last of things I expected you to wear.'' she heard a very familiar voice, one she thought she would never hear again. Turning her head around, she saw Zed approaching her, and his mask was gone from some unknown reason.

Quickly rising to a normal standing position, she couldn't help but inquire him about his mask. His armor was gone as well, as he looked extremely casually dressed.

''Everybody's busy with partying, and who's not there is either sleeping under a table or gone somewhere else.'' he explained, as he leaned on the edge of the balcony. She raised an eyebrow at his casualty but rolled her eyes and raised them to look back at the sky.

''But what's your excuse?'' he suddenly asked. She returned her attention to him, as he eyes her very amusedly. ''I must admit it's the most pleasant of surprises seeing you dressed like this.''

Akyo looked confusedly at him for a moment before she remembered what she was wearing. A fierce red covered her cheeks as she averted her eyes and refused to let him look at her face.

''High Summoner made me wear this. To 'keep the people entertained'.'' she explained, her tone lanced with venom while her eyes were burning holes into a wall. ''I'm pretty sure I entertained all the male part of the League...'' she trailed off and Zed raised an eyebrow.

''I'm surprised some weren't idiots enough to approach you.'' he noted and she 'humph'-ed amusedly, a defiant smirk appearing on her face.

''Oh but there were. I'm pretty sure Draven will have the bandage removed from his nose in a week or so, Jayce will probably still have a black eye when we begin the next season, Gragas probably still has a headache that's got nothing to do with too much alcohol and...'' she suddenly trailed off, her eyes lowering to the ground.

Zed raised an eyebrow again and narrowed his eyes. ''And your little friend Ryo?'' he asked, his tone having an edge of annoyance and promise of death. She sighed silently.

''You can draw your own conclusions. I'm glad he's smart enough to listen to me at least...'' she said looking sideways, as an uneasy silence fell upon the two.

Then, a harsh breath of wind blew, as Akyo hugged her body in an attempt to not feel the cold biting at her exposed skin. Her long hair which was untied and fell in graceful waves down her back, rattled along with the wind.

Zed looked at her for a moment, and he couldn't help the feeling of pity. He was pretty sure he was going to probably regret the decision he will make, but he unzipped his very comfy and warm hoodie and let it drop on her bare and cold shoulders.

She blinked her eyes open at the sudden warmth, and pulled the material closer around her freezing from. She looked at the soft fabric kept safely in her fingers and raised her eyes to look at Zed. He avoided her gaze. She saw he was only wearing a simple shirt, and he was probably cold now. His hoodie was really big around her form, it enveloped her completely, and another one around her dimensions could fit easily. Just how big the gap between the two of them was.

''You're going to be cold now.'' she noted simply and he scoffed.

''I can handle it better than you.'' he retorted. She deadpanned.

'' Yeah, and you're a pain when you catch a cold.'' she said back, as he kept his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes looking sideways. He was about to say something back, when he felt a warmth spread across his shoulders again. Akyo had returned the material back to him, and before he could even argue about it, she did the most unimaginable things.

She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest and keeping her arms close to her face. He couldn't see her eyes but he was surprised.

''That way, neither of us will be cold anymore.'' She sort of explained, more of an embarrassed mumble if he could say.

In return he hugged her small body closer to his, and even let his hands wander trough the long strands of her chocolate hair. It seemed she was content with drawing circles with her finger on his chest, so he concluded she won't be bothered either.

They sat like that for a few moments, and it didn't felt awkward. It was comforting, something that both needed, and it was very welcome by both sides. Zed kept staring at her absent mindedly, before something popped up in his mind. He wondered whether this was the good time to do it or not, but he had waited long enough.

Slowly letting her go and keeping her at arms distance, he didn't miss the pout on her face at the absence of warmth. He raised an eyebrow.

''I've got something for you.'' he explained, and saw her eyes fill with curiosity. He searched in the pockets of his pants until he found what he was looking for. ''I'll need you to close your eyes.''

At this, she dead panned, shooting him a look. He sighed. ''It's a surprise, just play along.''

She obeyed and closed her eyes. Waiting and waiting, she wondered just what surprise it could be. She felt him move behind her and then, something warm envelope around her neck. Without opening her eyes, she brought her fingers up and gasped when she felt a smooth round stone along with a silky necklace.

Zed finished locking the necklace in place when she opened her eyes looked at him curiously. ''You forgot to take it back after we met in the woods some months ago. I've been meaning to give it back, but...'' couldn't find the right moment, he continued in his head and she glanced down.

She smiled to herself, it was sweet from him to do such a thing. But now, she felt like she wanted to give him something back, but she practically had nothing right now. Looking up, she observed he looked sideways, refusing to meet her eyes. She smiled again and approached him, and slightly rose on her tiptoes with the intent on placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

But right in that moment, it seemed Zed had found to courage to look at her again, and their lips were millimeters apart when he turned his head. Both froze in place, stopped in time, as their eyes widened in unison in surprise.

Akyo for her part, felt like she should back down. She really didn't wanted to ruin what little friendship she had formed back with Zed after all these years. She was ready to give him back his personal space and apologize when he took her aback.

Closing the space between the two, Zed simply refused to let go of her. Akyo's heart went into erratic beats, a river of emotions washing over her. His lips were softly locked onto hers and he didn't seemed like he was going to let go any soon.

While the confusion was still fresh and strong, she closed her eyes and melted into the warm embrace he was offering her. Her hands encircled his neck and brought him close, while his limbs snaked around her waist, making sure she wasn't going anywhere.

There were a lot of things that could be put into one kiss. Emotions that varied from hurt to happiness, love, passion, bottled up feelings that could no longer be contained. His lips moved across her own, as she let him take lead of this dance. One of his hands went up at the back of her head, angling it so it would let him deepen the kiss even more. Akyo didn't complained, and obeyed, as she felt like she could never be close enough.

When the demand of oxygen was too big to resist, they parted, one breathing heavily like the other. It the mean time, it seemed it had finally started to snow, small and soft snowflakes falling down onto the embraced pair.

One of those snowflakes fell right on Akyo's nose, as she crossed her eyes and glared slightly at the little piece of ice. Zed chuckled and her attention was back to him, and she couldn't help the inward smile when he saw just how relaxed he looked. He smirked at her, it was that kind of smirk it made her heart skip beats when she was young. In the same time, he pulled her even closer, and she couldn't help the blush that colored her face. Yet, she couldn't complain, she would never let go of him ever again.

It was true when she was told, that Snow Down is a season of miracles.

AN: TADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. No, I'm not dead. School is being hard in my head, that's all. I haven't abandoned TiLiD, it's just that my inspiration comes harder when I've got anorganic chemistry and annoying biology to learn but whatevs. THIS is dedicated mainly to little flower, who gave me the idea of Akyo being discovered when she was a spy. Here's the fruit of your creation my dear.

I promise I will update TiLiD soon, since I got to write some things here and there. Summer vacation is coming, so things will go back to normal again.

Its kind of late, so I'm signing off for now. Still taking requests, do not forget.

Until next time~! :3