Mirrors

by Lumikuu

Reina saved Kharl from death. From then on, they were friends. But when Kharl decides to work under a dark alchemist, he becomes someone Reina can't recognize. Fic revolves around Kharl and his transformation from childhood to adulthood all in Reina's POV

7. Birth & Death

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Author's Notes: '

Phew. Finally done. Seeing as this story hasn't been planned out from the start, every time I sit down and write, the story takes on a new idea, xD.
In other words, I have a vague idea of where this story should go, but no idea how it's gonna get there, so everything I write is 20 percent thought out, and 80 percent spur of the moment!

Hee.

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I do not own any characters from Dragon Knights, seeing as they belong to Mineko Ohkami. I am not profiting from any of this, except the own improvement of my skill and being able to read wonderful crit from my reviewers. :P

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By LµMïkµu

Chapter 7 -

Bï®Th & D€a†H

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Without feeling, without speaking, without thinking, I walked the hallways.

I took the path my new, intelligent youkai instinct told me to take. I knew the way. It would have been folly to have doubted my wisdom then.

It seemed like minutes, but I walked the whole night. The dawn light that filtered through the windows above told me this as I finally reached the exit; a large oak door placed in the wall at the end of the hallway.

They opened silently with the touch of my hand and I continued forward without breaking my mournful stride. I ignored the kitchens, the library. Eventually I passed the room where Kharl was. His room. How did I know that?

I could feel him inside the room as I passed the door. I could sense him breathing. He wasn't asleep. My knowledge of everything was startling.

I walked to my temporary bedroom at the end of the hall, passing the bookshelves filled with literature, vials and bizarre objects. Judging by the amount of dust my eyes picked up on them, they hadn't been touched in years. Why did I care?

Farther down the hall, I heard a door close quietly. I felt Kharl coming around the corner, feet tapping almost silently on the stone tiles. My old self wouldn't have even noticed, I realized and then I received a mental shock.

Is this what it felt like to be Kharl? To feel and sense everything as the world passed by? All these years, he had lived life in so many more details than I had. Did he know how humans felt? How choked off they were from the real world? I realized how humans pretended to know everything, when in fact, they knew so little. Nothing. Why did we lie to ourselves? Why did we place our trust in the people who fibbed and told us stories? Why did we believe them?

We were comforted by the lies. They were a way of life.

Kharl was standing behind me.

I did not turn to face him. My new face, my new body…would I be comfortable showing it to him? But of course, he knew. He knew I had changed. Did he know I knew what he felt now? What he had felt all these years? I saw everything as he always had. I was behind the times. I was useless. I was insignificant. Though I was beautiful, I felt so very ugly. I was ugliness in the flesh. I was nonexistent.

Our silence was a conversation that screamed awkwardness. It seemed to stretch for miles. I had no voice. I had no thoughts. I just stood, my back to him, staring straight ahead of me at the oak door. He was waiting for me to say something. To acknowledge him.

Why?

I opened the door and closed it behind me without turning to look at him.

I was denying myself of him. Denying him of me. I refused to let him see me. I was ashamed. I was betrayed. I was empty. Everything I had been taught was meaningless now. It no longer applied to me. Was I even real anymore?

He had known what I was. He never told me. Never hinted, never said a word.

He had known.

--x-†-x--

It took me ages to fall asleep.

I could have gotten up from the bed; I could have left my room. But I refused, this stagnation was my sanctuary. Time was moving; I felt the day slip by. I sensed the morning disappear, the afternoon dissolve into darkness, even though the thick black curtains prevented even the smallest shaft of light from penetrating the pitch black room.

All day, my thoughts raced, flitting through my mind like shadows. So fast, I wasn't even aware of my thoughts anymore. It was just me on a bed, in a room, in a castle. The shadows lurking in the back of my mind reached out, engulfed my thoughts, and threw me into a fitful sleep that I woke from only to fall back into. All the while during this madness, this fever of desolation, one thought was clear.

Perhaps it was this thought that pained me, that disturbed me, that caused me such despair and anguish that I was reduced to a shell of flickering thoughts and reels of distorted images;

The demon was going to do what he wished with Kharl.

He was going to destroy him.

The human part of me wanted to run screaming to Kharl, to hold him in my arms. To know he was real and he was safe. Still the boy with the smile of an angel, still the boy whom I knew. And still…still Kharl.

The newly awakened demon in me was indifferent. I could do nothing. It was pointless. Kharl was sixteen. He was old enough to know what he wanted. To know what he was getting himself into. If I was going to continue playing the mother role with him, things were going to be worse. He was sixteen. Three years older than me. He was no child. He didn't need me to hold him and kiss his wounds. He was sixteen. Suddenly it seemed like centuries ago when I had first met him, when I had saved him. When I took him home. When I let him go. When he wove in and out of my life in all the following years. The forest, that was so long ago.

Did it really happen? Was I truly alive and existent?

Was I just a dream conjured up by some slumbering being?

What was the truth?

He was no angel. He was not a perfect being come down to bless me and to protect me. Angels couldn't possibly exist after this. Where were they now? Were they watching me now, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling? Were they laughing? Was I cursed? Perhaps they didn't involve themselves with demons; Kharl was one. I was half.

I blinked and felt steely resignation form in my mind. It hardened. I was shielded from petty human thoughts now. I didn't need that pathetic side of me to interfere with my cool, cold demon judgment. I no longer needed my old self. The icy cool consciousness was a relief from my muddled, vague mortal mind. I had only one body. Now that I was aware of my true being, there was only one side able to exist in me. There was no room for a second. My thoughts were distant, almost cold. I could understand my own thoughts now that I was no longer listening to the jumble of mixed emotions my human mind had produced.

The youkai was going to completely destroy Kharl. He was going to smash him into bits and pieces like the many mirrors I had demolished in that room. He was going to render Kharl unrecognizable. And then he would build him up again, build him into a true demon. He would make him a weapon.

And I was not going to be there to watch.

--x-†-x--

Two entire days passed, and I never left my room, neither eating nor sleeping.

I was plotting.

And when I finished plotting, I was revising.

And after revising, I threw away all old moral values, all ethics from my past.

And I was new.

I had nothing else that I held dear to me, nothing at all because it had all been taken from me. And because of that, I had nothing left to lose.

It was all gone anyway.

Kharl had come, every night to my door, but never knocked, or entered. He merely stood there, behind the door. Was he waiting for me to open it? If he was, I did not. I sat on my bed on the first day and stared at the door as, no doubt, Kharl was doing on the other side. The next two days I ignored him, lost in my thoughts. The only way I knew he was there was because he made himself apparent, upping his ki just slightly so I could sense him. He was letting me know he was there.

After an hour or two, I would hear his footsteps going back up the hallway and fading as he neared his room. I sat amused on my bed, reddish eyes glowing in the dark.

Finally, when I was ready I emerged from my room like a newborn chick from an egg. Blinking away the sunlight streaming through the skylights and windows on the wall, I moved forward into a world that was now alien to me.
Things that I considered banal and ordinary now were interesting and eye-catching. Scents from things that I had never even imagined would smell had their own unique olfactory details. The world was suddenly intensely beautiful and intensely repulsive all at once.

And this was just a hallway. I wondered how overwhelmed I'd be once outside. But there was no other way. I had to embrace my newfound senses and it was now or never.

I was calm as neared the study door, which was left slightly ajar. I had no trouble hearing the voices that came from the room.

"-therefore if you mix these, they equal the property of the object you are manipulating. It requires a blood sacrifice, however. It need not be your own; it can be that of an animal or another demon. I advise against using human blood. It is tainted and often fatal to the finished product." There was a slight sneer in the master's voice as he said this. I had stopped, paused just behind the door. "Using purer blood, such as faerie blood, is much wiser, as not only does it give you a good result, but advances the magical properties of the creation. Thus, if you are in the mind to create a stronger demon than others are, use faerie blood. Do you understand, boy?"

"Yes, Master." Came Kharl's voice from within the room. Goosebumps erupted down my arms and I felt a slight chill down my spine. Kharl's voice was drone-like, yet entirely amazed, entranced by the words his master spoke. "But wouldn't it be better if you used dragon blood? Imagine a demon with dragon blood running through its veins. It would be very powerful, and at the same time be immune to dragon blood that is fatal to demons."

"Perhaps. But as you very well know, dragons are extremely hard to find now, seeing as they are all in Dusis, mainly Draqueen, residing with the dragon lord. As it has not been experimented with yet, I do not advise you go looking for a dragon just yet." It was a cold attempt at humor.

Dusis.

Draqueen.

These words felt meaningful…But I had never heard them. They were indeed places, if I had understood correctly. They were the first I had heard, other than Arinas.

I would go there.

A sudden loud 'caw' came from over my head. The two ragged looking birds sat perched on a rafter, staring at me with their beady red eyes. Right away, I understood it had been a warning. The master, who had been talking a few moments ago, stopped suddenly. I heard Kharl's quiet intake of breath. There was a few moments' silence, then light footsteps on the stone floor. The door swung open, and Kharl's master stood tall before me, as foreboding as ever. His ebony eyes stared into mine. This time, I would not look away. I stared back, as emotionless and boldly as he. The seconds ticked by and he seemed to become less fearsome in my eyes as I looked on. Indeed, he was not as tall as I thought, and his beautiful black eyes were actually a dark, dull gray, and when I once found them deep, were actually just empty. Vacant.

Then, with a taunt smile (or was it a leer?) he opened the door wider and gestured me into the room. The first thing I saw upon entering was Kharl. Paler than usual, sitting at a table littered with parchment, inks, quills and piled high with books.

He stared back at me, his expression mirroring my own. Apprehensive and shocked.

It was like seeing Kharl for the very first time. In a demon's eyes, Kharl's hair was much whiter. The lilac tinge was only apparent if you looked hard. His skin was transuculent, just like ivory, but did not have the shade of gray, unhealthiness that most sickly pale people do. Indeed, he looked healthier than usual, well fed, and I think he must have brushed his hair because there were fewer rampant strands and tufts of hair shooting everywhere on his head.

Then his eyes locked with mine and I nearly stumbled back. My human eyes had only seen the one shade of purple when looking into Kharl's eyes, but now I realized how blind I had been. His eyes were striking shades of violent violet; the color deepened reaching his irises, tinged with small flecks of lavender, the color in his hair. His gaze was so intensely bright I almost had to look away.

His master, standing besides me, said quietly, "Now you see how precious he is. I'm sure you've heard of the expression 'The eyes are the window to one's soul.'"

His words from before haunted my mind.

"And his eyes, no human iris could bear such a wonderful pigment…"

My eyes widened, my eyes still caught on Kharl's. I had been in the dark my whole entire life. I knew it was pointless, but cold frustration welled within me and my hands clenched involuntarily. Human emotions…

The icy sheet of calm fell over me softly, gently. The anger evaporated within seconds of its appearance and my hands went loose, leaving only crescent-shaped marks in my palm.

Effortlessly, I looked away from Kharl, turned on my heels quietly, and swept from the room, closing the door behind me with a barely audible 'click'.

Such strange mood swings, I commented mentally. But there was no strife or pain in these thoughts. Clear as crystal and cold as ice.

There was a door leading outside, its glass panes let the brilliant sunshine seep through into the empty room. On a whim, I opened the door and stepped outside into the warm rays of sunshine that looked so enticing from within the castle.

I breathed in deeply. I smelled the wonderfully natural smell of trees, grass, and dirt. I smelled the eloquent fragrance of the wildflowers in the field in front of me. And then, cocking my head, I smelled salt and water. Closing my eyes, I took the smell in.
It was calming. What did this scent belong to?

Running in my new, quick strides, I reached where I wanted to be three times faster than I would have normally.

I was standing about a league from the castle, in the meadow of wild flowers. Looking down, I realized I was on a cliff. The castle, the forest..everything was on the…

The Sea.

Though it was a long way down, I could see the blue sea crashing against the base of the cliff. Raising my gaze gradually, The long plain of blue water stretched out as far as the eye could see. It met the horizon and changed into the sky, a much lighter blue and with a few clouds meandering aimlessly across the infinite stretch of royal blue. The sun shone upon the sea and it's gentle ripple of waves, making it look like each new curve of water held many amounts of diamonds and jewels.
It was spectacular, so spectacular, I forgot everything for one brief moment.

I forgot to breathe, I forgot my worries, I forgot Kharl.

I closed my eyes, burning the image in my brain to keep it forever, so I could recall it when I wished.

Raising my head to the heavens, eyes still closed, I cherished the quiet. Only the faint sound of the sea crashing against the rocks below could be heard. The wind picked up suddenly and whipped my hair around me.

In that moment, with closed eyes, I knew paradise.

A cry broke the blissful silence.

"DON'T JUMP!"

My eyes snapped open and I wheeled around to see Kharl running towards me like a blur of silver, his loose white shirt and pants billowing in the wind that was now picking up as he raced towards me.

And suddenly he was there, holding my wrist in a vice-like grip that I would not thought possible of Kharl. Belatedly I remembered his appearance belied his strength, as he was a demon.
"Don't jump." He repeated again, but this time not shouting. His voice was calm, almost stern, his eyebrows furrowed in distress, his now lavender eyes wide with alarm. For a second my mind was blank, processing the last minute events.

This time it was the demon side of me that grew furious. Wrenching my wrist from his hold, I took a step back, only inches away from the ledge. A feral snarl alighted on my lips as I hissed, "Who do you think you are?"
Kharl blinked, clearly taken aback. His mouth formed soundless words as he struggled to come up with an answer.
"I…What…?" he stuttered. His lilac eyes were filled with hurt. This only infuriated the demon in me. The wind was now coming in short but hard gusts, and it lifted my hair around me, thrashing like snakes. I couldn't tell if it was the wind or my ki, firing up in my anger, but it no doubt added to my livid comportment.

"Do you really think I'd do something as cowardly as kill myself? Like a dog with its tail between its legs, I'd toss myself over some cliff?! You foul, treacherous b-", But before I could start screaming, the earth beneath me shifted and I felt it give away, falling into the sea and rocks below. I had been so distracted that I didn't have enough time to jump forward and regain my footing, as I could have done in normal circumstances.
For a second, I hung there, in in midair, my arms outstretched as if to catch the air to steady myself. I saw Kharl, stunned, hand frozen halfway in the air.

My life suddenly flickered through my eyes and time seemed to slow almost to a stop.

He still wasn't looking at me but I saw a very small, shy smile cross his face for a moment or two. It seemed very out of place in the prison, but it also seemed to brighten everything shortly-

"Maybe..." I said wistfully. A blue butterfly fluttered past-

"Kharl!"

"Thank you..." he said quietly-

"Yes, tonight we kill that demon." another said-

"Kharl!" I called "Kharl!" There was no answer-

"It's the pretty little gallows maid." He stepped forward and grabbed-

"I'll protect you." he said and we began to run-

"You won't take me back there, will you?"-

"-I hate the gallows-"-

"Stop being stubborn." He said and-

"Kharl!"

As his eyelids parted, to reveal them a vibrant violet. I was sucked in, swimming, No, drowning in them. I hadn't notice his eyes before but they seemed so bright in the darkness of his cell-

And the last thing I saw was Kharl, as he whipped around and darted for my hand, but missed-

"We know. Our kind does."-

"Listen, I want you to take your shirt off."-

"Reina!" I heard Kharl yell, and then I didn't hear anything else at all-

"Kharl…What's wrong, why are you looking- No, why is there blood on you?-

"Kharl!"

I can't die like this! Where's Kharl? Where…

"Reina!"

"How did you kill it?" He asked curiously-

"Yuck Kharl, don't do that. It's dead."-

"Birds." I finally said-.

"What's wrong? That castle, who does it belong to? Kharl?"

"Where is the boy I was with?" I asked.

And Kharl…Kharl could help me if he wanted to. Would he come? And if there really was an end to this forest what would we do once we got there?-

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Kharl!"-

"Reina!" He was shaking me-

"KHARL!" I screamed

No, not Kharl. Never Kharl.-

"Kharl has told me all about you. Reina." he whispered-

"…What is Kharl to you?"

"Kharl is most…Interesting…"

"What of Kharl? He owes you nothing. He can leave if he wishes…right?"-

"I could take him if I wanted."-

"Can…can I talk to Kharl?"-

"Then say yes." Kharl said simply-

"Reina."

Those curséd eyes-

"Reina." He said my name again

Kharl didn't see us come in, he had-

"Kharl, listen to me."

"Kharl!"-

"KHARL!"

"Kharl? Is that"-

Demons don't smile like that.

"KHARL!" I let out a scream of absolute fear. It pierced the air like a razor-edged knife and seemed to snap Kharl into action. His eyes changed from suprised horror to panic as he lunged towards me while I toppled backwards into the empty air.

I lashed out with my arms towards him reflexively just as I began my freefall. He was too late, it was happening too fast. His stark white face was the last thing I saw before the wall of solid rock took up all my vision. Gravity pulled me down and my body flipped so that I was facing the sea below me, the rocky crags growing ever closer. I plummeted like a rock.The wind was whistling off me so loudly all I could hear was my own heartbeat in my ears. My mind was a blank mess.

Only one thought was charging through my mind;

Will it really end like this, Kharl?

I hoped my angel would look like Kharl when he came to take me away. And as I was readying myself for death, the rocks below nearing me with incredible speed, my wish was granted.

A winged angel flew downwards, parallel to me, his iridescent snow-white wings shimmering in the rays of light. With grace and apparent ease, he grabbed me out of the air and angled upwards, his wings making soft "whooshing" noises as he pumped them to fly up. In his arms and pressed against his chest, I felt safe and warm, all the fear I had felt was gone. He smelled like sunshine. Sudden contentment stole over me.

If this was what it was like to die, I didn't mind going at all.

I closed my eyes and died.

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Author's Notes: '

Oh noes! So Reina's dead? What do you think?

How will this story go on? In Kharl's POV? The guesses are infinite! XD

Thanks to Sarehptar and her newest update on "Cloaks" I got motivated to finished up this chapter. GO READ HER STUFF! If you're a fan of KH2 then she's got a fic for you too! (title: The Violet Room)

R&R, fanks!