Lights out was at ten o'clock sharp that night, as always, but Wren almost never went to sleep when they told her to. But lately, she had been hooked up to six different machines---one an EKG, another an oxygen tank to help her breathe easier, two blood bags, a slightly small bag that was entirely one type of pain-killer, and her usual IV bag---so she could not move in the slightest bit. Because of this, Wren lay in her bed every night, motionless and in the dark.
That night, after her first session with Dr. Kawa, Wren fell asleep right as she climbed into bed. Slowly, Wren drifted off into a very shallow sleep, unaware that two rooftops away, an angel lay in wait for her to go to sleep.
Krad opened the hospital window with ease, as he had done each night previous to that night and slipped inside. The light of a full moon shone through the glass window. Krad's glossy, silvery-white wings caught the light and it danced on the bare walls of the hospital room. Krad's golden gaze stared at the young girl that lay before him. She was so peaceful, so innocent.
She is exactly like Robin… the angel thought to himself. His Tamer was fast asleep, tucked away deep within Krad's consciousness. Krad grunted. No. I cannot allow this to go on. My only purpose is to plague the worthless Hikari family. He took out a shimmering, white feather and held it above his head. I am afraid that your life ends here, my dear. The feather glowed with Krad's power. I will save your body the trouble and kill you now! But just as the feather was about to release its power, Wren stirred. She turned her head so that it faced Krad, but her eyes were still closed, and her mind still submerged into a dream. Seeing her face as it was, no useless strands of hair or sweat contorting it, almost made Krad sick with remembrance. Robin was, yet again, plaguing his mind. He shook his head. This is why I must kill her, he reminded himself. She is a weakness, and weaknesses cannot be tolerated! He drew his power to the feather again, this time with no doubt that he was going to release it, but then, Wren stirred again. Krad quickly retreated into the shadows. Wren slowly opened her eyes.
When she saw that no one was around, she sighed with relief. It was only a dream… she told herself. There's nothing—
There was a sudden brush of a soft and fluffy object up against the wall in a dark corner. Krad flinched. He had no meant for his wings to hit the wall. She will find me out…
Wren was now fully awake, her eyes staring at the corner where the sound had come from. "Who…" she struggled to speak. "Who…Who is it?" she spoke to the shadows. "Dark, if it's you…"
Krad froze. She had met Dark?
"Dark, visiting hours are over, and your stupid questioning put me into nine hours of a coma!" She started to feel the energy slipping away from her, so she calmed down a bit. "So I am not ready to talk to you." When there was still no answer, Wren frowned. "D-Dark? Is…Is that you?"
Krad sighed. She is going to find out sometime. Besides, I can just kill her now, and get it done and over with. He slowly stepped out of the shadows. Wren gasped.
"K-Krad…" she breathed. "Is…Is it really you, Krad?" Krad walked over to her in the bed and stood over her, his golden orbs bearing down on her.
"Yes," he said quietly. "It's me." Wren's eyes lit up with joy.
"Krad…" she had dreamed of this moment ever since that night that they had met, and now that she had it, Wren was lost for words. She lowered her gaze. "H-How are you doing?" Wren slapped herself mentally.
Krad looked up at the shining full moon. "I'm fine," he murmured. The moonlight caught the gleam of four tubes snaking their way into Wren's body. "How are you?" he asked, noting the tubes.
Wren looked up at him and smiled. "I'm doing fine…a little chemo never hurt anyone—"
"Yes, it did…" Krad interrupted. His comment surprised even him.
"Oh…so, you knew someone with cancer?" the white-winged being tried to look at Wren, it took almost all of his strength just to look into her aqua-blue eyes without being reminded of the love he had lost all those years ago.
But he failed. Robin's picture flashed in Krad's mind, and he had to look away from Wren. Wren noticed his unusual behavior. She put a fragile hand over Krad's hand that was resting on her bedside.
She smiled weakly. "It's all right." Krad glanced at her quickly. "You don't have to talk about the past. Sometimes, the past can be painful, I know." Krad gazed at her this time.
"Was…Was your past…painful?"
Wren smiled weakly again. "Yes. My mother and father abandoned me when I was ten years old, right when they found out that I had leukemia."
"So…you remember your parents' faces?"
Wren cocked her head. "I don't think I know what you mean…"
"You remember your parents. What they looked like…what they smelled like…what they loved to do…the…the…friend…that I had with cancer…she…she never saw her parents."
Wren looked down. "Yes, I do remember my parents. My mother always smelled of lemons, and my father of Old Spice Menthol after-shave lotion." She chuckled. "I hated that smell…he always smelled like he was sailing home from Singapore."
Krad lifted her chin up so that she was eye-level to him. "You remind me a lot of my friend…the one with cancer…"
Wren could feel the blood rushing to her face as she stared deeply into the Angel's golden gaze.
"Wh-What happened to her…y-your fr-friend?" she stuttered.
The Angel released Wren and went to the large glass window and stared out at the pale full moon.
"She died. A long time ago."
"Well…it couldn't be too long ago…could it?"
"It was a very long time ago," he said sternly.
With much effort, Wren got out of her bed, dragging her racks of IVs and blood bags carefully, and went over to Krad. She stood beside him, peacefully staring out at the full moon with him.
"If I may ask," she started. "What was her name?"
Krad stiffened. "That's none of your concern." He growled.
"You're right," Wren agreed. "I was only asking, though…"
The Angel sighed. "Her name…was Robin. Robin…Takimoto…" Wren froze. She turned to Krad with a bewildered look on her face.
"You…You knew…my grandmother?" Krad nodded slightly.
"I knew her. She was…She gave me a reason, besides the Hikari curse, to live. I did not love her, if that is what you're thinking… I only lusted after her."
Wren was shocked. "You…So you knew…you knew that I was her grandchild?"
Krad nodded. "I did. That is the only reason that I have watched you all of these nights."
Wren was just about to keel over from shock. "You've been…watching me…?" Krad grunted bitterly.
"I want nothing more to do with you!" he growled. "I came here tonight with the intention of killing you." Wren closed her eyes. "You remind me of Robin, and that is one weakness that I cannot afford to have found out!" he turned to her and grabbed hold of her fragile neck. "If I but tighten my grip slightly, your trachea will be crushed."
"I…I am well aware…of that…" Wren coughed. "But tell me…Krad… You say that you didn't…l-love R-Rob…in…but…why does your heart beat fast and your heart grow heavy…w-with grief…wh-when you…when you remem…ber her?" the Angel froze.
"I…" he thought for a moment. Then he realized that he had no answer for her question. He released Wren from his gloved grasp and watched her choke. "You anger me," he said quietly.
"Y-Yes, well…" Wren coughed again. "I seem to be doing that…a lot…lately…"
Krad was silent, then, he spoke softly. "I did love her." he admitted.
Wren looked up at him and smiled. "I know." She said. "The eyes can never hide one's feelings of true love."
T-True…love? Then, for the first time since he had met Wren, Krad truly looked deeply into her aqua-blue eyes and saw such beauty inside of them. She is an exact replica of Robin… Krad thought to himself. Then, without thinking, he leaned down and just as he was about to kiss her, Wren put her hand on his chest to stop him.
"No," she whispered, their faces only inches apart. "You're only kissing me because I look like her…" Wren turned away so that Krad would not see her tears. "Please…just go." Wren slowly and painfully climbed back into her bed, again being aware of her rack with her IVs and blood bags.
Krad watched her intently, confusion shrouding his emotions. He looked back up at the full moon again. How can you watch as my withered heart decays and dies? He asked the moon. He took one last look over his shoulder at Wren. Her face was turned away from him, but he could clearly see the moonlight dancing off of her tears. Krad turned back to the window and opened it. "I just realized…you are nothing like her." and he was gone.
Wren turned to the open window and began to sob even harder.
I hate him! She kept telling herself. He only tried to kiss me because I look like Robin. I've never seen her…she's from Dad's side of the family, the only relative he found after he was abandoned. So I've never even seen a picture of her. I do know that she had leukemia… Apparently, all of the females in Dad's family have died of leukemia. A thought crossed her mind. Krad must have been very sad when he lost her. She couldn't have been more than…twenty-one, maybe twenty-two, I suppose…I know that she had Dad when she was nineteen. I bet Krad spied on her while she was in the hospital, too. He really did love her…didn't he…? No, I can't think about this right now…I'm much too tired. I'll think about it when I have the strength… With that, Wren fell into yet another deep sleep.
Krad scowled as he flew across the full moon after he had left Wren's hospital room.
"Why does your heart beat fast and your heart grow heavy with grief when you remember her?" the question echoed through Krad's memory.
Because I loved her, He answered himself. Because I loved Robin, I am plagued with the feeling of nostalgia, grief, and heartbreak… Are these the feelings that a human would feel if he were in love?
In the back of his mind, Krad heard a cold laugh. Interesting… a voice said.
"S-Satoshi…" his Tamer was awake. "How long have you been awake, Master Satoshi?" Krad asked.
Long enough, Krad. I must say, this is most interesting. In all the time that you have lived inside of my body, this is the first time that I have ever experienced you feel something other than hatred. And I believe that this girl, this…Wren Takimoto…will be your undoing, if you allow it—
"Master Satoshi, this is hardly the time to discuss weaknesses, for yours is in plain sight. I could kill this person anytime that I wish." Krad began to feel Satoshi tense. "I suggest that you behave yourself, my friend, or this person that you love, this…Risa character, may very well meet her end."
If you touch one strand of hair on her, Krad—
"Ahhh, yes, a strand of that beautiful long, chocolate hair… I can almost feel it in my hands…"
You bastard!
Krad chuckled as he landed gracefully inside one of the open windows of Satoshi's apartment. "Don't worry, my friend. This Risa girl will be safe, for now, but only if you swear not to lay a finger on Wren Takimoto."
Satoshi seemed amused by this. So you are infatuated with her, Krad… Like I said, most interesting…
"You should get to sleep, Master Satoshi. I have a feeling that you should stay by Miss Risa Harada's side for as long as you feel necessary." He said, a menacing tone floating about in his voice as he transformed back into Satoshi Hiwatari.
"Krad…you bastard…" Satoshi growled, collapsing onto his bed out of exhaustion. His vision blurred and then he fell into a darkness that was almost tangible.