Disclaimer: I do not own Tsukihime or any of the characters used within this fanfiction.
Author notes: This fanfiction takes place after the events of Tsukihime and Melty Blood. Any others are non-canon in this fic. R&R as always! ^_^
I opened my eyes.
White. Pure white. A white ceiling fan attached to a white ceiling.
Where am I?
I tried to recall, but what I received instead was a major ache:
WHO am I?
I tried to lift myself up, but I seemed to be made of lead, and my body refused to budge.
An alarm sounded beside me. I couldn't turn to see the source. A group of doctors coupled with a man dressed in a black coat stormed the room, and the doctors injected me with something while the man began chanting.
Immediately, I felt an immense stress on my brain and I lost consciousness.
I opened my eyes.
I got up. Looking at my hands, I noticed several marks on my arm. They matched the leather belts on either side of the hospital bed I was lying on. I used to be... restrained?
I flexed my arms and legs in order to get blood flowing. When it seemed able to function properly, I got off the bed. As I passed the mirror on my way to the door, I caught sight of myself. It was, thankfully, a familiar sight. At least I remember what I should look like. Or do I?
As I walked I felt a weight in my hospital garb. I stuck my hand into the pocket and fished out something metallic. It was a knife. As I unsheathed it, I observed the word 'Nanaya' engraved on it. A jolt of sharp pain coursed through my head, and I groaned in agony. What was the significance of this knife, and why do I have it on me?
Energy rushed through my veins into my eyes and suddenly I saw lines. A lot of lines coupled with dots ending at some branches. They flashed for a second and vanished. What was going on? Fear of the unknown struck me and I breathed heavily. I have to get out of here first, I thought.
Pushing open the door, I stepped into a hallway seemingly carved from an impossibly giant slab of marble. No seams were seen where the blocks are supposed to be joined, just one smooth wall after the other. Where the hell is this? It was bright even though there wasn't any source of light.
Just as I thought that, the end of the hallway plunged into darkness, and the darkness began to spread towards me. Shock took hold of my senses, rooting me at the spot where I stood. As the darkness began to accelerate towards me, I pleaded my legs to move. Beads of perspiration formed on my forehead, and I closed my eyes as the darkness engulfed me whole.
"Shiki..."
What..?
"Shiki, wake up..."
That voice... I know that voice...
"Wake up... I am in danger... I need you to keep your promise..."
What promise?
An image of a crimson castle flashed through my mind. Golden blonde hair... Enthralling ruby eyes... The vision of a woman affixed itself inside me.
I woke up.
"Good morning, Shiki-sama. Your sister is expecting you," said a girl in a maid uniform, bowing as I sat up in my bed.
"Good morning to you too, Hisui," I said, trying to remember the peculiar dream that I had before I completely forgot it.
"Gah, too late."
"What is it, Shiki-sama?"
"Nothing, Hisui, just trying to recall something that keeps eluding me."
I got up, wore my glasses and proceeded to change. I looked out of the window and sighed. Four years have passed since Arcuied vanished into the setting sun at school. I have whittled my life away ever since graduation, and there was still no news of her.
"No news?"
I turned around, alarmed. Hisui was making my bed. I asked, "Did you say anything?"
She replied, "Hmm, no."
Looking up at me, she caught sight of my topless body and blushed completely red.
"You know, Hisui, it's strange how you do this everyday and still not get used to it," I chuckled.
"How can you say that, you beast?" A girl similar-looking to Hisui barged into the room and accused.
"Oh, good morning, Kohaku," I smiled nonchalantly.
"You'd better treat nee-chan nicely or who knows what sort of medicine will go into your next drink?" she smiled deviously.
"Haha, of course I will."
Kohaku continued, "By the way, Akiha-sama sent me up to get you. You wouldn't want to make her impatient, would you?"
I get the feeling Kohaku wasted my time for this reason. I spoke not another word and dashed out of the room and down the stairs.
There sat Tohno Akiha, my sister and the master of the Tohno mansion, sipping tea with a dignified poise. Her black hair cascaded down the back of the sofa she sat on, and her azure eyes pierced through me. Opposite her (surprisingly) was Ciel, the renowned exorcist from the Burial Agency, dressed in her casual clothing.
I popped down in an armchair facing the both of them, and said cheerfully, "Good morning to you both. What form of good fortune is this to have two beautiful ladies asking for an audience this early in the day?"
A vein popped in Akiha's forehead while Ciel merely smiled. "Hi, Tohno-kun. Your tongue is as glib as ever, I must say."
Akiha continued, "Shiki, you are about to become the master of this mansion. Would it kill you to actually wake up on time?"
"Well, I suppose not. It's just the dreams are getting more and more vivid."
"You mean the one about the hospital?" Ciel chimed in.
"Yeah, the one with the weird black coat guy."
Akiha asked, "Did it stop at the point at which you looked in the mirror again?"
"Yeah-" Wait. Did it? I can't remember. My head throbbed.
Ciel rubbed her chin. "Why don't you just ask Len to observe the dream for you?"
I replied, "I thought of that, but she wasn't able to penetrate a barrier around my dream."
Ciel then said, "Do you think it could be the work of another dream familiar?"
I shrugged. Silence then befell us.
"Oh yeah, so what is the purpose of your visit today, Ciel?"
Ciel's mouth fell open as though she finally realised her true reason of visiting. "Ah, rumors are flying around the Church that an Ancestor has appeared, but for what, I cannot surmise. So I would like you to go on a recon mission with me to the nearby cities for info. We leave immediately, food and lodgings will be provided for by the church."
I scratched my head. "Wow, that sudden? Well, that's okay, but only if you can convince Akiha to-"
"That won't be necessary, nee-san."
I gaped at Akiha at her words. She continued, "I understand the importance of your presence on this mission. Your Eyes should be able to sense them better than Ciel. Just make sure you return home safely." Stressing the final word, she stood up and left. I shrugged again. It was still as difficult as ever to read Akiha's emotions.
Ciel got up as well, and said, "Alright, then. Shall we?"
I nodded. A black cat meowed and followed me as I walked out of the grand double doors.
"So, who was the one who gave you the information?" I asked, fingers drumming the steering wheel while waiting for the traffic light to turn green.
Ciel asked, "What do you mean?"
I replied, "Cut the pretense, Ciel. Even if I hadn't many dealings with the Church, even I know that secrets to them are worth more than anything. So how could you possibly have heard 'rumors'?"
She remained silent for awhile, then conceded, "Sharp, aren't you, Tohno-kun. You're right. Sion put me up to this."
I smiled as I remembered the days we spent. The light turned green, and I stepped on the gas pedal. "So how is she? Recovering from the curse of Osiris must be hard."
Ciel said sadly, "Yeah, it's taking a huge toll. But it is partly because of the curse that she has become more receptive to the acts of the Ancestors."
Her face turned serious. "Now, onto business. Have you heard of an Ancestor called Einnashe?"
I thought, then shook my head. Ciel continued, "I guessed not. He is an Ancestor with an incredible ability of hypnosis. He is so powerful that he can materialize a Reality Marble called the Forest of Einnashe once every fifty years, and that time is coming soon. So, the Church wants me to destroy Einnashe before he can materialize the forest this time."
I asked, "Is he that powerful that even you cannot take him on?"
She shook her head, "No, that's not the problem. The thing is, he is so elusive, no one has ever seen him in person."
Len, who snuggled on the backseat of the car, mewed loudly.
"So how much information do you have on his whereabouts now?"
Ciel bit her nail and said, "Regrettably, none."
I sighed, "So, it's a blind chase again? Like that time when Arc-"
I stopped as my heart seared like it was on fire. Memories of time spent together swam into my mind.
Ciel looked at me with concern.
I grinned and said, "What's the matter? I'm perfectly fine, you know."
Ciel frowned and said, "Those who say that usually are not. But I shall not pry, especially about matters so precious to you."
I pondered for a while, then said, "Wouldn't this Forest of Einnashe be something like the Night of Wallachia? I mean, they're both massive scale destructive forces."
Ciel nodded, saying, "Except the Forest has a sentience of its own, and that every team that was dispatched by the Church were annhilated."
I was impressed. This Forest must be powerful indeed. Yet I did not seem to be afraid, not in the least bit. The Night of Wallachia wasn't a pushover either.
Ciel spoke, "You have matured a lot, Tohno-kun. The old Tohno-kun I knew would never have agreed to come so readily. Maybe he would out of goodwill and kindness, but never would he be as fearless as the you now."
I laughed. "After going through what I have, anyone would become stronger."
Ciel smiled. I thought of Arcueid, and I realised how I longed for her smiile.
"Agh!" My head suddenly felt as if it was cracked open, and I lost control of the steering wheel.
"Tohno-kun!" Ciel shouted in alarm and tried to keep the wheel steady.
When the fit subsided, I quickly swerved to a deserted road and hit the brakes.
Heaving out of relief, I closed my eyes to catch my breath. Ciel asked, "What happened?"
I replied slowly, "Another attack. I have been having a lot of those lately, and I doubt they have anything to do with my anemia."
"Are you sure you are well enough for this?" Ciel asked carefully.
"With certainty," I assured.
"I think I'll do the driving for now, you just take a rest, alright?" Ciel offered.
I nodded and exchanged seats with her.
We arrived at the hotel we were designated to stay in for the night without further interruptions. As we stepped into the hotel lobby, I immediately felt a pair of eyes burying themselves in me. Surprised at the sudden surge of hostility, I whispered to Ciel, "Someone is observing us."
Ciel replied, "Can you tell who?"
I took off my glasses in response. Lines and dots appeared on everything in sight, but they seemingly gathered on one particular figure: a young boy with hair of deepest ebony. His eyes met mine, and he got up.
I unsheathed my knife and got ready for a skirmish.
End notes: That's it for Chapter 1! Was it too rushed? I was afraid that the story would be too draggy otherwise. Let me know, alright? :)
