She Only Comes To Me In My Dreams.
Asleep, the demon god was curled up, his scarves bundling him like a newborn infant. While he rested, some were acutely awake, keeping watch lest danger comes their way.
In his 'dream', he is in darkness. No. He is darkness. He does not see, sense, or feel himself, though he's sharpely aware of where he is, as if the darkness was a part of him. Perhaps, in some way, it is.
But ever so slowly, at the corners of his vision, he sees something shuffle, and if you could see him, he would turn to the source of the distraction. When it was in his clear view, it was blurry for a time, until it slowly sharpened, and he realized, it was not an it. But a she.
A she he knew more than he cared to admit.
She had been in his dreams lately, and he had been watching her from afar. She had never noticed his presence, or at least so he thought. If she did, she made no sign of it. Until today.
She quickly turned to where he should have been, and squinted into the darkness, before her brows furrowed and she frowned. "Asura." She said, her voice monotone. But he thought he could hear a trace of fear in it. Ah, Maka. He thought grimly.
He had to wonder. Why would this girl keep dreaming, and stay in this dream state when she clearly knew the Demon God could kill her? As he cackled and his tongue lolled out and about, she made a look of disgust.
So, the little pest could see him, could she? Well. He grinned. This would prove interesting, he thought.
Courage. He never uttered that word, under any circumstances.
Just to hear was enough to make him dislike the person further than he already did. Why did she hang onto such a pathetic word? It does nothing, he surmised. Not against the world, where only physical things can do real damage.
Yet she still believed it could change things.
As if.
Making a sound of disgust, Maka looked to him, and he chuckled.
"In order to face fear, you need courage." She replied, as if she had heard him.
He made a sound, not dis-agreeing nor agreeing. Had she heard him? How could she?
"But why," He drawed out the word slowly, as if she was hard of hearing. "Would you waste your time on it, if you'll lose in the end anyway?" He was referring to her physically. She was not that strong. Anyone could see that.
"Because," She frowned once more. "I won't give up until I win."
"Kehahaha," He grinned toothily, showing sharp white teeth. "Well, then," He cocked his head to the side, smiling wryly. "You must have to endure for quite a bit, if you can." He added the last part sourly, hoping she'd get the hint. She didn't show any signs if she did.
But upon her remark, he realized something he'd been holding off for some time.
She's determined.
Frowning, he shook his head, locks of hair escaping from his band of scarves. She won't be thinking that for long, he concluded, when she nearly gets, if not, surely gets, killed.
After that, she slowly faded away from his vision, and no matter how much he strained, he could not find her.
As the nights passed on, she appeared in his 'dreams' still, and in every dream she shows the same aspect. Courage. He starts to get sick.
One night, as he waded through the eternal darkness, he could not find her. A prickling feeling rose in the back of his head, and he forced it down, ignoring it.
The next night, she still did not appear, and the prickling feeling grew to a bothering thought. He forced it down once more.
On the third night, the feeling was no longer bothersome but irritating and often. He no longer tried forcing it back. It was no use.
Disgusted at himself for feeling such a thing, he was determined to get rid of this petty thing he felt. Concern.
Just as he was about to burst from impatience, she appeared in his dream, faint, but there.
"Where have you been?" He asked, his voice monotone. Inside, he fought to keep rising feelings from bursting out.
"I was hurt," She responding, not caring why he asked. Why should she?
"What did I tell you." He gave a lopsided smile. "I told you 'courage' could not win against physical harm. You should have learned long ago," he rebuked, tsking.
She gave him a wry smile. "Oh, but I did win."
He hid his shock quite well, actually. Even to himself, as well.
After that, she faded from his dream like a trickle of water down the drain. Drifting in the darkness, he thinks deeply, confusion unfurling from inside him rapidly.
But there's another thing. Something that makes him feel odd. Something he has never encountered before. He's intrigued. Wondering, he spent all night trying to figure out what it was.
He never figured out it was love.