Hi, everyone!
I apologize for the long wait but I had been busy with my other stories.
Hope you like the newest chapter!
CHAPTER THREE
It's raining. Actually, it's been raining for an hour or so, and from the looks of it, the sky doesn't plan to close up anytime soon.
Usually I love the rain. I enjoy hearing the sound of the raindrops hitting the ground and the feeling of them falling on my skin, it just soothes me.
But not today, though.
Right now, the way that the droplets of water come in contact with my skin, only stings. The usually warm drops for some unexplainable reason feel so icy cold that my skin aches in the place they hit.
Father returned from his work drunk again, but this time I managed to sneak past him without getting noticed. The last time he had caught me on the act, which was only yesterday, is still evident on my cheek.
I know he doesn't mean to get drunk so often, but the death of his wife must have been too hard on him. And not just for him.
We used to be so happy together, the three of us. But then mother had that accident last year and father has never been the same before ever since. Alcohol just seems to be his only way out. I try my best to help him get over it but it's kinda hard when he's drunk most of the time. He's never become too violent, but it's better to not take any chances.
It's been an hour ever since I left home and the skies opened up exactly the moment I stepped foot outside. I'm soaked to the bone and freezing. But I probably shouldn't get back for another hour or two, until father becomes sober.
The moment I feel the all too familiar presences, my body freezes on its own with cold, awful recognition.
With all that rain making my vision blurry, I didn't realize I had reached the graveyard until I stepped right through the gates. Damn, why wasn't I paying attention on my surroundings?
I can feel the first traces of panic seeping through my entire body, freezing my muscles and making my heart pound like crazy in my chest to the point that it feels like it's going to leap out at any moment. Why did I have to come here of all places?
Soon enough, the blurry images and outlines of the ghosts begin to take form, reclaiming the appearance they once held when still alive.
And that's when I bolt forward.
I don't care about where I'm going and trying to make out my surroundings is completely futile thanks to the heavy rain. I just want to get away from them and their eerie presence.
*)&(*
The streets were empty. This time it had nothing to do with the fact that it was fairly late into the night, but mostly about the seemingly nonstop downpour.
A sole figure was the only one wandering about.
The way his long hair stuck to his face didn't seem to faze him in the slightest as it was the only place that had been affected by the cold. His powers were more than capable to keep his clothes from getting wet, after all, keeping the forces of nature at bay was the easiest of tasks for him. He would never risk getting ill, but that didn't mean he could enjoy the rain from time to time.
What had driven him out of his home though, wasn't just to admire the view of the rainy, grey clouds like he had done so many times in the past.
No, this time, it was that unsettling feeling of uneasiness.
It had started in the morning, making him almost unable to focus on his fight with Ren but he had hidden it well. Ren was known for becoming a worrywart from time to time and if his cousin had asked he wouldn't have been able to give a straight answer since he didn't know the cause of that feeling himself.
And that was what he hated the most… not knowing, being caught unprepared.
But the thing was that the peculiar feeling had gotten worse a while ago, causing his stomach to lurch unpleasantly and his mind to race. What the hell was happening?
The last time he had felt something like that was years ago when that earthquake had shaken the entire Japan. He hadn't been the only one, though. Every shaman on the earth had sensed it before the actual incident had occurred. Shamans, after all, were directly linked with nature.
Which was exactly why he had decided to go out, just as the nature had pointed out. Because this wasn't just any rain. It had come out of nowhere when the sky was clear of all clouds and it had developed into a full blown storm in just a few minutes.
He didn't have a specific destination in mind, just let his instinct take over.
His face broke into a scowl however, when he scanned the place that his feet had led him to. A place that he knew all too well.
Walking into the graveyard with sure, steady steps, he didn't even blink when its residents arose from their resting places and bowed their heads towards him. Not even bothering to return the gesture, he made his way over to his usual spot on the hill.
A few feet away from the tree he occupied though, he froze. His spot was already claimed.
Eyes narrowing with suspicion, he moved closer, studying the figure that was sitting on the ground. This time, had did make him blink, wasn't the fact that the figure appeared to be sleeping against the tree trunk, but the fact that he knew that person.
Yes, it was that boy he had met last night.
After better observation, he realized that the boy was in fact unconscious, not sleeping. And from the scarlet flush that colored his obviously pale face, the boy seemed to be running a high fever. His whole body was shivering under the cruel treatment of the weather too.
Snorting at the kid's idiocy to stay out so late and with such a weather, Hao reached out a hand to the other boy's forehead, to confirm what he already suspected.
The moment his palm came in contact with the flaming forehead however, the boy's eyes snapped open with a start, to reveal unfocused, blurry brown orbs. Freezing, blue lips parted and with an inaudible whimper, the boy grabbed Hao's hand with a speed of a starved person and nuzzled his cheek dazedly into the warm palm.
Lips curling into a growl, Hao snatched his hand back, disgusted with the mere thought of being touched by a useless human.
The effect was instantaneous. The boy opened his lips to cry out but no sound came out. Then, he lifted his trembling arm in a weak attempt to reach out to the blissful warmth he needed. But his condition seemed to take the better of him since a moment later, the arm landed limply back to his side. His head soon followed, falling defeated against the surface of the trunk.
For a moment, all time seemed to stop, the very air stilling as brown connected with brown. And Hao knew one thing. The feeling had gone away, leaving his stomach strangely warm, something that he was certain had nothing to do with his powers.
But then, when his look-alike's eyes closed as the boy was once again forced into unconsciousness, the magic was gone.
Infuriated with himself, Hao whirled around, intent on leaving that place and return to his much dryer home. He spared the figure one last glance above his shoulder, taking in the soaked clothes that hung to his body like a second skin, the unhealthy paleness due to the cold and the bruised lips.
Not that it was his problem! The boy had no business outside at such a time. It wasn't his fault that the other was such a fool.
…Right?
Cursing under his breath, Hao spun around. With one swift motion, he had crouched down, scooping the boy into his arms and standing back up.
"Spirit of Fire." he called out and his faithful servant was right at his side, appearing in a gust of swirling flames and hovering in the open before the hill.
Walking towards it, he watched those ever bright green eyes studying the form in his arms, whether or nor it was due to the resemblance or because of the fact that its master wasn't known for his kindness, Hao didn't know.
With no further delay, the Spirit held out his arm, palm stretched upwards so that its master could climb up.
Jumping onto the hand with the grace of a feline, Hao nodded at the Spirit, indicating for it take off. Sighing when the familiar sensation of invisibility fell over him like a cloak that would keep them tugged away from any unwanted attention, Hao turned his gaze downwards.
The boy had finally ceased shivering now that the Spirit's fire magic had covered them both, shielding them from the harsh wind and the storm. His lower lip however was still trembling even though they were beginning to regain their usual color back.
Rolling his eyes, Hao pressed his palm flat against the boy's forehead, concentrating on his fire magic that he had acquired as a result of gaining the eternal loyalty of the Spirit of Fire, and sending more waves of warmth into his body. Just as expected, his lip quivered no more and the boy's expression finally transformed into one of peacefulness.
That sight gave Hao a peculiar urge to smile, and for some even more peculiar reason, he didn't fight it.
END OF CHAPTER THREE
I know it was a bit short, but I wanted to make them meet finally.
Please, review!