CHAPTER SEVEN

~ A Soft Voice ~

Darkness seemed predominate and a single silhouette stood amidst a crimson scene. Many bundles were abundant on the ground around his feet and he kicked one of them harshly, causing a dreadful noise to escape from that bundle. His hair flowed in the wind that fueled the flames near him as he turned to a boy with two toned blue hair. A draconian smile formed on his lips and the black wing that sprouted from his head spread, calling forth a nightmarish wind. Then, all was replaced by a single girl, who stood in front a blinding light amidst a field of flowers. The wind played with her long golden hair. She turned around and smiled to the boy who ran up to her and held her in his arms. She whispered soft words into his ear, then fell limp in his arms. The boy looked down to see not only the girl, but himself as well covered in crimson. Then all of it broke into darkness and a familiar laughter echoed through it.

Kai bolts up from his bed, sweating. The laughter seem to continue to haunt him despite that he was now back in his slowly brightening room. He then feels a soft hand touch him on his back, causing the terrified expression on his face to worsen. He turns to its owner and at the sight of her, quickly regains his composure.

"Are you ok?" asks Lux.

"Y…yeah…" Kai answers her, still panting.

Kai turns from her, 'This...dream again...'

Ever since he met Lux a few days ago, he had stopped having this dream at night. However it has come back and upon waking up from it, he becomes terrified for the girl's safety.

'Why is it back?' Kai asks in his mind, still trying to calm himself.

Lux stares at him curiously.

When he is completely calm again, he looks around for the time before turning to her. "What are you doing up this early?"

"I woke up...and felt hungry…but I didn't know...where food is…so I went to find food…and ended up here. Then you did that...in your sleep…"

Kai got up and walked past her. "I'll be fine. Wait in the dinning room for me. I'll get you something to eat."

She nodded and exited the room happily, unaware of the vision that had played itself in the boy's mind. Kai gazed after her as she left the room. Then, fear fills his heart as the scene of her growing limp in his arms covered in crimson returns to his mind. He dashes after her and when he found her, still on her way to the dinning room, she turns to him in surprise.

"Hm?" she responds to his actions with curious eyes.

"N…Nothing…" Kai mutters, turning back to his own room. "Just wait for me, ok?"

She nods, a look of slight uncertainty forms on her fair face as she watches him walk off. She then happily resumes her trip to the dinning room.

...

A cloaked young man sat atop a tall tree overlooking a small clearing where a couple of cats played. The sun shone bright above and the cats below knew not of his presence. In his hands was a nicely decorated cellphone. The young man scrolls through several pictures featuring two young children and then he plays a recording from it. A soft voice in the recording says, "Hey, its Lux here! I'm a little busy at the moment so maybe you could leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Is that alright?"

He shifts his position on the thick branch and puts the cellphone away inside his cloak. He looks up and gazes up through his hood at some clouds despite that they were partially obscured by some leaves. He leans back and relaxes but is soon taken out of this calm state when a beep rings out. He pulls out another device, similar in size to the nicely decorated cellphone.

"Yes, sir?"

"Have you gotten the girl yet?" asks the gray haired man on the screen.

"I haven't got the chance yet, sir." He replies.

"Is that so?" the man muses. "That's very hard to believe considering Hiwatari's nature."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Why don't you pick her up at night when they're both asleep and write Hiwatari a note. He won't stop her if he thinks she wants to leave, right?"

"But, sir…"

"What?" the man barks.

"…nothing."

"Good, then proceed with capturing her tonight."

"Y…Yes, sir…"

The screen on the small device becomes blank and the young man once again looks up at the endless azure. The bright light causes some discomfort to his eyes and he blinks rapidly tearing up as he adjusts something he wears on his eyes.