A Fateful Meeting Between Two Souls
Warning: Fluff and a lot of it; Yaoi hints!
Chapter 4
It was early in the morning. Birds quietly singing and the sun just rising from the horizon. The morning dew on blades of grass glistens as the morning rays gently lights them like little stars.
Quiet, seclude, and calming. The sun halfway rising, giving the world a morning glow, a new day. Not too hot or cold and barely any wind that could disturb the tranquility.
The dark-haired teenager approved such scenery.
Walking down the road, Hanae wore a long-sleeve, blue button-up shirt with dark slacks. Over his shirt was a dark-indigo jacket with pockets on each side, a soft red scarf around his neck, and a pair of black shoes. He completed his look with his black school pack at one hand and his beaded bracelet around his wrist (which was hidden underneath his sleeve).
Hanae had woken up a bit too early for any normal high school student's liking because every morning, he has to help his Mom set up their flower shop "Messeji!"
Of course, setting the shop up wasn't the only thing that happened. Hanae chuckled from the memory.
(Flashback)
"Oh no! Hanae, come down here quick!"
Hanae rushed down the stairs as he heard his Mom screaming. With a toothbrush still in his mouth and his hair and pajamas messy, he yelled, "What! Did the deliveryman switch our roses again with another shop's?!"
"No! It's just your school uniform…"
Hanae was confused. What about his uniform? Granted, he hadn't taken a look because their flower shop gets quite busy almost every day and he had to discreetly asked the "imaginary friends" (he had to tell his Mom something) to leave before they could mess with anything.
"Did you had a fight with the washing machine and dryer, Mom? You know both of them are your mortal enemies." Hanae went over to the kitchen sink to rinse his foamy mouth.
His Mom pouted, "There is nothing wrong with them and they are not my enemies."
Hanae snickered after drying his mouth, "Tell that to the many single, unpaired socks in my drawer. Anyways, what about my uniform? Did the school send the wrong size?"
He watched his Mom nervously looked at the said uniform in her hands. There seem to be nothing wrong as far as he could tell.
White button-up shirt. Check.
Undershirt. Check.
Belt. Check.
Red tie. Check.
Long-sleeve jacket. Check.
Short skirt. Che-
Eh?
Hanae blue eyes widen at the last piece of fabric. He got closer to his Mom to see it better. To his bewildered mind, there was a short skirt among what supposed to be a MALE school uniform. He flickered his eyes back to his Mom's own blue eyes.
A moment passed between them and Hanae could only do one thing…
He laughed. "Oh God! I told you this would happen!"
It was hilarious for Hanae because this happened so often in the past when people first hear his name. This is too much! He could feel tears at the corner of his eyes.
His Mom pouted even more, "Honestly, I remember telling them on the phone I had a son and I need a uniform for my child to go to his first day of high school."
Wiping away a stray tear, he said, "Yeah, but did you tell him that your son was named 'Hanae' and that your only daughter is not in high school anymore?"
Hanako-Oneechan is going to love hearing this, he thought humorously.
Stifling his chuckles, Hanae tries to calm down. "I guess this means I need to find a different outfit for now until they can acquire the right uniform for me."
Hanae went back upstairs, vaguely hearing his Mom saying, "What are we supposed to do with this then?"
Closing his door, he quickly checks his closet to find anything suitable to wear. After contemplating for a few minutes, he was satisfied of what he found. This should do for now.
He dressed quickly and picked up his beaded bracelet. Sliding the familiar, light weight jewelry onto his wrist, Hanae knew today is going to be an exciting adventure.
(End Flashback)
Hanae continued walking down the road, still smiling at what transpired that morning, almost not noticing a lump of white fur just a foot away from being stomp on.
Almost…
Hanae quickly stopped his foot from stepping on what seems to be an animal-a very fluffy and white animal. Setting his foot down beside the creature, he crouched down to get a better look. Hanae noticed that the creature was facing down, had no injuries from what he could tell, and was not moving apparently.
Please tell me I didn't just found a beloved dead pet owned by an innocent child, Hanae thought weary. He slowly laid a hand on the creature to check for injuries until he felt a familiar sensation.
Youkai...
Blue eyes widening as a power surge courses through his entire being, Hanae scanned his surroundings before picking up the white, fluffy creature (carefully securing the fragile thing in his arms) and making a run towards a white building-his high school.
With record time, he was in front of the school, vaulting over the school gate (scaring the guard and a few early bird students in the process), and making a quick dash for the school rooftop. No one needs to know how Hanae already knew where to find and already had a key for said rooftop.
If only they could see me now, Hanae thought chuckling.
Hanae made it to the rooftop within record time, slamming the door before leaning on it to catch his breath. After calming his pulsing heart, he looked down to only see a pair of large purple eyes staring straight at his own blue ones. Hanae frowned in concern when he saw the fear and panic in those large eyes and feel the slight tremor coursing through the youkai's small, round form.
He gently whispered to the terrified youkai, "Hey now, there isn't anything to be scare of. No one is going to hurt you again, not when I am still breathing." Tenderly stroking the youkai's soft fur, Hanae let the flow of his energy run through the youkai, hoping the action will sooth the youkai's fear. "It must have been scary though, being all alone on that sidewalk with no one seeing you; waiting for help even when there might be none." Bringing the youkai up to his eye level, Hanae smiled, "But you don't have to wait anymore because I am here now. I am not going anywhere."
The youkai looked at the strange human, wondering why he would help it. It remembers hearing how humans were selfish, greedy, and only think of themselves. But for some reason, this human can see it and was being very kind to it. This human can understand its feelings and desires. It can see in those blue eyes that there was nothing but truth and honesty. Tearing up, the youkai jumped onto Hanae's face, weeping in pure gratitude and joy.
Hanae gasped at the sudden leap onto his face, but smiles gently nonetheless hearing the cries from the small youkai. He slowly pulled the youkai away from his face to wipe the flowing tears from those large purple eyes. "Hey, no more crying now. Smile because I bet you have a great one!" He demonstrated his own smile towards the youkai who in returned smiled as well (though you couldn't really see it).
Ruffling the white fur, Hanae said, "Now that's settled, why don't we introduced ourselves. My name is Hanae Ashiya, freshman of this high school and can see youkai. I am pleased to make your acquaintance!"
The youkai jumped out of Hanae's comforting hold and runs around, trying to communicate that it doesn't really have a name, but wants one anyways.
Hanae nodded understandingly, "Aright then! Let's see what we can come up with, how about we name you after something about you. I am thinking 'Fluffle' or 'Fuzzy' or something along those lines because you have such nice fur on you. Which do you like?" He looked at the youkai for confirmation.
Said youkai jumped high twice in the air. It loves the second name apparently.
Hanae grinned, "Well Fuzzy, looks like you and I are going to be great friends!" He laughed joyfully when Fuzzy jumped into his arms again. Not a bad way to start the new term. I hope Mom doesn't mind the extra company living in our home. I wonder if this little fella likes being around flowers.
Hanae noticed the increase level of noise and the growing mass of students in the school's courtyard. "Well Fuzzy, it's almost time we head to class before Sensei decides to give me a detention on my first day." Seeing the small youkai nod, he walked towards the door.
Suddenly, a dark presence flickered through Hanae's mind. He looked up, narrowing his eyes to see a crow flying overhead. Its presence was like the one Hanae sense last night; a presence foretelling misfortunes.
He then felt something warm on his wrist. Looking down, Hanae sees his beaded bracelet started glowing. Fuzzy was shocked that it jumped away from Hanae.
What the- His thoughts were cut off because two things happened that moment:
One was the door opening suddenly.
The other was the heavy impact of a charging person.
The momentum sends both Hanae and the other person onto the floor. Hanae quickly wrapped an arm around the other's lithe waist and the other around the person's head to press it to his chest as he twisted around to make sure the other was on top of Hanae.
That's going to leave a couple of bruises, Hanae thought, groaning at the pain upon impact with the floor. It knocked the air out of his lungs. I hope Fuzzy has a better time than me.
Gulping for oxygen, Hanae took a moment to compose himself. He removed the arm shielding the person's head to rubbed the throbbing lump forming at the back of his own. He turned his head to check over the body on top of his, only to feel something soft against his lips. Blue eyes widen at the contact as they stared into a pair of mesmerizing (but equally widen) golden orbs.
Well, THIS is certainly not a bad way to start a new term.
(A few minutes ago)
Itsuki felt a sudden power surge when he first entered his classroom from the Mononokean. It was early in the morning so no one was there at the time.
What was that? Itsuki thought suspiciously. He didn't sense any youkai with that much power. Could this be the person Murasaki-sama was talking about yesterday? He felt the surge of power again, but not as intense as the last one. Concentrating, he felt the flow of energy coming from the school's rooftop.
The blonde ran down the hall and up the stairs leading to the rooftop. He can sense two presences up ahead, the first was small, but the second one was what baffled Itsuki.
The much larger source was almost likes Itsuki's, but there was something unusual. Itsuki can sense many other energy signatures coming from the larger form. But that's impossible...Itsuki was wary of confronting the stranger especially one the Guardians was keeping an eye on.
Drawing closer towards the door to the rooftop, Itsuki did something unlike him.
He jumped ahead and opened the door while running.
What came after that was all a blur to him. Itsuki felt his body colliding heavily against another person, sending them both to the floor. He vaguely registered an arm wrapping around his waist and something protecting his head as he heard a painful groan. The stranger, he realized, must have cushioned his fall.
Feeling the lessen pressure around his head, Itsuki moved to get off the strange, but couldn't because of the tight hold on his waist. Grunting, he turned his head to tell the stranger to let him go, only to feel something warm pressed against his lips.
Golden eyes widen as they stared into a pair of endless blue (but equally widen) orbs.
(At the same time on another rooftop)
A red-orange cat and a silver rat watched the scene unfold from another roof. One bewildered and in awed and the other half amused but half indifferent.
"Well, that's one way to make a first impression…" Aka muttered incredulously, not believing what he was seeing. Is this some kind of cliché shoujo manga scene?
"Let's thank whatever deity up there that the others aren't here to watch this drama," said Murasaki, quite amused even though he doesn't show it. "The Baka-Inu would have a field day seeing Hanae, in his own words, becoming a man."
Aka giggled at the rat's words, "Half of them would have been jumping for joy and the others screaming that Hanae is growing up. I can see them throwing a party just for that."
"Some of them just party for the sake of having a party. Don't you remember the Christmas party?" Murasaki asked.
No one could forget that disastrous day. Somehow, a third of the Legislator's home got flooded, the other third was on fire, and the last third was frozen solid. To this day, no one could figure out how did all that happened.
Aka frowned concerning, "Now that these two met, I am guessing that 'he' knows as well?" Aka looked up to see a black bird soaring around the clear, blue sky. He's not even being discreet about it either.
Murasaki's eyes narrowed at the cat's words. He didn't like the look of worry and slight fear in those beautiful red orbs. The rat knows very well no matter how tough the cat acts, he knew what a sensitive heart and soul Aka has. He vowed to protect him and those he cherishes the most.
"Don't worry about him for now. He won't do anything as long we are around."
Aka turned towards the rat to nuzzle his head into the silver fur. He felt grateful to have Murasaki here with him. "Thank you, Murasaki. I love you…"
The rat stroked the cat's head soothingly with his small paw. His cold violet eyes softening, "I love you too, Aka…" Leaning down, he tenderly kissed Aka, conveying every feeling of comfort and protection. I will protect you no matter what; you, our Little One, and who destined to be his soulmate.
Both Guardians of the Sun and Moon stayed together, waiting and watching until the time has come for them to appear once again for their Little One.
The fateful meeting between two souls had passed and now the future events are set for them to overcome.
(Meanwhile)
The Mononokean waits patiently for the day to be over so that Itsuki can tell it about the person transferring to his homeroom.
"I hope they are getting along well and are becoming friends."
What the Mononokean doesn't know is that its Master is getting along quite well with his new friend.
Author's Note: Extra-long chapter! Also, I can't help but add that last bit with the Mononokean! (giggles) I hope you like this chapter because the sudden inspiration just came to me while reading another story. All thanks go to Lonercat!
The flower shop name was "Messeji!" It means messages in Japanese. I think it is cute to buy flowers for someone and its meanings will be the secret messages like how a red rose means deep affections or love for someone.
Hanae's older sister name is Hanako in my story and she is actually a college student living in a dorm so she rarely come home. She will make an appearance sometime in the future.
Why didn't Hanae sense Fuzzy before? Because he had to suppress his powers when he had to hide it from people. So you could say Fuzzy reawaken Hanae's powers at the first touch.
As most of you can guess, it was Executive and his little black birds snooping around. Why he is doing this? Why are the Guardians keeping an eye on him? You just have to wait.
Rough Translations:
-Messeji: Message
-Onee-chan: Big sister/Older sister
-Sensei: Teacher
-Shoujo: Genre typically focused towards the female audience; revolving around mostly romance and relationships